The World of Little Little Bird

We planned to have visited the Pentagon on Sunday morning. But Pentagon was closed to tour for a long time, the only thing that we could do is to take some photos from far away. So we cancelled the trip. This gave us a nice sleep till 10am. We then left DC to Lakewood, NJ, where my aunt lives. There was not much traffic on road, so we got there pretty fast.

This was another long walking day. We left the hotel at 7:30 to get tickets into the Capitol. The tickets are handed out from 9am in a first come first get manner. There were around 120 people ahead of us already. And soon, the line increased to more than 1000 people. There were many tour groups with about 50 ppl each. I beleive that everyone who goes to DC visits the similar attractions. We went to Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Embassy Row, while the Chinese Embassy is on Connecticut Ave though. Between the main attractions, there are also many other memorials such as WWII, Korea War, Roosevelt, etc. We also went to the top of the Washington Monument. From on top, the Capitol is on the east, Jefferson Memorial is on the south, Lincoln Memorial is on the west and the White House is on the north. Due to the memorial weekend, there were zillons of people. However, the weekend parking was still good as all on-street parking is free. We went to the famous Joe's Noodle House(峨眉小馆) for dinner. I don't know why people all like to call their restaurant Joe, as 鹿鸣春 does too. The food was fantastic. I love 酸菜鱼 very much.

This was the day we left NYC to DC. In the morning, we hanged around the hotel. The Macy's on 34th St. is the world's largest department store. From basement to the ninth floor is a hell lot of walk. We checked out after lunch and headed to DC. It was Friday afternoon of the long weekend. The I-95 was damn crowded. It took me 6 hours to get to DC. Compared to the NYC hotel, the $60 per night Hilton is paradise. I also enjoyed some free internet time as the hotel in NYC charges $5 for every 30 minutes. Crazy, uh?

The second part of the NYC tour was in the north. It covers Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the central park and the United Nations. We got a Mandarin tour. Due to some stupid meetings going on, we skipped many rooms. :( Then we went to Flushing for dinner.

I planned the NYC trip into two parts. On Wednesday, we went to South part of New York City. There were unexpectedly large number of tourists to the Statue of Liberty. Most of them are middle school kids organized by their teachers. It took us the whole morning to visit the Liberty Island and the Ellis Island. We then went to the location of World Trade Centers. New constructions are now going on. The next stop was Wall St. I saw flags of AMD ads on the street. I had photos with the bull and hopefully my stocks can go up big. We then had 蟹粉小笼 at Joe's Shanghai(鹿鸣春). I love it. Having walked around Chinatown, we visited the Mahattan Bridge. We had dinner at Todai with Yaqing and her mom. Thanks for her treat. :P A little walk in Time Square at night was a good exercise to finish the day.

This is a tired day for me. I drove over 400 miles from Buffalo to New York City. We left at around 9:30 in the morning and got to Hotel Wolcott on 31 St at 5pm. If it were not for the numerous pay tolls and traffic congestions into New York, we could have arrived one hour earlier due to my 80+ average speed, of course, when moving. New York City was disappointing. Crowded, dirty, and expensive. The 3 star hotel with over $180 per night was not even close to my $50 stay in Marriott, Pittsburgh, not even including the killing parking fees. After we checked in, we walked to the Empire State Building two blocks away. We only waited for 15 minutes to get on top. It was freezing there. We made some souvenirs from pennies with the wheel machines. We also waited for the sunset to see the night view of New York City. That was awesome.

It was quite a drive to Niagara Falls from Pittsburgh. We checked out at 7:30am and got there around noon. It was still cold and the wind blew hard. The rapids were fierce. We took the Maid of the Mist to the bottom of the falls. The tourists on the US side were way fewer than the Canada side. The state park was pretty small. We finished it in 3 hours. We stayed in hotel in the evening and watched the heartbreaking Spurs' loss.

On Sunday morning it was the commencement ceremony. After the commencement, I became Dr. Zhan officially. The weather was bad. It was cold and raining while the ceremory was in the football court without shade. There were lots of speaches, the keynote speach sucks especially. No one cared what the Qatar princess talked about. Our department diploma ceremony was right after that. My advisor would fly to Europe so he didn't attend. I do appreciate that he flew from Japan to Pittsburgh on Friday just for my hooding. Due to the delay of the commencement, Zhong had to leave early to catch his flight. It was another long wait for all the Ph.D.'s, masters and bachelors to get their diploma. I saw Lynn, Elaine, Judy, Shawn and Larry. I had a little talk with Larry and a nice chat with Judy. Also, I saw Wende's couple and we took some photos together. After that, I showed my parents around CMU, the newly erected statue of Mao Yisheng, the fences, the many halls, the schenley park, the museums, the green house, and of course, Mt. Washington again, which we should have visited a day earlier. We had dinner at Oriental Kitchen, the so-called best Chinese restaurant in Pittsburgh. Only it has round tables to sit more than 10 people. I remeber that almost every one treats friends in that restaurant after his/her defense.

