I went to the shoreline baytrail to watch bird today. It's my first official birding experience and I enjoyed it.
We've found: willet, pintail, american avcocet, coot, sandpiper, red tail hawk, seagull, northern shoveler, cavanasback, blackneck xx,
A lot of birds were found today, a unique and unprecedented experience.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Thursday, December 01, 2011
99个宋词常用语 密码在手三秒作诗赋词
99个宋词常用语 密码在手三秒作诗赋词
网友制作的宋词高频词汇和数字代码
1 空 21 一笑 41 深处 61 一片 81 不是
2 东风 22 黄昏 42 时节 62 桃李 82 时候
3 何处 23 当年 43 平生 63 人生 83 肠断
4 人间 24 天涯 44 凄凉 64 十分 84 富贵
5 风流 25 相逢 45 春色 65 心事 85 蓬莱
6 归去 26 芳草 46 匆匆 66 黄花 86 昨夜
7 春风 27 尊前 47 功名 67 一声 87 行人
8 西风 28 一枝 48 一点 68 佳人 88 今夜
9 归来 29 风雨 49 无限 69 长安 89 谁知
10 江南 30 流水 50 今日 70 东君 90 不似
11 相思 31 依旧 51 天上 71 断肠 91 江上
12 梅花 32 风吹 52 杨柳 72 而今 92 悠悠
13 千里 33 风月 53 西湖 73 鸳鸯 93 几度
14 回首 34 多情 54 桃花 74 为谁 94 青山
15 明月 35 故人 55 扁舟 75 十年 95 何时
16 多少 36 当时 56 消息 76 去年 96 天气
17 如今 37 无人 57 憔悴 77 少年 97 惟有
18 阑干 38 斜阳 58 何事 78 海棠 98 一曲
19 年年 39 不知 59 芙蓉 79 寂寞 99 月明
20 万里 40 不见 60 神仙 80 无情 100 往事
It's easy to write your own poem, just choose some random number and select the word from the list.
For example,
网友习作
《清平乐·圆周率》π=3.1415926……
（1415）回首明月，(一看就是抒情诗)
（9265）悠悠心事空，(果然，貌似失恋了)
（358979）故人谁知寂寞。(触景生情)
（323846）风吹斜阳匆匆，(回忆那天下午的艳遇)
（264338）芳草平生斜阳，(平生见过最美的太阳和芳草，都是因为那里有你的身影)
（327950）风吹寂寞今日。(到现在就剩我自己)
（288419）一枝富贵年年，(好花美丽年年开，好景宜人不常在)
（716939）断肠长安不知。(我的思念远方的你可知道)
（注：诗词后为网友配的说明）
《如梦令·根号二》=1.41421356……
（414213）深处时节千里，
（562373）消息当年鸳鸯。
（0950）归来今日，
（488016）一点无情多少。
（8888）今夜，今夜
（724209）而今时节归来。
网友制作的宋词高频词汇和数字代码
1 空 21 一笑 41 深处 61 一片 81 不是
2 东风 22 黄昏 42 时节 62 桃李 82 时候
3 何处 23 当年 43 平生 63 人生 83 肠断
4 人间 24 天涯 44 凄凉 64 十分 84 富贵
5 风流 25 相逢 45 春色 65 心事 85 蓬莱
6 归去 26 芳草 46 匆匆 66 黄花 86 昨夜
7 春风 27 尊前 47 功名 67 一声 87 行人
8 西风 28 一枝 48 一点 68 佳人 88 今夜
9 归来 29 风雨 49 无限 69 长安 89 谁知
10 江南 30 流水 50 今日 70 东君 90 不似
11 相思 31 依旧 51 天上 71 断肠 91 江上
12 梅花 32 风吹 52 杨柳 72 而今 92 悠悠
13 千里 33 风月 53 西湖 73 鸳鸯 93 几度
14 回首 34 多情 54 桃花 74 为谁 94 青山
15 明月 35 故人 55 扁舟 75 十年 95 何时
16 多少 36 当时 56 消息 76 去年 96 天气
17 如今 37 无人 57 憔悴 77 少年 97 惟有
18 阑干 38 斜阳 58 何事 78 海棠 98 一曲
19 年年 39 不知 59 芙蓉 79 寂寞 99 月明
20 万里 40 不见 60 神仙 80 无情 100 往事
It's easy to write your own poem, just choose some random number and select the word from the list.
