Out you go, Blago; Obama calls CEOs shameful

Illinois government made history: Blagojevich is impeached out of office.
Unanimous vote. He has not a single friend left in the Illinois Senate. Will he face more charges and end up in prison?
Now that's a shameful removal from office... Please, Governor Quinn, restore Illinois.

Talk about shameful. Obama called those bailout CEO guys shameful for taking big bonuses. So what if you call them shameful,
so what if Nancy Peloski say "the party is over". What do these guys care. For big business CEOs, do they care being called shameful? Their spendings perhaps need to be
requested and approved. Ok it smells like communism but that may be what we need.

So some congresswoman calls them "idiots" and say they can't make more than the president. [news] Well if there really is such cap, the president's friends
will urge the president's salary be increased. I doubt this bill will become law.

I am not impressed with the following statment from Giuliani:

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani defended corporate bonuses Friday, saying that cutting them also means slashing jobs in the Big Apple.

"If you somehow take that bonus out of the economy, it really will create unemployment," he said on CNN's "American Morning." "It means less spending in restaurants, less spending in department stores, so everything has an impact."

How about this: give ME all that money, let ME spend some in restaurants and department stores.

MePhone?

Dell may be making Google and Microsoft phones. See this
news.

When Palm was hot item, Dell made its own PDA. They don't look as cool and probably not as good as the real thing.
So, I hope Dell can make a better small device this time. So far I have been happy with Dell's computers.

Now the name is interesting: MePhone. They just changed the subjective pronoun to objective pronoun. Come on, gotta get some original name.

This reminds me of several object-oriented programming language I used. When an object needs to reference itself.

C++ and Java uses "this".
Object Pascal (Delphi) uses "self".
Visual Basic uses "me"

Only in America: 5 kids no job -> death

In LA, a man with 5 kids and lost job decided to kill entire family. See this news for details.
'Better to end our lives' is what that fax he sent to the media.

Yikes that is horrible, and only happens in America.

Yes, 5 kids are huge financial burden, but also huge blessing! They look adorable and they are innocent.

Yes, econ times are bad. That family may struggle to find work. However there are many people in far worse situation such as in famine and war zones, and these less fortunate people know better.
Perhaps that man should file for bankruptcy or get public aid or something, there is gotta be a better solution than killing your own family.

That gun he used, how much did that cost? That probably can provide food for the family for a month or so? In America people get guns easily and hurt themselves.
In America, those who live in fairly luxury lifestyle has no idea how to live modestly.

Ancient proverb: the Big Gentleman (rough translation) can bend and stretch. People struggling should learn to how to adjust (bend) theselves.

Well it is that man's decision. (None of yours or my business) It is tragic to see five young children die.

When there are problems, look for solutions, don't give up that easily.

My experience with IE7

I rarely update any programs unless it becomes horribly outdated. IE6 still runs ok, I really didn't need to update, but I am seeing issues with some javascripts running fine on 6 but not on 7, so I had to update, and there is no turning back.
Ok, even IE7 is a bit out of date, IE8 is on the horizon.

IE7 now has tabs which Firefox pioneered, Microsoft loves to copy other people's ideas.
When you open a new tab, it says "You've opened a new tab". Duh, I KNOW that. Don't show me this message again.

Here is one thing I don't like. The URL bar is right under the title car and I can't move it. Since in the dawn of Windows the first thing under title bar is the dropdown menu. Other Microsoft products such as Excel and Word lets you drag the dropdown menu around why not IE?

The refresh button: where is it! From the beginning, the refresh buttons are big icons, next to Home. Now it is next to the URL bar.

Fonts are much prettier in IE7. Smooth. Anti-aliasing taking place? It is approaching the pretty fonts of the Macintosh.
Waita minute, even my Outlook has that font now. Did IE7 just updated my fonts in my Windows directory? Hey, I ask for IE7 updates, and Microsoft is messing with other things.

Favorites. Microsoft loves to copy other people's ideas and name it differently. Firefox calls it bookmarks and Microsoft calls it favorites. It retained my favorites but it sorted them WITHOUT my permission! Look, those favorites were put for my convenience!

It copied Firefox's search bar next to URL. How about some orginality?

Other than these minor gripes, I think IE7 runs fine. Most of my browser update experience was positive, gosh except Netscape 4 to Netscape 6 years ago.

Microsoft layoff

More layoff news, this time is Microsoft. See this news link.

I think computers now are getting close to point of diminishing return. No longer we need to buy a new one every couple years. And customers don't actually get much out of newest versions. Who needs Windows Vista? Who needs the horror of competely messed up redesign of Office 2007? I am happy with Office 2000 at home and will NOT ever upgrade.

