Whitecliff Bay

The chalk cliffs on the south coast of England are packed full of dinosaur fossils,and in the 19th century some amateur fossil-hunters collected enough fossils so that an English scientist could identify
them as a set of extinct species of giant lizard. This scientist named these species "dinosaurs",which means "great lizards" in Latin.

Mauser K98

-- Standard rifle used by Germany in both World Wars

Cleaning rod is removable and is then used to insert cleaning brushes or cloths down the barrel. Most military rifles including an integral cleaning kit in the gun itself.

If that picture is of a muzzle-loading weapon then it is a ramrod (and not a cleaning rod), which is used on muzzleloading firearms to force the ammunition and charge down the barrel.

Modern guns are breech loading so this procedure is unnecessary.

The Last Judgment

I think that the way the Jews were treated was unfair.
The origins of anti-Semitism lie in Christianity ----- the Christians believed that the Jews murdered Jesus, who had been sent by God
to save the world (ironically, Jesus himself was Jewish).In the Middle Ages, this developed into a systematic ideology of anti-Semitism, and the effect of the Black Death (which killed almost half the entire population of Europe ) led to Jews being blamed for spreading disease and poisoning wells. This was the beginning of the systematic
pogroms and mass killings of Jews in Europe, which culminated
in the Nazi Holocaust.

Endless War

Neither the Jews nor the Palestinians are innocent -- both sides are locked in a brutal struggle for control of that region,and are behaving with ruthlessness and brutal violence. Sigh...ultimately the British are to blame. It was British imperialism in that region which created the conditions out of which the present conflict developed.

Out of Many

It should get here within the next week or two.
The book weighs over three pounds.
It is in a giant envelope.
It's United States Postal Service Priority Air Mail. Snail mail is the best way...UPS and Fed EX are wanting huge bucks,the postal service
is more reasonable.

Boxing Day

There seems to be something wrong with the server.
Siberian Fox will probably fix it soon;we just have to be patient.
Well,I'm already withdrawal symptoms from PoFo.
I may need therapy.I've heard that shopping can be very good therapy. lol

Moonstruck

"In Napoli
Where love is king
When boy meets girl
Here's what they say
when the moon hits your eye
Like a big pizza pie
That's amore..."
Cher and Nicolas Cage star in this film. I love romantic stories.
The concept of romantic love is one of the greatest innovations
of Western culture.
It only appeared during the Medieval period as 'chivalric love' or 'courtly love',even now,people talk about 'courting' a woman
in order to establish a romantic bond.

Save Christmas

Diversity is a mixed blessing. It's certainly interesting,but it also breeds conflict.I suppose it's unfair to other religions,but America is 81% Christian and the founding population was entirely Christian.
The founding fathers dont want religion to become a tool of the state
to control people,not to separate religion from public life entirely.
Most early US government documents refer to God or a "creator",
and it says,"In God we Trust" on the money.

Let it Snow Let it Snow

Xmas is a national holiday in Britian. Because Christianity is the official state religion,there's no problem about the separation of Church and State,because they have never been separated. :)))
In US,on Christmas it is tradtional for Jews to go to the movies and
eat Chinese food. Muslims dont do anything remarkable.
Hindus often celebrate Christmas and call it "December gifts"
because their children want a Christmas tree,Santa,and presents.

Scottish

I dont know if Potemkin got my last reply on the PoFo.
It went off line when I hit send.
I hate it when I send a long,thought out message and dont save it before I send it,then it never gets sent.

Missya

David was given a "yellow card" warning due to his signature banner offending certain sensibilities and rules on PoFo. He has a rather controversial sense of humor.LoL.The yellow card removes his ability to have a signature,avatar,send private messages,or view profiles.
Anyway,it will be gone in a week.

Upper Midwest

Dave lives in a small town of 8,000 people called Antigo,in the state
of Wisconsin. It's one of the most German areas of America (42%),
and most of the either ethnic groups there also came from central Europe. So the traditional food there is similar to Central Europe. There's a large assortment of sausage in particular,and there are
also many breweries which produce unique beers. One curious local favorite are "cheese curds",which consist of the curds from cheesemaking.

Boned Chicken

I have always heard that chicken soup is good for the common cold and bacterial infections. I hope Dad feels better. Wish him a speedy recovery.Sigh,I'm spolied.I even dont know how to start with a live chicken...I just know what it looks like cleaned and cut in the store.

Grand Lake

Tai Lake is a metaphor for the state of Wuxi's development :
primitive accumulation of green algae (Green Buck).
It makes me think of Cuyahoga River in Cleveland,Ohio.
Americans once had a pollution problem in U.S. as well.
The Cuyahoga River used to routinely catch on fire.
In the early 1970s strong environmental laws were passed
and pollution was mostly solved.

Advent Wreath

In Germany,the christmas season begins with Advent. A wreath of evergreens with four red candles hung in the home. Wiebke just got back from business travel and picked up my various message. "Advent" is very important in Germany,and not very much celebrated in the US,so she's surprised I know about it.
LOL,the Interent knows all.

"Let us unite!" monologue

It is well that war is so terrible - otherwise we would grow too fond
of it. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little.
More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness,
we need kindness and gentleness.

Massachusetts English

The parcel arrived at Cambridge,MA last night.
English up there is totally different in the accent to the way it is spoken in the Southern or the Midwestern.
In Massachusetts,they donot pronounce any "r" sounds after a vowell.
When they say "I parked the car",it sounds like "I paked the ca."

Live and Let live

It's more a religious thing than social.
I am not threatened by two gay men who want to marry.
And I dont think it would cheapen my marriage.
I would worry about something,though.

Card-carrying Etiquette

Red's uncle is a retired police officer in New Jersey and he gets an annual "Police Benevolent Association" card.
It's not an automatic "get out of jail free" card but it does help him when he in trouble with the cops.His first speeding ticket was the lowest possible fine along with no points deducted from his license because of that card.
Well...I think that's wrong because it gives special privileges to
certain people that others are not going to receive.

Advent Candles

One should definitely keep looking at things from different angles.Taking time to understand the whole picture is always a better strategy. But how? "Information is the currency of democracy." That's why I watch CNN,CCTV,sometimes Fox News and different kinds of newspaper.BBC gives the best world coverage without the commercial interruption of U.S. Commercial TV.Also,they do not air fluffy stories meant to sell.They tell pertinent news only.

Holler Back

Everyone has been under the gun at work.
Luckily,it's Christmas time again.It's that time again ------ love & happiness.I am sending off postcards tomorrow.It may take a week or two using snail mail.Alex bought a Chinese papercut and he will ship from his office.I guess UPS,FED EX and DHL,one of them will give him
a deal.

Blackout

Moon City has no power,
And the milk is getting sour.
But to me it is not scary,
Cause I stay away from dairy.

Escape detection

What's happening to this world?! Academic research is for the public good while industrial research has profit in its mind.Companies keep secret of what they find and profit from it.
Media is always dependant upon the filters they use to observe an event.They want to sell papers,or programs,not get the whole truth.
Part of the truth is not the whole truth.

