Northwestern Revisited

It is awesome experience to bring your child back to your alma mater.

20 years ago I was there as a freshman. If things are to change many times in a decade, let's double that amount of changes for 2 decades. There are quite a few new buildings made within the 20 years... the main parking lot is unpleasantly chopped to make place for one... and there are few more buildings (some are architecturally not so pleasant) are blocking some once-clear views. Those building climbing plants have gone out of control, devouring a lot more percentages of the surface area of some buildings.

Norris Student Center was my favorite hangout place. I walked by the lagoon, studied there, and banged on the video games when I get bored. What happened to the grass near the lagoon? It seems like no one mows that weed that is at least 3 feet high! Inside the Norris Center... oh my gosh, what happened to the nice furniture? It is now replaced by cheap cheap plastic chairs. What happened to the neon light "1999"? At 1990, 1999 seemed to be a very distant future.

"Look, daddy attended school here" is not so comprehensible to my son now. Here, proudly wear this toddler T-shirt bought at the student center.

Write Your Alderman

Dear Alderman:

Someone encouraged me to write you to show some concern about some budget cuts for the public library.
Details here.

Sorry, I live under the rock here I don't even know who you are.

I found a list of alderman here but I am not even sure what ward I am in.

I went to the city's website that is supposed to a map here but all I see is a blank page. Now it isn't that difficult to program google maps perhaps you should consider hiring me for fixing it first.

-A Concerned Citizen

I am saddened about China

A two-year old got hit-and-run in China, twice, a dozen+ people ignored.
Details here

The article says "Internet users have flooded microblogs decrying the apathy of the people who left her for dead." Ok, I am going to make that number++

This is OUTRAGEOUS.

Add that to the list of fake milk powder, poor railroad accident rescue efforts and other scandals.

China has become a world of me-me-me-first. Good Samaritan laws should be set NOW. Oh, good Samaritans are blamed and fined? Now that's outrageous. At least call the police, ok?

Throw stones at those who ignored the poor kid like they do to each other during the Cultural Revolution!

The prime minister or the president ought to say a thing or two about this incident.

China still has a LOT to work on despite its economic growth.

Cancer Awareness Month

You may have seen pink ribbons every where. Yes it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
You have succeeded in making me aware.

But look, this is even on Parking Meters!


Is the city donating some money on every quarter I put in that thing? Don't put a ribbon there if the city is not going to.

The parking meters eat more money than laundry machines during my college years or video games I played. Ouch.

Yes, breast cancer is horrible and we are well aware. But other cancers deserve some attention too.

Apple should donate some money to pancreatic cancer (or all forms of cancer) research on every new iPhone, iPad, iWhatever it sells. That will generate a ton of money.

But yikes, are the money put in good use? or poured into the fat pocket of drug companies?

Occupy Wall Street

Alas, a lot of people are suffering, and are occupying the Wall Street.

See some stories they have to tell here.

People have lost jobs, can't find new work, can't afford the house they have,  can't pay the bills, etc. Everyone has their story to tell.


I question any use of occupying Wall Street... just what do you want them to do? Empty their wallets and distribute their fortunes to you?

Many folks are college grads terrified by not able to find work with loans on their back. Yes I see your concern.  Many now question whether going to college is worth it. Let me tell you this: if you have a chance to go college and you don't go your chance of getting work is even more grim. Go to college to learn something. Go to a vocation school (such as fixing air conditioners or CTA tracks) if a job is all you have in mind. I think education should not be so focus on job.

It is perhaps more effective to occupy college tuition collection departments to demand lower tuition or ditch it for public universities?

It is perhaps more effective to occupy Washington(!) to lower that income tax.


Rather than begging for jobs that are so hard to find, sometimes I think there should be more spawning new business. Start with humble hotdog stands, burger shops, chop suey house... how about barbershop, grocery store?


For those who can write a program or two, show what you can do for $20 an hour while some shops charge $100+ (and pay programmers overseas $10).  Yes, I know those silly people won't listen to you.

Politicians: if you can meet some demands you win 99% of votes. Even the most powerful rich people can only give you one vote each.

So, 99%... go ahead, vent your frustration, but please not for too long. Actively seek your next possible moves. Good luck.

Goodbye Steve Jobs

The world saddened to learn the news that Steve Jobs passed away at 56. He revolutionized the world in many ways. Recent Apple products set the world on fire.
Pancrea cancer grabbed his life so young. It has also taken the life of Randy Pausch, the inspiring professor who has given the Last Lecture.

Most people if not all tends to like Steve Jobs. On the other hand, Bill Gates also revolutionized the world in many ways, yet Gates is probably not as popular. I guess people are just jealous of him being the richest man in the world selling Window$.

I think Apple's success has a lot to do with its uniqueness.

Apple's one button simple interface has to do with Steve Jobs' buddhist religion, which defines Apple's unique minimalist approach.
Jobs decides to use metals or great colors while the rest of world uses beige (or black) boxes for computers.

Yes, people judge anything by its covers! and by strategic advertising.

Not all Apple products were successful, however. Notably the Apple Newton. I never played with one myself, just how bad it was?

I am never a big Apple fan.

My biggest complain with Apple is its embracing of Objective C, acquired from its NeXt OS.

If Apple uses a more intuitive language such as Java, even C++, that will allow developers to have a easier time programming for the Mac products.

