S 今天離開美國了，下午的時候，S 傳了句「Farewell. See you in Taiwan」，她就此踏上了歸途，不禁讓我想起去年底 LC 要離開時，也是同樣的心情。
總覺得來美國之後很漂泊不定， 記不得是什麼時候了，偶然在BBS站上看到的一篇散文【行路難】， 寫到了我心坎裡。S 和 LC 是比較要好的朋友中，也來美國念研究所的。二００五年夏天，正當我在翻天覆地的博一結束前夕，心力交瘁；面對即將來臨的資格考，徬徨不安之時， S 和 LC 也來到了美國，雖然不在同個地方，但昔日同窗同身處異地，有種莫名的踏實。這幾年來，不知道有多少個夜晚，隔著半個美國大陸的我們，靠著話筒，分享著生活的苦樂，給予彼此力量，在談笑中，忘記一切不順心。
去年 LC 離開香檳時，因為記錯時間，我如往常般地打了通電話給她，電話那頭出現了一個陌生的聲音，那個人跟我說「LC 已經離開香檳囉，她以後不用這支電話了。」明明是件已經知道的事情，但由別人的口中說出，好像有種加深的效果。於是，切斷了電話，若無其事地，將電話簿裡這支打了兩年的號碼，刪除。 雖然 LC 回台後我們還是不時地用 msn 聯絡，但這兩年來的對話，隨著號碼的刪除，也封上了印記。
The View I See
2008-08-12
Weeds
【Weeds】 is a TV series I have been watching lately. KA highly recommended it. This show started its first season in Summer 2005 and now is running its fourth season in Showtime. The lead actress is Mary-Louis Parker.The story is about a single mother Nancy (played by Parker) whose husband died of a heart attack running a marijuana business in order to maintain the living of her family with two sons in a suburban community. Each episode is 30-minute only and revolves around a difficult situation facing Nancy's pot business. Parker's portrait of a tough single mom is very remarkable.
Overall, the show is pretty hilarious and relaxing. However, it contains quite a few of language and themes which might not be appropriate for underaged children.
2008-08-06
Starbucks' Afternoon Drink Deal
Starbucks' Afternoon Drink Deal Goes Nationwide
星巴克現在為了吸引下午時段的顧客群，只要早上有在星巴克消費，下午兩點以後出示早上的收據，就可以以兩塊錢買任何中杯（Grande）冰飲（不知道有沒有包括 Frappuccino）。西雅圖、芝加哥和邁阿密等城市已經開始這個優惠活動，其他城市也將在今天開始，活動將持續到九月二號。
不過我好像不是這個優惠所吸引得到的顧客群，一方面我最近暑假都睡到快中午才起來，早上不可能去，另一方面我也不太可能一天之內去星巴克兩次。這大概只能吸引得到公司樓下有星巴克的咖啡癮君子。
* * *
說到星巴克，雖然它是我最常光顧的咖啡店，但我個人覺得它的咖啡很沒咖啡味，尤其拿鐵實在是很水（大概是我咖啡因中毒太深），西雅圖喝過咖啡店若以拿鐵來排名，星巴克我應該會把它排在最後。但為什麼我還是常去呢，夏天主要是因為它冷氣很強或想喝咖啡冰沙，大部分的時候都是因為懶得決定要去哪家，於是就走進去了。
所以消費不代表認同，認同的也不見得會去消費，像我覺得很有咖啡味的 Peet's 因為有點距離，我一年去不到兩次。每次在星巴克刷卡買三塊多但卻比家裡 Maxim 即溶咖啡還沒味道的咖啡時，心都在滴血，但即便如此，我還是三不五時不自覺地走近四十二街和大學路交叉口離我家最近的一家，買個方便吧。
星巴克現在為了吸引下午時段的顧客群，只要早上有在星巴克消費，下午兩點以後出示早上的收據，就可以以兩塊錢買任何中杯（Grande）冰飲（不知道有沒有包括 Frappuccino）。西雅圖、芝加哥和邁阿密等城市已經開始這個優惠活動，其他城市也將在今天開始，活動將持續到九月二號。
不過我好像不是這個優惠所吸引得到的顧客群，一方面我最近暑假都睡到快中午才起來，早上不可能去，另一方面我也不太可能一天之內去星巴克兩次。這大概只能吸引得到公司樓下有星巴克的咖啡癮君子。
* * *
說到星巴克，雖然它是我最常光顧的咖啡店，但我個人覺得它的咖啡很沒咖啡味，尤其拿鐵實在是很水（大概是我咖啡因中毒太深），西雅圖喝過咖啡店若以拿鐵來排名，星巴克我應該會把它排在最後。但為什麼我還是常去呢，夏天主要是因為它冷氣很強或想喝咖啡冰沙，大部分的時候都是因為懶得決定要去哪家，於是就走進去了。
所以消費不代表認同，認同的也不見得會去消費，像我覺得很有咖啡味的 Peet's 因為有點距離，我一年去不到兩次。每次在星巴克刷卡買三塊多但卻比家裡 Maxim 即溶咖啡還沒味道的咖啡時，心都在滴血，但即便如此，我還是三不五時不自覺地走近四十二街和大學路交叉口離我家最近的一家，買個方便吧。
2008-07-30
Does the Third Party Matter?