We left Austin on Friday afternoon and arrived in Pittsburgh International Airport at 11pm. Though I had brought with me some thick coats, the 45 degrees and rain really gave us a chilly welcome. From Hertz, I picked up a Toyota Matrix. In the cold dark garage, I didn't notice the damage and scratches on the bumpers, which almost cost me big troubles later. When we got to downtown Marriott, it was already 12:10. But that was just in time to see the final 2 minutes of Spurs' game. Spurs won game 6.
On Saturday, we first took a little tour around downtown Pittsburgh. Of course, the point state park is a must see. Then we had our lunch at Rose Tea. Bang, I saw the car problem at that time and it almost ruined my mood. We then hanged around the strip district, at Lotus, we saw Rong's couple. Also, I got a Steelers' cap. The next stop was Mt. Washington. However, as soon as we got there, we saw some graduates taking photos in cap & gown. I suddenly remembered that I haven't picked up my gown yet, which is necessary for the hooding ceremony that evening. I rushed to CMU, but the distribution had already closed. Fortunately, it would reopen at 6pm. With not enough time to get back to Mt. Washington again, we walked around Hamerschlag Hall. I saw the light of my office on and knocked on the door. An Indian student was there and amazing he is now sitting in my seat. After that, we had dinner with my advisor at Casbah. All restaurants were booked out and the only spot that I could get was 5pm. The dinner was pleasant. Getting back to CMU, I got my gown finally. The hooding ceremory was long. It lasted till 10pm. Though there was reception after the ceremony, it was way too late and crowded. We just took a few more photos and went back to hotel. During the ceremony, I saw Zhong's family and Xun's family.

I am back from the northeast trip. I arrived in Austin about 12 hours late due to my flight cancellation yesterday evening. Damn. I appreciate my roommate picking me up from the airport. The details will be rolled out soon.

The northeast trip starts. In 40 minutes, we will be heading for the airport.

今天吃午饭的时候，一个UT的说起了陈进。我那个汗阿。开始在那边表演呆若木鸡功，结果有个人问我，你不是SJTU的吗? 靠，我只得说I feel sorry for that. 然后就在那里听别人白活。据说这个新闻上了New York Times的头版头条。好不容易，抓住个机会，把球踢回UT ，问那个陈进是不是Jacob的学生啊。然后，趁有人去拿吃的的时候，转移话题，大谈research，终于，没有再给人机会继续陈进talk。

今年UT Austin组织了一个local conference叫ACISC.我把那片ISQED被据的paper给recycle了。昨天，今天两天都在会场中度过。我的paper是昨天下午present的。哎，已经老油条了。想想当初在DAC的时候紧张的不行，而现在，仅花了两个小时炮制了十几张slides，然后看了一遍，就冲上去讲了。结果效果居然比DAC是要好很多。有的时候不care更能发挥，当然也可能是这点东西实在讲了太多了。后来还殴打了一个ibm的韩国人。一拳致命，当然这拳是Dr. Xin Li教的。:)
今天结束之后还有个cruise,不错不错。明天就要回痞子堡了，会看到Xin,Zhong各班兄弟。这个星期真得很忙，由于take off下星期游览New York和DC, 我要交五月底的货。不过，总算及时完成了。晚上还得努力的看paper,还有一大半。这里要再次感谢Dr. Xin Li帮助我一起看。天天搞得昏昏沉沉的，这样的日子要扛到6月10号。打印了4篇paper,准备明天在去pittsburgh的路上看。哎，都不忍心再说了。
最近NBA playoff也打得如火如荼。母牛极其凶狠，Spurs看来凶多吉少。虽然昨天晚上扳回来了一场。
今天有个等了很长时间的好消息。Stupid Dell总算回心转意了，决定用AMD的芯片。还算有救。希望等我回来的时候，我的股票能涨回去一点。

