Monday, June 28, 2004
Hybrid cars
Two of my students are driving a Toyota Prius, the hottest name in automobile world these days, one is driving the 2001 model and the other 2004 model.
When the next day I went to check out our local dealership to have a 'test drive', I was told they don't even have a demo car, it's all sold-out. "Go to Berkeley, they may have a demo car!" How often did you hear a dealership refer you to their competitors?
Next week, Ernie gave me a ride to the class, and I got my first-hand experience on the hybrid.
First of all, I had to say it's very cool to see a car with a almost toy-size gear shifter, and it only has 4 gear positions, Parking, Drive,Neutral, and Brake, the last one is used only when you want to collect more kinetic back to the battery, the reason a hybrid can save energy.
Another thing Ernie proudly showed me was when we were in front of a red-light, I didn't know what he did, but the car was *dead quiet*, without *any* noise, not even a Lexus can do that, haha.
I guess I will do some soul-searching and see if it's worth the pain to wait for 6 months for a Prius, or a Honda Civic hybrid,
When the next day I went to check out our local dealership to have a 'test drive', I was told they don't even have a demo car, it's all sold-out. "Go to Berkeley, they may have a demo car!" How often did you hear a dealership refer you to their competitors?
Next week, Ernie gave me a ride to the class, and I got my first-hand experience on the hybrid.
First of all, I had to say it's very cool to see a car with a almost toy-size gear shifter, and it only has 4 gear positions, Parking, Drive,Neutral, and Brake, the last one is used only when you want to collect more kinetic back to the battery, the reason a hybrid can save energy.
Another thing Ernie proudly showed me was when we were in front of a red-light, I didn't know what he did, but the car was *dead quiet*, without *any* noise, not even a Lexus can do that, haha.
I guess I will do some soul-searching and see if it's worth the pain to wait for 6 months for a Prius, or a Honda Civic hybrid,
Monday, June 21, 2004
