ACN?

Well went to an introduction to that thing on Tuesday, where one of my high school mates that I met coincidentally in Melbourne a year before took me. Well that introduction is obviously made tempting and welcoming to newbies like me, but I was calm through it. I don't understand the need of standing up applause for someone who made big money out of yourself, what's the point? And yes I do believe some people did made big money from this business, simply by keep encouraging people to join the team, and tell them how to ask people to join their team, making it terribly big and make a lot of money from it. It seems easy as many of such people showed themselves up in the introduction, thing is, the ones who failed in this didn't show up, and the 'successful' people's huge earnings are based more or less on them.

Pyramid scam? Probably. $500 to have you started, plus you are encouraged to becoming a customer of ACN's mobile and probably internet or land line yourself as a start, which costs money too. I've read here that US representatives have to pay annual installments on top of the fees of joining, They did not mention a single word of this to me either in the introduction or after that in the 'persuasion' event. I don't know if this fee exists in Australia but obviously they wouldn't want you to know prior even if it does.


As the 'persuasion' goes late they started to become aggressive and started pushing me. A girl who joined the team for a month told me that she quit 2 of her part time jobs earning her like $1000 per week for this thing. I immediately got cautious at this: OK you are a year 2 commerce student in our uni, I know that commerce is an easy course but our uni would not get too easy on you as any other courses. As I am soon graduating what I was looking at was around $40k per year which is about average salary for a new graduate and I know how much time do I have while I was in year 2 even if my study is obviously busier than commerce. You are still studying and the part time jobs you quit got you more money than a full time one I was looking for? There are possibilities of course (which I'm not willing to mention). Maybe I should not doubt if ACN had got you more than that in a month, I would not believe the the part time jobs you described earn you that much even if you are telling the truth. I simply don't believe.

I don't actually mind being ACN's customer just to try it though, as my contract with 3 is over. I signed a month-to-month plan with them and they are using Optus network which I was to switch to, well it doesn't hurt right? I could cancel it if I am not satisfied. And when I started to sign those stuff my high school mate told me I am her first customer besides herself, and she's been in for two weeks. OK, back to that one-month girl, how much could you actually earn? She's got a pin saying ETT, which is the first achievement you could get in system, the requirements? 5 customer points and two down-lines. I doubt this would even get her $50 per month. She would wear the ETL (next level) pin if she did achieve that right?

I would see though. I will have to know whether they are selling genuine good products like Amway did, and I'll then consider making money out of it, with my own belief on the product. I did not tell anyone about this company yet, time will tell.

New One

I've actually been bit of regret purchasing this monster, but I did and there's no turning back anyway. It was in a two day sale with $150 off plus free speakers (I will sell the speakers as I've already got way better ones and hopefully get another $100 out of that)

Looking back I do think I did the right thing in terms of the price I got it for. The Studio XPS 435 which is just out is from over $2000 and with worse components, just better expandability and less noisy, with way larger chassis as well.

I've seen that many comment on this one that it's bit noisy, so I expected that and it's true. It is noisy but not that bad that you would throw it away. The expandability of it actually surprised me. The sales from Dell told me in the online chat that there would be only one PCI slot free so I was like 'well, I will not get a PCI WiFi card then, get a USB one instead and leave it for say a better sound card' and I did. But when I opened the chassis when it arrives, It actually come with 3 free PCI-Express x1 slots, well I only need one for a sound card anyway, probably a Creative X-Fi Extreme Music. Lucky I didn't get a PCI WiFi card prior cos that one doesn't actually fit in PCI-Express x1 slots...

There had been some frustration with the software side of this thing. The dardisk wasn't partitioned properly out of the factory, so I obviously have to divide it again and I actually had to hide the recovery partition myself! And after that I had to reinstall Windows, there are problems with the bluetooth thing comes with it, which I can't manage to install a so-called 'bluetooth peripheral', however it does not affect the bluetooth communication among my phone, my desktop and laptop so I just leave that alone. The Windows Vista 64-bit is bit weird, especially when it comes to media playing. I'll have to try to work this out some time. Or I'm actually considering Linux, I was to switch to Linux for my laptop but now I started to consider maybe this one is the thing that I should switch. The only thing worried me was the compatibility of the hardwares and stuff, I won't start until I got them relatively clear.

