Today is boxing day. We went for shopping in different malls, DFO in Jindalee, small mall in Horseland, and Indooroopilly Shopping Center.
We bought a few clothes in DFO, then spent several hours in Indooroopilly Shopping Center until we were starving and thirsty. We saw the discount prices of several bread makers in Myer. We have thought about buying one bread maker since last year, but we did not buy one yet. I don't know why, but we just wanted to buy one today, so we went to check price in K-Mart, Target and Harvey Norman. After comparing the price and model, we bought our first bread maker, Breville BBM100. It is the 2nd cheapest one, $109.65 AUD. We did not buy the cheapest one, Sunbeam ..., because the kneading blade won't be able to disassemble with bread pan. We are afraid that some bread might be stuck between kneading blade and bread pan, then we won't be able to clean it well for those Sunbeam models.
Here is our test for making bread by ourselves:
1. Basic White Bread
(1) Test 1 on Dec 26, 2009
290 mL H2O
1 TBL oil (i.e. 20 mL = 16 g)
1.5 tsp salt (i.e. 7.5 mL = 9 g)
1.5 TBL sugar (i.e. 30 mL = 30 g) (ps. we used brown sugar)
3 cups bread flour (i.e. 750 mL = 450 g) (ps. we used plain flour)
1 TBL milk powder (i.e. 30 mL = 10 g)
0.75 tsp bread improver (i.e. 3.75 mL) (ps. we used 2 500mg vitamin C tablets)
1.5 tsp yeast (i.e. 7.5 mL = 6 g)
Setting: 1 (basic), medium crust color, total 3 hours
1st knead (2 min) -> 2nd knead (28 min) ->1st rise (20 min)
-> punch down (15 sec) -> 2nd rise (20 min) -> punch down (10 sec)
-> 3rd rise (50 min) -> bake (60 min)
The bread looks good, but it is a little bit too moisture and salty. We will reduce water to 280 mL and salt to 6 g next time.
(2) Test on Dec 27, 2009
280 mL H2O
1 TBL oil (i.e. 20 mL = 16 g)
0.67 tsp salt (i.e. 3.35 mL = 4 g) (ps. original receipt is 1.5 tsp salt)
1.5 TBL brown sugar (i.e. 30 mL = 30 g) (ps. original receipt is sugar)
3 cups plain flour (i.e. 750 mL = 450 g) (ps. original receipt is bread flour)
1 TBL milk powder (i.e. 30 mL = 10 g)
1 tsp lemon juice (i.e. 5 mL = 5 g) (ps. original receipt is 0.75 tsp bread improver)
1.5 tsp yeast (i.e. 7.5 mL = 6 g)
We use the same setting as test (1). The bread looks good with perfect moisture and salt taste.
(3) Test on Dec 28, 2009
Everything is the same as Dec. 27, except we added some raisin in. Still taste good.
Read more!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Some Microwave Dishes
We like to use microwave, rice cooker, steamer, and stove to cook our dishes. Because we don't have ventilation hoods in our kitchen-living room, basically we utilizes hot steam and water to cook thoroughly our foods to minimize smell and eliminate cooking fumes.
Here are some microwave receipts we found and tried today.
Fry onion egg (洋蔥炒蛋)
We use 4 small onions, 2 eggs, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp chicken essence powder and 1 tsp cooking oil. We use a Pyrex container to do it.
Microwave 1 tsp cooking oil 2 min
-> add slice onions, microwave 2 min
-> add egg mixture, mix well, microwave 1 min
-> add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp chicken essence powder
-> mix and microwave 1 min
-> spray some black pepper and it is ready to serve
(材料)洋蔥 2 (中/大) or 4 (小) 個，雞蛋 2只，蔥 1支 (可省略)
(綜合調味料)鹽 1/4茶匙，味精 1/8茶匙，麻油 1/4茶匙 (可省略)
(作法)
洋蔥切絲，雞蛋打散。
大碗中加油1大匙、蔥花，強微波2分，加入洋蔥絲，強微波2分，加入蛋液，強微波1分，打開箱門攪拌，加鹽、味精，強微波1分，淋上麻油即可 (ps. 可省略，或灑黑胡椒)。
豆豉排骨
(材料)小排骨..半斤●豆豉...1大匙●蔥.......2粒●蒜頭.....4粒●紅辣椒...1支
(綜合調味料)醬油....2大匙●糖......1小匙●麻油....1小匙●胡椒.....少許●太白粉..2大匙
(做法)
小排骨洗淨擦乾，以調味料,蔥(1支)切段,蒜頭2粒拌醃1小時。
大碗中加油2大匙,蔥、蒜頭、紅辣椒，強微波2分，加入排骨，強微波3分半，取出灑上蔥花、辣椒即可。
蕃茄豆腐
(材料)蕃茄....1個●豆腐....1盒●蔥花....2大匙●
(綜合調味料)鹽.....1小匙●糖.....1小匙●太白粉..少許
(作法)
豆腐切塊，蕃茄切小塊。
大碗加油1大匙、蔥花1大匙，強微波2分，加入蕃茄、豆腐、鹽、糖，強微波2分，趁熱以太白粉水勾芡，取出灑上蔥花即可。
蒜泥蒸蛋
(材料)雞蛋.....3只●蒜泥...1大匙●
(綜合調味料)醬油....1/2大匙●鹽......1/2小匙●味精....1/2小匙●豬油....1/2大匙●太白粉..1/2小匙
(作法)
雞蛋打散，加1又1/2杯水，調味料，以濾網過濾
加入蒜泥拌勻，以弱微波蒸24分。(包保鮮膜)
*蒸蛋必須用弱微波,否則質地粗糙。
三色蛋
(材料)雞蛋...2只●鹹蛋...2只●皮蛋...2只●
(綜合調味料)鹽......1小匙●味精..1/2小匙●麻油....1小匙●太白粉..1小匙
(作法)
蛋打散，鹹蛋切塊，皮蛋切塊，三種蛋混勻，加入調味料包保鮮膜，以弱微波蒸9分即可。
蔥油淋嫩雞
(材料)雞.....1隻●蔥絲..半杯●薑絲..半杯
(綜合調味料)鹽....1/2大匙●味精..1/2大匙●酒......1大匙●油......4大匙
(作法)
雞洗淨用鹽遍抹全身，放盤上包保鮮膜，強微波17分，取出待涼，切塊，上舖滿蔥、薑絲。
4大匙油，強微波3分，趁熱淋於雞上即可。
Read more!
Here are some microwave receipts we found and tried today.
Fry onion egg (洋蔥炒蛋)
We use 4 small onions, 2 eggs, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp chicken essence powder and 1 tsp cooking oil. We use a Pyrex container to do it.
