Ally's Travel Albums

We decided to go to New York again in Spring since we will leave US for now and live in Japan from this summer. I guess this is the 4th time we visit New York. Ally said I am a “Fake New Yorker” after these visits.

Of course, we had another surprising experience in New York. “Chikalicious” is one of them. It’s a desert pub run by a Japanese and her name is Chika. She also runs a desert restaurant just across the street. Ally found out it is the number one rated in New York Zaga and couldn’t wait to give it a try.

It’s a small desert pub, just like many other nice shops in New York. We decided to try Carrot Cake and Cream Pudding first. The cream pudding is smooth and not super sweet, very yummy. But I likely the Carrot cake even more because it is different from what I had before and the taste is fresh and wonderful. Even Ally, who never eats carrot, likes this very much. After realizing the chief Chika is actually across the street, we wonder if we should go in again and see her make desert. After wondering outside for a few minutes, we decide to go in.

They are a few people there already but not crowded. This is the first time we sit and watch the chief make desert and it’s a great experience. She is not very talkative but very dedicate with everything. But it’s interesting that she is so small but her assistants are all big and they have to stay in such a small place. We order today’s desert menu and it’s so special because the appetizer is desert, the main dish is desert and the desert is again desert. More and more people are coming and soon the restaurant is pack. It’s not even 5:00 pm. We bring this wonderful experience with us and take it back to DC, to Yokohama, to everywhere we walk together.

--- Alex

If you want to experience how a dessert can be just like an art, then you might be interested in visiting Chikalicious in NYC. Chika is a quiet female chef from Tokyo. I asked her: you must be so proud of yourself, in this huge and very competitive New York City, the No. 1 cake is from you, a Japanese. She said nothing but smiled and nodded her head to say thank you to me. “Why you don't open a cake store in Japan but in NYC instead?” - Ally asked. “Here is more fun. In Japan, people usually eat desserts after lunch or dinner only. But in NYC, people tend to be more possibilities to eat desserts anytime they like. Before or after lunch, afternoon or mid-night..., they eat desserts whenever they want.”

Yes, whenever I like to eat desserts, I sometimes think of Chika. The quite Chika creates very elegant desserts in East Village, New York City.

--- Ally

We celebrated Haydee's B-day at Mozhdeh's place yesterday afternoon, like always this party is another blast!

Since we came all the way from all different countries, so we used our own native languages to sing Happy Birthday to you.

Here is Natasja's Denish Happy Birthday ---

Here is Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and Iranian Happy Birthday ---

Ally's Chinese Happy Birthday clip is still at Mozhdeh's camera I think.

So girl, you should be really really happy because your B-day party is a global celebration thing!

Happy Birthday girl! I love you and we all love you!

Cheers girls!

有些餐廳就算你這輩子只吃過一次, 你也很難忘記它. Keen's就是其中一家, 對我而言.

Keen's創立於1885年, 在紐約曼哈頓那個瞬息萬變的城市, Keen's就這樣在那裡站立超過一個世紀以上, 不管與週遭的環境店面有多不搭, 它依舊兀自的矗立在那裡.

裡面的裝潢更是像是走入時光隧道, 天花板上排滿19世紀達官政商的煙斗, 還貼滿當時已經泛黃的報紙報導和政治漫畫. 侍者的穿著似乎也像這家店固執的守著不變的傳統. 搭配無法挑剔的招牌傳奇牛排(Legendary Mutton Chop)與絕佳的前菜和配菜.

因為我在訂位時特別提到我們是去Keen's慶祝3週年(天知道我們早就過週年了! Ally我真的很壞!), 所以我們被邀請品嘗免費的香檳酒. 臨走前, 所有服務人員在店門口揮手道別並說Happy Anniversary!

然後我知道, 這家牛排店憑什麼在曼哈頓中城區屹立超過120年, 然後我知道, 這是一家以後每當我們有機會再次來到大蘋果, 我都會想掏錢進去享受的其中一家餐廳. 因為有些餐廳就算你這輩子只吃過一次, 你也很難忘記它...