I love Futurama

Let's just say that this show is amazing,like the Simpsons and Southpark...irreverent and funny.

Designed Response

Does the man make history or does history make the man?
Patriotism can be viewed through several prisms of thought.
It can be used as a tool of peer pressure,pressuring one to do what
is right for country even though it's wrong for many other reasons,
or it can be seen as a love of country,pure and simple.

Checksand Balance

I am hearing stories of people fighting over democracy,and I have been harassed a little,myself. I ask for it by not keeping my mouth shut when I should. I just dont think people think about all things when they speak so absoltuely about life economics or politics.
I think the unknown should be respected,if not defined.
And I always keep a healthy respect for the unknown and argue
with that in mind.

Best Gift

"Since it is a Christmas present, I feel as though I should throw in
a pair of socks or something lol that is more useful in winter than
a silly history book. " LoL ...I like books; the books have the same information; it's explained differently to different ages depending
upon maturity level.
Well,knowledge is the best eraser in the world for disharmony,
distrust,despair,and the endless physical deficiencies of man.

The New Rome

What makes U.S. powerful? Some luck, some brilliance, and a lot of sacrifice. The rest of the world was ruled by kings, queens, emperors,
and aristocrats at the time. A true democracy, like in Rome during the early times had not existed since then. The first leaders were so against political power and the power of kings that they avoided instilling it in any way to any person for any length of time.
These people were colonial serfs with no titles (or very few of them)
and they decided to forge a new covenant like the Roman democracy model but with checks and balances to limit the power of any single individual within the government system. They created a country where power through business and achievement could be achieved,
but not political power. Power is limited, rule of law supercedes all.

Alarmists

Is Global Warming a Hoax? I have not seen proof.
The climate is changing,at different rates,in different directions,
at different parts of the world,and this change is potentially
catasteophic to the ecosystem.
We are in a momentous time of climate adjustment.

Holy Cow!

That director is killing honor and justice! There are artistic ways to depict the same using different methods.
There is no excuse for filming the killing an animal and selling it as art.To me that is gratuitous violence which only inspires more gratuitous violence.To live by the sword is to die by the sword...

Pro-Gun

The Hucks live in the foot-hills of the Smokey Mountains.No tall peaks or famous locations,but breath-taking beauty all the same.What they call mountain lions in Alambama are really large panthers.
Those panthers are called mountain lions,but they are not real lions,
at all.Huck doesnt shoot things just to stuff them and put them on the wall. Only for meat or protection of himself or his family.Many in the U.S. do not share this fascination,nor do they approve.
Luckily,they can have their opinion and we can have ours.

Hershey's Kisses

Huck is right,fear will never get me happiness.
Divorce occurs and love changes over the years,it is more a matter of commitment and loyalty.There is no telling who will betray and who will stay true.It is a matter of trusting someone.Only I can know if he is the right one,no one else.I believe in love, still.And I believe in committment still.A few days ago,my grandparents just celebrated 50 years together,that is something.

Generation WE

We are spoiled and greedy as a culture,in my opinion.
We complain about not having enough when we've already had too much. Our biggest health problems stem from over eating and gluttony. People die from being over-weight or eating too much with no concern for nutrition.

Thousand Islands

I made salads today because salads are easy,lol.
I took stale old bread that I was about to throw away and chopped it into two centimeter by two centimeter by two centimeter cubes,
baked it at 350 degrees for thirty minutes in margarine and crushed garlic...croutons were done. Then I took cheddar and grated it to medium fineness where the slivers were about half of the size of a blade of grass. I chopped romaine lettuce and raw spinach leaves into ribbons. Carrots were grated into little slivers the size of small match sticks, then tossed in with the greens and mixed up.
I also added some bacon bits.The dressing was Hidden Valley Ranch.
Yummy,yummy~~

Goat's eye bean

Holidays are all about eating...lol.Thanksgiving followed by christmas then followed by new years. On new years day people are supposed to eat black eyed peas for good luck and turnip greens or spinach for good finances in the coming years.Spinach and turnip greens are green,like greenback...lol.I believe we make our own luck but I eat them anyway because I like them.

Like Father Like Son

Winter is upon us...that gets us in the mood to hunt.
Huck deer hunt with an old NATO Lee-Enfield .308 Winchester round or 7.62 NATO.It's easy to get a gun in the U.S.As long as you are not a criminal.lol.Huck has many.His father was a collector,so he has all of his father's old guns.He has a chinese made AK-47,a North Korean made SKS,but they are not fully automatic machine guns like the military uses,they're semi automatic.And he knows a lot about firearms and bullet calibers that they fire.I think it's a hobby he inherited from his dad.

Social Animals

English is the exact same all over the US.There're varying accents on words,different euphemisms,litterations and sayings in different parts,however.The English language is taught with the same rules of grammar in all 50 States but like China,the delivery and phrasing carry local influences in different regions.Because there are different cultures and communities all throughout the country.

Post my favourites~

"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."
-----Federalist No.51 by James Madison
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood
of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."
-----JFK
"You can fool all the people some of the time,and some of the people
all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
-----Abraham Lincoln

Star of David

Why US sides with Israel? That's what we're talking about today.

Many Americans do not think they should tie themselves so closely

to Jewish state,but Christians(Southern Baptists,in particular) feel that it is their christian duty to support the "Holy land" which has references in the bible. Maybe that is where most of the abstract support for the Jewish state comes from.

Dreams come true

"Yes we can" is a political slogan put forth by many politicians and most recently by the Obama campaign for President of the United States. It's great fodder for politicans during election-time,
and I think everyone believes in it to some degree. It's American dream ------ anyone can become anything with enough effort and sacrifice. Now Obama is an embodiment of that dream.

Karma?

There are as many reasons for going astray as there are people who go astray. Huck has a good point:Anger.
Anger and an inability to put one's self in the place of another.
Many use their anger to control others and feel they need to do this in order to survive.
Well,when evil forces gather,the dark sun rises and soon it will be too late.Will you choose your own path or will you have it chosen for you?
Do you believe good begets good and evil begets evil?

Go Down Fighting

"Walk in the door
Look at the room
Jump through the window
Accepting your doom."
That line was in specific reference to footage he saw of September 11,2000,when people were jumping out of gaping holes in the
World Trade centre rather than succumb to the heat and smoke
of the fire.They could not get down stairs,they could not put out
the fire,so they accepted their fate and jumped to the pavement below.I think given the choice,many would have made the same decision.Love and pain are both signs of life and both preferable to death.

SpiritWalk

"A child is born to innocence,
a child is drawn towards good,
why,then,do so many among us go so horribly wrong?
What makes some walk a path of darkness,
while others choose the light?
Is it will? Is it destiny?
Can we ever hope to understand the force that shapes the soul?"

Right Up My Alley

My boyfriend and I have been in different cities for nearly 5 years,
am I so unlucky in love?
Well,I dont want anyone's pity over my love life.
Actually I feel I've been unbelievably lucky in love.
Alex deeply,deeply cares about me,
he's lovely and fun and he literally brings me hope;we talk,we walk,
we adore each other.And that's where love is.

