Monday, December 31, 2007
Nay Dec. speed record
P1 Dec speed tied Aug. record. and we were slowing down a bit when we were in the hay this morning, not feeling good........
Should I get one of those?
Jacoby Ellsbury: A former Beaver wins a World Series ring for himself, and free tacos for everybody else
NY Times Square ball 'goes green'
Video games make history in 2007, I wish I got a DS. Oh well.
Hong Kong shares end year up 39%, it's a risky market, watch it!
Calif. man saves year's-worth of trash and his blog. He kept dental floss, condoms but not the toilet papers. He is not crazy, he was trying to prove a point. He is kind of cute and he is not a blondie.
The climate threat to Japanese rice
Hong Kong to elect leader by 2017
Ball game at China-Japan summit
三國之見龍卸甲 華仔自詡 現代趙雲
Hello Kitty turns attention to young men, anyone want a kitty, Daniel?
Most Literate U.S. Cities: Minneapolis and Seattle
中國競爭力城市 港續居冠
聯國專家﹕暖化只有低估沒有誇大
有否暖化 惹火學者掀激辯 窮追猛打戈爾 環保分子頭號敵人
靚人有數 《經濟學人》專題 美醜與成功有密切關係
聘請員工美醜定成敗
Hong Kong government to introduce bill that includes a plastic shopping bag levy among other eco-friendly measures; aims to reduce distribution of plastic bags by 50%, go PAPER!
Japanese PM to boost China ties
Singapore takes stake in Merrill, aother one of these after the Chinese put in billions into Morgan Stanley.
Trail Blazers extend streak to 11, GO Blazers!
Winners and losers in salary game. Salary outlook for 2008? Not great, unless you're a top-performing executive
Nalgene樽 疑含致癌物
星洲樓價升幅冠全球 港排第八
社交網愈專愈受追捧 專門興趣網站 主導社交網發展
It's not what you think, Don't be lonely at Christmas time
Paper gives 'anti-endorsement' to Romney
NY Times Square ball 'goes green'
Video games make history in 2007, I wish I got a DS. Oh well.
Hong Kong shares end year up 39%, it's a risky market, watch it!
Calif. man saves year's-worth of trash and his blog. He kept dental floss, condoms but not the toilet papers. He is not crazy, he was trying to prove a point. He is kind of cute and he is not a blondie.
The climate threat to Japanese rice
Hong Kong to elect leader by 2017
Ball game at China-Japan summit
三國之見龍卸甲 華仔自詡 現代趙雲
Hello Kitty turns attention to young men, anyone want a kitty, Daniel?
Most Literate U.S. Cities: Minneapolis and Seattle
中國競爭力城市 港續居冠
聯國專家﹕暖化只有低估沒有誇大
有否暖化 惹火學者掀激辯 窮追猛打戈爾 環保分子頭號敵人
靚人有數 《經濟學人》專題 美醜與成功有密切關係
聘請員工美醜定成敗
Hong Kong government to introduce bill that includes a plastic shopping bag levy among other eco-friendly measures; aims to reduce distribution of plastic bags by 50%, go PAPER!
Japanese PM to boost China ties
Singapore takes stake in Merrill, aother one of these after the Chinese put in billions into Morgan Stanley.
Trail Blazers extend streak to 11, GO Blazers!
Winners and losers in salary game. Salary outlook for 2008? Not great, unless you're a top-performing executive
Nalgene樽 疑含致癌物
星洲樓價升幅冠全球 港排第八
社交網愈專愈受追捧 專門興趣網站 主導社交網發展
It's not what you think, Don't be lonely at Christmas time
Paper gives 'anti-endorsement' to Romney
6.50 USD, 60 HKD wonton noodle with 燒味
雲吞叉燒
雲吞燒鴨
Miss J & Boringfish got rejuvenated by yummy food and after-xmas sales! HappyFish have a very spendy 4th qrt. in 2007! Oh my. Comestic, purses, shoes, clothes... oh my. Shop Shop Shop.. ^0^! Got to stop spending, start paying bills and build some reserve for the some hefty traveling plans.
