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    June 01

    Under The Jacaranda

    PHE门前不远有棵巨大的Jacaranda。刚搬来LA的时候不认识这种树,只觉得秃秃的。第一年到了学校办毕业典礼时候突然的盛开出紫色的花朵,才不由得赞叹真美。不迭和毕业的朋友在树下留影道别。每年都是5月的时候会盛开,整个城市都被这树点缀起来了。每年也是这个时候和一些朋友在毕业典礼上道别。

    Jacaranda花依旧开了,今年的主角算我自己。穿上红袍的感觉还真是挺难形容的。老板不能亲自来hooding,算是留下些小小的遗憾。

    Commencement 2009


    January 11

    Golden Globe...

    The only movie that I have watched and was nominated for the best Drama in this year's Golden Globe is Slumdog Millionaire. I really loved it.
     
    An Indian friend recommended it to me a couple of months ago and invited me to watch it together. I was on another appointment that night so couldn't make it. But later on, I realized that it was on Landmark's playlist for months and was still going strong, which made me curious about what's really going on.
     
    The only Bollywood style in the movie is toward the end when showing the credits, there is a big group of Indian dancers. Other than that it's a personal journey about a slum boy who unintentionally won a million dolloars in a game show. Sounds pretty easy... the truth is every journey is twisted with joy, anger, anguish, despair, and hope. You are who you are because what you have been. And one thing exactly reflect what I believe is:
     
    Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it?
     
    A. He cheated.
    B. He is lucky.
    C. He is a genius.
    D. It is destiny (It is written).
     
     
     
     
     
    November 23

    Family Reunion

    飞回LA的航班居然坐满了人,原以为在这么个低迷的市景下,我可以随意的选择一个座位,结果挤在了中间的位置,边上的大叔的size可以坐在一个半位子上了吧。飞到LA的上空,雾蒙蒙的,什么都看不见。走出候机厅,人还哆嗦了一下,有点冷,赶快把大衣穿上。这世界有点混乱了么?下周可能LA还会下雨。
     
    我终于借一个北上机会见了Helen。上次见面以是两年多前,她刚从东部搬来西海岸,我即将要搬去新加坡了。这次是我处在一个去向不明的境地,她却快要搬去Columbus了。饶是如此,能相见就不须遗憾。她带我走遍附近的那些街区,仿佛我已经要搬来这个城市一般。我只能跟她描述pink berry要比她喜欢red mango更爽口些,还有就是LA有她和我都喜欢的生煎馒头,只有下次再带她品尝了。我虽然很累,是的,这周都没有怎么好好睡,周五一个白天我也差不多用完了所有的精力,但是我还是能够那么意识流的谈下去,因为我不知道下次见面又会是在何时何处了。那个伤感的城市那两天也赏脸的露出了阳光几许。还是有些冷,我被LA宠坏了。
     
    所以不管这次北上我是否能定下未来的去向,我已经觉得心满意足。作为家人,我们互相鼓励,互相期许。我们都在努力,努力的争取每个机会,努力的做好自己的那份准备。
    July 25

    The Last Lecture

    You might or might not know, Randy Pausch, the professor who gave the Last Lecture, passed away today.
     
    What moves me the most, is of course his attitude to the imminent death. He's created a celebration for the final chapter of his life. So when it comes, the audiences are truly inspired by his humanity.
     
    The fear is not the death itself, it's when you don't know how to handle it.
     
    Here is the last lecture of his Last Lecture, delivered in CMU. 
     
     
     
    December 18

    The Kite Runner

    First, it was a novel I bought last year. I only read the first half and then left it in the lab before heading to Singapore. I always wanted to finish it but once again, it was not with me to San Jose.

    Then I watched the trailer in the summer and waited till this winter for this motion picture. I have to say, the second half plot is more intense than I have expected. A very personal story infused with Islamic roots makes me feel even one of the most chaos places in this world is not barren at all, at least for some moments. This was also the time that I learned a bit of Sunni and Shia Muslims.

    I personally feel this movie is more incredible than Lust, Caution, in the sense both of them got Golden Globe nominations. 

    October 23

    Foliage

    So long I have been staying in a state with pleasant weather; I have almost totally forgotten the foliage season. Nature plays magic saturating leaves in flame, amber and gold, while these are rarely noticeable in my daily routine. I had planned a short getaway to find this lost wonder, but it was submerged by misc reasons, like being retarded. 

    Finally, I had a wonderful trip up to Lake Tahoe over the weekend. The ski season is not started, but a few people. The foliage is not so impressive as the ones in Northeast, yet they are pure and gleaming in breeze. I just loved it. A very tranquil and refreshing experience.

