Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011, Movie)

The only reason to see this movie is for the battles of Autobots VS Decepticons. Transformers 3 did not solve any of the problems that plague the first two by a long shot, but my biggest complaint is that it's too LONG! The bad stuff is that this movie shares half its screen time with fleshy humans that have no place being around giant robots with lasers while the humans have bullets that bounce off the robots. You know human weapons are ineffective, so get out of the way of the robots and let the Autobots do their job. Also, why do the wreckers have machine guns when there are Autobots fighting other robots? It was established only their own lasers can hurt big Decepticons.

Google + Movie for 2013

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013, Movie)

The big finish of the movie is Smaug chasing the dwarves around the inside of the mountain for an hour.  Why are they spending so much time running around from the dragon? You lose the tension of a scene when it drags on so long. The dragon isn't so dangerous when he can't kill even one dwarf over such a long time.  That's obviously not in the book. 

The movie is an ill-conceived ragout of fantasy, science fiction, and old-fashioned romance.

Xmas 2013

John Carter (2012, Movie)

The movie was the proper combination of western and sci-fi story and effects. Andrew Stanton took a chance on this 100 year old story by Edgar Rice Burroughs book, that is little known by those people who are not already ERB fans. John Carter takes us to industrial age New York, the American Frontier, and also Mars. It was quite a joyous ride.

Mom's 87th Birthday parties

Here I combined 2 parties into one photo album, 09/18 and 11/11/2013, both held at Angelus Plaza. You can see that she still shines like a beauty queen everywhere she goes. I really hope I can be like her for the years to come.

One day at a time -- this is enough.  Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come.  Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.                                                                       

Hawaii Cruise trip

After 42 years, we still had the passion toward fun, laugh and youth. There we met old and new classmates/friends, on or off the boat. Even the four days bus tours gave us uppermost challenges at our ages.

There is a saying: “While you meet something beautiful, the first thing you should do is to share it with your friends anywhere. So that these beautiful things will be able to spread out literally around the world.”

17 October, 2013

LAX, American Airlines, Honolulu Airport, Waikiki, Outrigger Luana Hotel, Atlantis Submarine Adventure, Ramen Ezogiku

Every meal/snack was chargeable on this six hours flight. The Outrigger hotel is situated just outside of the really busy area of Waikiki and since we were on the 2nd floor facing the parking lot and had a lot of traffic noise.  Hotel is clean and the staff is friendly.  It is an easy walk to the restaurants and the beach. I heard that all the coconuts on the coconut palm trees on Waikiki Beach are removed for the safety of tourists.

In Atlantis submarine, we went down all the way to 104 feet. We paid the extra for the deluxe sub ride with better viewing but couldn't see much because the water was so murky. We saw artificial reefs made from large airplanes and fishing boats. We saw some sorts of fish including a small shark and a turtle.

We wanted some serious comfort food after a long day of flying and deep-sea adventure. The place is a super cheap solution to dining in Waikiki, and it’s truly Japanese owned.

18 October, 2013

Grand Circle Island Tour – Oahu (Diamond Head, Exclusive Kahala Estates, Hanuama Bay, Halona “Blow Hole” Lookout, Byodo-In Temple, Chinaman’s Hat, Mormon Temple, Kualoa Ranch and “Lengends and Legacy tram tour”, North Shore surfing beaches, Waimea Bay, Pineapple Fields, Dole Plantation), Ramen Nakamura 

Robert’s Hawaii used 64-passenger bus so it made the tour more complex and uncomfortable. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the history and scenery of the island, however, not customer oriented. 

The Halona Blow Hole is a natural occurrence formed by molten lava tubes from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. The lava tubes run to the ocean and, when the surf is right, the blowhole shoots water up to 30 feet in the air. The larger the waves, the larger the spray.

The Halona Beach Cove, also known as the “Peering Place” is known for the famous love scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the movie entitled "From Here to Eternity" (1953). 

The beautiful Hanauma Bay is great for snorkeling. The Nuuanu Pali (“Pali” in Hawaiian means ‘cliff’) Lookout and Valley offered breathtaking views, pineapple plantations being harvested, and a crowded buffet lunch at Kualoa Ranch. The Byodo-In Temple sets in a beautiful tranquil landscaped setting, plus many beautiful beaches, warm rain forests and majestic mountains. Don’t ever miss out the delicious and smooth pineapple ice cream at Dole. Yummy!

In Hawaii, we often see many wild chickens. They seem to have very good and happy life because they are born free and roam free to eat natural food in the wild. The mongoose was introduced into Hawaii in 1883, from India through Jamaica, in a failed effort to control rat population that was feeding on sugar cane. 

On the Windward Coast (North Shore) of Oahu, there are gorgeous jagged mountain ridges visible from beautiful beach parks, valleys, bays and highways. Sunset Beach is on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii and known for big wave surfing during the winter season, with waves often between fifteen and twenty feet high. All the surfing contests take place in the winter around December and January, that being the time of the biggest and best waves for surfing. This is one of the longest sand beaches in Oahu running two miles in length and 200-300 feet wide.

