Oh my, tiger jumped out of cage and killed somebody! See this news.
Zoos are relatively safe, we don't hear much news about dangers at the zoo. But there is this potential threat. Oh my, that potential threat became kinetic this time.
The old (Chinese) proverb "Nurture Tiger that would be a Threat" says if we keep someone potentially dangerous around, it will eventually come back to bite you. This usually refers to people, such as an dishonest employee, or some disloyal general who is ready to overthrow the emperor.
This death would make zoos tighten up their cage (or the designing of it). Lawsuits may result and the victim's family may receive some $ as settlement. That's it. A precious life is lost. Sadly, everybody else's life goes on.
Perhaps it is time to evaluate. Do we need zoos? Animals are expensive to keep. Tigers eat up lots of chickens! Is there enough people willing to pay $ to visit (and to smell) them to pay for the $ require to feed them? Wildlife belongs to the wild. Trapping them isn't so fun for the animals either?
Wildlife are going extinct due to over hunting. We killed most of them and trapped the remaining ones. Sorry folks, it IS a cruel world. If we let them go free, they will take up precious real estate, and will more likely to bite you. So zoos seem to be a good solution to keep the wild alive and contain them so we are safe.
If we are to have zoos, let's make sure it is absolutely safe. Otherwise, nurturing tigers is a threat.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas
Shopping for gifts! Get togethers! Christmas programs at churches! Songs at shopping malls say "it's the most wonderful time of the year". It is not so wonderful; it is the most hectic. Christmas and New Year are only 1 week apart and many people take the whole week off. Some lazy people take the entire December off.
That's why it is "Happy Holidays".
People go crazy for shopping. Entire toys department at department stores are wiped clean. For stores it is THE time of their year to collect money. Makes me wonder: why DON'T you get toys for the children any other time of year?
People jammed the airlines for Christmas get together. Makes me wonder: why DON'T you visit your family any other time of year?
Who actually remembers Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birthday? By the way. Jesus himself never mentioned anything about celebrating his birthday. He ONLY told people to remember him in the Last Supper, for going on the cross. He never told people to buy gifts for each other to celebrate his birthday! Perhaps people are copying the mysterious wise men who gave baby Jesus gifts. BTW, those are not toys. Gold is a good gift for Joseph and Mary (and also for me) :) What about the scents and the myrrh stuff?? What are they good for?
Note: The Bible actually didn't say there were 3 wisemen. People inferred that each guy bought 1 gift. These mysterious guys never come back to celebrate Jesus' subsequent birthdays. In fact, these guys actually never appeared again in the New Testament. Just who are these guys? About that star that they followed: is it the Haley's comet that came every 76 years, or some other comet? But it STAYED at the stable. Is it a UFO?? Is there an explanation from astronomy?
If we copy these wise guys, we should simply buy baby gifts when they are born, that's all. No need to fuss buying Christmas gifts every year.
Here is a little known Bible statement about gifts: Acts 20:35. Paul says:
Another mysterious thing: This supposedly Jesus's statement was not included in the gospels! Ok, let's not start scholar debate, just suppose Jesus told him directly during their meeting in Damacus, ok?
However, Christmas does bring some joys to kids. They receive gifts and just have happy moods. Heartful folks also have a reason to visit some old and lonely elderly folks at elderly homes. Let them have it. Let them have moments of joy and a merry Christmas.
That's why it is "Happy Holidays".
People go crazy for shopping. Entire toys department at department stores are wiped clean. For stores it is THE time of their year to collect money. Makes me wonder: why DON'T you get toys for the children any other time of year?
People jammed the airlines for Christmas get together. Makes me wonder: why DON'T you visit your family any other time of year?
Who actually remembers Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birthday? By the way. Jesus himself never mentioned anything about celebrating his birthday. He ONLY told people to remember him in the Last Supper, for going on the cross. He never told people to buy gifts for each other to celebrate his birthday! Perhaps people are copying the mysterious wise men who gave baby Jesus gifts. BTW, those are not toys. Gold is a good gift for Joseph and Mary (and also for me) :) What about the scents and the myrrh stuff?? What are they good for?
Note: The Bible actually didn't say there were 3 wisemen. People inferred that each guy bought 1 gift. These mysterious guys never come back to celebrate Jesus' subsequent birthdays. In fact, these guys actually never appeared again in the New Testament. Just who are these guys? About that star that they followed: is it the Haley's comet that came every 76 years, or some other comet? But it STAYED at the stable. Is it a UFO?? Is there an explanation from astronomy?
If we copy these wise guys, we should simply buy baby gifts when they are born, that's all. No need to fuss buying Christmas gifts every year.
Here is a little known Bible statement about gifts: Acts 20:35. Paul says:
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Another mysterious thing: This supposedly Jesus's statement was not included in the gospels! Ok, let's not start scholar debate, just suppose Jesus told him directly during their meeting in Damacus, ok?
However, Christmas does bring some joys to kids. They receive gifts and just have happy moods. Heartful folks also have a reason to visit some old and lonely elderly folks at elderly homes. Let them have it. Let them have moments of joy and a merry Christmas.
