yo

Today on my way to work, I saw a car was towed. There was mud covering the tires of the car, and on the back of the car there was a banner says: YO HATE IS THE FUEL TO MY FIRE. The whole scene was so funny and I couldn't keep from laughing.

This afternoon when I was programming, I came across a function called "mktime" which caught me into deep deep thoughts.. Time, one of the few things money can't buy, when I say hi to time, time has already traveled the whole world.

p.s. my friend Yuejian has been back from the trip to Japan and China, and he posted a lot of amazing photos on his blog, check time out yuejian's blog

byproducts

financial gains are simply byproducts of a good process improvement.

-- wikipedia, "six sigma"

similarly, children are byproducts of "in the moment" sex.

thoughtful

I have been interested in "scripting language" since 2005. scripting language is a computer programming language which computer use to interpret text files. For example, google uses PERL and PYTHON to interpret and manage search results and streamline the whole search process, manage websites, etc. I am interested in it because in my research I need to process computed data as well, and my favorite is PYTHON. Here is a poem that is written in a python book, which I found thoughtful. And of course, thoughtful is better than ignorance.

Beautiful is better than ugly.
Explicit is better than implicit.
Simple is better than complex.
Complex is better than complicated.
Flat is better than nested.
Sparse is better than dense.
Readability counts.
Special cases aren't special enough to break the rules.
Although practicality beats purity.
Errors should never pass silently.
Unless explicitly silenced.
In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess.
There should be one - and preferably only one - obvious way to do it.
Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you're Dutch.
Now is better than never.
Although never is often better than RIGHT now.
If the implementation is hard to explain, it's a bad idea.
If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.
Namespaces are one honking great idea - let's do more of those!

- Tim Peters, "The Zen of Python"

car dealer again

after 2 weeks, the engine light of my car went on again last night, so today I drove it to the dealership near my work place. After 2 hours, it is fixed. This time the problem is called "evaporation system leak", OMG, this sounds a little serious. So I did a little research after i got at the work place to find

Evaporative Emission Control System Incorrect Purge Flow

The "EVAP purge flow" faults are issues between the carbon cannister and the intake. The EVAP leak detection generally concerns the fuel tank to carbon cannister plumbing.

A little background. The EVAP or evaporative emission system is a control system to keep vapors from evaporation in the fuel tank from getting into the atmosphere. The fuel tank is not vented, but rather the vapors are piped to the carbon cannister (usually located behind the pass. side front wheel) where the charcoal element absorbs the vapor. This is actually a vapor "storage" device. Under certain engine operating conditions, the ECU activates the Cannister Purge Valve (N80) which opens and allows the engine vacuum to suck the fuel vapors back out of the carbon cannister. This purges the vapor, allowing the cannister to absorb more vapor. This evap system has been on vehicles since the '70s.

As part of the OBDII standard effective for 1996 cars and newer, it was mandated that leaks in the systems must be detected and reported as a fault which will set the Check Engine Light (CEL). To detect leaks, the system is pressurized by a pump so that leaks can be detected by a lack of appropriate pressure in the system. If there is a leak, such as a cracked vent hose, loose (or leaky) gas cap, poorly installed or defective O-rings on the fuel level senders on the fuel tank, etc. a code will be set. On the cannister to intake side, leaks are detected by deviations in the idle control system. If you have leaks in the lines from the carbon cannister to the intake, intake leaks, a defective purge valve, etc you will often get purge flow faults.

My first recommendation is to closely inspect all the small vacuum lines connected to the intake manifold. The corrugated plastic lines are often the culprits, as well as the fabricate covered vacuum lines. Also consider replacing the gas cap.

OK, nothing too serious. The first car that I drove for 3 years has SMOKE keep coming out, sometimes with a weird sound from the brake. I donated it to an institute that I found online, before I moved to MS. But I miss that car, as she taught me how to drive and helped me move between 3 apartments. How have you been, HONDA?

NINJA

NINJA - No Income No Job or Assets

-- online forum

restroom graffiti

The only way to achieve greatness is to remember that everything you do will be forgotten. And not care.

-- restroom graffiti in the Cups coffee shop

marriage

It's not fight that causes divorce; stopping fight and shunning away from communication do.

-- radio, "intelligence and music for your life"

requirements for a success

Success is a function of talents (inborn abilities) and skills (acquired competencies). No amount of emotional self-control can turn a person into a successful musician, football player, or trader. Once individuals possess the requisite talents and skills for success, however, then psychological factors become important. Psychology dictates how consistent you are with the skills and talents you have; it cannot replace those skills and talents.

-- Brett N. Steenbarger, Ph.D.

Minneapolis in google earth

Tian's apartment

in google earth. If I have time I will learn the google language KML to add flood to my apartment
plz don't sniper me

Kia has the best warranty

My car is a 2006.5 Kia Optima V6 Lx model. It's called "2006.5" model because it is the 2nd model Kia manufactured in 2006. It comes with a basic 5yr/6k miles warranty.

Today when I drive to lunch, the "check engine" light turned on, and I was freaked. "What? I just bought it for a month, and now what?" Then I told myself, this problem was not caused by me or any accident, so the warranty should cover. Then I drove to a Kia dealer very close by. An hour later, I got it fixed -- it's just a pressure sensor. If I bring it to a garage, it might cost me a day to fix it.

Save a day on fixing car, $hundreds,
Save an engine repair, $thousands,
knowing that you are covered, priceless.

When my car reach 6k miles, I will buy extended warranty or trade in for a new car.

Mark Twain

It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.
-- Mark Twain

2008 resolution

make some friends, do good in job, make money