The power system is another concern of this desktop to me. It is probably more of a living room computer than a workplace one, I can't imagine my computer has lights on when it's not turned on but it has. The light itself is not a big issue, I could just turn the power supply off, but as most of my appliance is on the same surge protector I still want my phone charger on!

Hmm for the customized build part, I basically only chose the basic parts for it, although it's already more than appealing. The core components are Intel Core i7 920, X58+ICH10, 3G DDR3 1066MHz, 500G HDD, ATI Radeon 4850HD 512M. It is obviously not worth it to spend almost $1000 to upgrade to i7 940 as there's nothing much more than a 133MHz higher clock speed which I think I actually could overclock my CPU to if I want it cos the basics such as number of cores and amount of caches are absolutely the same, while the RAM and HDD could be added by myself easily later. It was said that a RAID series would match better with the performance of the system than a single hardisk, I guess so when it becomes the bottle neck of the system, with all those hi-end CPUs and graphic cards. I would actually prefer a graphic card by nVidia but it didn't provide me with a choice...

Well that's about it, my new computer. I've yet to try it on one of those hard core games but I'm definitely eager to get my hands on Diable III whenever it comes out, and I'm ready with this thing hopefully.

A Worse than Nothing Holiday?

5 reports, 1 assignment and then 2 exams after the Easter break, WTF? It's supposed to be EASTER!! Wait is Easter about the break or the suffering? I am no Christian so it is all about the break for me obviously, I should be able to demand it and the piled-up homework is all that I get.

Now, the 3rd day in 10 is almost gone, what have I done towards those? None. I've been enjoying MY days off uni so far. Which would turn into greater suffer close to the due days of the homework and exams...

Anyway, I'm going to bed and call this a day, the 3rd of 10 days' break.

Simply Moved

This is a very old piece of story. A shepherd was shepherding sheep on the hills and watching out for wolves. One day he was bored and tried to cry out 'The Wolf is coming!' and the whole village ran up the hill to help just to find out it was a lie. The shepherd found it funny and did it several times later, and people knew that he's lying and didn't bother running up the hill again. And there's one day that a wolf had really appeared, no matter how the shepherd cries no one runs up for help.

It's bit different in the McDull book, while nobody believes the shepherd again, there's still McDull running up the hills every time the shepherd cries. It wasn't that McDull does believe the shepherd, he once told the shepherd, 'If there's once that the wolf is really coming, just once, you will die. I lose nothing but weight running up every time you cry, I just don't want to risk your life.'

The Yellow Peril

Problems? Definitely.

Solutions? Definitely.

Consequences? Who cares!

I do. Although this is only a political prophetic fiction written some twenty years ago, it points out the way China (and consequently the world) is heading towards. Actually some of the scenarios described in the fiction had already happened, such as self-burning on the Tiananmen Square and the reign of Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan.

I don't know whether the once-in-800-years yellow peril would actually occur in this 21st century, which is exactly 800 years after Genghis Khan's famous western expedition into Europe.

The Yellow Peril described in the book was about the collapse of Chinese Communist Party government after the assassination of the Chinese president and a series of natural and nuclear disasters, which leads to the insane invasion of 1 billion refugees towards Russia, Western Europe, North America and Australia. The refugees are not armed, using its number and the sympathy of the Western World as weapons instead, while the crippling temporary government tried to negotiate with any nations on their way - Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Iran, Turkey etc., even Russia itself who wants toead the refugees out of the nation towards the United States, to force them to open up a corridor and give help of food and transportation on the way. Well they can't afford to deny hel lping, cos if they do, hundreds of millions of refugees will be forced to staying in the country that denies passage, which will definitely cripple that country promptly.

Well, such description of invasion is alarming, given that Chinese people (including myself) as well as other people from developing countries are already fleeing out of the country to the Western World in hope of a better life and escape from the corrupt government, a phenomenon known as Neo-Colonization.

What's ahead of us?

Hope

After all those pains, there is hope.

This is somewhere close to Kilmore on Hume Highway, where the Black Saturday bushfire had burnt over. I'd been passed this area like ten days after the fire, and it was all black, with nothing but desperate death all around, and the smoky odor sneaking into the car.

More than one month now, the pain and horror was obviously not gone far, we drove by this area again and I snapped this picture. There is green new leaves thriving up the burnt black trees although it is autumn. There is grass starting to grow, almost transparent but definitely green. There is hope.

I was very glad to see there is sense of life reviving this fire-ravaged ground, after all those savageness and extinction. Yes there is hope.