Apple won't play Flash. <period>. The world doesn't complain loud because people like Mac products so much and this is just a minor "shortcoming". Flash sites just have to give in. If you have an IPhone, you MUST use AT&T (or Verizon). I want freedom.

Everyone should try to learn a lesson or two from Steve Job's remarkable success story.

Here is one lesson. Even if you have a LOT of money and access to the best doctors, when the lord of death comes it is time to go.

Thanks to Steve Jobs for revolutionizing the world. Thanks to awesome engineers who make those gadgets possible.

Men in trouble

Look folks, men are in trouble.

The message coincides with many ideas of another book I read by James Dobson... men are in trouble. Many guys refuse to grow up and are so incapable. More men (20%) are not even working, distant from family. "Where are the decent men?"

Ok, here is my question: where are the decent women? Having a good education and job automatically make you "decent"?

I am sure there are thousands of decent men in the army, and we are sending them to Iraq and Afghanistan to risk their lives.

And the blame is on video games (as the picture show). Yes, too much video game is bad for you. However, some video games may be good for you. It develops your problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination, and it is good stress relief.

We may need to say to a number of our twenty-something men, "Get off the video games five hours a day, get yourself together, get a challenging job and get married." It's time for men to man up.

Sadly, those unman men are not going read anything to get enlightenment to become a man.

But yikes, where are the jobs?! No job => go right back into the video games.

Another blame is on movies. Is a movie about an upright man with kids interested in calculus going to win at the box office? Maybe. If the plot of the movie is about discovering the fundamental theorem of calculus. Ok, hollywood, go ahead, make such movie.

To fix men, one step is to fix the economy.

Music and Fractions

At a kids music lesson place (in LA) I saw a post luring parents to sign up. "Research says music boosts your kids reading skills and math skills. They understand fractions better."

Sure. If you can have your kids sit still and count with you while reading notes they will learn to read (notes) and count with you, 1-2-3-4. and "1 e & a".

Waita minute, the alphabets starts with A and stops at G. The piano starts with C and cycles C D E F G A B... no H and beyond. That # and b stuff has no place in regular alphabets.

Music is perfect example of fractions: Whole notes: divide it to get half notes, divide further into quarter notes. Ah, there are triplets too to handle to denominator of 3.


Ok little piano whiz. Take this: 1/5.

Let me ensure this, parents: pizza is just as good example for fractions (if not better).  Do not feel your kids MUST take piano lessons.

Piano (and other instruments), however, lets you appreciate music, which can add a lot of essence to life. And it takes tremendous discipline to learn any instrument well.

Visiting LA

I have been to the biggest city in America: New York. I live in the third biggest city. I decided to visit the second biggest city in the sunny area: Los Angeles. It has Disneyland and Hollywood is nearby and it ought to be a good place to go for vacation.

Orbitz is a great place to start planning for any vacation. I like its clear layout and ease of use. Ok, United offers good flight prices? I am going for it. Yikes United charges $25 for each big luggage. Ok... Now it will only offer you drink and water. You now have to pay for its food. They don't even give you peanuts and almonds now. I am not a very tall guy so legroom is not a big problem in economy. I have never been on First Class and will probably never pay more to get a bit more comfortable for just a few hours of flight.

LAX is an alright airport... but not as pretty as O'hare or other airports I've been.

LA... has SO MANY visitors. On a non-holiday weekday I lined up for 1.5 hours to get to the rental car. OMG.
In my past experience with Hertz, the cars come with a navigator and I didn't even have to ask for it. LA is a place full of highways and a navigator is a must-have for first time visitors. They don't have it pre-installed! Oh no.
Fortunately they have a little internet booth (that costs money) so I can type up the address of the hotel on google maps to print out directions.
Oh my, it takes TWO HOURS to get to the hotel. Traffic is ultra horrible, and I need to change highways (freeways) maybe 5 times.

LA's highways are kind of old, not as well paved as it should be, and the signs are super old.
LA is supposed to be a very smog filled polluted city, but it isn't the case on the days I was there.

Yikes, it has A LOT of ghettos area, very worn out throughout the city of LA. However, the outer cities (suburbs) are very nice.
I visited Irvine. Oh my it is VERY nice business area. I wish I work there and can afford to live there.

There are MILES of Chinatown-like little plazas spread in various suburbs with hundreds of very nicely done interior designed Asian restaurants. They are mostly Taiwanese. Where are the Hong Kong folks hiding?

Hollywood Blvd... is mostly ghetto until you reach the Kodak Theater and the Chinese theater there. Do not join any tours unless you want a tour guide to talk to you via headphone and very interested in Hollywood history and the movie industry.

Now there is a huge contrast uphill on to the beautiful buildings of the Beverly Hills where the rich-and-famous live in mansions.

The Getty Museum is one awesome place in LA. It is a beautiful art museum up on the mountains and it is free. You only pay $15 parking.
Parking throughout LA is MUCH cheaper than Chicago. Gas is cheaper than Chicago too.

Disneyland is only so-so. It won't be so fun if you have seen the big one in Orlando.

Universal Studios is nice.

The Farmers Market is nice relaxing area full of eating-places-on-the-street. There are Chinese food booth run by entirely non-Chinese.

Santa Barbara has some awesome beaches but some people placed crosses all over to remind you so many people have lost their lives in Afghan and Iraq. It has got a very nice shopping area close to the Santa MOnica Pier.