愛滋海默症 (俗稱老人失智症) 已經是美國僅次於癌症的第二大疾病. 這是全球邁向老人話與少子化趨勢都需要正視的問題. 也是關於每一個活在世界各地的我們都無可避免可能遇到的疾病.

當你在街上遇到可能的愛滋海默症(老人失智症)患者, 請不要歧視他們, 請試著儘你最大的可能幫助他們回家回醫院警察局. 因為我們每個人都會變老, 我們所愛的家人父母也是.

謝謝你們關心這個議題. 如果你處在無法及時收看美國HBO頻道的區域, 你知道你隨時可以使用網路登上HBO Channel on YouTube得到最新的資訊.

請用心享受每一天健康的生命, 因為這是我們所擁有最寶貴也最應該被珍惜的祝福! ---Ally

http://www.hbo.com/alzheimers/

http://www.youtube.com/hbo

One of the most devastating forms of memory loss is Alzheimer's disease, an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Today, Alzheimer's is the second most-feared illness in America, following cancer, and may affect as many as five million Americans. As the baby-boom generation moves through retirement, that number could soar to more than 11 million by 2040, and have a huge economic impact on America's already fragile health care system.

While there is no cure for the disease, THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT shows there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about the future. Created by the award-winning team behind HBO's acclaimed "Addiction" project, this multi-platform series takes a close look at groundbreaking discoveries made by the country's leading scientists, as well as the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those with Alzheimer's and on their families.

Scientific research is gaining momentum in discovering ways to treat and possibly prevent Alzheimer's. Aiming to bring a new understanding, THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT features a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental films, a robust website, and a nationwide community-based information and outreach campaign. A book published by Public Affairs Books was developed by the producers as a companion to the project. HBO will use all of its platforms, including the HBO main service, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, HBO Podcasts, hbo.com, HBO Channel on YouTube, and DVD sales to support the project. In addition, all films will stream free of charge on hbo.com and will be offered for free on multiple platforms by participating television service providers.

The first of the four documentaries in THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT is "The Memory Loss Tapes" (debuting May 10, 9pm), which provides an up-close and personal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer's, across the full spectrum of the progression of the disease. "Momentum In Science" (May 11 and 12) is a two-part state-of-the-science film that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians, revealing some of the most cutting-edge research advances. "'Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?' with Maria Shriver" (May 11) captures what it means to be a child or grandchild of one with Alzheimer's, while "Caregivers" (May 12) highlights the sacrifices and successes of people who experience their loved one's descent into dementia.

THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT is a presentation of HBO Documentary Films and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health in association with the Alzheimer's Association®, Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund, and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® Alzheimer's Initiative. The series' producer is John Hoffman; the executive producers are Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

如果說我有什麼壞習慣，可能就是像酗酒人的那樣，兩個小時沒上網就渾身不舒服，還好每年有幾趟航海的旅程，成為例行的『戒網中心』，不像在中國大陸的營地，戒網癮的年輕人得在營中待上幾個月，父母還得跟著一起受訓，當我在海上的時候，唯一上網的方式就是透過衛星上線，價格既昂貴，風浪大一點的話，幾乎每一兩分鐘還會斷訊，所以自然就減少了對網路的依存，這段時間強迫自己多看點書，多體驗人與自然，與陽光，與海潮，與風向，與世界的關係。

在波多黎各短暫停留的時候，我從岸上走在老城區，看到一家破舊的咖啡館，進去以後彷彿將我帶到西班牙北部的小鎮，長長的咖啡吧，後面站著兩個穿著老舊黑白西裝的服務生，灰白的鬍鬚莫約六十多歲，像店裡其他客人一樣，點了濃縮咖啡，還有一個灑滿白色糖霜的軟麵包。

當我拿起麵包要咬下的時候，吧台後面的老先生走過來，問我要不要試試『超好吃的傳統吃法』，對於波多黎各的『好吃』定義保持半信半疑的我，還在考慮要不要答應，麵包已經被老先生一手搶去，拍掉上面的糖霜，拿刀像漢堡包那樣對切開來，瓦起一團大約高達六萬卡路里的黃色奶油，包在麵包裡面，然後放進烤PANINI的熱盤，兩面煎到焦黃，把白糖霜灑回麵包上，才又熱氣騰騰回到我的面前，先前又圓又軟又大的麵包，已經被折騰成一塊像漢堡肉的煎餅，老先生充滿期待地看著我咬下第一口，