19 October, 2013

Protea Café, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters (Oahu Waikiki Beach, hidden rain forests, lush valleys, turquoise coral reefs of Waikiki, volcano of Diamond Head, Koko Head Crater, Hanauma Bay, White-sand Waimanalo beach, Chinaman’s Hat, coral formations in Kaneohe Bay, Nuuanu Valley rainforest, Sacred Falls, Dole Pineapple Plantation, Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri), NCL Pride of America

Protea Cafe is a very small place with only 4 two-seater tables and a large "community table" that is also good for groups. We tried it out since it’s right at our hotel. The Illy brand coffee was not as good as Kona coffee. All in all, it is very reasonably priced, and good service too.

Then we headed out for the helicopter. What a great way to see Hawaii, well worth the money. We were in the air for about 50 minutes and it was the best $205 we each have spent. We’d seen views impossible to see from the ground and truly had an unforgettable time! My hubby worried about the height at the beginning and he enjoyed it very much at the end. Oh, I forgot to mention that we were so lucky to sit in the front seats, right next to the pilot! We got amazing view of Hawaii multi-color ocean! Green-blue for shallow water and the coral reef near the shore and deep blue for off-shore deep water. We got exquisite, 360 degree views of breathtaking sky, valley, sea, and mountains. You truly get to appreciate the beauty of the island from this vantage point, the contrast of the turquoise blue of the ocean with the emerald green of the farms in the valley and the rich, forest-green mountains rising up to the clouds.

Finally, we got on board NCL Pride of America and had our first buffet meal. Not too attractive.

20 October, 2013

Hana, Maui Bus Tour (Hookipa, Heavenly Hana Town, Kaumanhina State Park, Wai Kane Falls, Hana Bay, Pools of Oheo “Seven sacred pools”, Wailua Falls, Wainapanapa State Park, Keanae Lookout)

TFGH arranged 3 buses to tour Hana. The tour guide we had was excellent and extremely knowledgeable about the culture, the history of the entire area and about every plant and animal conceivable that made up this entire 9 hour excursion.  Once into the trip, the driving became treacherous, especially with some of the turns, narrowed road and the seriously extremely bumpy part of the road that lasted about 4 miles. On the forever winding Road to Hana, visitors can enjoy the luscious landscape lined with tumbling waterfalls, green valleys and some of the most spectacular oceanic views you'll ever see on this beautiful coastal winding road. This famous 68-mile Road to Hana features over 600 curves and 50 single-lane bridges. Why do they call it the Road to Hana? Because it's not just the destination, but the spectacular sights along the road that will take your breath away. The picture opportunities along the road are near endless.

The Black Sand Beach is so peculiar and The 7 pools are crowded with people. And unexpectedly, our camera quit working due to “disc error”. Now we depended on other peoples’ shootings.

21 October, 2013

Maui Bus Tour (Nene geese’s – the state bird, Haleakala National Park “House of the Sun”, Haleakala Visitor Center, Haleakala Volcano Summit “10,023 ft”, Iao State Park and Needle, Wailuku Town, Maui Tropical Plantation)

It is a dormant volcano in Haleakala National Park and the tallest peak on Maui, Hawaii reaching 10,023 feet above sea level.  Haleakala means "house of the sun" in Hawaiian. The scenery dramatically changed from lush to harsh. You actually feel like you can reach out to the clouds. The two-mile-high summit of Maui's Haleakala Crater is a vast volcanic caldera valley. The caldera/crater includes its own mini-mountain range of nine cinder cones - the largest of which is over 1000 feet high. The multi-colours sight (many variations of green, orange and brown) inside the crater
from the summit was fabulous. Many believe that Haleakalā Crater resembles the surface of the moon or, more likely, Mars with its red hue. Our tour spent maybe 45 minutes or so at the summit and also hike to the very top (which was a very uneven rocky 10-min each way hike).  Beautiful scenery. The famous and special silversword plant grows in the desert-like landscape at Kalahaku Overlook, at 9,000 feet. This endangered beauty grows only here and at the Big Island's two peaks in Hawaii's volcanic craters at high elevation. When silversword plant reaches maturity, it sends forth a 3- to 8-foot-tall stalk with several hundred tiny sunflowers. The silversword plant blooms once, then dies.

Nene, the Hawaiian native geese, is the state bird of Hawaii.

The Iao needle was interesting to see also. The Iao needle  is a 2,250-foot cinder cone pinnacle that pierces through the clouds and dominates its lush surroundings in Iao Valley State Park. Iao means “Cloud Supreme”, the banks of clouds that often sit over the valley. Iao Needle is the Hawaiian War God. During periods of warfare, the peak was used as a lookout by warriors to lookout for invaders. Hawaiian warriors used to seek refuge underneath him. The mountains are beautiful, the little garden area with taro ponds/patches are nice.