Just read this article, The Power of the Protest Vote, which talks about how the third party in swing states might affect the outcome of general election, especially when the race is in a tie, like the 2000 Gore vs. Bush.
It reminded me of an interesting question which was tested once in a course I TAed for, ECON200 Introductory Microeconomics. The question is as follows:
In the US, there have always been only two major political parties. Although third-party candidates such as Ralph Hader have some, perhaps double-digit, support in the general population, these candidates never get elected. Apply marginal analysis to this question and explain why the US operates with only two major parties.
I remember at that time we gathered in the office and tried to figure out a perfect answer to students, but none of us was convinced by any interpretation we came up. Basically, I think, because the electoral system of the US is that the candidate who wins more popular votes in a state gets all electoral votes of the state (winners take all), this all-or-nothing makes a third-place candidate's marginal benefit of extra effort equal to zero. In other words, even if he finally moves to the second place in the election, he gets nothing. His cost is definitely greater than his zero marginal benefit. The fundamental principle of economics says that an action is rational only when the marginal benefit is higher the marginal cost. Therefore the only way for this third-party candidate to exert his influence is to attach himself to one of the two leading candidates. This is also what the article above is about.
(I am not pretty sure if my explanation makes sense. Any comment is welcomed.)
It reminded me of an interesting question which was tested once in a course I TAed for, ECON200 Introductory Microeconomics. The question is as follows:
In the US, there have always been only two major political parties. Although third-party candidates such as Ralph Hader have some, perhaps double-digit, support in the general population, these candidates never get elected. Apply marginal analysis to this question and explain why the US operates with only two major parties.
I remember at that time we gathered in the office and tried to figure out a perfect answer to students, but none of us was convinced by any interpretation we came up. Basically, I think, because the electoral system of the US is that the candidate who wins more popular votes in a state gets all electoral votes of the state (winners take all), this all-or-nothing makes a third-place candidate's marginal benefit of extra effort equal to zero. In other words, even if he finally moves to the second place in the election, he gets nothing. His cost is definitely greater than his zero marginal benefit. The fundamental principle of economics says that an action is rational only when the marginal benefit is higher the marginal cost. Therefore the only way for this third-party candidate to exert his influence is to attach himself to one of the two leading candidates. This is also what the article above is about.
(I am not pretty sure if my explanation makes sense. Any comment is welcomed.)
2008-07-28
Against All Odds
FM106.9 is now again playing Phil Collins' Against All Odds. I hear this song almost everyday. Time flies and my nearly four-month summer vacation is going to have only two months left. My research progress is totally falling behind and my life is completely off track (same as last summer though). I've got to make a timetable otherwise I'll cry to death when the school starts in the end of September.
My hopefully-will-be-realized plan is that, before going back home 8/27 for the rest of the summer,
- Finish the model setup and propose an estimation strategy;
- Meet advisor two more times or send him my work if he can't come to school.
* * *
Against all odds, I got to accompolish my little tiny mission before going back home meeting my dear family.
My hopefully-will-be-realized plan is that, before going back home 8/27 for the rest of the summer,
- Finish the model setup and propose an estimation strategy;
- Meet advisor two more times or send him my work if he can't come to school.