『嘩!』完全不需要裝成美食節目裡面的外景主持人，我自然而然就嚼著嚼著，露出一個大大的微笑，豎起大拇指，老先生很得意地拍拍他的白色圍裙，高高興興地去招呼別的客人，友善而真誠，絲毫沒有任何造作。

每每遇到這樣人與人之間小小的真誠互動，我就不由得為自己慶幸，沒有因為成日守在電腦前，而錯過了這美好的人生插曲。

就在脣齒都還有著奶油的餘香時，我回到船上，離開波多黎各駛向加勒比海的超小島國Great Turk，連上衛星網路，看到一封陌生的來信:

『…褚先生你好，不好意思冒昧寫信給你，我是今周刊經濟研究室主編。

今周刊日前做了「上班族生活型態問卷調查」，其中有一題問「您認為下列人物中，生活過得精彩的典範是誰？」

褚先生名次雖然不在前10名內(第12名，前三名是王建民、吳淡如、吳念真)，不過有趣的是，選擇褚先生的人，有65%是因為「勇於嘗試新的挑戰」，這個比例高於所有人。(其次是「永不放棄朝自己的目標邁進」，占47%)。

在景氣不佳之際，很多人可能意志消沈，所以想請問一下褚先生，能不能告訴讀者「上班族如何過精彩生活」，為大家加油打氣？

我們好奇的地方大致如下：

1 很多人覺得你的生活是100分！你自己對目前生活現狀的滿意程度打幾分呢?還有哪方面希望加強嗎?

2 你認為一個人如果要過精彩的生活，必須先具備哪些條件？例如身體健康、家庭美滿或人生有目標?

3 你不斷嘗試新事物的動機和動力來自哪裡？

4 不景氣使得很多上班族荷包可能縮水，甚至工作不保，心情鬱悶，你對他們有沒有什麼鼓勵或建議？』

我反覆讀著這封信件，好像莫名其妙被人強迫參加從來沒聽說過的寫生比賽，結果得了第十二名，名次不高，心理卻很開心，好像這是個對我描述地很正確，也很恭維的名次，因為跟我從小到大在班級的成績差不多，因為不好不壞，既不會被父母責罵，也不遭同學忌妒，下次要進步一點也沒什麼困難，因此自己也沒什麼壓力，雖然沒什麼證據，但是自覺好像有點天份，不知道別人怎麼想，但這是我心目中的完美。

所以，是的，能夠這樣生活，別人的第十二名，卻是我人生的100分，對目前生活現狀的滿意極了，能夠作為一個NGO非營利組織的管理顧問，為這個世界些原本以我一介個人微小的能力根本沒機會做，也做不到的貢獻，造福人群或養家活口不敢說，但是能夠把最想做的事情，同時當成一份養活自己的專業，每年還能夠花兩三個月在海上，遠離文明與網路，我還能跟這個世界要求更多的幸福嗎?

如果說一個人如果要過精彩的生活是能夠學習的，必須先具備的先決條件只有一個，那就是學會傾聽自己的心，最近因為英國版星光大道(Britian’s Got Talents)爆紅的蘇格蘭47歲無業女Susan Boyle(蘇珊.鮑伊爾)，教導這個現實的世界，原來美麗的聲音，不見得一定要來自於美麗的軀殼，而是一顆不害怕被嘲笑的，追尋夢想的心，夢想自然會帶給我們源源不絕嘗試新事物的動機和勇氣。

當電視台記者訪問Susan給年輕人的建議，口才不好的她，只說了三個字:

Go For It.

雖然大環境不景氣，讓我們當中許多人為未來更加擔憂，也對現實更加屈服，這是為什麼我們專注在荷包縮水，工作不保，心情鬱悶，這些其實是『無聊的細節』，真正重要的是，我們都可以是快樂的第十二名，因為不太好也不太壞，所以沒有什麼壓力，要知道，第一名的人是不能拋下偉大的工作遠離世俗去航海的，第二名的人生也只能有一個目標—那就是努力變成第一名，至於第三名，明明很傑出，在獎台上卻不得不像個墊底的失敗者，心情鬱悶，得意不起來。

Just Go For It!