7 months, 7 days

Well in a word, we were together for 7 days in our 7 month relationship. That's it.

I don't quite remember most of the other days that we'd not been together, but I do remember in every detail all the days I'd been with you. No matter how much it hurts thinking of you during those 'intervals', it's pure pleasure being with you. Those were the sweetest memories that were to last.

You are always as you are, no negotiations, even when it comes to our relationship, which is not your own matter. And I've learnt that, although I doubt you could eliminate me completely after you said that. I was to ask you if you ever think of me after breaking up, but I'll hold it up til later.

Distant relationships are not easy to maintain, I knew it from way before you. But it was our choice so I made myself believe in it, and I did til days before we broke up. I prayed for our relationship to last while I was back in China in a temple, and there's obviously not a need to redeem it as it doesn't work out just after two months. That's probably because I started doubting it first, you've only made the actual move.

I tried to make myself cry, I couldn't. I was stronger than I thought I was, I actually wished I could just cry and all is gone instead of having to occasionally panicking about things.

The Easter plan of me going up to meet you was obviously ruined. My friends from Gold Coast was so kind to have invited me up on hearing that but I was obviously booking too late while flight tickets had become so expensive I could not afford it (this was a reason and an excuse). And I feel pretty sorry not to have shown much interest at the invitation, don't get me wrong I was eager to go up and see you guys again, it's just not the right time at the moment...

I haven't quite got used to life without you, I don't know whom to think of in my sleepless nights. To be honest.

Mr. Lonely

I first heard the song in a flash anime several years ago, in which the sound was very distorted due to excessive compression, it still impressed me. All I remember about that flash was that it was about a cat or two, but I remember the song very well.

I saw this movie not very long ago, like a year after its release. Not so impressive to be frank, probably worse than that flash. The story itself being bit complicated involving heaps of people who want to be somebody else. The blog from which I read about this movie says the blogger was moved by it and he cried, I didn't.

Yesterday was Sunday, and I worked as usual. It's been almost two weeks I haven't heard from you. Suffering from a still very bad sore throat I didn't bother talking much to customers. When the shop is empty I started to panic and changed my facebook status to the first verse of Mr. Lonely. I started singing that song very quietly in the shop and tears started welling up my eyes. And there's customers coming in. I didn't bother serving them yet, can't let them see me cry at least. I tried to open my eyes wide and accelerate the evaporation and it worked. But I can't help myself singing that song to myself, and when I sing it I will cry. I feel like I am Mr. Lonely.

Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely. I have nobody, for my own. (Actually I'd rather sing the last one as 'I'm on my own')

My First Day Back, from Fungi Fight to Ikea, Yesterday

It was during those record hot waves that had hit Melbourne while I was escaping it in the extreme cold in China, that one of our tubs broke and flooded the house... When my housemate's back a few days before me she told me online that there was mushrooms growing in her room and I started to worry. Luckily though she told me that one of our neighbours might have seen water coming out of the house and turned off our water supply so it's not that wet while she was back.

While I enter the house I could smell the mould obviously but I didn't know it was that bad until I had a shower and started checking my stuff, which seem absolutely normal at first sight. A pair of my shoes which I do love for years was moulded seriously and the suede was dyed by the moulds and became hard that I had to thow away. All five of my bags that I've left on my floor was moulded and I throwed two of them away, one other suede one costs a fortune so although I should throw it away I tried to rescue it, but it's main problem was not with moulds but with extended soaking that distorted the shape of it... I don't know what will I do about it yet. One of my bedside tables was so moulded that the drawers stuck in. My undies and socks inside were safe though, but I had to throw this drawer away obviously. The boxes which I've put past lecture notes and bills and stuff was also soaked through I had to dump the bottom part of it. Luckily the important documents were stored in a different place. Mystically my printer, subwoofer and Wii were all safe although they were all placed on the floor...

I tried to clean the carpet a bit, using those powders and vacuuming them spray disinfectants on, I could still smell the mould though...

I had a 2 hour nap on the flight so I should be tired but I decided to go to Ikea, at least I have to replace my drawers and those boxes. So there I went, taking a bus to Northcote then train to North Richmond then tram to Ikea. I saw what I want for the drawers right at the entrance of Ikea but I went around the showing rooms like three times trying to find it, asked the staff and they were as helpless and I had to get out to the entrance again to look at it, mark down the funny Swedish name and go back, I finally found that it was only showing in the marketplace though... It was a good choice though, cheap and most importantly relatively easy to carry cos I had to use public transport to go back home. There was some funny looks at me at the bus station though, I didn't bother to care.

