[Music] Hope

This hit ''Hope'' performed by Twista featuring Faith Evans is from Coach Carter, one of the best basketball movies ever. The movie is based on a true story. It also has lots of great quotes in this movie and I think they are somewhat aphorisms.

One of the best is that Coach Ken Carter loves to ask, ''What's your deepest fear?'' One of his player, Timo Cruz answers, ''Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.''

Another one I like is that Jason Lyle says to the coach and the team, ''You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.''


Therefore, Adidas is right about this. Basketball is a brotherhood, man. I love it with all my heart.

Hope lyrics

Congrats!

This is a belated compliment for A-shin.

So my dear friend, A-shin, surprisingly joined her commencement on 22th, May 2008. After struggling for her thesis, she's finally done her tremendous work and graduated from Tulane U, New Orleans, LA USA.

And now she got her doctor of public health (DrPH) degree she dreamed of for long time. Congratulations A-shin.

Way to go, girl. Way to go. I am so happy for you. :)

(Oh, by the way, could I get to have some souvenirs of New Orleans Hornets or Chris Paul??)

Is That a Sick Joke or What?

I was contacting a friends who I've never been met in months. I asked him some of other's frineds' recent conditions.

When I asked about one friend's, he told me, ''he had a stoke.''

''What? Say again?'' I said. '' Is that a sick joke or what?'' I was thinking simutaniously.

''No shit, you did't know that? He just had it several months ago.'' he said.

''Darn, but he is still so young, less than 40 years old.''

''He got all the risk factors, and I am not so surprised about that.''

''But I still can't believe it. Did you see him?''

''Once, when he just got it. Right side paralysis. The speaking was not articulate. But not since then because it's too far from my working place. Never had another chance to go.''

''How's he doing now?''

''No idea about that. Maybe he'll get some motor functions back after rehabs.''

After the call, I couldn't get the mood back where it was. That's shocked news to me. Too shocked. A guy so young and he got a freaking stroke. And his life is half-screwed...

You know, things change. But it is really hard to catch on for laymen.

God Loves Us

Guys, miss me or not, here I am, to update my blog. It's been a long time.

Maybe you heard about this, "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." So I have a t-shirt printing this cool quote on it. Guess who said that?

No, I don't think you have a clue.

It came from Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). You still have no idea who he is? Never mind. Let's just DRINK!

Somebody Missed Me a Lot Today?

This afternoon, it just started. Ahh-Chooo!!!

God, I sneezed like crazy. My sneezes are continuous, consecutive, unlimited ones. It was very distracted. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring any antihistamine along. So I couldn't do anything but consumed a lot of tissues. Wearing a mask didn't help much. You know how tired it makes people feel.

I suspected that someone was thinking of me a lot today.

Okay, whoever you are, I appreciated that ,and I missed you, too (Whatever). Having a runny nose isn't fun at all.

It's my fantasy. Heh...

An Unexpected Call

On Monday afternoon, when I was in the middle of something, somebody called.

I didn't recognize the number in the beginning, and it seemed to come from a landline. I hung it off. I believed if it was urgent, that person would call again. And he really did. About every 3 to 5 mins once. It was somehow annoying because I was busy. I hung up on him again, and again, and again. More than 10 times, I believe.

After my errand was done, I went to Watson's to look around. That person just didn't give up. He called again. I picked it up. A familiar male voice showed up, '' This is Mr X. You Jeff?''

''Yeah'', I answered, and a voice rose up from the bottom of my mind-oh shoot. There was one second that my mind went blank. Because I didn't expect a call from Mr X since I have e-mailed him that letter. He explained and clarify what he was thinking and there might be some misinterpretation about his talk. The discussion went very well. The call lasted for 32 mins and from the conversation I knew he loves Taiwan, and respects the human rights and freedom. Maybe I misunderstood him.

So much better than just an email reply with a boring thank you. I was really appreciated that he called and it was an unsual chance to exchange our opinions. Can't say it's shocking, if any, but it's a surprise.


給X老師的一封信：有關奧運火炬抗議事件

Times Topic Today - Chien-Ming Wang

Sunday, April 13, 2008 NY TIMES

王建民是Yankees中最重要的投手之一，他在未來甚至有可能變得更有價值。他在情緒表現的不外露如同一個人在打盹一樣。他穩定地製造滾地球如同一個教練在對內野手做滾地球練習。

王，在2005年非正式加入Yankees後，已經變成了球隊的關鍵。他也在他的國家-台灣，變成了一個英雄。

這位右投投手最常依賴他的時速96英哩(約155公里)四縫線快速球。但是，他也擁有下墜球、滑球、變速球與指叉球等武器。

Chien-Ming Wang is one of the most important pitchers on the Yankees and, presumably, will become even more valuable in the future. He shows as much emotion as someone who is napping. He produces grounders almost as steadily as a coach tapping them to infielders.

Wang, has become a lynchpin to the Yankees since joining them unceremoniously in 2005. He’s also become a hero in his home country of Taiwan.

The right-handed pitcher depends mostly on a four-seam fastball around 96 miles an hour. But, he also has in his arsenal a diving sinker, a slider, a changeup and a split-finger fastball.

Chien-Ming Wang News - The New York Times