勇敢的享受一整顆超好吃的波多黎各牛油冰火包吧!別想著卡路里，那是選美比賽前三名的人才需要擔心的事，世界上最美好的事物，就讓第十二名的我們盡情享用吧! 誠實地跟隨著心的聲音，帶著夢想去翱翔於世界，生命自然會帶我們到一個很棒的地方!

褚士瑩是我很喜歡的作家之一, 他總是在旅行, 他總是用很有趣的態度看待人生還有發生在他身上及週遭的一切. 我欣賞他形容食物的簡單與美感還有在旅程上遇到不同人事物的開放與反應.

旅行是會上癮的, 對我而言那比Ally年輕時嘗試過的大麻和搖頭丸還要更有癮頭, 因為我的人生和我的想法就是在不同的旅行中因為不同人事物的衝擊而不斷的改變.

我曾經憂鬱過, 生氣自己不夠聰明生氣自己考不夠好, 生氣自己不能在事業上擁有曾經夢想的呼風喚雨, 生氣自己不夠美麗性感, 生氣自己不夠努力賺更多的錢拿出更漂亮更響亮的名片稱謂.

現在, 我享受我的人生, 我沒有好聽亮眼的大公司名片, 我也無法隨時心一狠就砸錢買名牌包包和手錶, 但是我的人生沒有比現在更快樂過, 我有時間停下來欣賞春天百花盛開的美景, 我可以一早去市集買當地農夫生產最新鮮的農產品回家大煮一頓並且好好享用, 我有時間和朋友分享我的想法和安靜的邊聽音樂邊看書..., 這些都不需要財富上的多麼富有. 我們沒有人知道今天的身體健康是否可以美好的持續到明天或是後天大後天 , 所以我們唯一能做的是好好的享受今天, 不要有任何的遺憾. 好好吃飯, 好好休息, 好好過日子, 每天儘可能讓自己開心, 我們都是世界上最好命的人, --- Ally

I happened to read Time Magazine on April 27 which is talking about "free education" on YouTube.
All Ivy League courses on You Tune Education website are free, whenever and wherever you like, just log-on the website to take some non-credit courses, from Finance, Business, Economic, Relation, Cooking...etc, you name it!

All courses over there are for free!
http://www.youtube.com/edu
I wish you do enjoy the convenience bring via GREAT internet!!! It's SUPER!

By Andrea Ford Thursday, Apr. 16, 2009

UC Berkeley biologist Marian Diamond, a legendary lecturer.

Kathrin Miller for TIME

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1891740,00.html

"Do you know what the most complex mass of protoplasm on earth is?" Marian Diamond asks her students on the first day of anatomy class as she casually opens a flowery hatbox and lifts out a preserved human brain. "This mass only weighs 3 lb., and yet it has the capacity to conceive of a universe a billion light-years across. Isn't that phenomenal?"

Diamond is an esteemed neuroanatomist and one of the most admired professors at the University of California, Berkeley. It would be a privilege for anyone to sit in on her lectures. And, in fact, anyone can. Videos of her popular course are available free online, part of a growing movement by academic institutions worldwide to open their once exclusive halls to all who want to peek inside. Whether you'd like to learn algebra from a mathematician at MIT, watch how to make crawfish étouffée from an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America or study blues guitar with a professor at Berklee College of Music, you can do it all in front of your computer, courtesy of other people's money. In March, YouTube launched an education hub called YouTube Edu, dedicated exclusively to videos from the more than 100 schools--ranging from Grand Rapids Community College to Harvard Business School--that have set up official channels on the site. Liberated from the viral stew of pop-culture vlogs and silly cat videos, the collection highlights how much free education is out there. (See TIME's special report on paying for college.)