雲吞燒鴨
Miss J & Boringfish got rejuvenated by yummy food and after-xmas sales! HappyFish have a very spendy 4th qrt. in 2007! Oh my. Comestic, purses, shoes, clothes... oh my. Shop Shop Shop.. ^0^! Got to stop spending, start paying bills and build some reserve for the some hefty traveling plans.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Year end
Bye bye 2007 , here comes 2008!
The highlights of my last 5 weeks at work
Week52
We made it, 4500 baby, being a speed freak, maybe I can squeeze in one more speed record before the year end. For the first time, P1 is going faster than P3. WOW, that's something. I met a potential intern that and learned a lot about RFID.
Week51
I went thru a 3 days leadership program, now I can start achieving results thru others. And this week, I had a last shutdown of year.
Week50
Pub grade got us a brief excitement/hope of 4505, I don’t ask for much. A trip to Nike campus bought me tears, nope, not for the check marked shoes and apparel, but there is something very comforting when you are in a room, surrounded by others aliked, I was feeling it, weird to say.
Week49
Meetings, meetings, meetings.
Meeting with crews about “the state of emergency”, meeting about raw materials, meetings with new chemical vendors, meeting with existing chemical vendors, meeting to shop for xmas party.
Week48
Coming back from a 3 weeks vacation is tough. It’s not about the lack of drive or motivation. It is about work again. I am recharged and ready for any challenges that my managers are giving me but I found them all, sitting on my desk, waiting for me.
It was hard to deal with what others left for me. The nice way to say “clean up other/my mess“. They are slimy and holey. Oct. was a bad month and Nov was all about performance correction before we went any further. Putting out fires was no fun. On the bright side, Jap. Pub is on the horizons, having my fingers cross to see Mt. Fuji.
The highlights of my last 5 weeks at work
Week52
We made it, 4500 baby, being a speed freak, maybe I can squeeze in one more speed record before the year end. For the first time, P1 is going faster than P3. WOW, that's something. I met a potential intern that and learned a lot about RFID.
Week51
I went thru a 3 days leadership program, now I can start achieving results thru others. And this week, I had a last shutdown of year.
Week50
Pub grade got us a brief excitement/hope of 4505, I don’t ask for much. A trip to Nike campus bought me tears, nope, not for the check marked shoes and apparel, but there is something very comforting when you are in a room, surrounded by others aliked, I was feeling it, weird to say.
Week49
Meetings, meetings, meetings.
Meeting with crews about “the state of emergency”, meeting about raw materials, meetings with new chemical vendors, meeting with existing chemical vendors, meeting to shop for xmas party.
Week48
Coming back from a 3 weeks vacation is tough. It’s not about the lack of drive or motivation. It is about work again. I am recharged and ready for any challenges that my managers are giving me but I found them all, sitting on my desk, waiting for me.
It was hard to deal with what others left for me. The nice way to say “clean up other/my mess“. They are slimy and holey. Oct. was a bad month and Nov was all about performance correction before we went any further. Putting out fires was no fun. On the bright side, Jap. Pub is on the horizons, having my fingers cross to see Mt. Fuji.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas day
Dim Sum
Snowing
Presents
Beaver Throw with funny doggie
The days are counting down to Ft. Mac.
Snowing
Presents
Beaver Throw with funny doggie
The days are counting down to Ft. Mac.
Thank you & Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to families & friends !Thank you to those that sent me txtmsgs. Thanks you all: Scott, Tod, Aaron, Miss J, Miss Sarah & Lawrence.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Mikes Buck
It's Christmas eve, and few of us, the dedicated souls are still at the office working (& playing & talking) hard. We are also looking for fish and cookies. No luck so far.
I am cheering on 4500 all morning with my head and arms up high (no poms-poms)...and actually 4506/7/8 to be exact. So proud! We are unstoppable!
Manpower wise, P3 is outnumbered by P1 & P2. P2 started with 5 smarty pants and they slowly decided to go home to sing some Christmas carols this morning, P1 has 4 smarty pants and we are going strong in the battle of working and P3 only has 1. P1 World domination! Ok now I am being silly.
Mikes Buck is the newest team member at Specialty.
Mikes and BoringFish are buds, we are rocking on Christmas eve day.
