High speed rail system is coming to America and going to produce some jobs!
At least short term. Good move to solve unemployment temporaily! Good to keep up with Europe, Japan and China!.
Yikes, a lot of money to be spent. Remember, such railroad will costs more money in maintenance.
However, do we really need a even more connected America by railroad? One thing America can be proud of is its highway system (when there are not a lot of potholes). If there is city I need to go that's reasonablly close? I drive. Too far? I fly. And I don't need to travel to another city a lot.
I don't need high speed rail.
There just seem no reason to be on the high speed rails a lot for Chicagoans. Maybe in the East Coast where there are bigger cities New York, Boston etc that may attract more tourists... Trains connecting San Francisco, LA sounds interesting to me too.
High speed rail from Chicago to Milwaukee or St. Louis? I see little reason to use high speed rail to go there.
I hope there are lots of planning to make sure this is good in long term before we rush out expensive trains that put the country into more debt.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Pope whipped himself
Whoa, Pope John Paul II beat himself with belt to get a taste of Jesus's suffering.
See this News Item
Along with the pope, plenty of monks or other religion practicioners hurt themselves for reglious reasons.
Um, Mr. Pope, Jesus has done that, SO that you don't have to!
Suggestion to current and future popes: how about do active helpful things such as feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit people in jail (Matthew 25)
How about be more active as peacemaker (see the sermon on the mount, come on, just flip a few pages on N.T.).
But would anyone listen? Ok that's another thing.
I just feel anyone on earth has better things to do than beating themselves.
See this News Item
Along with the pope, plenty of monks or other religion practicioners hurt themselves for reglious reasons.
Um, Mr. Pope, Jesus has done that, SO that you don't have to!
Suggestion to current and future popes: how about do active helpful things such as feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit people in jail (Matthew 25)
How about be more active as peacemaker (see the sermon on the mount, come on, just flip a few pages on N.T.).
But would anyone listen? Ok that's another thing.
I just feel anyone on earth has better things to do than beating themselves.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Hessian
Somewhere along the line I read about "Hessian" in programming... It is a web service protocol. No, I don't know much about it yet. Oh it is promising because it is simpler than that WSDL stuff (I ain't gonna ever type that by hand). The world has too much hype on XML, which may destroy the simple-is-beautiful principle.
Waita minute, I have seen this term before... in my college calculus class. Yes, it is the matrix of all the second derivatives! What is it good for? Not much for me after that midterm back in 199x.
Look, ideal world is this: I get an object. Let me toss it around to call another function somewhere else and give me a result: just like a regular method call. All the details should be transparent to me. Don't make me work with any XML, just like don't let me see actual packets of 1 and 0s when I do something on the internet such as send email. I dislike anything that says "factory" and then .create(). Hide that please.
Waita minute, I have seen this term before... in my college calculus class. Yes, it is the matrix of all the second derivatives! What is it good for? Not much for me after that midterm back in 199x.
Look, ideal world is this: I get an object. Let me toss it around to call another function somewhere else and give me a result: just like a regular method call. All the details should be transparent to me. Don't make me work with any XML, just like don't let me see actual packets of 1 and 0s when I do something on the internet such as send email. I dislike anything that says "factory" and then .create(). Hide that please.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Microsoft test 70-536
Today I passed this test: .NET Framework - Application Development Foundation, after studying (not so diligently) for a couple months.
The only book available for study is this massive 1088 page official Microsoft book.
This book has a lot to be desired. Even at this massive size, it is still too brief on a lot of topics listed in here. Some are not even covered! One thing that contributed to the size is the redunduncy of code in both 'VB and //C#.
The CD that comes with the book is good, it comes with sample test questions and the entire book in PDF.
It is very hard to find sample questions on the web. All you see is "buy this sample questions for $99". Come on.
Fortunately I did find some PDF files containing sample questions and many of the questions on my test come directly off those!
The test is mostly about whether you can tell which method is real and which is fake and lots of nuts and bolts that are easily found on MSDN or google.
There are still many things I have not seen or heard on the actual test. I am just lucky to guess correctly.
So to study, first spend a few weeks with the big book cover to cover!
I am sure everyone will be disgusted with ugly topics of those encryption and hashing algorithms, and dealing with Window Services. Look, people just don't that much of that in real life. There are also COM objects to work with and multi-culture/region so they write currency differently. There are massive amount of information on security stuff. Come on, people don't do that kind of stuff much! Most people write Web and desktop applications.
After you have done with the book, play with the practice test on the CD.