22 October, 2013

Hilo, Hawaii Bus Tour (City of Hilo, Liliuokalani Park, Rainbow Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park “visitor center, steaming bluff, Kilauea overlook, Jaggar Museum and Observatory, Halemaumau crater, Thurston lave tube, Kilauea Iki overlook, Devastation Trail”)

Kilauea is an active volcano which is the youngest among the five volcanoes that form the Big Island of Hawaii. Mount Kilauea frequently pours out lava and hence is named so. In the Hawaiian language, the word, 'Kilauea' means "spewing" or 'much spreading'. Kīlauea ranks among the world's most active volcanoes and may even top the list. Kīlauea has a large summit caldera, measuring 2 by 2 mi with walls (caldera rim) up to 400 ft. high. This caldera is at about 4,000 feet of elevation. A major feature within the caldera is Halemaumau Crater, a large circular pit crater and one of Kīlauea's most historically active eruption centers. The crater is approximately 3,018 ft. in diameter and 279 ft. deep. There are also several steam vents near Kilauea Caldera. 

Rainbow Falls flows over a natural lava cave, the mythological home to Hina, an ancient Hawaiian goddess. Rainbow Falls derives its name from the fact that, on sunny mornings, one can see rainbows in the mist thrown up by the waterfall. It is 80 ft. tall.

We had a special experience to see lots of Honu (The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) swimming about right near our boat. What a thrill to see them up close and in their natural habitat!

23 October, 2013

Kona, Hawaii Rafting & Snorkeling Adventure (Kealakekua Bay, sea cave and lava tube exploration)

Kailua-Kona Pier is a shallow water marina such that the cruise ship had to anchor in the middle of the bay and used several tender boats to ferry passengers to reach Kailua-Kona marina.

Kealakekua Bay is the first exposure of Hawaii to western people when Captain James Cook and his ships, the Resolution and Discovery, entered the sheltered waters of Kealakekua Bay on the morning of Jan 17, 1779. "Kealakekua" in Hawaiian means Pathway of the God because this area was the focus of extensive Makahiki celebrations in honor of the god Lono. Captain James Cook and his ships arrived during the height of a religious festival of native Hawaiian people. Thinking Cook was a returning
God, the Hawaiians welcomed and honored him. There are dramatic cliffs surround crystal clear, turquoise water chock-full of stunning coral and tropical fish. 

It is the largest sheltered natural bay on the island of Hawaii. The spectacular marine sanctuary at Kealakekua Bay offers an abundance of colorful tropical fish, a variety of beautiful coral reefs and water visibility often to 100 feet. The calm, protected waters and sunny skies of Kealakekua Bay provide superior snorkeling and diving year round, with the water temperature averaging 76 degrees. This Captain Cooks' cove was where we snorkeled in and saw all kinds of colorful and beautiful tropical fish, eels, sea urchins, octopus, turtle, Moray eels etc., gathering around us among shallow coral reef. We were able to see and swim with dolphins too. Some snacks, drinks and fruits were provided on the Zodiac. The Zodiac held 10 people which made for a more personal experience. Wu Liang had never snorkeled before and he felt comfortable in the water. The two guides also exhibited their knowledge of the island and marine life so well, it was impossible to have anything less than a wonderful time!

24 October, 2013

Kauai Bus Tour (Wailua River Cruise, Holo Holo Ku Heiau, Opaekaa Falls, Spouting Horn lookout, Koloa – Hawaii’s first sugar plantation, Hanapepe Valley Lookout, Waimea Town – site of Captain Cook’s first landing, Waimea Canyon lookout)

This 151–foot spectacular Opaekaa Falls was used in the movie "Blue Hawaii". The name "ʻŌpaekaʻa" means rolling shrimp, "ʻopae" being Hawaiian for "shrimp," and "kaʻa" for "rolling". The name dates back to days when the native freshwater shrimp Atyoida bisulcata were plentiful in the stream and were seen rolling and tumbling down the falls and into the churning waters at the fall's base.

We noticed that the population of wild chicken on Kauai seems to be much greater than those on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii probably due to the lack of Indian mongoose on the Island of Kauai.

Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Pacific, is gorgeous and our cruise up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto was so enjoyable.  We saw beautiful rain forest and river ride. The bad thing was that I got bitten seriously in the rain forest. I should try sesame oil as insect control next time.

25 October, 2013

Kauai Harbor Mall, Marriott's Kauai Lagoons - Kalanipu'u, Na Pali Coast

This hotel property is stunning! There is nothing more to say than fabulous. It is located right on the beach in Kauai. There are fantastic grounds for walking. The pool was wonderful and they have the largest koi pond plus a botanic garden. 