I am cheering on 4500 all morning with my head and arms up high (no poms-poms)...and actually 4506/7/8 to be exact. So proud! We are unstoppable!
Manpower wise, P3 is outnumbered by P1 & P2. P2 started with 5 smarty pants and they slowly decided to go home to sing some Christmas carols this morning, P1 has 4 smarty pants and we are going strong in the battle of working and P3 only has 1. P1 World domination! Ok now I am being silly.
Mikes Buck is the newest team member at Specialty.
Mikes and BoringFish are buds, we are rocking on Christmas eve day.
For those who missed it: I present u: The hungry gang (some are very -OH thirty)
The turnout was small but manageable for BoringFish=GrumpyFish was very nervous with all these other habitants in her aquarium. Overall, the evening went well and everyone went home happy. Grandma, being a linguist, even showed off her Japanese skills. I was bewildered.
Grandma playing mahjong
Many thanks to Miss J, she did a lot to get the evening organized.
The FOOD, looks so pretty and yummy!
Ayako, Elephant man Yosuke and Duckboy
BoringFish was playing 麻雀
Big group pic
I was told that a 2nd party got started at mill-city with more hoppy drinks and drunk singing till the owl hours! HAHA
Grandma playing mahjong
Many thanks to Miss J, she did a lot to get the evening organized.
The FOOD, looks so pretty and yummy!
Ayako, Elephant man Yosuke and Duckboy
BoringFish was playing 麻雀
Big group pic
I was told that a 2nd party got started at mill-city with more hoppy drinks and drunk singing till the owl hours! HAHA
Sunday, December 23, 2007
What is he thinking?
2007 Concert
I don't know about the costume but great web site!!!
Maybe he will have a North American tour in 2008, well, I can hope, see this article.
有線娛樂台 華仔2007香港演唱會記者會
I don't know about the costume but great web site!!!Maybe he will have a North American tour in 2008, well, I can hope, see this article.
有線娛樂台 華仔2007香港演唱會記者會
Friday, December 21, 2007
Pasta Dinner
HK & USA Xmas
One of the holiday food station at work, yum
Fun fUn fuN
I am getting ready for my weekend fun! First, hang out with Miss J tonite! Then tomorrow, dinner party at my crib. I am so TENSE.......so much to do to get ready....
Fun fUn fuN
I am getting ready for my weekend fun! First, hang out with Miss J tonite! Then tomorrow, dinner party at my crib. I am so TENSE.......so much to do to get ready....
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Can they stop? This time in Mass. USA, Canada, Finland & Austria.
Mill's death hitting home: Recent shutdown of MeadWestvaco begins a difficult new chapter for former employees
UPM continues measures to improve profitability; Company removes significant capacity in magazine and newsprint, the reduction of 250,000 tonnes of newsprint capacity through the temporary shutdown of one paper machine in Kajaani, Finland, for ten months, and one machine in Steyrermuhl, Austria, for two months. 500 people will be out of job in Canada as the removal of 450,000 tonnes of magazine paper capacity by permanently closing the Miramichi paper mill.
UPM continues measures to improve profitability; Company removes significant capacity in magazine and newsprint, the reduction of 250,000 tonnes of newsprint capacity through the temporary shutdown of one paper machine in Kajaani, Finland, for ten months, and one machine in Steyrermuhl, Austria, for two months. 500 people will be out of job in Canada as the removal of 450,000 tonnes of magazine paper capacity by permanently closing the Miramichi paper mill.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Highlight from the feast:
Beaver believer and his crabs
Doggies and the crabs
Family Iron Chef
The family
Tug of war between the Es
Emily is ready to fly off the couch
Doggies and the crabs
Family Iron Chef
The family
Tug of war between the Es
Emily is ready to fly off the couch
Saturday Feast
MENU:
Fujianese wonton soup
Fuzhou style rice vineager Halibut
Steamed dungeness crab
Beef with steam broccoli
Prawn with mango salsa
Steak house grilled sirloin
Fujianese wonton soup
Fuzhou style rice vineager Halibut
Steamed dungeness crab
Beef with steam broccoli
Prawn with mango salsa
Steak house grilled sirloin
Friday, December 14, 2007
Industrial update at Week 50, more happy & sad news!