Microwave 1 tsp cooking oil 2 min
-> add slice onions, microwave 2 min
-> add egg mixture, mix well, microwave 1 min
-> add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp chicken essence powder
-> mix and microwave 1 min
-> spray some black pepper and it is ready to serve
(材料)洋蔥 2 (中/大) or 4 (小) 個，雞蛋 2只，蔥 1支 (可省略)
(綜合調味料)鹽 1/4茶匙，味精 1/8茶匙，麻油 1/4茶匙 (可省略)
(作法)
洋蔥切絲，雞蛋打散。
大碗中加油1大匙、蔥花，強微波2分，加入洋蔥絲，強微波2分，加入蛋液，強微波1分，打開箱門攪拌，加鹽、味精，強微波1分，淋上麻油即可 (ps. 可省略，或灑黑胡椒)。
豆豉排骨
(材料)小排骨..半斤●豆豉...1大匙●蔥.......2粒●蒜頭.....4粒●紅辣椒...1支
(綜合調味料)醬油....2大匙●糖......1小匙●麻油....1小匙●胡椒.....少許●太白粉..2大匙
(做法)
小排骨洗淨擦乾，以調味料,蔥(1支)切段,蒜頭2粒拌醃1小時。
大碗中加油2大匙,蔥、蒜頭、紅辣椒，強微波2分，加入排骨，強微波3分半，取出灑上蔥花、辣椒即可。
蕃茄豆腐
(材料)蕃茄....1個●豆腐....1盒●蔥花....2大匙●
(綜合調味料)鹽.....1小匙●糖.....1小匙●太白粉..少許
(作法)
豆腐切塊，蕃茄切小塊。
大碗加油1大匙、蔥花1大匙，強微波2分，加入蕃茄、豆腐、鹽、糖，強微波2分，趁熱以太白粉水勾芡，取出灑上蔥花即可。
蒜泥蒸蛋
(材料)雞蛋.....3只●蒜泥...1大匙●
(綜合調味料)醬油....1/2大匙●鹽......1/2小匙●味精....1/2小匙●豬油....1/2大匙●太白粉..1/2小匙
(作法)
雞蛋打散，加1又1/2杯水，調味料，以濾網過濾
加入蒜泥拌勻，以弱微波蒸24分。(包保鮮膜)
*蒸蛋必須用弱微波,否則質地粗糙。
三色蛋
(材料)雞蛋...2只●鹹蛋...2只●皮蛋...2只●
(綜合調味料)鹽......1小匙●味精..1/2小匙●麻油....1小匙●太白粉..1小匙
(作法)
蛋打散，鹹蛋切塊，皮蛋切塊，三種蛋混勻，加入調味料包保鮮膜，以弱微波蒸9分即可。
蔥油淋嫩雞
(材料)雞.....1隻●蔥絲..半杯●薑絲..半杯
(綜合調味料)鹽....1/2大匙●味精..1/2大匙●酒......1大匙●油......4大匙
(作法)
雞洗淨用鹽遍抹全身，放盤上包保鮮膜，強微波17分，取出待涼，切塊，上舖滿蔥、薑絲。
4大匙油，強微波3分，趁熱淋於雞上即可。
Read more!
Copenhagen Accord? Just a Political Talk
I heard from TV news that the Copenhagen Summit has reached a deal while preparing my breakfast. I was surprised and kind of excited to know what's the content. I went to check the news about the "deal" of COP15. There is no real document has been published about this "deal" on internet yet, but they just said that they have reached "a meaningful agreement". Based on the news on COP15, I found out it is just a political talk.
What's a "meaningful agreement"? Apparently I have a different definition to those politician. There is no legally-binding treaty, no target date for finalising a deal (i.e. remove an end-2010 deadline for reaching a legally binding treaty), no any more aim for emission curbs to be verifiable, and only said that "a target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2 degree Celsius rise over pre-industrial times" and "holds out the prospect of $100 billion in annual aid from 2020 for developing nations".
It is really funny. We all agree that we need to reduce the temperature rise long long time ago before this conference. But how to reach this goal is the real problem. And now they just said that we want this goal, but no practical details and enforcement for countries about how to get to this goal. It looks like a joke for me. Nice talk is easy, but act is difficult. Then it is just a lip service.
==== some links ====
US, China, India and South Africa reach deal (Associated Press, 18/12/2009 22:25)
According to a senior Obama administration official the United States, China, India and South Africa have reached a "meaningful agreement" on climate change Friday evening.
Obama reaches climate deal with emerging powers (The Reuters, Pete Harrison and Jeff Mason COPENHAGEN Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:03pm EST)
..... A draft text under discussion on Friday included $100 billion in climate aid annually by 2020 for poor countries to combat climate change, and targets to limit warming and halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
But it abandoned earlier ambitions for any deal in Copenhagen to be turned into a legally binding treaty next year.
..... Under the five-nation agreement, rich and poor nations had agreed to a "finance mechanism," emissions cuts to curb global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, and "to provide information on the implementation of their actions."
..... "Given where we started and the expectations for this conference, anything less than a legally binding and agreed outcome falls far short of the mark," said John Ashe, chair the Kyoto talks under the United Nations.
COP15: Saving the planet or saving face? (Richard Black, 15:46 UK time, Friday, 18 December 2009)
1641 CET: We're into a strange dark limbo-land here.
The draft political agreement that leaders are supposed to sign today has gone through more changes than Eva Longoria at an awards ceremony.
The latest version, we're told, sheds many of the frills. It's a jeans and t-shirt job compared with the detailed couture of earlier today.
What we have, we're told, doesn't contain a commitment to a legally-binding treaty, doesn't endorse an explicit temperature target, doesn't have a target date for finalising a deal, and doesn't any more aim for emission curbs to be verifiable.
Copenhagen a cop-out (19 December 2009P, Greenpeace)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Two years have passed since world leaders promised all of us a deal to stop climate change. After two weeks of UN negotiations, politicians breezed in, had dinner with the Queen, a three hour lunch, took some photos and then delivered what could only be described as the 24 hour Head of State tourist brochure of Copenhagen instead of a climate treaty.
Don’t believe the hype, there is nothing fair, ambitious or legally binding about this deal. The job of world leaders is not done. Today they shamefully failed to save us all from the effects of catastrophic climate change.
The city of Copenhagen is a climate crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport in shame. World leaders had a once in a generation chance to change the world for good, to avert catastrophic climate change. What we needed was a legally binding agreement that was fair to developing countries and ambitious when it came to emissions cuts and ending deforestation. In the end they produced a poor deal full of loopholes big enough to fly Air Force One through. We’ve seen a year of crises, but today it is clear that the biggest one facing humanity is a leadership crisis.
NOpenhagen as global leaders COP out of meaningful climate deal (01:09 19.12.09, European Greens)
Two years of arduous UN negotiations to produce a binding global climate deal look to have ended in failure. Greens have commented on the outcome.
Read more!
What's a "meaningful agreement"? Apparently I have a different definition to those politician. There is no legally-binding treaty, no target date for finalising a deal (i.e. remove an end-2010 deadline for reaching a legally binding treaty), no any more aim for emission curbs to be verifiable, and only said that "a target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2 degree Celsius rise over pre-industrial times" and "holds out the prospect of $100 billion in annual aid from 2020 for developing nations".
It is really funny. We all agree that we need to reduce the temperature rise long long time ago before this conference. But how to reach this goal is the real problem. And now they just said that we want this goal, but no practical details and enforcement for countries about how to get to this goal. It looks like a joke for me. Nice talk is easy, but act is difficult. Then it is just a lip service.
==== some links ====
US, China, India and South Africa reach deal (Associated Press, 18/12/2009 22:25)
According to a senior Obama administration official the United States, China, India and South Africa have reached a "meaningful agreement" on climate change Friday evening.
Obama reaches climate deal with emerging powers (The Reuters, Pete Harrison and Jeff Mason COPENHAGEN Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:03pm EST)
..... A draft text under discussion on Friday included $100 billion in climate aid annually by 2020 for poor countries to combat climate change, and targets to limit warming and halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
But it abandoned earlier ambitions for any deal in Copenhagen to be turned into a legally binding treaty next year.
..... Under the five-nation agreement, rich and poor nations had agreed to a "finance mechanism," emissions cuts to curb global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, and "to provide information on the implementation of their actions."
..... "Given where we started and the expectations for this conference, anything less than a legally binding and agreed outcome falls far short of the mark," said John Ashe, chair the Kyoto talks under the United Nations.
COP15: Saving the planet or saving face? (Richard Black, 15:46 UK time, Friday, 18 December 2009)
1641 CET: We're into a strange dark limbo-land here.
The draft political agreement that leaders are supposed to sign today has gone through more changes than Eva Longoria at an awards ceremony.
The latest version, we're told, sheds many of the frills. It's a jeans and t-shirt job compared with the detailed couture of earlier today.
What we have, we're told, doesn't contain a commitment to a legally-binding treaty, doesn't endorse an explicit temperature target, doesn't have a target date for finalising a deal, and doesn't any more aim for emission curbs to be verifiable.
Copenhagen a cop-out (19 December 2009P, Greenpeace)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Two years have passed since world leaders promised all of us a deal to stop climate change. After two weeks of UN negotiations, politicians breezed in, had dinner with the Queen, a three hour lunch, took some photos and then delivered what could only be described as the 24 hour Head of State tourist brochure of Copenhagen instead of a climate treaty.
Don’t believe the hype, there is nothing fair, ambitious or legally binding about this deal. The job of world leaders is not done. Today they shamefully failed to save us all from the effects of catastrophic climate change.