A Blessing in Disguise

Huck takes synthetic insulin which is pumped into his body all day every day to keep his blood sugar at an acceptable level.
When he eats,he counts the carbohydrates and takes the appropriate amount of insulin to counteract those carbs.
He tries to stay away from too much salt,sugar,grease,starch,and protein,as these are bad for him,he can only eat limited amounts.
I am worried about him,well,I think he can live as long as anyone,
there will be a price to pay for high blood sugar and high blood pressure,however.

Role Model

As a young girl,I havenot walked as far down life's paths as many of my friends,so even if I dont ask for their advice outright,
I am curious about what they really think because I think maybe I can benefit from their insight.
Well,communication isnt always reciprocal and rewarding for both parties.A little lecture might be perfect.
But the problem is how to remain this one-way friendship?

Kidney Yin-Yang

Kidney infection is the problem I am now suffering.
Well,I have been taking chinese supplement since this Wednesday
and the good news is I feel much better today.
But I am worried that I might get diabetes because kidney problems
are an area diabetics usually experience in,as they are a part of dealing with diabetes.Sigh,I dont want t lose my kidneys and go on dialysis or get on the list for transplant,so from now on I must keep
an eye on my blood sugars as well.

Life Of Contradiction

Is using a microwave unhealthy?I dont know,well...I dont like eatting food that's been nuked.But I am too lazy and nuking food is so convenient and quick that I really dont wanna give it up.Will my life always be about conflict?

Turkey Day

Thanksgiving approaches,it is the fall holiday when americans celebrate the pilgrims first landing in the northeast.
The Hucks generally eat smoked ham,turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce,potatoes,green beans, asparagus,corn,and rolls.
We usually have fall vegetables with gravy,roasted chicken,
Kielbasa(Polish sausage),sweet potatoes,pumpkin pie,
cheese bread and orange juice.It is a true feast.

Han Hao Bird

Right now I'm feeling like there is a battle going on between my high-spirited half and my quiet half.I dont know if I wanna go out shopping or curl up in a ball on bed and watch DVD.Today is very cold,but the refrigeratory is empty.And I really crave milk,I dont know why,once in a while,I need a milk fix.Maybe cream flavor gives me an extra boost of energy.

Evolution?

We human never fit the term "innocent",we are exactly the same creatures 20 thousand years ago.Sigh...collection of individually innocent people doesnot necessarily produce a innocent collection.
I am pessimistic,collectively we almost certainly drift toward the
dark side.Anyway,the US government is always trying to change
for the better.Sometimes it does right,and sometimes it does wrong,but always striving for improvement.

Wingnuts

Is the U.S. Doomed?
Well,the U.S. does not change forms of government every four years,just presidents.There are socialist aspects to the government,
but only in that people are all responsible for upkeep of roads,mail,schools,and military.These things are necessary for the central government to govern and to keep the peace.
They also aid in interstate commerce.The social programs ruin the U.S. will come and go,grow and shrink,but starting wars in three countries could end the U.S.Is helping people more dangerous than killing them?

Change History

Change has come to America.Obama swept to victory as first black president.He went a long way toward arguing the notion that anyone can come from anywhere with any parents and become the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO (President) of America.
I feel it should have happenned years ago. US is not really a melting pot of cultures as some would say...some of them do clash with each other from time to time, but as Huck said Americans are as close as it gets on this earth, so far.

Email Scam Warning

Oh,my...scammers have been sending out email that claims to come from officials.Today I received a strange letter from so-called Minister who has secured business proposal for me and he believes would be beneficial to both of us.I deleted that junk mail.I wont involve in any politics activities,though I often read news.

Something In Common

In engineering,engineers prevent problems by creating them,
theoretically in the design process and guarding against them in advance.Like planning a move in chess.
The same in politics.Politicians create soultions for problems they have invented within their heads in order to prevent them,
in the first place.You can force an opponent to move a piece by threatening his/her king.In this manner,you can guess out of two
or three moves what they will do,and set your pieces to block those moves or trap those pieces.

American-ism

Huck told me a story about his name.I was deeply moved.
Huck's grandfather had his life saved during WWII by a man named Huck,then he named Huck's father "Huck" after the character and
Huck was named for his father.Huck named his son Huck,also.
Partly because that is his father's name and his,
but also because if it had not been for his grandfather's war buddy named "Huck",none of them would be here.It's a way of remembering.

Decipher Puzzles

How to give a speech without saying anything?
Learn double-talk.
Political language is "designed to make lies sound truthful and
murder respectable,and to given an appearance of solidity to
pure wind."

The Magic City

Huck's immediate supervisor is from Taiwan,so he wants to impress that Taiwanese one day by breaking into a version of his native tongue.Well,it's my distinct honor to assist Huck with his chinese.^_^
His problem with chinese is the fact that two words which sound alike may have totally different characters and he must know the character's meaning because there is no "sounding it out" in chinese.
Although english has far too many exceptions to each rule in its syntax,many redundant words in the vocabulary,a large number of root languages and sources from which they are derived,the words themselves are simply combinations of 26 phonic symbols,each letter representing a sound made in the mouth.Now he's going to order the Rosetta Stone language system,but I think it will take him years to
get conversational.

FreeRice.com

"Every grain of rice is essential in the fight against hunger.
Your correct answer and those 20 grains of rice make a difference!"
Last night,I came across this site,FreeRice.com,which I thought it's very humane and ingenious.It is humane because you can help end the world hunger with FreeRice.It's ingenious because you can enrich your vocabulary while fighting world hunger.This is how it works:you get to play the game,FreeRice get the traffics,advertisers get their exposure and people get the free rice.Well,essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Red alarm

"This is the biggest currency crisis the world has ever seen."
Well,the financial crisis is spreading like wildfire across the world.
The system is paralysed,and it's starting to look like Black Wednesday in 1992,I guess the mayhem may soon trigger a chain reaction within the Asiazone,too.

La Civilisation du Bruit

One thing that makes me uncomfortable is the way some people having their noodles,well...they'd make a loud sucking sound.
"More than tradition,slurping makes the noodles taste better."
Really?To me,it's annoying!
It's nothing about the pretend-to-be-a-lady etiquette,
I just canot bear such irritable noise ,totally ruins my appetite.
If it's a formal dinner,isnot that impolite?
Anyway,it's acceptable in Asia,culture matters,it matters.

Diary of Chickabiddy Baby

I like staying in my light violaceous sanctum to get some peace and quiet so that I can reflect upon my own thoughts and feelings -------
looking for answers deep inside of myself.There are changes afoot,
I can sense it.

Agnus Dei

"O Lamb of God,that takest away the sins of the world,

have mercy upon us."
In Oxford,there's a pub named "Lamb & Flag".The name is very common in Engliand and the symbol is so familiar to me.

Acutally lamb of God is one of the titles given to Jesus in the New Testament and consequently in the Christian tradition.

It refers to Jesus' role as a sacrificial lamb atoning for the sins

of man.