We met finally! Happy Retirement,G!!! (BoringFish/G/CougarsProjEng)
Domtar to reduce paper making capacity: Over 600 jobs at Port Edwards, Wisconsin mill & Dryden, Ontario mill will be affected.
Daniel S. Fulton Elected President, Weyerhaeuser Company
Domtar to reduce paper making capacity: Over 600 jobs at Port Edwards, Wisconsin mill & Dryden, Ontario mill will be affected.
Daniel S. Fulton Elected President, Weyerhaeuser Company
Week 50
逾四成新人「兩個夠晒數」
港人愈來愈遲婚
I love Weetabix, I ate it 3X this week for breakfast, healthy and filling!
Nanking, the film from Sundance Festival
Nanjing remembers massacre victims
California, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico sign historic water pact, well, I think the Colorado River will be swallow soon!
Magma May Be Melting Greenland Ice
Dow Jones Shareholders OK News Corp. Bid, WS Journal changed hand.
最長壽的香港人110歲人瑞逝世, 人瑞神父辭世 修院電話錄音免煩擾
The 53 Places to Go in 2008, according to NY Times.
Row over China tiger photo 'fakes'
Chinese children die in jade rush
View from Weyerhaeuser's chief economist
Arctic summers ice-free 'by 2013', where will the polar bears be?
HK head submits democracy report
Japan admits to lost pension mess, can you imagine losing your retirement when you are 60?
US and China clash on currencies
Fujimori jailed for abusing power
科大EMBA課程 全球稱冠; Hm, I need to look into this eMBA program!
地中海食物 魚菜多助延壽
每月餓一天 心臟更健康
近5000年大遷徒 人類進化加速百倍 基因差異擴大 亞非歐人種分別愈顯
布殊在位7年爭議不斷，拒絕大幅減排溫室氣體，連前聯儲局主席格林斯潘也指他是為石油利益入侵伊拉克 。印度議員德什潘德給布殊送贈的「七宗罪卷軸」，正是印度聖雄甘地對現代世界的批判，這七宗罪包括﹕沒有原則的政治、沒有工作的富裕、沒有良心的享樂、沒有人格的知識、沒有道德的商業、沒有人性的科學，以及不講奉獻的宗教。這份卷軸禮物價值不足7美元（55港元），正好是每條「罪狀」1美元！
US orchestra to make N Korea trip
How secure is your food supply?
Low faith in biofuels for climate
Flexible work life good for your health: study
Eating Lots of Meats Linked to a Number of Cancers, Chinese verison: 吃肉太多 增患肺癌風險
Report: Development harming Tibet
Voyager 2 finds solar system is uneven
Columbia River Pollution May Cause ‘River Nose’, many of us from the NW have "the r-nose".
Green Energy Resources (GRGR) Lands 5-Year $144 Million Sale to Export Woodchips to China
The struggle for media freedom
Gore climate plea to US and China
P&G Will Build Plant in Utah (silicon=sand)
港人愈來愈遲婚
I love Weetabix, I ate it 3X this week for breakfast, healthy and filling!
Nanking, the film from Sundance Festival
Nanjing remembers massacre victims
California, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico sign historic water pact, well, I think the Colorado River will be swallow soon!
Magma May Be Melting Greenland Ice
Dow Jones Shareholders OK News Corp. Bid, WS Journal changed hand.
最長壽的香港人110歲人瑞逝世, 人瑞神父辭世 修院電話錄音免煩擾
The 53 Places to Go in 2008, according to NY Times.
Row over China tiger photo 'fakes'
Chinese children die in jade rush
View from Weyerhaeuser's chief economist
Arctic summers ice-free 'by 2013', where will the polar bears be?
HK head submits democracy report
Japan admits to lost pension mess, can you imagine losing your retirement when you are 60?
US and China clash on currencies
Fujimori jailed for abusing power
科大EMBA課程 全球稱冠; Hm, I need to look into this eMBA program!