* * *
Against all odds, I got to accompolish my little tiny mission before going back home meeting my dear family.
2008-07-26
【Mamma Mia!】
前天晚上去看了 Mamma Mia! 電影版，在學校附近的 Landmark Metro Cinemas看，話說我在這邊待了四年第一次到這家戲院看，平常大部分都到 downtown 的 AMC，因為 AMC 進場之後就沒人管，可以一次看好幾部，不過我通常看完兩部就不行了。有次跟肥貓他們去看 Batman Begins，前面又亂看了不是很好看的 Bewitched，到了 Batman Begins 就開始有點累，加上很多聽不懂，差點睡著，看完之後完全不行了，但 fatcat 他們卻繼續看了 Star Wars 3，我就是愛貪小便宜但又沒本錢。媽媽咪呀電影版說實在是個大鬧劇，FC 說很有周星馳的搞笑風，誇張的演法讓我覺得有點像是在 make fun of the musical。劇情橋段跟原版音樂劇差不多，但電影版稍嫌粗糙，不過也許質感不是電影版的重點。演媽媽的 Meryl Streep 形象大犧牲；演即將結婚的女兒的 Amanda Seyfried 很清新可愛；演不知名的未婚夫外型有點令人失望；我想不到有誰比老牌演員 Christine Baranski 更適合演媽媽姊妹掏風味猶存的 Tanya；Colin Firth 的英國腔依舊迷人；Pierce Brosnan 的歌聲真的是夠了。
星期三晚上七點場座無虛席，大部分都是中年婦女姊妹掏下班後結伴來看，那些阿姨看的非常融入，其實有些笑點原本並沒有那麼好笑，但他們誇張的笑聲讓整個氣氛格外歡樂，好幾次 Meryl Streep 唱完歌我很想鼓掌但有點猶豫（在電影院鼓掌好像有點怪），沒想到到 end credits 的時候那些阿姨把演唱會那套全部搬來，跟著歌曲揮手並且一起哼唱！
時代雜誌上對媽媽咪呀電影版的評價是 "Great Music, Weird Moive"，並討論了到底是誰會去看這部電影，以下是幾個極有可能的觀眾群
1) 那些有去看慾望城市電影版的女性慾望城市影集迷；
2)那些喜愛 High School Musical 的小鬼；
3)男同性戀；
外加
4)超過二十億看過原版音樂劇的廣大觀眾群。
我符合第一和第四項。
我很好奇喜歡阿巴合唱團但不符合任何上述條件的男性會去看嗎（我覺得應該是不會），看了又會有什麼感想呢。依劇目前的 survey，王子先生似乎很期待媽媽咪呀在泰國上映、工程師先生也頗有興趣，不過這兩人都看過了音樂劇，而且王子先生不太能算在第三項之外 XD
媽媽咪呀稱不上是個好電影，但不可否認地娛樂效果的確很強，還讓我經歷了我從所未見粉絲自嗨的盛況。這種電影就跟慾望城市一樣很兩極化，沒興趣的人完全不會想看，但一旦迷上的人就會很樂在其中。
2008-07-22
Never-Give-Up T-shirt
Hillary Clinton's Campaign is selling limited-edition Never-Give-Up T-shirts to raise money to repay her debt XD
The shirt is cute and I like the slogan.
"For everyone who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out and for everyone who works hard and never gives up. This one is for you."
It's very inspirational for me except I don't really work hard and always think about giving up even though I never really did. Sometimes I really need someone to tell me "Yui, please don't give up. Hang in there." Simple words can bring me unsimple strength.
This t-shirt is too expensive though, 50 bucks.
The shirt is cute and I like the slogan.
"For everyone who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out and for everyone who works hard and never gives up. This one is for you."
It's very inspirational for me except I don't really work hard and always think about giving up even though I never really did. Sometimes I really need someone to tell me "Yui, please don't give up. Hang in there." Simple words can bring me unsimple strength.
This t-shirt is too expensive though, 50 bucks.
2008-07-05
Chinese Democracy
"Chinese Democracy" is used to mean something that is long promised but will never happen.