Fearmongering

Wow,Texas to execute ten men in one month,hmm,sounding like
it's one of the best examples of an efficient prison system.
Well,I am not trying to play devil's advocate.
For anti-death penalty activists,it is very frustrating.
Regarding death penalty,my actual stance is that nobody has the right to deprive others' lives.
But in some measure being locked up for the rest of their life in maximum security is even more miserable than execution.
Why not let people choose for themselves,life imprisonment or
capital punishment.

Birds of a feather flock together

According to old British parliament,the conservative usually seat on the right and the liberal or socialist sit on the left.
Well,left-right term is also used to describe politics in forums by Chinese.But the meaning is very different.
My understanding is political spectrum is defined along an axis with capitalism (the right)on one end and Maoism (the left) on the other.

A sight to behold

I saw a funny message the other day which saying :"I got a few pumpkins,havenot carved them yet.I want to do a McCain and an Obama,and keep them there,see which one rots faster."
LoL...talking about pumpkins,those suckers can grow as much as
30 pounds a day at times,incredible!!
There was a contest at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off in Half Moon Bay several days ago,the winner is a
pumpkin with 1528-pound.Whoa...Is it from moon?

Great Depression

UK financial chancellor announced in a new conference the other day,it might take up to 5 years to fully recover from this severe.
Well,althought the housing market dropped dramatically because
of the subprime,I veiw it as a way of saving.
Actually even now,it's still the price of 2004.
The problem is not the price if someone bought it earlier than 2004,it's just slow to sell.As not many buyers and credit is really tight,it might take 6 months or even longer to sell.

Sloan School of Management

Though MIT with technological tradition and best in tech,
I'd rather see Alex take MBA courses.
I wonder Ph.D in academe is the same as what he is pursuing,
no mention he's a Ph.D already.
He has gained indispensable education experience,
isnot now working experience much more important?

Trash or Treasure

A scientist's career is based on their repuation,largely determined
by recent publication record.
In the circle,there is a saying,which also makes sense for publications: "Garbage in and garbage out."
Sigh,Alex's now working like a beaver,eating like a dog,producing papers like a machine.Is it enough?

Ultimate Adornment

Everyone knows "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend".
But when the whole world is dragged into recession,would precious stones still have its value no matter what?
People would only buy gems during good time,when the economy
is bad,luxury items would be first one to go down in price.
And due to different grades,they would never be used as currency.

Gold is Gold

I dont know what the hell the financial crisis is about;but my intuition is that America wont collapse ------ a nation has very perfect capability to revive.We'll see this coming soon.
Because it's the super rich and super power country in the world.
Money can do everything;just look back there wasnot a country called Israel before 1949.From the ancient time until 1949,the Jews were scattered around the world doing business controlling the economy of many counties,that's one of the reason Nazi Germany wanted to terminate the Jews.But now the Jews can even control the US govt.

Behavior Sciences

Eric watchs what's happening in the business world and gives the best answers to these occurrences based on his analysis and rationality.
His area is much related to applied area,that's the reason he is priced more.And his is much broader on everything,instead of financial investment,that interests him and the business world.Well,I suggest him to become a CIO(chief information officer) instead of researching academics for good pay coz he loves pretty women so much.lol.
Accounting ------ the language of business.
Money ------ the language of love & sex.

Unconventional Warfare

Wall street is very close to Twin Tower,where 911 tragedy occurred.
As "911"(1.1.2009) is coming,so coming with the collapse,no?Sigh,now the days,every street is a dead end.
Right now no one wants the US$ to fall too far coz the international trading currency is still the US$.
But a new currency(lined to the gold) that is issued by the Arabic country.Then poeple would use that currency to trade and the Arabs would demand that their oil be paid in that currency not in US$.
If that happens...God helps the US$!

Purified Water

I cannot distill the water myself,luckily those bottled distilled water can be found in supermaret.Well,personally I prefer mineral water,but the question is how many rivers that are clean are there
in China?Distilled water is basically condensed steam so it's pure
water with nothing,no minerals,no germs,no no-trace elements.
Since our bodies need a very tiny amount of those minerals,distilled water problem might not as serious as so called mineralwater.

Gene Change

I like to chat with scientists,hmmm,
I define myself an artist tho.
From aerospace and aviation program to ocean engineering,all are fascinating.
Billy taught me something regarding modern drugs,drugs are what they called designer drugs.He thinks of the structure first and then think of a way to synthesise it in the lab.
Very interesting,huh? Well,as time goes by,I think the world needs a new species,a more complicated kind.Since IQ can be trained(if one has better general knowledge,of course he/she can think faster),it also can be created.Lol,sounding like X-Man.But why not? Nothing is for certain,and nothing is going to be written in stone.

Controlling Economy

When confronted by our worst nightmares,the chocies are few:
FIGHT or FLIGHT.
We hope to find the strength to stand against our fears.
But sometimes,despite ourselves,we run.
What if the nightmare gives chase?Where can we hide then?

Business Observer

Economics in America is one of basic discipline and it's usually in school of arts and science not in business school.
Interestingly,Americans dont care much about what an economist says...kind of different than what we are seeing in China where economists talk trash a lot.So,from then on,if anyone says he gets a degree in Economics,go ask him to go to hell because it is actually a bag of shit.
LoL...Joking,Ph.D degree in Economics still worth something.
But Wall Street basically for MBAs and financial analysts,
of course mostly from business schools(MBA only belongs in and
is founded in business schools).
Though business schools' degree is the one of best with law school
and medical schools,lots of financialists are losing their job now.
Sigh,Wall Street is collapsing.Well,if we don't know where we are going, any road will take we there.

Self-starters

In mainland,nowadays fewer and fewer ppl know about Double Ten Festival.The National Day was established by KMT,well,some people
in my family were high rank members,since it's history,let it go.
Tomorrow is also my grandma's birthday.
The midwife was an Englishman who named grandma therefor actually grandma's Chinese name is transliterated by her English name.In that age,everyday is a winding road,she took the train left
Guizhou for Shanghai,alone,that year she was 11 years old.
Grandma's family was big and rich,she found her uncle and he sent her to study in St. Mary's Hall,she flew to US some years later.
Though grandma and I are not close,hereditarily speaking,
I am brave by nature.
Like grandma,like granddaughter,I like to tackle problems head on and am always eager to learn new things.

Ride out

Most of my friends think travel agents deprive the surprises and spontaneous adventures as a rule,therefor they have never used the services.To a certain extent,travel agency is somewhere that many people might balk at,but I see some sort of brilliance in it.
Well,I used to love travelling along mood of my own,too.
Actually this time I went along with what the crowd wanted to do,hmmmm...I had more fun than I thought I could.
So I'd like to move forward with other travel plans I've had brewing,though I shouldnot sign any legal documents just yet,well,
I'll wait to see if prices go down or a better option crosses my path.