地中海食物 魚菜多助延壽
每月餓一天 心臟更健康
近5000年大遷徒 人類進化加速百倍 基因差異擴大 亞非歐人種分別愈顯
布殊在位7年爭議不斷，拒絕大幅減排溫室氣體，連前聯儲局主席格林斯潘也指他是為石油利益入侵伊拉克 。印度議員德什潘德給布殊送贈的「七宗罪卷軸」，正是印度聖雄甘地對現代世界的批判，這七宗罪包括﹕沒有原則的政治、沒有工作的富裕、沒有良心的享樂、沒有人格的知識、沒有道德的商業、沒有人性的科學，以及不講奉獻的宗教。這份卷軸禮物價值不足7美元（55港元），正好是每條「罪狀」1美元！
US orchestra to make N Korea trip
How secure is your food supply?
Low faith in biofuels for climate
Flexible work life good for your health: study
Eating Lots of Meats Linked to a Number of Cancers, Chinese verison: 吃肉太多 增患肺癌風險
Report: Development harming Tibet
Voyager 2 finds solar system is uneven
Columbia River Pollution May Cause ‘River Nose’, many of us from the NW have "the r-nose".
Green Energy Resources (GRGR) Lands 5-Year $144 Million Sale to Export Woodchips to China
The struggle for media freedom
Gore climate plea to US and China
P&G Will Build Plant in Utah (silicon=sand)
《時代》評選10大科學發現 幹細胞突破居首
今年是科學界豐收的一年，美國 最新一期《時代》雜誌選出本年度「十大科學及自然發現」，表揚科學家研究抗癌、糖尿病 及癡肥等取得的顯著成就，其中幹細胞研究最近因取得突破性發展，令人類毋須複製胚胎，即可「仿製」幹細胞，令有關研究榮登十大科學發現榜首。
1)幹細胞研究突破
美日科學家上月宣布，成功利用人類皮膚細胞「仿製」出具備胚胎幹細胞功能的幹細胞，並以此培育出心臟及腦細胞，促進培育可移植器官的研究，避開胚胎幹細胞研究的道德爭議。此外，美國俄勒岡州健康和科學大學的研究小組宣布，首次成功複製出獼猴胚胎，並抽取胚胎幹細胞，使科學界在複製人類胚胎、提取幹細胞作治療用途邁進一步。
2)破譯「個人版」基因圖譜
有「科學怪人」之稱的美國科學家文特爾（J. Craig Venter）和研究小組9月時，公開文氏本人的雙倍體基因序列，即遺傳自父母的兩套染色體的完整版基因排序，是迄今首份個人版全基因組圖譜，使人類向「醫療個人化」邁進。
3)觀察最亮超新星
美國天文學家今年中宣布，以Ｘ射線太空望遠鏡，觀測到迄今最大、最光亮的超新星爆炸。爆炸的超新星原是質量為太陽100至200倍的恆星SN2006gy，它在死亡時爆炸，並轉化為黑洞。
4)發現新物種
德國科學家5月時在《自然》雜誌公布，在南極深海發現巨型海蜘蛛等逾700個新物種，在南美洲蘇里南亦發現24個新物種。此外，在越南安南山脈的「綠色走廊」（Green Corridor）發現了12種蘭花、蝴蝶等；台灣海域發現新品種海參。
5)培育心臟瓣膜
英國科學家年初成功利用骨髓幹細胞，培育出人體心臟瓣膜組織，若能成功通過動物測試，估計可望於3至5年內應用於人體移植。
6)發現「熱木星」
英國科學家10月在搜索太陽系以外的類地行星時，發現3顆「熱木星」型的太陽系外行星。它們的大小近似木星，因軌道接近它們的太陽，表面溫度高達2000℃。
7)發現似鳥恐龍
中國科學家6月宣布，在內蒙發現距今有7000萬年歷史的巨型似鳥恐龍骨骼化石，其肢幹修長，具鳥類特質，被命名為二連巨盜龍。
8)證實人類源自非洲
考古學家今年初對1952年南非出土的古人類頭骨化石（圖）重新分析，發現化石距今有3.6萬年歷史，證實現代人類在大約6.5萬年前至2.5萬年前走出非洲，是迄今「走出非洲」理論的首個化石證據。
9)發現最老生物
英國科學家10月時在冰島海域發現一隻已有405歲的蚌（Arctica Atlantica），相信是迄今發現到最長壽的動物。但科學家要卻要把老蚌殺掉，才能憑甲殼的紋理確定其歲數。
10)發現超人「氪石」
地質學家4月時在塞爾維亞發現一種白色粉末狀的礦石，經鑑定發現其化學成分與電影《超人》中描述的「超人剋星」——綠色發光礦石「氪石」（一種鈉鋰硼的硅酸鹽氫氧化物）近似。
1)幹細胞研究突破
美日科學家上月宣布，成功利用人類皮膚細胞「仿製」出具備胚胎幹細胞功能的幹細胞，並以此培育出心臟及腦細胞，促進培育可移植器官的研究，避開胚胎幹細胞研究的道德爭議。此外，美國俄勒岡州健康和科學大學的研究小組宣布，首次成功複製出獼猴胚胎，並抽取胚胎幹細胞，使科學界在複製人類胚胎、提取幹細胞作治療用途邁進一步。
