V Squared - As I See It
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China’s 2nd Manned-Space Rocket Launch - Reaction from the Living Room
Okay, so at 6:37PM, China launched their 2nd manned space rocket, Shenzhou No. 9, successfully to space. Mission? To dock the space lab Tiangong-1.
So here I am sitting in the living room, watching the CCTV (China’s Central TV station) News Channel covering the countdown to the launch with a whole bunch of operators blaring out control checks every second. Overdone? Maybe. But then again, I wasn’t even born yet when U.S. launched Neil Armstrong up to the moon, I’m guessing the news coverage for that would JUST be as nerve-wrecking. But this was back in the 60s…people had a lot to be nervous about, it’s about 2012 now, should we even be worried that this launch wouldn’t be successful?
My dad’s sitting on my left, eyes glued to the TV. I can imagine anime sweatdrops going down the side of his face as the clock ticks.
I’m in the middle of the couch, my mind going: “Well, if the rocket decides to malfunction, China can’t just decide to blackout all the satellites and TVs in the world, saying that ‘we’re currently experiencing difficulties’ and mask that it never happened.” [China censorship - what can you say?]
My mom’s on the right, and the first thing she asks is: “What are you all watching?”
Dad: “The launch of Shenzhou No. 9, China’s second manned space rocket”
Mom: “WHY ARE THEY WASTING MONEY ON SHOOTING PEOPLE TO THE MOON? BETTER USE FOR OTHER THINGS!”LOL. #TRUTH. I had to repeat this whole scenario, because you would imagine everyone in this country to be glued to their TV, so very proud of their country, being the 3rd in the WORLD to launch men into space. Now it gets you wondering, aside from the lab tests and research and whatever scientific studies they’ll be doing up in space, what is China’s point of sending people up there?
Pride? Oh yeah, for sure. Nothing can be said about the immense ‘PROUD ASIAN PARENTS’ notion, it’s clearly written everywhere on the officials’ faces when the camera pans around the control room. To prove what though? That China’s the super-power of the world now? I think that’s pretty much proven when they’ve got the world’s consumer production under their grip. Not to mention that almost every country depends on trade with China now [let’s not go to the topic about how the Philippines decided that they were gonna fight with China, only to have their imports + exports embargoed from China, and now their economy is suffering].
Though Mom makes a very good point though of China maybe could spend the money elsewhere than throwing it into a space rocket…save the Euro maybe? Plans for urban development in the rural area? BETTER EDUCATION? (Oh wait, I mean mannerism, sorry). I actually asked if it was possible to save the Euro and her reply was, “Euro is screwed, no point.”
My reaction to this whole space launch? One eyebrow raised…and the phrase: “OKAY CHINA.”
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The 6 Mile Run
So I never really wrote down what I felt when I ran that 10K…it’s kinda hard to believe that I even did it, just because I remember going back to Middle School when the long dreaded 2.5K or the cross country running (as well call it), took more than 30 minutes to complete. I swore to myself that I hated running for the rest of my life and would never do it.
Guess I was wrong when I stood in the crowd of 5000 other runners on April 15 2012, and ran across the 5K finish line at Copley square with the time of 27 minutes. Much of an achievement eh?
Mentality changed. People changed. I like the way my fitness direction went. No doubt it has been a complete turn around for me since Middle School. From the person who absolutely hated running or exercise in some sense, to someone who now can’t stand being idol for more than a couple of hours and goes to the gym when bored. I sometimes cringe at the though of not doing anything, but it makes me realize how much I have achieved in less than a span of 10 years…has it really been that long?
Watching the numbers go as I complete those last 0.5miles of the 6, I couldn’t believe myself that I had the endurance to do so. I remember being tired, and my calves were hurting like no other, but that motivation, that little voice inside telling me “6 MILES! YOU DID IT!! 6 F$*KING MILES!!!” I now know I can achieve it. My friend was telling me to sign up for a 10K, pah who is he kidding? But after this? I know it is achievable. It might be a first 6mile, but it definitely won’t be a last.
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What an awesome way to be green!
A huge old console television, acquired for $4 at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, gets repurposed as a sweet dog bed. Well done.
To DIY, see Fried Okra blog.Reminds me of this computer monitor turned into a smaller pet bed.
Check out other pet beds and pet houses involving materials reuse here.
(via shikulove)
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Time: 00:60:04 minutes
Distance: 6.2 miles (10KM)Damn those calves burn!!
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Central, Wet Market. You touch, you buy la !
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When I’m told that my flight back home got cancelled
I just look at them like:
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This Means War
Okay…so I didn’t technically saw the WHOLE thing just yet, but the first 15 minutes that I watched it (before the DVD player decided that the 5rmb disc was not worth to play at all), there is an overall sense that this is going to be a REALLY bad film?
I know, I know, it’s already been out for 3 months already…but who can resist to save that $13USD movie ticket to watch a poor movie when I can only get it for…(conversion from Chinese Renmenbi) 75 cents? Well it’ll probably be worth 75 cents anyways, seeing how the whole plot seems pretty predictable from the get-go, and I love how they also mess up the opening scene too. Apparently the spies were in “Hong Kong” (not to be biased or anything, but I know my home country when I see it), first thing to notice was that the area that they filmed it was TOO FLAT. Meaning, I wish Hong Kong had so much flat landmass but in true reality, we don’t. And when the criminal smashed on top of the car with a SHANGHAI LICENSE PLATE? I’m sorry, that’s too much already. I can’t deal with it.
War? Oh yeah, I’ll start a war with the director and script writer. GET YOUR STORY STRAIGHT!!!!!
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“Do Chinese people clap faster?”Dave Royster
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“小姐,橙色波唔系给你坐的 - MISS, the orange ball is not for you to SIT.”
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How random of Google Maps to show directions from China to Taiwan…ARE THEY PROMOTING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD ILLEGALLY CROSS THE BOARDERS?!?!?! =P