E.g., "That marriage proposal is totally Chinese Democracy. Move on, girl."
2008-06-21
(SNL) There Can Only Be One
I saw this on Saturday Night Live rerun last week. It's fun. The half-and-half face idea actually came from one cover of Time http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20080505,00.html
2008-06-18
You are Not Going to Get Anywhere by Threatening Me
有些美國小孩唸書不好好念，要分數時倒非常理直氣壯，我最討厭這種愛鬼叫的小孩。有時候因為很忙懶得聽他們 whining 就隨便塞個一兩分給他們，但我這種態度恐怕會姑息養奸，讓會叫的小孩有糖吃。最近到了期末，鬼叫的小孩又開始冒出來，恰逢學期結束我閒來沒事，遇上這個態度不佳沒大沒小的小孩，就決定來好好整治一下。
事情發生經過是這樣的。
[時間點一] Exam2 考完當天：學生T女馬上發了一封信給我，說想跟我討論她的 Exam1，覺得有的部分她不知道為何被扣分。我當時覺得很煩，還不想改 Exam2，又加上一堆人寄信來說要試算他們的總成績，Exam1 早就八百年的事，現在有什麼好討論，所以就想說之後再回。
[時間點二] 過了一星期，學期結束這週，我終於改完考卷，就順便回了這一堆的人信，大部分人的信都只是問成績，就回個數字，T女我看她這次考很好，就跟她講一下這次的成積，想說也許就不會再吵了。
[時間點三] 沒想到過了兩天，她又寄信來，說她之前要求要討論，但我一直沒有回覆那個部分。信裡說她目前已離開學校，但過幾天會回來，希望可以再我送出成績前可以討論。我覺得她很難纏（之前就三不五時蹺課，態度也不佳），所以想說過幾天再回，反正她應該還沒回來。
[時間點四] 結果我一拖就忘了，今天她又寄了一封，說我之前都沒回她，卻把成績交出去了。我想說這次不回不行了，把她前一封調出來仔細看了一下，她的信主要 argue 兩點，第一點是說她期中常生病，所以第一次沒考好，她覺得她第二次考試還有小考都考很好，可以證明她第一次的成績不足以證明她的實力，希望可以調整比重之類的。
（我是有點半信半疑，之前看她都好好的，每次上課我在台上講她在下面跟人有說有笑。）
第二點說她拿她第一次考試跟她在其他助教班的朋友比（其他班也是同一個教授同樣的考卷，只有改考卷的人不同），說她很多地方都被扣分，但她朋友都沒有 ............. 這一點把我惹毛了，她之前小考時也來跟我argue 過這點，氣人的是他們常常也搞不懂自己為何錯，只是純粹愛要分。那時我還只是委婉以對，不想撕破臉。其實這也不是第一次遇過這種 case，只不過她的信剛好是壓垮駱駝的最後一根稻草。
於是我就非常認真地回了她一封信。
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi xxx,
I had to submit the grade before Monday morning according to the school policy but the grade can still be changed if there is any mistake. I will keep your exams for another quarter in case there will be anything you want to discuss.
Regarding the formula of calculating your grades, there is very limited I can do. I can only follow Prof. H's grading policy. You might need to talk to H to make your case. But I don't think you will get a good chance.
About my grading of your first exam, I think you should have discussed it with me right after the first exam. Two points I would like to respond. First, when grading each question, I looked at whether the key points were presented and also the quality of explanations based on H's grading guide. When you wonder why you lost certain points in each question, you should compare your answer with the answer key but not your friend's. Your answers might be just a little bit different from your friend's but that little difference made your answer wrong. Second, every TA followed same grading guide but it's impossible to get every TA to grade exactly the same. You might feel some of your answers were graded more toughly. However you might also get some answers graded more easily but you never know because you didn't mind it so you never checked.
Anyway, if you think your answers are worth more, you are welcome to talk to me. I will be around the campus next week.
