by Michael Connelly
I bought this book to kill time at the airport and finished it on the plane.
Lipstick Jungle
by Candace Bushnell
The minute I open Lipstick Jungle, I regret it. Familiar wording, same characters, I should have given Candace Bushnell a break. However, like the not-so-welcoming opening of Trading up, it gets me in a few more pages. Even menopause women can make fun reading!
The minute I open Lipstick Jungle, I regret it. Familiar wording, same characters, I should have given Candace Bushnell a break. However, like the not-so-welcoming opening of Trading up, it gets me in a few more pages. Even menopause women can make fun reading!
Trading Up
by Candace Bushnell
It's a fun reading, at least. The protagonist is a little bit more complicated than a superficial social climber, and thus makes you wonder how the author gonna lead her to avoid all the cliche. Well, she achieves that, partially.
The rhythm of the story gets off beat with Janey's past memories. It picks up again toward the ending and makes her final coming to LA a bit too hasty and too easy. If only the author could slow down a few pages to explain the cultural difference between NYC and LA, or upper class and celebrities, and therefore to ease in the possibility of her rise.
The author seems to struggle between whether Janey should become who she is or was born as that. The Paris-Arab experience is first introduced as a path she was pushed onto, but then, the episode with Ian seems suggesting that she was a black widow from the beginning.
Like the prada story, this one is full of fashion and upper class life detail showcases. Yet, it's not clear whether the author is merely telling a fairy tale or delivering certain messages. The writing is decorated heavily with witty remarks on relationship and gender differences, but they fail to form a larger picture.
It's a fun reading, at least. The protagonist is a little bit more complicated than a superficial social climber, and thus makes you wonder how the author gonna lead her to avoid all the cliche. Well, she achieves that, partially.
The rhythm of the story gets off beat with Janey's past memories. It picks up again toward the ending and makes her final coming to LA a bit too hasty and too easy. If only the author could slow down a few pages to explain the cultural difference between NYC and LA, or upper class and celebrities, and therefore to ease in the possibility of her rise.
The author seems to struggle between whether Janey should become who she is or was born as that. The Paris-Arab experience is first introduced as a path she was pushed onto, but then, the episode with Ian seems suggesting that she was a black widow from the beginning.
Like the prada story, this one is full of fashion and upper class life detail showcases. Yet, it's not clear whether the author is merely telling a fairy tale or delivering certain messages. The writing is decorated heavily with witty remarks on relationship and gender differences, but they fail to form a larger picture.
On Writing
by Stephen King
I bought the book because it was available on taobao, and it was on sale. A pirate edition obviously, and costs me 5 yuan. I never read Stephen King before, never meant to. Whatever fame he has acquired, I am simply not a sci-fi person, feel creepy about some of the sensual scenes from the movies based on his works, and therefore, avoiding those movies as well. To me, he is just a famous guy living in a completely different and irrelevant world.
And I never thought I could find a book on writing fun to read. Not that I am not interested in writing. My feeling towards penmanship is rather complicated. I was brought up to believe being an author, an author of literature or scholarly research is one of the most honorable profession in the world. I spent many of my primary and middle school days writing essays and poems. Some of them found their way to kids magazines, and some, even real literary ones. I made a small fortune with it as well, considering most of the students at that time, around that age didn't even dream of having an income by themselves. As I grew older however, I started to doubt this vision of me becoming a great writer, and most important, I lost my respect for penmanship, all sorts of.
I don't know how this happened. My mom blamed my boyfriend at the time, thinking he distracted me from many good practice and virtue. I doubt it. In retrospect, though I wrote from time to time, and read too, but I have never been a voracious reader as some of my classmates or people around me. I turn to books when I need to find something, I read what was trendy among teens of my age, but I can do without reading quite well.
Reading the first part of Stephen King's book, it becomes clear to me that why I never took the path and would never be able to take it. To be a writer, as King tries to show us, one need to be a tireless reader, be passionate about at least one or two genres, and above all, be persistent in writing. Persistence means you keep writing everyday, even though you are living in a shelter, even though no one rewards your effort, yet. Of course you need to have certain talents and training, but for me, those are the only things I have, and therefore, not important.
I feel some intimacy toward writing, but no passion. I got reward for my writing from the very beginning, so when I write, instead of listening to my audience, I am thinking about money and fame.
