mfli.net -- Completely False - a glimpse into the life of Ming Li

I just bought some tickets from Northwest Airlines to go home in mid-August. They were the cheapest, and offered the best time (if you call 6:40 am a good time).

But now I realize that there's an entire collective of Northwest (or Northworst, as they call it) haters on the net. Some real horror stories of cancelled flights and 2 day delays. I would be particularly unimpressed if I were delayed for two days, because that would mean the missing of a wedding, and a lot of money wasted.

I should have done more research before I reached for the credit card. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.

What is it like to work at amazon.com, you ask?

This is some intern's idea of a fun night in:

void evening(){

    Watch_DVD (video store near by);

    Drink_some_beer();

    Play_some_Halo();

    while (!to_bilegerant){

        drink_more_beer();

    }           

    return home;

}

I don't know what's more sad, the fact that he wrote that, or that I actually copied and pasted it here.

Note the spelling mistakes.

The stadium was packed and roaring. The pitch ... he swings ... a hit ... going ... going ... gone! And it's a three run homer. But a long "Boooo" echos from the crowd. The runners quickly finish their round of bases, and Oakland continues with their next batter.

I've never been really interested in Baseball. The only times I've gone to games before was when I scored some free tickets. But when you're in Seattle, home of the Mariners, leaders of the American League, how can you not go to a game? That and work is only a five minute walk from Safeco Field.

For $20, we got the seats at the very back of the highest level. I had directly behind me the tracks on which the roof moves, and I could actually feel the short of breath accompanied by high altitudes. The whole stadium was below me, and the energy that it carried was tremendous. Every time a Mariner got on the field, there was great yells of cheers, and every time the A's got a hit, it was waves of Booo's.

The Mariners did win the game 7-4. This makes last night the first major league baseball game I've ever attended in which the home team actually won.

I got a nice surprise today. Some birthday presents from my employer.

I must leave work early today. I have orientation at the Y at 5:30.

The decision to joing the Y came yesterday. It's not a cheap decision with $50 at joining and $50 per month, but I was getting fed up with going home and just sitting on my getting-fat ass. This way, I can go after work (everyday hopefully), and get some much needed exercise. The money paying also acts as a motivator. If I didn't go, I'd be wasting money. And I'd miss my money too much to be wasting it.

This morning I saw a woman so large that she had to use the wheelchair lift to get on the bus.

This prompted me to wonder, what causes this obesity epidemic in North America? What causes the MAJORITY of fat people to become fat?

Is it the lack of a healthy diet combined with a lack of exercise and fatty snack foods? Could it be that evolution is taking over the genetic makeup of us North Americans and slowly turning all of us into Jabba the Hut?

In 2000, nearly 20% of the US population are categorized as obese (Body Mass Index of over 30). And some people believe that obesity can cost the health care system more than smoking. I know how everyone says that people should be comfortable with the way they look, and I agree. I also agree that the depiction of being healthy in the entertainment industry is wrong and impossible for most people to achieve. But being obese (in the scientific term) can seriously affect the person's health.

I don't know how to end this post without upsetting people.

Presenting: amazon.ca available in both English and French.

There's going to be something very special going on at 9pm tonight. So I'll tell you all tomorrow. (And no, it has nothing to do with my personal life).

Update: It's already on the web, see if you can find it.

I am a picture taking machine.

I was a spoiled child when I was little. I got everything I wanted as long as I stayed at home. My grandmother was scared to even let me out of the house lest something terrible should happen to me. I was rarely allowed to "go out" and play with other kids my age. My only moments of true childhood playfulness occurred at recess time and some weekends when my cousins came over.

My parents, having gone abroad to study and learn, left me in the care of my grandparents. My grandmother, left with the monumental task of looking after me, was horrified when I caught pneumonia (I think her overbearing caretaking may have partly contributed to my physical weakness at the time). I could not imagine what she felt like, but it was an interesting experience for me. I was in the hospital for nearly a month, coughing up mucus and sometimes with traces of blood. I remember one night, I had such a high fever that I dreamed a bright, flourescent white light at the end of my bed.

Now my grandmother has Alzheimers. She'll forget a conversation not five minutes after having it. She'll keep on asking you the same questions over and over again, in ten minute intervals, because she doesn't remember asking it. I feel that I should show more emotion towards my grandparents. But I have never been good at showing emotion. It's not that I don't love them, or don't care. I just don't know how to feel sometimes. And that scares me a little bit.