The city of Copenhagen is a climate crime scene tonight, with the guilty men and women fleeing to the airport in shame. World leaders had a once in a generation chance to change the world for good, to avert catastrophic climate change. What we needed was a legally binding agreement that was fair to developing countries and ambitious when it came to emissions cuts and ending deforestation. In the end they produced a poor deal full of loopholes big enough to fly Air Force One through. We’ve seen a year of crises, but today it is clear that the biggest one facing humanity is a leadership crisis.
NOpenhagen as global leaders COP out of meaningful climate deal (01:09 19.12.09, European Greens)
Two years of arduous UN negotiations to produce a binding global climate deal look to have ended in failure. Greens have commented on the outcome.
Read more!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Copenhagen summit: Deal or No Deal?
It is almost the end of the Copenhagen summit. It seems that there is a huge gap between developing and developed countries. Are they willing to compromise and come to a deal? I doubt because each country put their benefit to the first priority.
I do agree that we should try to reduce emission, not just greenhouse gases and CO2, but also a lot of pollution, while there are still doubts and debates about CO2 and climate change. We all know that reduction should not just apply on concentration as those developing countries proposed (kg CO2 e/$GDP), but total amount (kg CO2 e/country) and the other concentration (kg CO2 e/capita and kg CO2 e/km2) should also be a very important standard.
Limiting emission by concentration (kg CO2 e per capita, km2, or $GDP), we can force developed countries such as US, many European countries, Canada and Australia to reduce their emission per capita.
Limiting emission by total amount (kg CO2 e/country), we can force developing countries such as China and India to reduce their emission. Human population is the largest source of pollution and greenhouse gases emission. It is unfair to use per capita or per $GDP to justify the high total amount emission.
And the most important factor if we really want to reduce emission is the full transparency of each country's emission, especially to the countries such as China which lie on many statistic figures.
Deal or no deal? It is on those political leaders' hands, but not on our hands. Sad, but we need to face the reality.
====== some data sources =======
List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita (wiki) (1990-2006)
List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions (wiki) (2006)
International Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Carbon Intensity (US DOE) (1980-2006)
Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), thousand metric tons of CO2 (CDIAC) - MDG Indicators (UN Statistics Division) (1990-2006)
GHG data from UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) (1990-2007)
====== some news ============
The carbon cuts promised by developing countries at Copenhagen
The US insists on transparency
In partnership with other countries, the US will try to mobilise 100 billion dollars a year for climate aid by 2020, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The US insists that funding will only be granted if developing countries allow for full transparency of their emissions.
Stalling in Copenhagen: Chimerica Against the World
The Spiegel Online, Christian Schwägerl in Copenhagen, December 17, 2009
China and the United States are playing a decisive role in Copenhagen. Both major powers are accusing each other of doing too little to stop the climate disaster. Europeans and developing nations are demanding the two agree to greater reductions in CO2 emissions. Will 'Chimerica' derail a real deal in Copenhagen?
(Translation in TaiwanOnline)
Read more!
I do agree that we should try to reduce emission, not just greenhouse gases and CO2, but also a lot of pollution, while there are still doubts and debates about CO2 and climate change. We all know that reduction should not just apply on concentration as those developing countries proposed (kg CO2 e/$GDP), but total amount (kg CO2 e/country) and the other concentration (kg CO2 e/capita and kg CO2 e/km2) should also be a very important standard.
Limiting emission by concentration (kg CO2 e per capita, km2, or $GDP), we can force developed countries such as US, many European countries, Canada and Australia to reduce their emission per capita.
Limiting emission by total amount (kg CO2 e/country), we can force developing countries such as China and India to reduce their emission. Human population is the largest source of pollution and greenhouse gases emission. It is unfair to use per capita or per $GDP to justify the high total amount emission.
And the most important factor if we really want to reduce emission is the full transparency of each country's emission, especially to the countries such as China which lie on many statistic figures.
Deal or no deal? It is on those political leaders' hands, but not on our hands. Sad, but we need to face the reality.
====== some data sources =======
List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions per capita (wiki) (1990-2006)
List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions (wiki) (2006)
International Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Carbon Intensity (US DOE) (1980-2006)
Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), thousand metric tons of CO2 (CDIAC) - MDG Indicators (UN Statistics Division) (1990-2006)
GHG data from UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) (1990-2007)
====== some news ============
The carbon cuts promised by developing countries at Copenhagen
The US insists on transparency
In partnership with other countries, the US will try to mobilise 100 billion dollars a year for climate aid by 2020, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The US insists that funding will only be granted if developing countries allow for full transparency of their emissions.
Stalling in Copenhagen: Chimerica Against the World
The Spiegel Online, Christian Schwägerl in Copenhagen, December 17, 2009
China and the United States are playing a decisive role in Copenhagen. Both major powers are accusing each other of doing too little to stop the climate disaster. Europeans and developing nations are demanding the two agree to greater reductions in CO2 emissions. Will 'Chimerica' derail a real deal in Copenhagen?
(Translation in TaiwanOnline)
Read more!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Poem: Spring Prospect
I just thought about this poem, Spring Prospect, today after reading news about Taiwan. I like this poem very much and I hope that I won't experience this in my life.
杜甫‧春望 (Spring Outlook/View/Scene/Prospect, by Du Fu):「國破山河在,城春草木深。感時花濺淚,恨別鳥驚心。烽火連三月,家書抵萬金。白頭搔更短,渾欲不勝簪。」 (There aresome translations for this poem, but I could not find the one I like most.)
Here is some analysis and appreciation:
春望 (東吳大學中文系許清雲教授選編)
唐肅宗至德元載(756)六月,安史叛軍攻下唐都長安。七月,杜甫聽到唐肅宗在靈武即位的消息,便把家小安頓在鄜州的羌村,去投奔肅宗。途中為叛軍俘獲,帶到長安。因他官卑職微,未被囚禁。〈春望〉寫於次年三月。
詩的前四句寫春城敗象,飽含感歎;後四句寫心念親人境況,充溢離情。全詩沉著蘊藉,真摯自然。
“國破山河在,城春草木深。"開篇即寫春望所見:國都淪陷,城池殘破,雖然山河依舊,可是亂草遍地,林木蒼蒼。一個“破"字,使人怵目驚心,繼而一個“深"字,令人滿目淒然。司馬光說:“`山河在',明無餘物矣;`草木深',明無人矣。"(《溫公續詩話》)詩人在此明為寫景,實為抒感,寄情於物,托感於景,為全詩創造了氣氛。此聯對仗工巧,圓熟自然,詩意翻跌。“國破"對“城春",兩意相反。“國破"的頹垣殘壁同富有生意的“城春"對舉,對照強烈。“國破"之下繼以“山河在",意思相反,出人意表:“城春"原當為明媚之景,而後繼以“草木深",則敘荒蕪之狀,先後相悖,又是一翻。明代
胡震亨極贊此聯說:“對偶未嘗不精,而縱橫變幻,盡越陳規,濃淡淺深,動奪天巧。"(《唐音癸簽》卷九)
“感時花濺淚,恨別鳥驚心。"這兩句一般解釋是,花鳥本為娛人之物,但因感時恨別,卻使詩人見了反而墮淚驚心。另一種解釋為,以花鳥擬人,感時傷別,花也濺淚,鳥亦驚心。兩說雖則有別,其精神卻能相通,一則觸景生情,一則移情於物,正見好詩含蘊之豐富。
詩的這前四句,都統在“望"字中。詩人俯仰瞻視,視線由近而遠,又由遠而近,視野從城到山河,再由滿城到花鳥。感情則由隱而顯,由弱而強,步步推進。在景與情的變化中,彷彿可見詩人由翹首望景,逐步地轉入了低頭沉思,自然地過渡到後半部分──想望親人。
“烽火連三月,家書抵萬金。"自安史叛亂以來,“烽火苦教鄉信斷",直到如今春深三月,戰火仍連續不斷。多麼盼望家中親人的消息,這時的一封家信真是勝過“萬金"啊!“家書抵萬金",寫出了消息隔絕久盼音訊不至時的迫切心情,這是人人心中所有的想法, 很自然地使人共鳴,因而成了千古傳誦的名句。
“白頭搔更短,渾欲不勝簪。 "烽火遍地,家信不通,想念遠方的慘戚之象,眼望面前的頹敗之景,不覺於極無聊賴之際,搔首躊躇,頓覺稀疏短髮,幾不勝簪。“白髮"為愁所致,“搔"為想要解愁的動作,“更短"可見愁的程度。這樣,在國破家亡,離亂傷痛之外,又歎息衰老,則更增一層悲哀。
這首詩反映了詩人熱愛國家、眷念家人的美好情操,意脈貫通而不平直,情景兼具而不游離,感情強烈而不淺露,內容豐富而不蕪雜,格律嚴謹而不板滯,以仄起仄落的五律正格,寫得鏗然作響,氣度渾灝,因而一千二百餘年來一直膾炙人口,歷久不衰。(徐應佩、周溶泉賞析)
Read more!
