passing by

Facebook vs Xiaonei

2008-03-19T20:25:00.008+08:00

Facebook has been famous for a really long time, and I know that name for quite some time. But I never even thought of registering myself there. Why? No incentives! According to the principle of economics, incentive can change people's behaviours. Since signing up in facebook doesn't benefits me in any sense, I didn't. But today, some person told me that they are going to creating a networking group on Facebook. Now the incentive appears. As a result, I signed myself up and spent some time to edit my profile and invite more friends to Facebook.

Let me drop Facebook for a little while and talk about xiaonei.

I'm sure many of you are not familiar with it. It's a website similar to Facebook. If I remembered correctly, it appeared around the year 2006, when I was still a university student. It first opened to few universities, then it expanded into more, but still restricted to university students. That's where the name "xiaonei", which means 'on campus', comes from. It has been a time when I was quite addicted to the website and logged on for several times every day. Then I began to think why I was there, what I was there for. It turned out that I just was just customed to it. It doesn't add much value to my life. I'm not so keen on it from then on.

But, what do Facebook and xiaonei do? It's a virtual community where people express and exibit themselves and keep a close relationship with their friends. And people share pictures, videos, events, etc. About how much value it can add to one's social network and whether it is worth the effort and time to maintain a personal profile, I dare say it will depend on how you treat it. Networking is a complicated science and requires skill, I may shot another posting in the near future.

Let me show you some snap shots. Home page for xiaonei (left) and Facebook (right) respectively:

When I first log on to Facebook, I'm astonished that it's nearly the English version of xiaonei! Of cource Facebook comes first in the world. I began to think how xiaonei makes money. Of course advertisement is one of the major sources. The websites also provides virtual gifts for one to send to a friend. The gifts can be bought using virtual money. But we need actual money to exchange for virtual money. I'm proud that I never trade any actual money for virtual money on xiaonei. And whenever there are free gifts, I takes advantage of it - -

How do Watson make money

2007-10-20T19:46:00.000+08:00

Every time I walk past a Watson store, I'll drop in and pick up one or two things. It seems that you can always get what you need in a reasonable price in Waston.

Waston is in a very good market. Its products are mainly makeups, household appliances, and healthy food. They are necessaries and of low profits. Some are Waston's own products, while some are only on sale there.

One strategy Waston has been using to increase sales is giving certain discount to a range of products during a specific period. And according to my own experiences, I look for these with a large discount and take them home. Of course after I pay for them.

While using the low price strategy, Waston has other strategies to distinguish its self-owned products and others. Customers usually get extra pieces when they buy Watson's self-owned products, and there are small but cute presents for them if the total amount reach a certain figure. That's really smart! Though I never got them because I keep a close eye on the price of things I buy:)

Earlier today I bought a pair of slippers together with other little bits and pieces. Then when I check the prices I found that the price of the slippers is CNY 39.9. And I thought it was 19.9. What a mistake! I sat there thinking then I decided to go back and return them. Then I did. They accepted the slippers and gave back my money. I was very happy to go home.

There is one thing I want to mention about Wastons, the shopping environment. It's easy and relaxing. Just like wandering around and pick up what you like. Usually you only have to pay a small amount of money to get what you really like and be happy. And next time you will come and pick others. I call it some business every time.

Kick off - Things change my life recently

2007-10-18T20:44:00.000+08:00

It has been a very long time that I'm not able to visit blogspot. So long that I nearly forgot that I own a blog here. Anyway, now it's available again, I shall continue.

Rss Reader was popular at least a year ago. For one reason or another, I didn't sink into it. Then when I was trying to find information on CNN.com, I noticed the rss seed there. It intrigued me. That's where I started. Not a very romantic encounter. But I do feel good. Excellent. It's especially useful when comes to news websites and blogs. People seldom want to miss any updates and now it spares you the trouble to check the websites now and then, every few minutes.

TvAnts is an online TV using P2P technology which means it works better if there are more people using the services. It's not brand new idea but it's outstanding in it's type. Although there are advertisements every time you connect a programme. I think it's acceptable as long as it provides TV channels home and abroad. And it's free! If you just sit in front of your computer and read about my feelings, you'll never know how wonderful it is. And I'm sorry to tell you that you're going to miss an amazing product and a web 2.0 life style. Your surely want to hear different voices. For myself, I have been addicted to BBC's Asia Today after only two days of watching. I will have more to share with you in the future. Don't hesitate, go!

