Tuesday, December 20, 2011 0 意見

大江大海

書    名:大江大海
作    者:龍應台
出版社:天下雜誌

這幾日較早回家。上網想找人聊天,又怕打擾人家上班。於是看看閒書和玩DQ6。這兩樣東西本是計畫耶誕節到新年期間,校園關閉時打發時間用的。DQ6進度已經推入中盤,但這本書早早用了幾個夜晚將它看完。
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 0 意見

流水帳


Friday, November 25, 2011 0 意見

The Season of Regret

Wednesday 23rd

As an international student, Thanksgiving doesn’t mean a lot to me. A math professor invited some Taiwanese students to his home for Thanksgiving dinner. They made hundreds of fried pumpkin dumplings. After dinner the professor told us Bible stories. Joe had read both Buddhist classic and Bible so he described some differences and similarities between both religions. I’m free-spirited, but it doesn’t mean I have to deny anything belonging the religion. I believe in Capitalism and classic Liberty; I learned Communism and Fascist ideology for the sake of knowledge. Their discussions arose my curiosity. Maybe one day I will find something interesting in Bible.

How are you doing, sweetie?


Monday, October 24, 2011 0 意見

Cool Weather, Hot Fair

The weather is getting cool; the warm noon is getting precious. The state fair is the last biggest event this year. After that and the NCAA football tournaments there won’t be any statewide events until next spring. Here is not like New York City where people can go shopping seasonal stuff in the streets during the winter.

A Corner of State Fair

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 0 意見

Dead or Alive: Dimensions

While looking for research data, I found a game amusing enough to save my dying life. I’m not a big fan of fighting games. I was once addictive to Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat for a while. Then came back to playing adventure and role-playing games. 
Friday, October 7, 2011 0 意見

自由,民主與資本主義(二)

對民主的否定,經常來自於眼見其施行之後的亂象。有學者提出條件說,強調經濟和教育發展到某個程度後,民主制度才能成功。此處,本人則要以資源分配的觀點切入,論證何以民主會產生亂象。
Thursday, September 15, 2011 0 意見

Mr. President, Welcome to the Den

The university homepage revealed President Obama would give a speech in the university on Wednesday. Before the day of his visit, tickets would be distributed based on the first come first get. I thought it couldn't be hard to get a ticket. White I arrived the university at 7:00 I saw there were hundreds of students waiting in the courtyard. 

 Students lined up to get free tickets.


Friday, September 9, 2011 0 意見

隨筆

下個月初要交研討會初稿,為了不想把這個到新英格蘭的機會給搞砸,沉浸在論文中也有好一陣子了。時間不多,但還是在傍晚前離開圖書館,因為有點疲倦。
Saturday, September 3, 2011 0 意見

Lazy Bone's Daydreaming

Today is a special day. Instead of doing researches or reading serious papers, I went to the library to read a casual book "Here you are". This book describes how space and house interior influence people.
I started to imagine how my future home will look like.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 0 意見

Case Study: Chinese Food Competition in A Small Market

It is worth one-year long inconvenience to have a new Atrium Food Court. Seats here are comfortable and the food varieties expand. There is a new stand called Zen Blossom selling Chinese foods or Sushi. The price for each kind of meal is more expensive than it is in Golden Dragon, another Chinese food restaurant near the university.
Sunday, August 7, 2011 0 意見

Juicy Colors

Today's weather was very hot in the afternoon. I felt my head was about to explode, then seconds later blood flowed out from my nose. Fresh blood is both terrible and vibrant, none of the best artists can mix a color comparable to it; dark dried blood, however, looks disgusting.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 0 意見

The Nothing that is: A Nature History of Zero

Titile: The Nothing that is: A Nature History of Zero

Author: Robert Kaplan

Publisher: Oxford University Press

When I was a senior undergraduate, in class the professor once told us his classmate in John Hopkins spent one hour explaining why one and one is two. 