Friday, December 21, 2007
The Immortal Game
Chess players (even amateur players) should read about the Immortal Game. It is named that way for a reason. Read all about it in Wiki.
It is extremely entertaining to see how white sacrified everything in almost silly looking moves to capture the black king.
Wiki has a great animation GIF to show each move for this short game. For me, this gives me a more big WOW than watching olympic atheletes do amazing diving or some ice skating champion completing some outrageous difficult moves.
I saw a recent full book length discussion of this game. See
here.
Chess is difficult
Chess is actually a VERY difficult game. Every move has some gives and takes, and it takes patiences, strategy, and just lots of know-hows to be considered a real player out of amateur level. The 8x8 board is small. There is only a few moves for setup before a clash between the knights, pawns and bishops take place. (The rooks and queen are usually supposed to quietly watch these clash happen early in the game)
Books may help me improve my game but they are too hard to read at present form.
Books are hard to read
Chess books are impossible for me to comprehend. It is hard to read them. Chess moves are captured in notations like 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4. Impossible for me to follow unless I play along with a real set. ISO: great looking wood set at a good prize. However, who has time to study this challenging recreation game, sometimes labeled BORING game? Life seems to have much much more higher priority than chess.
Levels vary
It is absolutely no fun to play with real beginners who let me capture their pieces like a hungry man go to a buffet (and can't figure out which square the queen go during setup). It also isn't so fun to let expert players capture my pieces like the hungry man either. My level? slightly better than someone who just learned the moves.
It is hard to find live players. Yes, the computer and the internet tirelessly play with you. But this is intended to be a human game.
Ideally chess is learned by better player coaching a more beginner player in a chess club or something. Again, who has time for that? That's a great teenage activity!
Interactive Chessbook, anyone?
Chess book is a GREAT candidate for an interactive book. There should be a media player style control that lets you see moves visually for example games, and let you actually play with a computer on end games. If electronic book readers can do that, that is a great step forward for technology over reading dead PDF files. There are many java or javascript chess move renderers out there, just not incorporated with a book. Unfortunately I am too amateur to author an interactive chess book.
It is extremely entertaining to see how white sacrified everything in almost silly looking moves to capture the black king.
Wiki has a great animation GIF to show each move for this short game. For me, this gives me a more big WOW than watching olympic atheletes do amazing diving or some ice skating champion completing some outrageous difficult moves.
I saw a recent full book length discussion of this game. See
here.
Chess is difficult
Chess is actually a VERY difficult game. Every move has some gives and takes, and it takes patiences, strategy, and just lots of know-hows to be considered a real player out of amateur level. The 8x8 board is small. There is only a few moves for setup before a clash between the knights, pawns and bishops take place. (The rooks and queen are usually supposed to quietly watch these clash happen early in the game)
Books may help me improve my game but they are too hard to read at present form.
Books are hard to read
Chess books are impossible for me to comprehend. It is hard to read them. Chess moves are captured in notations like 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4. Impossible for me to follow unless I play along with a real set. ISO: great looking wood set at a good prize. However, who has time to study this challenging recreation game, sometimes labeled BORING game? Life seems to have much much more higher priority than chess.
Levels vary
It is absolutely no fun to play with real beginners who let me capture their pieces like a hungry man go to a buffet (and can't figure out which square the queen go during setup). It also isn't so fun to let expert players capture my pieces like the hungry man either. My level? slightly better than someone who just learned the moves.
It is hard to find live players. Yes, the computer and the internet tirelessly play with you. But this is intended to be a human game.
Ideally chess is learned by better player coaching a more beginner player in a chess club or something. Again, who has time for that? That's a great teenage activity!
Interactive Chessbook, anyone?
Chess book is a GREAT candidate for an interactive book. There should be a media player style control that lets you see moves visually for example games, and let you actually play with a computer on end games. If electronic book readers can do that, that is a great step forward for technology over reading dead PDF files. There are many java or javascript chess move renderers out there, just not incorporated with a book. Unfortunately I am too amateur to author an interactive chess book.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Geography fun
Test your geography knowledge:
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq
I am sure most students will find out how little they know. Students pay too little attention to world geography, because it doesn't matter to them. For instance, where does the location of Washington DC matter?
While that is true, knowledge of pretty much EVERYTHING doesn't really matter isn't it? What does the knowledge of water = H20 matter either?
But folks, not all knowledge have a practical "use". It is for the purpose of understanding! Students need to have a understanding of who they are and the world they live in. Everyone should know where their country is on earth and where the major countries are. Knowledge of map also helps understand history.
Parents: buy your kids toy globes! and maps! Show them around! Ask them to locate the city you live in. Ask them to play game of locating countries and cities. Explain to the kids the tilt of the earth gives the seasons! Explain to them the earth's rotation gives us day and night. Parents are the best possible teachers for their own kids.
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq
I am sure most students will find out how little they know. Students pay too little attention to world geography, because it doesn't matter to them. For instance, where does the location of Washington DC matter?
While that is true, knowledge of pretty much EVERYTHING doesn't really matter isn't it? What does the knowledge of water = H20 matter either?