That thing didn't require screws or something like that to assemble, instead it uses only a hammer which is the only thing that I don't have in my house... I used a spanner that did the same thing though. looks pretty nice at last. Huh~

And yesterday I spent another day in Ikea with a friend, bought heaps of stuff again and sort of got caught in the extremely packed tram :S Was home safely at last though with a tabletop for my drawer which I wasn't able to carry last time, a cute panda cushion which my friend didn't want to hand back to me obviously and a swivel chair. That's about it. I helped building her shoe shelf in her place and then got my chair and tabletop onand went to sleep almost straightly.

Quite a While Huh?

I tried several times to post something here but all gave up at last...

The first ten days of February, very busy back there in China... I haven't had much time staying in China actually, and I do have heaps and heaps of friends to catch up with, so it was like non-stop. Plus the fact that I had to prepare for my coming back to Australia. Was pretty glad to have seen some people again though, I am still an innocent boy in people's eyes, just because I tell the truth. Some other people had changed, in the way I don't want them to be but they are no longer part of my life anyway so I just don't bother worrying.

After that was obviously my coming back to Australia. It was a night flight but I didn't managed to sleep much at all. Watched a handful of movies though.

Finally got to see Coming Down the Mountain, it's still dead on my eMule but i still want to download it. The story was quite nice, and although David did something horrible, he's still the most miserable kid in the family and parents don't usually think of his feelings apparently just because of his intellectually defected brother Ben.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas almost made me crying loudly out. It was just bland and beautiful at the beginning while Bruno's exploring their backyards and accidentally found Schmuel in the concentration camp and made friends with him, bringing him food and stuff. They were aware of people missing and those chimneys exhausing inbearable gases but they never knew what that was. While Schmuel was treated pretty badly in the camp Bruno was cheated by the video that life in the camp was even better than outside and he does think that it was because he was not Jew that he doesn't have the right to get in the camp (not the other way), until the days comes when Schmuel's father was lost. Bruno dug into the camp in the 'striped pajamas' that Schmuel brought and they set out to look for his father. They were mistakenly taken to the toxic gas 'shower'... And just before that Bruno was suggesting 'why not try the cafe in the camp' while they were bit tired. And there was those desparate cries from Bruno's parents and sister when they finally know where their missing Bruno is.

After landing in Melbourne I had to deal with all those moulds growing in my room for the whole first day, I think I should write this in another post :P And I got a cold somehow after that... It had just become better that I was up here in Dookie campus for a Viticulture subject.

So, here we wrapped it all up again.

skins Season 3 the New Crew

Freddie. A less overwhelming and less controlling Tony, actually sort of like Maxxie in terms of character sometimes. The actor (Luke Pasqualino) was hot btw :P

Cook. Supposed to be Chris, well combined with Anwar's homophobia and lechery. Messing up with gangsters are like Sid messing up with that PHD thing? Not so sure... So far the craziest role in this season.

JJ. Sid obviously. Same geeks.

Effy is still Effy and Pandora is still Pandora, nothing much to say here...

Katie. Abby? Almost same slutty.

Emily. Michelle? Almost same miserable.

Can't really find much of the connections other than these so far with characters in the previous skins.

We've yet to meet Thomas but I have a gut feeling that he represents Jal...

So, who's Naomi? I don't see such an isolated person in the previous skins... Wait Sketch? She should not be that hated cos she's done nothing wrong...

And where's Maxxie? Cassie? Anwar anyone?

Choir

Been back to my middle school choir the other day for an event of the departure of the graduating members. it was 8 years since my departure and I know no one in the current choir obviously cos they change members completely every 6 years along with the school. Luckily some of the old members which I know had attended that as well so that I could have someone to talk to.

I am pretty glad to see that I was not the oldest one there. One of the leading voices in my time had gone back to the school as a teacher and to assist the director with the choir. I've seen that the style of the choir have some what changed after seeing the DVD they gave me, from more general and international works into more remote and aboriginal style, especially the addition of Tibetan elements. And I don't see a single Mandarin work through the DVD.