Besides helping to analyze my want of achievement, King's book also clears my thoughts on certain traits of a writer. For example, he talked about jobs he held. He could write when he worked in a laundry, but found it difficult when taught. In other words, a job you don't care at all, especially a blue collar labor, seldom gets in the way of you and your ambition. Yet, a job you care, even just a little, distracts you from your dream.
He also talked about his wife. Self-reliant is the word he used. I guess that means she can leave him alone when he needs to be alone, no matter how long it is and under what circumstance.
I bought the book because it was available on taobao, and it was on sale. A pirate edition obviously, and costs me 5 yuan. I never read Stephen King before, never meant to. Whatever fame he has acquired, I am simply not a sci-fi person, feel creepy about some of the sensual scenes from the movies based on his works, and therefore, avoiding those movies as well. To me, he is just a famous guy living in a completely different and irrelevant world.
And I never thought I could find a book on writing fun to read. Not that I am not interested in writing. My feeling towards penmanship is rather complicated. I was brought up to believe being an author, an author of literature or scholarly research is one of the most honorable profession in the world. I spent many of my primary and middle school days writing essays and poems. Some of them found their way to kids magazines, and some, even real literary ones. I made a small fortune with it as well, considering most of the students at that time, around that age didn't even dream of having an income by themselves. As I grew older however, I started to doubt this vision of me becoming a great writer, and most important, I lost my respect for penmanship, all sorts of.
I don't know how this happened. My mom blamed my boyfriend at the time, thinking he distracted me from many good practice and virtue. I doubt it. In retrospect, though I wrote from time to time, and read too, but I have never been a voracious reader as some of my classmates or people around me. I turn to books when I need to find something, I read what was trendy among teens of my age, but I can do without reading quite well.
Reading the first part of Stephen King's book, it becomes clear to me that why I never took the path and would never be able to take it. To be a writer, as King tries to show us, one need to be a tireless reader, be passionate about at least one or two genres, and above all, be persistent in writing. Persistence means you keep writing everyday, even though you are living in a shelter, even though no one rewards your effort, yet. Of course you need to have certain talents and training, but for me, those are the only things I have, and therefore, not important.
I feel some intimacy toward writing, but no passion. I got reward for my writing from the very beginning, so when I write, instead of listening to my audience, I am thinking about money and fame.
Besides helping to analyze my want of achievement, King's book also clears my thoughts on certain traits of a writer. For example, he talked about jobs he held. He could write when he worked in a laundry, but found it difficult when taught. In other words, a job you don't care at all, especially a blue collar labor, seldom gets in the way of you and your ambition. Yet, a job you care, even just a little, distracts you from your dream.
He also talked about his wife. Self-reliant is the word he used. I guess that means she can leave him alone when he needs to be alone, no matter how long it is and under what circumstance.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
by
Full of insights. The tips may not work right away, but it invites you to examine yourself from different angles and the attitude change is as soon as you read through.
Full of insights. The tips may not work right away, but it invites you to examine yourself from different angles and the attitude change is as soon as you read through.
The Google Stories
the author is biased, no doubt. but still a lot to learn from it.
i didn't realize google is so evil.
i didn't realize google is so evil.
Medicare for Parents
这个保险叫MEDI-CAL.65岁以上都可以申请,但非居民只包急诊. 但总比没有好,再说父
母来一般都带很多药, 就是怕有个急病.
下面是网站, 和SANTA CLARA COUNTY 的地址电话.
http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/scc/menuitem.2c9f27538b48f388dfe093102830a429/?path=%2Fv7%2FSCC%20Public%20Portal%2FHealth%20and%20Human%20Care%2FCaring%20For%20the%20Elderly%2FHealth%20Insurance%20for%20the%20Elderly
North County Office
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
100 Moffett Blvd, CA 94043
(650) 988 6100
(408) 271 5600
很容易申请,只须注意以下三点:
1. 要说父母准备长期住在加州,临时居民不给;
2. 月收入父母一个人不超过$1000, 两个人不超过$1472;
3. 父母的家庭财产不超过$3000.
对于第一个问题,虽然签证只有6个月,但你只要说准备长期住在加州,就可以,他们不是
移民官. 对于第二和第三个问题,可以说在美国没收入,一般就不会在问了.但如过说在
国内有收入,要提供工资条和银行存折复印件.