For example,
网友习作
《清平乐·圆周率》π=3.1415926……
（1415）回首明月，(一看就是抒情诗)
（9265）悠悠心事空，(果然，貌似失恋了)
（358979）故人谁知寂寞。(触景生情)
（323846）风吹斜阳匆匆，(回忆那天下午的艳遇)
（264338）芳草平生斜阳，(平生见过最美的太阳和芳草，都是因为那里有你的身影)
（327950）风吹寂寞今日。(到现在就剩我自己)
（288419）一枝富贵年年，(好花美丽年年开，好景宜人不常在)
（716939）断肠长安不知。(我的思念远方的你可知道)
（注：诗词后为网友配的说明）
《如梦令·根号二》=1.41421356……
（414213）深处时节千里，
（562373）消息当年鸳鸯。
（0950）归来今日，
（488016）一点无情多少。
（8888）今夜，今夜
（724209）而今时节归来。
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Canadian Buy Car in the US
I just came to the US from Canada since Sept. 2011 and I bought my first new car at the end of Oct. with 36 months 0.9% car loan. It's an Acura TSX 2011 model with technology package.
It's not an easy process to get a new car in the US without a credit history, even though I have a good credit history in Canada. I did a lot of research myself and my friend had recommended a company to me for newcomer to the US buy/lease cars in the US. http://www.lionleasing.com
However, I didn't use the service provided by lionleasing as I felt it is too expensive. I decided to try something myself. Lionleasing would be my last resort.
Based on my own succeeded experience, I'd like to provide some info to other new comers. My own experience is based on the assumptions below.
1. You are coming to the US for working, with a valid working/TN visa for couple of years.
2. You plan to buy a new vehicle, maybe an older model, like 2011 at the end of the 2011. Usually car dealers would like to clear their inventory at the end of month/year.
3. You can put about 3-5K downpay.
I did the following things to buy the new vehicle. It's all based on my own experience, and there is no guarantee that they will work for you.
1. Get your SSN, social security number. You can get your SSN as you are coming to work here.
2. Have your offer letter/working contract.
3. Contact several of your local friends, with their name, phone number, and addresses ready. They will be your reference.
4. Prepare your paystubs, local bank account statement, phone/utility bill, apartment/house leasing contract.
5. Do your own research on the vehicle, and choose a model/make within your budget.
6. Okay, now you've done all your homework, you are ready to negotiate with dealers.
7. Send Internet quote request via some big websites. I recommend the us news website. http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/. Choose the car and send quote request via the websites. You may choose several dealers to start, either local or not too far dealers.
8. Usually, after you send out your quote request, you will be contacted by dealers via email/phone. Don't answer the phone, just use email to get some quote, the OTD (Out of the Door) price, with specified year/model/color/optional packages. After you got the first round of emails, you just wait and you may send some thank you letter to dealers, to let them know that you are interested in their cars.
9. Dealers will send you follow up emails. You may wait or further clarify some points with them. Like the leasing/loan interest, down pay etc. No need to mention that you are from Out of the Country. They will give you good rate assuming you have a good credit score in the US.
10. Next, you have to be patient. You may reply some email once a week, keep the dealers know that you are still in the market and you may ask for some better price. Usually, after a month or so, dealers may give your some promotion discount. If you feel the price is within your budget, you got to tell them your concern that you were from Canada and you are really interested in buying the car but no credit history, blah, blah. Car dealers now know that you are serious and you tell them you want to close the deal by the of the month.
In this stage, you have to be candid and clarify your concern with dealers. You may make several phone calls with them. Dealers who want to close the deal will work with their financial department or store manager to get you some feedback. Be sure to get the official email telling you that you can get a low rate for a loan/lease.
11. Then, you'd rent a car and drive to the dealership to inspect the car and buy the car. I recommend Friday night, as dealers will be super busy on weekend usually. Once you get there, with all your preparation, you ask them to give whatever they promised. Usually, it is hard to negotiate the price at the dealership, as they know you really want to close the deal there. Since you have already negotiate the price before you go, you are pretty much set on the price.