这个星期太忙了，直到今天才有时间来写一下上周末的休斯敦之行。用一个词来总结, Sucks. 休斯敦太无聊了。只有chinatown还可以。我们去了chinatown,downtown tunnel. 郁闷的是downtown tunnel周末不开。找了半天才从JP Morgan Building下到地道。地道挺有特色的。在downtown的高楼下面，有着四通八达的地道。里面有着各种restaurant和shop。这样，在高楼里工作的人们，就能溜出来逛街了。只是可惜，店面只有周一到周五开。还去看了Rox的主场Toyota Center。只能在外面绕一圈，没什么大意思。不过chinatown的中餐馆还是很赞的。我们周六晚上去了闻名遐迩的独一处。星期天去了中央饭店，吃了烧饼，油条，和豆浆。很久没吃四大金刚了。比起在加州的烧饼油条，中央的要强很多。价廉物美。在去休斯敦之前，我们先去了Galveston.比起south padre来，Galveston不值一提。特别是名声在外的moody gardens，真是骗钱的。又贵又臭。Fishermen's Wharf也名不副实，脏乱差。只有在海边吃的海鲜还不错。晚上，我们住在Marriott，不错，而且便宜。Priceline.com拍的，三星级，$33。这次又开了500迈的车，累啊。在Chinatown逛中国店的时候，我都快站着睡着了。

http://www.sjtu.edu.cn/newsnet/newsdisplay.php?id=6346

　　2005年12月，我校接到对微电子学院院长、汉芯科技有限公司总经理陈进等人涉嫌造假的举报，学校十分重视，立即对有关情况进行了初步调查。考虑到问题的严肃性和复杂性，学校随即请求国家权威部门对事件进行深入全面调查。

　　2006年1月28日，科技部、教育部和上海市政府成立专家调查组并开始工作，在其后的两个多月的时间里，专家调查组本着客观公正、尊 重科学、实事求是的精神，针对举报人对“汉芯”事件的举报内容，采取与举报人、当事人和相关人员面谈、现场查验技术文档、分析对比有关技术资料、查验芯片 演示系统和调阅相关音像资料等方式方法，对“汉芯”系列一至四号芯片的设计过程和性能指标等进行了全面调查与核实。日前，科技部和教育部向我校转交了专家 调查组的调查结论。现将有关情况通报如下：

　　陈进在负责研制“汉芯”系列芯片过程中存在严重的造假和欺骗行为，以虚假科研成果欺骗了鉴定专家、上海交大、研究团队、地方政府和中央有关部委，欺骗了媒体和公众。

　　据调查，陈进负责的汉芯团队所研制的“汉芯一号”，是一款208只管脚封装的数字信号处理器(DSP)芯片，由于其结构 简单，不能单独实现指纹识别和MP3播放等复杂演示功能。为了在上海市举办的新闻发布会上能够达到所需的宣传效果，陈进等预先安排在“汉芯一号”演示系统 中使用了印有“汉芯”标识、具有144只管脚的芯片，而不是提供鉴定的208只管脚的“汉芯一号”芯片。调查表明，当时汉芯公司并没有研制出任何144只 管脚的芯片，存在造假欺骗行为。

　　“汉芯二号”是受某公司委托定制的DSP软核，汉芯公司完成了设计实现，但核心技术不为其所有；“汉芯三号”是对 “汉芯二号”的简单扩充，技术上与“汉芯二号”来源相同，由于缺乏必要的外围接口，不能独立实现复杂的应用。芯片实际情况与汉芯公司宣称的“已经达到国际 高端的DSP设计水平”的说法不符，夸大了事实。“汉芯四号”是一款使用了其它公司中央处理器的单核系统芯片（SoC），不包含汉芯DSP核，与汉芯公司 向有关部委提交的项目文件中关于“汉芯四号”是双核芯片的陈述不符，存在夸大欺骗行为。

　　根据上述专家调查结论，我校认为，陈进等人的行为完全背离了科技工作者、教育工作者基本的诚信操守和行为准则，严重违反了我校的校纪校 规，违反了国家的有关规章制度，造成了极其恶劣的影响。为严肃学术规范、维护学术声誉，按照学校有关规定和程序，经研究决定：撤销陈进上海交通大学微电子 学院院长职务；撤销陈进的教授职务任职资格，解除其教授聘用合同。

　　接有关部门通知，科技部根据专家调查组的调查结论和国家科技计划管理的有关规定，已决定终止陈进负责的科研项目的执行，追缴相关经 费，取消陈进以后承担国家科技计划课题资格；教育部决定撤销陈进“长江学者”称号，取消其享受政府特殊津贴的资格，追缴相应拨款；国家发展改革委决定终止 陈进负责的高技术产业化项目的执行，追缴相关经费。我校坚决支持并将严格执行国家有关部门的决定。