If you live in San Mateo county, there's an even better option called the
WELL Program, which provides all general medical care (as well as some very
limited dental care) at the San Mateo Medical Center. There are some fees
associated with the program but for very low income people (anyone with only
retirement income in China will definitely qualify as very low income), all
services are free.
http://www.sanmateomedicalcenter.org/smc/department/smmc/home/0,2151,5562066_112231453,00.html
(scroll down the page to see the brochure for the WELL Program)
There are also some free medical clinics in the Bay Area that provide some
limited services:
Stanford Arbor Free Clinic
http://arbor.stanford.edu/
Stanford Pacific Free Clinic
http://pacific.stanford.edu/home.html
Berkeley Free Clinic
http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/home.html
(Google for other free clinics in the area)
母来一般都带很多药, 就是怕有个急病.
下面是网站, 和SANTA CLARA COUNTY 的地址电话.
http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/scc/menuitem.2c9f27538b48f388dfe093102830a429/?path=%2Fv7%2FSCC%20Public%20Portal%2FHealth%20and%20Human%20Care%2FCaring%20For%20the%20Elderly%2FHealth%20Insurance%20for%20the%20Elderly
North County Office
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
100 Moffett Blvd, CA 94043
(650) 988 6100
(408) 271 5600
很容易申请,只须注意以下三点:
1. 要说父母准备长期住在加州,临时居民不给;
2. 月收入父母一个人不超过$1000, 两个人不超过$1472;
3. 父母的家庭财产不超过$3000.
对于第一个问题,虽然签证只有6个月,但你只要说准备长期住在加州,就可以,他们不是
移民官. 对于第二和第三个问题,可以说在美国没收入,一般就不会在问了.但如过说在
国内有收入,要提供工资条和银行存折复印件.
If you live in San Mateo county, there's an even better option called the
WELL Program, which provides all general medical care (as well as some very
limited dental care) at the San Mateo Medical Center. There are some fees
associated with the program but for very low income people (anyone with only
retirement income in China will definitely qualify as very low income), all
services are free.
http://www.sanmateomedicalcenter.org/smc/department/smmc/home/0,2151,5562066_112231453,00.html
(scroll down the page to see the brochure for the WELL Program)
There are also some free medical clinics in the Bay Area that provide some
limited services:
Stanford Arbor Free Clinic
http://arbor.stanford.edu/
Stanford Pacific Free Clinic
http://pacific.stanford.edu/home.html
Berkeley Free Clinic
http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/home.html
(Google for other free clinics in the area)
PS - selection, layers
Selection Tools Tutorial
Selections Tutorial
Making Selections
Layers Tutorial
Selections Tutorial
Making Selections
Layers Tutorial
http://www.uwec.edu/help/PhotoshopCS2/blendmodes.htm
http://northlite.50megs.com/ps/blend.htm
http://teamphotoshop.com/articles-The-Techniques-Fun-with-blend-modes-5,8,62a.html
http://www.romeo-help4u.com/MG/tutorials/PS/site/basics/?page=blending-mode
http://www.nebulus.org/tutorials/2d/photoshop/ps3/
http://www.debdsweb.com/tutorials/blends.htm
More Advanced
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161017&page=1
Photoshop - Navigation and Selection
Navigation Tutorial
Cropping Tutorial
Viewing & Navigating
Resolution
What is Resolution
Understanding Resolution
Input Output Resolution
Image Resolution
Digital Resolution
Basic Color Correction
Color Correction Tutorials
Auto Color
Color Cast Correction
Color Correct and Rotate
Cropping Tutorial
Viewing & Navigating
Resolution
What is Resolution
Understanding Resolution
Input Output Resolution
Image Resolution
Digital Resolution
Basic Color Correction
Color Correction Tutorials
Auto Color
Color Cast Correction
Color Correct and Rotate
The Suspect
by John Lescroart
Bearable writing with annoying protagonists. However, the San Francisco setting may lure me back to this author.
Bearable writing with annoying protagonists. However, the San Francisco setting may lure me back to this author.