Yu-i
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
原本有點猶豫會不會太兇，後來想了想，只是公事公辦，以前對他們太好以為我好欺負，哼。Sophie 說得沒錯，對他們兇一點才能有效制止 whining XD
寫完信之後突然想起有一集TWW，一個偏激基督教保守派份子 Mary Marsh 跑到白宮威脅副幕僚長 Josh 和 副新聞部主任 Sam ，要求提供避難所給因為在大陸被迫害而偷渡來美國的基督徒，Mary 藉著她所在教會（？）背後廣大的保守派選民，在那邊大小聲語帶威脅外加挑釁時，Josh 對她說了下面這句話 "Mary, I swear to God, you are not going to get anywhere in this building by threatening me."
事情發生經過是這樣的。
[時間點一] Exam2 考完當天：學生T女馬上發了一封信給我，說想跟我討論她的 Exam1，覺得有的部分她不知道為何被扣分。我當時覺得很煩，還不想改 Exam2，又加上一堆人寄信來說要試算他們的總成績，Exam1 早就八百年的事，現在有什麼好討論，所以就想說之後再回。
[時間點二] 過了一星期，學期結束這週，我終於改完考卷，就順便回了這一堆的人信，大部分人的信都只是問成績，就回個數字，T女我看她這次考很好，就跟她講一下這次的成積，想說也許就不會再吵了。
[時間點三] 沒想到過了兩天，她又寄信來，說她之前要求要討論，但我一直沒有回覆那個部分。信裡說她目前已離開學校，但過幾天會回來，希望可以再我送出成績前可以討論。我覺得她很難纏（之前就三不五時蹺課，態度也不佳），所以想說過幾天再回，反正她應該還沒回來。
[時間點四] 結果我一拖就忘了，今天她又寄了一封，說我之前都沒回她，卻把成績交出去了。我想說這次不回不行了，把她前一封調出來仔細看了一下，她的信主要 argue 兩點，第一點是說她期中常生病，所以第一次沒考好，她覺得她第二次考試還有小考都考很好，可以證明她第一次的成績不足以證明她的實力，希望可以調整比重之類的。
（我是有點半信半疑，之前看她都好好的，每次上課我在台上講她在下面跟人有說有笑。）
第二點說她拿她第一次考試跟她在其他助教班的朋友比（其他班也是同一個教授同樣的考卷，只有改考卷的人不同），說她很多地方都被扣分，但她朋友都沒有 ............. 這一點把我惹毛了，她之前小考時也來跟我argue 過這點，氣人的是他們常常也搞不懂自己為何錯，只是純粹愛要分。那時我還只是委婉以對，不想撕破臉。其實這也不是第一次遇過這種 case，只不過她的信剛好是壓垮駱駝的最後一根稻草。
於是我就非常認真地回了她一封信。
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi xxx,
I had to submit the grade before Monday morning according to the school policy but the grade can still be changed if there is any mistake. I will keep your exams for another quarter in case there will be anything you want to discuss.
Regarding the formula of calculating your grades, there is very limited I can do. I can only follow Prof. H's grading policy. You might need to talk to H to make your case. But I don't think you will get a good chance.
About my grading of your first exam, I think you should have discussed it with me right after the first exam. Two points I would like to respond. First, when grading each question, I looked at whether the key points were presented and also the quality of explanations based on H's grading guide. When you wonder why you lost certain points in each question, you should compare your answer with the answer key but not your friend's. Your answers might be just a little bit different from your friend's but that little difference made your answer wrong. Second, every TA followed same grading guide but it's impossible to get every TA to grade exactly the same. You might feel some of your answers were graded more toughly. However you might also get some answers graded more easily but you never know because you didn't mind it so you never checked.
Anyway, if you think your answers are worth more, you are welcome to talk to me. I will be around the campus next week.
Yu-i
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原本有點猶豫會不會太兇，後來想了想，只是公事公辦，以前對他們太好以為我好欺負，哼。Sophie 說得沒錯，對他們兇一點才能有效制止 whining XD
寫完信之後突然想起有一集TWW，一個偏激基督教保守派份子 Mary Marsh 跑到白宮威脅副幕僚長 Josh 和 副新聞部主任 Sam ，要求提供避難所給因為在大陸被迫害而偷渡來美國的基督徒，Mary 藉著她所在教會（？）背後廣大的保守派選民，在那邊大小聲語帶威脅外加挑釁時，Josh 對她說了下面這句話 "Mary, I swear to God, you are not going to get anywhere in this building by threatening me."
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