2)破譯「個人版」基因圖譜
有「科學怪人」之稱的美國科學家文特爾（J. Craig Venter）和研究小組9月時，公開文氏本人的雙倍體基因序列，即遺傳自父母的兩套染色體的完整版基因排序，是迄今首份個人版全基因組圖譜，使人類向「醫療個人化」邁進。
3)觀察最亮超新星
美國天文學家今年中宣布，以Ｘ射線太空望遠鏡，觀測到迄今最大、最光亮的超新星爆炸。爆炸的超新星原是質量為太陽100至200倍的恆星SN2006gy，它在死亡時爆炸，並轉化為黑洞。
4)發現新物種
德國科學家5月時在《自然》雜誌公布，在南極深海發現巨型海蜘蛛等逾700個新物種，在南美洲蘇里南亦發現24個新物種。此外，在越南安南山脈的「綠色走廊」（Green Corridor）發現了12種蘭花、蝴蝶等；台灣海域發現新品種海參。
5)培育心臟瓣膜
英國科學家年初成功利用骨髓幹細胞，培育出人體心臟瓣膜組織，若能成功通過動物測試，估計可望於3至5年內應用於人體移植。
6)發現「熱木星」
英國科學家10月在搜索太陽系以外的類地行星時，發現3顆「熱木星」型的太陽系外行星。它們的大小近似木星，因軌道接近它們的太陽，表面溫度高達2000℃。
7)發現似鳥恐龍
中國科學家6月宣布，在內蒙發現距今有7000萬年歷史的巨型似鳥恐龍骨骼化石，其肢幹修長，具鳥類特質，被命名為二連巨盜龍。
8)證實人類源自非洲
考古學家今年初對1952年南非出土的古人類頭骨化石（圖）重新分析，發現化石距今有3.6萬年歷史，證實現代人類在大約6.5萬年前至2.5萬年前走出非洲，是迄今「走出非洲」理論的首個化石證據。
9)發現最老生物
英國科學家10月時在冰島海域發現一隻已有405歲的蚌（Arctica Atlantica），相信是迄今發現到最長壽的動物。但科學家要卻要把老蚌殺掉，才能憑甲殼的紋理確定其歲數。
10)發現超人「氪石」
地質學家4月時在塞爾維亞發現一種白色粉末狀的礦石，經鑑定發現其化學成分與電影《超人》中描述的「超人剋星」——綠色發光礦石「氪石」（一種鈉鋰硼的硅酸鹽氫氧化物）近似。
Huskygal Forward, from The Onion
Underfunded Schools Forced To Cut Past Tense From Language Programs
A part of American school curricula for more than 200 years, the past tense was deemed by school administrators to be too expensive to keep in primary and secondary education.
"This was by no means an easy decision, but teaching our students how to conjugate verbs in a way that would allow them to describe events that have already occurred is a luxury that we can no longer afford," Phoenix-area high-school principal Sam Pennock said. "With our current budget, the past tense must unfortunately become a thing of the past."
In the most dramatic display of the new trend yet, the Tennessee Department of Education decided Monday to remove "-ed" endings from all of the state's English classrooms, saving struggling schools an estimated $3 million each year. Officials say they plan to slowly phase out the tense by first eliminating the past perfect; once students have adjusted to the change, the past progressive, the past continuous, the past perfect progressive, and the simple past will be cut. Hundreds of school districts across the country are expected to follow suit.
