It's being 3 months after the wedding, and finally we picked up the wedding pictures from the photographer. I am really excited to see the pictures because they remind me of the sweet moments. And I am surprised to know there are a total of 800+ of them:
http://glorialo.smugmug.com/Weddings/266925
I'll try to choose a smaller selection and upload them to the wedding website later. At the meantime, you are welcomed to go through all 800+ of them :)
Friday, December 29, 2006
What is Fair?
Read an article in this week's Next Magazine, on illegal immigrant mothers from Mainland China giving birth in Hong Kong's hospital, hoping to give the child the Hong Kong citizenship, as well as the privileges and the resources granted to citizens. The article criticized this and thought it's unfair for the Hong Kong tax payers to pay for the hospital services and fees, as well as the future education, public housing, and everything else that comes with the citizenship granted to the child. Personally I am also very much against the illegal immigrants, and I definitely oppose the idea of giving any kind of privilege to the illegal immigrants. A while ago there were discussions in the US regarding giving citizenships to certain illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico, and I think that's unfair to those of us who tried to get the citizenship through legal means.
But what is fair? We are born unequally. Those mothers in Mexico and China want to give their children the best they can afford, and in some case when the new born is known to be handicapped, being born in a more developed region like US and HK is probably the only chance for the survival of the child. I think if someone is to make a movie, which illustrates the living conditions at the poor regions, the mother dreaming of a brighter future for the children, what she has gone through to get across the border into the country in order to finally give birth to the child, most of the audience will be moved and support the mother. It's also very hard to stop this issue altogether. The developed countries are obliged to provide medical care for anyone, whether or not they get into the country legally.
Probably the ultimate solution to this is when the living condition and welfare is the same everywhere in the world, thus there are no incentive to be the citizen of any particular country. Though ideal, I believe this is achievable given that the world is flattening.
But what is fair? We are born unequally. Those mothers in Mexico and China want to give their children the best they can afford, and in some case when the new born is known to be handicapped, being born in a more developed region like US and HK is probably the only chance for the survival of the child. I think if someone is to make a movie, which illustrates the living conditions at the poor regions, the mother dreaming of a brighter future for the children, what she has gone through to get across the border into the country in order to finally give birth to the child, most of the audience will be moved and support the mother. It's also very hard to stop this issue altogether. The developed countries are obliged to provide medical care for anyone, whether or not they get into the country legally.
Probably the ultimate solution to this is when the living condition and welfare is the same everywhere in the world, thus there are no incentive to be the citizen of any particular country. Though ideal, I believe this is achievable given that the world is flattening.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
My Baby!
Finally launched the Hong Kong Maps on Google Maps. Although I have worked on a couple other 20% projects before, this is nevertheless one which I am most interested in. Having spent most of my school years there, I consider myself a Hong Kong native, and I have always wanted to dedicate some of my efforts to Hong Kong related projects at Google. This is the first step.
There is still a long way to go to improve the quality and features of the map, but the first step is always the hardest. And I am glad that it is finally out of the door. This is probably only possible at Google where everyone can work on something not directly related to his/her main project.
There is still a long way to go to improve the quality and features of the map, but the first step is always the hardest. And I am glad that it is finally out of the door. This is probably only possible at Google where everyone can work on something not directly related to his/her main project.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Dream Job
Goldman posted record quarterly earnings, and it is reported that its employee will receive an annual bonus of $620K this year.
This is once of the times when the thought of whether I have picked the right job would flash across my mind, for a split of a second. Afterall, it is a pretty large amount of money. Although people usually question whether Goldman's employee actually the time to enjoy this money, it may not be a bad idea to retire at your early 30s, and travel around the world or go back to school, do anything but working for the paycheck.
OK, I know, life or job should not all be based on money. But this somehow prompts me to think what career I would possibly choose if given a second chance. Here are some alternatives:
1. Management trainee in the airline industry - The best part is I can travel for free, almost. And I can get to live in and explore different cities in the world.
2. Professional composer and pianist - Get to play and enjoy music everyday, and probably get to know some pretty singers :)
3. Travel agent - Get to spend half of the time traveling and explore new tourism spots, get invited by the most exotic hotels and restaurants for reviews.
4. Pilot - It should be fun to fly a plane. Always something I would like to try, but unlikely I can afford to own a plane.
5. Own a bookstore?
6. Wine taster?
...
Back to reality, I know deep down in my heart that I am stuck with a programmer for life. Afterall, there is absolutely no way I can wake up before 10 everyday.
This is once of the times when the thought of whether I have picked the right job would flash across my mind, for a split of a second. Afterall, it is a pretty large amount of money. Although people usually question whether Goldman's employee actually the time to enjoy this money, it may not be a bad idea to retire at your early 30s, and travel around the world or go back to school, do anything but working for the paycheck.