什么是家？
终于看完了"浪漫故事"，几乎是一口气看完的，从第一集的开篇主题曲就很喜欢，特别是歌词：
"
背靠着背坐在地毯上，听听音乐聊聊愿望，你希望我越来越温柔，我希望你放我在心上，
你说想送我个浪漫的梦想，谢谢我带你找到天堂，哪怕用一辈子才能完成，只要我讲你就记住不忘，
我能想到最浪漫的事，就是和你一起慢慢变老，一路上收藏点点滴滴的欢笑，留到以后坐着摇椅慢慢聊，
我能想到最浪漫的事，就是和你一起慢慢变老，直到我们老的那儿也去不了，你还依然把我当成手心里的宝
"
我向来看连续剧不听主题歌，总是快进倒过去，唯有这首歌，不仅片头听了，片尾还听一遍。
整个剧情闹闹哄哄，和北美的生活有着巨大的反差，可是，最喜欢的还是'妈妈'在片尾的点题之言：
"把日子过好了，这才是根本，把简简单单的一粥一饭过顺当了，比什么都强。什么是家呀？家就是宝盖儿下边儿一群猪，要相互放在心上，一起快乐，一起吃苦，一起变老"
是啊，以前教学生的时候，我也经常跟他们说："看，中文多么科学，家就是房子里又有一头猪"，可这次看到这段儿，还是很有感受，'把一粥一饭过顺当了，比什么都强'，这话真的是很精辟的道理，只可惜能懂这个理的人真得不多，能做到的就更少了，生活中往往是最简单的是最难做到。
最近一连看了好几个大陆的连续剧，'一年又一年'，'别了，温哥华'，'结婚十年'，真得快成了我做'海龟'的最大动力了。
是的，我大概是想家了。。。
"
背靠着背坐在地毯上，听听音乐聊聊愿望，你希望我越来越温柔，我希望你放我在心上，
你说想送我个浪漫的梦想，谢谢我带你找到天堂，哪怕用一辈子才能完成，只要我讲你就记住不忘，
我能想到最浪漫的事，就是和你一起慢慢变老，一路上收藏点点滴滴的欢笑，留到以后坐着摇椅慢慢聊，
我能想到最浪漫的事，就是和你一起慢慢变老，直到我们老的那儿也去不了，你还依然把我当成手心里的宝
"
我向来看连续剧不听主题歌，总是快进倒过去，唯有这首歌，不仅片头听了，片尾还听一遍。
整个剧情闹闹哄哄，和北美的生活有着巨大的反差，可是，最喜欢的还是'妈妈'在片尾的点题之言：
"把日子过好了，这才是根本，把简简单单的一粥一饭过顺当了，比什么都强。什么是家呀？家就是宝盖儿下边儿一群猪，要相互放在心上，一起快乐，一起吃苦，一起变老"
是啊，以前教学生的时候，我也经常跟他们说："看，中文多么科学，家就是房子里又有一头猪"，可这次看到这段儿，还是很有感受，'把一粥一饭过顺当了，比什么都强'，这话真的是很精辟的道理，只可惜能懂这个理的人真得不多，能做到的就更少了，生活中往往是最简单的是最难做到。
最近一连看了好几个大陆的连续剧，'一年又一年'，'别了，温哥华'，'结婚十年'，真得快成了我做'海龟'的最大动力了。
是的，我大概是想家了。。。
Thursday, June 17, 2004
文学城？问学城？
我一直喜欢上文学城看新闻，各种实事不仅关切中国，而且与北美人士关联甚紧； 加上"难得一笑"，"私房小菜"等栏目有时实在是很好的消遣内容。
可是最近发现一个有趣的现象，文学城上的新闻栏目喜欢以问号结尾，耸人听闻，仅用一些问题做文章标题，甚至有时失去了'新闻报道'的意义。
令人觉得文学城似乎成了"问学城"。
比如今天的文学城上的30+个标题中就有 ：
海外百感：钓美国金龟婿，你以为人家真的傻？
往事如烟------毛泽东直系亲属今何在?
真爱只存在于银幕上? 好莱坞百年令人惊叹的爱情
希拉里 一个勇敢的女人还是一个无耻的女人？(组图)
传党校再爆贩卖文凭丑闻 曾庆红被团派抓到辫子?
《唐山大地震》招演员惹争议 拍裸戏到底为哪般?
其实世上本无美女？不服气的进来看看(组图)
你真的了解女人？---女人给男人的13个忠告
哥们!你摆不平!在美国违章为什么不能托人？
能挣钱不如嫁个好老公？女性理财五大误区
杂闻凑兴------回国纪事：首都性福知几多？
华人靠假结婚获得美国绿卡风险有多大?
更不用说其他以惊叹号结尾的标题了，象：
男人小心！在海外生活 你千万别打老婆啊！
张惠妹骂也骂完了，各位愤青，该干什么干什么去！
几斤炸药可让三峡库水「一洩千里」央视张羽语出惊人!
可是最近发现一个有趣的现象，文学城上的新闻栏目喜欢以问号结尾，耸人听闻，仅用一些问题做文章标题，甚至有时失去了'新闻报道'的意义。
令人觉得文学城似乎成了"问学城"。
比如今天的文学城上的30+个标题中就有 ：
海外百感：钓美国金龟婿，你以为人家真的傻？
往事如烟------毛泽东直系亲属今何在?
真爱只存在于银幕上? 好莱坞百年令人惊叹的爱情
希拉里 一个勇敢的女人还是一个无耻的女人？(组图)
传党校再爆贩卖文凭丑闻 曾庆红被团派抓到辫子?
《唐山大地震》招演员惹争议 拍裸戏到底为哪般?
其实世上本无美女？不服气的进来看看(组图)
你真的了解女人？---女人给男人的13个忠告
哥们!你摆不平!在美国违章为什么不能托人？
能挣钱不如嫁个好老公？女性理财五大误区
杂闻凑兴------回国纪事：首都性福知几多？
华人靠假结婚获得美国绿卡风险有多大?
