PDA

The PDA I had known was a "personal digital assistant", thus I was at a loss when the lab gossiped about two first-years PDAing. My boss explained that PDA meant "public display of affection". That was about three years ago, and now after encountering so many PDA incidents I almost forgot the first meaning of PDA.

The one that annoyed me was a couple in my Chinese painting class. Eventually I sent an anonymous email to the guy two weeks before the class ended, and they stopped doing it. I wasn't sure my email worked, for the girl simply stopped coming to class.

Earlier this week I bumped into the PDA couple from our floor in the lunchroom again. They've been PDAing for more than a year. I wish I were brave enough to tell them, "Hey you, get a room!"

I should consider myself lucky. At least I had not been shocked by a most intimate act of PDA like poor M experienced one fine Saturday at the early hour of 2am when he returned to work. I leave it to your wild imagination as to what could be the first thing he saw in the same afore-mentioned lunchroom after he happily stepped out the elevator, contemplating his next move in an effort to push the scientific frontier.

From Urban Dictionary, on PDA.

仍是最爱菲

这么多年以后。美妙的声音，真挚的情感。欣赏她的勇气和坚强。祝她幸福。

高手如云

如题。

另祝各位火鸡节快乐！

差距

看到了差距，是一件好事:了解了自己,定下目标,向前冲吧.

就像Z说的,我们大家都是斗士.

Bon Voyage

I met J by chance four years ago. One Tuesday afternoon I was running downstairs to go to the colloquium for I was a little late. On the fifth floor I met a pretty girl with bright eyes who was apparently looking for something. “Do you know where Building 10 is?” She asked me very politely. “I’m going that way. I’ll show you.” I thought she looked like a long lost friend. On our way to the colloquium, I found out that she was a friend of my long lost friend at PKU. Having similar background easily bonded us. I had fun talking to her about science and work. Sitting next to a new friend during the colloquium, I actually found that I followed the speaker perfectly, which is kind of rare I have to say.

History has a tendency to repeat itself. This Monday I found that I was sitting next to J again at her last colloquium. Four years have passed and the colloquium had changed time and venue, to a brand-new building which is much closer. J is now ready to be on her own, to start a new lab down south. I am so proud of you, J! I know you will do great, no matter how hard the transition might seem to be. You’ll be very brave. You have family and friends to count on.

我希望你会以“挥一挥衣袖，不带走一片云彩”来告别这个康桥。

'One Dog' Policy

Yes, you guessed it right: this is a policy of Chinese characteristic. Authorities in Beijing announced this one-dog-per-household policy as part of an effort to eradicate rabies. I have no intention to make fun of this policy, but I don't think it deals with the root of the problem. Currently only 3% of dogs in China are vaccinated against rabies. I don't see how limiting the number of dogs a family can have will help eradicating rabies if we don't focus on vaccination.

Dogs just don't get cherished enough in China. Earlier this summer I read news about mass dog killings as an attempt to put rabies under control. One county killed 50,000 dogs in one month. I saw pictures of a dog being beaten to death in front of its owner. It was so cruel, inhumane, shocking and disgusting. I tried to make myself believe that I never saw those pictures and it never happened. But I couldn't help thinking: who is more dangerous, we human or dogs.

I simply do not understand how the policy makers would be so naive in making such a clueless policy. Even a high school student can see where the problem is. Often times if a dog is problematic, the owner is the one to blame. I believe education of dog owners and dog vaccination are the way to go. But who am I to the authorities?

I may need to become a famous dog whisperer first.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this policy also bans large dogs (taller than 35cm or 14in). That means Radar, a Vizsla (Hungarian hunting dog), will not be allowed in Beijing.

Early October at Mt Auburn

Four weeks ago in one sunny afternoon, I stopped by Mt Auburn Cemetery. This is a garden cemetery. On a good day, it attracts many visitors.

This is a huge cemetery. Some of its residents are quite famous. Among them are:

• Winslow Homer (1836 - 1910), artist
• Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840 - 1924), art patron
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882), poet
• Josiah Quincy (1772 - 1864), Mayor of Boston

(I can find Winslow Homer's grave without a map! He rests next to his parents.)

But that day what moved me was ordinary people's graves. Chrysanthemum and pumpkin paid tribute to the dead.

Remembering someone:


Walking through all these beautiful flowers of remembrance in full bloom, I read one epitaph on a newly interred tombstone:

Our Dear Anna:
We always love you
Adieu
1983-2006

Tears began to well in my eyes.

A Stained Glass Window

Window Art

The Artist

Artist at Work

You Calling Me?

The fact is, Radar is not going to start a blog any time soon. But he sure is showing his artistic talent to the whole world through this window! See how the smudges are somehow organized and related to each other!

Alaska Day 3: Denali NP (Express Publication)

Before Denali becomes deep frozen, I'd like to e-pub my Day 3 which I have been working on for the past 7 weeks. I hope you understand this is a big project, as there is so much to show. OK, now enjoy the views through my camera lenses:

Polychrome Pass
人在画中游

（山顶上的雪，头一天还没有呢）

Reasons why I will visit Alaska again:
1) I didn't see Mt McKinley. I didn't drive the Denali Highway.
2) This trip was a little too wet.
3) Cruise could be fun.
4) I had only covered less than 1/6 of the biggest State of the US.



Today (Aug. 19, 2006)we had to get up really early (5:30am) to catch a Denali Wildness bus tour departing 6:30am from a hotel 8 miles north from our place (We got pushed to this bus late yesterday. Thanks to Cingular, we got the voicemail). I looked out from our small east-facing window, and saw an overcasting sky lit low by the rising sun. Being an optimistic person, I thought the clouds were clearing up. On our way north, we saw sunlight breaking though clouds. To me, it was a good sign.

Our tour bus was an old-fashioned school bus. Our tour guide was a school teacher. He had been driving tour buses in Denali in the summer for more than 20 years. We came a little late, and had to sit in a row where the wheel was. It got uncomfortable only after a short time.

The view kept changing as we drove into the park. It was thick coniferous woods (taiga: northern evergreen forest) at lower altitudes. Our tour guide explained to us that usually moose-sightings happened here. But it turned out to be a moose-free day. We also learned about fungus infections in spruces, and some animals that fed on pine barks in one extremely cold winter that eventually killed the trees. Our tour guide was very knowledgable, as it turned out. He kept telling us things about Denali during our 13-hour trip. His topics ranged from flora and fauna, to geology, and to local history, especially mountain climbing at Mt. McKinley. He also told us a folk story on how Mt. McKinley came to life. He loved his job a lot. I could easily see. He also teaches at Healy High School. He pretty much teaches all the subjects. He also couches women's long distance running team.

Our guide told us that we were looking for the Big Four today. They are Moose, Dall Sheep, Caribou, and Grizzly Bear. We were lucky enough that we saw three of the Big Four, and we even witnessed the encounter between caribous and Grizzly bears.

Grizzly bears: mother and cubs

herd of caribou

close encounter

run for life

close view

Denali is beautiful in its mountains and waters, in addition to its wildlife.


Braided river (it might be Savage River), Denali NP

Toklat River ?

Polychrome Pass

The road looks dangerous:



looking down from our bus:

TO BE CONTINUED...