Double Ninth Festival

Today falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of lunar calendar,
so it is known as ChongYang Festival.
In old China,ppl think Yin and Yang are the two opposing principles
in nature-----Yin is feminine while Yang is masculine.
Numbers are related to this theory,too.Even numbers belong to Yin and odd numbers to Yang,today is two Yang numbers meet therefor it's called double Yang.Since nine is the highest odd digit,
today is also become a special day for the elderly.
To me,it's perfect time for outdoor activities like hiking and
climbing due to bright clear weather.Btw,I like chongyang cake.

A Mega Project

To me,Hangzhou Bay Bridge is just a brige,a longer bridge.
Although it's the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world,
on the brige I felt it's a normal highway and there's no extraordinary spot of interest there.But lots of people have high expectation for that bridge because of its significant position.Well,it's a bridge that would change the fate of many cities and the life of people.

Travel-Worn

Today my tank of energy starts off terribly close to empty,well,there's one word right
for life on the road:EXHAUSTING.
I think touring is also a kind of contest that requires physical stamina and willpower is going to be tested as well.
I guess my hours will be spaced out here and there throughout the day because so far I've flaked out on everything.So let me tidy up the free time tomorrow.

Crab Season

I miss those big fat juicy crabs so I bought some when I saw them in
the supermarket this morning.
But I have never cooked a pot of mud crabs in my life.
Many people I know cannot be wrong about crabs, virtually everybody in my family knows at least a basic way of cooking those sidewards walking creatures.Well,it was very interesting,
though it needed much time to do washing-and-cleaning chores before enjoying the deliciously fresh meat.

Third Income,First Expense

I thought train tickets in UK are more expensive than in China.
Well,I was wrong again.Tickets differ in price according to the distance,so here I give an equidistance example. The one way 2.5 hours(from Shanghai to Nanjing) costs 93 rmb
(hard seat) and 112 rmb(soft seat) while virgin trains(from London
to Manchester) offer ￡7 and ￡9.And in UK you can get cheap train tickets if you book in advance like 2 weeks earlier.
However,in China,the earlier,the more expensive.

Out of Memory

Nowadays most of countries are linking their local currencies with
a basket of stable currencies instead of linking it to the US dollar only.Wise choice!
The dollar will be weak and wont be the most secure currency and euro is very strong now.But UK is still using British pounds,well....
it's hard for ppl of great Britain to scrap the famous British sterling pound.Just like Chinese are unwilling to leave the yellow land.
The Glory of the Past! Sigh...time changes,ppl should change too.
Lately there are some Chinese descent politicians in Canada said chinese should become the third official language of Canada.
I think it's good,since we cannot change China,why not make a brandnew Chinese Kingdom?

Academic Freedom?

Last night I read someone's blog by accident.In his blog he asked what is the purpose of higher education while only a minority of college students have enough wealth to study as a hobby?
Well,I think now the tail is wagging the dog------Curricula K-12 are set by university education coz ppl view college as a step towards a career with higher earnings potential and those institutions are the gatekeepers of the society's mostimportant credential.
So we have to accept professors' core valures and learn what they teach in their classes.

Son Preference

These days in my family everyone's emotions are right on the surface.Well,everyone fibs,especially in complicated situations,
a white one is okay.
But to some lies,I dont know whether mom would forgive grandma
or not.I think it's time for grandma to fess up and accept the consequences so that she can redeem herself,sigh...she chose to get tangled up in more lies down the road.
In my eyes the bond that links one true family is not one of blood,
but of respect and joy...the most important part is LOVE.
And I will always keep in mind that love makes a family,not blood.

Coca Cola Light

I like Coke Zero which is marketed as having zero sugar and zero calories.Well,I think zero sugar is an honest lie coz aspartame is commonly used in diet soft drinks for its sweet taste.
Aspartame is not sugar,it's a kind of chemical.
The point is to average ppl an excess intake of aspartame
might be more dangerous than having sugar.
And it is everywhere ------ table condiment,chewable vitamin supplements,sugar-free chewing gums and etc.I used to snack on snack food but now I should say I snack on junk food because I
have to have something to console my sweet teeth.
Nothing is safe nowadays,snack=junk!

Swallow hook,line and sinker

It is really easy to make dollars in China,lol.
The control of Health food products is not strict and advertising often claims that they can cure certain diseases.Melatonin is a big hit,it's even more expensive than it's in North American(about $10 for a bottle of 100).People think Melatonin is magic but in fact it's basically a hormone which is produced by human body to regulate sleep pattern.It helps in jet-lag and may help one to sleep better in short term.But in long term,who knows if it's harmless or not.

West eats East

Everybody knows KFC.But lots of ppl apparently dont know Chinese cuisine.Well,it is ture there are many Chinese restaurants in the United States,but actually the type of cooking typically caters to western tastes and differs significantly from food of China.
It should be given a specific definition:American Chinese cuisine.
Chinese dishes usually emphasize vegetables while American Chinese food treats vegetables as garniture.And today I found something interesting ------ Fortune cookie.It's a crisp cookie(I must point out the shape is very weird and I've never seen it in China) made from flour,sugar,butter,vanilla and milk with a piece of vague prophecy paper wrapped inside.It's often served with Chinese food as
a dessert throughout the western world.

What is Civilization?

Billy said whether a country is civilised or not is not what the present looks like but how they preserve the past.Good point.Well,he was refering to the historical sites.I think deep ------ how about history? When the history has something bad,should it be removed?Apparently NOPE.No one can remove history,we should learn from it not hide it.Whatever,it's important to admit and learn from mistakes.

Carpe Diem

It's time for me to take my turn organizing a new outing.
Well,it doesnot have to be major and it doesnot have to involve
a lot of different people.
I just need a brief afternoon outing with Alex,sigh,I havenot seen
him for a while,really reallymiss him.
So I have to consciously plan something out because too many schedules are too unpredictable and it's not wise to leave things
up in the air.

Plug the holes

Everyone should be entitled to safe food supply no matter where you are.Sarcastically,nowadays nearly all the Chinese in US and Canada wont buy food products from China ------ the reputation of Chinese products have taken a big hit.Chinese products are cheap but sooner or later people would buy stuff from other countries likeVietnam.Well,although infant formula is closely regulated and
no Chinese companies have approval to export to the United States,that incident has raisen concern about other products' safety.

In God we trust

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and
to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
'Under the God' is one sentense in Pledge of Allegiance,but I think today the meaning of God is not as serious and strict as it used to be.
USA is a malting pot,all kinds of ppl live together and also more religions now,well,ppl are accomodating too.
In this time,Bible is not allowed to teach in public schools.But I dont think the kids wont learn any religion even if the schools dont teach them.Because Christian and Catholic have very strong power in the states,many ppl with higher positions are christians,many rich ppl are christians and many politicians are christians.

Rounded Arrowheads

Sweet taro is the dish my mom used to cook at home,so I've developed
a liking for taro.I'm a huge taro fan ---- taro ice cream,taro soup with sweet-scented osmanthus,taro-layered cakes......I am just too hot on everything about taro.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

It's amazing to see dinosaur footprints,isnt it?Well,dinosaurs live only in my imagination.
But in Texas people can explore up and down the riverbed and find the dinosaur tracks.Interesting,huh?Yeah,it's kind of like being in a Jurasic park.