I saw one thing from their performance. The director kept telling the choir to sing with their deepest emotion, well they did seem like they did. Yet I don't think that it was their true emotions cos I don't think I understand all those songs all that good by the time I was like 14. I don't even understand them quite well now when I'm 23. The conclusion is easily drawn here: they act. There is nothing wrong with acting, thing is, you better call an acting an acting instead of 'the truest emotion' as the director do. Of course this does no harm to the choir, on the contrary it adds to the reputation of it, what it does is the harm to the soul of the students. In a simple word, the school teach students to pretend and to lie, for the good of the reputation of the school itself. What will the students do when they grow up? Pretend and lie for the good of the company or country or whatever? They have a decent excuse for wrongdoing.

It was a shame though that some of the old members which I were longing to see didn't come along, but I think we'll make it another time, better before I go back to Australia this time.

Leaving etc.

Not actually that willing, it is always good seeing family back home I know. And I understand it would be a long time after this time I go back that would happen again. Not actually know how long. I can't stop eating in my first dinner home, mum always is the best cook in the world.

Yes the year 2009 is my year of the Ox. And it is a crucial year to China of course. Looking back, from when the Communist party had controlled mainland China from 1949, every ten years there will be some big disaster taking place in China. And the year of 2008 had already set a fantastic background for all that to happen. I was actually bit of worried that I might be blocked out of the border but I got in without a problem which means I'm not actually nasty enough for them to consider arresting me. But there are plenty of examples that China jails democracy fighters and people speak of bad towards the Communist Party.

Another thing to do before leaving an empty house behind would be to clear up the fridge, I actually did this one pretty badly, getting myself an ingestion that I could not sleep the night before departure past midnight while I had to get up at 5AM the next morning to catch the flight, and I still had to get rid of some of the remaining stuff at the last minute.

Well anyway I was tired after such a long day and I really should go to sleep, now.

Looking Back on the Year 2008

The year 2008 slipped away, before I realize it (just like every other year actually, and it usually takes a few days for me to recognize it was another year). The rising sun doesn't seem any different to me on my way back on early in the morning of New Year's Day, every day the sun is new anyway.

During this remarkable year, my rent's been rising for three times and I'm surprised that I still bear to live in the same place... Well if I got the chance in that Homeshare program I will definitely leave here, crap as hell for that sort of rent. But otherwise I don't see myself leaving, mainly due to the trouble of moving all my stuff... (consider the day I step on the earth of Australia with a suitcase, a shoulder bag and a backpack, I think my stuff could well fill up a van now)

During this remarkable year, heaps of new people enter my life, only two important ones though. I would like to thank them, for, everything. I can't imagine a 2008 without you two (doesn't necessarily mean it would be difficult, but obviously the two of you changed me a lot). There are other guys though, people comes and goes, and the best stays. I would always treasure all the friends that kept me in touch for long time.

During this remarkable year, I sort of ended the chaos of my intimate life thanks to you. A distant relationship is hard to sustain as far as I experienced. I didn't hesitate to jump into another one with you though, still hoping that it would work out at last, and last. At least it was not an international one this time.

There are lots of other things happened in the year 2008 outside of me as well, which makes me more aware of the existence of evilness. There will definitely be more of such events taking place in the year 2009 though. And I wish that the devil will be punished soon, we'll see. I signed the Charter 08 on the first day of the year 09 after a bit of struggling, but it's obviously not regretting it.

Untitled

I miss you honn. Missed your touch, missed your hugs, missed your kisses, missed your breath into my ear, even your scratches.

I understand that I wouldn't be able to see you in quite a few months this time... I actually should visit again some time but it seems not quite possible to me cos I got more shifts at work plus you must be busy close to Christmas... Visiting New York in the New year for your birthday and I'll soon be home back in China, that's another one and a half month gone. Not long after I come back my uni will commence again and all I could do is wait for you to visit, which I won't be sure when... I know that you'll be taking another course in January as well, you didn't tell me when will that finish though... Maybe I'll not be looking to seeing you til next Easter...

It seems it's been long time since the last time I heard your voice... I was to call you but I was afraid that you might be busy or whatever that you wouldn't pick up... Well I hadn't even tried and I got that conclusion, although should only be called speculation. Well I should argue that you never called me though...

Well, Merry Christmas.

The Power of Discount

Hmm, what do you think a sexy Stussy jumper, a Stussy tee, a Stussy shirt, a small Stussy bag, an Independant tee, a Freejive tee, a huge Mossimo bag, a white Penguin shorts and a cute Penguin vest worth altogether? No matter what you think, I got all of them for A$190, which I think was fair (for me) enough, the Jumper's A$40 and the tees are 3 for A$50, all the other items are $20 each. So I got myself quite a lot for this Christmas, end of story.

