The World of Little Little Bird

最近上班忙死了.不停地工作.昨天上午,一个用我写的tool的designer找我说我的program不work了.结果帮他调了一上午,发现他用的circuit有很多floating wires.今天下午一个程序调了两个小时,结果是一个typo.哎,昏头昏脑.不过长周末马上就要到了,可以去vegas玩了.

Holland lost in an ugly way. They had control of the game for a long time, but no one stood up for the final execution like Beckham did for England. I felt sad for Marco van Basten. He is so handsome, but at the same time, helpless. He must have wished that he could play on the field himself. I've been rooting for Netherlands for 12 years, but let down every single time. Best wishes to them four years later. By the way, Figo sucked for his ugly acting.

我roommie回台湾，早上６：４５额飞机。伊叫我帮忙，５点钟送伊。我觉着可能晚了点，就闹钟闹了４：４０。结果，起来吃好早饭，看伊门还关了海。等 到５点钟，伊出来得我讲，伊还辣了汰衣裳。最后５：２０分出额门。伊了车子上告诉我，伊３点钟才回来理末事额。跑到飞机场５：５０，看到无数宁辣了排队 check in，格记伊慌了。不过，还算好，伊现在应该已经辣了台湾了。我回到窝里继续困觉。

Heat won in Game 6. I can't believe my eyes. Have to give Flash a lot of credit.

Prison Break by Fox is great. I spent the last week watching the first season. Very look forward to the second season this fall. I rate it 5 out of 5.

就是个菜市场.谁嗓门大谁牛叉...

不过也见到不少牛人...

One month and 39 technical papers have been the past. I uploaded all my reviews. The review site will close in 40 minutes. Committes will meet in Denver this Saturday discussing on the acceptances. I can imagine that to be a tense argument. I spent a large amount of time reading 34 of them. It is a lot of effort but definitely a worthwhile experience. I was worrying at first, but I managed to get it done in time and with good confidence of doing it right. I want to appreciate Xin's help for reviewing 8 for me.

一个月前,我们一家三口去了Seaworld San Antonio玩.玩的那天人很少,一天就玩遍了.这样一来,买的Two-day Pass的剩下那天就成了鸡肋.后来UT CSSA的maillist有很人要买便宜的Seaworld票,我就回了电话.一个男生.我说$15一张(原价格50多),他哭穷,说自己穷学生,还价$15两张.我说算了,$20两张,要就要,不要就算了.大不了,我们一家再在去玩一次,Seaworld真的挺好玩的.他说好,问我要了地址,说来取.然后就没了音讯.过了两天,给我发了封email,说I have some emergent things to do now. SoI will leave Austin for about 3 weeks. I will go to seaworld after I come back.哦,那也没什么.但是世界就是那么小.两天后,我居然在那个local conference上碰到了他.我从他的胸牌认出了他,但是也没说什么.估计他也从我的胸牌认出了我,就尽量闪着我.更巧的是,我在吃饭时候和一个UT学生聊天,那学生一听我是上海来的,就大叫那男生,说有老乡.结果那男生死活不过来.最后离场时,总算来了.我也就不给什么面子了.不想买了就明说,我又没有强迫你买,何必骗人呢?我说,喔,是你啊,我就是那个和你打电话卖票的.他一脸尴尬,说他要出差,下个星期一老板派去Florida,言下之意就是他email里没撒慌.随便你啦.后来,我居然在mailist又收到他的信,这次,他找人去Grand Canyon玩.哎,人就这么喜欢撒慌...
这次东北之行回来后,看到有人卖Seaworld票,$25一张,结果就一天就卖出去了.我抱着试试看的心理也发了贴,卖$25一张,那可比上次两张都贵啊.发贴当晚就有人要买两张.第二天又有两个人要3张.既然答应了第一个人,就只好婉拒了.剩下那张以后用.大家有谁来Austin玩啊?:)麻烦的是这个买家在College Station.我想出办法,把票打印成pdf文件发给他.当然我得相信他,等他去过回来后给我寄支票.不然要是他不付钱,我也没办法.但是我的中文acrobat有问题,他打印出来,在空白的地方有三个问号.而我打印又偏偏看不出问号在哪里.第二天,我又fax给他,但是他说fax的分辨率太差,怕条形码扫不出来.那我也没有办法了.他说他还是去San Antonio时,来我这里取票.那感情好,一手交钱,一手交货,童叟无欺.结果,他周六早上来拿的票.
啰啰索索写了一大堆,总结出三点.第一,做买卖不容易.很佩服那些Ebayer.我差点都要说就当我把票送给你了.第二,人品很重要.讲诚信的人,哪怕已经拿到了票,还是会付钱.不讲诚信的,谎话一大堆.第三,也是最关键的,今天比较空.