Must ... force ... self ... drink ... bad ... free ... beer ... at ... work ...

Happy Birthday To Me.

Give it up for me to bring in the summer

I can never understand why so many people, after living their entire lives speaking and conversing and WRITING in the English language, cannot differentiate between "they're", "there", and "their"; or "than" and "then"; or "farther" and "further".

Maybe they all need this book.

I might even get one myself.

mfli.net Owner Bans Deep Linking

Seattle - The owner of mfli.net has decided to ban deep linking to his site, and will send out cease and desist letters to all two deep linkers over the next few decades. This follows a trend of deep linking bans from major websites.

When asked to comment on whether this would adversely affect the traffic to his website, the owner reluctantly replied, "well, of course, since all the links to my website are deep links. But I'm sure people will come around and discover that there's more to mfli.net than just my weblog."

The reporter then asked why he decided to ban deep links, to which the response was, "if Walmart won't let me tell my friends about the white thong sale from Wednesday to Saturday, then people shouldn't be allowed to deep link to my website."

"But Walmart does let you tell your friends about the sale."

"Oh."

First pics from my digital camera.

Notice how there are never old suicide bombers? Because old people are wise, and young people are stupid. Old people know that violence, especially in this era, would not solve things without some interference from other "guardian" nations. Young people, like the suicide bombers, and apparently also the leaders of both sides, believe that violence can solve things.

Some people think that Sharon is reserved in that they did not full out attack Palestine. What they fail to mention is that Israel is surrounded by Arab states who would no doubt counterattack should an actual invasion happen. And the US, the self-declared protectorate of the world, might not be willing to make a dozen enemies just to protect Israel (don't forget, nuclear capable Pakistan is not too far away).

This is too much politics for one day.

Occupation and suicide bombings form a vicious cycle. Israel will occupy more of Palestine as long as suicide bombings continue to curb the "terrorism". Palestinian hardliners will continue suicide bombings because Israel is occupying Palestinian land. Eventually one side will run out of young, furtile people, and the population will die.

Until both sides are willing to not only talk peace, but also act it out, this vicious cycle will only spiral downwards. But what do I know, I'm sure that if I were in a situation like that I'd lose my mind too.

Sometimes I'm such a putz. I went over to the store across from work about a week ago and bought a box of Ritz bits. I opened them today, and only then did I realize that I had picked up peanut butter ones instead of cheese.

I hate peanut butter.

Today was a gift day for me, except all the gifts were from myself. Everything I ordered online came in today, which includes my little Minolta Dimage X, a SD Card Reader, an 128 Mb SD Card, some film (for my non-digital camera), and a lens I ordered for my SLR.

Now I'm poor again.

I think I take too many pictures.

Here are more new albums: Drive Down, Ferry Ride, The Hoh, Photogenic, Seattle Skyline, and Sunsets.

The ferry was rocking against the ebbing of the water, and the sky was grey with a mist above the mountain tops. The wind was cold out on the water, especially on the bow. I knew I should have worn more than just a t-shirt. But the excitement was overtaking the stiff coldness of the seawind.

The drive would take longer than expected, after brief and not so brief stops for bathroom and breakfast. But every moment was as fantastic as the next. One moment riding alongside snow-peaked mountains, the next winding past the calm waters of Lake Crescent, and after that snaking through the crowded forest. Sometimes I wish I weren't driving just to enjoy the view more, but at other times it was the driving that invigorates the mind and soul.

The time spent in the Hoh Rainforest was short in relation to the total trip. A weekend camping trip would have suited the area better. Nonetheless, it was a new experience for all. The rainforest was teeming with life and death. New growths on dead plants. The voice of Tom Creek could be heard from any point during the hike, and its waters were bitter cold.

Dinner was Thai, with small dishes and smaller service. But no complaints can be made against a wonderful day and a wonderful trip.

I want to go to England. Too bad I know nothing about XML.

South Korea wins against Portugal? What kind of world are we living in?

Raindrops are falling on my head,
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his head,
Nothing seems to fit, those,
Raindrops are falling on my head,
They keep falling ...

Yesterday I realized how much I like Telus Mobility's customer service.

I wanted to inquire about the status of my pay and talk plan, and since I'm in the US, and can't use my cell phone without a credit card, I decided to call their toll free number. After fiddling around with their automated system for a while, I decided to utilize the magical option "0" (you know, the one they never tell you, but always brings you to a "real" person).

