Ten things Kate can't do once she marries Wills

    I read this news on the Internet.
    It`s funny. Although the British Royal family accepts Kate, but it still has a lot of  restriction and lack of freedom.

     Just one generation ago someone like Kate Middleton would have been tasered for getting too close to the British Royal family.
     So when Clarence House relaxed their stun guns and let their future king propose to a 'commoner', Britain awoke in a postmodern-like daze where realities became relative and class boundaries blurred.

      The only problem with such superb forward thinking is that the Royal Family is still very much backward and old fashioned when it comes to some matters, namely rules and etiquette.
      And as the first normal woman to enter the Windsor fold, Kate will feel the changes to her life on a higher level than many past princesses.
Here are ten things the bride-to-be will no longer be allowed to do once she walks down the Green Mile – ahem, aisle – in Westminster:

1. Be referred to as 'Kate' 

2. Vote

3. Run for political office

4. Escape the scrutiny

5. Play Monopoly

6. Say or do anything controversial

7. Eat shellfish

8. Work

9. Sign anything unofficial

10. Finish her dinner

Obamas' income has a big drop in 2010

I read this news from WASHINGTON (Reuters).

   
     President Barack Obama and wife Michelle made significantly less money last year than in 2009, with book sales their main source of income, according to their joint tax return released by the White House on Monday.
     The first family reported an adjusted gross income of $1,728,096 and paid federal taxes of $435,770, down from income of $5,505,409 in 2009. April 18 was the deadline this year for Americans to file their annual tax returns.
     Mr. Obama’s Democrats are fighting with Republicans over cutting the U.S. deficit through a mixture of spending cuts and tax hikes, with Obama, a best selling author, arguing that wealthier Americans like him can afford to pay more in tax.
     Specifically, he opposes extending Bush-era tax cuts on families making more than $250,000 a year. These tax cuts are due to expire at the end of 2012, when they would revert to 39.6 per cent from a 35 per cent top income rate at the moment.
     Earnings from Mr. Obama’s books, Dreams From My Father, The Audacity of Hope and Of Thee I Sing generated $1.568-million last year, according to the couple’s tax return.
     After-tax proceeds from the last book, which was the only one written after he became president in January 2009, were donated to the Fisher House Foundation to assist military families, which received $131,075 from the Obamas last year.
    Overall, the first family gave $245,075 to charity in 2010, reaching out to 36 different charities of which Fisher House was the largest single beneficiary.
    Other donations ranged from $1,000 to the $15,000 given to The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which the two former presidents promoted in a joint appearance for Haiti earthquake aid with Mr. Obama at the White  House last year.
    Mr. Obama reported income from wages, salaries and tips of $395,188 last year. The first family also paid $51,568 in state income tax in Illinois

To iPad, or Not to iPad

Tonight I watch a viedo about iPad search from New York Times.

What surprises me is many custormers are  sensible. When I heard some guy said "I don`t need one" or "I like my newspaper, I like my books", I laughed.

The reporter ask a look like 10-year old boy`s view. He said he was not an iPad fans, because iphone is more convenient than iPad.

Click here to see more: New York Times Video.

In the days leading up to the arrival of Apple's iPad, New York Times reporter Claire Cain Miller hit the streets of New York City to find out if consumers are willing to carry yet another gadget.

Quotes from Movie

        Capitalism: A Love Story is directed by Michael Moore.

        This movie probably is extreme radical and full of criticism. But it makes me think about the Middle American Radicals. No matter how many unfair or evil the Capitalism has, Capitalist society at least has the right of  "One person, one vote". Many of them want some change, maybe that`s why a large amount of citizens have voted for Obama. 

       The quotes are excellent.

　"I sincerely believe...that banking establishment are more dangerous than standing armies."