"This is the end of an era," said Alicia Reynolds, a school district director in Tuscaloosa, AL. "For some, reading and writing about things not immediately taking place was almost as much a part of school as history class and social studies."
"That is, until we were forced to drop history class and social studies a couple of months ago," Reynolds added.
Nevertheless, a number of educators are coming out against the cuts, claiming that the embattled verb tense, while outmoded, still plays an important role in the development of today's youth.
"Much like art and music, the past tense provides students with a unique and consistent outlet for self-expression," South Boston English teacher David Floen said. "Without it I fear many of our students will lack a number of important creative skills. Like being able to describe anything that happened earlier in the day."
Despite concerns that cutting the past-tense will prevent graduates from communicating effectively in the workplace, the home, the grocery store, church, and various other public spaces, a number of lawmakers, such as Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch, have welcomed the cuts as proof that the American school system is taking a more forward-thinking approach to education and the dimension of time.
"Our tax dollars should be spent preparing our children for the future, not for what has already happened," Hatch said at a recent press conference. "It's about time we stopped wasting everyone's time with who 'did' what or 'went' where. The past tense is, by definition, outdated."
Said Hatch, "I can't even remember the last time I had to use it."
Past-tense instruction is only the latest school program to face the chopping block. School districts in California have been forced to cut addition and subtraction from their math departments, while nearly all high schools have reduced foreign language courses to only the most basic phrases, including "May I please use the bathroom?" and "No, I do not want to go to the beach with Maria and Juan." Some legislators are even calling for an end to teaching grammar itself, saying that in many inner-city school districts, where funding is most lacking, students rarely use grammar at all.
Regardless of the recent upheaval, students throughout the country are learning to accept, and even embrace, the change to their curriculum.
"At first I think the decision to drop the past tense from class is ridiculous, and I feel very upset by it," said David Keller, a seventh-grade student at Hampstead School in Fort Meyers, FL. "But now, it's almost like it never happens."
A part of American school curricula for more than 200 years, the past tense was deemed by school administrators to be too expensive to keep in primary and secondary education.
"This was by no means an easy decision, but teaching our students how to conjugate verbs in a way that would allow them to describe events that have already occurred is a luxury that we can no longer afford," Phoenix-area high-school principal Sam Pennock said. "With our current budget, the past tense must unfortunately become a thing of the past."
In the most dramatic display of the new trend yet, the Tennessee Department of Education decided Monday to remove "-ed" endings from all of the state's English classrooms, saving struggling schools an estimated $3 million each year. Officials say they plan to slowly phase out the tense by first eliminating the past perfect; once students have adjusted to the change, the past progressive, the past continuous, the past perfect progressive, and the simple past will be cut. Hundreds of school districts across the country are expected to follow suit.
"This is the end of an era," said Alicia Reynolds, a school district director in Tuscaloosa, AL. "For some, reading and writing about things not immediately taking place was almost as much a part of school as history class and social studies."
"That is, until we were forced to drop history class and social studies a couple of months ago," Reynolds added.
Nevertheless, a number of educators are coming out against the cuts, claiming that the embattled verb tense, while outmoded, still plays an important role in the development of today's youth.
"Much like art and music, the past tense provides students with a unique and consistent outlet for self-expression," South Boston English teacher David Floen said. "Without it I fear many of our students will lack a number of important creative skills. Like being able to describe anything that happened earlier in the day."
Despite concerns that cutting the past-tense will prevent graduates from communicating effectively in the workplace, the home, the grocery store, church, and various other public spaces, a number of lawmakers, such as Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch, have welcomed the cuts as proof that the American school system is taking a more forward-thinking approach to education and the dimension of time.
"Our tax dollars should be spent preparing our children for the future, not for what has already happened," Hatch said at a recent press conference. "It's about time we stopped wasting everyone's time with who 'did' what or 'went' where. The past tense is, by definition, outdated."
Said Hatch, "I can't even remember the last time I had to use it."