　　上海交通大学历来倡导求真务实的科学精神，反对任何形式的学术造假行为。今后，学校将进一步加强科研管理和对科技经费使用的监管， 组织全体教职员工、科研人员深入学习“八荣八耻”社会主义荣辱观，树立诚信意识，加强学风和道德建设，大力弘扬创新进取、淡泊名利、脚踏实地、潜心科研的 良好风尚，努力为国家的科技事业发展做出更大的贡献。

上海交通大学

2006年5月12日

最近在公司不停被人push着干活,极其不爽.第一封email说这样,第二封email又要那样,一回头又回到第一封email的要求.靠,站着说话不腰疼.我马上一个电话过去,要求丫把话说清楚,到底想怎么样.原来丫也会慌,承认了第二封email写错了.不爽归不爽,还是要干啊.奋斗到晚上8点多,总算交了差.给丫的接连写了两封email,让他知道我答应的东西一定会按时完工.
今天收到了40篇paper要review.6月7号交货.哎,这个月的晚上是废掉了.当中还要抽出一个多星期回痞子堡.估计得一天两篇了.不过似乎有相当一部分是DAC的炒冷饭.那是不是就维持原判?嘻嘻

本来上周六就想去Seaworld的,结果由于天气原因,没有去成.这个星期六,天气预报又说下雨,真是FT.不过还好,星期天终于说不下雨.于是我们8点从家里早早的向San Antonio进发.离开家,天上还飘着濛濛细雨.心中有点担心.不过,一会就停了.此时心中暗暗高兴,想阴天去Seaworld玩的人一定不多.后来事实确实如此,我们一天时间基本玩遍了整个公园.
Shows:
我们统筹安排,看了所有的show.其中Believe和Rockin' Ski Party超赞.Believe中,由于我们坐在Splash区,还给Shamu溅了一身海水.Shamu表演非常棒,是Seaworld的王牌节目.Rockin' Ski Party则是帅哥靓妹的各种冲浪表演,很有看头.Viva也很不错,不过对于中国人来说,就没什么了.在我看来就是体操,跳水,花样游泳运动.不过,其中的海豚表演还是很吸引人的.R.L Stine's Haunted Lighthouse就是4D movie(3D+喷水),和我当初在LA的Universal Studio看的Shrek差不多.The Cannery Row Caper是个有海狮表演的小品,一般.大多数的Show都有splash zone,所以每当主持人提醒观众的时候,都有很多人开闪.:D估计是那天人比较少的缘故,那些人都能轻易的找到后排位置.
Rides:
我们玩了除了Great White之外的所有项目.Shamu Express没有什么难度,给我父母热热身.Rio Loco也一般.六个人坐在一个圆型的橡皮船里漂流.没有什么高难度,只是会从瀑布下经过,所以人人都会湿透.Texas Splashdown就是激流勇进,坐在船上沿45度往下冲.和Disneyland的差不多.在最后也是最大的下坡是,会有电脑自动照相,可惜相片里我们一家三口只有我一个脸拍出来了.郁闷.Steel Eel是个超级大的过山车,号称是西南最大的.我父母在下面等我,我一个人乘的.由于两个月前看了Final Destination 3,还有两天前做过的一个从高空落下的恶梦,让我还是惊慌了一阵.:)下降途中也看到了自动照相机的闪光.可惜最后我们三个人找了半天也没找到我在哪张照片里.最后的Great White没有乘.老妈说看上去太吓人,没有批准.:P由于游客不多,排队最长的Rio Loco也只有15分钟,而象Texas Splashdown和Steel Eel基本上就是上去就乘.
Animal Encounters:
我们先后游览了大马(clydesdale),鸭子,红鹤(Flamingos),企鹅,海狮,海獭,绿鹦鹉(Lorikeet),鲨鱼,鳄鱼,还喂了海豚.
Seaworld @ San Antonio占地不大,我们早上10点入场,下午5点离开,基本玩遍.我们买的是网上的two day pass,check in的时候也没有人查名字,估计以后还可以让别人用.入场的时候,还碰上了奏美国国歌.我回头去拿地图时,看见人人都站着,发地图的老哥还把帽子放在心口,抬头仰望,这才反应过来.于是也就站定冒充老美.:) 总体来说,Seaworld还是非常值得一去的.

It is gonna rain this Saturday in Austin/San Antonio/Houston/Galveston. So, trip to Houston/Galveston is put off. The plan is that I show my cooking talent on Saturday and go to Seaworld on Sunday. Pork bone soup with soybean, roasted chicken/duck, steam live tilapia may take me 2 hours in the afternoon.