April 2004logue
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Through Min's friend working in Google, I got invitations to test drive Gmail and join the "snotty" Orkut club. Gmail is very convinient to use. Lots of javascript in it, which I don't like. But it's convinient and unique in so many ways, I fell in love with it instantly. There are so many people worrying about their privacy issue when Google try to integrate Adwords with Gmail by providing content-relevant Ads along side of normal email stuff. I personally don't worry about it. My information is not worth a million bucks and to get email scanned by a "robot" doesn't make me feel invaded. So, Kudos to Google. You guys did another great job!
At the same time, Google's Chinese website started to provide Pin Yin recognition system. You simply type Pin Yin into the system and the google server will translate it directly to possible Chinese characters. Very convinient for people like us who have to type Chinese by switching modes on the keyboard. In a way, Google could become a quasi-operating-system some day. I'm sure it will happen.
Posted at 1:13 AM in IT
| Comments (21)
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
To facilitate your visa application process, I created two fillable forms
Disclaimer:
Please note: The fillable form is created based on official DS156/157 form. Your agreement to use these forms on this website signifies that you waive your rights to any potential lawsuit against me regarding anything related to the forms. I am NOT responsible for any inconvinience, if any, caused by these forms. Use it at your own risk. Feel free to freely distribute these forms. However, you shall NOT host them on other websites without prior permission. All rights incurred upon the original forms are reserved.
If you agree with the disclaimer, please click here to Download fillable forms: DS156/157 in Chinese .
Attention: The form is outdated, please go here to download the latest chinese fillable form.
NOTE: If you are experiencing problems openning the document or inputting Chinese, please upgrade to ACROBAT READER 6.0 and have Chinese language pack installed. Thank you.
Posted at 11:12 AM in Other
| Comments (7)
On April 28th, 2004, Mom and Dad got their Visas to the United States. I am so excited for them. Gosh, it has been close to 3 years that I haven't seen them. I hope they will be able to get here as soon as possible. Reunion is in countdown now. :)
Posted at 9:27 AM in Other
Monday, April 26, 2004
30 going on 13 made movie 13 going on 30. A very lovely movie. I was jogging on the treadmill around noon on last Friday. Day to Day on NPR reviewed "13 Going On 30" as a bunch of 30 years old trying to be 13. What a bummer! Quite frankly speaking, it should be interpreted as a compliment. 
How many of us have lost ourself growing up? Where are the big dreams and innocent feeling? Jenna (by Jennifer Garner) woke up one day and found herself being 30 and is a big time fashion magzine editor. All it took is a wish on her 13th birthday. She was beautiful and was loved by a cute chubby Mattie (by Mark Ruffalo). But she doesn't appreciate and doesn't know how to appreciate what she had. Nothing was more appealing to her than being a hot blonde. So when she woke up dealing with 30 years old grownups with her 13 years old innocent mentality, she realized what she lost is the true friend and a caring family. The guilty and shameful Jenna had a little talk with Mom, and she asked, "What do you want to change if you have chance to relive it all over again? ". 
Mom said, "Nothing, because without mistakes, you won't realize how you can do better."
Jenna was a lovely girl, she became a "bitch" and lost herself, then she found her true self again on her 30s. She learned to cherish the beauty of the past and just being herself.
I talked with Steve a few days ago and I asked him whether he remember what he said not long ago... He didn't remember he said "solitude is good for you sometimes" to me. Yes, solitude is good for me in the past year. I spent time thinking what I have done in the past. Nothing bad really. Just a typical kid thinking himself is bigger than the world. Books and the meditation changed me totally in my ways to approach people and issues. I learned to be more down-to-earth. I had a journey just like Jenna's. We found the important things in life eventually. A happy ending for all.
Posted at 12:29 AM in Thoughts