And there is a third thing, that's Google's Adsense. If you own a website and you let google to automatically put ads on your web, you can earn dollars by writing articles. I know that writing best-sellers can make a lot of money, and I know ads industry also makes lots of money. But I never know that they can be combined together and influence ordinary people like you and me. To be frank, I don't know whether it will work or not and how the earnings will be. But I've deiced to have a try. This article will serve as a kick off!

The transfer of love

2007-06-04T23:38:00.000+08:00

徘徊过多少橱窗住过多少旅馆
how many display windows we moved around
how many hotels we lodged at

才会觉得分离也并不冤枉
then we realized separation acceptable

感情是用来浏览还是用来珍藏
Is love for flipping through or cherishing

好让日子天天都过得难忘
we live everyday unforgettable

熬过了多久患难湿了多长眼眶
endured many miseries
weeped for a long time

才能知道伤感是爱的遗产
then we get to know
sorrow is left when love leaves

流浪几张双人床换过几次信仰
roamed around double beds
belief changed for some times

才让戒指义无返顾的交换
then we can exchange our rings without turning back

把一个人的温暖转移到另一个的胸膛
transfer one's warmness to another's chest

让上次犯的错反省出梦想
brings out dreams from the last mistake

每个人都是这样享受过提心吊胆
everyone enjoys scaring

才拒绝做爱情待罪的羔羊
then refuses to blame for love

回忆是捉不到的月光握紧就变黑暗
memory is untouchable moonlight
it turns dark when held tight

等虚假的背影消失于晴朗
waiting for unreal back sight disappeared in sunny

阳光在身上流转等所有业障被原谅
sunshine casts on me
forgive all my wrong doings

爱情不停站想开往地老天荒
love train never stops towards perpetuity

需要多勇敢
how much braveness we needed

烛光照亮了晚餐照不出个答案
candle lit the dinner
can not give an answer

恋爱不是温馨的请客吃饭
Romance is unlike warm treat

床单上铺满花瓣拥抱让它成长
petals spread all over the bed sheet
they grow in hugs

太拥挤就开到了别的土壤
so crowded that they extend to other ground

感情需要人接班接近换来期望
love is for someone to success
approach brings expectation

期望带来失望的恶性循环
and expectation brings a disappointing vicious circle

短暂的总是浪漫漫长总会不满
the short is always romantic
the long is not enough

烧完美好青春换一个老伴
trade the glorious youthhood for a husband or wife

你不要失望荡气回肠是为了
do not be upset
being pathetic is for

最美的平凡
the most beautiful ordinary

The days we ate sushi in BNU

2007-06-04T22:44:00.000+08:00

Ever since I came back from home after the Labor's Day, I've changed a lot. I stayed in my dorm one day after another without realizing it's very hot. I'm a little nervous about my current situation, just like unemployment. I'm going crazy.

For a long time, we haven't go out together all eight girls. Each seems to have got something or somebody more important. ZM and I were left. So we often have meals together, or else we'll be alone.

One of the quick food restaurant we sometimes patronize is Hollywood in Beijing Normal University(BNU) which is besides BUPT. I found it when it opens the first time. And it is amazing to me for the following two reasons: the same name as the famous America movies circle, the food there in Chinese and Western style.

I'd like to say a few words about the food there. I used to like the fruit salad there, then I thought I could get many more fruits with the same amount of money. Once I tasted spaghetti, and I should say that the name doesn't match the reality. My friend ZM loves the sushi there. To be more accurate, it's not sushi, just a South Korea food that likes sushi. They wrapped carrot strips, egg and rice with laver. I think what she really loves is laver. There are other things I like there. For example, tea with milk and fresh juice are among my favorite. Especially the banana juice and kiwi juice, I've never seen it elsewhere! Unfortunately, they are comparatively expensive.

Nowadays, I usually ask the Hollywood hamburger alone. It's not delicious at all, but it will do. I takes no interest to try something else. It's a bad sign meaning I'm pessimistic.

Yesterday we five girls went to hollywood for lunch. The meals we can have together will be less and less. I'm leaving you in one month. Though I'm looking forward to the new life in front, but it made me feel sad thinking about leaving you. For some of you, we may not meet each other for a life time.

Brothers & Sisters

2007-06-04T22:08:00.000+08:00

Life is like a trip. Someone may accompany you for some time, and then they go away, and you walk on. Among the many people, some are special. They are our parents, brothers & sisters, friends and partner.

My mother has got 2 elder brothers, 1 elder sister and 1 younger sister. They have deep feelings for each other. I don't know much about their past stories, what I do know is that they always want their brothers and sisters to live a better life.