    *******************************************************************

    To Xian:

    It's wonderful that you have made up your mind following the way you want to do. It's also a good remind for me: If there is something you don't like, either you do something to get over, or make ways to eschew, at least to learn to bear. Worst is keep complaining and do nothing. A good tip at the right moment.

    Best for your new startup, in Shanghai!

    *******************************************************************

    Defying Gravity

    fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
    Cna yuo raed tihs?
    i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?

    "Our minds are chain reactions of chemical particles...consciousness is merely energy circuit in motion, which is perceived subjectively. It is only a dream and there are imaginations of it, constantly changing."

    I believe the intrinsic piece of my mind is far more trusted than the extrinsic counterpart. That's why I believe in "Defying Gravity". All that matter is what I keep holding on. Although the "Wicked Witch on the West" is infamous, there is good essence inside her ego. 

    I'd like to see lots of things, but different. I'd like to make up my mind, by myself.

    October 04

    Passed away

    Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
    Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
    So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
    It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

    It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
    I hope you had the time of your life.

    So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
    Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
    Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
    For what it's worth it was worth all the while

    It was something unpredictable, but I just hope you will be all right.
    I hope you had the time of your life.
     
    I really really do hope so. Let the darkness go.
    June 21

    Move again!

    Went to OIS and got my CPT... so I will move again.

    So I will not have a Yellowstone trip in this summer.

    So I will miss the opportunity to watch "Wicked". The most popular song in the show is "Defying Gravity".

    Bye-bye, my LA! At least for another half a year!

    Nothing Lasts Forever 

    It is so easy to see
    Dysfunction between you and me
    We must free up these tired souls
    Before the sadness kills us both

    I tried and tried to let you know
    I love you but I'm letting go
    It may not last but I don't know
    Just don't know

    If you don't know
    Then you can't care
    And you show up
    But you're not there
    But I'm waiting
    And you want to
    Still afraid that I will desert you

    Everyday
    With every worthless word we get more far away
    The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
    But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
    It hurts but it may be the only way

    A bed that's warm with memories
    Can heal us temporarily
    The misbehaving only makes
    The ditch between us so damn deep

    Built a wall around my heart
    I’ll never let it fall apart
    But strangely I wish secretly
    It would fall down while I'm asleep

    If you don't know
    Then you can't care
    And you show up
    But you're not there
    But I'm waiting
    And you want to
    Still afraid that I will desert you, babe

    Everyday
    With every worthless word we get more far away
    The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
    But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
    It hurts but it may be the only way

    Tough we have not hit the ground
    It doesn't mean we're not still falling,
    Oh I want so bad to pick you up
    But you're still too reluctant to accept my help
    What a shame, I hope you find somewhere to place the blame
    But until then the fact remains

    Everyday
    With every worthless word we get more far away
    The distance between us makes you so hard to stay
    Nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
    It hurts but it may be the only way

     

    Newport Beach

    June 06

    Ying & Yang

    To be positive, it's called a complete life. On the other side, it is messy.
     
    I just got a big compensation from a car accident. Well, then my ThinkPad started to blue-screen crash down from yesterday. After hours of struggling, I still can't even figure out whether it's a hardware failure or some software in-compatibilities... Maybe it will get crashed again even when I am writing this blog. The warrenty is already expired, is that a sign for a new laptop? This is my Ph.D. laptop. Just like my Altima as my Ph.D. car. I have not got my degree yet!
     
    Then my credit card company caught me yesterday telling me that my number might be leaked... How much that will cost?
     
    Well, these are not the extremely important things I am concerning about. But I do hope there are some good ones coming soon, like tomorrow, or in one week!
     
    BTW: last weekend was really good!
    May 17

    Post Qual Slump

    OK, I am experiencing it now, though have heard many friends talking about their dumbness at work after the qualify exams.
     
    Taking some examples: Staying at home just watching "heroes", "grey's anatomy", and "south park"; Being retarded to make a phone call ask the insurance company when I can get my car repaired; Re-reading "Harry Potter Book 5"...
     
    Missed tickets sales for Maroon 5. How about John Mayer? Early June in Hollywood Bowl. In the worst case, my roommate just gave me a coupon on "Sliding into Hades" in Odyssey Theater. BTW, "Wicked" is playing in LA now till mid-July.
     