Not sure if I should tell but if you don't regard me as advertising (I really am not), the sale is still on 500 Brunswick St, Fitzroy til Christmas I guess everyday 10AM - 5PM. But going early is highly recommended as things seem to go fast. The sale range is simply street brands such as Stussy, Mossimo, Paul Frank, Superdry, Globe... The lines include clothes, accessories, shoes, undies and other weird stuff. No high end brands such as Bape though... All at crazy price!

So, it's Holiday

Exams over, life gone. I've actually expected this. I always feel like uni when I'm on holiday and holiday when I'm in uni... I've become so lazy that I have to push myself hard to get myself on this post...

Well I did almost nothing lately, applied for that homeshare thing though, which means if I'm lucky I won't have to pay rents anymore and replacing that by doing housework and caring for elderly or disabled people.

Been spending a lot of money lately but fortunately I'll be working more from next week so that I'll not be that struggle.

Been moving away from Bach a bit now, since listening to sonatas by Brahms and Beethoven, Bach seemed real cold and cruel comparing to them, but still dignified and elegant. Well I'm finally off just Baroque I guess... Although Baroque is still appealing to me.

I think that's it, the start of my holiday, meant to be, er, nothing.

From This to That

Hmm you've changed, I mean you towards me, since last time we met.

After the last time, I was like pretty sure I'm in love with you while you kept telling me things like you enjoyed being single, you're not ready and all sorts of stuff. And you always tell me that I love you more than you do. Well, I can't think of a reason not to admit that until this time. And I've been giving myself various excuses when it comes to all those temptations.

And this time, I do feel that you've changed, Although you didn't tell or you might not have realized yourself, that you love me. While you are still telling me that I love you more than you do and I'll start to think about it now. And, I'll not be able to persuade myself with those excuses anymore, because I started to feel my responsibility to you. And I felt like I've hurt you before using those excuses, and I feel guilty. I do.

Well responsibility, a long lost word for me. And I'm picking it up. And I'm not dropping it again, hopefully.

the Ugly Chinese

This book is written some 20 years ago in 1984 by Bo Yang, a famous Taiwanese author who passed away earlier this year. I've heard of this book for a pretty long time but I hadn't got a chance til recently to have bought it from Taiwan and read it thorough. This book is also published in mainland China in the year 2004, but censored of course, I guess most of the second part of the book is gone cos "different" voice from the government is presented as the responses to the book goes on like a war on the Chinese magazines of the United States.

Well it was my opinion, I don't know whether it was that Chinese people had become uglier or something, this book doesn't seem to have revealed every ugly thing about the Chinese people, such as shameless and greedy as far as I see. Anyway, Mr Bo Yang wrote this book in the hope of seeing the 'uprising' of the Chinese people and community in the world, whereas I've already lost every single hope of Chinese ever being any good again. They are just hopeless. They are boasting of what a long history or what dazzling achievements Chinese had achieve in the ancient times, well note this 'ancient times', look around yourself now do you see any modern utilities been developed or invented by Chinese? Nothing.

Self-humiliation while comparing themselves to the people in developed country while cynic towards everything in the developed world and jeer anyone that goes towards them as toady to foreign powers, well, if there is something that the developed world is doing better than the traditional way (not just some I guarantee, heaps), what one should do is not to try to push it down by groundless blames and not admitting that you yourself is inferior but to think of what is so good about it and either find a way to make yourself superior of even simply mimic is better than just satirizing the good ones and keep your stupid way. And that is what Chinese people are doing and that is why I lost all hope.

Every single time that the government had done something wrong or lied about something, what they do was not to try to find the truth but help the government to cover its fault 'for good' or 'for the respect of our glorious China' while your rotten China had already been known as the biggest liar in the world.