　　 ---- Thomas Jefferson, 1816
　　　
　　　　
　　"Property monopolized or in the possession of a few is a curse to mankind."
　　 ---- John Adams, 1765
　　
　　
　"No man ought to own more property than needed for livelihood; the rest, by right, belonged to the state."
　　 ---- Benjamin Franklin
　　　　
　　
　　"It's class warfare, my class is winning, but they shouldn't be."
　　 ---- Warren Buffet, World's Richest person 2007
　

Daily life in Emporia

     Since weather in Emporia is getting better, many people spend more time staying outside for walking or doing other outside activities.
      I also like walking aound my apartment, because I can see all kinds of  people and interesting things.

A 4-year old boy is playing with his 10-month old little sister.He put his left hand on his sister`s mouth and left, making some funny noise which make the little girl joyful.

A father is playing with his cute daughter. Both of them are having a big smile on their faces.

The little boy put his hand aound the white narcissus in his house yard.

He is my neighbour, running along the trail without wearing shoes.

Two brothers, one is 1-year old(on the left) ,the other is 2-year old(on the right).

 A mother is giving a big hug to her little baby. Although he is having a faver, he seemed happy and excited when his mother played with him.

A bird is standing on a pole, looking at somewhere. What surprises me is it isn`t  afaid of people!

                 On aound 6p.m., a man took his puppy in his car, waiting the green traffic light at Merchant Steet.

A guy took a woman on his red motocycle. It was cool~ 

It was afternoon, after school, two girls riding their bicycles aound campus.

Two men were walking their dogs along the street.

At weekend, a couple is walking in the sunset, on campus

Spring is a promise

Spring is a promise that life begins!

     That`s true when I see the trees and grass dress up all green suddenly, the flowers blossom in a short time.
Nature is a magician. It is so amazing. People can develop the science and technology, but we cannot create a new earth.
      I know some flowers or trees` names, but I still have lots of unknow.
     In my eyes, it`s necessary to always hold in awe to something. The something could be life of people, life of animal, life of plants and nature. Something we can`t know the mystery totally in them but it`s the life`s presents for us.

Yellow Narcissus (On campus)

White  Narcissus (On campus)

(On campus)

Pear Tree, full of blossom little white flowers. When you look at it in the distance, it seems a white tree.

Pear flowers.

Purple and White Hyacinth (Around Country Mart.)

Pink Tulip (In commercial street)

 White Tulip(In commercial street) 

Around Country Mart.

When I see these beautiful things, they remind me of how precious life is.
I want to pretect them, and enjoy the pretty scenery.

"Human Rights" Debate from US and Chinese government

      On April 8, 2011, in Washington, DC Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, remarked to the Press on the Release of the 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Report.
     And on April 10, 2011, Chinese State Council gave a feedback as  The Human Rights Report of United State in 2010.
      It has 5 angles to discuss human rights in US：
           1.On Life, Property and Personal Security;
           2.On Civil and Political Rights;
           3. On Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
           4.On Racial Discrimination;
           5.On the rights of women and children.

The full text translation is here:

Video:Secretary Clinton’s Remarks Upon Releasing The 2010 Human Rights Report

    --------

      As part of our mission to update statecraft for the 21^st century, today I’m also pleased to announce the launch of our new website, humanrights.gov. This site will offer one-stop shopping for information about global human rights from across the United States Government. It will pull together reports, statements, and current updates from around the world. It will be searchable and it will be safe. You won’t need to register to use it. We hope this will make it easier for citizens, scholars, NGOs, and international organizations to find the information they need to hold governments accountable.

      As we have said repeatedly, the United States welcomes the rise of a strong and prosperous China, and we look forward to our upcoming Strategic and Economic Dialogue with Beijing and to our continued cooperation to address common global challenges. However, we remain deeply concerned about reports that, since February, dozens of people, including public interest lawyers, writers, artists, intellectuals, and activists have been arbitrarily detained and arrested. Among them most recently was the prominent artist, Ai Weiwei, who was taken into custody just this past Sunday. Such detention is contrary to the rule of law, and we urge China to release all of those who have been detained for exercising their internationally recognized right to free expression and to respect the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all of the citizens of China.
                                                                                              ——From: US Department of State

 To see more：

Remarks to the Press on the Release of the 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

A Junior Recital in KWU

    At this Saturday night, April 9th, I went to Salinato attend a Junior Recital called "Spring`s Passions".