Then revisit the objectives. First start with a list of topics with MSDN links, such as here. Soon you will find out MSDN is a mess and can't even convey ideas in sample codes.
Go ahead, go online to try to find sample questions. You may land on something from TestKing or ActualTest... The exam I saw has many of the questions right from those!
Problem with these PDFs: these are locked, read-only! It is hard to copy and paste just the questions and separate the answers. Fortunately I was able to unlock them using some 3rd party tool, copy-paste it onto text file, and write my own little code cranker to turn it into HTML where I can click on links to check my answers.
Programming certification is testing your short term memory on cramming API information. It doesn't measure programming skills, though I earned another line on my resume (that nobody really cares about)
Why does my company doubt my ability and make me take this test?
The only book available for study is this massive 1088 page official Microsoft book.
This book has a lot to be desired. Even at this massive size, it is still too brief on a lot of topics listed in here. Some are not even covered! One thing that contributed to the size is the redunduncy of code in both 'VB and //C#.
The CD that comes with the book is good, it comes with sample test questions and the entire book in PDF.
It is very hard to find sample questions on the web. All you see is "buy this sample questions for $99". Come on.
Fortunately I did find some PDF files containing sample questions and many of the questions on my test come directly off those!
The test is mostly about whether you can tell which method is real and which is fake and lots of nuts and bolts that are easily found on MSDN or google.
There are still many things I have not seen or heard on the actual test. I am just lucky to guess correctly.
So to study, first spend a few weeks with the big book cover to cover!
I am sure everyone will be disgusted with ugly topics of those encryption and hashing algorithms, and dealing with Window Services. Look, people just don't that much of that in real life. There are also COM objects to work with and multi-culture/region so they write currency differently. There are massive amount of information on security stuff. Come on, people don't do that kind of stuff much! Most people write Web and desktop applications.
After you have done with the book, play with the practice test on the CD.
Then revisit the objectives. First start with a list of topics with MSDN links, such as here. Soon you will find out MSDN is a mess and can't even convey ideas in sample codes.
Go ahead, go online to try to find sample questions. You may land on something from TestKing or ActualTest... The exam I saw has many of the questions right from those!
Problem with these PDFs: these are locked, read-only! It is hard to copy and paste just the questions and separate the answers. Fortunately I was able to unlock them using some 3rd party tool, copy-paste it onto text file, and write my own little code cranker to turn it into HTML where I can click on links to check my answers.
Programming certification is testing your short term memory on cramming API information. It doesn't measure programming skills, though I earned another line on my resume (that nobody really cares about)
Why does my company doubt my ability and make me take this test?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Massachusetts gets Republician senator
Massachusettes now gets a Republicaion senator since 1972. The new senator is now an instant celebrity.
And the news says "Analysis: GOP sees Mass. win as stop sign for Dems.
Come on, what kind of analysis you need for this obvious implication?
If Edward Kennedy is going to live a few more years, will people elect him again in next election?
My guess is: yes, because he has been in this seat for so long.
Here is the American way: tired of Republician? vote Democrat. Tired of Democrat? vote Republician.
At least the voters get a chance to choose.
But: neither party seem to have solutions that make everyone happy. Just time wasted with no progress.
Ideally senators don't vote on party line, but really take a good look at the plans and decide on their own.
Congressmen: you are voted to serve those who voted for you. Don't let your evil desires for mistresses rule over you. Shame on you! John Edwards
And the news says "Analysis: GOP sees Mass. win as stop sign for Dems.
Come on, what kind of analysis you need for this obvious implication?
If Edward Kennedy is going to live a few more years, will people elect him again in next election?
My guess is: yes, because he has been in this seat for so long.
Here is the American way: tired of Republician? vote Democrat. Tired of Democrat? vote Republician.
At least the voters get a chance to choose.
But: neither party seem to have solutions that make everyone happy. Just time wasted with no progress.
Ideally senators don't vote on party line, but really take a good look at the plans and decide on their own.
Congressmen: you are voted to serve those who voted for you. Don't let your evil desires for mistresses rule over you. Shame on you! John Edwards
Saturday, January 16, 2010
變暖還是變冷
Good read: 變暖還是變冷，我們應該相信誰？
Well one do not need a lot of believing in certain scientists to believe iceberg is melting? Be conscious to use less fuel is simply wise. So I tend to believe 變暖. Support recycling! Drive less!
Actually the weather is just 變壞.
Weather is just getting bad in both extremes. Earthlings beware!
Well one do not need a lot of believing in certain scientists to believe iceberg is melting? Be conscious to use less fuel is simply wise. So I tend to believe 變暖. Support recycling! Drive less!
