Recently, the temperature goes up to 10 degrees, which is the highest of the same time in the recent 160 years.
It's really warm outside. But most people including me are not used to it yet and still wear too much clothes. On the street, you cannot help overhearing the complaints of the passersbies, especially in the shopping malls or supermarkets which still keep the warm air blowing.
Forecasts show that there is going to be a snow in a couple of days. I am more than happy with that. It's not that I don't like spring, which I do. Thinking of the steamy and sweaty days of summer, I just want the cool air of the late winter to linger a little longer.
6 February 2007
2 February 2007
Master of the Game
I hear from the news that Sydney Sheldon died a few days ago. He is one of my favorist novelists. Since a young boy, I have read and loved most of his novels.
My personal favorites are If Tomorrow Comes (Chinese translation: The Female Count of Monte Cristo) and Master of the Game (Chinese translation: The Diamond Dynasty). Both of them have been adapted into tv series and showed on some local Chinese tevivision. However, they have not been very popular in China. Most people have never heard of Sydney Sheldon and his novels, especially for those born after the 1980s.
Sheldon is very good at telling stories with complicated backgrounds. They are often made up of sagas of 4-5 generations, such as Master of the Game. Violence, sex, love, hate and revenge are all necesarry ingredients of the story, weaved together by different story lines together with unexpected twists.
Most of Sheldon's books are often categoried as pop-sellers, so many critics might not really appreciate his novels. But it really doesn't matter to people like me as long as we enjoy reading them. In my mind, he is really the master of his game.
My personal favorites are If Tomorrow Comes (Chinese translation: The Female Count of Monte Cristo) and Master of the Game (Chinese translation: The Diamond Dynasty). Both of them have been adapted into tv series and showed on some local Chinese tevivision. However, they have not been very popular in China. Most people have never heard of Sydney Sheldon and his novels, especially for those born after the 1980s.
Sheldon is very good at telling stories with complicated backgrounds. They are often made up of sagas of 4-5 generations, such as Master of the Game. Violence, sex, love, hate and revenge are all necesarry ingredients of the story, weaved together by different story lines together with unexpected twists.
Most of Sheldon's books are often categoried as pop-sellers, so many critics might not really appreciate his novels. But it really doesn't matter to people like me as long as we enjoy reading them. In my mind, he is really the master of his game.
28 January 2007
The good shepherd
The good shepherd is one of the longest movies I have ever seen. It lasts for almost 3 hours, twice as long as most of the movies.
This movie is about the life of a legendary spy. But it's nothing like the glamorous 007 movie. The story is realistic and slow paced, sometimes even boring. There are so many characters that I have difficulties in recognizing who is whom. The plot is so complicated and there are so many metaphors so that I have to replay certain parts to find out what is really going on. It's the kind of mind-challenging movies that you'll have to keep focused all the time. However, you might not understand all of it even then.
Matt gives a mediocre performance, but there are no much room for him to shine. I guess he is better playing these bad guys such as "the talented Riply".Angelina Julie looks absolutely fantastic even for the character in her twenties. And she looks credible for a sad wife and worried mother too.
Not bad for the first movie directed by Robert Deniro. But I still think he is better at acting than directing. I believe this movie is worth seeing but don't keep your hopes too high. I'll give it 6.5/10.
This movie is about the life of a legendary spy. But it's nothing like the glamorous 007 movie. The story is realistic and slow paced, sometimes even boring. There are so many characters that I have difficulties in recognizing who is whom. The plot is so complicated and there are so many metaphors so that I have to replay certain parts to find out what is really going on. It's the kind of mind-challenging movies that you'll have to keep focused all the time. However, you might not understand all of it even then.
Matt gives a mediocre performance, but there are no much room for him to shine. I guess he is better playing these bad guys such as "the talented Riply".Angelina Julie looks absolutely fantastic even for the character in her twenties. And she looks credible for a sad wife and worried mother too.
Not bad for the first movie directed by Robert Deniro. But I still think he is better at acting than directing. I believe this movie is worth seeing but don't keep your hopes too high. I'll give it 6.5/10.
Wi-Fi Router
Recently, I bought a wireless router. Kind of regret that I didn't try it before.