Then, you get the deal done. If you have no car insurance, you can ask the deal to pick you up on Saturday morning and you can get the insurance on Saturday morning. For extra service package or options, you showed your interest to the financial manager, but you only choose what you want. Once you said, "No. Let me think another night". You will be there on the weekend to pick up the car and buy the extra stuff. The financial manager will give a huge discount on the frills. You decide if you want to buy or not.
12. Okay, on Saturday, the deal salesman will pick you up and you can drive your car home.
Hope my experience will be useful for Canadian buying cars in the US.
It's not an easy process to get a new car in the US without a credit history, even though I have a good credit history in Canada. I did a lot of research myself and my friend had recommended a company to me for newcomer to the US buy/lease cars in the US. http://www.lionleasing.com
However, I didn't use the service provided by lionleasing as I felt it is too expensive. I decided to try something myself. Lionleasing would be my last resort.
Based on my own succeeded experience, I'd like to provide some info to other new comers. My own experience is based on the assumptions below.
1. You are coming to the US for working, with a valid working/TN visa for couple of years.
2. You plan to buy a new vehicle, maybe an older model, like 2011 at the end of the 2011. Usually car dealers would like to clear their inventory at the end of month/year.
3. You can put about 3-5K downpay.
I did the following things to buy the new vehicle. It's all based on my own experience, and there is no guarantee that they will work for you.
1. Get your SSN, social security number. You can get your SSN as you are coming to work here.
2. Have your offer letter/working contract.
3. Contact several of your local friends, with their name, phone number, and addresses ready. They will be your reference.
4. Prepare your paystubs, local bank account statement, phone/utility bill, apartment/house leasing contract.
5. Do your own research on the vehicle, and choose a model/make within your budget.
6. Okay, now you've done all your homework, you are ready to negotiate with dealers.
7. Send Internet quote request via some big websites. I recommend the us news website. http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/. Choose the car and send quote request via the websites. You may choose several dealers to start, either local or not too far dealers.
8. Usually, after you send out your quote request, you will be contacted by dealers via email/phone. Don't answer the phone, just use email to get some quote, the OTD (Out of the Door) price, with specified year/model/color/optional packages. After you got the first round of emails, you just wait and you may send some thank you letter to dealers, to let them know that you are interested in their cars.
9. Dealers will send you follow up emails. You may wait or further clarify some points with them. Like the leasing/loan interest, down pay etc. No need to mention that you are from Out of the Country. They will give you good rate assuming you have a good credit score in the US.
10. Next, you have to be patient. You may reply some email once a week, keep the dealers know that you are still in the market and you may ask for some better price. Usually, after a month or so, dealers may give your some promotion discount. If you feel the price is within your budget, you got to tell them your concern that you were from Canada and you are really interested in buying the car but no credit history, blah, blah. Car dealers now know that you are serious and you tell them you want to close the deal by the of the month.
In this stage, you have to be candid and clarify your concern with dealers. You may make several phone calls with them. Dealers who want to close the deal will work with their financial department or store manager to get you some feedback. Be sure to get the official email telling you that you can get a low rate for a loan/lease.
11. Then, you'd rent a car and drive to the dealership to inspect the car and buy the car. I recommend Friday night, as dealers will be super busy on weekend usually. Once you get there, with all your preparation, you ask them to give whatever they promised. Usually, it is hard to negotiate the price at the dealership, as they know you really want to close the deal there. Since you have already negotiate the price before you go, you are pretty much set on the price.
Then, you get the deal done. If you have no car insurance, you can ask the deal to pick you up on Saturday morning and you can get the insurance on Saturday morning. For extra service package or options, you showed your interest to the financial manager, but you only choose what you want. Once you said, "No. Let me think another night". You will be there on the weekend to pick up the car and buy the extra stuff. The financial manager will give a huge discount on the frills. You decide if you want to buy or not.
12. Okay, on Saturday, the deal salesman will pick you up and you can drive your car home.
Hope my experience will be useful for Canadian buying cars in the US.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
CIBC Sucks!!
This following is the letter I wrote my branch manager recently. I have to say CIBC sucks!! It's so stupid to be a loyal customer of CIBC. Let me escape from it.