Why is YouTube going high-brow? The answer involves revenue (the Edu hub has room for one or two ads on its home page), social relevance and perhaps a bit of rivalry. More than 170 schools offer content free to the public on Apple's iTunes U, which originated in 2004 as a way for colleges to distribute content privately to their own students. The partnership has been a win-win: universities get a cost-cutting distribution tool, and Apple's products become must-haves on campus.

The bigger question is, Why have colleges started posting all this stuff at no charge? "Schools have always wanted to have their own area where they could be among their peer institutions and help with the discovery of their content," says Obadiah Greenberg, who leads the project at YouTube.

But producing content for global consumption can be hugely expensive. MIT, an open-courseware pioneer that since 2002 has published text materials such as lecture notes and syllabi for about 85% of its curriculum, spends more than $10,000 per course to compile, publish and license text materials; classes with videos cost twice as much.

Yet MIT's Steve Carson, who serves as president of the OpenCourseWare Consortium, says it's worth the expense, since the online content attracts prospective students, keeps alumni connected and encourages innovation. Schools have decided that these benefits outweigh the concerns about cost, intellectual property and devaluation of élite degrees. After all, the free material does not add up to a diploma, and viewers can't interact with the faculty. (See pictures of the college dorm's evolution.)

The volume of YouTube Edu's content, which includes campus tours and other nonacademic material, can be overwhelming, but the view-count sorting feature helps users quickly locate must-see videos, which they can comment on and rate on a five-star scale.

Another new site, AcademicEarth.org lets users give lectures letter grades. (Diamond's brain-in-a-hatbox episode, posted there as well as on YouTube Edu, got an A average.) The much smaller, more closely edited site also assembles playlists of related lectures, like one titled "Wars Throughout History." Richard Ludlow, 23, came up with the idea for the site when he was struggling with an algebra course at Yale and discovered helpful Web lectures by the author of his textbook, MIT professor Gilbert Strang. Ludlow thinks every school should play more to its strengths and not be shy about letting a professor rely on a rival's superstar lectures. "That way, the students get a great lecture experience, and the professor has more time for question-and-answer," he says.

There is clearly a big appetite for all kinds of online lectures, as shown by the popularity of sites like TED.com which broadcasts talks given by innovators in the fields of technology, entertainment and design. But one of the most interesting consequences of open courseware may be its impact on teachers, who have a new way to get feedback--and exposure.

"It used to be that research was No. 1. Now people are working harder to be better teachers," Diamond says. Sifting through e-mails, the 82-year-old professor reads over messages she's saved from students and teachers who watched her lectures from as far away as England and Egypt. "At this time of life, when everybody else is retiring and stepping aside, thinking they've done it all, you're getting this worldwide connection. It's beautiful."

Dear 舅公,

2009年全世界最適合居住的城市, 維也納再度得到No. 1!

舅公真是最幸福的台灣人, 可以住在世界第一的城市裡!!!

我們很想念 '07春天的維也納, 希望明年春天再去找舅公!!! --- Ally

No. 1: Vienna, Austria

Mercer score: 108.6*
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $325 billion (2008 est.)**
Population: 1,664,146 (total city); 8,210,281 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.5

*The rankings are based on a point scoring index established by Mercer Consultings 2009 Quality of Living Survey, with Vienna scoring 108.6 and Baghdad scoring 14.4. Cities are compared with New York as the base city, with an index score of 100. The quality-of-living survey covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. The survey also identifies those cities with the highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement, and relationships with other countries.

**The World Factbook.Gross domestic product is denominated in international dollars, which is based on Purchasing Power Parity.

No. 2: Zurich, Switzerland

Mercer score: 108
2008 rank: 1
GDP: 309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,307,567 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85

No. 3: Geneva, Switzerland

Mercer score: 107.9
2008 rank: 2
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 438,177 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85

No. 4 (tie): Vancouver, Canada

Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 4
GDP: $1.3 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 2,285,900 (total city); 33,487,208 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.2

No. 4 (tie): Auckland, New Zealand

Mercer score: 107.4
2008 rank: 5
GDP: $116.6 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,303,068 (total city); 4,213,418 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.3

No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany

Mercer score: 107.2
2008 rank: 6
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 581,858 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2