Actually the weather is just 變壞.
Weather is just getting bad in both extremes. Earthlings beware!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Survivial of a Mathematician
I flipped through a new book Survivial of a Mathematician at a bookstore. It is a professor writing about life as a professional mathematician. Professional mathematician, of course, means a professor doing teaching and research. This book has no equations, just a sharing of career. This is a good read for students who has interest in (pure) math. This type of writing is not so common.
Mathematicians (well, actually professionals of many subjects in academics) can be quite lonely career. Only few understand what you're doing everyday. And of course there is publish or perish pressure, and professors don't make huge amount of money anyway. But, there is this tenure thing in academic world: basically you just can't lose job once you become a professor, much like Supreme Court judges serve for life.
I don't have what it takes to be a mathematician, hell no. I can say I have somewhat interest.
Think you do? You should know most of topics in this book.
Suppose I win the lottery and never ever have to worry about work and $, what would you do? I don't mind spending a few semesters in a lecture hall exploring new things. But good English speaking professors can be hard to find. And, I don't need the pressure of midterms and finals.
Mathematicians (well, actually professionals of many subjects in academics) can be quite lonely career. Only few understand what you're doing everyday. And of course there is publish or perish pressure, and professors don't make huge amount of money anyway. But, there is this tenure thing in academic world: basically you just can't lose job once you become a professor, much like Supreme Court judges serve for life.
I don't have what it takes to be a mathematician, hell no. I can say I have somewhat interest.
Think you do? You should know most of topics in this book.
Suppose I win the lottery and never ever have to worry about work and $, what would you do? I don't mind spending a few semesters in a lecture hall exploring new things. But good English speaking professors can be hard to find. And, I don't need the pressure of midterms and finals.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Vertically Split Islands
One of the most valuable lessons in elementary school (and high school) is geography. Many may think it is totally useless and can't even locate Washington DC on the world map. Come on. It is part of your education. With a good understanding of geography, you will understand world event better.
It takes fairly amazing technological breakthroughs to figure out what kind of world we live in. A few hundred years ago people thought the world was flat! The very fact that America is named that way is because of the guy selling maps of America was named Amerigo.
I thank my dad for showing me a world map and make that a poster. As a child, I immediately noted that ooh, Africa and South America match like pieces of puzzles. Ooh Taiwan seems split off from mainland China. Japan and Mainland seem to match somewhat too. The lands of the world all seems like soap bubbles when I stir them around in a sink: they combine and split off as it spin. Yes, that's the plate tectonic theory. But I did not guess that India actually split from Antartica and traveled long distance to crash into China and creating the tallest mountain in the world.
How does land travel? It doesn't float like a ship. Volcano explosions and earthquakes move them, little by little.
And yes, the earth has been around for millions of years to move that far. Only fairly recently we use up its resources so fast.
As a kid, I noted the horizontal border between USA and Canada, and also noted there are 2 vertical split islands in the world: Haiti/Dominican Republic, and Indonesia/New Guinea.
Earthquake hit the half-split island that contains Haiti, otherwise we don't hear much about this place.
Mother nature is especially harsh during earthquakes... thousands die, and survivors become homeless, and lost everything. And it can happen anytime.
I read that two halves Haiti/Dominican Republic fight a lot in the past. Natural disaster is not so preventable, but human disaster is. I hope the relationship on this island would improve.
Geography gives you a graphical view of the world. Everyone should know some basics, though you don't have to be able to name every country in the world.
I also do not believe in asking kids to remember a Hashmap of states and capitals (and then test them) Yes, I still remember some of this info Alabama->Montgomery, Alaska->Juneau, etc. But they don't need to be in my head.
It takes fairly amazing technological breakthroughs to figure out what kind of world we live in. A few hundred years ago people thought the world was flat! The very fact that America is named that way is because of the guy selling maps of America was named Amerigo.
I thank my dad for showing me a world map and make that a poster. As a child, I immediately noted that ooh, Africa and South America match like pieces of puzzles. Ooh Taiwan seems split off from mainland China. Japan and Mainland seem to match somewhat too. The lands of the world all seems like soap bubbles when I stir them around in a sink: they combine and split off as it spin. Yes, that's the plate tectonic theory. But I did not guess that India actually split from Antartica and traveled long distance to crash into China and creating the tallest mountain in the world.
How does land travel? It doesn't float like a ship. Volcano explosions and earthquakes move them, little by little.
And yes, the earth has been around for millions of years to move that far. Only fairly recently we use up its resources so fast.