-------------
Hi, xxx,
This is Hao Chen. I want to check the status of my refinance mortgage application for my property of xXx.
I came to you on March and April for this mortgage refinance. You guys told me there is no problem and I just need to wait and wait.
However, I haven't yet got it approved till today, even after my original mortgage was expired.
I have to pay the ridiculously high interest of 6 months fixed open mortgage imposed to me by CIBC.
I called CIBC mortgage center. They told me that I must get the new mortgage via the branch, thus I have no other choices.
Now, I am very anxious and disappointed about the efficiency and effectiveness of doing mortgage with CIBC.
I want to switch another financial institution for mortgage.
I am thinking of selling that property next year, too.
So, I just want the open variable mortgage, aka. prime rate.
I've sent an email to ABC last Friday and haven't yet heard back a single word from him.
I don't want anything special. I just want an open variable mortgage for this property.
I urge you to give me some feedback asap regarding the status of the application.
It's so stupid to wait in the black for such an easy application.
I was very patient and trust CIBC fully. Now I've lost my patience and my temper as well.
Thanks for your patience when you can read till this far.
--------------
Sucks CIBC. I am so mad MAD mad at CIBC.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Greedy CIBC!!
CIBC is so greedy! They are gouging you!
If you have a mortgage with CIBC, and while the mortgage is expired, CIBC will automatically renew your mortgage with a 6 months fixed rate open mortgage, if you forgot to respond their renew letter for whatever reason. The interest on this mortgage is almost the highest among most of the open mortgage. It usually prime + 4%.
Other financial institutions will just renew your mortgage on the variable open term, which is just prime rate.
It's ridiculous that CIBC has such an insane policy to renew your mortgage in this way.
CIBC is so greedy! Greedy CIBC! They just want to make money, without any consideration of their clients.
I highly recommend NO CIBC at all. I am going to transfer all my accounts in CIBC to other banks!
If you have a mortgage with CIBC, and while the mortgage is expired, CIBC will automatically renew your mortgage with a 6 months fixed rate open mortgage, if you forgot to respond their renew letter for whatever reason. The interest on this mortgage is almost the highest among most of the open mortgage. It usually prime + 4%.
Other financial institutions will just renew your mortgage on the variable open term, which is just prime rate.
It's ridiculous that CIBC has such an insane policy to renew your mortgage in this way.
CIBC is so greedy! Greedy CIBC! They just want to make money, without any consideration of their clients.
I highly recommend NO CIBC at all. I am going to transfer all my accounts in CIBC to other banks!
Friday, June 03, 2011
Rental dispute
We have rented out our condo on Burnaby mountain for another year from July. There was a dispute pending resolution. A FIC student signed the lease with us, but she didn't want to rent just one week after. That left us only two weeks to rent the condo for June and we had a loss of one month rent.
We had to apply for a resolution from BC Tenant Court. The student has to pay at least one month rent to cover our loss and we may seek more money as penalty.
This gives a lesson on the rent of condo.
The first, we should ask for one month rental when we sign the lease with tenants. This gives us at least some security if the tenants want to break the lease before they moved in.
The second, we have to be care when choosing tenants. Usually, students lease the two bedroom condo to share with their friend. If the friendship was fragile, they may break the lease or won't continue the lease after one year. Therefore, it would be better to rent to long time friends or a couple. Also, usually girls may be hard to get along and tended to cease the lease after a year. Boys may be more accommodating and may continue to lease the condo after one year.
The third, we should add some penalty terms in the lease, even though we are using the lease template provided by the BC government. It is always a better protection for landlord to have some penalty terms.
We had to apply for a resolution from BC Tenant Court. The student has to pay at least one month rent to cover our loss and we may seek more money as penalty.
This gives a lesson on the rent of condo.
The first, we should ask for one month rental when we sign the lease with tenants. This gives us at least some security if the tenants want to break the lease before they moved in.
The second, we have to be care when choosing tenants. Usually, students lease the two bedroom condo to share with their friend. If the friendship was fragile, they may break the lease or won't continue the lease after one year. Therefore, it would be better to rent to long time friends or a couple. Also, usually girls may be hard to get along and tended to cease the lease after a year. Boys may be more accommodating and may continue to lease the condo after one year.
