Speechless... Only tears and sighs...

Buy 2 Get 1 FREE on Business Supplies at OfficeMax.com
I really don't want to talk about my younger brother here again, but what he did to me today has already warned me how serious the problem he has.

This morning I cooked him some noodles and asked him to have them for breakfast, he said he didn't want to eat, then I asked him "Why don't you want to eat?" My brother told me, "I don't feel hungry and I don't feel want to eat..." At that time, he was playing the online game Runescape. (Let me tell you, he can play that online game from 9:00 am - 1:00 am the next day, and he can play it continuously, no breaks, no eating, just sit down and play!!!) Then I asked him again to eat some, I also told him that's not a good idea for not having breakfast. He said he was going out and he would have them when he's back.

About half an hour later, he came back. I asked him if he wanted to eat or not, he said "I don't want to eat now…" What's the matter?! "You said you would eat when you came back, but now you say you don't want to eat?!" Then I told him that everyone needs to eat unless he is dead... He responded to me very quickly that he is a dead person, but he can walk and talk! Then he talked to me with some insulting language. That's ridiculous! I care about him, that's why I cooked some noodles for him… Why he treats me like that?! I was getting angry... My brother then suddenly spat to me!!! He spat to me, this is the most insulting action to anyone!!!

I can't understand why my younger brother treats me like his enemy, I care about him, I treat him well, but... I don't want to say it anymore.

I always want to ask him, "do you think that I'm your brother?", but every time the answer I can get is "I don't know."

But I know my younger brother's problems are getting worse, his brain has been filled with online games and Runescape, nothing else. He got several "F"s in school, and we can't find a best and effective way to help him.

Do you think online game is more important than your family and your love ones?

When I see him like that, I can only sigh...

25% off dozens of B&N Exclusive Toys and Games

Pressure

Sure we do have pressure, we suffer different kinds of pressures every day. Sometimes we have to work under pressures, but sometimes we also have to suffer some pressures from other people. The pressures from other people is even more severe than our own pressures! I suffer both of them, and I have been suffering those pressures since I was born. Numerous of pressures, one after another... From kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, to high school and college, pressure has been with me every day. But I also suffer a lot of pressures from my so-called relatives, one or two of them always intentionally or unintentionally make rumors of me, so pressures are doubled. The worst is that even though I suffer so much pressure, I can't talk to anyone, I can't complain with any person.

All of those pressures, no one is willing to share with me, I can only stand in silence. At the time when I'm alone and think about those pressures, I really want to cry. So much pressures, no one will understand...

Save on HDTVs, Cameras, Camcorders, DVD Players, GPS, Laptops & more 7/18-7/24

"K Lab Wood" Is Coming Back!

It has been my most hilarious video project since I studied video editing couple months ago, every time when I think of "K. Lab Wood", I can't stop laughing! That's why I want the "K. Lab Wood" series continue, and soon I'll make another video about "K. Lab Wood"! So don't miss it!

Clipper Card On Cable Cars

I have been using the new transit smart card "Clipper" for about half-a-month, and since I loaded my electronic Muni Fast Pass into my "Clipper" card, I can ride every single line on the Muni system, including cable cars. (Note: You must have a monthly pass loaded into the card in order to ride cable cars) This afternoon, I tried to use my "Clipper" card for the first time to ride the Powell-Mason cable car line, honestly, as a local, I don't ride cable cars for more than 5 times a year, and I usually ride cable cars during the holiday season. Anyway, it's my second time (or third time, I don't know...) to ride cable car this year. There're so many people (I believe most of them are tourists) were waiting for the cable car, and we could finally get on board 30 minutes later, no need to say, the cable car had been full of people already. Good, I could still find a seat.

Everyone was on board, so conductor started to collect money from passengers or check their passes. Maybe I was the only person on that cable car who used "Clipper" card, the conductor didn't even carry the "Clipper" card reader with him at that time, therefore he told me to wait for him a second and to let him finished collecting all the cash payments. After he finished collecting all the cash payments, he took out the handheld "Clipper" card reader from the cable car, then I handed my card to him for scan. "Beep", "Good, thank you!" the conductor handed the card back to me. It's that easy.

The cable arrived at the Powell Street station around 3:30 pm, and my cable car journey for today has come to an end.

It's pretty cool experience to use a new technology on a cable car, and it just like something combined with the new and the old, but my only question is: when will the "Clipper" cards become part of our lives, just like the "Octopus" cards in Hong Kong?

Money Money Money

Eloy Najera's song inspired me on the thoughts of money. Sure we do, we all need money. We were born with money, you live with money, even though you've died, you still need money to let your love ones hold the funeral. No matter in which situation, we can't live without money.