     
    October 18

    Mulholland

    有些事情的决定做起来非常简单,要实现就是另一回事。这两天开始在Department, Graduate School, OIS, Roger这些地方来回奔波,还只是为了一个可行性的问题。今天在OIS和advisor讨论了许久,临走时她不由叹口气的对我说"You case is so complicated",我也只有笑对了。其实就是这么一条路,别人没走,我这么一路下来,下次也就可以做个case study。
     
    有时候也会有点烦,虽然比刚听到消息是平静许多,但是就像Roger今天对这我感慨道"I know this will keep distracting"。周六的晚上提议去了Mulholland Dr。不知为什么,今年几次心烦的时候,总是想到去那里一下。站在那些山顶上,望着脚下这眩亮的城市夜景一直延伸到视觉极限处,便觉得现在所经历的其实只是芸芸众生不起眼的一小片而已。看着山脚101路上的往来车辆,才会觉得原来那些穿行的动点才是这城市的灵魂。漂泊么,也许还要再有一段时日。不过动不是坏事。
     
    不需要有舒适的沙发,找个木椅就可坐下。没有取暖的煤气灯,要自己多穿件衣服。更是几乎找不到任何指示牌,就这样在你转了个弯的地方现了出来。
     
    Everytime I go there, I feel like "this is my city". A city I got to know from piece to piece, now I can stand on top of it, or maybe even addicted to it.
    October 11

    Keep Going

    Roger announced his leave, which was quite a big shock to all of us. Things could happen, all the time. The same part is that it's always unexpected. The difference is that last time I called it a resolution but now I can hardly accept it. Am I losing the courage for a new start? No matter what decision I will make, it is gonna be some up and down for some time.
     
    Roger is such a nice person. He was the one pulling me out of the south. I would never forget about it and always appreciate that.
     
    Nothing to be panic. If there is a way, I am gonna find it. If there is nowhere, then nowhere is my destination. I wil accept it and do the best of my part.
     
    Life spins, not only by me. Why?
    August 26

    The Riddle

    I am so into this song. The first time I heard of it when I drove my Altima and I got to know it must come from Five For Fighting. Read an interview on the flight back from Atlanta about him (Yeah, there is only person in Five For Fighting).  Talked a lot of his family, surely you can find the father-son motif in this touching piece.
     
    "The Riddle"

    There was a man back in '95
    Whose heart ran out of summers
    But before he died, I asked him

    Wait, what's the sense in life
    Come over me, Come over me

    He said,

    Son why you got to sing that tune
    Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
    Let an angel swing and make you swoon
    Then you will see... You will see

    Then he said,

    Here's a riddle for you
    Find the Answer
    There's a reason for the world
    You and I...

    Picked up my kid from school today

    Did you learn anything cause in the world today
    You can't live in a castle far away
    Now talk to me, come talk to me

    He said,

    Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small
    In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all
    Still every mother's child sings a lonely song
    So play with me, come play with me

    And Hey Dad
    Here's a riddle for you
    Find the Answer
    There's a reason for the world
    You and I...

    I said,

    Son for all I've told you
    When you get right down to the
    Reason for the world...
    Who am I?

    There are secrets that we still have left to find
    There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
    There are answers we're not wise enough to see

    He said... You looking for a clue I Love You free...

    The batter swings and the summer flies
    As I look into my angel's eyes
    A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
    Something comes over me

    I guess we're big and I guess we're small
    If you think about it man you know we got it all
    Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball
    And I love you free
    I love you freely

    Here's a riddle for you
    Find the Answer
    There's a reason for the world
    You and I...

    July 12

    故事

    有精彩的,潮起潮落。大多数是平平淡淡的,如行云流水般读过不留下些记忆的痕迹。那些有心的,会拾起点点滴滴,多年后还能如数家珍,绘声绘色。那些随意的,便在慌慌张张的随声附和中,重建了一个依稀的轮廓。这个复制有多少还原,能保持多久,不得而知了。
     
    悲剧,喜剧?很难说,因为只有开头,还没有结尾。就算真有个结尾,一路下来悲喜交集着。有些是个人珍爱的,渐渐成为众人皆知的,还有藏在那里不想被人知的,或只与若干分享。永远不能翻到后面找到现在的结局,所以不要想象着现在的结果,因为不知道。不如看看流逝的那些,少了些期待,多了点反省。忽然发现一些似曾相识,好像在别处见过,这里却也有了。这才知道以前看的那些事,看似遥远,原来还很近,更有可能是真的。还有忽然闯进来的,事先没有准备,却总可以找个地方存起来。不忍丢弃,因为别处不曾有。
     
    虽然不是一个人写的,渐渐总会越积越多的,就放在那里好了,更不要刻意去撕掉几页,是真实的。
     
    ********************************
     
    Mom always said: "Life was like a box of chocalates, you never know what you're gonna get."
     