“Is it possible to prove 1+1=2?”
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 0 意見

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

"The flow of time is always cruel... A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days... "  --- Shiek (Zelda)

There were three things that happened in 1998 of which I always remember- my entrance to the university, the passed-away of my grandfather, and the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (OoT).
Sunday, June 26, 2011 0 意見

暑假2011


Fri. June 3
訪師


今天去拜見已五年未見的前指導教授。這些年來不是沒有機會,但是總感到有點畏懼。他氣勢旺盛;我作風低調。兩隻巨蟹碰頭,他的大鉗能輕易地夾碎我的軟殼。現在身兼院長、處長和教授數職,要見面還得和秘書敲定行程。一進到研究室,感覺就和當年一樣。基於傳統師生關係,大部分都是他問我答。提到日後工作,我開門見山就說想走業界。
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 0 意見

Call of Duty

Before I went home for the summer vacation, my home received a notice sent from the government. It said I could be called upon to return to the army for reviewing my martial skills for one week. I had heard some friends of mine had returned to the army twice or even three times. I thought I am waived because of my absence but it seems it is not true. Fortunately I hadn’t received the formal call-up so far or my precious summer vacation would be destroyed.
Thursday, May 12, 2011 0 意見

Charlotte的傍晚

到達Charlotte時已是傍晚。天色仍然明亮,卻可見人群逐漸散出市中心,或往郊區住家,或往餐館。此時正是適合參觀的時刻。

      Charlotte東岸的金融中心,美國銀行和美聯銀行總部所在地,幾年前就該前來朝聖了。市中心不大,大約一個小時內即可走完。除了公寓之外,所有的高樓幾乎都是銀行辦公處。我一向對美國市區內的公寓很有興趣。高大的前門,精緻的內裝,一小座陽台,以及昂貴的租金,在在顯示要多少外在物質,才能建造一座避風港,填補內心的徬徨或空虛。

Headquarter of Bank of America

A Corner of Charlotte

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

      街道上,車來人往,但有點不尋常地安靜。穿著正式的銀行員工,快步且無聲地行走。在這個由金錢和借貸所堆積起來的城市,似乎沒有人想久留。咖啡店早已關門。天色漸暗,在即將打烊的McDonald's買瓶汽水,到廣場上找張桌椅坐下。遠處傳來黑人嘹亮的清唱,大概是街頭藝人吧。在這個時候,他能有多少共鳴?

Wachovia Plaza

    我想留在這個城市,或是NY,或是Seattle,只要沒有牽掛在太平洋另一端。
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 0 意見

Dining Hall Dying

The walk-in price and meal plan fee go up every year. I recognized the operative costs are increasing and the budget is tight to the university so I was still loyal to the two dining halls in the university.

I feel something was wrong in these two months. Some foods used to be on the menu disappears! I haven’t seen barley and mushroom soup for one year. Salmon is out this semester. Fresh strawberry is provided in special events only. What bothers me the most is pork rib is no more since two years ago.

Look at these cases carefully, I find there is one thing in common. These foods that disappear are relatively expensive ones compared with their close substitutes. Cheap foods are not necessarily tasteless. My favorite fries, fried chicken and cheeseburger are all cheap. However, our benefits decline when some of our choices are deprived. The dining halls should either lower food quality or increase the price, but not do both.


A corner of Clark Dining Hall. Thanks to its cleanness and friendly workers, the small cafeteria keeps its value.

Fountain Dining Hall, a big cafeteria with two dining rooms

Plain Meal

Apple ice cream, cool whip (cream), pound cake, strawberry cut.  I prefer fresh strawberry to frozen sweetened strawberry cut.
Monday, March 21, 2011 0 意見

Umstead Keeps Visitors Unsteady

      What a week. I have turned in two problem sets on Tuesday, completed one midterm and one referee report on Thursday and gone to a meeting on Friday. I decided to give myself one day off on Saturday. I had heard Umstead State Park so much so it was a good time to enjoy hiking in the forest.

      The large park located in the suburb worthy the name of the oasis of tranquility. But that’s it. Hiking in the monotonous woods bored me in minutes; boating on the lake is not allowed until April; Exhibit Hall closed on the weekend. Quite disappointed. While hiking, I though why do I bother going so far to here similar to Lake Johnson Park in my neighborhood.
     
