YeneralizeU 2

今天晚上, 坐在電視機專心的看完 Dan Rather_ a reporter remembers. 在 Walter Cronkite之後, Dan Rather算是美國最重要的一個新聞主播. 他從事新聞工作將近五十年, 在CBS當主播當了24年. 去年在美國總統選舉期間,他在自己節目裡錯用了一個新聞來源,導致報導出涉嫌毀謗布希的新聞. 之後他雖然公開道歉但還是無法彌補這個致命的錯誤, 於是今天晚上是他最後一次坐上CBS主播台報新聞. 不過我剛剛待在電視前面看得是特別節目,Dan Rather_ s reporter remembers.

Dan 從事新聞快五十年, 今晚算是他整個的回顧. 我一邊看不忍不住一邊驚嘆, 因為他的回顧對我來說就像是溫習了以前高中的歷史課本. 我看到以前課本上的歷史事件一一出現在螢幕上, 從前美國某些州對黑人的歧視,金恩博士的演說, 越戰, 六零年代的反戰, 甘迺迪被暗殺, 尼克森水門案, 兩伊戰爭, 老布希當選, 天安門事件, 紐約911, 南亞海嘯. 看完之後, 其實有點小小的感動, 尤其是當你看到這麼多事件和畫面一一閃過, 從這些畫面裡我看到一個熱愛自己的工作並且以這份工作為榮的態度. 雖然 Dan一直被批評個人的立場太濃厚, 但是不可否認的是他曾經一度是全美國最有公信力的新聞主播, 在繼 Walter Cronkite(the most trusted man in the United States)之後. 我不是看他報新聞長大的, 老實說, 我根本沒有完整看過他的晚間新聞, 只是今天應該是值得紀念的,在某種程度上.

Walter Cronkite

星期五晚上終於在Union看到了Jude Law的Closer. 整個故事非常奇妙, 是那種看的時候輕描淡寫,但是之後卻又會有畫面浮現的一部電影. 信任和背叛穿插, 時間人物交錯. 不過最讓人印象深刻的, 大概就是電影一開頭出現的音樂. 之前沒聽過這個歌手, 可是他的聲音真是太吸引人了, 尤其是出現在電影裡的時候. 他叫做 Damien Rice. 電影裡用他的The blower's daughter作為開始和結束. 那天晚上回家之後, 腦中一直不斷浮現這首歌的旋律和他的歌聲. 尤其是那句"I can't take my eyes off of you." 一首很棒的歌, 完美了一個週末的夜.

The Blower's Daughter

and so it is

最近這幾天上班都處於很rush的狀態,接不完的電話應付不完窗口前排隊的人潮. 其中大部分的原因都是因為2005 Wisconsin Film Festival的緣故. Wisconsin film festival算是一年一度的重要活動, 每年的三月的最後一個週末會有連續四天endless的電影上映, 大多數都是獨立製片,紀錄片或是一些當地導演和學生的作品. 大約有將近一百部的電影會在這四天中在各個不同的當地戲院播放. 我也是到這工作後才知道有這個活動的, 而且Madison的人對這個影展極為狂熱. 從我這兩天(電影票首賣和第二天)工作到話都快說不出來就可以大概了解. 而且票才開始賣兩天的時間就已經有二十部電影賣完. 總之,這兩天的生活除了上課之外,就一直處在無間斷的接電話處理訂單和不斷印票的狀態. 不過到沒有想像的那樣累(還是有一定程度拉), 加上我自己也買了一個八張的套票,準備三月底過一個充滿電影的週末. 真是期待...

Today is kind of a long day for me, because I have 2 shifts and they are about 6 hours work to do. However, today is also the first day of the "Wisconsin film festival" tickets available to sell, that's why today is kinda a long day for me. Actually, right now I am in between two shifts and gonna go back to work again in 5 miniutes. I hope everything's going well this evening, and maybe I am gonna go see "Million dollar baby" tonight after work. Wish me luck:)

Today, I suddently figured out something while I was walking somewhere on campus for whatever reason. However, I would have realized this fact long time ago, but I didn't. The fact is that what college is all about. Nobody would tell you what to do, and of course on one would make your schedule for you (advisor is there, but they are just advising). Finally, I know that it's not what you learn but what you choose to learn. We all have to make decisions, and sometimes it's difficult and perhaps confusing. Decisions might be part of college life. I mean it's about what you're gonna have after these four-year significant education (in other words, after graduating). I know this is kinda weird to talk (think) about this at this specific time, but it just comes to my mind. I mean is it important to choose what you what to learn in this huge system (which is called college)? So, basically we spend four years (if lucky enough) to find out what we want. (I don't even know what I am talkig about here) Anyway, those decisions are not easy to make like you can easily decide where you wanna go travel. 'coz it's not gonna have a vital effect in your life if you miss a Boston trip or so.