But folks, not all knowledge have a practical "use". It is for the purpose of understanding! Students need to have a understanding of who they are and the world they live in. Everyone should know where their country is on earth and where the major countries are. Knowledge of map also helps understand history.
Parents: buy your kids toy globes! and maps! Show them around! Ask them to locate the city you live in. Ask them to play game of locating countries and cities. Explain to the kids the tilt of the earth gives the seasons! Explain to them the earth's rotation gives us day and night. Parents are the best possible teachers for their own kids.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
More Gun Violence from Emotional Disturbed
Besides the friends and families of the poor victims of the Virginia Tech Cho Sum Hui incident a while ago, it seems like America has almost forgotten the horror of the emotionally disturbed with guns. This has not completely faded from my mind as we see another horrible incident at Omaha shopping mall, where a disturbed teen shot 9 people including himself.
This guy lost job at McDonald and just emotionally disturbed. He lived in a friend's house like a homeless puppy. He was a complete loser and yet he wants to be famous and be remembered. Look, there is a difference between famous and infamous. Shooting innocent victims is a horrible, infamous way to get onto the headline.
We have 2 problems here.
1. Just how guns should be controlled?
2. How to help the emotionally disturbed?
Guns: just how does that kid have access to the AK-47? only police should have guns! Only the military should have AK-47! Better yet: nobody owns guns, everybody live in peace (now that's daydreaming). Repeal the 2nd Amendment! Collectors: there are much more stuff that are fun to collect, like rare coins. Please don't collect lethal weapons! Don't shoot wildlife! Let them live in peace! But this is the freedom that Americans treasure, even risking losing life to criminals and reckless emotional disturbed.
The kid is emotionally disturbed. Uncaring parents? Who knows. But I am sure the parents (and stepparents) played a major role in his disturbed life. Parents! You must take care of your kids! If you don't who do you suppose to do that?
Ok, 19 year old dude. Losing your job at McDonald is not the end of the world. You need to STAND UP against anything that is not working out for you.
But how do you do reasoning with the emotionally disturbed?
When will the next emotionally disturbed person shoot?
This guy lost job at McDonald and just emotionally disturbed. He lived in a friend's house like a homeless puppy. He was a complete loser and yet he wants to be famous and be remembered. Look, there is a difference between famous and infamous. Shooting innocent victims is a horrible, infamous way to get onto the headline.
We have 2 problems here.
1. Just how guns should be controlled?
2. How to help the emotionally disturbed?
Guns: just how does that kid have access to the AK-47? only police should have guns! Only the military should have AK-47! Better yet: nobody owns guns, everybody live in peace (now that's daydreaming). Repeal the 2nd Amendment! Collectors: there are much more stuff that are fun to collect, like rare coins. Please don't collect lethal weapons! Don't shoot wildlife! Let them live in peace! But this is the freedom that Americans treasure, even risking losing life to criminals and reckless emotional disturbed.
The kid is emotionally disturbed. Uncaring parents? Who knows. But I am sure the parents (and stepparents) played a major role in his disturbed life. Parents! You must take care of your kids! If you don't who do you suppose to do that?
Ok, 19 year old dude. Losing your job at McDonald is not the end of the world. You need to STAND UP against anything that is not working out for you.
But how do you do reasoning with the emotionally disturbed?
When will the next emotionally disturbed person shoot?
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Science of ...
A LONG time ago I saw some email forwarded from the academic world: the science of Santa Claus. So there are so many households that Santa need to visit on Christmas night, so many cities to travel. The reindeers would have to fly so many miles/hour and and have so much powerful fuel and he only had so many microseconds in each household to accomplish all these feat. That article was a short reading and look semi serious.
I subscribe to "How Stuff Works: Daily Stuff Feed" from iGoogle, and today there is a full length version. I see a trend in scientific writing: the science of fictional things. I've seen book titles about the physics of Superheroes, magics of Harry Potter, and even Buffy the Vampire.
Opinion: there is NO need to investigate the science of super heroes and fictional characters such as Santa. These are fairy tales. Let fairy tales be fairy tales. Look folks, all Santa is a marketing hype to urge you to buy stuff. If these scientist read kung fu fictions are they going to analyze the energy from bone crushing techniques of the 18 Anti-dragon Palms? Scientists probably should have better things to do.
"How Stuff Works" is often a great source of information. Curious folks, especially kids should read it! (But select topics more meaningful than Santa Claus)
I subscribe to "How Stuff Works: Daily Stuff Feed" from iGoogle, and today there is a full length version. I see a trend in scientific writing: the science of fictional things. I've seen book titles about the physics of Superheroes, magics of Harry Potter, and even Buffy the Vampire.
Opinion: there is NO need to investigate the science of super heroes and fictional characters such as Santa. These are fairy tales. Let fairy tales be fairy tales. Look folks, all Santa is a marketing hype to urge you to buy stuff. If these scientist read kung fu fictions are they going to analyze the energy from bone crushing techniques of the 18 Anti-dragon Palms? Scientists probably should have better things to do.
"How Stuff Works" is often a great source of information. Curious folks, especially kids should read it! (But select topics more meaningful than Santa Claus)
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