Thursday, September 29, 2011

Never cook food beyond your skill.

Last week I tried a couple of new stuff to cook. The result turned out to be a disaster.
Peking Sauce Pork, one of my favorite food, was the first on my to-do list. I looked up its protocol on the internet and I followed it step by step. I seemed fine during each step. But when it was all finished, it tasted so bad. I tried some way to fix it but it did't work out. It must be something I did wrong with the pork or the sauce.
Another food on the list is Chinese pancake. My mum showed me how to do that once. I tried to make it based on memory. The first one burned, Second too dry, third too much salt, finally i succeeded on the forth one. I made a lot and kept the rest in the fridge. But It's too dry after microwaved.
Today I found the potatoes and cucumbers I stored went bad, so I have to throw them. I used to cook good potatoes, but I abandoned them for fail-cooked food. What a jerk I am.
From now on, I will stick to what I'm good at and never try things beyond my ability, at least for a long while.

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Deadline Phenomenon

Recently, a bunch of students catch an unusual disease. They suffered from that illness and pray for a cure. It is well-known as the Deadline Phenomenon. Let's take a deep look at this cruel monster.

*The Deadline Phenomenon*
Definition-Huge stress comes over before deadline. It will cause a series chain effect to people mentally and physically.
Susceptible population-It's a very common disease to college students, even graduate ones.
Pathogens-Complicate or boring assignments are way beyond students' tolerance or conflict with parties or other entertainments.
Major symptom-Headache, dark eye circle, lack of sleep, and all kinds of pains in waist, arms, wrists, etc. Even coma. Or fake death of related people or pets, Suddenly illness or accidents.
Cure time-Right after submitting, or never if failed.
Therapy or treatment-Cancel all assignments, or make them optional.

The Deadline phenomenon is still haunting around a lot of students. Call 911! The situation is getting more and more out of control. Government is still trying to find a way to set those patients free from the disease. Please keep noticing the following updates.

Tear comes with great joy.

For many times, I feel like to drop a little tear when I'm enjoying a great time in America. The reason, I think, is mostly those happiness reminds me memories with my friends back in China. I won't call it homesick or vulnerable. It's more like a kind of Deja Vu, which happens a lot to me. I think people have Deja Vu a lot are kinda pathetic, because they indulge themselves in the past so much that they can't precious present well enough. If this psychological excuse can't convince you, I would say alcohol may need to take some responsibility. Some of those tear time alcohol is involved. My feeling about alcohol is very neutral. But it does bring me some of the most unforgettable moments in my life. There are two times I was so drunk and cried like hell during graduation season. Maybe it has become a reflection that every time I drink alcohol I will feel like to cry. Either excuse makes me immature, but I am proud of who I am just the way I am.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

First party in the US

My roommate invited me to a party he wouldn't attend on Facebook. I thought it might be fun and accepted the invitation.
Friday night arrived. After a long time cooking and feeding myself, I went there with excitement and fear. It took me a while to find the place in dark. When I got there, I hesitated a while for going in or not. Then the host walked by and asked me if I was attending. It was quite coincident to meet the host in front his door right before I was about to chicken out. Maybe that was fate directing me. I went in and met a lot of people, maybe more than the people I met in the whole month before. They were all welcoming and offered me a wonderful party night. I played beer pong, teaming with one of the host. He was so great. Even though I only hit one cup and we were three cups behind the other team, we won that round based on his talent.
Great music, alcohol, winning games and very nice people around. These make my first party the best I could ever imagine. Hooray.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Eggs in the Moon

The other day Chris told me that he was surprised that there was actually an egg in the mooncake. That is an interesting thing to explain.
There are variety kinds of mooncakes in China. Black sesame, peanut, egg, and even meat can be stuffed in the mooncake. And the most symbolic kind is egg mooncake. Fisrt, egg is yellow and round like the moon. It's like eating the moon in a cake. What can more represent the meaning mooncake than egg mooncake in this way? Second, egg is new life of chicken. It represents new life or harvest. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival is in autumn, it is important for farmers to have a symbol for harvest. People gather around and celebrate this year's harvest and wish for next year's harvest. Third, egg can mean happiness or good things because of its traits. One egg means one good thing. Sometimes people put two eggs in the mooncake to double the happiness. It means two happy events come one after the other or good things happen in pairs.
Overall, egg mooncake is not just about the taste, it's more like an explanatory to ancient Chinese philosophy.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Condensed Watson & Crick's Paper

Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids
A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid
Watson and Crick
Structures for nucleic acid proposed formerly are unsatisfied. We suggest a structure of two helical chains each coiled round the same axis. We assumed that both chains are right hand helices and antiparallel. Each of these chains consists of phosphate diester group joining beta-D-deoxyribofuranose residues with 3’, 5’ linkages. This structure repeats after 10 residues or 34A. The phosphates are on the outside of the helix. Each of these phosphorus atoms stands 10A off fibre chain. The two chains are held together by paired purine and pyrimidine bases inside of the helix. The planes of the bases are perpendicular to the fibre axis. The ratio of the amounts of adenine to thymine and the ratio of guanine to cytosine are always very close to unity for deoxyribose nucleic acid. It suggests that they exclusively pair together. The specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material. The sequence of bases on a single chain does not appear to be restricted in any way. If the sequence on one chain is given, then the sequence on the other chain is determined. And the sugars are perpendicular to the attached bases. It suggests that it is impossible to build this structure with a ribose sugar in place of the deoxyribose. The structure’s water content is rather high and the structure could be more compact at lower water content. 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Modern Family's Emmy

What a terrific night for Modern Family! Every award they have nominated, I think, goes to them. The Emmy show begins with comedy and ends with comedy. The first 4 awards all go to Modern Family. Each award of these four they have about 3 nominates in average. Writing and directing go to them. Supporting actor and actress go to the Dumphys from Modern Family. And at the end, the most outstanding comedy also, with no doubt, belongs to Modern Family. Only Leading actor and actress go to other shows, because Modern Family has no nominate. Overall, Modern Family is the real comedy queen.
While congratulating Modern Family, I feel sorry for other excellent comedies. The cruel results of Emmy makes me wonder if it is right to allow one show has such many nominates in the same award. Taking supporting actor for example, Modern Family has four nominates in the total six ones. Even Ed, who used to be nominated as leading actor, is in that list. All six adults in the show are nominated as supporting actors or actresses. Whom are they supporting for? The kids? If so, I am surprised that those kids do not even have one single nominate. Sorry, kids. It's adults' game.

Bored to Death

Norman is a small city, unlike Beijing. Whereas Beijing is busy and crowded, Norman is always quite and relax. Since I don't have many friends here. Life is often lonely and boring.
Weekend is long, especially when rain comes often. My roommate goes back home every weekend. So I have to deal with the loneliness alone. And there are so many plans for weekend. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, dish-washing, etc. I tried to find some exciting things to do at weekend. It turned out everything can bore me after a little bit try. Finally, I realize that honeymoon is over with Norman. It's time to suffering homesick and paranoia. Accept it, or die. My choice is bored to death.
I watched an HBO show called Bored to Death. It's basically a loser writer feels bored and becomes a immature detective to buy thrills. It's a funny way to enjoy a boring life. So I wonder what if I'm a character in that kind of show, paranoia caused by boring. I would be an agent for actors. I would decide what show they should perform and whom to work with. I would make Colin Farrell do more comedy and Steve Carell go back to The Office. As for Charlie Sheen, I have to give him up. There is no way to rescue him from drunken hell.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sentence Order

It's always fun to learn about sentence order.
Back in China, I was taught many things about English sentense order. One of the most impressive things I learned is about adjutant order. I was taught a Chinese jingle to remember this order. The jingle is Mei-Xiao-Yuan-Jiu-Huang-FaGuo-Mu-Shu-Fang. In English it means a Beautiful Small Round Old Yellow French Wood Study Room. There are also other jingles to remember this order. That's how Chinese people learn English.
After I read the writing book, I found out that Americans learn English by making jokes or sacarsms. In this way, how should the adjutant order be taught? A ugly giant triangle ancient black Antarctic paper bath kitchen? Maybe you guys can give me the answer.
Order in Chinese is different from that in English. Chinese say I and you study English, whereas Americans say you and I study Chinese. Chinese say from the heaven drops down an angle, whereas Americans say an angle drops down from the heaven. etc.
All these different sentence order and other grammar differences between Chinese and English cause me a lot of trouble. I hope I can overcome these without too much efforts.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Mid-Autumn Festival

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, according to the Lunar Calendar. Like a lot of other festivals there are "romantic" tales involved. So I' will try my best to explain this Mid-Autumn tale.
In ancient China, there used to be nine suns in the sky. The sun we see has eight brothers. People are burned and dried by the extreme heat. It's hell during the daytime. There's a legendary bow and eight legendary arrows on a mountain. But nobody can pull that bow. A gifted man Hou-yi went there and made it. He used them to shoot down the other eight suns. People started to live happy forever. The God, father of nine suns, punished him and sent him a bag of poison drugs. Hou-yi's wife Chang-e secretly took those drugs for her husband. She flew up to the moon and live there forever. People thanked the couple by making this festival. All families get together to celebrate it and have mooncakes this day.
That's basically where Mid-Autumn Festival comes from. I hope I can get some decent mooncakes somewhere.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Celebrate my month arrival! Congratulations, Derek. You are still a lame boring Foreigner.