      Finish the hiking and drive to leave. No far away lies Crabtree Valley Shopping Mall. Different from the park with only few visitors, the mall was too crowed. Cars and people jammed into the entrance of the mall. They must have known which one is more interesting.


William B. Umstead State Park

The woods is really like a maze
 

......

Visitor Center, the only spot looks nice here

Sunday, March 13, 2011 0 意見

Serenity Ruined

       In these days every news channel air the disasters in Japan. The videos show the wave of destruction engulfed Sendei are ones of the most striking I had ever seen. Now the Northeast Japan was ruined and won't recover in a short period of time. It seems it is impossible for tourists to enter the remote land to see compelling attractions.

      Almost every year I transferred flight in Tokyo. I could easily enter the Japanese boarder and stay two or three days, but I chose not to do that. I'd like to visit culture-rich and low profile locations. Tokyo is obviously not on my list. Most of these cities are located in Northeast and Kansai areas. The journey to Kansai five years ago was so impressive that I can still remember the seren filling in the air in Kyoto and Nara. It is fortunate both old cities remain intact.


Wakayama Castle keep (和歌山城)

Japanese Cuisine

Gion (祇園)

Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge (嵐山渡月橋)

Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)

Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺)

Todai-ji (東大寺)

Osaka Castle(大阪城)

I don't remember exactly where the street is. Maybe it's the road to Kiyomizu-dera.

Downtown Osaka

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 0 意見

自由,民主與資本主義(一)

        自由與民主兩者經常以併稱的方式出現,甚至可能被視為一個名詞。原因即在於現存政治體制,兩者可說是同存的。故此處試圖論證兩者之位階,並演繹出兩個原則。

原則一. 自由為民主之基礎,即前者位階高於後者。即便在寬鬆的條件之下,此立論仍然成立。

推論:
        首先將民主定義為多數統治。試想有個虛擬社會,其中有n個公民。所有人都服從多數統治,但沒有自由權利。第一次投票選項有兩個,選項獲得過半數者獲採納。兩項選項內容為,只要本選項獲半數以上支持,支持本選項者即有在第二次投票日外出的權利。所以第一次投票結果,最多有n/2-1的人無法參與第二次投票。由於必須所有人都需遵守多數決,故第二次投票的人數必然減少。複製同樣的投票內容,最快在第二次投票,最慢在n/2+1(當n為偶數)或者n/2進位到下個整數時(當n為奇數時),就有超過半數者無法參與下一次的投票。只有少於半數者能進行投票的狀態,恰與多數統治牴觸。如果更一般化,將兩個選項擴張到m個選項(m<n),則少數統治出現的速度將更快。據此,扣除以下所述例外情況下的嚴格條件,可知未以自由為基礎的民主,將演變為非民主。

例外:
1.當n=2,不論是兩人選擇相同或不同,都不會對雙方有所影響。
2.或是當n為偶數,n/2的人分別對不同選項有特別偏好,則兩個選項永遠處與平手的狀態,則民主得以延續。
3.m>n,則體系不穩定,有可能發生多數統治的崩壞,也有可能不會發生。如為前者,則不可預測何時會發生。


原則二. 自由可獨自存在

     在前一段推論中,已經隱含這個原則。此處將自由定義為多數民主國家之憲法所保障的項(但不包含工作權,這在日後可能談到),且不可分割。在有自由而無民主的社會,任何群體接無法用多數決壓迫少數或個人。(當然,前題是自由可被保障。日後再談此兩定理的實際應用,此處只談理論)即使在這個社會,由多數決選出一位領導者,其將無所做為。因為沒有任何政策或多數決是無損自由的。因此,領導者的決定是隨機抽出或投票選出並無差別。這種情況,猶如數戶人家散佈在一座深山上,彼此不相往來。
Monday, March 7, 2011 0 意見

Orient

      Again I saw it, the black cat. I slowly got closer and observed it. This time it didn’t run but just walked away. Its blind left eye and blight short fur reminded me the one-eyed swordsman in novels. Maybe next time it will let me touch it.