The speed is much faster than I expected. The downloading of my ADSL is still reachable at 70K bytes. I can hardly feel any difference between now and before. Not too expensive too. It set me back with only about 200 RMB.
With this router, I am finally able to go online wirelessly with my laptop in all the rooms of my apartment. Also, if I go back to my parents house during the spring festival, we'll be able to surf on line with the desktop and my laptop at the same time. Maybe we can do a little cheating with the card online game too. Isn't that wonderful?
The speed is much faster than I expected. The downloading of my ADSL is still reachable at 70K bytes. I can hardly feel any difference between now and before. Not too expensive too. It set me back with only about 200 RMB.
With this router, I am finally able to go online wirelessly with my laptop in all the rooms of my apartment. Also, if I go back to my parents house during the spring festival, we'll be able to surf on line with the desktop and my laptop at the same time. Maybe we can do a little cheating with the card online game too. Isn't that wonderful?
25 January 2007
Big love
Recently, I have finished another TV serie: Big love, season 1. It's a story about polygamy. In other words, it's about a family with one husband and three wives. It's really fun to watch and I strongly recommend it.
I don't know much about mormons people. I am under the impression that they often wear dark clothes and have very long hair and beard. Polygamy is also what they are famous for.
Many people like me might consider mormon men lucky. But after I finished the first season, sympathy is what I really feel. Polygamy comes with great responsibility. Here are some necessities for a qualified mormon man.
1. You have to work very hard to earn a lot of money. It's certainly not easy to raise a family, expecially when you have 2-digit wives and 3-digit children. And it seems traditional mormon women don't work at all.
2. You have to be super strong and super healthy. Not just physically, which is pretty obvious, but also mentally. You have to be able to pull yourself together when the wives are fighting and the children are crying. It requires no less energy of running a family than running a company.
3. You have to be a good liar. Since polygamy is not allowed by the law, it is usually frowned uopn by others. All the wives but the first have to publicly live as neighbors. All you family members have to careful not to reveal themselves. Or you career or reputation will be severely damaged. And many, many more...
Knowing these, I guess most men won't be jealous of them anymore. But of course, they have their own fun and live as a big happy family. Still, there are many hostile opnions upon them, expecially from those Christians. In my opnion, as long as they don't hurt people or break the law, I guess it's nobody's business but their own.
I don't know much about mormons people. I am under the impression that they often wear dark clothes and have very long hair and beard. Polygamy is also what they are famous for.
Many people like me might consider mormon men lucky. But after I finished the first season, sympathy is what I really feel. Polygamy comes with great responsibility. Here are some necessities for a qualified mormon man.
1. You have to work very hard to earn a lot of money. It's certainly not easy to raise a family, expecially when you have 2-digit wives and 3-digit children. And it seems traditional mormon women don't work at all.
2. You have to be super strong and super healthy. Not just physically, which is pretty obvious, but also mentally. You have to be able to pull yourself together when the wives are fighting and the children are crying. It requires no less energy of running a family than running a company.
3. You have to be a good liar. Since polygamy is not allowed by the law, it is usually frowned uopn by others. All the wives but the first have to publicly live as neighbors. All you family members have to careful not to reveal themselves. Or you career or reputation will be severely damaged. And many, many more...
Knowing these, I guess most men won't be jealous of them anymore. But of course, they have their own fun and live as a big happy family. Still, there are many hostile opnions upon them, expecially from those Christians. In my opnion, as long as they don't hurt people or break the law, I guess it's nobody's business but their own.
20 January 2007
Painted Veil
Painted Veil is a nice movie I recently saw. Tyler Durden and KingKong girl both gave excellent performance. Most importantly, the movie was shot in southern China and most scenes were incredibly beautiful with mountains and rivers. I did some background checking and found that the title was from a poem by Shelly. Don't we all have painted veils?
Here goes the poem:
Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread:--behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin destinies; who ever weave
The shadows, which the world call substance, there.
I knew one who lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
through the unheeding many did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley, Sonnet IV in Posthumous Poems
Here goes the poem:
Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread:--behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin destinies; who ever weave
The shadows, which the world call substance, there.