Most recently, the so called 'Shenzhou 7' the spaceship, absolutely fake and few people actually doubt that within China after a bunch of hints pointing directly towards the falseness of it: a news leak about the spaceship describing in every detail of the spaceship in the space when it was not even launched, bubbles (well they manipulated the videos on Youtube so that the 'bubbles' look like pieces of paper as they say, which further proves the falseness of the spaceship) that indicates the video is shot underwater, an aside that calls for two 'motiles' approach 'underwater', the sudden change of type of clothes from cordless from the ship to corded indicates airflow need when you think of they are underwater so that there would be less bubbles (still proved to be inevitable though), the time difference between the portion of earth shown in video and the 'actual' time demonstrated, plus the video had demonstrated the 'getting out' from various angles showing the astronauts while there's nothing about the spaceship itself and all the camera is focussed at the door of the cabin, don't think it bit ridiculous? Well if there's only one suspectation was observed I might trust the the saying of the government, but what about all these? I wouldn't believe these evidences are all fake and only what the Chinese government says is true.

Someone asked me recently that whether the Chinese government was corrupt or not, my answer was very. And when asked 'could you buy someone over?' the answer would be you will HAVE TO buy someone over in many circumstances or you are just nothing. The whole government is corrupt like that and nobody ever give a shit that they are even happy to buy them over for a ‘reassurance'. No wonder huh?

The bottom line is that, this is a pretty good book for the mainland Chinese people as an enlightenment. It does show many of ugly behavior that is unique to Chinese people and will show them that 'if you guys don't do anything about such I don't see a future of China', and they did absolutely nothing I would say.

And believe me buying the uncensored Taiwanese version is a must if you are gonna read this one or you could actually compare the two versions and see how evil the Chinese government is that they don't even tolerate any say against it.

Newcastle

Actually been back for like a week now, was impressive and I liked it.

I was pretty shocked mistaking Sydney as Newcastle on the plane, well if it really was that would be horrible, endless lights spreading into the night, a city that never sleeps. I thought Newcastle would not be that huge, and I was right.

The airport is obviously small, with only two or three parking places for planes. and you will have to go around the plane to get back to the terminal building. Switching on my phone, considering that you might not have arrived that I should call after going to toilet. I was rushing to that sign of a faceless stand straight man while you suddenly spoke into my ear that you are going to pay for your parking.

You drove me around the city although it is dark and not much is actually seen, all I could feel was Newcastle is actually a pretty hilly city with heaps of beaches. Then to your place, which was pretty dark (no doubt at night). We are both bit tired and we just fell asleep.

The weather next morning was pretty pleasant as far as I remember, and I was surprised that it was actually Lake Macquarie outside your window. Was to go to the beach but it seems we are pretty slack so we only got to go for grocery shopping and for the materials I need to cook for tonight.

It took quite some effort to find the Asian grocery that you found on the Yellow Page, we finally got there though. Well, just really a grocery, pretty small, we found all what we need though, that's good enough.

It was hard to find the steamer under your housemate's bed, we pulled out every single box and opened them and checked, and it was finally there. Pretty small one, means we'll have to divide the chicken into two and steam them separately.

Yes steamed chicken with Shitake mushroom is one of the dishes that night, with boiled dumplings and a stir fry. Rice had to be bought from a nearby restaurant as you don't have a rice cooker here.

The vegetarian stir fry was surprisingly good as I actually seldom do stir fries. (stir fry is actually not Asian, instead American-Asian as we don't actually do it at home, it was invented by the immigrants but you guys love it) It seems the chicken was not as welcomed, think it was bit bland though but I still love it. Seems we had a lot of alcohol that night.

The next day we got up at 6AM, going to Maitland where you worked, I just go around the small town and take pictures everywhere. Two things surprised me, it was not a big town and there are like half a dozen churches, and the churches sound bells! This immediately evaluates my favor towards the town. At the centre of the main street mall was all kinds people singing and dancing hilariouly. Bored and tired by the last one or two hours of the waiting, I just sat at the back.

It rains in the afternoon and we were trapped in the cafe of Hunter Valley Gardens, pretty regretful that we didn't visit the vineyards though, just comforting myself that the grapes are not ripened at this time of year, and there is always next time.

It was another slack morning on Sunday, and a 'completely Aussie BBQ experience' for me at lunch. Everything's overcooked (just as usual) though...

Beach. Simply wonderful.

The last day, we had a fight in the morning, my fault though. And we just drove around trying to kill the time before the flight, realizing there's no opening restaurant for a dinner at 4PM the only choice was junk food.

We seated ourselves right opposite to the chek in counters chilling for like an hour and felt the guys inside peeping at us, and it was time to go.

Got myself a Latte and a window seat, a bit of a rush, just finished replying a guy on facebook and it was boarding time.

I will remember that old man running on and off the skybus like five times and making me miss the train home!!!