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June 23 See you later, my dearest friends in D.C. 2年D.C., 3年美國生活轉眼即將結束, Boston是我們在美國的最後一趟旅行. 我先回D.C.一個禮拜和朋友相聚, 留下Alex繼續在Boston開會. 6月17日是Alex的36歲生日, 也是我在D.C.獨自參加See-You-Later Party跟其他來自世界各國16個女生一路從下午跳舞喝酒擁抱道別到凌晨. 於是我知道, 為什麼旅行過好些美國大小城市, 心中最愛的卻還是D.C. 在這裡我有歸屬感, 我們因為各式各樣的原因離開家鄉在異地過生 活, 用彆腳的英文分享各自的一切, 一群文化背景完全不同的人總是聚在一起玩樂說笑party做菜. 我們都很不一樣, 歐洲女生超愛喝啤酒, 中 南美洲女孩生來就是參加Party跳舞做樂的, 日本女生總是比較安靜, 很細心的協助我如何找日本房子和一切我會需要的資訊分享. 我很期待 6月底開始在日本橫濱全然不同的新生活, 卻又好不希望離開已經花好多時間建立的這些友誼. 那天凌晨回去寫給參加Party女孩的卡片, 寫 著寫著眼淚不知不覺流下來, 我知道我永遠可以帶著這些友誼和美好的回憶迎接另一段嶄新的生活, 在世界另一個角落暫時或永久的落腳, 因為這些熱情讓我面對接下來全新不同的文化環境有著更多的勇氣, 所以我們沒有說再見, 我們說待會兒見. 我還是會再回來D.C.玩, 看我 的朋友, 一起吃飯喝酒跳舞聊是非. 朋友也會不時回日本或是到日本旅遊..., 我很幸運也很珍惜我所擁有的這一切, 真的. 所以大家待會兒見, 我愛你們. Ally寫在最後3天倒數的Chevy Chase我的家.  June 17_Ally's See You Later Party-1.jpg June 03 Up or down“Up” is the new Pixar movie, a movie that makes people up and down, smile and cry. I missed this movie last Friday, but make it up this Tuesday. I guess everyone is touched from the beginning by the old couple who share their life together. Ellie was the girl who always wants to go adventure. She found her soul mate Carl, got married, but is unable to have a child with him. Initially devastated, Carl eventually cheered Ellie up and enjoyed their life together. Carl sometimes felt guilty that Ellie didn’t get a change to fulfill her dream. Finally, Ellie passed away first, left Carl alone in their house full of memories. While Carl is up for filling their dream, he finally discovered the adventure in Ellie’s heart, is every little thing they have done together. Life is amazing. In the end, it is the little things that make you feel, make you love and make you miss. It’s not things up in the air, but things down to Earth around us. Look back to my babe, I am fortunate to have her and every little moment. Life certainly has up and down, but I know she lives in my heart ! --- Alex
I am a big fan of Pixar cartoon, Alex always jokes I am a big girl who wants to watch cartoons on the very first day at 3D movie theaters. Up is really a blast so I watched it twice within a week, I don't think it's only for kids, even I'm not sure if kids can fully understand the deepest meaning in this simple but touched story. Sometimes we just ignore and don't really appreciate our daily life because it looks way too ordinary, but truly, our life is just as an unique adventure. Cherish all those ups and downs in our life because you never know what will happen next. Life is good. --- Ally June 02 Chikalicious = Chika + Delicious 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 May 22 Haydee's international Happy Birthday 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!
May 03 Keen's Steak Hose NYC in 1885 http://www.keens.com/
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...
May 02 The Alzhemier's Project – HBO Documentaries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.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. May 01 叫我第十二名 - 褚士瑩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。 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
April 30 Logging On to the Ivy LeagueI happened to read Time Magazine on April 27 which is talking about "free education" on YouTube. All courses over there are for free!