更不用说其他以惊叹号结尾的标题了，象：
男人小心！在海外生活 你千万别打老婆啊！
张惠妹骂也骂完了，各位愤青，该干什么干什么去！
几斤炸药可让三峡库水「一洩千里」央视张羽语出惊人!
Monday, June 07, 2004
How old is Bush Sr. ?
Our CEO just announced that we don't have to work this Friday! in
honor of ex-President Reagan, Domestic markets (equity, bond and
futures) will be closed, as will most Federal agencies.
I just can't help laughing when my coworker asked then: "How old is Bush Sr. ? "
honor of ex-President Reagan, Domestic markets (equity, bond and
futures) will be closed, as will most Federal agencies.
I just can't help laughing when my coworker asked then: "How old is Bush Sr. ? "
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Tear down this wall !
Today, the 40th president of the United States - Ronald Reagan died
today, you cannot turn to any media without seeing or hearing this
famous quote "Mr Gorbachev, Tear down this wall!", which he made in
1987 during a visit to Berlin.
I don't really recall knowing too much about Ronald Reagan, other than
knowing that he used to a Hollywood movie star, given that I only came
to the US in '94. And I really can't say I had any really good or bad
memory about him, the only thing I remembered impressed about him was
that he certainly looked like a very healthy 78-year-old man to me.
However, I can't ignore the memory I had for what had happened during
this term, well, whoever spent time in Beijing or China during the
year of 1989, who can forget what had happened in Tian'anmen Square,
Beijing and a lot of places in China. I was in my 3rd year in the
college, and was fortunate enough to be able to see many of the event
with my own eyes, and more fortunate was that I was still be able to
type this at this time, I was on the square in the afternoon of June
3rd, looking for the flags of our university, not knowing that my
sister, my future 'brother-in-law' were all looking for me. Without
finding the flag, I finally headed home, and got home around 8pm that
night.
It's a coincident that 06/04 was my expiration date of my Chinese
passport, I have been forgetting it until the night before, then on
that day, I was really a little reluctant to go on this sensitive
date, but to my surprise, other than some pictures posted on several
boards in front of the consulate, and Mr. Zhou Fengsuo, whom I only
saw on the newspaper shortly after the 64 event, as "the most wanted",
he was answering a girl's questions, so I didn't bother to say hi to
him. A few media trucks are there, probably as disappointed as I was
relieved.
today, you cannot turn to any media without seeing or hearing this
famous quote "Mr Gorbachev, Tear down this wall!", which he made in
1987 during a visit to Berlin.
I don't really recall knowing too much about Ronald Reagan, other than
knowing that he used to a Hollywood movie star, given that I only came
to the US in '94. And I really can't say I had any really good or bad
memory about him, the only thing I remembered impressed about him was
that he certainly looked like a very healthy 78-year-old man to me.
However, I can't ignore the memory I had for what had happened during
this term, well, whoever spent time in Beijing or China during the
year of 1989, who can forget what had happened in Tian'anmen Square,
Beijing and a lot of places in China. I was in my 3rd year in the
college, and was fortunate enough to be able to see many of the event
with my own eyes, and more fortunate was that I was still be able to
type this at this time, I was on the square in the afternoon of June
3rd, looking for the flags of our university, not knowing that my
sister, my future 'brother-in-law' were all looking for me. Without
finding the flag, I finally headed home, and got home around 8pm that
night.
It's a coincident that 06/04 was my expiration date of my Chinese
passport, I have been forgetting it until the night before, then on
that day, I was really a little reluctant to go on this sensitive
date, but to my surprise, other than some pictures posted on several
boards in front of the consulate, and Mr. Zhou Fengsuo, whom I only
saw on the newspaper shortly after the 64 event, as "the most wanted",
he was answering a girl's questions, so I didn't bother to say hi to
him. A few media trucks are there, probably as disappointed as I was
relieved.