Classical Music
1. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643, Italy)
L'Orfeo (first important opera)
****The Baroque Period (1600 - 1750)***
2. Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687, France)
Ballet des Plaisirs (reform orchestra composition)
3. Henry Purcell (1659-1695, England)
Dido's Lament from Dido [dai-do] and Aeneas
4. Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706, Germany)
Canon in D [pa-ke-bel]
5. Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1715, Italy)
Christmas Concerto (Concerto grosso No.8)
6. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750, Germany)
Brandenburg Concerto
Air on the G String
7. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759, Germany)
Water Music
Firework Music
Messiah (Hallelujah Chorus)
8.Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1750, Italy)
Adagio in G minor (not written by Albanoni)
9. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741, Italy)
The Four Seasons
***The Classical Period (1750-1830)***
10. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788, Germany)
Sinfonia No.4 in G major (son of J. S. Bach)
11. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787, Bavaria)
Orfeo ed Euridice
12. Franz Joseph Hayden (1732-1809, Austria)
Symphony No. 45 'Farewell'
Symphony No. 94 'The Surprise'
Symphony No. 101 'The Clock'
Symphony No. 104 'The London Symphony'
13. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791, Austria)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Symphony No. 41 'Jupiter'
The Marriage of Figaro
Piano Concerto in C major
Requiem
Piano Sonata in A major
A Musical Joke
The Magic Flute
Symphony No. 40 in G minor
L'Orfeo (first important opera)
****The Baroque Period (1600 - 1750)***
2. Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687, France)
Ballet des Plaisirs (reform orchestra composition)
3. Henry Purcell (1659-1695, England)
Dido's Lament from Dido [dai-do] and Aeneas
4. Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706, Germany)
Canon in D [pa-ke-bel]
5. Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1715, Italy)
Christmas Concerto (Concerto grosso No.8)
6. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750, Germany)
Brandenburg Concerto
Air on the G String
7. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759, Germany)
Water Music
Firework Music
Messiah (Hallelujah Chorus)
8.Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1750, Italy)
Adagio in G minor (not written by Albanoni)
9. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741, Italy)
The Four Seasons
***The Classical Period (1750-1830)***
10. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788, Germany)
Sinfonia No.4 in G major (son of J. S. Bach)
11. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787, Bavaria)
Orfeo ed Euridice
12. Franz Joseph Hayden (1732-1809, Austria)
Symphony No. 45 'Farewell'
Symphony No. 94 'The Surprise'
Symphony No. 101 'The Clock'
Symphony No. 104 'The London Symphony'
13. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791, Austria)
Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Symphony No. 41 'Jupiter'
The Marriage of Figaro
Piano Concerto in C major
Requiem
Piano Sonata in A major
A Musical Joke
The Magic Flute
Symphony No. 40 in G minor
State of Fear
by Michael Crichton
Like all the fiction with an agenda, the tensity and pace of the story give away to prolonged clarification of the author's stand point. Crichton even goes through the length of giving academic references. It is enlightening at first and boring in the end. His characters are made simple and flat so that they can ask the same questions and illustrate the same ideas again and again.
The doubt about global warming is understandable, the theory of the state of fear is insightful, but somehow, putting together, it is neither captive nor persuasive.
Like all the fiction with an agenda, the tensity and pace of the story give away to prolonged clarification of the author's stand point. Crichton even goes through the length of giving academic references. It is enlightening at first and boring in the end. His characters are made simple and flat so that they can ask the same questions and illustrate the same ideas again and again.
The doubt about global warming is understandable, the theory of the state of fear is insightful, but somehow, putting together, it is neither captive nor persuasive.
The Enemy At Home
by Dinesh D'Souza
As always, D'Souza's book is full of insights, but as any other partisan propaganda, it is biased at least, and sometimes, to the extend of being ridiculous.
There's no doubt that most of the Americans, including some policy makers are clueless about how foreign people perceive America, as a nation or as a culture. Reading this book will definitely help. However, when the author drags his advantaged cultural perspective into a bi-partisan fight, it is unavoidably devalued. After all, you can't justify the good taste of an orange with a rotten apple.
What a shame!
As always, D'Souza's book is full of insights, but as any other partisan propaganda, it is biased at least, and sometimes, to the extend of being ridiculous.
There's no doubt that most of the Americans, including some policy makers are clueless about how foreign people perceive America, as a nation or as a culture. Reading this book will definitely help. However, when the author drags his advantaged cultural perspective into a bi-partisan fight, it is unavoidably devalued. After all, you can't justify the good taste of an orange with a rotten apple.
What a shame!
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