Every time, I see from TV or movies that brothers and sisters don't get on well with each other and even fight and kill each other for money or power, I just couldn't understand them. Did they forget the happy times they had together when they were young? How could they be so cruel?

Influenced by our aunts and uncles, I care much about my cousins. We didn't spend much time together, except when we are still little children. And we focus on studying for so many years. For us, the true life has just begun. I'm glad to have them as my relatives. And I'm glad that when we feel helpless, we have got someone to turn to.

One of my cousin just gave birth to a girl, congratulations to her. She always took me around when I was a little kid. Now I've got the opportunity to take care of her daughter. So this is life.

a 24 hours convenience store

2007-04-21T22:56:00.000+08:00

I can't remember now that from when my mobile keeps available around the clock. I was waked up yesterday midnight by a call from one of my best friend. She studies for her bachelor's degree at Wuhan University, and nowadays she is working at her graduate paper in Chinese Academic of Science. She got something urgent and want to go back home as soon as possible. So she called me to ask me about the airlines to Wuhan. Unfortunately, I had never taken an air. I know nothing more than her. Worse still, the battery of my mobile is worning out. I called one of my friends who have access to Internet and ask him to take over the matter. As a result, she was in Wuhan this morning. Happy ending.

The similar story. I got a call from another friend asking me to check the airlines to Nanjing or Anhui. He had to attend the postgraduate entrance reexamination for Chinese University of Science and Technology. I asked another friend for help.

In the two cases, I played the role of a 24 hours convenience store for my friends. When they need me, I was there and provided them which what they want. I was not this kind of friends before. After I myself gone through a lot of difficulties, I found that family and friends are most precious. So I always try my best to help them to live a better life. I know many people, and many people know me. But I'm alone most of the time. I meet people, I smile to them, and then walk on.

I'm lonely at night. And I always do some reading. I seldom go to 24 hours convinence store. I'm scared that what if I can't find what I need in the store, or the store disappeared after I get used to them.

After nearly one year of struggling, I get a deep understanding of the society and people. I want to be good. But before I can be good, I shall take care of myself.

books on sale

2007-03-23T10:07:00.000+08:00

Two years ago, I had involved in second-hand books trade. With the help of the campus forum, I sold the books at a reasonable price. It's easy to sell books, but not so easy to make the process interesting.

I don't have much knowledge of sales and marketing, instead I have experiences of purchasing, especially in super markets and clothes markets. Inspired by the promotion strategy of the above places, I work out a solution for selling second hand book on the campus forum.

I listed all the books. And I prepare a special list for everyday. When you buy a book on the special list on the first day, you will get 50% off, 60% for the second day and 70% off for the third day. The books will be not available after the third day.

If you buy more than one book at a time, you'll get some money back. The amount gave back depends on the kind of book and the quantity of books you buy. The single gave back money for on-list book is 50 fen and for off-list book is 100 fen.

Many fellows found my solution amused. But they doubt if I can sell the books because it's too sophisticated. I have to admit that they are right. I got tired by the complicated pricing myself and left it on the side. It's a typical example of making simple things complicated. Rather stupid.

The last few months in college

2007-03-16T16:48:00.000+08:00

Hey, I'm comming back. Long time no see. A few things happened to my friends. My best friend left Beijing for Greece 3 days ago. Maybe we'll meet again after he comes back after 3 or 4 days. Or we'll pass by each other from now on. It's a rather strange feeling and I don't like it.

The scores of the 2007 graduate school entrance examination have come out. In my dorm, two girls get excellent scores, two intermediate, another two rather low. As a result, two more girls joined us in job hunting. It's no good news. After hunting job for nearly one year, I have a vivid understanding of the market. I never know that it's so difficult to find, or rather get, a job that meets our expectation.

Whatever interview I attended, I met scores of masters. Once I have some advantages over the masters that can help me stand out. But now I'm not so confident.

I don't want to continue with the topic any more. It's a little far away from the title. Again, on Mar 13th, I got an offer, though I haven't decided whether to accept it or not. Whatever, the moment I heard the news, I can't help weeping.

When I calmed down, I began to question myself: why? For so long a time, I have been concerntrating on job hunting and internship. I didn't put even a clue of my mind on the life off campus, and the reality I have to face in the near future. Confronted with it, I begin to panic. Standing in the threshold of college looking backward, I saw past happening flashing by. If...No if.

Chinese Medicine vs Western Medicine

2007-02-06T13:56:00.000+08:00

Chinese Medicine is totally different from Western Medicine. They have different theories and methods.