今天忙里抽闲去看了MI3.老早就叫着要去看了,这个周末父母不在,论文也审的差不多了,就冲去了电影院.情节一般,但是场面拍的很好.阿汤哥上窜下跳的甚是热闹.一口气从头到尾基本都在打.里面有很多上海的场景.浦东啦,周庄啦,城隍庙啦,让我不禁想起了上次回国陪老板游上海的情景.这两天Austin那叫热啊,出来后坐进车里,屁股都烤熟了.不过,在回家路上,从RadioShack搞了个Free After Rebate的wirelss optical travel mouse,总算也没白折腾.电影前放了Jet Li的霍元甲片花,还有就是我相当期待的Pirates of Caribean:Dead Man's Chest.周末就这么快过去了,哎...

哎...

Spurs were gone last week, and now Pistons are done. Sigh, good defense teams... Looks like Mavericks will prevail this season. Those ugly players, sigh again...

During this trip, I have driven 1750 miles. The Toyota Matrix is pretty good but not powerful at all. I spent over $60 for the pay tolls in northeast, which never happened in Austin. It was cold and wet for the first 3 days but later, it got very hot. It was 96 degrees in Pittsburgh on the day I returned. I had chances to see many old friends. I also reviewed 6 papers on air and in the airport. I am quite tired and need several days to recover...

I booked return flight in Pittsburgh and the rental car should also go back to Pittsburgh. So I got up early on 30th and left my Aunt's before 9am. My parents didn't come with me, they were to stay in NJ longer. The 400 miles are straightforward. Among them, over 300 miles are on I-76. Most of I-76 has only limited shoulders, so I kept my speed high, even though it is warned that speed limits are enforced by aircrafts. I arrived in Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:15pm, and returned my car without any hassle. At four, I was already waiting at the gate using my laptop. Till then, everything went my way. However, nightmare started. My flight was scheduled at 7pm. At 5:30, the flight was delayed to 7:30. At 7pm, the flight was again delayed to 8:45. At 7:40, it was announced that the flight was cancelled due to air traffic control. The next flight to Austin was 6am the second day connected from Dallas. Damn. Since it was due to air traffic control, I got no compension and had to pay for my hotel room. All I could do was to call my roommate telling him that I would need his pick the next day.
On Wednesday, I checked in early at 5am. The flight to Dallas was delayed again due to storms. I sat on the plane waiting for 40 minutes and thanks god it finally left Pittsburgh at 7am. When I got to Dallas, the sun shined without a single drop of water. :( I connected to the Austin flight fast. I was able to get to Austin at 11am, where it was raining. So the flight took another 15 minutes waiting in air before landing.

May 29th, Monday, Sunny.
It was memorial day. My uncle drove us to Atlantic City. Atlantic City is about 60 miles away. There are casinos, beaches, etc. We got there around noon. Due to the national holiday, most of the shows were cancelled. It also took us quite a while to find an open Chinese restaurant. Finally we found a Hongkong restaurant. The roast duck was greasy, that I liked. The afternoon was casino time. The slot machines were killing me. My money went to the casinos directly. I then played some black jack. I remained even after 30 minutes' play. Then I studied the roulette. There were many Chinese playing around. Finally, I lost all my $5, $10, $20 bills in Hilton and Trump Plaza. After walking along the beach and enjoying some breeze, we left Atlantic City for dinner at TGI Friday. I went to bed early that day to get ready for the long long journey back to Austin.