I have a strange fascination with people. Whenever I travel, I love sitting at a cafe, or the side of store, just to watch people pass by, living their daily lives. 

Here are some of the pictures I took:

London. She is laughing, thoroughly engrossed in her book, and clearing enjoying it.  What is she reading?

Next to the reading lady, is this sleeping man. She walks by, and does not notice him. How often do we "not notice" the poor, the suffering?

They don't notice either. I myself was surprised that there were "homeless" people in London.  I thought everyone in the UK was well provided for. Even Japan has homeless...

Belgium.  Prominent store display in a busy area.  It's amazing what different countries find appropriate and inappropriate.

France.  A young, hopeful band rocking out on the street.  Who knows, they may become famous one day - they were pretty good!

Malaysia.  Jungle train.  While your child, and mine, will likely spend much of their travel time sitting in air conditioned car seats; here's a child, sitting in 120 degree or so heat, try to cool off. 

Are they wearing those head scarves by choice?

Cambodia. No Nintendo to play with, no playground specifically built for them, no fancy television sets - but equally happy.  All they need is one bottle. Do they know what they're missing? Would they ever feel "poor" if they knew what they didn't have? Is happiness enough? Perhaps they are wealthier than our spoiled children.

While traveling through Cambodia, I was shocked by how "dark" it was at night.  No electricity; just pits of fire.  I encountered this store on my way to Siem Reap. I wondered - how much of their life will be spent here, in a dusty store on an unpaved road? Will they receive a proper education?  How far will they go?

China. It bothers me that foreigners bargain with local vendors sometimes.  True, they may be raising the price for you... but can you not afford it?  You'd be paying more in your home country anyway.  Life isn't easy for people in foreign countries - don't take advantage.

Bedroom, kitchen, living room in one.  The top bunk was for their kids.  A whole family, under one roof, in one room.

What kind of interesting people have you met abroad?

I'm taking a graduate-level course at Berkeley, and I had this super-long 30-page final paper due.  Basically, we could either write a paper on a previously done cost-benefit analysis, or we can choose to conduct our own.

I choose to conduct my own, on a topic that was dear to my heart.  Today, I received a note from the professor saying:

"Anna - this is an impressive beginning.  You could easily turn this [paper] into a PhD or Masters dissertation, and could eventually publish.... [etc, etc,] Mostly, I just want to encourage you to follow up on this topic. It is very important."

Yes... I will... once I get in.. ^_^

(I really hope I will.  I still remember all the rejection letters I got 3 years ago, and it was an absolute nightmare. )

Sometimes, I feel as though I write like a textbook.

You know, one of those utterly confusing, unnecessarily complicated, and disgustingly verbose ones. 

What's the key to clarity and grace?

:-p

As the debate about "climate-gate" rages on, I start to wonder:

Who stands to benefit from "climate change"? Who's funding it? Who's pushing for it?

Who's paying these scientists?

As a side note, I am very passionate about humanitarian and environmental issues; thus, I strongly believe that there are much more pressing issues to deal with than reducing carbon production.  E.g. reducing air pollution from sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, remediating surface water and groundwater to provide clean drinking water for billions of people, deforestation / habitat destruction, species loss, etc..

Reduce carbon emissions my ass.

I'm scared...

to walk around in Oakland at night.. in the dark... with not one thing to protect me. 

A few weeks ago, while walking home late at night, I saw a sign on a tree that read, "Mugging Nov, XX at 6pm - please contact Oakland Police if you have any information regarding this case." I shrugged and walked on.

Five days ago, I see another sign.  "Woman robbed at 1:30pm on Nov. XX - please contact Oakland Police.." That worried me a little... a robbery in broad daylight?

Yesterday, my professor mentioned that a graduate student (who lives in Oakland) was robbed at gunpoint while dropping off his girlfriend.  The perpetrators (two of them, both with guns) took his car, his wallet and cell phone - everything. The financial loss sucks, but it's not a big deal.  It's the fear that you'll never quite get over.

Today, I walk back from work at 8:30pm... alone... in the dark.  And I see a tall black man following behind me. He comes closer...and closer... My heart starts to beat really fast... and I consider walking faster / running away. He passes me and continues walking.  I let out a sigh.

In my mind, I knew that most likely, he meant me no harm.  But I couldn't stop the absolute panic that took over my heart.

Tonight, while looking up the crime rates for Oakland, and I came across this crime-tracking map.

I narrowed it down to crimes committed during commute hours only (7-9am, 6-8pm), ignored the less scary crimes like narcotics and "disturbing the peace," and set the dates for the month of November.

Here's what my 'hood looks like:

Oakland is this country's third most dangerous city.

6. UCSD, (January 15): In progress

My first application has been completed! I sent in my first package on Monday, kissed it good luck and hoped for the best.  I'm nervous, but excited..

1 down, 5 to go.

Classwork
1. Class presentation, PowerPoint presentation (December 10)
2. 30-page paper - Draft (December 13)
     a. 30-page paper - Final (December 19)

No wonder why I have no time to see friends...

When people get married, do they really know what they're getting themselves into?  People often overestimate or underestimate risks; thinking that they'd be the exception to the rule.

For example, many people are afraid flying, but are willing to drive.  Of course, they are much, much, much more likely to die in a car accident than an airline accident.  But why do people think this way? Simply because the media makes such a big deal out of airline incidents that people perceive the risks differently - you hear about it more, so you think it happens more frequently than it really does.

Same for marriages / divorces.  Marriages are big celebrations - happy brides (occasionally, grooms - but mostly brides) send invitations and announcements; they take pictures and have a party - the whole shebang.
Divorces are quiet. No one wants to hear about it. Divorcees don't want to talk about it.

I mean, think about it - how many weddings do you think you'll attend in your life time?
How many divorces?
There we go.

Here're some numbers for you:
"It predicted that one-third of new marriages among younger people will end in divorce within 10 years and 43 percent within 15 years." - National Center of Health Statistics

And what about all those who stay together because they simply have to? (E.g. those with children, etc)

I'm just trying to be realistic.

I miss my grandma.  Sometimes, I still don't know what death is.  It's unfathomable, because all we know is life. 

But I guess it's like the story of the Lego pieces.  Let's say you make a house out of Legos, and then take those pieces apart.  What happens to the house?

It's gone.  It ceases to exist.

 
From xckd

why is it that digital photography is now the "IN" thing but digital video isn't?

for example, at weddings - wouldn't you rather have a video that you can watch, over and over again... than a photo that doesn't move?  

and what about children? surely you'd rather have a video of  your child talking, smiling, moving around - than just a picture.

i could see beautiful digital videos being created... ~~~

Looks like I'll be heading to Japan in January...

It'll cost a lot of money though...  :-/

Time for some fugu!!

Need to focus on my apps..