西洋花：

300: Rise of an Empire (Movie, 2014)

Themistocles: "Better we show them, we chose to die on our feet, rather than live on our knees!" This is an entertaining historical fantasy, based on the second Persian invasion of mainland Greece, under Xerxes I. It is a followup to "300", which was an account of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where a small Spartan army under King Leonidas fought against a much larger Persian army under Xerxes. "300" was a fairly accurate historical account and a better film overall. The events of "Rise of an Empire" take place before, during and subsequent to the Battle of Thermopylae, concluding with the Greek victory at the Battle of Salamis. While her portrayal is mostly fictional, the character of Artemisia as played by Eva Green certainly adds to the entertainment value...and she delivers the standout performance. 

Nowhere near the visually stunning level and gravitas of the original '300' movie, this "sidequel" has little character development and comes off as one dimensional as its original medium of a comic book.  '300' was epic, sweepingly dramatic and full of eminently quotable lines, with each frame a piece of artistic genius. About the only thing 'Rise of an Empire' has in common with its progenitor are the endless slow motion shots of blood splatter. 

Free Style

The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Movie, 2016)

This is the third of four movies in the "Divergent" franchise...like the "Harry Potter" and "Hunger Games" franchises, two movies are being adapted from the final book in the series. Personally I have enjoyed the Divergent series more than the Hunger Games. There was action, mystery and wonder.

經典小語

🔴  哪位高人寫的，這段話太經典了，值得保留 ❗

活着就是勝利，賺錢只是遊戲，健康才是目的，快樂更是真諦。百年之後，你睡你的，我睡我的。再美麗的語言也無法跟你溝通，因爲我們要沉睡，睡很久，很久 ……

所以，身邊的人要互相珍惜，因每個世人的時間都越來越少，最終還是要互相分離。不要爭執，不要鬥氣，好好説話，互相理解！

好好珍惜對你好的人 ，失去了，怎樣也找不回來。離開了，互聯網也聯系不上！

生命，每個人只有一次，或長或短；
生活，每个人都在繼續，或悲或歡；
人生，每個人都在旅途，或起或伏。
人無完人，事無完美。
有些小人，你不須計較，計較會煩；
有些繁事，你不必在意，在意會累。

世界很大，人心很細，那能不遇到小人？
紅塵很深，人世浮華，那能没有心煩事？
想得淺一點，活着就該隨遇而安！
看得淡一點，頭頂就有一大片藍天！

誰都會害怕失去，因此是拼了命的珍惜，後來却還是什麽都留不住。 人到老年，還是順其自然吧，無可奈何也好，心態淡然也罷，認認真真地活在當下，自然發覺生活也並不是那麽難捱。

人一輩子，有人羡慕你，有人討厭你，有人嫉妒你，有人看不起你，没關係，他們都是外人。

生活就是這樣，你所做的一切不能讓每個人都滿意，不要爲了討好别人而丟失自己的本性。
一樣的眼睛，不一樣的看法；
一樣的耳朵，不一樣的聽法；
一樣的嘴巴，不一樣的説法；
一樣的心，不一樣的想法；
一樣的錢，不一樣的花法；
一樣的人們，不一樣的活法。

再優秀，也得要碰上識貨的人；
再付出，也得遇上感恩的人；
再真誠，也得趕上有心的人；
再謙讓，也得面對珍惜的人。

你所知道的不要全説，你所看到的不要全信。這個世界，不是用眼看，而是用心品。
自古人生最忌滿，半貧半富半自安；
半命半天半機遇，半取半捨半行善；
半聾半啞半糊塗，半智半愚半經賢；
半人半我半自在，半醒半醉半神仙；
半親半愛半苦樂，半俗半禪半隨缘；
人生一半在於我，另外一半聽自然。

用心數數，我們的生命已經過半，還有多少日子够我們浪費，够我們消遣，够我們作踐，够我們感嘆。
好好的活着，簡簡單單地過好老年的每一天！

今天插兩盆生花新風體：

IAI Conference, Cincinnati

Here is the link to the photo album. Slide Show is on the pull down menu:

https://goo.gl/photos/KzcnFMvw7qEmjmXV9

People always say that most points of interest in Cincinnati can be visited on foot or via public transportation. I took the opportunity when IAI (International Association of Identification) Conference was held there. Tagged along with Wu-Liang, visitors to Cincinnati soon discover what locals have known for years - it is a city divided (by Vine Street). There are two distinct parts of the city:  East and West. The East is more modern and populated by many transferees and young successful families. The West is older and more conservative - home to many who "built" the city working at P&G or GE.  The city center is older and parts are a bit run-down, but there is still charm.

06 August 2016

LAX, Ramen, Delta Air, Hyatt Regency Hotel

Parked at LAX Hilton as usual and the shuttle took us right on. Luckily, we pre-check-in Delta Air already and it surely saved us lots of time. Filled up our stomachs with ramen. Boy, it is expensive at the airport.

Hyatt Regency is at a good location right across the street from Duke Energy Center and just a few blocks from football stadium. We were given a disability room equipped with devices specially made for disabled people. Beds were not comfortable and sheets smelled.

07 August 2016

Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Carew Tower, Fountain Square

We tried out our first breakfast buffet at the Red Roost Tavern since we were given 1 free voucher. The red roost tavern is pretty much only good for drinks because the buffet is only mediocre.

You can walk right out door to major retail shopping and other restaurants, connected by skywalk bridges. Can you imagine our first visits were Macy’s and Saks?

The elevator rides us to the 49th floor Observation Deck of the Carew Tower. Awesome view from the top!! We walked around it for about 10-15 minutes. There is a very big variety of shopping options inside the center as well.  There is a fee to get to the observation deck ($8).