God huggin' us

The actions of life will be very unpredictable,yes,always.I hope this time not only would Alex's dissertation go fairly smoothly,there is a distinct possibility of an upgrade of some sort.Well,I am trying to stay optimistic and dont worry about the tiny details.

Lehman bankruptcy

The world's economy is like a balloon and all could collapse someday.
I dont know the details but it is affecting everywhere in the world.
I expect that lots of companies will bankrupt or will release lots of
their employees.Well,computers may be crashing,people may be dying,relationships may fall apart.
What we need to do is just to take a deep breath,and reboot.
Life has to go on.

Old-Timey

It seems like everyone uses email nowadays to communicate,but I personally like to give letters in a mail.
Usually I dont want to write a long letter,so I just send a quick note
by postcard.Well,I think post cards are beautiful because they
always have great pics on them.

Motor City

If you have money,sure,now is a good time to buy houses in really rock bottom area.The price of houses has collapsed in some of
Detroit's rural areas.When economy is good again then there wont
be ghost town like that.But what if there is never going to be a new factory near there?Those places usually have no job opportunities.Think about mainteance and property taxes.
Detroit is cold you have to keep the house warm up in the winter.
Even if no one lives in the house the house insurance would cost
twice as much.Besides,it's an industrial city ------ the car manufacturing centre of USA,so the air quality is not good either.

Stone Dolls

I am afraid Billy's worry is necessary ----- Sanlu used infant milk formula which could cause kidney stones in some other products.
Baby forumla should not be changed because babies' stomachs are sensitive and change in the baby formula may upset their stomachs.
If for any reasons parents have to change the forumla then have to
do it gradually.New born to 6 months old have the infant forumla because during these months they depend soley on milk.And those milk powder take up some of the ingrediants while adding others to make it as close to the human breast milk as possible.
Now since infant formula got problems,so did other baby products.

Milkpowder event

It's the best time for western to roll out healthy milk power in China.Nowadays everyone has a good understanding of food's relationship with health.But actually there is no safe milk in China and it's no longer a secret.I feel sad,especially for children.
Adults have responsibility to provide sufficiently great quality food
for kids.Kids are the hope of a nation.

I was cheated

Giant pandas in San Diego Zoo are interesting.At first glance,I thought she's fat,well,her belly was very funny----round as a ball.Obviously she enjoyed deluxe accommodations and extra vegetation,I wondered has she also enjoyed KFC?After my scrutiny,I bet she's pregnant.In fact,the mother panda was gently carrying her baby in her arms and the little baby was drinking milk.They naughty pandas successfully fooled me.

SELF.WASH

Ads say buying a CatGenie is like buying time.
I say buying a CatGenie is like buying sanitary.
It is interesting to see a cat go to the bathroom like a human.
Instead of litter,the modern cat bathroom uses comfy washable granules,drainage,a cold water connection and electric power.
After scrubing and scouring the cat box interior,a built-in dryer
blows hot air through the granules to dry them completely.
Well,I love the self-washing concept.Just push a button or preset
for automatic:scooping,flushing,washing,sanitizing and drying
-----It's ingenious.

Federal Bailout

Now the government tookover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is making waves far off American shores.Well,the good side is to prevent them from going bankrupt which will hurt many investors and home owners.The bad side is that it will cost all people.
It will definitely increase the deficit ---- money doesnot come from nowhere.

Aesthetics

Today mom spelled out the plan in detail to persuade us,well,she's professional in facials and massage for women and I know mom always wanted to be her own boss but she didnot have enough fund to open up a beauty salon.Now she has a nickel and dime business,I hope it'll be the start of something bigger.

Pet Memorial

I am considering buying a pet urn.It's odd to shop for urns,but sometimes you just need one...That is Life.I got into a fuss owning to my cat has blood in her poo.Yesterday morning mom was cleaning Snow White's litter box and noticed a small amount of fresh blood.
I've already put some fibre in her daily diet.Now we need a Vet.

Urbex

It's cool to see photos of urban exploration.
Well,human enviroments can be a lot like mazes ---- both above and below ground,cities,especially very old ones are home to interesting structures.I have no interest in tunnels and sewers at all coz I guess those places usually must have gross rats or other sick creepers.Besides,safety is a very important concern,tunnels and sewers may flood if it rains.But I do like exploring bunkers now lay neglected and forgotten.

Crazy Golf

I played Minigolf today,well,I like it coz it's much easier than golf.
It takes a lot of time,but I'm relatively good at it.
Now I am usually able to get under par.
Practice Makes Perfect.

OMG...IT'S TRUE!

LMAO~~There was a funny program about some areas in Saudi Arabia,in that area women dont let any man see their faces,not even their brothers.So a woman took her husband to the Court to file for divorce because her husband tried to see her face after 15 years marriage.They sleep together and have sex but the man doesnot see his wife's body.

High Adventure

It sounds impossible ---- Sky dining?LOL...Not sky diving.
That's a bit more dangerous activity,but sky dining is where people eat in the sky.First slip into the seat at the dining table,put on a harness and then up up up,go go go!Well,actually people are lift into the air by a large crane.In minutes,diners are suspended 50m above the ground.The high-backed chairs around the table can recline and swivel 180 degrees,allowing guests to take in the panoramic view.Hmmm,my idea is Dont drop the napkin.lol~~

Ash to Ash,Dust to Dust

Supermarkets like to boast that they can provide everthing you need,at Costco,it is true ---- it offers people's every need from the cradle to the grave.Weird? LOL,I thought it's no longer a piece of news.Creepy?Go and check those lovely caskets and cute urns on costco.com.Whatever,I certainly dont think Costco can give the range of services that the independent funeral homes do.

Funny GOP

My first impression was that elephant was urinating and he's appropriately clad in prison strips.LOL,what's with all the blue?
I dont think people would only glance and mistake it for Democratic Party and subsequently vote for McCain.Anyway,I still think McCain may win by a narrow margin.Well,I support Republican Party because it's believe the strength of a nation lies with the individual and that each person's freedom,ability,and opportunity,must be responsibly honored and protected.

Incorruptible Warrior

I have to admit Ningbo government was insidious and incredible sapiential.China now is under anti-corruption culture so I think
that online game would be a big hit,well......got a huge bunch of
money at the same time.lol.Obviously,the very things that
made the game popular also doomed it.The central government
was indeed dislike such RPG ---- JUST BAN IT!

PEI

"I'm not a bit changed--not really.I'm only just pruned down and branched out.The real ME--back here--is just the same." Anne of Green Galbes is a book by Canadian author L.M. Montgomery.Though it has been considered a children's book, I think the fiction is for readers of all ages.I like Anne coz she is brave and independent-minded,and always craving for literature.I dont like her much because of her stubbornness and series of mishaps.Well,I am just unable to resist the charms of that red hair girl.