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." The World's Best Places to Live 2009 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* No. 2: Zurich, Switzerland Mercer score: 108 No. 3: Geneva, Switzerland Mercer score: 107.9 No. 4 (tie): Vancouver, Canada Mercer score: 107.4 No. 4 (tie): Auckland, New Zealand Mercer score: 107.4 No. 6: Dusseldorf, Germany Mercer score: 107.2 No. 7: Munich, Germany Mercer score: 107 No. 8: Frankfurt, Germany Mercer score: 106.8 No. 9: Bern, Switzerland Mercer score: 106.5 No. 10: Sydney, Australia Mercer score: 106.3
April 29 Go-One3Step In and Fly Away
April 19_National Geography museum_Go-One3 Smart Bicycle.jpg
Few week ago we went to National Geographic Museum in D.C. and happened to meet one guy who works in National Geographic organization and owns a cute yellow go-one3, it's amazing that you can install iPod and others cool stuffs you like to enjoy biking on the street. A bicycle costs around US$ 8,000 might not be so easily to afford but looking at this environmental-friendly and such adorable eye-catching toy on the street, Alex said he wanna buy one and ships in Yokohama too! Yes, he was joking, definitely, I won't let him do such crazy thing... but, it's really cute huh? Maybe we should seriously consider about how to marketing this product in Japan market and initiating a more solid promotion plan to ask for a much better price! Here is some info about go-one3 --- Beyss has been manufacturing lightweight vehicles and velocipedes since 1991. For over a decade, Beyss has been advancing the design characteristics of it's Go-One to meet the market demands of the most discerning velomobilest. The legendary Go-one prototype was inspired by Michael Goretzky. His flair for innovative design was a contributing force towards the development of Diamler Chrysler's European SMART car. Until you see the pedals under the canopy, one would assume this is a small sports car!
April 28 Teh-Ru Alex Song on Science Magazine http://www.sciencemag.org/content/vol324/issue5926/index.dtl
ReportsSubducting Slab Ultra-Slow Velocity Layer Coincident with Silent Earthquakes in Southern MexicoTeh-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. 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 Here is the link --- http://www.dtm.ciw.edu/
CIW Press --- Fingerprinting Slow EarthquakesThe 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» Katsura – Tokyo Eye of NHKJapan 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?
Bodies of Pyongyang  Bodies of Pyongyang – Public Art Performance in NYC by Yoonhye Park Art in Odd Places presents Bodies of Pyongyang on April 25, Foley Square. At key pedestrian traffic sites Bodies of Pyongyang, a project involving twenty female performers inside a clear cube installation, will incite awareness about prevailing women's issues in North Korea to the international and multicultural communities of Manhattan.
April 21 Cirque du Soleil - Kooza @ NYC on April 24 8pm Supposed I should write it down after watching the super great show in person, but since we already watched many DVDs of Cirque du Soleil from Canada and heard many friends talking about the amazing must-watch, I know we won't never get disappointed! This time we got the 50% price off promotion because I am the member, so what should we waiting for? I believe we will definitely die for the show (and of course, for the foods in NYC again and again) Last time we already visited Russian village with super impression, so this time we will go through Italian in Bronx (not little Italy nearby Chinatown for tourists only), Jewish and Poland villages as well, only in New York. That's the reasons why we will soon have another and the last Big Apple trip before we move out USA in mid June. April 16 "Britain's Got Talent" Susan Boyle Lives a Dream.This morning when I watched CNN, her face with her amazing voice just made me feel so curious so I YouTube her.
Susan Boyle, the British talent show competitor who is now 47 years old.
She told CBS's The Early Show that her fame 'hasn't really sunk in yet' and that her performance was for her mother, who died recently. I bet you are just as surprised as me when you listen to her singing with such confidence. Susan just made me think of Dara Torres, another sweet 42-year-old mother with five-time Olympian,
she said on current Time Magazine: Don't put an age limit on your dreams. So I would like to share this song to all my friends --- I dreamed a dream. Complete Song is here -
April 15 3 週年燭光晚餐菜單 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
=================================================================
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
April 09 All about Cherry BlossomIt's the most famous cherry blossom spot in D.C., before moving here, I watched news in Taiwan every year.
Cherry Blossom in Tidal Basin is SUPER!
This photo took on March 31, 2009 with my Japanese teacher Yuko, the best day ever of this year's cherry blossom!
 April 4, we joined volunteer of Taste of Japan with cherry blossom parade.
The weather was so windy, I think they were unfortunate to choose a bad day, but, who can foresees the weather?
Here is a short clip of part of the parade.
I couldn't help but keep taking photos for this cute girl.
I think she's really lucky and happy with well-dressed on this sunny windy day.
Is she sooo cute?
 April 5, we went to Kenwood, Bethesda to see another cherry blossom.
Actually all cherry blossom in D.C. starts from here, Chevy Chase and Bethesda, Maryland.
It's an awesome neighborhood, just about 15-min walk from our apartment.
Kids who live in these millions dollars houses but sold 50 cent homemade lemonade and cookies.
Plus, they all tasted so delicious!
 One of my pen pals in Tokyo, Hideyuki sent me this cherry blossom in her school in Tokyo on April 7.
That might be one of our spots in Japan to see cherry blossom next year.
Different country but same unbelievable pretty pink trees.