The visually disabled black cat never loses its elegance

      Few minutes later it started raining. Bad luck! I was about to shoot the cheery blossoms in the brickyard. Cheery trees bloom only once every year but flowers are gone in a sudden. 5 years ago I failed to catch the blossom season in Kyoto because of cold weather. In previous two spring breaks I cancelled the short trips to Washington DC for some reasons. This year I saw flower pedals falling on the ground with rains. What will happen next year?

      Due to the spring break, the library and dining halls closed earlier. So I had to home earlier to cook. I made a pair of onigiri. Just brush some soy sauce on triangle rice balls and toast them. Finally wrap them up with roasted dried seaweed. Nothing is easier than this.

Life today is too oriental oriented, have a scoop of ice cream to rebalance myself.

Toasted onigiri

Snack -Starbucks' coffee ice cream

Friday, February 25, 2011 0 意見

The World of the Polar Bear

Title: The World of the Polar Bear
Author: Norbert Rosing
Publisher: Firefly Books

The World of the Polar Bear is more about the Arctic than it is aboutpolar bears. The author captured the most touching moments of the Arctic inhabitants' activities and breathtaking landscape by his technique and love to the Far North. Lots of reviews tried to introduce these photos in words, but they are far more magnificent than any word can describe. This book is a good example of the old saying: picture speaks a thousand words.The followings are selected photos.

The World of the Polar Bear (Hardcover)

Polar Bear Family (P.30)

Mother and kids. Where is the father? (P.31)

Harp seal pup (P.50)

An Arctic fox pup greets its father (P.93)

Picturques Hudson Bay-James Bay in the fall (P.125)

Sunset in Churchill (P.179)

An aurora glows in the sky (P.175)

The snugle bear loves this book, too



Friday, February 18, 2011 0 意見

平淡的一週

Monday, February 14, 2011

傍晚下課後到Fountain Dining Hall用餐。見到入口處有玫瑰發送,才想起今天是某個節日。
因為氣候因素,玫瑰尚未完全綻開。但淡綠色的花苞又呈現另一種青澀美感。
兩邊用餐區各放了一座巧克力噴泉,還真符合Fountain Dining Hall這個名稱。
應景的巧克力蛋糕有點膩,不過配上新鮮薄荷葉滋味還算不錯,一時嘴饞吃了兩塊。
夜晚開車回家時,突然感覺車內有些空曠,明明這部是只有兩個座位的小車而已。
但駕駛座旁的座位的確是空了好一段時間,有隻貓也好啊。
不要想太多,在這個地方,撞鬼的機會可能還比較高。


Thursday, February 17, 2011

I enountered Robert Kane and Steve in the gym tonight.
They were about to leave, so I did not talk too much with them.
Every time when I see Robert, it seems he is fatter than he was.
I predict he weights over 220 pounds.
The world is always unequal even in terms of weight distribution.
Contrary to Robert's big stomach, my weight is bounded from above by 140 pounds.
Isn't wonderful if he could transfer 10 pounds to me?


Friday, February 18, 2011

有個技術性問題想去請教Pelletier,沒想到他卻大休半年,暑假過後才會回來。
和指導教授討論論文後,出研究室,在走廊遇到John Seater。
一身寬鬆大紅絲質襯衫,加上黑西裝褲,看似是下班後要直奔市區Pub。
走經director辦公室,大門緊閉,不是休假就是外出用餐未回,雖然現在是下午兩點了。
這些老師們之所以願意在大學月領四到五千美元,而不是業界的六千元起跳的薪水,
原因已經很清楚了。後者和前者之間的價差,就是沒有頂頭上司的價格。
Saturday, February 5, 2011 0 意見


Lunar New Year and Spring 2011

      Today Joe, Sean and I went to a long awaited new year party hosted by TSA. The joyful music performance and acceptable foods overwhelmed my anxiety for researches and the future for a while. Appreciate TSA’s effort.



35 Restaurant in Cary is (was) one of the best Chinese restaurants in Triangle Area


      The storms are sweeping half of states. The weather in Triangle is either cloudy or rainy in this week. Despite of the unusual climate, based on the lunar calendar, now is spring, a season of rebirth and renewal.