The third, we should add some penalty terms in the lease, even though we are using the lease template provided by the BC government. It is always a better protection for landlord to have some penalty terms.
Invasion of Raccoon
We have successfully defended our home from the invasion of a family of raccoon this week.
The invasion might have started in the winter time. The door of the small secondary shed on the side yard was accidentally opened in the summer/fall time. The raccoon mother found this cozy and warm place in the winter time and decided to occupy it.
This Monday, my father happened to find the raccoon mother sneaked into the side yard and disappeared. He doubted that it may have entered the shed. When I opened the door of the shed and to my surprise, the raccoon mother and four raccoon babies were sleeping there.
We were scared in the beginning, as they may be a threaten to our little daughter. My parents called 911 and policeman came by. However, they can't do anything with the raccoons. So, my father decided to defend our side yard ourselves.
My father caught the four baby raccoon and put them in the park couple of hundred meters away from our home, when raccoon mother left. The raccoon mother came back to the shed and found no babies. She decided to stay in our side yard. We were scared more. Raccoon mother was trying to get into the shed even though we have closed the door. She tried to dig a hole from the ground, regardless of the rock and pebble we put there.
The following several days, the raccoon mother frequently visited our side yard and stayed there almost every night. After a week, finally, she seemed left our side yard at night. We don't know if she had found the baby raccoons, but we are somehow relived a little bit.
The defence is not over yet, but the invasion seemed stopped.
Friday, January 21, 2011
A very good article to discredit Chinese Traditional Medicine
I don't believe the Traditional Chinese Medicine. This article just provides me some evidence.
http://xys.org/xys/ebooks/others/science/dajia12/zhongyi2942.txt
http://xys.org/xys/ebooks/others/science/dajia12/zhongyi2942.txt
Monday, January 17, 2011
当我老了请理解我
Found this poem online. When you have kids, you start to love your parents more.
当我老了，不再是原来的我。 请理解我，对我有一点耐心。 当我把菜汤洒到自己的衣服上时，当我忘记怎样系鞋带时， 请想一想当初我是如何手把手地教你。 当我一遍又一遍地重复你早已听腻的话语， 请耐心地听我说，不要打断我。 你小的时候，我不得不重复那个讲过千百遍的故事，直到你进入梦乡。 当我需要你帮我洗澡时， 请不要责备我。 还记得小时候我千方百计哄你洗澡的情形吗？ 当我对新科技和新事物不知所措时， 请不要嘲笑我。 想一想当初我怎样耐心地回答你的每一个「为什么」。 当我老了因疲劳而无法行走时， 请伸出你年轻有力的手搀扶我。 就像你小时候学习走路时，我扶你那样。 当我忽然忘记我们谈话的主题， 请给我一些时间让我回想。 其实对我来说，谈论什么并不重要，只要你能在一旁听我说，我就很满足。 当你看著老去的我，请不要悲伤。 理解我，支持我，就像你刚才开始学习如何生活时我对你那样。 当初我引导你走上人生路，如今请陪伴我走完最后的路。 给我你的爱和耐心，我会抱以感激的微笑，这微笑中凝结著我对你无限的爱。
Thursday, January 06, 2011
新闻联播30年超浓缩精华:经网友总结仅20句话《转载》
1.今天是____年__月__日，农历_______，距离______还有_____天。今天节目的主要内容有：_____、_____、______。下面请听详细内容。
2.____在钓鱼台国宾馆亲切会见了____，双方进行了亲切友好的会谈。____高度赞赏了____,并对____一贯坚持“一个中国”的原则表示感谢。
3.____出访____，会见了____，_______高度赞扬中__两国关系，对____表示欢迎，并强烈谴责了___国家____的做法。
4.______会议在北京隆重召开。_____致开幕词。____以____票支持、0票反对、1票弃权通过一项____决议。
5.外交部发言人____就____发表声明，对____表示遗憾，提出**，并将继续关注。
6.______就____向______致慰问电，对_____表达诚挚哀悼.
