Tag Archives: Books

Borrow Kindle books, from the library!

Entertainment, Geek, Materialism, , , ,

I’ve had a kindle for quite a while now. I read a lot when I first got it, but then the reading the slowed down. That is, until I loaned the kindle to some friends. Then I realized how I read much more on a kindle.

I rarely buy books now, mostly because I have no room for any more. And I never buy eBooks or books on Kindle either. I borrow them from the library. Yes, I borrow eBooks from the library. Most of my friends are surprised when I tell them about that. If you’re paying taxes, might as well get your money’s worth, right? Plus, I never liked borrowing actual books from the library because they’re pretty nasty. By borrowing and reading on my kindle, I can read in bed and not be grossed out.

How to borrow from the library

It’s pretty awesome. You have 24/7 access to a digital library catalog of thousands of titles or books. It’s like going to the library in the middle of the night, but not really. You can search for the nearest library at www.overdrive.com. I go through the San Francisco Public Library’s site at http://sfpl.lib.overdrive.com/. From there, you can search for Audiobooks  eBooks, Music, and even Video. And you don’t even need a kindle. Any eBook reader will do or you can use their app that works on most devices or just read in your browser using overdrive read.

If the title you’re looking for is available, you can start reading immediately. I’ve found there’s usually a long wait list for popular books. I guess the library has limited “copies” of each title. You can place a hold on the books that you want, but sometimes it takes weeks before you actually get to start reading.

Limited lending period

Apparently, the lending period is determined by your library and can be for a period of 7, 14, or 21 days. At the end of the lending period, titles will automatically “expire” and return to the collection. At least you don’t have to worry about paying fees for overdue books. Sadly though, titles cannot be renewed, but you can check them out again if they are available. Which means, you have to place another hold and wait a few more weeks before reading the book again. And that’s a problem for me because I feel like I’m a slow reader. Of course, some books I finish faster than others, but I guess it depends on the book. I have several books on my goodreads that’s been in my “currently reading” list for a looong time because it was automatically returned and I had no patience to get on the wait list again.

Hack for longer lending period

BUUUUUT!!!! I think I’ve found a loop hole, or hack, if you will, that will allow you to keep your borrowed titles for longer than the maximum loan period of 3 weeks. When you “borrow” a book, it’s downloaded to your device. Technically, your device knows that your book is “overdue” when and IF it has access to the internet, right? So here’s how I tested my theory. Before my book’s “due date” last week, I put my kindle on airplane mode (no data connection) and I’ve been reading the book all this week! It’s a loooong book, so it’ll take me a while to finish. I wonder if anyone else has done this. Is this bad? I just need more time!

Unbroken

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517gOImApNL. SL160 UnbrokenFor the last couple of months, I haven’t been able to stop telling people to read a book called Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. Of course, I have it listed on my sidebar as recommended reading. It’s one of the best books I’ve read recently. It’s a biography about a guy named Louis Zamperini, a juvenile delinquent-turned-Olympic runner-turned-Army hero.

Fascinated by his experiences, and the mystery of how a man could overcome so much, I began a seven-year journey through his story. I found it in diaries, letters and unpublished memoirs; in the memories of his family and friends, fellow Olympians, former American airmen and Japanese veterans; in forgotten papers in archives as far-flung as Oslo and Canberra. Along the way, there were staggering surprises, and Louie’s unlikely, inspiring story came alive for me. It is a tale of daring, defiance, persistence, ingenuity, and the ferocious will of a man who refused to be broken.

The culmination of my journey is my new book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I hope you are as spellbound by Louie’s life as I am. -The Story of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Zamperini, now 95 years old, was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last week (watch the videos below). Continue reading →

Snøhetta Works

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IMG 1287 Snøhetta Works

This is a book that my architecture/design friend Jaime gave me last month. She likes architecture and she knows that I like pictures, so she figured she would give me a book of photographs of architecture by a Norwegian company called Snøhetta. As she was describing the firm and all their designs, and I asked if they were the ones who designed the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. (How I knew about that, I had no idea. I remembered learning about it somewhere.) And indeed, they had designed the library.

IMG 1284 Snøhetta Works

And guess what? The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has chosen Snøhetta to design the expansion of the existing Mario Botta structure to accommodate the Fisher Collection.