Ill Luck

One hand holding the mouse the other hand continuing to pet my mouser,I again got lost in reading online.All was well in the world with me and with my cat.Suddenly she jumped toward to the computer,incatiously scratched my arm a little bit.OMG!
I didnot want myself getting infected and possibly causing cat
scratch disease from the infection.
So I quickly dabbed a tissue with water on the cut to clean up the wound scrupulously.Then I went to an outpatient clinic and had
a rabies inoculation there.Gee,the rabies inoculation was a little
bit more complicated procedure than I thought.
Well,the good thing is I feel relieved as I got a shot.

J'adore L'absolu

A fragrance is a personal thing.I dont buy perfume because I smelled
it on somebody else.As a young gal,I prefer light scents.I am not influenced by the brand name,but I've always got to fight with the temptation to buy the bottle just because it is pretty.
LOL...it is not my fault.Some bottle shapes do look beautiful.

World's Best Tasting Vodka

"You were automatically redirected to our website due to failed age verification."I see,to enter GreyGooseVodka.com,I must be of legal drinking age in my country of residence.Hey,I am not underage drinking I just entered the wrong date of birth.
I support responsible drinking,too.lol

In Christ Gloriam

Now it is illegal to teach creationism in public school,in other words,evolution has to be kept in the school curriculum.
Though I dont want religious explanations presented as "science",
I would like Creationist ideas to be taught about in classes other than science(such as Philosophy) or discussed as a "belief".Well,I dont take an absolutist position on this issue because sometimes "scientific theory" can not take the place of "belief".

MIT Masters Swimming

Eric is cynical----Nothing is free in this money-is-everything capitalism country,even the statue of liberty(free lady) is not free
at all.lol.Yup,I agree as something seems open to everyone,it is not actually.It is the huge amount and a wide variety of all kinds of tax backing up or the fees are paid implicitly in this or that way.
But look at the new announcements of Zesiger center pool:The Fall session runs from September 2nd to December 12th.The fee for students is 75$.I wonder who cares that 25$ one-month,not to mention the facilities,circumstance and service are excellent.

nohomers.net

"My favorite foods include...You're granted one wish......"
I filled out the survey:which character are you?
Well,it calculated the major simpsons character I'm like most.Here's the answer:You're absent-minded and unintentionally hilarious,but you still have an aura of innocence around you.
So if I was a Simpsons character I would be...RALPH.lol

Ex alto Fluor

Well,another McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 plane crashed,taking more than 150 souls,sigh...what a tragedy.I bet that series has some mechanical problems because of its spotty history. Marcel Dassault ever said:"Un avion qui est beau volera bien".In english it means "A plane that looks good will also fly good".I think MD Planes are all look good,but do they fly good as well?Let's wait and see.

Fairground

In the summer months,nothing stirs excitement like county fairs ---- they mean fun.Fair time is a busy time for farmers and the youth.
Locals enter their livestock,homemade products and crafts in fair competitions.
Animals,crafts,foods,demolition derby...well,in fact I like everything.
I also enjoy watchting children ride on the merry go round and the ferris wheel.Now I dont go on the rides myself because I have a chronic health condition----kinetosis,but I do like watching.

A costly victory

If you tell the truth,it is a simple game.If you're caught lying,you lose everything the game is over.Questions with the truth,the whole truth,and nothing but the truth.Some questions could get very personal,the player not only told the truth in front of all of america,they brought family and friends to the studio as well.I think some answers opened wounds so deep.It seemed they would ever be able to heal.Their revelations brought pain and devastation to the friends and families who came to support them.I was shocked---people were willing to confess anything in an attempt to win a big money.Sigh,the moment of truth has proven ppl will stop at nothing in their ruthless pursuit of cold,hard cash.

Biggest Hurdle

The game was over before it began.And Liu Xiang cannot soar any more.Too many people pinned their hopes on Liu so that pressure pushed him over the limit.Whose fault?His injury that would halt China's medal hopes was in fact not a secret at all.
Who really noticed that and cared about him?
Until he bowed out of the competition,fans crushed.
Whatever,I still like,appreciate and support him.

Why Milk?

For years,the National Dairy Council propagated "Milk:It Does a Body Good!"All that having been emphasized it's impossible to build strong bones without cow's milk.Milk,in my dictionary,appears to be the answer to a people's prayers---until last night,Bobby talked me about his RLS(Restless Legs Syndrome).That affirmed my question again---Do we really need milk to get enough Calcium?And the problem may get worse---Does Calcium leave the bones from drinking milk?

Stellar Field

What's on employer wish lists?Based on the lastest job-offer facts and findings,the most in-demand bachelor's degree suprises me ----Mechanical Engineering($57,821) is on the top of highlights.Wow! Proud for mechanical engineers!!But wait a minute,what are Ph.Ds' salary expectations?
I am just curious about how my "money machine" operates.lol

The Drums of Change

Pundits see the Olympics as a systemic challenge to American way of life.Well,my viewpoint is dont worried about that coz yes,I love the show,so magnificent,so gorgeous and so splendid.
But Question:Would I be willing to become one of the 2,000 perfectly synchronized drummers?Not on my life!
Think big:who wants to work on the factory assembly line?

Compulsive Behavior

I cannot live without television and,I value the Internet more.Well,
I find it difficult to imagine life offline----it may not be the end of the world,but it can feel like it.In other words,I've been attached to the Internet.No Internet,it's as if I've been transported back to the Dark Ages.lol.

Window-shop

I've always bought things on impulse----things I wanted but really didnot need.Most of my purchases were made without thinking first coz generally,for example I cannot resist plates on sale.And those pretty fruits also end up in my shopping bag.Why I do this?Well,it feels good.lol.

Fashion police

Why we need dress? At the beginning,we need protection.Then we want to be comfortable.Now we've got to dress for business first.Combining cool,casual comfort with a sharp business vibe is an art.As an image consultant for Alex,I always remind him this concept:most time "casual" means "sloppy".
And remember wardrobe is a big part of your business arsenal.Well,dress does matter because it sends a message about competence and professionalism.

World of Stand-ins

My rule--Be generous with praise,and careful with criticism.But I really feel it is so difficult to praise interestingly this time.Well,everyone read news knew about that lip-synched event which happened during Olympic performance.This is really unfair on everyone.I think each child is cute,especially with a chubby face.Surely,though the real singer has crooked teeth,I dont care coz every child is an angel.

Night-blooming Cereus

I watched the Opening Ceremony---too stunning to be true.While the show was awesome,I couldnot help but think of the many sad sights I saw,well,I agree with this point:that money could've been put to way better use feeding people and cleaning up other cities other than the one which will just host a bunch of foreigners for only 2 weeks.
Millions of dollars for a 2 hour spectacle is an absolute waste.Sigh,sometimes Great is a sin.

A lovely reception

I received a Wedding invitation and there's an RSVP card.Soon I will send the card back to say whether or not I plan to attend.Anyway,even if I cannot attend,I'll still send the couple a gift.Hmmm,maybe I should think about my big day.Well,I want my wedding ceremony take place in a church----only Alex and I and the priest,kinda like a secret ritual.Then in a park,Alex stands in front of the guests.I walk up an aisle through the guests.Music rings.After the ceremony there's a buffet,of course a fancy wedding cake,too.
We cut it together and then everyone eats a piece to wish us well.