Chinese Medicine treats people as a whole. It believes all the symptom is a reflection of the inner body. The methods doctors usually use are observation, smelling, asking, and feeling the pulse. A distinctive feature is slow. An old man, a magical prescription and bitter medicines. I believe many Chinese people have such memories, especially the adults. Acupuncture is a typical method. It is believed that there are more than 1000 acupuncture points in human body. Each acupuncture point controls different part of the body and plays a certain function. 365 of them are frequently used. I think we haven't got a thorough understanding of all the acupuncture points. We can cure ills through irritating the specific acupuncture point. Another important notion of Chinese Medicine is to convalesce through care, rest, and nourishment. I strongly agree with the idea. You can refer to:http://www.aijk.com/news/detail/5372.html

Western Medicine has taken the most advanced technology innovations into its treating. Just think about ultrasonic scanning, CT. I found some comments on Western Medicine on the Internet: They treat patients like a machine, making up of components. Funny, right? But kind of reasonable. In corresponding to acupuncture, Western Medicine has surgery. It's much acuter and direct.

Let’s move on to the medicine. Chinese medicine has been criticized for no quantification and no enough scientific foundation. Western medicine for its side effect. Many people wonder if they can combine together. It’s hard on the theory part, but possible on the operation part. Each one can play at the segment that it is good at and can do best. We convalesce through care, rest, and nourishment in daily life, and while we get ill, we can go to western medicine for help.

Chinese traditional culture

2007-02-05T09:30:00.000+08:00

I heard from radio that Acupuncture has been adopted as a major in a French University.It reflects the respect for Chinese traditional medicine. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy and was once very popular in ancient China. In sharp contrast, few people know about it and show interest in it.

Due to the issue, I began to wondering how much we know about our traditional culture. Ashamedly, I don't even know what traditional culture is. I googled and found a few websites about it.
http://www.shtvu.edu.cn/ccwindows/page/
http://www.chinactwh.com/
However, after having a quick look at the homepage, I got even confused. How can they mixed history and culture together? What they present on the Internet is far from interesting and I believe it's unlikely that ordinary people get command of it. To a certain extent, it's a little bit professional.

What does traditional culture mean to the public? With my colleague's help, I think of a few items. Beijing Opera, Chinese medicine,handcrafts, customs, tea,kong fu. More items occurred to my mind. What about Kong Zi? Dragon? And the Starbucks in the forbidden city? The last day of lunar year excluded from legal festival? They're quite beyond my knowledge. But I will seek a little deep into it.

Know more about history

2007-02-02T10:47:00.000+08:00

I always wanted to know more about history, as I believe history can make a person wise. I'd like to start from the basic.

refer to:http://www.3lian.com/zl/114/5000/5000.htm

Period Start&End year capital today's name for capital person establish it
_______________________________________________________________
夏朝
约前2146-1675年安邑山西夏县禹
_______________________________________________________________
商朝
约前1675-1029年　亳河南商丘汤
_______________________________________________________________
周
西周约前1029-771年镐京陕西西安周文王姬发
东周前770-256年洛邑河南洛阳周平王姬宜臼　
_______________________________________________________________
春秋前770-476年
_______________________________________________________________
战国前475-221年
_______________________________________________________________
秦朝前221-207年咸阳陕西咸阳始皇帝嬴政
_______________________________________________________________
汉
西汉前206-公元8年长安陕西西安汉高祖刘邦
新朝 9-23年王莽
东汉 25-220年洛阳河南洛阳汉光武帝刘秀
_______________________________________________________________
三国
魏 220-265年洛阳河南洛阳魏文帝曹丕
蜀汉 221-263年成都四川成都汉昭烈帝刘备
吴 222-280年建业江苏南京吴大帝孙权
_______________________________________________________________
晋
西晋 265-316 洛阳河南洛阳晋武帝司马炎
东晋 317-420 建康江苏南京晋元帝司马睿
_______________________________________________________________
十六国 304-439
_______________________________________________________________
南朝
宋 420-479 建康江苏南京宋武帝刘裕
齐 479-502 建康江苏南京齐高帝萧道成
梁 502-557 建康江苏南京梁武帝萧衍
陈 557-589 建康江苏南京陈武帝陈霸先
_______________________________________________________________
北朝
北 386-534 平城山西大同魏道武帝拓跋珪
魏洛阳河南洛阳
东魏 534-550 邺河北临漳魏孝静帝元善见
西魏 535-556 长安陕西西安魏文帝元宝炬
北齐 550-577 邺河北临漳齐文宣帝高洋
北周 557-581 长安陕西西安周孝闵帝宇文觉
_______________________________________________________________
隋朝 581-618 大兴陕西西安隋文帝杨坚
_______________________________________________________________
唐朝 618-907 长安陕西西安唐高祖李渊
_______________________________________________________________
五代十国
后梁 907-923 汴河南开封梁太祖朱晃
后唐 923-936 洛阳河南洛阳唐庄宗李存勖
后晋 936-947 汴河南开封晋高祖石敬瑭
后汉 947-950 汴河南开封汉高祖刘暠
后周 951-960 汴河南开封周太祖郭威
_______________________________________________________________
宋
北宋 960-1127 开封河南开封宋太祖赵匡胤
南宋 1127-1279 临安浙江临安宋高宗赵构
_______________________________________________________________
辽国 907-1125 皇都辽宁辽国耶律阿保机
_______________________________________________________________
大理 937-1254 太和城云南大理
_______________________________________________________________
西夏 1032-1227 兴庆府宁夏银川
_______________________________________________________________
金 1115-1234 会宁阿城(黑) 金太祖阿骨打
中都北京
开封河南开封
_______________________________________________________________
元朝 1206-1368 大都北京元世祖忽必烈
_______________________________________________________________
明朝 1368-1644 北京北京明太祖朱元璋
_______________________________________________________________
清朝 1616-1911 北京北京皇太极
_______________________________________________________________
中华民国 1912-1949 南京南京
_______________________________________________________________