7.“__五”期间，我国____重点工程，突破____课题，创造效益____，实现利税____。
8.______在____的陪同下，不远万里，来到_____家中，为_____带来了节日的祝福和良好的祝愿，并饶有兴致的观看了_____。____握着___的手激动的说_______。M
9.____省____市____县____村加强学习“____”的重要精神，切实为农民办好事，办实事。情为民所系，利为民所谋。一年内共解决_____农民的实际问题，受到农民的好评。
10.____海关加大打击contraband力度，破获一起特大contraband案件，查获____共____件，价值人民币____万元。
11.今天是____日，各地群众、学生纷纷走上街头，宣传普及____知识，加强____教育。
12.____事件的原因已经查明，有关责任人已被刑事拘留。
13.今天是____诞辰____周年，____举行座谈会，深入探讨____，缅怀这位____家。
14.本台短评：中国________受到各国称赞，________行为不得民心。
15.____国群众不满____，举行**示丶威活动。骚丶乱已持续_____天。
16._____国发生_______级开心，目前已造成______人伤亡。我国已派出______人救援队前往救援.
17._____国发生_______特大飓风，_____人受灾，直接经济损失达_________美元。
18.____，____，请看今晚19点38分播出的《焦点访谈》节目。
19.中国＿＿的优秀＿员，久经考验的忠诚的＿＿战士，无产阶级＿＿家、＿＿家、＿＿家，我国杰出的＿＿＿，原＿＿＿，＿＿＿，＿＿＿，＿＿＿＿＿＿**，于＿＿＿年＿＿月＿＿日＿＿时＿＿分在北京逝世，享年＿＿岁。
20.联播节目播送完了，谢谢您的收看。
2.____在钓鱼台国宾馆亲切会见了____，双方进行了亲切友好的会谈。____高度赞赏了____,并对____一贯坚持“一个中国”的原则表示感谢。
3.____出访____，会见了____，_______高度赞扬中__两国关系，对____表示欢迎，并强烈谴责了___国家____的做法。
4.______会议在北京隆重召开。_____致开幕词。____以____票支持、0票反对、1票弃权通过一项____决议。
5.外交部发言人____就____发表声明，对____表示遗憾，提出**，并将继续关注。
6.______就____向______致慰问电，对_____表达诚挚哀悼.
7.“__五”期间，我国____重点工程，突破____课题，创造效益____，实现利税____。
8.______在____的陪同下，不远万里，来到_____家中，为_____带来了节日的祝福和良好的祝愿，并饶有兴致的观看了_____。____握着___的手激动的说_______。M
9.____省____市____县____村加强学习“____”的重要精神，切实为农民办好事，办实事。情为民所系，利为民所谋。一年内共解决_____农民的实际问题，受到农民的好评。
10.____海关加大打击contraband力度，破获一起特大contraband案件，查获____共____件，价值人民币____万元。
11.今天是____日，各地群众、学生纷纷走上街头，宣传普及____知识，加强____教育。
12.____事件的原因已经查明，有关责任人已被刑事拘留。
13.今天是____诞辰____周年，____举行座谈会，深入探讨____，缅怀这位____家。
14.本台短评：中国________受到各国称赞，________行为不得民心。
15.____国群众不满____，举行**示丶威活动。骚丶乱已持续_____天。
16._____国发生_______级开心，目前已造成______人伤亡。我国已派出______人救援队前往救援.
17._____国发生_______特大飓风，_____人受灾，直接经济损失达_________美元。
18.____，____，请看今晚19点38分播出的《焦点访谈》节目。
19.中国＿＿的优秀＿员，久经考验的忠诚的＿＿战士，无产阶级＿＿家、＿＿家、＿＿家，我国杰出的＿＿＿，原＿＿＿，＿＿＿，＿＿＿，＿＿＿＿＿＿**，于＿＿＿年＿＿月＿＿日＿＿时＿＿分在北京逝世，享年＿＿岁。
20.联播节目播送完了，谢谢您的收看。
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
menu system on iPad for high end restaurant
I read the following report about high end restaurant using iPad to display interactive menu system for ordering. I had exactly the same business idea last year when iPad was released. Seemed not a bad idea as restaurants are already utilizing the power of multimedia menu system.
http://mitbbs.com/news_wenzhang/ScitechNews/31194429.html
It could be good niche market for iPad app development.
http://mitbbs.com/news_wenzhang/ScitechNews/31194429.html
It could be good niche market for iPad app development.
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