As a kid, I noted the horizontal border between USA and Canada, and also noted there are 2 vertical split islands in the world: Haiti/Dominican Republic, and Indonesia/New Guinea.
Earthquake hit the half-split island that contains Haiti, otherwise we don't hear much about this place.
Mother nature is especially harsh during earthquakes... thousands die, and survivors become homeless, and lost everything. And it can happen anytime.
I read that two halves Haiti/Dominican Republic fight a lot in the past. Natural disaster is not so preventable, but human disaster is. I hope the relationship on this island would improve.
Geography gives you a graphical view of the world. Everyone should know some basics, though you don't have to be able to name every country in the world.
I also do not believe in asking kids to remember a Hashmap of states and capitals (and then test them) Yes, I still remember some of this info Alabama->Montgomery, Alaska->Juneau, etc. But they don't need to be in my head.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Jay vs Conan ought to be off front pages
Ok, Jay Leno isn't attracting that much viewers and NBC wants to move him back to original slot?
That is just not too big of a news to occupy headline for days.
Same person on a different time slot makes a difference?
Absoutely. If you move afternoon cartoons to 10 o'clock news spot you probably won't get much audience.
There is nothing wrong with Leno. He had years of success as Tonight Show host. It is the time slot.
Then simply do another type of show! Don't need to bump hosts around. Mr. Leno, don't feel you're a failure. You are one of the best host I've ever seen.
America late night TV: one show after another with same format. Monologue->funny things->interview->singers.
America morning TV: one talk show after another. one judge show after another.
One soap opera with zoomed-in-bighead-talking-nonsense after another. Get out of that studio for a outdoor shot once a while is a good change.
Also game shows lasting decades. Wheel - Of - Fortune! Come on, can we have another game?
Free broadcast business is diminishing. People go to the internet to watch the show they want to watch now.
TV needs some innovation!
Waita minute, is there more deserving news to cover than talk show hosts?
The world is increasingly unrest. Violence around the world and natural disasters strike: snowstorms! earthquake!
That is just not too big of a news to occupy headline for days.
Same person on a different time slot makes a difference?
Absoutely. If you move afternoon cartoons to 10 o'clock news spot you probably won't get much audience.
There is nothing wrong with Leno. He had years of success as Tonight Show host. It is the time slot.
Then simply do another type of show! Don't need to bump hosts around. Mr. Leno, don't feel you're a failure. You are one of the best host I've ever seen.
America late night TV: one show after another with same format. Monologue->funny things->interview->singers.
America morning TV: one talk show after another. one judge show after another.
One soap opera with zoomed-in-bighead-talking-nonsense after another. Get out of that studio for a outdoor shot once a while is a good change.
Also game shows lasting decades. Wheel - Of - Fortune! Come on, can we have another game?
Free broadcast business is diminishing. People go to the internet to watch the show they want to watch now.
TV needs some innovation!
Waita minute, is there more deserving news to cover than talk show hosts?
The world is increasingly unrest. Violence around the world and natural disasters strike: snowstorms! earthquake!
Monday, January 11, 2010
TV may shorten your life
Here is something to know: Too much TV may mean earlier death.
Ok, does TV actually kill you? No. It is sitting => lack of exercise => heart disease => death.
Do you need a "study" to know that?
How much money is wasted on duh studies.
What about those who exercise a lot on a threadmill watching (silent) TV in the gym? Are they going to also shorten live because of TV?
Did they study "subjects" that watch TV while running and those who don't?
All the duh research gives you a "may". The world does not need these useless research.
Ok, does TV actually kill you? No. It is sitting => lack of exercise => heart disease => death.
Do you need a "study" to know that?
How much money is wasted on duh studies.
What about those who exercise a lot on a threadmill watching (silent) TV in the gym? Are they going to also shorten live because of TV?
Did they study "subjects" that watch TV while running and those who don't?
All the duh research gives you a "may". The world does not need these useless research.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Phone War
I read about a hot new item: the Google Nexus One on the news. Well this is not the first Google phone. You may have seen the G1 that I almost bought.
Well surfing the web on a powerful phone is going to cost $, so I went for a more basic phone. I ain't paying $80+ a month.
That Nexus One demo page is way cool.
Ok remember folks, we call it a phone. (The term "Personal Data Assistant" (PDA) is so past-decade, although phones are actually working like a PDA.) How do you call somebody on the powerful phone such as IPhone or Nexus One, or G1?
It probably involves a lot of steps and a few seconds to find the phone icon and then you tab on virtual buttons to call somebody.
