Beijing’s total population has exceeded 22 million, a mark that is supposed to be surpassed a decade later, the China National Radio reported today.
Monthly Archives: February 2010
Ithaca
From my trip to Cornell for work this past weekend.
Kathleen made me hike 8 stories up the clock tower.
She made me watch the chimes concert where the person pushes these levers with their hands and feet to ring the bells above.
At the Ithaca Chili Cook-off & WinterFest with Kathleen and Rachel. Shot by Kathleen with my camera.
All in all, a fun weekend, despite having to give so many presentations. These work trips are definitely draining.
The Gang of Four was the name given to a leftist political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes.
Not to worry, the Gang of Four in the image above is just a bunch of people who like to walk around the city with their cameras.
From left to right: me, Jeanne, Brad, and Jason Gang of Four
.
Taken on Valencia St.
Admiration in the Mission
Out shooting in the Mission last Saturday and ran into another group of photogs. This is Seth admiring Jason‘s 4×5.
What Sets You Apart?
Google Voicemail Transcriptions
This is how Google Voice transcribes a message. This voicemail was left in Chinese by my Auntie Linda, who was inviting me to dinner. Here’s the original:
Hey Jen, If I’m doing, Dante at 10 AM. A number on a budget. The basic compiling a list call back. Yeah, okay. Yeah back. Bye bye.
Year of the Tiger
Chinese New Year is coming up. For those born in the year of the Tiger (according to Wikipedia):
Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be cold, restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, ruthless, selfish, aggressive, unpredictable, moody.
One of my former students, Christine, came back from working in China and she brought back a red plush tiger for me to hang in my car. So Chinese-y. Funny how she remembered that was my favorite animal. I love tigers and all, but I don’t know if I could camp out like the guy in the photo above.
Photo taken at the Millbrae Art & Wine Festival, 2009, when my friend Cindy (the one who’s currently into sewing) made me go. Told you she’s artsy-fartsy.
I Hate Writing
I really do. I don’t mind speaking in front of groups, as I need to do for work. It’s preparing the content that I don’t like. Maybe that’s why I like photography so much–I don’t need words.
Photo taken in summer of 2009, at the Hong Kong Museum of History.
Mozart Forever
Taken outside the SF Symphony. See the inside or Brad’s fish-eye version. Like Brad, I also wonder what type of person would carve this into the street?
Friday Fun Fact
When putting on pants, socks, or shoes, I realized I ALWAYS dress my left side first. (Left leg or foot in first)
What’s YOUR Friday Fun Fact?
Barbie Shanghai
The first Barbie Worldwide Flagship Store. Taken in Summer, 2009.
Yes, I went in with my students. It was so…pink. They even had a Vera Wang bride and groom Barbies and Juicy Couture Barbies. I think they even had a Barbie restaurant on the top floor.
Barbie® Shanghai is an exclusive shopping destination with six floors of Barbie® products and activities designed just for girls. Along with a real fashion runway, full-service day spa, doll design center, and more, there are over 1,600 Barbie® products available, including apparel, jewelry, skin-care products, toys, electronic products, cosmetics, games, and other exciting goodies girls of all ages will love. Spend an unforgettable day at Barbie® Shanghai – there’s nothing else like it anywhere.
Oh my goodness, did I just write a post on Barbie?
Help Emails
I’ve received a couple emails from friends and family this week asking for help/advice on the following topics: Firefox, autistic children, and restaurants in Chinatown. OK, that’s all.
Import Facebook Phone Numbers into Your Google Contacts
My coworker Kurt was asking about this so I’ll post it up here:
If you have Firefox and GreaseMonkey, then install this script. Go to your Facebook Phonebook, then in your Firefox menu, go into Tools > GreaseMonkey > User Script Commands… > and you’ll see Export Facebook Phonebook. Extract the data, and then POST it to AddressBooker, which will then guide you through merging it into your Google Contacts.
Script by Brad.
Cabbage Patch Kid Abby
Abby, 7 months.
Taken at the Ferry Building.
Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid.
A bus on Columbus.
Ip Man (Yip Man) Movie
I haven’t posted much on this subject, mainly because I keep much of this to myself, even in person. The only other place I remember where I’ve mentioned anything was on my “100 things about me” page. But as my friends and I watched this movie this weekend, I was reminded how this movie has a special place in my heart. I first watched this last year online on some Chinese site and was determined to buy this movie in the summer. I even paid extra for the DVD version (instead of the cheaper, lower quality, but more popular VCD). If you’re ever looking for a great kungfu movie WITH a good story line, go rent this.
“Baby Jesus” Chris
I was walking The Embarcadero, camera in hand, when this guy walked by, lifted up his tennis racket to hide his face and said, “No more, paparazzi. No more pictures.” I smiled and said, “That’s a good one” and couldn’t help but continue with “Can I take your picture?”
He told me he’d been living in San Francisco for 20 years. He said his name was Chris, but goes by the name “Baby Jesus.”
Enable Internet Connection Sharing (Sprint HTC Touch)
I’m finally documenting this here because every time I do a hard reset on my phone, I forget what I need to do to tether my phone to my laptop and allow internet sharing.
I actually don’t like my wireless carrier because it uses CDMA technology, which doesn’t allow me to use SIM cards when I’m at work overseas in the summer. But I couldn’t resist it because the monthly plans were so cheap (including data!).
With ActiveSync installed on my computer, use a registry editor such as CeRegEditor and delete the value \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\InternetSharing\Settings\ForceCellConnection.