杜甫‧春望 (Spring Outlook/View/Scene/Prospect, by Du Fu):「國破山河在,城春草木深。感時花濺淚,恨別鳥驚心。烽火連三月,家書抵萬金。白頭搔更短,渾欲不勝簪。」 (There aresome translations for this poem, but I could not find the one I like most.)
Here is some analysis and appreciation:
春望 (東吳大學中文系許清雲教授選編)
唐肅宗至德元載(756)六月,安史叛軍攻下唐都長安。七月,杜甫聽到唐肅宗在靈武即位的消息,便把家小安頓在鄜州的羌村,去投奔肅宗。途中為叛軍俘獲,帶到長安。因他官卑職微,未被囚禁。〈春望〉寫於次年三月。
詩的前四句寫春城敗象,飽含感歎;後四句寫心念親人境況,充溢離情。全詩沉著蘊藉,真摯自然。
“國破山河在,城春草木深。"開篇即寫春望所見:國都淪陷,城池殘破,雖然山河依舊,可是亂草遍地,林木蒼蒼。一個“破"字,使人怵目驚心,繼而一個“深"字,令人滿目淒然。司馬光說:“`山河在',明無餘物矣;`草木深',明無人矣。"(《溫公續詩話》)詩人在此明為寫景,實為抒感,寄情於物,托感於景,為全詩創造了氣氛。此聯對仗工巧,圓熟自然,詩意翻跌。“國破"對“城春",兩意相反。“國破"的頹垣殘壁同富有生意的“城春"對舉,對照強烈。“國破"之下繼以“山河在",意思相反,出人意表:“城春"原當為明媚之景,而後繼以“草木深",則敘荒蕪之狀,先後相悖,又是一翻。明代
胡震亨極贊此聯說:“對偶未嘗不精,而縱橫變幻,盡越陳規,濃淡淺深,動奪天巧。"(《唐音癸簽》卷九)
“感時花濺淚,恨別鳥驚心。"這兩句一般解釋是,花鳥本為娛人之物,但因感時恨別,卻使詩人見了反而墮淚驚心。另一種解釋為,以花鳥擬人,感時傷別,花也濺淚,鳥亦驚心。兩說雖則有別,其精神卻能相通,一則觸景生情,一則移情於物,正見好詩含蘊之豐富。
詩的這前四句,都統在“望"字中。詩人俯仰瞻視,視線由近而遠,又由遠而近,視野從城到山河,再由滿城到花鳥。感情則由隱而顯,由弱而強,步步推進。在景與情的變化中,彷彿可見詩人由翹首望景,逐步地轉入了低頭沉思,自然地過渡到後半部分──想望親人。
“烽火連三月,家書抵萬金。"自安史叛亂以來,“烽火苦教鄉信斷",直到如今春深三月,戰火仍連續不斷。多麼盼望家中親人的消息,這時的一封家信真是勝過“萬金"啊!“家書抵萬金",寫出了消息隔絕久盼音訊不至時的迫切心情,這是人人心中所有的想法, 很自然地使人共鳴,因而成了千古傳誦的名句。
“白頭搔更短,渾欲不勝簪。 "烽火遍地,家信不通,想念遠方的慘戚之象,眼望面前的頹敗之景,不覺於極無聊賴之際,搔首躊躇,頓覺稀疏短髮,幾不勝簪。“白髮"為愁所致,“搔"為想要解愁的動作,“更短"可見愁的程度。這樣,在國破家亡,離亂傷痛之外,又歎息衰老,則更增一層悲哀。
這首詩反映了詩人熱愛國家、眷念家人的美好情操,意脈貫通而不平直,情景兼具而不游離,感情強烈而不淺露,內容豐富而不蕪雜,格律嚴謹而不板滯,以仄起仄落的五律正格,寫得鏗然作響,氣度渾灝,因而一千二百餘年來一直膾炙人口,歷久不衰。(徐應佩、周溶泉賞析)
Read more!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Jerome F. Keating's writings
I am not good on political writing, especially in English. It is not my expertise and I do not intend to get involved more in politic related issues because I do not want to put myself in risk again. Anyway, Jerome F. Keating's writings is a nice website to know a little bit more about Taiwan's political situation.
Here are some titles since Nov 2009. There are much more in his website.
Taiwan, As the World Turns in December: Ma Turns to his Spin-doctor King Pu-tsung
Monday December 14
A Cause for Concern, Does Ma Ying-jeou Know What Time It Is?
Wednesday December 09
Another Side of Taiwan, the Scots and St. Andrew's Ball
Wednesday December 02
Taiwan Under Ma Ying-jeou, More Smoke and Mirrors as the Cross-strait Sell Out Continues
Monday November 30
Kissinger, the International Republican Institute (IRI), Freedom and Democracy and Other Conundrums
Thursday November 26
Taiwan, Where's the Beef Protest Photos
Wednesday November 25
Taiwan: Where's the Beef? It's not with the USA but with Ma. Who Else?
Saturday November 21
The UN Snubs Taiwan Again: Who is the Joke of Ma Ying-joke On?
Friday November 20
USC's Annenberg School, Soft Power and Taiwan: Part III Responses
Sunday November 15
Ma's Poor Performance Draws Yet a 5th Letter of Protest from International Scholars.
Thursday November 12
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part II
Sunday November 08
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part I
Friday November 06
Nagano Link Back Up
Thursday November 05
November, Week One: As the World Turns in Taiwan
Thursday November 05
Read more!
Here are some titles since Nov 2009. There are much more in his website.
Taiwan, As the World Turns in December: Ma Turns to his Spin-doctor King Pu-tsung
Monday December 14
A Cause for Concern, Does Ma Ying-jeou Know What Time It Is?
Wednesday December 09
Another Side of Taiwan, the Scots and St. Andrew's Ball
Wednesday December 02
Taiwan Under Ma Ying-jeou, More Smoke and Mirrors as the Cross-strait Sell Out Continues
Monday November 30
Kissinger, the International Republican Institute (IRI), Freedom and Democracy and Other Conundrums
Thursday November 26
Taiwan, Where's the Beef Protest Photos
Wednesday November 25
Taiwan: Where's the Beef? It's not with the USA but with Ma. Who Else?
Saturday November 21
The UN Snubs Taiwan Again: Who is the Joke of Ma Ying-joke On?
Friday November 20
USC's Annenberg School, Soft Power and Taiwan: Part III Responses
Sunday November 15
Ma's Poor Performance Draws Yet a 5th Letter of Protest from International Scholars.
Thursday November 12
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part II
Sunday November 08
USC's Annenberg School for Communication Brings Soft Power to Taiwan: Part I
Friday November 06
Nagano Link Back Up
Thursday November 05
November, Week One: As the World Turns in Taiwan
Thursday November 05
Read more!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Is Global Warming caused by CO2?
Copenhagen summit is still going. Many disagreements between developing and developed countries have increased the difficulty to reach an agreement in this summit.
I still doubt that how many politicians really concern this issue even when they went to attend this COP15-Copenhagen summit.