No. 7: Munich, Germany

Mercer score: 107
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 1,300,000 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2

No. 8: Frankfurt, Germany

Mercer score: 106.8
2008 rank: 7
GDP: $2.86 trillion (2008 est.)
Population: 662,000 (total city); 82,329,758 (total country)
Life expectancy: 79.2

No. 9: Bern, Switzerland

Mercer score: 106.5
2008 rank: 9
GDP: $309.9 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 962,983 (total city); 7,604,467 (total country)
Life expectancy: 80.85

No. 10: Sydney, Australia

Mercer score: 106.3
2008 rank: 10
GDP: $800.5 billion (2008 est.)
Population: 4,336,374 (total city); 21,262,641 (total country)
Life expectancy: 81.6

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/vol324/issue5926/index.dtl

Reports

Subducting Slab Ultra-Slow Velocity Layer Coincident with Silent Earthquakes in Southern Mexico

Teh-Ru Alex Song,^1,* Donald. V. Helmberger,² Michael R. Brudzinski,³ Robert W. Clayton,² Paul Davis,⁴ Xyoli Pérez-Campos,⁵ Shri K. Singh⁵

Great earthquakes have repeatedly occurred on the plate interface in a few shallow-dipping subduction zones where the subducting and overriding plates are strongly locked. Silent earthquakes (or slow slip events) were recently discovered at the down-dip extension of the locked zone and interact with the earthquake cycle. Here, we show that locally observed converted SP arrivals and teleseismic underside reflections that sample the top of the subducting plate in southern Mexico reveal that the ultra-slow velocity layer (USL) varies spatially (3 to 5 kilometers, with an S-wave velocity of ~2.0 to 2.7 kilometers per second). Most slow slip patches coincide with the presence of the USL, and they are bounded by the absence of the USL. The extent of the USL delineates the zone of transitional frictional behavior.

¹ Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Road N.W., Washington, DC 20015, USA.
² Seismological Laboratory, Division of Geological and Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
³ Department of Geology, Miami University, 114 Shideler Hall, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
⁴ Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Center of Embedded Network Systems (CENS), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 595 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1567, USA.
⁵ Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F. 04510 Distrito Federal, México.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/324/5926/502

DTM News about Alex's latest paper ---

Research on slow earthquakes by Carnegie Fellow Teh-Ru Alex Song is
featured in the 24 April issue of Science. Song and colleagues have found
that a layer of anomalously low seismic velocity at the top of a
subducting plate coincides with the locations of slow earthquakes and
non-volcanic tremors. The presence of such a layer in similar settings
elsewhere could point to others regions of slow quakes.

The group analyzed 20 years of seismic data for southern Mexico, where the
Cocos plate is slipping beneath the North American plate. “We can tell a
lot about the material inside the Earth by the speed, strength, and
interferences of different seismic waves,” Song commented. “Typically,
P-waves are the fastest, followed by scattered waves associated with
variations in seismic wave speed within the medium. We used local
observations recorded within 100 to 150 miles to map the structures at the
top of the subducting plate.” Click here for the CIW press release.

Here is the link --- http://www.dtm.ciw.edu/

CIW Press --- Fingerprinting Slow Earthquakes

The most powerful earthquakes happen at the junction of two converging tectonic plates, where one plate is sliding (or subducting) beneath the other. Now a team of researchers, led by Teh-Ru Alex Song of Carnegie’s Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, has found that an anomalous layer at the top of a subducting plate coincides with the locations of slow earthquakes and non-volcanic tremors. The presence of such a layer in similar settings elsewhere could point to other regions of slow quakes. More»

=======================#

Oh yes absolutely I feel sooo proud of my hubby especially it's his frist time published on Science Magazine after being with me. It's approved that I didn't destroy his great work from Caltech, just a bit delay I think : )

I look forward the next paper on either Science Magazine again or Nature Magazine very soon in the near future. Now friends joked him as a real "Scientist" since he is on "Science Magazine" already.

Good job babe!!!

Japan is the country soon we are about to move in, that's why Ally extremely want to know more about Japanese culture in anyway.

This is the information my friend Mioko gave to me because we just chatted about the Japanese beautiful “kimono” during our personal Japanese cooking class last week.