Who needs that Windows 7?
Check out this video. Though nice tweaks, but I am not shelling out hundreds to pay for it.
Hmm, I had Windows 95 more than a decade ago. Are we going 88 versions backward with this Windows 7? It looks like 1993 versions backward if you compare with Windows 2000. I need compelling reason to get any new Microsoft products. I will be forced to upgrade when I get a new computer, so until then, I am sticking with XP (and so should you)

Kinkos vs Staples

So I got some copies to make, new menu flyers for Lee Wing Wah restaurant! Special Chinese New Year specials!
I have to thank Input Method Editor in Windows XP. Chinese input systems are difficult! Nothing beats the intuitiveness of handwriting recognition.

I need to make a few hundred copies. Ok, Kinkos is nearby.

Me: "Can I make an order of a few hundred copies?"
Clerk: "Can I SHOW you how to make a copy on self service machine?"
[Ok, I KNOW how to make copies before that clerk was born. All Kinkos I've been to are reluctant to take business]
Me: "Well I don't have time for that, can I still place an order"

After some fiddling my cost turns out to be $102.02.

Waita minute, I got 3 menus, 200 copies. So 600 copies, even at $0.10 a piece, it should be $60 + tax.

Me: How much is a copy?
Clerk: 11 cents each

It scared the daylight out of me. 11 cents! Even at 11 cents, 600x0.11 is still less than $100.00. I am not bothering arthimetic with the clerk.

Me: I am sorry, I'd like to cancel the order.

I walked a few blocks to Staples.

1. They gladly take orders.
2. It was 8 cents each so my total is just around $50.

There really is no reason at all to go to Kinkos. Poor service. Bad arithmetic. Expensive!

I can't explain why Kinkos is still in business with so many stores. Ok, they have 24 hour stores. How often do you have to make copies late night?
Kinkos ONLY do copies. Staples do more and better at copying.

Guitar Hero

You may have seen Guitar Hero game around your local department stores... I even saw a super mini LCD version from my colleague.

I got a chance to play the XBox version in department store... Ok, I hate the BIG X-box joystick but I played with a pseudo guitar on this game. Of course, this is not a real guitar. The game is much like Dance Dance Revolution, but you play on your guitar instead of jumping around. You get colorful buttons to press on the left hand AND you have to use your right hand at the same time as each note comes.

To get good at this game you need to able to hear the music and determine the beats and coordinate your fingers. I think it is fun. Kids who enjoy this game should attempt the real guitar (much harder). Guitar requires strong fingers and of course, lots of practice.

Is video gaming industry quiet now? or I just don't attempt to read their news... it seems there is no real real revolutionary games now. We are spoiled, games today are so rich in graphics...

IF I suddenly got free $ from nowhere, I would get a playstation III and play Street Fighter IV. Ok, that may give me some fun for a week. I am sure I can defeat the boss eventually :)

Frigid Temperature

Frigid temperature is hitting Chicago again, with -20 degree windchill. Previous forecast even say -40 degree.
Although news says it is one of the coldest days ever, but it certainly doesn't feel that way this morning. I've felt colder days. Perhaps the cold is yet to come later.

Is global warming really taking place? But everyone has seen videos of icebergs cracking and dire warnings.
Are lost icebergs re-forming now in your backyard?

So, water boils at 212°F = 100 °C. 70°F roughly equals 25°C. 32°F equals 0°C. °F tends to be way above °C.
Ok, what does -40 °F corresponds to in °C?

The answer is the same number: -40°C. Don't believe me? Check this out:
Google unit conversion

How can this be?

Well both Celsius and Fahrenheit are based on markings from water boiling and freezing point, in a linear relationship.
So what's the relationship between C and F? Celsius freezing and boiling point at 0 and 100; Fahrenheit freezing and boiling point at 32 and 212.

Algebra 1 students can relate: gee, instead of x and y, we can graph a relationship between C and F.
x and y are generic variable names, we can make it stand for something real.

We have two points on a graph: C vs F. (0,32), and (100,212).

We can determine the equation. Yes, find the slope and y-intercept. (212-32)/(100-0) = 180/100 = 9/5. The y-intercept is simply 32.
Ok folks, this is the formula you have seen: F = 9/5 (C) + 32.

What is the case where both F and C are equal? Let's find out! Let F = C: F = (9/5)F + 32. Solve for F you get -40.

Was your Algebra 1 knowledge useful?

