Charles Darwin and Uncle Sam

Charles Darwin published the Origin of Species 150 years ago; but all Uncle Same wants is a brew.

p.s. It has nothing to do with Lauren. Her boss put all these things on the wall.

My humble goals

I didn't really go after them, but I managed to achieve my goals: going to CU, then to the US and working at this company specifically, and geting a Golf (ended up with a even better GTI). But I still haven't realized my goal of having a home. Maybe it is a goal too recent and it takes time. Anyways, I am also hoping to get the ultimate mechanical camera: the Leica MP (US$4395 - body only!!)

Film is king

Just a random woods at my workplace. I made this shot specifically to test the lens and the film.
Taken by Nikon 28Ti on Fujifilm Velvia 100 (slides). Processed at Hunt's and scanned by George to 4000 dpi. Scaled down to 1200x800 jpeg.

If only I can go back in time...

The good time that I can leave behind

Using coffee to develop B/W films

This is amazing. And it seems to work quite well too.

BB King in 1974 - Sweet Sixteen

Tetsuwan Atom (鉄腕アトム) opening (1963)

Osamu Tezuka is my idol. He earned a medical doctor degree but decided to heal the soul of the Japaneses hard hit by the war and recession. He built his own studio and pioneered animation, when this phrase was not even exist. He not only made movies to entertain people but wrote manga serious enough to deliver and discuss messages such as the purpose of life and humanity in a way much more effective than any thesis or novel.

My favorite work from Tezuka is the Phoenix (火の鳥,) series. The depth and the scope of the series can beat any Asian philosophy text book. The purpose of life and humanity, karma, human cloning, jealousy, hatred, human interactions with artificial intelligence, preservation of ancient local religions. Masterpiece. It will blow your mind away.

Frosty the snowman

Made by Sue and I. Jan 25, 2009

Sagamore Road

On the way to work on Martin Luther King Day after 3 days of snow.
Right in front of our house.
Taken by Nikon 28Ti with Fujifilm Velvia 100, Jan 19, 2009

Obama reverses Bush's stem cell restriction

BBC news

US regulators have cleared the way for the world's first study on human embryonic stem cell therapy.

The move comes three days after the inauguration of President Barack Obama who has been a strong supporter of embryonic stem cell research.

Since 2001 there have been limits on federal funding for stem cells.

Geron Corp, the biotech company behind the research, plans to initiate a clinical trial in patients paralysed due to spinal cord injury.

The BBC predicted last week that the White House would reverse the restrictions placed on stem cell research once President Obama took office.

The US Food and Drug Administration gave the go ahead for the research on Friday.

History has not ended

"Congratulations, Mr. President." Chief Judge John Roberts said after swearing in Barack Obama as the first black US President. This is the very first but most subdue remark of the making of this history.

Overlooking the National Mall from the Capitol, Barack Obama is giving his inauguration speech in front of over a million people.

The cold

It is freaking cold here. The warmest time is -5degC and coldest -20degC. I still remember my first winter here was also very cold and snowy. A very bad snow storm hit in late October, and I spent 1 hour to dig my car out of the snow using my neighbor's shovel. By the time we turned the calendar to December we had already been buried in snow for one whole month. So when I saw the photo of December, which was otherwise a lovely snow scene, I thought they should use some summer scenes for the winter, just to make people who get stuck feel warmer.

Athens, Greece. May 2006

140-years-old lobster freed

Large lobsters are usually too big to get caught in trap

A lobster believed to be some 140 years old is to be freed from the confines of a tank at a New York restaurant.

George the giant lobster, weighing 9kg (20lb), will be returned to the ocean, from where he was caught two weeks ago.

More on BBC news.

Darth Vader Toaster!

What about starting your day with a small dose of the power of the Dark Side?

$54.99 at the Star Wars Shop

Tai Pei

I use to keep a few frozen meals at work for dinner when I need to stay late. I got a couple of these frozen food from Market Basket with 2 for $4. Fried rice with chicken for one and shrimp for the other. I had the chicken tonight, and it turns out surprisingly good for frozen food. And it is authentic Chinese.

On Cranes Beach

Jaspard and Lisa

Trees stripped

I am always fascinated by the forms of tree branches when the leaves are gone. But I have never got satisfactory pictures with my digital cameras. In a not-so-cold pre-winter evening (still freezing temperatures) I shot with Kodak UltraMax 400 I got from CVS using my Nikon FM2. The photofinishing lab at a local CVS is surprisingly good at tuning evening colors!

The way back

A short flight from Newark to Boston, after the usual long haul from Hong Kong.