Fountain Square always has something actually going on. You get to see amazing bands for free. They have a giant TV screen on one of the buildings that usually has the reds game on or Olympic games. It's a cool place to hang out with people and have a drink, enjoy the scenery. The Tyler Davidson fountain is gorgeous and is the statement piece and reason that Fountain Square is what it is.   

08 August 2016

Great American Ball Park, Hilton Orchid Palm, Mr. Sushi

It's clear that the Reds are very proud of their past, and wanted that incorporated as much as possible when building this park. After being there and taking the tour, it's meant to look like ballparks from back in the day; and I can appreciate it. Located directly on the bank of the Ohio River, this major league venue can fit 42,300+, has great sightlines, vibrantly colored red seats, and friendly staff. I even won a bobble head figurine of Paul O’Neil when I played “Spin the Wheel”. I learned a lot from those Reds fans.

Took out “Crispy Fish” as lunch from the Orchid Palm of Hilton across our hotel. Surprisingly, it was super good!

Our experience at Mr. Sushi is always exceptional and the fact that all rolls are half off after 4 p.m. is amazing. Especially when Wu Liang misplaced his credit card in the restaurant and retrieved it the next day!

09 August 2016

Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Market Place, Istanbul Cafe

Unfortunately, I got bug bites all over my right shoulder the second night. We didn't interact much with the hotel staff until then. At that moment, another much nicer room was reassigned to us, plus $100 was deducted as compensation. The lovely staff Trisha kept giving us restaurant vouchers, probably tried to keep us from filing complaint.

This museum thoroughly discusses when slaves first arrived in America to becoming free after the Civil War. For $13 you can take time and learn about some very pivotal events in the timeline of the anti-slavery movement. Oh my, the stories and the ingenuity behind the fight for freedom! It's a painful part of history and all should experience it regardless of race. I'm extremely eternally grateful for the people with the courage to fight and risk their lives for what they believed to be right.

Grabbed a “Spinach and Mushroom Bagel” from the hotel market place as my late lunch.

Hubby and I ventured Istanbul Café for an excellent lamb chop and vegetable soup from this Lebanese/Turkish style restaurant. While it was good, I didn't notice any Mediterranean flare. The last cup of Turkish coffee is nothing special, similar to espresso.

10 August 2016

Taft Museum, Fusian, Netherland Plaza

We visited Taft Museum and the Downton Abbey costume exhibit. It was beautiful and interesting. For anyone who was a fan of the series, this exhibit not only displays the actual costumes worn in the series, it explains what scenes the costumes were worn in, and by which character. Also displayed behind many of the clothes are large photos of the actors wearing them in the scenes. We were delighted to find some gorgeous portraiture by Rembrandt, Hals, Ingres, Gainsborough and Goya, along with an impressive collection of Turner landscapes and Limoges porcelains. The mansion is a work of art in itself. 

Fusian is like Subway for sushi. Expensive roll for the type of sushi we typically order. However we did enjoy getting to see the sushi being made and the ingredients being added one by one.

The main room inside the Hilton Hotel, Netherland Plaza, was a masterpiece of Deco architecture, not seen in many places now. Thank goodness they preserved this historic hotel for the history/artist buff in me. The hotel is very art deco with wonderful architecture and the Hall of Mirrors is a wonderful place to have a large event. 

11 August 2016

Contemporary Art Center, Taylor Southgate Bridge, Newport on the Levee, Mitchell’s Fish Market, James Taylor Park, Southbank Bridge, aka Purple People Bridge

This CAC arts center is fantastic. There are 5 floors of exhibits. My favorite exhibit was Do Ho Suh's fabric sculpture collection. You can't tell if it's destruction or construction. The staff here was very friendly and best of all admission is free! You don’t want to miss some amazing contemporary art installations. 

We walked across Taylor Southgate Bridge under the scorching sun to get to Newport on the Levee in Kentucky. While at the Levee you can get some great views of Cincinnati across the river. We didn’t stay for the Seafood Festival later at sunset though.

We tried lunch at Mitchell’s Fish Market. The atmosphere and view of Cincinnati is incredible. Plus the location in anew port on the Levee is superb. The food was average, nothing to brag about really. 

After lunch, we strolled over to General James Taylor Park. This park is at the west end of riverboat row in Newport. We saw a group of Macy’s volunteers conducting cleaning work. Super!

It's cool to walk from Kentucky to Ohio and look out over the river. This is a pretty neat experience. Bridge connects downtown Cincinnati to a really cool city of Newport. Upkeep of the bridge is done and it is awesome that this bridge is even there.

Finally we tried out the first and only dinner at our hotel Red Roost Tavern. Hubby ordered mussels and pork belly and mine was flatbread. All turned out delicious. 

12 August 2016

Mr. Sushi, 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati, IAI farewell dinner at Duke Energy Convention Center

We visited SoHo Mr. Sushi again to thank them keeping hubby’s lost credit card. It so happened hubby’s friend Tony Ruan joined us prior to his early departure. We shared rolls, udon, tempura, etc.

21c is a fabulous and fun hotel with terrific vibe. The contemporary art is intriguing and all galleries are open 24 hours. The hotel as a whole is sleek and modern.

Last meal was spent with the usual IAI final meeting, with chairperson exchange and staff honored. The meals were not bad, with both vegetarian dishes ordered.

13 August 2016

Executive Shuttle to CVG, Bagel at CVG, LAX Hilton shuttle back to Hilton, Home

Finally, I spent my birthday again traveling. At least we arrived home safe and sound. Until next year, IAI!

二株生