Stunning sea cliffs of Na Pali Coast on northwest coast of Kauai was breathtaking. We did sight-seeing it from the boat and enjoyed cliffs, rugged green peaks, splendid valleys, beaches and caves.  It was surreal and an unbelievably beautiful experience not to be missed.

26 October, 2013

Honolulu, HNL Airport, American Airlines, LAX, Home

We arrived at the airport at 8:30 am and AA doesn't open till 9 am. Awesome. Then TSA confiscated my yogurt and apples. I was very disappointed at the not-free Wi-fi at the HNL airport.

As far as NCL Pride of America, it’s not what we expected. The evening shows were boring and not worth the time to see them. The first night, I suffered from bed bugs and the noise of squeaky drape board. Although I enjoyed the "freestyle cruising", I cannot say too much of their ordinary food. The ship has so many specialty restaurants to lure you out. Pool on-board is not nearly adequate for the number of people it must service. You cannot hear shipboard announcements in your cabin. The TV stations are so limited and not one station with local weather or time. The only thing this cruise was good for was getting a sampling of the islands. However, I got to enjoy the long lasting friendship from everyone. That was the main purpose of this trip!

大話西遊記: 月光寶盒, 仙履奇緣

我們何嘗不是在人生路上取經，為此只能無奈的放棄許多往日煙雲，我們只留一顆平常心, 在最落寞的時候想起曾經的那段愛, 那經典的一幕場景。

真正使《大話西遊》成為一部經典的，是一段謊言。因為這段謊言最後騙到的不是別人，而是當初撒下這個謊言的男人。

因為西遊路顯得遙遠和沈重，遙遠的是步履，沉重的，是心境。 他的大師弟，叫悟能，因為一生難戀。 
他的二師弟，叫悟淨，因為一生不戀。 
而他，在取名悟空的那一刻開始，就注定一生失戀。 

宿命比愛情永恆, 你總想抓住愛情卻不會去想抓住宿命。

The Avengers (2012, Movie)

The Avengers' is what all Super Hero films should be like. There was non stop action and there was humor which made the movie even better.

袁志鍾老師書法研習社組團 Baja California 二天一日遊 (故鄉旅遊)

墨西哥北部與美國接壤，Baja英语中的意思就是below/under,是指下方的。正是因為這個半島是在美國加利福尼亞州的下方吧。"下加州半島"是全世界最長的半島。墨西哥是仙人掌的故鄉，品種有2000多種，從美國一踏入墨西哥領土就可以看到栽滿了仙人掌、仙人球、仙人柱的植物，在門口恭候著到訪的客人。 

洛杉磯往南經過San Diego約走兩小時就會到美墨邊境.熙來人往衍然就是完全不同的風光;難得看到這樣的人群.人是在路上走動的,不是在車內的. 海邊的Villa一棟接著一棟,卻多是空屋. 被亂塗鴉的牆面,有點不協調配著這寧靜的大屋。偌大的窗;開車經過卻也因為空無一物, 能一眼望穿看到太平洋.  天邊遠遠地站著一個耶蘇的巨大神像,保護著愛戴它的子民. 照顧著它忠誠的信徒, 不只有聖母瑪利亞的母愛,也有耶穌的神蹟照耀.這就是墨西哥子民的精神寄託。   

第一站是 Puerto Nuevo 的龍蝦大餐，有Baja的龍蝦首都"Lobster Capital of Baja,"之稱, 自1956年第一家餐廳開立以來,每年龍蝦供應量超過上百萬隻. 這裡的龍蝦堅持要以豬油煎或炸, 據說這樣可以保持龍蝦的鮮度與嫩度,搭配著紅飯,大紅豆與玉米餅,味道就會剛剛好;據說,這就是努埃沃港龍蝦的傳統吃法。現在這裡的海鮮餐廳已經超過30家以上了,我們選的餐廳是Angel Del Mar! 先來一大盤的Salsa與玉米片,單單這前菜就很墨西哥! 搭配熱呼呼剛出爐的玉米麵餅,挑下龍蝦肉,來點紅飯,一起捲起來.成了龍蝦Burritos, 最後配上一杯Margarita,讚! 我選的石斑魚大餐,也是豬油熱炸過,香脆但是乾乾硬硬，不很可口.

半島上有許多海灘度假城市，譬如恩塞纳达 Ensenada 是墨西哥西部海岸城市，著名的景點有喷水海岸Blow hole，海水會在拍擊海岸的時候從洞穴中噴出，景色壯觀，噴水的那霎那會形成彩虹。但是咱們只能於導遊的敘述中神遊。這個城市十分乾淨整潔，特别是海邊風光，讓人流連忘返。我們出游船40分鐘，看到大海邊停泊着數以百計的豪華游艇，以及兩艘遊輪，加上成群懶洋洋的 sea lions。這里的房子密密麻麻地建于山坡上，城市不大，感覺光禿禿就像沙漠景觀，不同的就是人和房子的風格。這裏的特產除了啤酒，葡萄酒之外，還有墨西哥特產的银飾Taxco Sterling silver。 在大街上隨處可見兜售銀飾的小販，熱情地幫你講解着如何區分真假银飾。奇怪的是在這麼遙遠的異國他鄉竟會有小販用簡單的漢語向我們兜售他的東西。 

