Facebook vs Xiaonei

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

xiaonei: http://www.xiaonei.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.