Money, just like everything in the World, has its good side but also its evil side. If you can use it wisely, you will find its good side. Unfortunately, many people only know how to find the evil side of money, but few of them can really know how to find the good side of money. Try to think like this, if all of us could spend and use the money wisely, our country wouldn't have that huge number of budget deficit. Some people dare to do anything for money, some people even go against their conscience and commit crimes, doing all kinds of evil. Finally they are brought to justice and their future have been doomed, some of them even lost their lives because of money, do you think that is worth it?

Again, we all need money to live, but we can't do something bad for money. If you do, there's no way to turn around, you will only fall into an abyss without a bottom, and you won't be able to extricate yourself.

Money, is it really hard to find its good side?

Office Max Back To School Deals

Honesty and Credibility

Everyone, no matter he is studying or working, must always have honesty and credibility. These two attitudes are for your entire lifetime, especially when you are living and / or working with someone. Honesty and credibility are also complementary attitudes, you must have them both. Why are they so important Just think it like this: If you have no credibility and honesty, nobody would trust you, and employer would like to hire you. It's a crystal clear principle.

Few weeks ago, I was looking for a job in the field of video editing, later I found out that there was an organization (I'll call it "A" hereafter) which was looking for an video editor, they want someone to help them to edit and make a 30-second video PSA. Then I contacted "B", the representative for the organization "A", and she said she would like to have a teleconference with "C" and me few days later in order to discuss more about the project they're planning to do. "C" was the project partner of "B". Then I made a teleconference with "B" and "C" in a morning few days later, during the conference, "B" and "C" told me about their organization, what the mission is, and their desired outcome of that video project. I also commented and asked a few questions about their storyboard, after they explained them to me, everything was looking pretty good. We concluded the teleconference about 15 minutes later, before we ended the call, "B" said she would like to meet me and "C" together somewhere in the week after, I agreed and told them that I would like to meet them in the City, they said OK. "B" also said she would give me an update about the project few days after our teleconference. "No problem." I said. For some unknown and unclear reason, I have never heard from "B" or "C" or even the organization "A" again about the video project, and that teleconference was the only discussion and communication on that project. No one contacted me and told me what is going on. I never know.

This is irresponsible behavior, if you don't need my help, you can simply call me and let me know. It is also a courtesy to let someone know that you don't need his assistance. You never tell that person, he will never know what is going on.

I would like to make an reprimand to both "B" and "C", their behavior are irresponsible and rash. I also want to make a serious condemnation on their sloppy working behavior. I hope that they can fully reflect on their mistakes and not to repeat them in the future.

Free Summer Classes In CCSF Today

What is the date today? July 14. Is it a special day today? Yes, today is Le quatorze juillet in France. What else? City College of San Francisco offers free, special summer classes today. Classes include ESL, Writing, Spanish, Yoga, Politics, etc. The classes are non-credit and refreshments will be served. You don't have to be a CCSF student to take those free classes, just go there and attend the classes you're interested.

For more details, visit http://www.ccsfagainstthecuts.org

This blog post is brought to you by:

Here is the email about this event:

Free Lessons are being offered at CCSF for Summer 2010

Instructors are volunteering their time to teach any and all interested students on Wednesday July 14th and Wednesday August 4th at the CCSF Ocean College Campus. Classes include but are not limited to ESL, Genetics, Politics, Engineering, Foreign Language, Writing and Yoga. Visit www.ccsfagainstthecuts.org for a detailed class list and to sign up for free on-line.

The first open college on June 2 was a great success with over 150 students participating. This event was organized by the CCSF General Assembly, a student facilitated grassroots group that works with faculty, staff and administrators to fight the Budget Crisis at City College and in California. Together they have created an educational opportunity like no other.

This event does not have the intent of substituting the Summer Semester, but does have the purpose of:

1. Building unity between students, faculty and staff.
2. Demonstrating that we care about our education and our community.
3. Educating and raising awareness about the budget crisis and solutions to it.
4. Allowing teachers to teach what they want to teach and students to learn what they want to learn.

The event will begin with an Orientation at 10:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. with refreshments offered throughout the day. Students are not required to stay for the whole event, simply take advantage of the classes that interest you.

Classes are non-credit and non-graded. It is up to you whether you decide to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

TVB 太極 - 片尾曲 - 浮生若水 (TVB Channel)

I really love this song because its lyrics are meaningful, and it just like my thought about life.

Bliss Is Like Flowing Water, Life Is Like A Play

People always say "Life is like a play", we are all playing different kinds of dramas on our stages of lives. Comedy, romantic, tragedy, action, enthusiasm, warm ethics, and much much more. Unfortunately, in my own opinion, besides "Life is like a play", "Bliss is like flowing water". Why do I say that? When you have multiple opportunities to get ahead but you are stumbled by something unexpected, what would you think?

Sometimes, even you have a proper plan, work hard toward your goal, there may not be an opportunity to get yourself ahead; sometimes you actually have the opportunity but you have no way to grasp it. At the end, you are still an actor for tragic drama, you have no chance to play a comedy.