Yes. It's true. I have been here for a month. A month ago, my flight landed in OKC in thunder. After 20 hours' journey I finally saw the city I might spend lots of years in.
The first week was the most horrible experience in my life. I couldn't overcome time difference. I was dizzy at daytime and not able to sleep at night. And I had to deal with lots of stuff in that status. At least, I survived that.
It took me two weeks to basically settle down, even though I still need some stuff now. And thank God, I have a excellent roommate. He really made our apt like a home. It's very comfy.
Feeding myself is another challenge. When it comes to food, I'm very picky. My first try was better than I expected. After others' correcting, now I can cook really good Chinese food for myself. Things I cook taste like my mum did.
Tennis is another important thing in my life. I enjoy playing tennis though I suck. Now I play with friends in my lab every week. And I also met some new friends on the court. They all play very well. There are lots of things I need to improve to catch up with them.
Course and lab work are fine right now. But I might loose myself too much. I need to work harder.
And my English is still poor.
One thing at a time, Derek. You will get there eventually.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Congratulation Big John.

SIMON LOST 3 TIEBREAKS!!!
I still couldn't believe my eyes. Simon got lots of chances to break John Isner's serve's games. But every time he made it Isner always got a way to break back. 3 sets were dragged into tiebreak. Isner is a tiebreak fighter. Poooooor Simon was crashed by Big John's serves. All he did was defense without any decent hit like he did facing Del Potro, another big guy with powerful serves. He didn't grasp such a good opportunity. Shame!
Federer defeated Tsonga after losing to him twice in row. Both French guys need to fly back to Paris. Hopefully, they can do a good job in Davis Cup against Spain. Federer will face Djokovic for the forth time in row. It's gonna be a terrific match.
In another half draw, Andy Murray will face John Isner and Rafael Nadal will face Andy Roddick. I hope two American guys can meet in semifinal. Tennis Murray and Nadal play are ugly and boring. It's time for big serve and nice volley.
BTW, today I played tennis at 3:00. The sun almost burned me. Next time I should put on more sunblock lotion.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Big Apple won't stop raining

It's the second day matches are canceled due to the rain in US OPEN. It sucks waiting and keep checking news. The weather forecast says the rain may last for a freaking week, for god's sake. We're still not sure if the matches will start on time tomorrow. Pray for a sunny Big Apple. I'm bored and gonna go to the court to play tennis myself. Blog will continue after that.
I'm back...
One of my favorite player, Gilles Simon, is gonna make great breakthrough this time and I don't want to miss it. He had some tough matches in former rounds a few days rest may help him. he felt very well in his status. Hopefully, the rain won't take that away from him. His next opponent is John Isner, the second tallest guy in the tournament. Simon always find a way to beat the big guy, unless the big guy serves incredibly good. Even Isner has all audiences' support, I still trust Simon can win a chance to Quarter final, probably, against Andy Murray. Murray is one of the Big Fours. I wish Simon can make a history and beat that boring Murray.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

US OPEN first week men's summary

Last time I talked about female players' performance in the first week. Now it's time for men.
Novak DJOKOVIC, he, without any surprise, didn't lose a single set. I think he is the one using least time for now. He even only let his competitor got 2 games during 3 sets. Match he cares maybe start from semifinal facing Roger Federer.
Roger FEDERER, I watched his match with Marin CILIC, and he didn't play his best. If he wants to win this tournament, he needs to improve his status.
Jo-Wilfried TSONGA, he and Mardy FISH played a terrific match and he won the chance to face Roger FEDERER again. I think he will still cause lots of trouble for Roger and may beat him again.
Gilles SIMON and Juan Martin DEL POTRO, two players I love the most faced each other in the third round. I am looking forward this match since I saw the draw. It's a quite heart-wrenched match. I hope both of them can go further but I expected a amazingg match between them. They already met in Wimbledon this year and Juan Martin won after 2 tiebreak and another set reaching 7 games. Every time they met the match is  intense as hell. Power vs. Speed. This is the best way to describe their match. This time, SIMON played very well and DEL POTRO is still on his way finding his serve and backhand after wrist injury. SIMON served incredible well, he served more aces than Juan Martin, who is 6 inches taller. He played an aggressive match and shot more winners too. His performance is almost perfect. I trust him to go much more further this time.
Overall, my prediction still has chance to become true. But personally, I hope TSONGA meet SIMON in men's final, and WOZINIACKI and ZVONALIVA meet in women's final.