Of course Ally would definitely give it a try in the very near future instead of our “Taiwanese” wedding photos.

The price is around US$ 150 per person including the make-up and one traditional dress, say, either Maiko or Geiko.

Please log-on the website for more info in details.

http://www.henshin-maiko.com/index.html

Sounds very interesting huh?

I think homemade cooking is always the best gift to show the love and passion because cooking is all about time and love.

晚餐菜單

前菜
干貝燒魚菠菜煎餃

主菜
黑豚明蝦腐皮捲佐台灣黑豆辣醬
香蕉芒果紅酒燉牛腩佐烤蘆筍沙拉

甜品
巧克力芋泥杯子蛋糕佐Haagen Dazs咖啡冰淇淋

=================================================================

Dinner Menu

Appetizer

Pan-fried dumplings filled with scallop, grilled fish and spinach

Main Dish

Shrimp-pork wrapped by tofu-skin with Taiwanese black-bean chili sauce

Red wine stewed beef shank mixed with banana and mango with asparagus salad

Desert

Chocolate and taro cup cake with Haagen Dazs coffee ice cream

Behind every word, there's a story.

What's yours?

At OneTouch^®, we believe that when we all speak together, our voice will be heard.
That’s why, inspired by The Word in Your Hand™ Project found on Tudiabetes.com^®,
we created the Global Diabetes Handprint.

By writing a word on your hand expressing your feelings about diabetes, and sharing
the story behind it, you’ll become part of a global community that puts a human face
on diabetes for all the world to see.

For our part, we’ll donate $5 to one of two diabetes charities (Diabetes Education and
Camping Association or Taking Control of Your Diabetes) for every hand that comes
our way. Our goal is to donate $250,000 by June 30, 2009. The choice is yours.

We could use a hand.

Please send us yours.

http://www.diabeteshandprint.com/default.aspx

今年是我們居住在華盛頓特區的第二年賞櫻也是最後一年在此, 6月下旬我們即將起程前往日本橫濱開始另一段異國新生活, 明年春天就在日本欣賞地主國的櫻花了. 所以在D.C.為期2個星期的櫻花季慶典活動來臨前1個月我就特別請也住在Bethesda的日本朋友麻衣幫我找到日米協會的義工申請.

一點都不意外, 我挑選Taste of Japan做為我們這次慶典幫忙的項目 : )

Cherry Blossom在D.C.是非常有名的年度盛會之一. 為了這次活動日米協會還事先辦了一場義工的職前說明會議於上星期四傍晚舉行. 那是一個飄小雨的忙碌下班時間, 我們都沒有想到這場會議會如此的盛況空前, 有超過100位義工將參與4月4日的慶典活動. 大家都是下班直接趕過來開會. 因為星期六當天下午我們還需要協助朋友搬家, 所以我們選了最早班從7am到中午, 我和Alex都會在Taste of Japan現場為大家服務, 歡迎住在D.C.附近的朋友下星期六如果早起可以來看我們一起共襄盛舉並且品嚐日本壽司, Sake及好吃的日式串燒, 下午還會有金髮女孩穿著和服拿著紙扇大跳日本傳統舞蹈!

我很開心能參加這次的義工會議, 當然不只是因為它提供了免費吃到飽的pizza和日米協會T-shirt及Taste of Japan的食物與飲料優待卷 (嗯... 我承認一開始Ally我是為了那件可愛的T-shirt紀念品而決定報名參加當義工), 最重要的是因為參加了這場會議讓我更了解日米協會對這次活動尤其是食物衛生的重視. 會議中有大部份時間是強調希望義工也能協助幫忙確認食物運送時的衛生與保溫, 目的就是期待所有各地來D.C.賞櫻及參加櫻花季慶典的民眾當天都能玩得開心也吃得健康, 先預祝大家有一個愉快又宜人的櫻花粉嫩日式週末...

See you April 4th morning at Sakura Matsuri in Washington D.C.!

需要更多2009 D.C.櫻花季慶典活動詳細資料請參考這裡.

2008去年D.C.櫻花季介紹在這裡.