You can never be a comedy character, it's a fact. Why don't you use your superb acting to continue as a tragic drama character?

"Even though you are facing countercurrent, don't be afraid... Even though there is huge wave on the sea, it shall be gone after all... Happiness and sadness like water, don't try to prevent them..."

A Date That I Never Forget - 3

The story about my first night in the US continues here. After we were all cleared at the immigration checkpoint and were issued visas, we approached to the US Customs checkpoint, before we went to the check point, we'd all claimed our checked baggages. We had almost ten baggages, most of them were checked. Almost everything in my house in Macau were in those baggages, crazy! It's the time for the Lei's family to be checked by the US Customs, because we're a family, only one customs declaration form was needed. We got so many huge baggages, so the officer near the screener gestured us to pass the checkpoint, and we were cleared. All we had to do was to turn the customs declaration form to another US Customs official.

"Thank (Sank) you," my mother was speaking broken English. Something funny and embarrassing happened then: when the US Customs officer asked my mother about the declaration form, my mother spoke out a single word, "husband". Of course, the officer didn't understand what my mother said, then she responded, "Who is husband?" My mother actually wanted to tell the officer that the declaration form was on her husband's hand, but she didn't know how to say it in English. It was an obvious case of language barrier, but I was shocked the first language barrier was happened at the airport. Anyway, we officially entered The United States of America new immigrants. We exited from the restricted area, my aunt and uncle were waiting at the arrival lobby in SFO and ready to take us to our new home...

The first night as an immigrant ended with tiredness and stress. But there were even more challenges to come! Watch out, Victor! I'll talk more about what I faced as an immigrant next time.

Paul The Octopus

The 2010 FIFA World Cup has already come to an end, but it's still a staple topic of discussion. This year's World Cup focuses not only those players, but also an octopus named "Paul". Some people even think that "Paul" is the star of this year's World Cup. Indeed, "Paul" has already become the World's most famous octopus, many people around the World are talking about him, many businessmen take advantage of this occasion and sell toys related to octopus. "Paul" has also become everyone's favorite octopus.

What makes "Paul" so famous? I think I don't need to say more here, right? But I'm really impressed for what "Paul" predicted on this year's World Cup matches, his predictions were 100% accurate, he even successfully predicted Spain as the winner. His predictions were even more accurate than those odds from the gambling companies. Incredible!

Now, you know what? I want "Paul" to predict when I will win SuperLotto or Mega Millions. :)

Weblinks about "Paul The Octopus" [[1]]
[[2]]
[[3]]

A Date That I Never Forget - 2

So bad that I almost forgot to continue the story about what happened to me on August 9, 2001… Okay, let me move on.
Around 8:00pm, all of us arrived at the checkpoint for entry inside the SFO restricted area. We all had our Macau passports and four sealed Manila envelopes with some important documents inside. I should mention that those Manila envelopes were issued by the then INS, and the official from the US Consulate in Hong Kong also reminded us not to open those documents, so we had never known what those were. Whatever, there's nothing we want to know, at that moment I just want to know how long it could be finished! It took quite long time to process our first time entry to the United States. The INS official (I don't know if she was the Customs or INS, I can't even distinguish between an USCIS official and a CBP official) finished processing our initial documents for the first entry to the US, then she asked each of us to sign our names on those documents and passport-style photos. Then the INS official stamped on our Macau Passport, indicated that we're legal permanent residents, and we're authorized to work. The stamp also indicated that it should be the legal document to prove the immigration status before Green Cards were issued. Almost an hour later, we were all allowed to enter the US soil. My first time in my life, how's my feeling? I can tell you, nothing but uncomfortable. I had never felt that stress before I came, but something made me not feeling good.
There were also a small incident while we arrived another checkpoint, the US Customs Checkpoint, and I'll continue with my story tomorrow.

World Cup 2010 - A Perfect Ending. Everything Returns To Normal

After 64 exciting matches for exactly one month, the 2010 FIFA World Cup goes to Spain for the very first time in history. As Spain has won this year's World Cup, it also means that the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments have been ended perfectly. There were billions and billions people around the World, including myself to witness the newest champion. I can say that there were happiness but also sadness on this year's World Cup matches; there were also a lot of controversies on several matches; there were also regrets and sighs... In conclusion, this year's World Cup can be described in a phrase: mixed feelings. Anyway, with the games successfully ended, all the disputes have also become in the past.

I think it's also the time for all return to their normal lives, including myself. I can't deny that I'm quite addicted to the World Cup this year, although I only watched about 1/3 of all the matches, I still stopped some of my works to let myself watching the games. Now, I have to clean up my mood (especially my World Cup fever) and cope with daily work. World Cup fever? Save it for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, all right?