In the mean time, I do have question about the importance of CO2 vs. global warming. I totally agree that we should try all we could do to save energy, reuse, reduce, recycle, protect our environment, change our lifestyle to much more environmental friendly way, etc. I have been promoting these for the past 20 years and I have taken action in my daily life. It is dangerous to just blame this "global warming problem" to a single factor, CO2 (and greenhouse gases). The reason that I put "greenhouse gases" inside () is because that people have emphasized CO2 so much that other greenhouse gases have been ignored relatively.
=================
Here is one article I read today
也是世紀大騙局？
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim and narrated by former United States Vice President Al Gore to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that by his own account, has given numerous times all over the world.
The Great Global Warming Swindle is a documentary film that argues against the mainstream of scientific consensus on climate change that global warming is "very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gas concentrations".[1] It has been described by both its original broadcaster Channel 4 and the British regulator Ofcom as "a polemic".
全球暖化的十一個騙局
英第4頻道紀錄片引起爭議 全球暖化是大騙局？
全球暖化是場騙局？英爆「陰謀論」
Movie:The 11th Hour: Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this captivating documentary explores the perilous state of our planet, and the means by which we can change our course. Contributing to this crucial film are noted politicians, scientists and other ambassadors for the importance of a universal ecological consciousness. The 11th Hour is directed by Nadia Connors and Leila Conners Peterson and features narration from Academy Award® Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed, Blood Diamond). The environmentally friendly DVD packaging is produced with 100% certified renewable resources. A portion of the profits will be donated to Global Green.
Read more!
I still doubt that how many politicians really concern this issue even when they went to attend this COP15-Copenhagen summit.
In the mean time, I do have question about the importance of CO2 vs. global warming. I totally agree that we should try all we could do to save energy, reuse, reduce, recycle, protect our environment, change our lifestyle to much more environmental friendly way, etc. I have been promoting these for the past 20 years and I have taken action in my daily life. It is dangerous to just blame this "global warming problem" to a single factor, CO2 (and greenhouse gases). The reason that I put "greenhouse gases" inside () is because that people have emphasized CO2 so much that other greenhouse gases have been ignored relatively.
=================
Here is one article I read today
也是世紀大騙局？
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim and narrated by former United States Vice President Al Gore to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensive slide show that by his own account, has given numerous times all over the world.
The Great Global Warming Swindle is a documentary film that argues against the mainstream of scientific consensus on climate change that global warming is "very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gas concentrations".[1] It has been described by both its original broadcaster Channel 4 and the British regulator Ofcom as "a polemic".
全球暖化的十一個騙局
英第4頻道紀錄片引起爭議 全球暖化是大騙局？
全球暖化是場騙局？英爆「陰謀論」
Movie:The 11th Hour: Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this captivating documentary explores the perilous state of our planet, and the means by which we can change our course. Contributing to this crucial film are noted politicians, scientists and other ambassadors for the importance of a universal ecological consciousness. The 11th Hour is directed by Nadia Connors and Leila Conners Peterson and features narration from Academy Award® Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed, Blood Diamond). The environmentally friendly DVD packaging is produced with 100% certified renewable resources. A portion of the profits will be donated to Global Green.
Read more!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Temperature of Air Conditioner
I just saw an ad on channel 10 which tries to convince people to save energy during daily life. Turn power off but not leave it as standby is one good point, but keep the AC temperature at 24 oC is a little bit off. Combining with fan, a 28 oC AC will be very comfortable, why set it to 24? I am wondering maybe people set it too much lower than 24 oC, then the ad is just trying to ask people to change to the level they can tolerate.
Today is hot, the temperature in my granny flat was 33 oC. I did not turn the AC on and only used fan to live through it. We don't turn AC on unless both inside and outside is over 30 oC. We also don't turn AC on when there is only one person at home. Saving earth saving energy is not just a talk, you have to do it. It means that you also need to tolerate hot in summer and cold in winter.
Read more!
Today is hot, the temperature in my granny flat was 33 oC. I did not turn the AC on and only used fan to live through it. We don't turn AC on unless both inside and outside is over 30 oC. We also don't turn AC on when there is only one person at home. Saving earth saving energy is not just a talk, you have to do it. It means that you also need to tolerate hot in summer and cold in winter.
Read more!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Carpal tunnel syndrome
I am worrying that I might get Carpal tunnel syndrome (腕隧道症候群) because my little fingers (i.e. pinky) are numb and paresthesia now and ring fingers (i.e. fourth fingers) are showing this symptoms gradually. I am not quite sure because the early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome starts in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Symptoms of Carpal tunnel syndrome
Many people who have carpal tunnel syndrome have gradually increasing symptoms over time. The first symptoms of CTS may appear when sleeping and typically include numbness and paresthesia (a burning and tingling sensation) in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, although some patients may experience symptoms in the palm as well.[3] These symptoms appear at night because people tend to bend their wrists when they sleep, which further compresses the carpal tunnel.
電腦族手要煩惱小心電腦手
您是否常用電腦？您以前打字一小時都不會累，而現在沒多久就容易出現手部酸痛、腫漲麻痺、甚至無力的現象？如果以上回答皆是，那您可能得了俗稱的”電腦手”。通常得了電腦手，是很難因為短暫的休息而恢復，久而久之甚至會產生肌肉沒力、柔軟度變差，出現連碗都拿不好的情形。因此，若您是經常使用電腦或手部經常過度使力的工作者，可以做以下的舒緩運動。
動一動 1 ： 伸展伸指肌/曲指肌
問題：打鍵盤時，手臂很容易酸，怎麼辦？
解決：
在打鍵盤時是手臂在出力，因此可做以下動作伸展
(1)伸指肌群：手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝下，握拳，用另一手將手腕往下拉，直至感覺緊繃，停留 15 秒，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作。( 圖一 )
(2)屈指肌群：手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝上，用另一手將手腕往下拉，直至感覺緊繃，停留15秒，重覆15次，再換邊操作。(圖二)
動一動 2 ： 伸展伸拇指長肌
問題： 打鍵盤時，手腕很容易酸，怎麼辦？
解決：
因為手腕必需長時間出力，肌肉容易疲勞，因此可做以下動作伸展將拇指握住(圖一，圖二 )，手腕往下伸展，直至感覺緊繃，每次停留 15 秒，重複 15 次。
動一動 3 ： 訓練伸指肌 / 曲指肌
問題： 平常可以做什麼運動預防電腦手？
解決：
為了要增加工作時肌肉的承載力，平時的肌肉訓練是有必要的，動作如下:
(1)伸指肌群：手持啞鈴，手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝下，手腕向上用力 ( 圖一)，再慢慢放鬆，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作 。
(2)屈指肌群：手持啞鈴，手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝上，手腕向上用力 ( 圖二 )，再慢慢放鬆，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作。think
《電腦坐姿教育》
坐立，臀部後靠椅背 ( 或靠墊 ) ，髖關節與膝關節彎曲 90 度，將椅子儘量靠近桌子，鍵盤高度約在可讓手肘彎曲 15~20 度的高度，螢幕高度約為眼睛平視往下 15 度的位置。
=======================
物理治療師示範小運動，讓大家擺脫腕隧症（電腦手）
一小時就要休息十分鐘！
來來來！大家一起做運動，物理治療師江秀玲親自示範小運動，讓大家擺脫腕隧症（電腦手）的困擾，可說是有病治病無病強身喔！
這套手部運動一共包含三個主要步驟：
第一步驟：
1.伸開手，掌心向上
2.使用另一隻手用力把手掌往下壓
3.手臂伸直繼續往下壓
第二步驟：
1.把手放置成「招財貓」姿勢
2.用另一隻手用力把「招財貓」姿勢手往下壓
3.手臂伸直繼續往下壓
第三步驟：
1.舉起手
2.左右旋轉
第一二步驟各做兩次，每次維持10秒鐘，第三步驟要做20下。
Read more!
Symptoms of Carpal tunnel syndrome
Many people who have carpal tunnel syndrome have gradually increasing symptoms over time. The first symptoms of CTS may appear when sleeping and typically include numbness and paresthesia (a burning and tingling sensation) in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, although some patients may experience symptoms in the palm as well.[3] These symptoms appear at night because people tend to bend their wrists when they sleep, which further compresses the carpal tunnel.