The snow of winter has gone,
the wind brings the odor of spring on and on.
A bear cub awakes from a long sleep,
seeking for a new field of his own.
Where is he going?
a plain with a lake far beyond.

Sunday, January 30, 2011 0 意見

暴風雨前夕

    演算了四個小時,用去四張白紙,還是沒有結果。這還只是一小題而已!到底是誰說這門課很輕鬆的!整個下午無所獲。

    晚上進行編程。模型越進階,編程方式越複雜冗長,反覆推敲,多次試行錯誤,仍是無解。思路幾乎進入淤塞狀態。

    十點走人,到體育館榨光今日僅存的體力。十一點回家,梳洗整理完畢已將近十二點。這時已經是昏昏欲睡。隔日又是類似的循環。接著還要搜尋論文資料,參加小型研討會...期初已經如此折騰,期中之後更難以想像。

  開學前悲觀估計這學期日子不好過,實際情況似乎比預想更糟。兩年前負氣出走數學系,搞到自己系上一堆課沒修,現在可說是報應臨頭。

   但報應又如何?對於出走一事從沒後悔過。現在反要用在數學系所學以及耐心克服這學期。最慘也只是比照往例,再次閉關而已。成績已經不是重點,只是要對自己當初的決定負責。此外,要是我放棄了,有誰提供參考答案給眾同志。


願數學之神與我同在

7th floor West Wing, my colony in DH Hill Library
Friday, January 28, 2011 0 意見

Haunted House

       I didn't know 1911 Building is haunted until I read Technician, the newspaper published by student journalists. To me the three-floor building was a shortcut from DH Hill Library to SAS Hall. And the only thing I knew about it is there is an only snack bar selling Pepsi products on campus. 

      1911 Building was built as a dorm 100 years ago.  Rumor had it a student was bullied by a secret society and passed away in panic. Since that some people saw the student's ghost wandering in the corridor. 

       To satisfy my curiosity I had to take a look.




1911 Building at night. the door is locked.

Nothing unusual. I'm wasting my time...

!?

Monday, January 17, 2011 0 意見

場外回憶

    一如以往,在離開圖書館後到體育館運動。進行重訓時,一個拉舉,突然感到左手掌一陣劇痛。掌心磨出一個水泡,右手甚至已經長繭了。反正剛才已經跑出了一身汗,今晚就到此為止。

    坐在場外長凳上,檢視傷口嚴重程度。長年在書桌前搖著筆桿,早已淡忘年輕時那也曾滿是創傷的雙手。

    剛進入大學的第二週,目光就被一張宣傳單所吸引。加上自身也有些興趣,於是隻身前往空手道隊。一開始以為是社團,後來才知是運動代表隊。負責人稱為隊長,非是社長。

    於是每週二四晚間,都得前往體育館東側和重訓室合一的道館練習。偶爾還有週五的額外操練。持續了三年,我的雙手在這段期間傷痕累累,手心起水泡,手背關節處常有掛彩,左腳背也留下一道疤痕。沙包和拳套上的暗紅血跡,都是我們隊員的傑作。年少輕狂的我,用已經滲血的左腳背,在沙包上連踢了三腳,留下三個垂直的血印,以象徵勇武。

      三年級生因為技巧純熟,又無四年級生的升學壓力,所以多扮演比賽主力,隊長也由其中一人擔任。升上三年級後,獲任命為隊長。上任後的三四個月即是大專杯空手道競賽,也是校際最大的賽事。去年本校團體對打獲得第四名,當時的我想一舉奪下前三名,拿座獎盃以彰功績。

       五戰三勝制團體對打,第一場對上的學校正巧與本校師出同門。忘記當時順序是如何決定的,但仍記得由高大壯碩漢維打頭陣,次鋒是短小靈活的彥緯,第四五順位的副將主將分別是斯文書生振源和暴力份子宏學,我則壓在第三位中堅的位置。

