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Here's continuing with pics from Taiwan. I tried to catch the moon next to Taipei 101, currently the world's tallest building. Also some tasty uh-ah-gen! I'm reading an interesting book now, called "The Rule of Four." It's an entertaining read so far.. just started. It's supposed to be about a text called the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili." Here's a description from a site I found about the book. ***** The enigmatic, polyglot Hypnerotomachia Poliphili -- the inspiration for the bestselling novel The Rule of Four -- has fascinated architects and historians since its publication in 1499. Part fictional narrative and part scholarly treatise, richly illustrated with wood engravings, the book is an extreme case of erotic furor, aimed at everything -- especially architecture -- that the protagonist, Poliphilo, encounters in his quest for his beloved, Polia. Among the instances of the book's manifesto-like character is Polia's tirade defending

Here's a video I took on a trip to Yingge Pottery Museum in Yingge. The pottery there is very well known, and I suppose some of their specialties are toilets! I rather liked this collection of toilets, with a surprise in one of them. That was my cousin, by the way, laughing in the background towards the end of the film.

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Black & White? Or Color? I love black and white photos because of the endless possibilities for interplay of light. Shading here or there, a little more depth or less, makes all the difference. But color is also beautiful. Look at the stark contrast. The colored photo is so much more..vibrant! You see the place as it is, as our eyes would really see them. But sometimes too much color can be just too much input. Color may also cover other aspects the photographer wishes to capture. Black and white photos on the other hand never look distasteful to me. They always seem to capture more than just the image; instead, it looks beyond to find the soul of what you are photoing.

Sex toys...for bulls ! Some more pics from Taiwan trip. I went to Long-Shan Temple near the Wan-hwa district of Taipei. It's such a different part of the city; different from what I am used to. It's an older Taipei, and on average, I'd say it's more of the middle to lower middle class Taipei. Not to say there aren't people there who must be extremely wealthy. But the feeling is different, from say the Hsinyi district or near Taipei City Hall. Nonetheless I do like the area, especially walking down Snake Alley! It's fun to see the juxtoposition..street vendors next to book stores next to sex shops next to snake eateries! Only in Taiwan. The temple is quite beautiful too, and I was amazed to see how many people were there in worship, chanting mantras in unison. There is a definite harmony and beauty when people come together for faith. It's spiritual. I definitely don't have as much of this component in my life; perhaps I do but it's not in religion, i

Been doing lots of lab work last couple days...running the He3 system and measuring this sample. If we get some good new results, then it's a go for publication. So gotta keep working hard!

Cool links: interact10ways.com . Check this one out. I thought the light/information by sumona was really cool. Someday we'll see these laser projection screens maybe? Until then, 20 inch iMac?

Stealing this excerpt from my brother's blog; he in turn got them from here (the full version). ***** There are so many challenges facing this next generation, and as they said earlier, you are up for these challenges. And I agree, except that I don’t think you are. I don’t know if you’re tough enough to handle this. You are the most cuddled generation in history. I belong to the last generation that did not have to be in a car seat. You had to be in car seats. I did not have to wear a helmet when I rode my bike. You do. You have to wear helmets when you go swimming, right? In case you bump your head against the side of the pool. Oh, by the way, I should have said, my speech today may contain some peanut products ... But you have one thing that may save you, and that is your youth. This is your great strength. It is also why I hate and fear you. Hear me out. It has been said that children are our future. But does that not also mean that we are their past? You are here

Here's some interesting stuff on manipulating droplet flows. Extraterrestrials...in a duck?!? From Netscape News.

Check this: tyger . Also interesting.. bacteria from outerspace ? Is this evidence of life outside of Earth?! More pics of the Houston gang here . At SF airport again, trying desperately to kill time.