電腦族手要煩惱小心電腦手
您是否常用電腦？您以前打字一小時都不會累，而現在沒多久就容易出現手部酸痛、腫漲麻痺、甚至無力的現象？如果以上回答皆是，那您可能得了俗稱的”電腦手”。通常得了電腦手，是很難因為短暫的休息而恢復，久而久之甚至會產生肌肉沒力、柔軟度變差，出現連碗都拿不好的情形。因此，若您是經常使用電腦或手部經常過度使力的工作者，可以做以下的舒緩運動。
動一動 1 ： 伸展伸指肌/曲指肌
問題：打鍵盤時，手臂很容易酸，怎麼辦？
解決：
在打鍵盤時是手臂在出力，因此可做以下動作伸展
(1)伸指肌群：手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝下，握拳，用另一手將手腕往下拉，直至感覺緊繃，停留 15 秒，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作。( 圖一 )
(2)屈指肌群：手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝上，用另一手將手腕往下拉，直至感覺緊繃，停留15秒，重覆15次，再換邊操作。(圖二)
動一動 2 ： 伸展伸拇指長肌
問題： 打鍵盤時，手腕很容易酸，怎麼辦？
解決：
因為手腕必需長時間出力，肌肉容易疲勞，因此可做以下動作伸展將拇指握住(圖一，圖二 )，手腕往下伸展，直至感覺緊繃，每次停留 15 秒，重複 15 次。
動一動 3 ： 訓練伸指肌 / 曲指肌
問題： 平常可以做什麼運動預防電腦手？
解決：
為了要增加工作時肌肉的承載力，平時的肌肉訓練是有必要的，動作如下:
(1)伸指肌群：手持啞鈴，手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝下，手腕向上用力 ( 圖一)，再慢慢放鬆，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作 。
(2)屈指肌群：手持啞鈴，手臂往前平舉，手肘打直，掌心面朝上，手腕向上用力 ( 圖二 )，再慢慢放鬆，重覆 15 次，再換邊操作。think
《電腦坐姿教育》
坐立，臀部後靠椅背 ( 或靠墊 ) ，髖關節與膝關節彎曲 90 度，將椅子儘量靠近桌子，鍵盤高度約在可讓手肘彎曲 15~20 度的高度，螢幕高度約為眼睛平視往下 15 度的位置。
=======================
物理治療師示範小運動，讓大家擺脫腕隧症（電腦手）
一小時就要休息十分鐘！
來來來！大家一起做運動，物理治療師江秀玲親自示範小運動，讓大家擺脫腕隧症（電腦手）的困擾，可說是有病治病無病強身喔！
這套手部運動一共包含三個主要步驟：
第一步驟：
1.伸開手，掌心向上
2.使用另一隻手用力把手掌往下壓
3.手臂伸直繼續往下壓
第二步驟：
1.把手放置成「招財貓」姿勢
2.用另一隻手用力把「招財貓」姿勢手往下壓
3.手臂伸直繼續往下壓
第三步驟：
1.舉起手
2.左右旋轉
第一二步驟各做兩次，每次維持10秒鐘，第三步驟要做20下。
Read more!
Copenhagen summit
Today is the first day of the Copenhagen summit about climate change. The United Nations Climate Change Conference includes the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 5th Meeting of the Parties (COP/MOP 5) to the Kyoto Protocol), and is taking place at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December 2009. It is good that this issue has become more important, but I still have doubt to those politician, not to mention people's attitude. If people don't try to change their life style and attitude toward environment, there is no hope for human even those politician do come to an acceptable agreement.
Here is few news about this Copenhagen summit:
Copenhagen summit urged to take climate change action (BBC, Monday, 7 December 2009)
Decade of record-breaking temperatures ahead, the Met Office warns (The Times, November 25, 2009, Ben Webster, Environment Editor)
Insulation and draught-proofing are a waste of time...
...if you don't also do something about ventilation and heat recovery, that is. (John-Paul Flintoff, December 04, 2009)
I think that Australia and Queensland's governments are trying to promote environmental friendly life style, but I doubt that how many people are really doing it. Maybe they will do it at home to save their spending, but how about in work and in public environment?
I know that at least some/many people in my lab do not try to save energy. I have been trying very hard to turn off many equipments (hot plate, heater, incubator, waterbath, PCR machine, power supply for gel electrophoresis, huge centrifuge, thermal shaker, ...) and hot water tap that people forget to turn off after they finish their experiment.
Can you image that there is somebody who will keep hot tap water running for more than 10 minutes to melt frozen coconut juice? We need to use coconut juice to make tissue culture medium (MSC) in my lab and we keep those coconut juice in -20 oC freezer for longer storage. Each pack has 250 mL which is enough to make 2.5 L MSC. If you take it out and put in room temperature tap water in advance, it will be ready to use in 0.5-1 hour. You can put them in hot water if you are in a hurry. It is certainly unnecessary to keep the hot water running for more than 10 minutes.
Read more!
Here is few news about this Copenhagen summit:
Copenhagen summit urged to take climate change action (BBC, Monday, 7 December 2009)
Decade of record-breaking temperatures ahead, the Met Office warns (The Times, November 25, 2009, Ben Webster, Environment Editor)
Insulation and draught-proofing are a waste of time...
...if you don't also do something about ventilation and heat recovery, that is. (John-Paul Flintoff, December 04, 2009)
I think that Australia and Queensland's governments are trying to promote environmental friendly life style, but I doubt that how many people are really doing it. Maybe they will do it at home to save their spending, but how about in work and in public environment?
I know that at least some/many people in my lab do not try to save energy. I have been trying very hard to turn off many equipments (hot plate, heater, incubator, waterbath, PCR machine, power supply for gel electrophoresis, huge centrifuge, thermal shaker, ...) and hot water tap that people forget to turn off after they finish their experiment.
Can you image that there is somebody who will keep hot tap water running for more than 10 minutes to melt frozen coconut juice? We need to use coconut juice to make tissue culture medium (MSC) in my lab and we keep those coconut juice in -20 oC freezer for longer storage. Each pack has 250 mL which is enough to make 2.5 L MSC. If you take it out and put in room temperature tap water in advance, it will be ready to use in 0.5-1 hour. You can put them in hot water if you are in a hurry. It is certainly unnecessary to keep the hot water running for more than 10 minutes.
Read more!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Some damn labmates
I am working in a big Plant Molecular Biology lab. Some labmates are really mean and selfish. I know that I should not curse anyone, but I really hope those people will disappear from this lab and never have chance to work in any other lab. They are nightmare to everyone.
I will just take some examples happened in this week. Please remember, this situation has lasted more than 1 year and it happens repeatedly. My lab is located in two floors and I am only talking about the floor I work.
Stir bars: We always keep our clean stir bars in one container on the bench of solution/media prep area. We used to have more than 10 in there, then they disappeared gradually since end of last year and there were only 2 left for recent couple months. One labmate wanted to make some medium in last week and couldn't find any. She came to ask me and I also couldn't find any. The other labmate walked by and showed us where those stir bars were hiding. There is one labmate who keeps one stir bar in almost every bottle he made medium. We randomly picked 11 bottles on his bench to check and found 11 stir bars. One labmate asked him to released some stir bars and he did it.
Gel electrophoresis room: Some labmates tend to store their used and unwanted gels in gel racks in gel running tanks for weeks. It happened several times that there is no empty gel rack and tank to use unless we clean up those several-day-old gels. Usually people rinse used comb and rack and put them on drying area next to sink. Some labmates tend to leave used comb and rack in sink without rinse them. Some labmates tend to splash or spill running buffer out of gel running tank and make the bench flood. They usually leave their mess behind and make the bench looks very dirty. Almost nobody will clean it up except one labmate and I. We just couldn't tolerate it forever.
(note) My lab has 2 small gel racks, 2 middle ones and 2 big ones. We usually keep running buffer for at least 1 week in each gel running tank and run gel over and over without changing it unless it looks bad.