Tony’s List

Photography & Art, , , ,

IMG 8459 Tonys ListI met Tony (along with a bunch of other photographers) in North Beach. He asked how long I had been shooting. I actually never know how to answer this question, but I said I’ve been taking pictures for a long time, but took a more meaningful approach only this past academic year. He asked if I had any favorite photographers. I said I didn’t know enough to answer — I’m such a noob. Then the question was turned on him and he proceeded to name a few photographers who have really inspired him. I took out my notebook and asked him to write their names down for me. He ended up giving me 12 names of photographers/influences and a book title.

Here’s his list:

  • Edward Weston
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • W. Eugene Smith
  • Josef Koudelka
  • Garry Winogrand
  • Mary Ellen Mark
  • Manuel Álvarez Bravo
  • Group f/64
  • Farm Security Administration (FSA)
  • Edward Steichen and “The Family of Man”

Some Japanese photographers:

  • Daidō Moriyama
  • Nobuyoshi Araki

Book: On Photography by Susan Sontag

I’ve got some homeworking to do.

*Note: I’m not sure why I took the picture above at 1/30 sec, which is probably why his hands are blurry. But maybe that’s not a bad thing as it captures the “writing” in action.

Entertainment escape from reality

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I watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose last weekend. Nothing special. The courtroom acting was entertaining. The theater was packed, we sat near the front, and the movie was a bit shaky, especially during the “actual exorcism” scenes, so I didn’t really have that great of a time. Yeah, I’m weak sauce when it comes to motion sickness. At least I didn’t have to leave after the first 5 minutes and ask for a refund like I did at The Bourne Identity. That first boat scene was not beej-friendly.

I’m hooked on that show called So you think you can dance. I love how they can do different dances with just a few days’ practice.

Here are 2 movies I need to see:

    Memoirs of a Geisha
    The Chronicles of Narnia

But first, the books. I totally remember OJ reading the first one way back in the olden days.

Hey, there’s a Disneyland in HK now. It’s on Lantau Island where the big buddha is. I miss that side of the planet…:(

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I had to take my car in to get the turn signals fixed. No, they weren’t working and I almost got my arm ripped off by a motorcyclist when I was using those arm signals. I really need to get a more reliable Japanese car.

Book Tag

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Sacrod has tagged me with something I never should have gotten. It’s quite embarrassing actually, since I don’t read. Sad to say, I’ve only finished one single book in high school. It’s a wonder how I ever got into college, and graduated, for that matter. It was only after college that I started taking a liking to reading. Wait, I take that back. I thoroughly enjoyed reading books for both my major (and minor) in college. The answers to these questions are a bit redundant since I keep my “reading info” on the front page of this site. Continue reading →

100 Things About Me

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Last updated: January, 2013

Everyone else has done it, so here it goes:

  1. I’m known as simply some girl online, and BJ at Starbucks or Jamba Juice. My real nickname is Beej (short for BJ, from Baby Jen)
  2. My REAL real name is Jennifer
  3. I’ve always wanted a nickname when I was little
  4. Coincidentally, I’ve had a nickname ever since then
  5. One of my elementary teachers used to call me JT
  6. I was born in San Francisco
  7. I can speak Chinese (Cantonese)
  8. But I can’t read characters
  9. Unless they’re menu items
  10. Neither can I write Chinese
  11. Except for my name and a few numbers
  12. I can understand Toisanese/Taishanese, a Chinese dialect from the region of Toisan (or Taishan)
  13. But I can’t speak it
  14. I have 2 siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister
  15. I’m a “left brain” person – analytical, and not very good at art- although I’m getting better a photography.
  16. I have a scar on my chin
  17. And on my scalp
  18. I believe in God
  19. And wished everyone else did too
  20. To quote The Princess Bride, “I am not left-handed”
  21. I won the spelling bee in elementary school
  22. Twice
  23. And almost won county (placed 9th out of 172)
  24. I didn’t finish reading a single book in high school
  25. I’ve worn glasses since the 4th grade
  26. I now wear contacts
  27. And wish I didn’t have to
  28. I like long hair
  29. But not on guys
  30. I worked in an ice cream shop in high school
  31. I know CPR
  32. And First Aid
  33. I’ve been certified as a lifeguard
  34. But never worked as one
  35. I’ve never gone swimming in the ocean
  36. Because the last time I was in the ocean, I didn’t know how to swim
  37. When I was little, my parents took me to the airport to watch airplanes take off and land
  38. Even now, I love watching airplanes take off and land
  39. Because they remind me of places far far away
  40. I majored in Psychology
  41. And minored in Asian American Studies
  42. I love to learn
  43. But I hate proving what I’ve learned
  44. I played intramural ultimate frisbee in college.
  45. My friends made me watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show my freshman year in college
  46. I had 12 different roommates in college
  47. I used to skateboard
  48. But I can’t skate nor rollerblade
  49. I’ve held an uzi
  50. And shot a gun
  51. I’ve taken piano lessons, like every other good Chinese kid
  52. I play the guitar
  53. And a little bit of bass
  54. I like to play golf
  55. I can’t wipe the smile off my face when I snowboard
  56. I drive can drive a stick shift
  57. I’ve seen a car flip over 3 times on its side
  58. I’ve been in a car that flipped over on its side
  59. I love dark chocolate
  60. I drink way too much coffee
  61. And not enough water
  62. I enjoy cooking
  63. But hate cleaning up afterwards
  64. I think I have worms because I like to eat so often
  65. I love spicy food
  66. I don’t drink much soda
  67. But if I do, I go for diet because it’s not as sweet
  68. I’ve worked overseas
  69. I’m still a little afraid of the dark
  70. I’ve gone ocean kayaking
  71. I miss mountain biking
  72. I’ve biked in the snow
  73. I love horseback riding
  74. I tried rock climbing
  75. And realized that I’m extremely weak
  76. Which is why I’m studying 詠春, 朱家螳螂, and 陳家太極拳
  77. I’m afraid of heights
  78. But I can ride roller coasters
  79. Except the ones that drop straight down
  80. I haven’t had to stay in the hospital since infancy
  81. I’ve never broken a bone
  82. But I’ve torn a ligament
  83. I had a dog named Gershwin
  84. I ate dog meat when I was in China
  85. I get motion sickness REAL easily
  86. I want to visit the Holy Land
  87. I like falling asleep with the TV on
  88. And I ALWAYS sleep in a fetal position
  89. I’m not afraid of dying
  90. But I’m afraid of suffering
  91. I like scary movies
  92. I’m a gigantic fan of Saturday Night Live
  93. I don’t like taking naps — it feels like I’m wasting the day away.
  94. I like to read
  95. I hate writing
  96. But I love blogging
  97. This website was born November 21, 2001 at 10:54pm
  98. Three different blog engines have powered it: Blogger, Movable Type, and WordPress
  99. I spend too much time on the computer
  100. Working on lame things such as this list

What means repentance?

Personal

Man, I can’t believe it. I set my alarm for the afternoon instead of the morning. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. So I ended up missing church today. Oh well. Got some much needed sleep.

Got this from my devotions for today:

Repentance should be radical and thorough, and the best
repentance for a wrong act is not to do it
again.

Fenelon

Formula: How to know right from wrong

Personal

Excerpt taken from the Pursuit of Holiness:

The formula asks 4 questions based on 3 verses in 1 Corinthians:

1. “‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Question 1: Is it helpful — physically, spiritually, and mentally?
2. “‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Question 2: Does it bring me under its power?
3. “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13). Question 3: Does it hurt others?
4. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Question 4: Does it glorify God?

These questions are so searching, I’m afraid to use them. But we must ask them live the life God wants us to live. ‘Tis tough…

The forums look pretty messed

Personal

The forums look pretty messed up right now, and I haven’t had time to fix them, so I’ve taken the link off these pages. Once again, they will be on hiatus for the time being.

I’ve been reading a lot. Finished God Came Near, and a book called Chasing the Dragon which is about Jackie Pullinger and her ministry to prostitutes, drug addicts, and gang members in the Walled City of Hong Kong. Now I’m reading a fictional book called The Illuminati by Larry Burkett. I guess I’m not exactly wasting my time away, since I’m trying to finish all these books that I’ve bought but never read.