I WANT ACTUAL BUTTONS!
I don't want Rice Krispie keyboard to make my number buttons small.
I don't want buttons + slide keyboard that makes my phone thick.
The MOST important function of my phone is phone ability: call someone, receive calls nice and loud.
I don't need to play Labyrinth on it (ooh, phones can detect how you're holding it, ooh. but I don't need this capability)
My basic NOKIA phone now isn't so bad. It can take good pics and have a bright screen for an occasional game, and it has actual buttons.
The fancy phones have ONE button? How do you play a round of Pac Man on it? I can play with actual buttons on a much cheaper phone.
Well surfing the web on a powerful phone is going to cost $, so I went for a more basic phone. I ain't paying $80+ a month.
That Nexus One demo page is way cool.
Ok remember folks, we call it a phone. (The term "Personal Data Assistant" (PDA) is so past-decade, although phones are actually working like a PDA.) How do you call somebody on the powerful phone such as IPhone or Nexus One, or G1?
It probably involves a lot of steps and a few seconds to find the phone icon and then you tab on virtual buttons to call somebody.
I WANT ACTUAL BUTTONS!
I don't want Rice Krispie keyboard to make my number buttons small.
I don't want buttons + slide keyboard that makes my phone thick.
The MOST important function of my phone is phone ability: call someone, receive calls nice and loud.
I don't need to play Labyrinth on it (ooh, phones can detect how you're holding it, ooh. but I don't need this capability)
My basic NOKIA phone now isn't so bad. It can take good pics and have a bright screen for an occasional game, and it has actual buttons.
The fancy phones have ONE button? How do you play a round of Pac Man on it? I can play with actual buttons on a much cheaper phone.
Monday, January 4, 2010
World's Tallest Building
Ooh, the world has a new tallest building beginning in the new decade, in Dubai. I am sure most have seen pictures of such amazing, ultimate rich place on earth. (If not, use google images for some quick pics).
Oh, it surpassed the Taiwan tower to be the tallest building. I didn't even know that the tallest building was in Taiwan, I just know some building in Asia has surpassed our own Sears Tower. Ok, I don't like to call it Willis Tower, ok?
But don't let the golden skin of Dubai fool you, there is much debt woes taking place now. (See this news for details).
You may have heard of Tower of Babel in the Bible (Genesis 11). That is just made with bricks, I wonder how tall that was. The Bible didn't say God crushed that building, but obviously He didn't like it. Another observation: look at verse 7, it is "let US", in plural! Waita minute is it 1 God or multiple Gods? Ok, some will say that means the Holy Father + Holy Spirit + Jesus. This observation can spark a religious debate here.
I still don't understand why God must scatter the people (How? by teleporting them?) and make them not understand each other (how does this process work? just suddenly I don't understand your language anymore?) ok, then why is there so much efforts to translate Bible to every known language if God intend the world not understand each other.
Why do people keep challenge the limit of how tall a building can go? Probably same reason why people train so hard in sports to achieve that 0.01 second in running 100 meters, and the same reason why I keep playing Pac Man to try to beat my own high score... to challenge upper limit is human nature. But I don't think US and China should enter the contest to build more tall buildings... Let Dubai win this category. I don't want to see one tallest building collapse like Jenga.
Oh, it surpassed the Taiwan tower to be the tallest building. I didn't even know that the tallest building was in Taiwan, I just know some building in Asia has surpassed our own Sears Tower. Ok, I don't like to call it Willis Tower, ok?
But don't let the golden skin of Dubai fool you, there is much debt woes taking place now. (See this news for details).
You may have heard of Tower of Babel in the Bible (Genesis 11). That is just made with bricks, I wonder how tall that was. The Bible didn't say God crushed that building, but obviously He didn't like it. Another observation: look at verse 7, it is "let US", in plural! Waita minute is it 1 God or multiple Gods? Ok, some will say that means the Holy Father + Holy Spirit + Jesus. This observation can spark a religious debate here.
I still don't understand why God must scatter the people (How? by teleporting them?) and make them not understand each other (how does this process work? just suddenly I don't understand your language anymore?) ok, then why is there so much efforts to translate Bible to every known language if God intend the world not understand each other.
Why do people keep challenge the limit of how tall a building can go? Probably same reason why people train so hard in sports to achieve that 0.01 second in running 100 meters, and the same reason why I keep playing Pac Man to try to beat my own high score... to challenge upper limit is human nature. But I don't think US and China should enter the contest to build more tall buildings... Let Dubai win this category. I don't want to see one tallest building collapse like Jenga.
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