中华人民共和国 1949年10月1日成立,首都北京。

My wishes for the lunar New Year

2007-02-01T13:36:00.000+08:00

Finally, I decided to go home for Spring Festival. A little tired this semester really. I've been thinking about my life all these days. What kind of life do I want to live?

Needn't to be rich, but enough money for me to achieve my wishes. Many friends. As the old saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. I'll try to help others and treat everyone kindly. Probably you'll encounter him in another corner. Knowledge is a must. History, psychology, economics, and culture. While I have time, I shall travel around the world and know more. Of course, I have to go to cities of China first. It's an amazing country.

A little bit far away. At present, I've have to find a job, and earn enough money for my wishes. Wish my friends happy new year. I'll be off from Feb.10th to Feb. 24th, and I'll have no access to Internet. A good chance for me to review my courses: Networks, Database, Communication Technology. Before I can go home, I have to finish the book about Google.

Apart from that, I want to learn a language. Maybe French,maybe Germany. For English, I still have to enlarge my vocabulary and listen and say more. My oral English is far away from fluent. These days, I am reading a book about public speaking. It's an important communication skill. I've got to get command of it.

Passing by

2007-02-01T05:22:00.000+08:00

It's not the first time I start writing blog. I've just heard some bad news. I didn't pass the job interview I attended the day before yesterday. Rather frustrating. I've been undergoing such things all this semester.

Submit CV, attend paper test, attend interview,then comes thank-you letter. Still half year left. I've got to express myself and trying to find a job.

I love the words by Xu Wei:"I am passing by life, or if life is passing by me." No one knows. Just enjoy it.

Blog

2007-01-31T13:40:00.000+08:00

What is blog? It's a special service provided by website, which directly involves three parties:blogger or blog writer, viewer and the service provider.Blogger writes short articles, update postings. Viewer reads the articles and gives comments. Service provider makes money through creating a community culture and selling advertisements. The idea behind blog is communication and sharing. We share information, ideas, emotions, whatever.

There are two types of blogs. One is like micro media playing the role of propaganda. It's more professional, usually focus on a specific field such as economics, politics,etc. As a result of its readability and authority, it's very popular. I myself visit two such blogs regularly and learned a lot. Through their description, I foster a broad horizon and discover a more beautiful and interesting world. I'd like to share them with you. They are:
http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/luweiluqiu
http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/ruichenggang
The other type is comparatively personal. Just write down what happened to you and your thoughts about them, so your friends can share your experiences.

Next I would like to introduce three concepts derived from blog. Traditionally, a blogger is one single person, what if a group of people work on the same blog? We call it group blog. If a number of blogs combine together, it forms blog circle, just like a virtual community. The above two concepts are extension for subjects, let's move on to the media, or rather say form. Today, texts and pictures are used for blog, what about audio and video? That is podcast. But I don't see much opportunity for the widespread of podcast. Just like sms(short messaging service) and mms(multimedia messaging service). Podcast is a little bit complex and encounters more limitations. The more simple, the better.

In the end, I strongly recommend you to create your own blog. It's amazing.