Filters and screens for shooting: We need to use autoclave and oven-dry filter and screen when we use gene shot-gun for sugarcane transformation. One or some labmate(s) open the ready-to-use screens (i.e. Al foil wrapped, autoclaved, and oven dried) and left them open and un-sterile inside the oven in upper floor. It almost ruined the experiment for that person who prepared those screens and want to do her particle bombardment today. Luckily she found some autoclaved and dried ones in the oven at lower floor.
Cabinet for Tissue culture plates: Our lab in lower floor has a 5 shelves cabinet to store tissue culture plates made by each group. Each shelf can store 5x10x12 = 600 plates. People tend to put plates on the top 4 shelves and other autoclaved MSC medium in 1L bottle on the bottom shelf. Those autoclaved MSC medium will solidified after cooling down, but they can be melted by microwave and pour plates later. There are 6 groups in this floor need to do tissue culture, so there should be enough space if we share this cabinet evenly. Unfortunately there is one particular person who always occupies >2.5 shelves (i.e. >2 top shelves and >0.5 bottom shelf). It is not because she needs to do more tissue culture work than any other person, it is because she likes to keep tons of plates and bottles without using them and also doesn't want to clean them. It is December 2009 now and she has plates and bottles made in Feb.,..., July, August, ... When other labmate asked her to clean out some old ones and free some space, she just refused. This makes other 5 groups of people have difficult time to find space to store our MSC plates and bottles.
(note) Most people make plates to use, but not to store them forever. We don't make them unless we need them and we use them after we make them. Usually we make 5L MSC medium each time which can pour into 120 plates. We have different kind of medium, C3OSM, C3, C3G50, C1.5, C1.5G50, C0, C0G50, C3G50T150, C3H50, C3H100, C0G50T150, C0H50, C3G50-5FC, and C0G50-5FC for different purpose. It is quite normal that each group will need a space to store 100-300 plates, i.e. 0.5 shelf, regularly.
1L Schott bottle: There is one person who has occupied ~20 Schott bottles in the bottom shelf of tissue culture cabinet, ~5-10 Schott bottles in other shelf, and ~10-15 bottles on the counter next to our autoclave. It means that there are at least 35-45 1L Schott bottles are taken by one single person. It is the same person who occupies >2.5 shelves of tissue culture cabinet. Because of this, we are lack of 1L Schott bottle to make medium in lower floor, then we have to take Schott bottle from upper floor. Well, people in upper floor are not happy because they don't have bottle to use if we take theirs. When other labmate asked her to clean out some of her old ones, she refused and said that we don't need to care about what people in upper floor think because some of they will leave this lab in end of this year. It is so mean and selfish.
(note) Most people will pour plates right after they make and autoclave the MSC medium. Sometimes we do keep 1-5 1L Schott bottles with autoclaved MSC medium for a while, but we always use it asap, basically within 1-2 weeks after autoclaved.
Lab roster duties: In order to keep an acceptable and safe working environment, our lab has this lab roster duty system. Two RAs are responsible for 1 week and the other 2 take turn for next week. We had 10 RAs before and 8 now. Basically I am doing almost all things listed below. The RA supposes to do it with me is very lazy and almost do nothing at all. After I checked almost every listed duty this afternoon before I went home, I was ready to take 2 full yellow bins downstair. I asked this RA to take 1 bin down with me, because it is too heavy (~20 kg per bin) to take 2 by myself and she had nothing to do in that time. She refused to do so and said that we should leave it to next week. I think it is selfish to leave this week's duties to next week, so I took them down as usual.
(note) The things we need to take care are:
1. Once per week, test the autoclave is working properly.
2. Order supplies / chemical listed on the whiteboard.solution / media prep area
3. Check Path waste yellow bin daily. Take out if full, and bring an empty bin back. (ps. For PC2 lab, this bin is >1 m height and can keep up to 20 kg waste. All waste has to be double bag with bioharzard yellow bag.)
4. Check common use areas such as benches, solution / media prep area, common equipment bay (centrifuges / water baths), and fume cabinets.
5. Remove excess Styrofoam "eskies" and cardboard boxes for recycle. Check swabbing ethanol Winchesters and drums. Glass to the brown wheelie bins.
6. Wash-up areas: Put dirty plastic/glass/...wares into dish washer, wash them, put them on the drying cloth above the washer for drying. Put away clean and dry ware to suitable storage cabinet.
7. Empty yellow bins under prep bench, gel electrophoresis room, PCR room.
8. Check sharps containers in common use areas, dispose of if necessary and replace.
Read more!
I will just take some examples happened in this week. Please remember, this situation has lasted more than 1 year and it happens repeatedly. My lab is located in two floors and I am only talking about the floor I work.
Stir bars: We always keep our clean stir bars in one container on the bench of solution/media prep area. We used to have more than 10 in there, then they disappeared gradually since end of last year and there were only 2 left for recent couple months. One labmate wanted to make some medium in last week and couldn't find any. She came to ask me and I also couldn't find any. The other labmate walked by and showed us where those stir bars were hiding. There is one labmate who keeps one stir bar in almost every bottle he made medium. We randomly picked 11 bottles on his bench to check and found 11 stir bars. One labmate asked him to released some stir bars and he did it.
Gel electrophoresis room: Some labmates tend to store their used and unwanted gels in gel racks in gel running tanks for weeks. It happened several times that there is no empty gel rack and tank to use unless we clean up those several-day-old gels. Usually people rinse used comb and rack and put them on drying area next to sink. Some labmates tend to leave used comb and rack in sink without rinse them. Some labmates tend to splash or spill running buffer out of gel running tank and make the bench flood. They usually leave their mess behind and make the bench looks very dirty. Almost nobody will clean it up except one labmate and I. We just couldn't tolerate it forever.
(note) My lab has 2 small gel racks, 2 middle ones and 2 big ones. We usually keep running buffer for at least 1 week in each gel running tank and run gel over and over without changing it unless it looks bad.
Filters and screens for shooting: We need to use autoclave and oven-dry filter and screen when we use gene shot-gun for sugarcane transformation. One or some labmate(s) open the ready-to-use screens (i.e. Al foil wrapped, autoclaved, and oven dried) and left them open and un-sterile inside the oven in upper floor. It almost ruined the experiment for that person who prepared those screens and want to do her particle bombardment today. Luckily she found some autoclaved and dried ones in the oven at lower floor.
Cabinet for Tissue culture plates: Our lab in lower floor has a 5 shelves cabinet to store tissue culture plates made by each group. Each shelf can store 5x10x12 = 600 plates. People tend to put plates on the top 4 shelves and other autoclaved MSC medium in 1L bottle on the bottom shelf. Those autoclaved MSC medium will solidified after cooling down, but they can be melted by microwave and pour plates later. There are 6 groups in this floor need to do tissue culture, so there should be enough space if we share this cabinet evenly. Unfortunately there is one particular person who always occupies >2.5 shelves (i.e. >2 top shelves and >0.5 bottom shelf). It is not because she needs to do more tissue culture work than any other person, it is because she likes to keep tons of plates and bottles without using them and also doesn't want to clean them. It is December 2009 now and she has plates and bottles made in Feb.,..., July, August, ... When other labmate asked her to clean out some old ones and free some space, she just refused. This makes other 5 groups of people have difficult time to find space to store our MSC plates and bottles.
(note) Most people make plates to use, but not to store them forever. We don't make them unless we need them and we use them after we make them. Usually we make 5L MSC medium each time which can pour into 120 plates. We have different kind of medium, C3OSM, C3, C3G50, C1.5, C1.5G50, C0, C0G50, C3G50T150, C3H50, C3H100, C0G50T150, C0H50, C3G50-5FC, and C0G50-5FC for different purpose. It is quite normal that each group will need a space to store 100-300 plates, i.e. 0.5 shelf, regularly.
1L Schott bottle: There is one person who has occupied ~20 Schott bottles in the bottom shelf of tissue culture cabinet, ~5-10 Schott bottles in other shelf, and ~10-15 bottles on the counter next to our autoclave. It means that there are at least 35-45 1L Schott bottles are taken by one single person. It is the same person who occupies >2.5 shelves of tissue culture cabinet. Because of this, we are lack of 1L Schott bottle to make medium in lower floor, then we have to take Schott bottle from upper floor. Well, people in upper floor are not happy because they don't have bottle to use if we take theirs. When other labmate asked her to clean out some of her old ones, she refused and said that we don't need to care about what people in upper floor think because some of they will leave this lab in end of this year. It is so mean and selfish.
