Chinese New Year

Today is Chinese New Year, but to me it's nothing special. If there's any special point, I guess this would be the day I missed my parents much more than 'ordinary' days. I miss the time when a family sitting together and having dinner.

I don't celebrate any festivals because to me they are just waste of time and give people another excuse to take a day off or so. For example, tomorrow's Valentine's day, in fact I see this day asa day for lovers and not for couples. So... you know, it would be more meaningful if you have a lover and celebrate this day. And also for New Year, nothing special: just change a year and everything still goes on.

This weekend is carnival in North Brabant Province in the Netherlands. Everyone dress funny or costume. But this is also not a day for me. I am not that high for this kind of days.

Also for my birthday, I don't like to celebrate that because it only tells me that I am another year older... why people like to celebrate their birthday while they don't want others saying they areold? Strange!

Samoyed

when I can have my Samoyed?
When I can have my Husky?

They are so cute and I would like to have them!

Apple's iPad

Apple's iPad, nothing than a bigger size of iPod Touch...

Not suitable for business and work, or even school. Only for entertainments.

Who would need such thing if we already have a computer and a iPhone?

Google.cn

What happened to Google? Apparently things not going well in China for Google.cn. Otherwise Google wouldn't retreat the largest market in the world.

Baidu.com has the largest market share in search engine in P.R. China, and after Google.cn retreat, Baidu's market share will increase from 60% to 90%. Is this Google really want? Or Google is just a tool for some political games?

From a business perspective, Google.cn retreating is not a good movement, both for Google itself and as well as for Baidu. Sometimes a business, even a good one, need competition. And China needs global or international companies in the country. But now, the US government involved into this business activity and seems it's not just as simple as a business activity.

I personally prefer Google.cn not retreating. Although I don't use Google.cn but I do use Google.com. And I expect to use Google.cn when I am in China. But now, to be frank, if Google.cn is not willing to stay in China, I would rather using Baidu as my primary searching engine.

Get back to the original problem of Google today: why retreat? Other big companies being attach or being hacked all the time. Google.cn is not the first one and also not the only one. Why retreat? Only because of 30% market share, compare to Baidu's 60%? That would be stupid. Or, because of US government? That could be a reasonable one.

There are many people, both in China and outside of China, support Google's decision. But shouldn't a company obey the local law from where it does business? If you want to do your business in your way and which against the local law and regulations, you are welcomed to leave, isn't it? Which country doesn't do that?

To me, it's pitty that Google made its final decision. I would say 'I'm sorry but goodbye then.'

China vs. Taiwan

Historical speaking, Taiwan is part of China for a long time. Due to the WWII, things being complicated until the People's Republic of China founded in 1949.

Taiwan (Republic of China) is a country or not？ To answer this question we should first define what is a 'country'. Then compare the answer to Taiwan's current status, we would be able to say whether Taiwan is a country or not.

Today, despite of the political and economical issues, just focusing on the cultural, Taiwan is a place that China should consider deeply about its position. Taiwan kept lots and lots of traditional Chinese culture and life style that most Chinese people missed in mainland China. The way of writing, the way of speaking (not the pronunciation), the way of behave, etc.. All of these are concerned as Chinese culture.

I wish Taiwan could admit its part of China, but I also wish Taiwan could influence China on the traditional Chinese culture aspects. Because due to the Cultural Revolution during 1968-1976, almost every traditions in China had been distorted - which means we (the Chinese who living in Mainland China) lost our culture.

Today, when the Chinese talking about traditional culture, I felt so ashamed. What else culture we have left in China? I have to admit that while I am finding something about traditional Chinese culture nowadays at the present world, I would have to look at Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

I am a Manchurian, I shouldn't be the one who should concerned about the traditional Chinese culture in China. But I, personally, wish there could be some changes in China - look at current Chinese culture, do we keep the good stuffs? or we found back the bad stuffs?