Rosarito 距離北面Tijuana的 美墨邊境約 35 分鐘車程。 二十世紀福斯 為拍攝 鐵達尼號 (1997 年電影 ) ，曾在 海灘 建造了佔地 40 英畝的攝製場地和一艘 5 層樓高、與「 鐵達尼號 」真船差不多大小的佈景船；部份場景如船上餐廳、洗手間等保留為博物館。晚餐是跟隨導遊去 Vincent's Family Restaurant 品嚐清蒸魚，倒是價廉物美。夜宿 Rosarito Beach Hotel 的 Coronado Tower ，非常老舊，房間一股霉味，隔音又差，半夜被拖椅子聲驚醒數次 .下回應該選擇較新的 Pacifico Tower. 次晨享受早餐 buffet, 品嚐被導遊一再渲染的 Mexico coffee, 不過爾爾. 白天時你可以在沙灘上骑一匹馬，馳騁 ATV, 或是 kayak。

Tijuana 是同美國祇一欄之隔的小鎮，與美國城市聖地亞哥接壤。音樂、美食、咖啡與西班牙殖民建築，讓此城有加勒比海式的墨西哥風情。小街上沿街都是當地的手工藝品, 老闆一開口就是賣給我們這些觀光客的"非友情價"。裝酷一點, 通常不到一半的價格可以買到。

墨西哥人看上去不很富裕，但民風樸實熱情友善。墨西哥的小帥哥們, 都是有音樂細胞的樂師; 天生愛節奏,愛熱鬧. 在回程的巴士上，手上裹著紗布的樂師不斷奮力地彈奏出鏗鏘悅耳的樂曲，一首接一首，欲罷不能。節奏與音樂都是輕快的, 讓人不知覺也跟著動了起來. 

途經 San Diego, 稍逛久違的 Old Town, 景色依舊. 今天塞車不是很久, 很順利的返回洛杉磯.

此次加入袁志鍾老師的旅遊團, 是非常輕鬆自在, 沒啥壓力的玩法。加上稱職的導遊, 熟練的司機, 詼諧的陳傑, 親和的龔小玲, 率直的顧蘭芳同學們, 增色不少。只可惜與大夥的互動不足, 畢竟二天一日瞬間即逝, 待來日吧! 盼大家日益精進, 明年書法展上見!

Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013, Movie)

I honestly don't get this movie. The rewrites of old plotlines were puzzling and confusing.

Oblivion (2013, Movie)

Set in 2077, 60 years after Earth is invaded by alien beings called Scavengers (Scavs), who destroy the Moon, resulting in a tectonic upheaval, that - combined with nuclear weapons, used to defeat the aliens, have resulted in Earth becoming virtually uninhabitable. The remaining humans inhabit a huge space station and have established a colony on Titan, one of the moons of Saturn. Cruise as Jack Harper, is Tech 49, who is responsible for patrolling the radiation-free sections of Earth and for maintenance of drone warships that hunt down the remaining Scavs.

This was a pretty formulaic and transparent 'alien invader' movie. Over two hours of nothing but special effects.

Walnut Folk Dance 10th Anniversary

Here is our "Chicago" jazz with Joyce Huo, Amy Hao and Jenny Chung:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYneF_i0fs&app=desktop

莫言作品【蛙】:人文關懷“把自己當罪人寫” (2009)

“蛙”以計劃生育這一敏感題材為背景﹐塑造了鄉村婦產科醫生﹑計劃生育幹部姑姑這一典型形象。在姑姑身上﹐既有聖母般的光環﹐又有地煞般的猙獰﹐是亦神亦魔的合體人格。姑姑晚年生活在地洞中﹐以捏泥娃娃表達懺悔的心理﹐是莫言對人在歷史場域中的自我擔當自我懺悔意識的呼喚。

莫言把小說命名為“蛙”﹐乃是取“娃”﹑“媧”的同音之意﹐其圖騰的意味十分明顯。 這部號稱“醞釀十餘年、筆耕四載、三易其稿”的小說，無論從出版的時間來看，還是從試圖表現“鄉土中國六十年”的創作意圖來看，都可以被理解為是作家嘗試用自己的創作對共和國歷史進行清理和反思的嘗試。

莫言的小說《蛙》深刻的剖析了人性，雖然是在寫家鄉的故事，但是仍然深刻的表達出了一部人性的故事。

X-Men: First Class (2011, Movie)

This is the prequel to the" X-Men Trilogy". This story looks at X-Men/mutants before the mutants were enemies with one another. Set in the early 1960s during the Cuban missile crisis, the viewer is introduced to two powerful mutants. this story explains why Xavier is in a wheelchair, how Magneto becomes Magneto, how Magneto got the helmet he wears, and why Mystique sides with Magneto and not Xavier. It's a good comic book movie. 