(note) Most people will pour plates right after they make and autoclave the MSC medium. Sometimes we do keep 1-5 1L Schott bottles with autoclaved MSC medium for a while, but we always use it asap, basically within 1-2 weeks after autoclaved.
Lab roster duties: In order to keep an acceptable and safe working environment, our lab has this lab roster duty system. Two RAs are responsible for 1 week and the other 2 take turn for next week. We had 10 RAs before and 8 now. Basically I am doing almost all things listed below. The RA supposes to do it with me is very lazy and almost do nothing at all. After I checked almost every listed duty this afternoon before I went home, I was ready to take 2 full yellow bins downstair. I asked this RA to take 1 bin down with me, because it is too heavy (~20 kg per bin) to take 2 by myself and she had nothing to do in that time. She refused to do so and said that we should leave it to next week. I think it is selfish to leave this week's duties to next week, so I took them down as usual.
(note) The things we need to take care are:
1. Once per week, test the autoclave is working properly.
2. Order supplies / chemical listed on the whiteboard.solution / media prep area
3. Check Path waste yellow bin daily. Take out if full, and bring an empty bin back. (ps. For PC2 lab, this bin is >1 m height and can keep up to 20 kg waste. All waste has to be double bag with bioharzard yellow bag.)
4. Check common use areas such as benches, solution / media prep area, common equipment bay (centrifuges / water baths), and fume cabinets.
5. Remove excess Styrofoam "eskies" and cardboard boxes for recycle. Check swabbing ethanol Winchesters and drums. Glass to the brown wheelie bins.
6. Wash-up areas: Put dirty plastic/glass/...wares into dish washer, wash them, put them on the drying cloth above the washer for drying. Put away clean and dry ware to suitable storage cabinet.
7. Empty yellow bins under prep bench, gel electrophoresis room, PCR room.
8. Check sharps containers in common use areas, dispose of if necessary and replace.
Read more!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Time For A Dose Of Protectionism?
"Time For A Dose Of Protectionism? (CBS news, 11/24/2009 by Irwin M. Stelzer)" is an article from CBS news. Basically I agree that not just US but the whole world should take action to against China's unfair protectionism. This strange globalization not just hurt local worker, but also damage environment badly. It is time to stop.
Time For A Dose Of Protectionism? (CBS news, 11/24/2009 by Irwin M. Stelzer)
Odd, that. There is Hu Jintao, the world's leading protectionist, the man who manipulates his nation's currency so as to keep goods and services made in other countries out while Chinese-made goods capture more and more market share, lecturing the American president on the dangers of protectionism. And there is Barack Obama, eyes downcast, supinely playing punching bag to Hu, even though he presides over the country that is China's biggest customer. ......
Not so China, which has shown that it is willing to use its economic hold on us to attempt to dictate our foreign policy. In an effort to curry favor with his creditors President Obama refused to grant an audience to the Dalai Lama when the Tibetan leader visited Washington. In China, Obama failed to insist on some token release of a dissident or two. He agreed to address a handpicked audience, rather than demand access to a wider public. Even his cheerleaders in the media are appalled at the extent of the presidential groveling. .....
China might start dumping dollars, selling off all those Treasury IOUs stored in the basement of the central bank. Possibly--if China is willing to wipe a few hundred billion off the value of the assets it will still hold. But the consequences for the United States, which would be higher interest rates and, initially, slower economic growth, must be weighed against the longer term and much larger consequences of maintaining the status quo.
The longer we allow things to stay as they are, with China using its undervalued currency to keep its goods cheap enough to displace American products on Walmart's shelves, the larger will be the stack of our IOUs China's rulers control. The longer we allow China to permit our companies a foothold in their country only if we turn over our technology and intellectual property as part of the price of access, the more likely it is that we will see high-tech Chinese goods doing to our GEs and others what their low-tech stuff has done to our shoe and apparel manufacturers. ....
=============
There are some other nice articles talking about this unbalance relationship between US and China.
A marriage made in China (By Harold Meyerson, Wednesday, November 18, 2009)
.... The ugly goings-on within this marriage are plain for all to see. The U.S. trade deficit with China was roughly $60 billion in 1998, the year before we reached the accord granting China permanent normalized trade relations. Over the following decade, it ballooned to $268 billion, and tens of thousands of U.S. factories closed down. The trade deficit is the major reason China is awash in dollars -- about 800 billion of them -- and has become our largest creditor. And it is the major reason why boosting consumption in the United States, in an attempt to reverse the recession, has the peculiar effect of boosting production and employment in China just as much as if not more than happens at home. .....
================
Obama bends knee to Chinese might (Wednesday, 18 November 2009, The Independent, UK, Clifford Coonan in Beijing)
On a carefully orchestrated tour, his hosts' economic power has limited US options.
... It has been a difficult trip for Mr Obama. The power balance between the US and China has changed from what it once was. China has taken a lead position in helping to bail out the world economy, and as America's largest foreign creditor, holding $800bn in US government bonds, it is keen to match its financial muscle with political influence. And President Obama has had to swallow the medicine. ...
Read more!
Time For A Dose Of Protectionism? (CBS news, 11/24/2009 by Irwin M. Stelzer)
Odd, that. There is Hu Jintao, the world's leading protectionist, the man who manipulates his nation's currency so as to keep goods and services made in other countries out while Chinese-made goods capture more and more market share, lecturing the American president on the dangers of protectionism. And there is Barack Obama, eyes downcast, supinely playing punching bag to Hu, even though he presides over the country that is China's biggest customer. ......
Not so China, which has shown that it is willing to use its economic hold on us to attempt to dictate our foreign policy. In an effort to curry favor with his creditors President Obama refused to grant an audience to the Dalai Lama when the Tibetan leader visited Washington. In China, Obama failed to insist on some token release of a dissident or two. He agreed to address a handpicked audience, rather than demand access to a wider public. Even his cheerleaders in the media are appalled at the extent of the presidential groveling. .....
China might start dumping dollars, selling off all those Treasury IOUs stored in the basement of the central bank. Possibly--if China is willing to wipe a few hundred billion off the value of the assets it will still hold. But the consequences for the United States, which would be higher interest rates and, initially, slower economic growth, must be weighed against the longer term and much larger consequences of maintaining the status quo.
The longer we allow things to stay as they are, with China using its undervalued currency to keep its goods cheap enough to displace American products on Walmart's shelves, the larger will be the stack of our IOUs China's rulers control. The longer we allow China to permit our companies a foothold in their country only if we turn over our technology and intellectual property as part of the price of access, the more likely it is that we will see high-tech Chinese goods doing to our GEs and others what their low-tech stuff has done to our shoe and apparel manufacturers. ....
=============
There are some other nice articles talking about this unbalance relationship between US and China.
A marriage made in China (By Harold Meyerson, Wednesday, November 18, 2009)
.... The ugly goings-on within this marriage are plain for all to see. The U.S. trade deficit with China was roughly $60 billion in 1998, the year before we reached the accord granting China permanent normalized trade relations. Over the following decade, it ballooned to $268 billion, and tens of thousands of U.S. factories closed down. The trade deficit is the major reason China is awash in dollars -- about 800 billion of them -- and has become our largest creditor. And it is the major reason why boosting consumption in the United States, in an attempt to reverse the recession, has the peculiar effect of boosting production and employment in China just as much as if not more than happens at home. .....
================
Obama bends knee to Chinese might (Wednesday, 18 November 2009, The Independent, UK, Clifford Coonan in Beijing)
On a carefully orchestrated tour, his hosts' economic power has limited US options.
... It has been a difficult trip for Mr Obama. The power balance between the US and China has changed from what it once was. China has taken a lead position in helping to bail out the world economy, and as America's largest foreign creditor, holding $800bn in US government bonds, it is keen to match its financial muscle with political influence. And President Obama has had to swallow the medicine. ...
Read more!
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