    "Run Forest! Run!"
    June 07

    Retro

    I was off for quite long. Wrote piece by piece when staying in Shanghai, but was not able to wrap them up. I still couldn't purge these mess, so just put them in an instinctive way.

    It was very hilarious on the night @Live Bar. I didn't expect to have so many stunning performance when walked into that shabby house. It was improv Rock'n Roll. Clearly eveyone knew the place is for nothing but the music straight, and we were obsesive with it. I'd rather say spending the whole nite there is much more fun than having some drink in Xin Tian Di listening to those flat sounds. I was so sick to see the people and their spirit in this city. 

    Hang out with lots of friends. Heard of good news, bad news. My record is 4 appointments in a row. There is so much change as the city does, maybe even more than that. Am I still get used to the things I was familiar with? Put into another way, I realized that I am kind of useless in the sense that I could only promise to be back soon.

    Sometime it's not the matter how I decide things, the aftermath is already there. It the matter of how I accept that. But for god's sake, at least I wish there is some prophecy in this world.

     

    Life is brilliant, be positive, be strong!

     

    "You're Beautiful"

    My life is brilliant.

    My life is brilliant.
    My love is pure.
    I saw an angel.
    Of that I'm sure.
    She smiled at me out of the subway.
    She is with another man.
    But I won't lose no sleep on that,
    'Cause I've got a plan.

    You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
    You're beautiful, it's true.
    I saw your face in a crowded place,
    And I don't know what to do,
    'Cause I'll never be with you.

    Yeah, she caught my eye,
    As we walked on by.
    She could see from my face that I was,
    Flying high,
    And I don't know when I'll see her again,
    But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

    You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
    You're beautiful, it's true.
    I saw your face in a crowded place,
    And I don't know what to do,
    'Cause I'll never be with you.

    You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
    You're beautiful, it's true.
    There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
    When she thought up that I should be with you.
    But it's time to face the truth,
    I don't know when I will be with you.

    March 31

    Paper by Paper

    Too much hang out in the weekend means craming up for the work later. I got overwhelmed by tons of writing. Have to get an article and a poster done by Friday. Fortunately I got very high yield @ the coffee shop on a rainy Tuesday.  I also did a demo rehearsal for next week's conference. Technically, it should be fine. However, making it as a good buy is not a piece of cake.
     
    You got some ideas, but how to convice people these are good ones? You have to be a biz man as well. I am not talented on such things at all. Besides, I don't like the way of writing a paper for a deadline, definitely not. Wrapping up an idea for a deadline is inevitable, but sqeeze some crap for the sake of a deadline is another story, a very disgusting one.
     
    It's good to have a visit to Atlanta for ICDE, I need to refresh my mind and come up with some ideas worth exploring. Go to the south and Juliana should be there as well, it's really long time no see. 
     
    April 1st is coming, a little to tribute... not for April's fool.
    February 01

    Road to Oscars

    The normination list showed up. Five movies are nominated for best picture. I have seen two: Brokeback Mountain and Crash. It's interesting that I have already left a blog for each of them.
     
    I watched Crash for no reason. I was feeling so bored that Friday night and randomly picked a very small theater in Pasadena. I wanted to have a ride on I-110, a ride to excite myself. I noticed that movie got quite good review @IMDB, but that's not always the case meaning it is really good. I just wanted to have something to do and happened to watch it.
     
    It turned out to be one of the best time I've enjoyed last year. I got mentally and physically so crashed. It's the sense of LA made me so touched.
     
    It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.
     
    Watching Brokeback Mountain a very different story. First it took me quite a long time to schedule sometime watching it. Everybody already knows it's a masterpiece and many of them already watched it. And I actually knew the plot before sitting in the theater.
     
    What's the magic of Brokeback Mountain? Maybe the sense of nonsense. Something we are not sure yet cannot give it up.
     
    God, I wish I knew how to quit you!

    Oscars might not be the highest award in terms of the arts. Especially the fact that Sundance Festival is opening these days reminds me that there could be some movies with no big commercial yet still extrodinary. But these two movies are kinda low budget and most importantly, I was moved.

     

    PS: Having finished this blog, I found out that LA already has become the city where I've been for the longest period in US. Time passed so quickly!!!