Past-tense instruction is only the latest school program to face the chopping block. School districts in California have been forced to cut addition and subtraction from their math departments, while nearly all high schools have reduced foreign language courses to only the most basic phrases, including "May I please use the bathroom?" and "No, I do not want to go to the beach with Maria and Juan." Some legislators are even calling for an end to teaching grammar itself, saying that in many inner-city school districts, where funding is most lacking, students rarely use grammar at all.
Regardless of the recent upheaval, students throughout the country are learning to accept, and even embrace, the change to their curriculum.
"At first I think the decision to drop the past tense from class is ridiculous, and I feel very upset by it," said David Keller, a seventh-grade student at Hampstead School in Fort Meyers, FL. "But now, it's almost like it never happens."
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A collaboration
Todd and I had dinner at my crib. He is a great chef. We had whole wheat pasta with alfredo sauce and smoke salmon. For salad, we had the simple green with yummy poppyseed peach juice dressing. To compliment our dinner, we had chardonnay from Argentina! So grand!We watched our 1st of many American Iron Chef together. The secret ingredient is NUTS! And we think they needed a revote! The challenger should have won. Go CANADA!
PS. We are no winners in the Nth annual Boringfish Spelling bee championship competition! NAY!
PPS. Todd will provide photographic evidence.
I was trying to clean the sink.
Andy Lau, Jet Li & Takeshi Kaneshiro: The Warlords
談與李連杰不和：一言難盡 陳可辛認與華仔常拗頸
《投名狀》口碑好睇高一線 聖誕檔西片圍剿港片
Offical movie site (Chinese and English)
The warloads in a theater near you on December 13th (in HK).
1st trailer
2nd trailer
The Warlords Third Trailer(English Subtitles)
"The Warlords" MV(by AL)
Week 50: 4505!
We made it! Hurray! 12/11-12
But then we were having problem & got back to 4400.
Then....?? Now what?
But then we were having problem & got back to 4400.
Then....?? Now what?
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Pink Martini Concert Ticket?
3rd album
2nd album
1st album
I want to go to the new year eve's concert, but it is too late to get ticket!
BoringFish is turning into a Very FrustratedFish!
2nd album
1st album
I want to go to the new year eve's concert, but it is too late to get ticket!
BoringFish is turning into a Very FrustratedFish!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Release the potential for a better tomorrow.
I saw the following ad in Y!
What do most people see when they look at a tree? Lumber for homes? Paper for books? We see much more. Like alternative fuels that are safer for the environment. Or medicines that treat disease. Even raw materials for food and clothing. Because to us, trees are all of the above - and more. We're Weyerhaeuser. And we're looking for mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers who share our vision of a better tomorrow by unlocking the extraordinary potential of trees.
Opportunities now exist for the following areas of engineering and operations:
• Manufacturing
• Maintenance
• Safety and Environmental Health
• Process Control
• Internships
To release the potential in you, visit Weyerhaeuser.
What do most people see when they look at a tree? Lumber for homes? Paper for books? We see much more. Like alternative fuels that are safer for the environment. Or medicines that treat disease. Even raw materials for food and clothing. Because to us, trees are all of the above - and more. We're Weyerhaeuser. And we're looking for mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers who share our vision of a better tomorrow by unlocking the extraordinary potential of trees.
Opportunities now exist for the following areas of engineering and operations:
• Manufacturing
• Maintenance
• Safety and Environmental Health
• Process Control
• Internships
To release the potential in you, visit Weyerhaeuser.
Monday, December 10, 2007
This time: In Hallsta, Sweden
The weekly update on newsprint reduction:
Holmen - Reduction in Newsprint Production Capacity; Holmen
Holmen - Reduction in Newsprint Production Capacity; Holmen
Angela's Getting Healthy Plan
1) go to bed before 11pm and have a 8-hour sleep
2) eat lots of vegetables and fruits and less meats( pork, chicken, and beef)
3) drink lots of water and start quitting coffee, tea and pops
4) one-hour workout everyday
5) have positive and happy attitute to work on everything
2) eat lots of vegetables and fruits and less meats( pork, chicken, and beef)
3) drink lots of water and start quitting coffee, tea and pops
4) one-hour workout everyday
5) have positive and happy attitute to work on everything
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Saturday, December 08, 2007
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