US OPEN first week women's summary

A week ago I predicted who will be the 2011 US OPEN Champions. During this week, men's draw is stable as usual and women's draw rocked as hell, which is also as usual. Let me grade players I care about.
Women:
LI Na, as a French Open Champion, she is still struggling and can't find her feel. Lacking confidence and attention is her main problem.
PENG Shuai, as the second high ranking Chinese, currently, she did a good job and reached the 4th round. Facing Penneta, a steady and intelligent player, her plan A couldn't work out and she don't have Plan B. Even though she had 4 set points in the second set tiebreak, she didn't convert any of them. What a pity.
Maria SHARAPOVA, the Russian beauty was predicted as a strong competitor for Championship, but she still have unfixed problem. Double faults dragged her down as usual.
Serena WILLIAMS, a true heroine and queen in WTA, she defeated Victoria AZARINKA as I expected and I don't think there will be any woman can beat her at even 50% chance. She has the most powerful serve and steeled mind, and, most importantly, she don't have any injury right now. She is healthy, unlike her sister Venus WILLIAMS.
Caroline WOZINIACKI, the top seed crossed a few barriers in former rounds. I think she can reach semifinal and face Serena WILLIAMS. But I doubt she can bebeat her this time. If she, with lots of luck, beat Serena, I think she will finally win her first Grand Slam and prove her Top 1 ranking.
I will do men's summary next time.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

What is Eternal?

I enjoy watching True Blood. It's full of magic, mystery and humanity. Characters in it always struggled from shits they never imagined or expected. What is right? What is wrong? Moral or Immoral? Justify or Lust? ...
During this season of True Blood, the most interesting big question is What is Eternal?
Vampires are immortal. They live through centuries and never grow old or get hurt. But technically they are dead and, most time, don't have human feelings. They are, at some points, just afterlife format like zombies. Bill told Jessica vampires still have humanity deep in their heart. It's a considerable argument. Maybe that's true for some of them. But most vampires, in my opinion, don't have humanity now, because their humanity already faded away after centuries' cruelty and loneliness. If you can't keep your own humanity last, how can you say you are eternal? It's just immortal at most.
There is another view about eternal in the show, soul of human are eternal, even though their flesh and body are gone forever. That's how Witch Antonia came back after 400 years. In this show, there may be or not be heaven after death. But there's one thing for sure that one's soul can exist forever and may communicate with the real world if he or she have unfinished business cannot be put down. Mavis's, Gran's and Antonia's souls last quite a long time.
Godric's, a vampire, also came back after his true death, because he has the most humanity among vampire, even more than lots of real human. In my eyes, Godric is the closest to eternal.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

A nerd joke

It's a mathematical joke about permutation and combination. My roommate didn't get it. He asked me to put it on my blog to see how many people can understand it. Hope you all understand it.

CAUTIOUS! What you are about to view have mature content that may not be appropriated for all guests.

Assume that God made N men and M women and observed their behavior of sexual intercourse.
To simplify it, we assume there is no reproduction caused by intercourse.
a) At the beginning, God observed "min{N, M}" ways of intercourse.
b) Then God observed "N*M" ways of intercourse.
c) After a while, God observed "C(N+M, 2)" ways of intercourse.
d) At last, God observed "2^(N+M) - (N+M) -1" ways of intercourse.

Personally, I think this joke is very incisive. It's hard to understand but you will sense its humor and sarcasm after you understand it.

Did you get it? Yes? Good!

If you can't understand it, it's OK. Let me explain it to you, even though it will be less funny if someone explains it to you. The humor comes along with satisfactions and achievement of figuring it out on your own. This is, probably, why it is nerdy, because only nerd guys enjoy solving difficult problems.

EXPLANATION:

a) At the beginning, people advocated monogamy. Intercourse only happened between paired couples. So there were "min{N, M}" ways of intercourse.
b) Then they turned into polygamy. Each man and each woman would have intercourse. So there were  "N*M" ways of intercourse.
c) After a while, homosexual intercourse happened. Each random two people among N+M people would have intercourse. So there were "C(N+M, 2)" ways of intercourse.
d) At last, group sex happened. Everyone could be in or out of the group sex, then single person and no one were removed from the calculation, aka. masturbation and nothing. So there were "2^(N+M) - (N+M) -1" ways of intercourse.

Hopefully, you can all enjoy this joke.