OK, I know, life or job should not all be based on money. But this somehow prompts me to think what career I would possibly choose if given a second chance. Here are some alternatives:
1. Management trainee in the airline industry - The best part is I can travel for free, almost. And I can get to live in and explore different cities in the world.
2. Professional composer and pianist - Get to play and enjoy music everyday, and probably get to know some pretty singers :)
3. Travel agent - Get to spend half of the time traveling and explore new tourism spots, get invited by the most exotic hotels and restaurants for reviews.
4. Pilot - It should be fun to fly a plane. Always something I would like to try, but unlikely I can afford to own a plane.
5. Own a bookstore?
6. Wine taster?
...
Back to reality, I know deep down in my heart that I am stuck with a programmer for life. Afterall, there is absolutely no way I can wake up before 10 everyday.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Death Valley Trip Pictures
It has been more than 2 weeks since I went to Death Valley during Thanksgiving. Finally got some pictures uploaded (well, actually not uploaded by me). The place is really prettier than expected, with a lot of gorgeous sceneries, though we spent more than 2/3 of the time in the car...
Mono Lake. Look at how clear the water is. Amazing.
Me lying on the freeway. Finally knows what "in the middle of nowhere" means.
Snow? No, the white stuff is salt. Trust me, I tasted it.
More picture can be found here.
Mono Lake. Look at how clear the water is. Amazing.
Me lying on the freeway. Finally knows what "in the middle of nowhere" means.
Snow? No, the white stuff is salt. Trust me, I tasted it.
More picture can be found here.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Why HK can't be another Silicon Valley?
Paul Graham has an article on How To Be Silicon Valley. In the article he summarized what he thinks contributed to the success of the Valley, and what's not.
I have always wondered why Hong Kong cannot build a high tech industry of its own. After all, it is in no shortage of money (the government poured in billions of dollars to invest in local high tech industry) and people (it has talented students and famous universities, in fact, students from HKU were among the top in the ACM worldwide programming competition in 2005). However, most of my friends who went back to Hong Kong after a successful career in US either felt dismay about their job in the high tech industry, or switched field and became a financial analyst. I used to think pay is a reason, but no longer believe so after getting insider information that a local government sponsored company Astri would match the salary.
I am starting to believe one of the major reasons Hong Kong doesn't have success building a high tech industry is that it is not an attractive place for nerds. Hong Kong's culture is closer to NYC's, more money oriented and materialistic. Hong Kong people don't like to be nerdy, or be perceived to be nerdy. As described in the article, nerdy people tend to go to places where other nerds are, and Hong Kong can probably never get the critical mass.
I have always wondered why Hong Kong cannot build a high tech industry of its own. After all, it is in no shortage of money (the government poured in billions of dollars to invest in local high tech industry) and people (it has talented students and famous universities, in fact, students from HKU were among the top in the ACM worldwide programming competition in 2005). However, most of my friends who went back to Hong Kong after a successful career in US either felt dismay about their job in the high tech industry, or switched field and became a financial analyst. I used to think pay is a reason, but no longer believe so after getting insider information that a local government sponsored company Astri would match the salary.
I am starting to believe one of the major reasons Hong Kong doesn't have success building a high tech industry is that it is not an attractive place for nerds. Hong Kong's culture is closer to NYC's, more money oriented and materialistic. Hong Kong people don't like to be nerdy, or be perceived to be nerdy. As described in the article, nerdy people tend to go to places where other nerds are, and Hong Kong can probably never get the critical mass.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
My recent readings are all surrounding 三國 (in English: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms). During my previous business trip to China, I bought 易中天's 品三國, which is currently a very popular book in China, and finished it on the flight home. This book focuses on the characters, why they succeeded or failed based on their character. Recently a friend of mine lends me a set of comic books 火鳳燎原, by an author in Hong Kong. It tries to interpret the story from a brand new angle, and the drawings are also world class.
I have always been a fan of 三國 since I was a kid. I still remember reading the 三國演義 comics when I was in kindergarten, and reading 三國演義 repeatedly during the summers of elementary schools. When I first started playing computer games, the first game I played was a 三國 based game 吞食天地. I also spent numerous hours on the different versions of 三國志, building up my own kingdom and dreaming of becoming the characters in the story.
The stories of 三國 never change, but as I grow older, the stories have different meanings to me and gradually I can get more out of the same stories and characters, and view them from totally different perspectives.
I have always been a fan of 三國 since I was a kid. I still remember reading the 三國演義 comics when I was in kindergarten, and reading 三國演義 repeatedly during the summers of elementary schools. When I first started playing computer games, the first game I played was a 三國 based game 吞食天地. I also spent numerous hours on the different versions of 三國志, building up my own kingdom and dreaming of becoming the characters in the story.
The stories of 三國 never change, but as I grow older, the stories have different meanings to me and gradually I can get more out of the same stories and characters, and view them from totally different perspectives.
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