 Mioko my close friend here in D.C. just came back from London for her one-month vacation,
we went to Kenwood again yesterday to see cherry blossom.
 Maybe this is the last week to enjoy cherry blossom here, but they are already in my mind.
I love Washington D.C. so much, soon we will leave to move to another beautiful Asian country.
No goodbye because we will see each other again very soon in both Japan and D.C.
Later this April we will start our trips including New York City, Yellow Stone National Park (Idaho meeting), Toronto, Canada, and then Boston. The final stop is of course Yokohama, Japan in this mid-June. We are so busy and so excited! April 03 Women's Aid Ad: Isn't it time someone called cut?Keira Knightley stars in this powerful ad for Women's Aid that aims to raise awareness of domestic violence.
The ad was directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice).
Agency: Grey London Production company: D.A.B Hand Media Director: Joe Wright My friend Karla is acting as volunteer in an abused non-profit organization in Rockville, Maryland.
Based on her contact, more and more abused cases are from women instead of men, of course in US only.
Still, it's a big issue to pay attention in whole world.
Do something if you have friends or family under this similar scare. --- Ally April 02 The White House is Open for QuestionsThe President introduces a new tool on WhiteHouse.gov, "Open for Questions" which will allow you to submit your questions on the economy and vote on those submitted by others.
Some people criticized that Obama government now turns out to be Google government?
I don't think so, just YouTube is really a good media for this generation, easy and fast, you can access anywhere anytime... that's it.
Enjoy,,
April 01 Join the Global Diabetes Handprint Behind every word, there's a story. What's yours?
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A World of Troubles - Taiwan @ Time Magazine on April 6th, 2009usually, when Taiwan is on Time magazine, 90% isn't good news... it's really a critical moment in the whole world. --- Ally
Who will benefit from the high-tech crash?
Maybe China
John Luo, 38, never expected the global economic crisis to hit home. A well-paid deputy manager at a Taiwan semiconductor design outfit, he was a member of Taiwan's high-tech élite, accustomed to splurging on overseas vacations. But Luo's firm shut down in January, and now the former highflyer penny-pinches on $2 lunches, rides the bus instead of driving and is looking for a new job in a technology sector ravaged by recession. "Everything's uncertain," says Luo. "You can't just depend on hard work."
All of Taiwan is feeling that way. The island had hit upon an apparently fail-safe formula for growth — latching onto burgeoning global demand for tech hardware. Its manufacturers became top suppliers of notebook PCs, flat-panel monitors and semiconductors. But with demand for such expensive gadgetry waning, Taiwan's economy has become one of the most vulnerable to the downturn. Exports tanked 37% in January and February from the same period last year. GDP plunged 8.4% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, the worst quarterly decline ever. The government predicts the economy will contract 3% in 2009; more bearish private estimates foresee a double-digit decline.
The prized tech sector is in trouble. Nearly 4 out of 5 workers at the Hsinchu Science and Industrial Park, home base for many of the island's top tech firms, take unpaid leave at least once a week. Among the hardest hit are Taiwan's chipmakers. Amid a supply glut and deteriorating demand, prices have sunk for dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips, a key component of PCs, leading to large losses at Taiwan's manufacturers. The government is setting up a new DRAM company to revamp the local industry so it can compete with Korean rivals.
The most profound consequences of the economic crisis for Taiwan, however, could be political. The downturn could push Taiwan into the arms of China. (Beijing still considers Taiwan a breakaway province.) Despite growing trade and investment across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan has resisted drifting wholly into China's orbit. But President Ma Ying-jeou believes that the only way to maintain Taiwan's competitiveness is to end its isolation. Ma wants to clear away remaining restrictions on investment and business activities by signing a comprehensive economic agreement with China that would allow for freer exchange of goods and services. The economic crisis "will draw Taiwan closer to China," says Yang Tai-shuenn, a political scientist at Chinese Culture University in Taipei. "We have few options." In these times, all choices are hard ones.
With reporting by Natalie Tso / Taipei
< Time Magazine Official Website >
March 31 Heineken Latest US TV CommercialMan I love this new Heineken commercial so much!
It's really funny huh? March 29 2009 Sakura Matsuri - Taste of Japan Volunteer on April 4th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.
March 11 JAMSTEC @ National Museum of Natural History in D.C. Visiting again in Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with Ide-san from Tokyo University, we happened to find out many study clips in the Ocean Hall are from JAMSTEC http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/index.html which is Alex's next office in Yokohama, Japan.
It's very interesting to have some JAMSTEC brief first in D.C., and this July we will move to Japan, we are very excited of the big change in our life!
Asia we are going back!
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