I knew one who lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
through the unheeding many did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley, Sonnet IV in Posthumous Poems
CFA Level II
A couple of days ago, I got the result for my CFA level I exam: pass. I am so excited with this outcome because I really worked my ass off then. Here goes my detailed result (marked with *):
As you can see, I am troubled by those financial statements, which I have never liked or been good at. Unfortunately, I might also have some ethical problems : (. Both of them are heavily weighted and almost add up to half of the credits.
Now that I have got the new curriculum and started preparing for level II of this June. Although I have no plan of being an accountant in the future, the problems will still be haunting me, since these two topics will carry even more weights. Isn't it ironic?
| Q# | Topic | Max Pts | <=50% | 51%-70% | >70% |
| - | Alternative Assets | 12 | - | * | - |
| - | Derivatives | 12 | - | - | * |
| - | Economics | 24 | - | - | * |
| - | Equity Analysis | 24 | - | - | * |
| - | Ethical & Professional Stnds. | 36 | - | * | - |
| - | Financial Statement Analysis | 68 | - | * | - |
| - | Fixed Income Analysis | 24 | - | - | * |
| - | General Portfolio Management | 12 | - | - | * |
| - | Quantitative Analysis | 28 | - | - | * |
As you can see, I am troubled by those financial statements, which I have never liked or been good at. Unfortunately, I might also have some ethical problems : (. Both of them are heavily weighted and almost add up to half of the credits.
Now that I have got the new curriculum and started preparing for level II of this June. Although I have no plan of being an accountant in the future, the problems will still be haunting me, since these two topics will carry even more weights. Isn't it ironic?
19 October 2006
Adsense on Blogger beta failure
Adsense was good with the old blogger system but never went with the new blogger beta. Google told people that those who want to use adsense on their blog had to transform back to the old version.
I was glad to know that Adsense could be put on blogger beta too recently. And I was glad to find out it is a really simple process with no need for HTML editting. However, after I was done with the layout, nothing happend on my webpage. Although I set up two places for advertisements, no ads were put on my blog at all! This really bothers me, although I don't have much to lose anyway. I don't know if it's just me or there is something wrong with the blogger system. Anybody knows?
I was glad to know that Adsense could be put on blogger beta too recently. And I was glad to find out it is a really simple process with no need for HTML editting. However, after I was done with the layout, nothing happend on my webpage. Although I set up two places for advertisements, no ads were put on my blog at all! This really bothers me, although I don't have much to lose anyway. I don't know if it's just me or there is something wrong with the blogger system. Anybody knows?
14 October 2006
Hard Time
Haven't submit any new post recently. I went back to my hometown for half a month to be with my parents. For the one year apart, I really missed them. I was really relaxed at home and enjoyed plenty of fresh seafood there.
Back to Beijing last Sunday, I am having a hard time now, preparing for the CFA exam and looking for a job at the same time. Currently studying for like ten hours a day, I don't have much time for online surfing or blogging anymore, at least not before 4th December.
Hardly leaving my room, there are nothing interesting to talk about either, except that the studying is surprisingly intriguing. I learn so much the CFA curriculum which help me understand the economics, finance, and even the world much better. So there is much less pain from the studying part than expected.
Btw, I really like the blogger beta system now.
Back to Beijing last Sunday, I am having a hard time now, preparing for the CFA exam and looking for a job at the same time. Currently studying for like ten hours a day, I don't have much time for online surfing or blogging anymore, at least not before 4th December.
Hardly leaving my room, there are nothing interesting to talk about either, except that the studying is surprisingly intriguing. I learn so much the CFA curriculum which help me understand the economics, finance, and even the world much better. So there is much less pain from the studying part than expected.
Btw, I really like the blogger beta system now.
19 September 2006
Back to Beijing
Hello everyone. Sorry for stop blogging for so long. Back from one-year study in the UK, I am in Beijing now.
Right now, I have two priorities. One is to find a good job. The other is to pass the CFA test this December. Hopefully, both will end up well.
Beijing is dirty and crowded as ever. After staying in the UK, these feelings only get stronger. Now I see more people in one day than one month in the UK. However, I love this city and am glad to be back. After all, there is no place like home.
Right now, I have two priorities. One is to find a good job. The other is to pass the CFA test this December. Hopefully, both will end up well.
Beijing is dirty and crowded as ever. After staying in the UK, these feelings only get stronger. Now I see more people in one day than one month in the UK. However, I love this city and am glad to be back. After all, there is no place like home.
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