     


     
    December 11

    My Favorites in 2005

    Wow, it's almost the end of the year. A year with so many things to remember. I tried to write some pieces of my wonderful experiences, though not complete, in this year. Here is my lists:
     
    Favorite songs:
     
    Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
    here comes the rain again
    falling from the stars
    drenched in my pain again
    becoming who we are
    Seasons of Love - Rent Sound Track
    How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
    In Daylights - In Sunsets
    In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
    In Inches - In Miles
    In Laughter - In Strife
    Speed of Sound - Coldplay
    Look up, I look up at night
    Planets are moving at the speed of light,
    Climb up, up in the trees
    Every chance that you get is a chance you seize
    Heard' Em Say - Kanye West
    They say people in your life for seasons
    And anything that happen is for a reason
     
    Favorite Movies:
     
    Crash
    You think you know who you are, but you don't. A set of stories tell you that why LA is so ugly. Yet there is hope, like the little angle to protect her father. I was so touched. City of angles, even being fallen, I appreciate.
    Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fires
    I am a big fan of Harry Potter. Honestly, it is more due to my addiction of the fiction. But it's a good movie anyhow.
     
    Favorite city places:
     
    Top of Five @ Westin
    A wonderfule place to enjoy the city view. A bit expensive but worth try. I am always wondering whether the sky bar could be better, but never had a chance to make a comparison.
    Mulholland Dr
    Hard to find and easy to get lost (at least everytime I made wrong turns at certain points). A long drive to challenge your driving skill. But all the efforts will be rewarding. I mean it, and you will know once getting there. :-)
    Courthouse @ Santa Barbara
    I just love this building, maybe because of that city. Hardly could find such a elegent spanish style city facing the ocean. So when you stand on top of it, you will get refreshed.
    Manhattan Beach
    It's not only for sightviewing. It's also for sports, especially boggy board surfing.
     
    Favorite wild places:
     
    Malibu Beach
    I'd like to categorize it as a wild place because of less people there. The creek, lagoon and sea birds are always wonderful for staying as long as you like. 
    Tioga Road @ Yosemite
    The valley is famous, but it's too crowded. Tioga Road is much better with tremendous views. The hike to Gaylor Lake was really good experience.
    Badwater @ Death Valley
    Barefoot on the salty land tells you how harsh nature could be. But there is life suvived.
     
    I figured out that this list could be very long when I finished the part above. I don't know whether I have enough patience to finish all parts... Well, at least got some parts done.
     
     
    December 02

    Seasons of ...

    昨晚7:30 PM,在考卷上落下最后一笔,一下子畅快起来,终于算过去了吧!我的眼睛却直眨巴眨巴,不为别的,而是最近过度了。算了,回家休息了。
     
    半夜两点,却被一个误打的电话吵醒,就再也翻来覆去睡不着了。起来一看,Henry同学已经在感慨郭core要去北加。之前已经听Qi说起过,没想到一会儿就看到这么煽情的一篇blog。。。
     
    伸出一只手,却发现不够数今年离去的朋友,我一直在这么对大家说。这个城市始终让我又爱又恨。It's good, it's bad. It makes me sick, it makes me addicted. 人情世故上来说,一切变化都太快了点,我却又不得不跟随着。
     
    我还要呆在这里,多久不知道。那就象主人般欢送离开的人。我不说什么悲伤的话,而是希望所有离去的和即将离去的∶记住南加的阳光,那种明媚,那种恒久,那种在身上留下的印记。Remember this god damn good f*cking big fat city. Remember we had been here.
     
    Seasons Of Love
    525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes
     How do you measure, measure a year?
    In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
    In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
    In 525,600 minutes,
    How do you measure a year in the life?
    How about love? How about love? How about love?
    Measure in love.
    Seasons of love.

    525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes
    How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

    In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried.
    In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

    It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends
    Let's celebrate to remember a year in the life of friends.
    Remember
    The love! Remember the love!
    Remember
    The love! Measure in love. Seasons of love! Seasons of love.
    November 30

    Minesweeper

    Got no Internet connection at home several days, which is a huge loss while I am craming for the finals. Finally I made it by playing minesweeper as mind breaks, which I did a lot in college years. I was so disappointed that with a higher resolution screen and an optical mouse, the control of mouse movement become even harder. Several days effort could only make me to set a record of 105 seconds at expert level.  The bad thing is that everytime when I start clicking on those small grids, it will take at least 20 mins to stop my addiction. I had once played all nite in my junior year.
     
    It is funny that J K Rowling also mentioned that she is pretty much into minesweeper after she decide to quit smoking while writing Harry Potter. lol.. Her record is 99 seconds at the expert level (My personal record is 79 sec ). 
     
    Trivias:
     
    There was a bug in early version of minesweeper (win 95 - win me): First you start the minesweeper. Without click on any grid and just minimize the window, then click it from the task bar to restore the window, you will find the clock will automatically start though you haven't clicked any grids yet.
     
    Talking about the science in minesweeper: It is NP-complete