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013, Movie)

The film is similar in style to such franchise films as Underworld and others, but it very heavy on special effects and less so on style and story. The film is violent and the witches are killed in various and sometimes outlandish ways, but the action is non stop and unrelenting. Definitely it is not a children's movie either.

青 鳥 (青 い鳥) (Blue Bird) (2008, Movie)

日本直木賞作家重松清的短篇小說《青鳥》所改編成的電影。校園霸凌，倒不是是受害者的角度來看，而是從被欺負的野口同學轉學之後，學校、全班同學的反應來看待霸凌事件。欺負別人的人並沒有意識到對方的痛苦，以為是一種好玩，所以正造成了霸凌行為。這種以自我為中心的毛病，通常是比有意識的作為更令人寒心阿。

口吃的老師說:「欺侮的行為……並不是因為討、討厭才變成欺侮的。也不是因為人數眾、眾、眾多，才演變成欺侮的。把人踐踏在腳下，讓他感到痛、痛、痛、痛苦，卻沒察、察覺自己造成他人的痛、痛、痛、痛、痛苦……對於他痛、痛、痛、痛苦的呼喊聲，充、充、充、充耳不聞的話，才是欺侮的行為……。」

這是一部劇情簡單的電影。

IAI at Providence plus vacation

Providence has a unique culture that draws some of its best elements from being a seaside port, a historical landmark and Boston's southward neighbor. This year, IAI (International Association of Identification) Conference was held there. Tagged along with Wu-Liang, besides Providence, we spent totally 12 days in Boston, Newport, Cape Cod and New Bedford.

30 July 2013

LAX, South West Air, Chicago Airport, Providence, Hampton Inn and Suite

Parked at Hilton, LAX as usual and took the shuttle to fly South West Airline en route Chicago Midway to Providence. Dinner was done at Chicago Midway close to 9 p.m. and most of the shops were closed.

By the time we arrived at Hampton Inn, it was early in the morning. Luckily, it is adjacent to the airport and provides hot breakfast daily. It saved us a lot of trouble and money. Surprisingly, everyone was friendly & helpful from the manager, to chauffeur, cleaning help, to those just walking by to their jobs. It must be the eastern culture. They claim their duvets and sheets are cleaned daily. Believe or not!

31 July, 2013

Budget Rental, Newport Mansions, Legal Seafood

We got a Nissan Rogue which doesn’t have good sound proof. Then we headed out to Newport for their famous Mansions. This fancy city charges pay toll road $4 each way. Therefore, we must get the most of our time to visit mansions and we made four of them!

Hunter House:

This 1754 Georgian Colonial House is a pearl in the crown of Newport's architecture & history. It is said that this house far surpasses the mansions to be seen on Bellevue Avenue in Newport due to its historical significance and furnishings. Hunter House has been meticulously restored and stocked with some of the finest pieces of Townsend-Goddard furniture as well as paintings by Gilbert Stewart, Cosmo Alexander and Samuel King. It gives you an idea of how the Newport Captains of the triangle trade lived and prospered.

The Breakers:

We were amazed by the creativity and craftsmanship on display from the opulent Gilded Age. This one belonged to the Vanderbilts and was constructed and furnished in great style. The self-guided tour is extremely informative and interesting. 

Marble House:

So much marble! The original owners built each as summer "cottages", all rival or exceed the most lavish European castles. The Breakers and Marble House are simply over the top in the way they are decorated. If you want to view an ostentatious, opulent, and lavish home, then by all means, go to the Marble House. The name says in all!

Rosecliff:

Rosecliff was custom built for parties, with an almost hotel like feel upstairs, still very opulent. The Great Gatsby, True Lies and Amistad were all shot here. Loved that the name came from the collection of roses and that the house is finally in good hands!

1 August, 2013

Charlie Card (MBTA). Harvard, MIT, Rangzen Tibetan Restaurant

Drove to downtown Boston then took MBTA to Harvard. We took the tour since the guides are actual Harvard students, always super energetic, full of quirky details and some fun tales! One of the legends was about John Harvard's statue and whether its likeness was another person. One thing moved us most was that Harvard builds Memorial Church and Memorial Hall to give memories of alumni soldiers who gave their lives in wars. Then we bought T-shirts and magnets as most of the tourists do.

MIT is one of the world's leading educational institutions, with an emphasis on math and sciences. It is also known to have the best pranksters for all universities. Cambridge is a pleasant and easy place to walk through. The view walking along the river was beautiful.

2 August, 2013

Hyannis, Cape Cod, Lobster Pot, Race Point Beach National Park

Gee, this was a long drive. Hyannis is the largest port on the Cape, and where John F. Kennedy Museum is. And we only passed by, even missed the Duck tour due to the crowds. Then we proceeded to the tip of the Cape, Race Point. It is an unbelievably beautiful beach.