IPhone and Clones

It seems like everyone loves the iPhone. Yes, sleek design and powerful... so colorful screen. It can even serve the web and play music and have GPS. It really is much, gosh much more than a phone. Check out the games! Very powerful graphic engine in there. Games not played by buttons, but by tilting/shaking the device. One especially popular game is the iPhone Labyrinth.

I got a chance to play with it at the Apple store. I also attempt to play a driving game by tilting left and right and thumbing on the gas pedal.

I even saw Pac man. But sorry, you don't have a joystick. You tilt and shake it... You just are not going to get good control and score high. I prefer buttons in video games, like the portable Playstation. Multiple buttons (just 2 or 4) offer much much more playability.

Although I don't quite like the iPhone design so much, there are many iPhone wannabe devices! Samsung got a few. Even Palm tries to stay in the market with its new iPhone wannabe: the Pre.
(Ok, you may also think it is a strange named product)

Palm HAD the popular product, it HAD a smart phone much earlier than Apple. Unfortunately it is not the king for long. How many people you know still play with Palm? I'd love to, but the screen get wacky and if I try to calibrate it it will be stuck in forever loop making me point to upper left and lower right.

Although color capability of previous Palm products were not nearly as cool as iPhone, it seems like the Pre is catching up. But alas, the Pre looks like a copy cat product! I don't predict Palm will make a big comeback, but may request bailout or disappear quietly. (Now that's sad)

I see no more PDAs on Palm's site. PDA market seems completely dead. The world is so against a mini notebook-like device... I LIKED the mini joystick navigation and 4 buttons design. Great for gaming and navigating. I think I'll like the google G1 phone. Can somebody let me play?

My Disney Experience

Disney certainly has such magic... It was certainly a pleasant experience. So what should I expect from a theme park? Merry-go-arounds? Thrill rides like Great America? Well Disney world has much more than that. I have never seen so many musical and shows, and some shows require 3D glasses. I have never seen impressive parades at close distance, and so many fireworks!

There are 4 parks, (and there are water parks too for some extra money). Each of the park has a central icon building and there are different play "lands" extended from it.

• The Magic Kingdom is where all the cartoon characters come to life. The icon building is of course the Cinderella castle.
  
• Epcot is shaped like the letter 8, 2 circles, one with future world theme and one with current world theme. The icon building is the giant golf ball structure known as "Space Earth" at the entrance.
  
• Animal Kingdom as the name imply, is a zoo. But now it is not poor animals locked in cages, they can roam free. I am thankful but can't explain why the rhinos don't attack humans, probably seen too many of us. The icon is a big tree.
  
• Hollywood Studios has stunt shows and performances, and the theme is movies. The icon building is the huge Mickey magic hat.
  

There is also a shopping area known as Downtown Disney.. It takes at least an entire day from park open (8am or 9am) to close (around 11pm to midnight) to tour around to see shows and rides.

Disney area is so huge!
A rental car is a must if you don't live in the Disney resort which has a fairly hefty price tag. I thought I rented a hotel room close to the park, but it still takes 10+ miles to get there from the hotel, and the roads are not so easy to follow. I am so glad I chose Hertz, which comes with a GPS device. I wouldn't know my way around without it! Oh if you drive to Disney, there is a $12 all day parking.

Even when we arrive at the welcoming gate it is still miles to drive to the parking lot. I have a minor complain, the parking lot doesn't have very clear visible signs of where you are (unlike some shopping malls). The row number markers are on the ground. Then one may take the tram to get to the entrance. Whoa, at the entrance we are still not there yet! It takes a monorail to get to the real entrance of Magic Kingdom. Plan to spend a lot of time waiting in line on busy day such as Christmas...

Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom entrance leads to the Main Street, which is a street of shops modeled after early US streets. I am impressed with the re-creation of these long lost neighborhoods. I am impressed throughout at the buildings. The Liberty Square looks just like the real buildings I saw in Philadelphia. Other areas are modeled after the Old West, also a great cartoon town and the future themed TomorrowLand.

Ok, just how long does it take to take a picture with your favorite Disney characters? 20 seconds? But if there are many people getting in line to do just that it adds up to about lining up for 1 HOUR to take one picture... But I think it is worthwhile to take at least one of these. And taking pictures is not the only thing those costumed characters do. They also sign autographs! Disney made extra money by selling those autograph books. I feel sorry for those who wear thick costumes in a hot day... but can I take a picture with you? Not all are in costumes, though. The (beautiful!) princesses aren't.

Besides cool buildings there are magicial rides... be prepared to be entertained by huge area of moving robots and great background music and other effects such as holograms. Only for kids? Well I enjoy those too, appreciating the amount of work needed to make all this happen.