I wanna say something but I kinda forgot what exactly I was thinking this afternoon. Yet, I think some of you would know what I am talking about.

Recently, I feel I am learning something, but not in a really learning way (this is bizarre, apologize for my poor English). The reason I feel that way is because I take a class called Nutritional Science this semester. Thanks for that interesting class, I learned some vocabularies that I thought I would never know in my entire life if I didn't take this class (or unless my dad try to show off his professional knowledge or something). Anyway, right now I gotta know what is "chylomicrons" or "atherosclerosis." In fact, the first thing comes to my mind is what the heck is that all about, and I don't even know how to pronounce those words (maybe the rest of the world all know what is that all about except me). So, right now I try to fill those biology terms into my "not so scientific" life (actually, I don't like animals that much as well as the natural stuff). However, I think I can still get something out of this interesting class, at least I would know how to read the nutrient label on the package or the food pyramid.

在midterm此起彼落的二月, 好不容易出現了一個下禮拜沒有考試的週末. 於是去了一趟Milwaukee. Milwaukee這個地方最有名的, 不是他的職業運動(like NFL or NBA)的球隊, 而是啤酒. 這裡是Miller酒廠的總部(就是那個MGD,沒錯). 可是重點是去的四人裡有三個是underage, 所以那當然不在我們的行程之中. 不過說到MIller啤酒, 他每年夏天都會在Milwaukee辦一個叫做 Milwaukee summer fest的音樂季,為期十天左右(我也是到了這理才知道的). 據說是全美最大的音樂季, 會有幾百個團來這裡演出(超吸引人).

因為好奇的緣故, 最近在讀一本叫 We the Media的書. (感謝圖書館這個偉大的發明,讓我不用在把錢撒在Amazon也可以及時的讀到這本還算新的書) 其實我才翻了第一章(更精確的說應該是introduction加上chapter 1), 裡面除了稍微提了一下報章媒體在美國(or西方國家)的發展過程之外, 也用了不少的篇幅討論blog這個新興的媒體. 還沒讀到那個部份, 所以也不太確定作者的觀點為何.
讀完第一章之後的心得是, 上學期應該要好好讀書的(大叫). 會出現這樣的感想是因為, 書裡提到一些像 "Yellow journalism," "Muckrakers" 西方jounalism的發展的階段. 上學期修了一堂叫 "Introduction to Mass Communication"的課, 學的就是這些東西. 結果放了一個寒假就幾乎還給教授了. 不過我應該會繼續把這本書讀完,需要一點時間就是了.

Firefox,一個極為好用的瀏覽器.不收費
大家都來試試巴,是時候該拋棄IE了...

按這裡下載

March is approaching without noticing (or maybe there are signs, but we did not know), and it's like Feb. 23. right now (maybe 24 or whatever). Things went faster than I thought, for example, I finally finished all exams for February. And then I realized that being a nerd is somewhat a good idea in some specific moment, like...before midterm. (perhaps?! I don't even know what do I mean by that) Anyway, for now I just want to keep little note about couple of things for myself in case I would forget in the near future(won't be too far I think). 1.) figure out what is the most efficient way to go to Chicago. 2.) don't forget friends are coming on March 3.) don't forget friends are coming on March 4.) always be confident 5.) stick with what you want 6.) stop typing these crap....hahha
I like March better though.