       不料前兩戰皆失利,第三戰變為我隊之生死關鍵。我一上場就想搶分,但因攻擊不確實,幾秒內就被判了兩個犯規,反失半分。於是我的動作開始出現遲疑。對手這時突然出擊,一拳扎實地擊中我面部。這拳之強,竟然透過護具,削掉我半顆牙齒,幾滴鮮血也由嘴角流下。比賽暫停,經過醫護員檢視後,判定無礙再戰。痛失半顆牙後,已全然無戰意。兩手護住頭部與心口,消極出手,只想拖過時間結束。未及半分鐘,對手一記迴旋踢掃到我頭部側面。頭部只感到一震,雖然無礙,但失了兩分。之後意識開始有些模糊,只記得是冷汗直流。 結果此戰一比六慘敗,本校團體賽第一輪就出局。之後其他隊友的個人賽成績也不理想。回校後,為帶隊無方負責,卸任隊長職務。

       接下來的日子鬱鬱寡歡。

       數日後的某個午間,趁體育館尚未開放,獨自溜進道館。在中央閉目正坐,回想競賽當時的過程。越想越是心神難安,突然良馬對中一段話浮現腦海:攬轡未安,踴躍疾驅,甫百里,力竭汗喘,殆欲斃然。這豈不是在形容自己急欲搶勝反遭大敗?再回顧過去三年之種種。其中三個血印之事,更是狂妄可笑。

       驚覺自己原是駑鈍之才後,也是結束文武合一的日子。大學最後一年,為了研究所考試,天天進入圖書館。幾乎被課本講義壓到喘不過氣。久久才光顧一次的道館,則成讀書之外的放鬆場所。經過九個月,總算結束所有學校入學測驗。而一年一度的大專杯也即將來臨,地點在老家的大學。

    當我一派輕鬆地踏入道館,為等下的"運動"進行軟身時,隊長進來了。一見到我,他就說:"學長,我幫你報名了,個人對打。"我吃了一驚。我還能打嗎?去年精力旺盛都輸了,今年飽受課本摧殘又疏於練習,還有幾厘勝算?他是要給我扳回顏面的機會?還是要讓我再掉半顆牙?(要是漢維看到這段話,大概要罵我是廢物了。)

    無奈報名表已繳出,無法追回。為了不在家鄉父老前丟臉,我只能參加嚴格的賽前集訓了。幸好,學校體育組擺了個烏龍,忘記向舉辦單位報名,故本校無人可出賽。集訓也因此取消。個人鬆了一口氣,只是苦了其他磨刀霍霍的隊員。即使如此,一夥人仍南下觀戰,順道觀光,接受我家招待。之後就正式離開了道館。或許現在時常到體育館運動即是受到當時的影響。但可以確定者是,武者之夢已逝,現在完全是為了健康而動。

   到更衣室途中經過劍道訓練場。其佔地廣闊,亦有專人清潔,各方面皆遠勝哪個老道館。有如此舒適環境,想必這些年輕劍客更願意將生命消磨於此,求勝之心更加急切了。祝武運昌盛,osu。

                                         
                                     Could the tiger come back to my spirit?

Friday, January 7, 2011 0 意見

Infinite Horizon, Infinite Trouble

     To generalize the idea that capital outflow is beneficial to a capital-abundant country, I extended the two-country, two-period model to a two-country, infinite-horizon model. I’d like to discuss the evolution of current accounts and compare consumption paths between open and closed regimes.

      The key factor in the model is the interest rates which depend on the marginal productivity of capital. A capital-abundant country will enjoy higher interest revenue if it exports parts of its capital to a labor-abundant country. So my first hypothesis is that the country’s consumption will decrease for sure in the initial period when the capital restriction is removed and will increase in the future. My second hypothesis is quite bold: the capital-abundant country is always capital abundant. In order to focus on the effect of capital movement on interest rate and welfare, I assume two countries are the identical except the initial capital stocks.

      When I began modeling, I found myself get into big trouble. The calculation is a mess. It took hours and hours to rearrange the equations and hours and hours to correct the wrong rearrangement.  The most significant contribution is that I found one hypothesis is related to the other under some strong conditions. But overall the final result is ambiguous and unsatisfactory, like it was in the two-period model. 
     

A comment to myself: ambitious, incompetent though. 
 
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