After a moment of silence, I was greeted with a friendly voice that was almost eager to help (must have been her first day on the job). The girl on the otherside of the line answered all my questions, and was very polite. That conversation brought me thinking, have I had a bad experience at Telus? And I couldn't find one in my memories. The only thing I remember is that they kept on sending me a bill every month after I switched to pay and talk for the amount of -0.01. It was because I overpaid by 1 cent sometime earlier, and apparently their system can't handle the fact that negative numbers are in their favour.

A 22 page pdf document on the correct way to write a mailing address.

I learn something new everyday. Sometimes twice a day.

Must be the Water

With France and Argentina out of the running now, what else will the World Cup throw at us? Will South Korea and/or Japan make it to the final 16? Will China ever win a game?

Will I stop asking questions?

Let's gossip more about Jonny.

Probably the biggest surprise in this year's World Cup, France, the defending champs, gets 0 (yes, count 'em, 0) goals in three games of group play, and is now out of the running. If you told me a month ago that France would be the bottom of its group, I probably would have laughed at you. Good thing I'm not betting.

You know, the people back home really has to keep me better informed about going on's in Waterloo.

What's this thing about Jonny that I hear?

The intern male to female ratio (20:3) here at amazon is way worse than at Waterloo. Why aren't there more girls in the tech industry?

Is this for real? Be sure to check out http://www.whowouldbuythat.com/.

How come anything said in French sounds sexier and more sophisticated?

So how was the MS interview?

The deed is done. ETA: June 19. I have joined the digital camera age.

Now, for those who really want to be on my good side, you can always buy me this to go along with my new toy. My birthday is in two weeks.

I think with the explosion of online journals and the ease of publishing, the trend has turned around from the loyal reader to the loyal writer. The writer often writes with no guarantee that anyone will actually wonder onto his/her site, and no cash compensation. It's a bit of self-satisfaction to know that someone "might" read that keeps us going. I'll comment more on this thought when I have thought about it more.

The cd's I ordered from amazon.com came today, so I am no longer an amazon virgin.

Advertisement seen on slashdot:

Chicks dig case mods.
Chicks dig light strips.
Light strips from ThinkGeek
make you very kewl...
Light strips. ThinkGeek kewl.

Ming (out loud): what a lamer

Conversation on bus:
Man: so, what's your name?
Woman: It's Heather.
Man: I'm a bouncer, and I'm on my way to see about a job.
Woman: Oh, great, good luck with that.
Man: There's no doubt in my military mind that I will.
Woman gets off bus.

Ming(to his mind): what a lamer.

Student Claims to be Busiest Man in the World

Waterloo - University of Waterloo student Matt Goyer has in a recent post to his weblog claimed to be the busiest man in the world.

"He didn't really say it out loud," comments weblog addict Ming Li, "but the way he wrote it made it very clear that he thinks he's the busiest man in the world."

Mr. Goyer was unavailable for comment.

Ming, in retaliation, has made available his schedule of the month of June.

As promised, more picture goodness.

The engineer William Mulholland once said at an inquest of the St. Francis Dam collapse that "I envy the dead". Kind of like in Mulholland Drive, where Diane envied the lives of the dead.

Bush gives a talk to graduating military cadets about preemptive striking of terrorist cells (via Metafilter). With the quote

"the nation will also punish those who engage in terror and aggression and will work to impose a universal moral clarity between good and evil."

If only the world were that black and white.

Can we really draw a distinct line between good and evil? It seems like a possibility existing only in literature and hollywood. Isn't that like saying that everyone in the world is either rich or poor? Sometimes there is no dichotomy, and the attempt to create one will lead to, well, we'll see what happens.

Another point is the ability of a government of a multicultural population to set a moral clarity. What is moral to some may not be to others. This is an extreme (and somewhat insignificant) example, but eating beef is immoral to the Hindu population since cows are sacred animals. What would be the government position on beef eating? Is it moral? If it is, is not eating beef immoral? A more mainstream example would be the death penalty. If the general population does not have the right to kill a person, why should the government? But what is a suitable punishment for murderers, and why should the tax payers support their livelihood? And what about abortion? Does a mother (or potential mother) have the right to decide whether she wants to have a baby or not?

These issues, while smaller in comparison to the "universal moral clarity" that Bush is trying to impose, are actually the backdrop to a true dichotomy of moral standards. And for most of us, in most cases, it is impossible to distinguish between right and wrong in a clear, black and white way.