Miles Away - Madonna

Miles Away from Madonna, for those who are miles away from their home and their loved ones. Cheers, speed_demon.



"Miles Away"

I just woke up from a fuzzy dream
You never would believe the things that I have seen
I looked in the mirror and I saw your face
You looked right through me, you were miles away

All my dreams, they fade away
I'll never be the same
If you could see me the way you see yourself
I can't pretend to be someone else

Always love me more, miles away
I hear it in your voice, miles away
You're not afraid to tell me, miles away
I guess we're at our best, miles away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away

When noone is around then I have you here
I begin to see the picture, it becomes so clear
You always have the biggest heart
When we're 6.000 miles apart

Too much of no sound
Uncomfortable silence can be so loud
Those three words are never enough
When it's long distance love

Always love me more, miles away
I hear it in your voice, miles away
You're not afraid to tell me, miles away
I guess we're at our best, miles away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away

I'm alright
Don't be sorry, but it's true
When I'm gone, you realize
That I'm the best thing that happened to you

You always love me more, miles away
I hear it in your voice, miles away
You're not afraid to tell me, miles away
I guess we're at our best, miles away

You always love me more, miles away
I hear it in your voice, miles away
You're not afraid to tell me, miles away
I guess we're at our best, miles away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away

So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away
So far away, so far away, so far away, so far away

Bible Study and its Future Prospects

It's almost been two years since I'm involved in this bible study business every Friday night. Below I will disclose some of the feelings and observations which I have accumulated over the past two years. Bible study, or BS, as the name implied, is the gathering of people for the sole purpose to "study" the Holy Bible. Our intention here at the Victoria Chinese Christian Evangelical Fellowship, or the VCCEF, is to spread the word of God to every Chinese student and scholar, Chinese professionals and families living in the vicinity within the Greater Victoria district. The VCCEF is supported in part by the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Victoria, and in part by the enthusiastic although few volunteers, such as myself, to overlook the weekly human resource.

The most attractive feature of the BS, I can say, is the "free" weekly dinner. Although the dinner always revolves around serving either the plain pizza or spaghetti, the no-string-attached philosophy and the seemingly endless supply of the food are enticing features that drew both regulars and newcomers, especially the frugal Chinese student who would often go great length for a free meal. Apart from that, meeting people of same ethnicity is another great feature of the BS. For those foreign scholars and students, being in their own ethnicity group so to talk in the same language, and share the same culture often reduces the otherwise onset of loneliness and isolation which they often felt after moving to another country. The other attractive feature, my favorite at least, is the "afterward" hangout, which often involves going to the bar, Tim Horton's, or other places which the faithful Christian would often avoid. The "afterward" hangout enables people within the fellowship to weave, bind and grow further. It is a great way to meet other "would-be" Christians, including the potential opposite sex, and relax amongst the "supposed" friends. Finally, the least attractive but the ultimate "purpose" of the BS, is to spread and learn the word of God. Now, this is the hard part, given that most Mainland Chinese, especially students and scholars, are often atheists and evolutionists who take creationist approach to Earth's diversity as a joke, a maniacal and implausible explanation to everything complex.

However, after muddling in the pool for almost two years, I see the future prospects of the BS dwindling, shrinking and dying unless we can preserve the retention ratio and create a steady supply of regular attendees. A resuscitation is almost necessary to bring back its former glory. The method to enable so can't be realized by just volunteers but by energetic young individuals whose sole aim is for the growth of the church and who can connect easier, at the same level, with younger audiences. Who do not bicker over who does what and to ease and resolve the infighting within the fellowship. Despite its meager size, the fellowship must call for volunteers to amass the necessary manpower such that the word of God may be heard beyond the mere boundary of the Emmanuel Baptist.

This should be everyone's concern. Not just the concern of a few, out-of-touch, regulars!

speed_demon

The outcome of an Olympic hosting city

It is certainly not a good time to host the Winter Olympic, especially during the economy downturn. Not only will the weather most likely not cooperate, there's also the cost overrun, and now we are $2 Billion in red! Who's going to pay for all of it? Of course, the 12% HST... out of the pocket of you and me.