We tasted the wonderful lobster roll at Lobster Pot! Yummy.

3 August 2013

Boston Common, MBTA, Freedom Trail, Charlestown Navy Yard, Pepper Skys

We took a self-guided Freedom Trail walking tour, starting from Boston Common visitor center with a free map from the National Parks Service in hand.  It took you to several great locations, including the inside and top of the Bunker Hill Monument, the USS Constitution, the site of the Boston Massacre, etc. It was also a great form of exercise. We got to learn about American history while discovering the city at the same time.

The Charlestown Navy Yard is home to the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship at 215 years old. The dry dock is an impressive site, especially considering how old it is. Walking around the Battleships are great experiences too.  

4 August 2013

Whaling Museum, Omni Hotel

We took the liberty of last day of rental car to visit Whaling Museum in New Bedford. There’s a great history of art of whaling and everything about it. This museum is truly one of a kind. They had exhibits regarding whaling, maritime trade, and even a ship inside the museum.

Finally, we got to our 4-star Omni Hotel after returning the rental car. From then on, we solely reply on foot! The hotel room was modern and spacious. It’s connected to Convention Center and also to a very large mall Providence Place, which is a nice diversion. 

5 August 2013

Independence Trail walk

This is a day of my own choice, to walk the 2.5 miles famous Independence Trail, just follow the green line. In 2011, the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island painted a green stripe on the sidewalk and called it The Independence Trail. At first, I was a little skeptical, but then I realized that not only is this a great, low-cost way to showcase Providence's history to visitors, but it's a great refresher for the locals as well.  It goes through downtown Providence that covers over four centuries of history and features 75 sites ranging from a place where George Washington slept to a statue of Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, whose distinctive facial hair coined the word 'sideburns.'  You just follow it until you see an emblem on the sidewalk that says "Independence Trail." These are located at points of interest, and when you call the number and punch in your location code, you get a mini history lesson about where you are standing. Unfortunately, I only encountered 3 emblems on the whole walking path and two of them is ‘under maintenance’. What a drag! It’s a tiring experience though.

6 August 2013

Ellie's Bakery, Water Place Park and Riverwalk, First Baptist Church in America, Roger Williams Memorial, Brown University

Water Place Park and Riverwalk is a picturesque walk, especially during water fire, which we had to miss. It’s a very nice place for me to take a midday stroll.

First Baptist Church is the archetypal colonial church, and a required photo stop when visiting Providence. It is also called the First Baptist Meetinghouse, the current building dates from 1774-75, though the congregation is much older: Roger Williams founded it in 1638, and it is the oldest Baptist congregation in the U.S. A tour guide showed me inside which is very plain, representing the thinking at the time. Not even a cross can be found there. She told me that is the primordial thought for Baptists.

My hubby and I made our first visit to the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence.  The Memorial consists of a park and a small Visitors Center. I guess it’s the smallest National Park in the U.S.

My hubby insisted on visiting Brown University to complete the circle of Harvard and MIT. Its architecture is the most attractive and historically interesting in Providence. This is an Ivy League school that celebrates the individuality of its student body, and has a faculty that cares about their work and those that they are teaching. Thayer St is the place where students hang out. We enjoyed our Korean to-fu bowl there.

7 August 2013

Experience Rhode Island Tour, R.I.S.D.

It’s a 2 hour journey touring the city.  It’s both entertaining and memorable Rhode Island-only tour excursions which I enjoyed for part of a day. At the end, we were treated for a delicate dessert.

The Rhode Island School of Design museum is an excellent resource for the family and the many local artists in RI. The have ancient art, impressionist paintings, contemporary art, and a lot more. It has a lot of hidden gems. I especially enjoyed their students’ works, bold and impressionist. At the end, I bought a colorful tape dispenser for myself.

8 August 2013

Federal Hill, Korean BBQ

I spent my hard journey for the famous Boston Cream Cake and Lobster Tail (a dessert). Finally, in a small bakery in Federal Hill, there it is the ugly Boston Cream Cake. I bought one piece home for buddy to satisfy his curiosity.

9 August 2013

Providence Place, Sushi Café

What’s the best choice in a rainy day? The answer: the mall. That’s the destiny for both of us to shop our favorite Macy’s and ate sushi in the food court. Definitely a great place for a rainy day.

10 August 2013

Shuttle to airport, Southwest Airline, LAX

We strolled around the city one more shot before we departed. We even found Chinese soups at Midway airport. While enjoying the soups, we almost missed our connecting flight. Alas, we came home safe and sound. Say goodbye to the 12 day vacation.

The Expendables (2010, Movie)

The Expendables is a simple action movie that delivers. The story is weak, the acting is bad, and there's no soul here. 

