parking in Japan

I found a funny picture on pbase.com. It says in Japan by its law you can't register a car without proof that you own or rent a parking place. Excuse me sir, by parking place, what do you mean? Does this one count?

convenience fee

"convenience fee", the second funniest term that I have heard or seen this year, only next to "American refugee" which I heard in a comedy talk show. Today I go online to pay my water utility fee of the last week, about 4 bucks. Then it said that if want to pay by credit card, a convenience fee of 3 dollars will be charged to my account. What? I was not convinced. Sometimes I have emotional problem. How could machine charge for money? This must be a scam! or even worse it might be a pyramid scheme!!

It is so not convenient.

miss snow

church on Sunday

This morning I went to an American church. well, American church, this term sounds funny, I mean, I don't go to the Chinese church any more, after some careful considerations. Some people feel more identity of themselves when with same kind of people, some others feel more identity around different people. I am the second kind, so I decide to go to an American church just 2 blocks away. Took a shower, have a breakfast, walk to church, worship God and make friends. Very simple. This afternoon they have a Christmas carol and a college student party in the evening. I need some relaxation before a whole busy week starts.

my work

mac rules

Now I believe Apple Inc makes the best computers. They make computer into electronics category, not machines. You power it on and use it, it is that simple. Forget about virus, memory leak and check your hard disk during reboot. I don't hate Windows, actually it does a good job for computer game industry, but a lot of people do. Some of these people turn to Linux for the control which Linux systems give to them. Once you touched Linux, you have entered another side of the computer world, called "open source". That means everything is free under Linux, but installation of software is pain, pain and pain. If you go to some freelance websites, you will find a lot of people are paying for some scripts to help install software. Simply put, Windows is good for personal pleasure, but not the best solution for business server; Linux is vice verse. Mac balances both worlds, after it switched from PowerPC CPU to Intel CPU and installed Linux kernal under its own Mac OS. That means its user has access to the whole world of open source, while enjoy the convenience and multimedia functions of a traditional Mac. I like the new imac, which integrates a whole computer within a monitor, at a price just above $1000. Impressive. But, when determining which computer to buy, more often than not people will consider its function first, style comes only after that. I wish Apple could use the money earned from ipod, iphone and stock market to develop some more killer functions of electronics. For example, I want to talk to blog, not type, is it possible? Another request, for Google, could you buy a satellite from government and provide cheap satellite internet connection at a cheap price? say to beat the nazi comcast, who charges installation fee? 

nothing important

My present boss got his phd in University of Minnesota in the 90s, Aerospace Engineering department, same as me. Yesterday and today, one of his college buddy came to our lab for a small conference, who works for a rocket science firm in Minneapolis. oh I miss Minnesota, when I saw the news about the snow storm on TV. "That's so sweet" I thought. Yes it is, 75 degree down here doesn't feel like Christmas. I am ready for a big snow!

We got a 6 million dollar project about hurricane. 6 million is a big number in the name of science, but it is a tiny amount in the name of politics. Everyone talk like politician during the meeting. Too bad only the indian lady and me are the only slaves doing the scientific sexy research, to make it even worse, she is pregnant, which means I am the only labor worker in our group. These days after work my legs are shaking due to too much coffee and not enough sleep. I am ready to be self-employed! what? don't believe me? say it again, I am ready for a full-body massage!

Can't believe Georgia is running out of water, should bring some from Minnesota down to the south..

tired

need sleep badly

peopledata.com

peopledata.com

where can find every details about you! 

Well, don't get scared yet, it can't find out the most recent information, at least that's the case for me. The search found my previous cell phone number and home address, but since then I have moved 3 times .. hah, I guess I have moved too fast for the software to catch up. What about you?

"cups" coffee shop

My friend google map told me that there are only 2 starbucks in the whole city, and the closest one is 6 miles away from my place. So I have to switch from my favorite coffee shop to a local force, "the Cups" coffee shop. It has broadband internet, great!! A cup of small coffee is only 1.22 dollar, compared to Starbucks' 1.66. I am sitting in it right now, typing on my computer. There are alot of students here, and I guess most of them are from Belhaven college, a school very close by. I will come here often.

This morning I went to a chinese church. The experience was fine. I learnt a message: don't forsake anything God grants you, for example your name as the oldest son. Yes Lord, I can throw away anything that's earned by me, but dare not throw away those given by you. Only you can take those away. My name as the oldest son of my parents, my name as a husband, and my name as a research associate, these are given by you, not by my own effort. Amen.

This afternoon I went to a christmas carol. Good experience. Good sign I begin to make friends.