Hidden Agenda

Every news agency, irrespective of how neutral it is, will always have the tendency to shape the public opinion. Especially the mainstream media and its cohorts. With a bottom line to meet, their primary purpose is no longer to report news but to divert and guide the public opinion to attract readers and advertisers. Neutrality is no longer the norm but a pseudo-name to foreshadow how much each media outlet is involved in shaping the public opinion. Take the New York Times, for example, in its heavily skewed facts and report of China, its purpose is no longer to report the truth but to sale and indoctrinate misinformation to the worldwide audience, i.e., the American public, on the every mistake which the Chinese government, i.e., the C.P.C., has undertaken or is about to take, often with the violation of human rights as the pretext. Such that a laymen reader like me would be in aghast and detest on the every move which the C.P.C. would otherwise make, and perceive them as a threat and potential competitor against the U.S. government and American public in a world of limited resources. In its recent publication on China's dealing on Iraqi oil, the New York Times stated on how China's dealings would undermine the very national unity of Iraq, yet it has failed to address the intention of multinational oil conglomerates, usually of western origin, to exploit and rip-off Iraqi's most precious natural resource, as reported in my earlier posting (I no longer track this issue, but I believe the U.S. occupation of Iraq by the has probably allowed that to happen).

Irrespective of its nationality, the reports of the mainstream media must be read with care. The reader must know the media is there to shape the public opinion, and often it goes great distance to realize that.

脫殼

碩士答辯以後就像金蟬脫殼一像. 但願未來的氣象會更好. 但願這條路走下是對, 的是好, 的是光明的.

China-Taiwan Relations

An excellent backgrounder from CFR on China-Taiwan relationship.

CFR.org - China-Taiwan Relations

It is still a very sensitive issue, especially to discuss openly in the Mainland on the sovereignty of Republic of China. Hopefully, things will open up in the near future so peaceful reunification is possible. In the end, we really are not so different across the strait.

It's finally over and a new path awaits

It's finally over! After one hour of grilling by the committee members, I have finally defended my thesis after all these years of excitement and turmoil.

Not bad, but I would have taken a different research role if I had gotten the chance to do so. What I really wanted to do was to conduct research under her main area of interest. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to do so, but I still persevered. Not bad, not bad.

Hopefully, the new path which awaits will be brighter and shinier than my M.A.Sc.

Almost there!

A few more days to go, a few more hours to endure, a few more sleepless nights. Then, I will be finally freed from the burden and strangulation I have endured since 2006. Liberation shall come swiftly and jubilant celebration will soon follow. Let me just sincerely hope the road down Ph.D. will be more rewarding and forthcoming.

Not bad, at least get a chance to visit Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Paris, San Francisco and Monterey. :D

The ultimate researcher

It took me a long time to realize, but after living with this post-doc for almost one and half year I can finally appreciate why there are so many Chinese professionals in the field of communications engineering research. They work hard. They are smart, and they are diligent. Take my roommate, that post-doc, for example. He is an extreme case, but it's easy to generalize to others. Here below are how he does research.

1. He skips meals to do research, and now average a-meal-a-day only. He would cook 3 meals per week, and starve himself until the 3 meals lasts the entire week. He wasn't like this last year, but I guess pressure from boss can easily destroy your lifestyle, especially you are getting paid $30k a year, a luxury sum for a post-doc.
2. He makes minimum contact and friends except colleagues in the lab. He makes no attempt to make new friends except colleagues. But I guess when you need full front concentration on research, this is the result you would have. I'm making minimum contacts as well, especially friends of opposite sex, which would mean a lot more time spent if you are in a relationship.
3. He spends frugally. Unless necessary, spending is restricted only to meals and weekly grocery bills. Again, I'm doing that since being a student, full concentration is necessary, and others are just luxury. I just hope I can be like that for another four years in the Ph.D. program.
   

After years of practice and refinement, you would finally be the ultimate researcher, but then that is an extreme case. :D

But, of course, some people is special and their lifestyle greatly differs.

Baffling questions for Christians

My late night drinking spree with fellowship goers brought forth my renewed interest in questioning Christian beliefs. For Christians who are reading my blog, I encourage you to answer the following questions. These are probably some of the most baffling questions yet to be answered or already have been answered.

1. Can I be a Christian while be a believer in the Darwinian Theory of Evolution?
2. Does I being Christian mean supporting Israel apartheid of West Bank and Gaza Strip?

That's all for now. Perhaps more to come later.

speed_demon