最近忽然很常去圖書館,不是去讀書的那種,而是想去借書. 不知道為什麼,大學讀了快兩年現在才出現這個念頭. 大一的時候,通常衝進圖書館都是用電腦check e-mail或是玩ebay. 現在則是用電腦的madcat系統查有哪些奇妙的書可以check out. 我甚至還跑到書庫亂逛(超大, 真怕被書砸到). 可能又是一時興起的興趣, 不過卻讓我想起高二當圖書館義工的那一學期. 很多奇妙的事總會在不經意的時候跟什麼有些關連. 這也算其中之一巴. 於是, 我現在正準備要讀 Woolf的 A room of one's own. 希望能看到些什麼.

It snowed this morning, which is just perfect for the song-St. Patrick's Day. Haha...I love that song for no reason ah...and today is just a perfect day for that song. It's worth to remember.

John Mayer is awesome:)

一直很喜歡聽live的感覺,於是每個禮拜都會固定的翻coreweekly(類似破報的週報).尋找一切live演出的訊息. 於是無意中看到了一個cafe在星期五晚上有個小小的演出. 演出的歌手叫做 Marianne Flemming. 其實我根本不知道他是誰,有沒有出過專輯或是從哪裡來. 一切的一切只是單純為了聽音樂這個小小的目的. 看完了表演的簡介, 真的是簡介,看完還是不知道他是怎麼樣的表演者,只有一個印象就是他應該是個很炫的人. "From Cafe Jazz poised and precise, to a brilliant mixture of ska, pop, and country blues." 也許有我最喜歡的accoustic guitar. 於是我就去了.任何跟accoustic guitar扯上關係的我都無法抗拒.

他是在一家叫做Mother's Fool的小Cafe演出 (真的很小,但卻很cozy). 因為真的是很小的一家cafe,所以人真的不多. 點完咖啡一坐下,聊不到幾句話,忽然就有一個聲音讓所有的人似乎都停下手邊的事剛說出口的話,包括我. Marianne開始了他第一首歌. 大家安靜的聽完. 他唱完卻說 This is just sound check. 但是他的sound check就構成了所有讓我留下來的理由. 之後, 表演開始. 他一首接一首的唱著. 每一首對我來說都是第一次聽到的歌, 可是卻有種熟西的感覺. 從頭到尾, 台下大概只有最多七八個聽眾, 可是你卻可以感受到他是真的因為音樂因為某種執著而唱. 他上一張專輯大概是五六年前的事了,也許根本很少人聽過他. 表演中, 他說了一句話讓我很印象深刻. 他說, "年輕的時候, 我們會大叫 "rock'n roll" maybe do somthing crazy. but right now, we're just kinda show up." 最後他用一首他寫給兩個女兒的lullaby作為結束.

明天,我又要開始一個新的工作.繼續之前賺錢去旅行的生活.這次的工作必須
一直面對人,這樣形容或許很奇怪.反正就是個看起來有忙碌感的工作,可是因
為supervisor是個很幽默的人,所以感覺很lay-back.

這次去了interview才深深發現之前工作帶給我的影響. 原來有經驗真的有差.

今天早上讀到學校報紙裡一篇關於情人節的文章...

讀完之後...我笑了...

不過,情人節對某些特定的族群還是有某種程度上的意義.

晚上十一點半,從圖書館走出來,天空正在飄雪.
剛剛正聽著今天才剛買的Natalie Merchant_ Tigerlily.
一首一首慢慢的走過
其實這是第一次聽到Natalie的聲音,但這算是亂買cd中撿到寶的一次.
他的聲音很適合冬天,特別是這種正在飄雪的夜裡

正在改變的事很多

試用新的blog界面, 看到新的人, 適應每天不同的溫度. 可是, 忘不掉的還是很多, 對過去的想念, 或是一點點捨不得的念舊. 更有可能的是, 只是孩子氣的不願意離開某一個受保護的現狀.

你開始想過去或是未來

今天又出現了好天氣, 硬要假裝自己不怕冷穿了短袖出門. 當然是有加外套,畢竟也只有三四十度左右. 天氣好總是會連帶讓人心情也變好, 中午去一家很妙的cafe吃飯, 咖啡很便宜可是沒有很好喝. 我點了pancake...來了三大張(這是pancake的量詞嗎?!)...
然後朋友吃了一個類似branch的東西, 有長得像mushroom的potato...很好笑...

有點難 這樣的 介紹自己

可是又愛寫 少了這一點 感覺就好像沒有整個的感覺