Cloud Atlas (2012, Movie)

A very complex multi-threaded movie, where the language is sometimes difficult to understand due to the accents and poetic styles used. This is six loosely connected tales, with settings ranging from the nineteenth century to the post-apocalyptic, all utilizing the same base group of actors for each story.  I just don't think it is effective to put them all in the same movie. Cloud Atlas tries to mystify you with its cinematic chicanery while constantly reminding you that you're not paying attention to what's truly going down. 

Usually I do like sci-fi movies. But this one is just not my favorite genre, and I was lack of patience to ponder.

By the way, I could not see any Buddhist thought of reincarnation though. As a whole, if a movie doesn't really begin to tie things together half way, then it's just too much work of somewhat stunning-looking web of confusion. 

The Great Global Warming Swindle (2007, Documentary)

A compelling and powerful SCIENTIFIC case to debunk the Global Warming lie. Heck even Patrick Moore the co-founder of Greenpeace chimes in expose the truth! He states: "I don't even like to call it the environmental movement anymore, because really it is a political activist movement, and they have become hugely influential at a global level". This movie reopens a healthy and much needed debate over global warming. 

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012, Movie)

I viewed the movie as a kind of alternative history piece in that it gave different reasons for slavery, why the war was fought and the reason Lincoln's son died along with why the South lost the Battle of Gettysburg. 

I was very surprised at how much of a plot there really was, and I kind of enjoyed the combination of vampire lore and "history," as it were.

JPL 33rd American Heritage Event

This year's theme is "Celebrating JPL's Cultural Diversity". 

"International Cuisine Sampling" features food sampling from African-American, American, Chinese, East Indian, Filipino, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latino, Native-American, Polish, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. My favorite was Sushi.

The Entertainment and Demonstrations include musical, dance by numerous ethnic and cultural groups, including African-American Soloist, Armenian Dancing, Chinese Dancing & Singing, East Indian Classical & Folk Dancers, Hawaiian Dancing, Henna Artist, Japanese Origami, Jazz Propulsion Band, Native-American Pow-Wow Dancing, Photo-booth, Polish Folk Dancing, etc.

We three girls were the leading roles of Chinese folk dance "Beautiful Scenery". See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLWRGhh6tLc

The Path of the Yogi, Past & Present Lives of the Great Yogi Shangpa Rinpoche (Book, 2012)

Inspired by the true story of the 1st Shangpa Rinpoche, a realised being and Tibetan yogi of the 19th century, a team came together  to create this book - an intimate recounting by the 2nd Shangpa Rinpoche himself. 

We are in the presence of the 2nd Shangpa Rinpoche, as he shares his intimate perspective of the journey of his previous incarnation.

This book is filled with examples of the excellent qualities we look for in a true teacher.  It is infused with the devotion, gratitude and excitement of unfolding blessings, that Rinpoche inspires and that we yearn limitlessly to share.  

I was fortunately enough to receive this book from Shangpa Rinpoche himself, even with his autograph, when he visited our Buddhist Association. 

北京遇上西雅圖 Finding Mr.Right ( 2013 , Movie)

二十年前，《西雅圖夜未 ​​眠》以它溫情兼幽默的風格，打動了無數觀眾，《北京遇上西雅圖》繼承了其笑中含淚的特點，在致敬中不免有所借鑒和模仿，但其整體作為原創劇本新鮮的元素不少，不失為一個流暢合理的故事。 影片各方面的完成度也較高，觀影時令人感覺輕鬆舒適，湯唯和吳秀波在片中貢獻了出色的表演，尤其是湯唯前後形象的轉變，展現了她對不同類型角色的駕馭能力。

張愛玲曾說，於千萬人中遇見你所要遇見的人，於千萬年之中，時間的無涯的荒野裡，沒有早一步，也沒有晚一步，剛巧趕上了，那也沒有別的話可說，唯有輕輕問一句：“哦，你也在這裡麼？”。 兩年後，各自開始新生活的兩個人，在帝國大廈的頂樓如《西雅圖夜未眠》中的主人公那樣，再次相遇。 這一次，兩隻手終於牽在了一起。

iHerb.com Health Web Site

I recently discovered a web site and ordered all my Bath and Beauty products, especially Supplements from iHerb. Check out http://www.iherb.com?rcode=tks853 and receive up to $10.00 off your 1st purchase! 

So far I've ordered Coconut oil, Pink salt, Propolis, Essential oils, Honey, etc. from them. Some products are even less expensive than Amazon.com. As a loyal Amazon.com customer, I'm switching to iHerb.com gradually. The beauty of this web site is that shipping and tax are FREE with orders over $40.00. Not only shipping is free, the purchase will arrive at your doormat within 3 days! One time I ordered a highly perishable Natren Bacteria for yogurt making, and to my surprise, such item reached me in 3 days with very delicate ice/carton packaging. I loved this web site ever since then. 

Try it and see it for yourself. I'll bet you'll love it.