I am totally impressed with the lighting of the Cinderella castle at night and the impressive fireworks.

Epcot
It is really an educational park. Two circles: one with future world theme and one with current world theme. The future world theme focus on environmental protection, space travel, etc. The World ShowCase contains sample buildings from many countries and I am totally impressed with the buildings. You can probably fool people you visited (Japan,China,Morroco, etc) by taking a picture there. A few years ago I play a lot of First-Person-Shooting games, and the experience is just like that (only I don't have to shoot villians). Ok, this may be a bit disappointing for kids if they aren't interested in learning about the world. There is also very impressive firework at end of day.

Animal Kingdom
If Animal Kingdom is the only place for Disney, I probably won't come... because I can't imagine myself being impressed by caged lions and elephants which I have seen in typical a zoo. But the Animal Kingdom is NOT. You can ride a safari from a very nicely constructed train station that looks like something you may find in Africa and see them roaming around. The Asia (meaning Nepal or India, not China or Japan) section and Africa village is so impressively made... It seems to not have as much magic of Magic Kingdom but I still wasn't so disappointed. No firework there, but I am sure the animals don't mind peace and quiet at night.

Hollywood Studios
The park is layout a bit more complex than others, there are additional areas not attached to the central Mickey Magic hat icon. The most impressive part about it is the Christmas lighting at the Street of America. Whoa! The Toy Story ride is too much fun, besides riding, you get a virtual cannon to shoot things in virtual gallery that you compete with your partner. I also saw an impressive car stunt show there. I saw the power rangers! They want me (silly) pose like them. I avoided the free-fall elevator drop and the roller coaster... The ending show is the Fantasmic! show featuring Mickey vs all the Disney villians. Whoa you need to line up as soon as the previous show is over (for 90+ minutes) or you can't get into that stadium that can fit 10000 people!
Yikes, even I am scared. The evil villians become a dragon! (hmm, Disney stealing from the the book of Revelations). Mickey has a magic sword! They use water as a screen to project cartoons. The show ends with all the good guys and beautiful princesses waving at you on a boat.

EndNote
In the Disney week I am bombarded with visual stimulus. So many shows and impressive buildings and rides and also walked a lot and waited a lot in line.

Although pictures tell a thousand words but it is not enough to capture Disney... Bring a video camera if you have one.

I've seen so many musicals! Each of these, such as Lion King, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast can be a full feature show in Chicago that could attract thousands... but these must be cut short to about 40 minutes to let the visitors go to rides and other shows. Disney really IS a fun place even for adults. But yikes that hot dog was $4.50... Ok, at least the dog is longer than the bun. That's ok, expect to spend just a little extra money on vacation.

On Vacation

At end of year, many people count and count their eligible days and leave behind (often poorly done) work for their poor coworkers to pick up. There is no commitment to get work done. Their priority is their vacation. (America workforce has such lazy culture).

Some people has so many vacation days that they can disappear for entire December. Unless you are having a baby or sick in hospital, one month vacation should not be allowed!

"What's your vacation plan?" Some colleagues ask me. Oh perhaps they care about me. NO, they just to know if I am available for stuff when they are gone. (Proof: nobody cares where each other go for Christmas)
Clueless managers look at how many days workers have left and declare workers MUST take vacation days because the days can't carry over. Heck, if I take vacation who is going to do work? Then I was asked to stay home but I do need to work from home to finish other people's work.

Vacation can be more hectic than work. Look it is $ to be spent, slide slide slide on that credit card for expensive must-eat-out-everyday meals, ~$100 a day for hotel may be (on top of mortgage payments that you may have). And there there is planning to be done. If you are in a remote place with no friends to visit, just what are you going to do? Just tour the streets and museums? Is it going to be fun? How are you going to get to places? A GPS system is FAR FAR better than the good old map.

Chicago is bitter cold and just too boring to stay, especially in winter... I decide that I must go out this year... to somewhere warm. I have never been in the southern hemisphere and seems most of it is too scary to go... How about the southern United States... the west: San Francisco or Los Angeles... the middle, somewhere in Texas like Houston, or the east like Florida. I want minimum planning and have some fun... how about Disney World in Orlando Florida!

It seems like most people I talked to already went, perhaps multiple times. Time for me to see this place... There are 4 theme parks... each with a different experience.

I enjoyed it much. Disney is not just for kids... it is impressedly built and managed. Why stories are full of castles and princesses can inspire a huge volume of philosophical thoughts too...

To be continued...