Ho-hum

Look at the upcoming social calendar,sigh...it has a few too many holes in it.I cannot always wait to be invited to things.
Family obligations right now are the center of my world,well...they might not need to be.Espeically they are causing a conflict in my social life.Acutally,it's hard to balance the two worlds,but I have to.

No "giving in"

Recent changes in my family have been tough for me to get used to,but today I finally start to feel like I'm getting more into the groove.Grandma is pushing us to make a decision about something vital right now. My idea is then push right back.
What kills relationships is the lack of mutual respect.
Grandma think we under her authority are being willfully disobedient,so she definitely has to remind us of our place.I'm always one tough cookie,and I never be afraid to show it.But mom doesnot take kindly to being pressured,and her emotional reaction to this pressured is something hmm...crazy.Anyway,
I dont think it's good to get too angry,well,DO BE FORCEFUL.

Prechill dim sum

It lasted only a minute,but it was the most refreshed I've ever felt.I deeply fell love with snowy cake--all of a sudden my mouth was shockingly cold and soft.In such hot day,cold is welcome relief from heat and there's an unexploited asset.As the cold dissipated,I sensed the light aroma of the exquisite dough.

Eating With Chopsticks

Noodles and broth are constants,but here,in college,instant noodles
are more than just a quick meal.Everyone,especially students left hometown would have a love affair with instant noodles.It's a phenomenon.It's a way of lifestyle----eat-as-you-please.I eat them sometimes when I'm too lazy to go to the cafeteria.

Flying High

I WENT to see the Great Wall.Acutally,it was really great.It was really,really,really great.As Olympic games is drawing near,more and more people from all over the world realize China is pop.And they're ready to toss aside old ways of viewing things coz it's no longer a nation of uniforms--ppl neither dress alike,nor think alike.Now the big moment is soon to come,let's be patient.

Gardenly World

The greening of colleges is underway.When I arrived at Huadong Normal University one day this summer,I noticed there's a noticeable trend toward eco-friendly lifestyle on campus.Plants are apt to hit me square on the head with their fresh and beautiful,so I love to creat a home in the college dorm,seriously.Well,for me,plants always arenot enough and I dont like to do all the ornaments job by myself.

Pass muster?

What's so funny?Chicken without sexual life.lol.Frankly speaking,
I dont think this kind of menu would be able to cut the mustard.Translation has always been more an art than a science.
I have to point out such odd name for Chinese dish is awkwardly chosen but well,sometimes it's too difficult to translate coz it's not
only the way of cooking but also presents a distinct culture.

Flaming Plants

Mid-summer's here.It's time to soak up the sun,let's hit the botanical garden for a hot and meaningful day!Yesterday we did have a good time,though I was unhappy to find in Alex a disposition uncongenial with my own.But I executed this trick----I traipsed all over the garden looking for the perfect place for our picnic.(Alex would be content if his belly is content.lol) So I finally shot 295 pics as we were roaming there.Well,I love plants so much coz they can take me away from the concrete jungle.Moreover,I think plants are gems of the nature.

A Jewish village

I super mega ultra love "fiddler on the roof".It's the 1971 film version of the Broadway musical of the same name.Well,it's difficult for me to comment on it coz I love this incredible movie and the residents of Anatevka so much.They are regular people and always have to fight between dream and real life.Unfortunately,evil won't always lose to good in the end.But the stories of innovation and courage provide me with hope in my day.

A gem of Wuxi

It's always fun to see how rich ppl live and it's very interesting to see how rich ppl lived years ago.That's what I planed to do--visiting the masion of Xue Fucheng.It's a traditional Chinese villa,a two-story house with many rooms connected by open-air walkways and beautiful gardens.Though the mansion isnot as big as the Forbidden City,it sprawls complex of many nooks and crannies that easy for children to hide from one another.And it's definitely a place where tourists like to go because we can learn more about the ancient local culture.

On Top of Delicious

I've often suspected that dad has some preternatural bond with the white corn agnolotti filled with greens,grandpa with sweet and sour bream and grandma with the red soybean su ji.Now I'm wondering about mom and the freshwater prawn.Whoaaaaaa!So yummy,I bet there's no one coaxing better from it than she.

Yung-sytle Cooking

This week Heidi is looking at pork as the theme.
I actually quite like pork in dishes,but a lot of westerners dont use too much pork in cooking becuase of it's "particular" flavour.
Well,the porky flavour is normally way too strong.That's why my family put the meat into the boiler and boil them before "official" cooking. Usually,we do the same thing to many kinds of meat,specially for those strong odor,for example,lamb.In this way,the "particular" flavor is thrown off.
And at the same time,it also saves the time of cooking.
Btw,dont forgot put ginger,shallots and cooking wine because they really kill any of that smell.

Rain Wreaks Havoc

The weathercast reported Shanghai would be showered every day in the coming days.It seems that July is closing with rain,and Augest will open with the same kind of weather.Look out of the window,the threatened water famine has become a thing of past,the storm is now sprinkling the city hard.Well,I like this feeling--summer vacation with rain.

Joie de vivre

Why eat indoors when you can grab a blanket,fill a picnic basket and enjoy the great outdoors?It's tangy BBQ time.Picnic is relaxed and casual.Usually I dont create a big meal,just eat simple foods.In other words,it's not elaborate.So I dont need a lot of time to prepare.I go picnic because I wanna be "fresh".I probably wear very comfortable clothes coz it's not a formal event.I wanna be outdoors,not do very much,enjoy the scenery,even stretch out and take a nap after lunch.How wonderful!

Fairies Wear Hats

I had a hard time shopping at a hat boutique---because of the wide variety of hats it carries.It has feather hats,satin hats,suede and hats trimmed with silk flowers,sequins and rhinestones.I intended to buy just one,but I favored three elegant hats,sigh...it was really a torturous job to choose only one to wear.In the end,I chose a sassy one,which I couldnot resist buying.Hats are designed to avoid sun radiation while also complementing the face,in other words,I believe hats can add glamour and mystery.So I'd like to keep my hat on.

Hello from Bristol

Last night a friend said something interesting to me,such like CCTV cameras are like security cameras that film them all,it's like the big brother watching over them in the UK 24 hours a day.(Ya know in UK they have more CCTV cameras on the streets than any other country)They were used to it,and the good thing is that those cameras capture people commiting crimes.Wow....CCTV finally got a good reputation overseas.And he experienced a thrilling and excited Balloon Fiesta.
I watched that festival video on youtube,madly love it.Bristol without balloons would be like London without the red buses.

Trompe L’oeil

They say that when the Greek gods were bored,they invented humans.Still bored,they invented love.That wasnot boring,so they tried it themselves.All along,I didnot think Greek gods know what is love,they were immutable though.They only had the ground rules going for them----Lust and Power.Lately,however, I'm getting really horny thinking of Alex.Well,platonic love may not be so platonic in fact.I realize "Project Plato" doesnot work on me at all.
I'm always V-lust and Alex is always X-power,and we are always in character.