    It is a local and small music performance, which is a request from  Kansas Wesleyan University Music Department. Every junior whose major is music need to prepare a performance around one hour at Sam`s Chapel, Pioneer Hall. It has live recording as the evidence to their credit.

  
    On that evening, Katherine Falk (Kitty) was a soprano singer. She sang a couple of German and Spanish songs. Its Bel Canto, artistic style of singing. Joshua Schmelzle was the pianist and he played <Sonata Pathetique> written by L.v. Beethoven.
    What interests me most is they are lovers. Maybe this was one of the factors that they could corporate so well.

Kitty was so charming at that night. And Joshua was handsome~~

     The Recital had more than 50 audiences.Most of them were friends and family of Kitty and Joshua.  

In their daily life, it is full of fun. They are so casual.

After the Recital, Joshua was playing guitar and Kitty was eating some potato chips in her dorm.

How to protect yourself when earthquake happens

After Japan consist earthquakes, I want to find out the right ways to protect myself when earthquake happens. There is two popular ways to protect yourself when earthquake hits—— "Drop!Cover!Hold on!" and “Triangle of Life”. First one is "Drop!Cover!Hold on! ".

      Drop: Immediately drop to the ground where you are before the earthquake drops you. Shaking might be violentthat you cannot run or crawl. Drop where you are. Earthquakes occur without any warning and you will never know if the initial earthquake jolt will turn out to be the start of the big one. Drop before you know.DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

      Cover: Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table. If there isn`t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms. You are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc) than to die in a collapsed building.COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

       Hold on: The floor or the ground could jerk strongly sideways or out from under you; Hold on to something sturdy and stay where you are until the shaking stop. When the shaking stops, move carefully.HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

Sencond one is "Triangle of Life", by Doug Copp

    
The Triangle of Life is a controversial theory about how to survive a major earthquake, typically promoted via viral emails.


  The theory advocated methods of protection very different from the mainstream advice of "drop, cover, and hold on" method widely supported by reputable agencies. In particular, the method's developer and key proponent, Doug Copp, recommends that at the onset of a major earthquake, building occupants should seek shelter near solid items that will provide a protective space, a void or space that could prevent injury or permit survival in the event of a major structural failure, a "pancake collapse", and specifiably advises against sheltering under tables.

   Officials of many agencies have found themselves forced to respond to these viral emails spreading the "Triangle of Life" method.

  









It has some conflict between these two theory.

The experts from Red Cross have given some suggestions.
       Mahdavifar et al. (2010) analyzed and compared both methods in detail, considering their application, the extent of people who are under the coverage, simplicity in transferring concepts, and the probability of reducing casualties and damage in developing countries such as Iran.

      It argued that "Drop, Cover and Hold on" was useful advice for people who expereince smaller earthquakes without total building collapse, which is the vast majority of earthquake survivors.

       It found that the "Triangle of life" could be a better strategy during larger earthquakes in buildings with a skeleton (wood or concrete) during a building collapse, but acknowledged the possible problems of large objects shifting and crushing the person from horizontal movement, and the triangle method is also difficult to teach and communicate.

      Neither strategy was useful for the majority of the population in rural Iran because of the mud-brick architecture which has no structure. Based on the simplicity of teaching and the fact that 12000 times more people are affected by smaller earthquakes and injured, they concluded that duck and cover is still regarded as a better option for people during an earthquake.

Gas Price Hikes

Current US national average gas price is $3.786. However, these days gas price in Emporia has dropped a little bit, the lowest one is $3.59.

According to Emporia Gazette, recent gas hikes are a big scam.

      The recent hikes in gas prices are nothing but a big scam on the American people. There is no real reason for them. All of a sudden, the media on the national level start predicting gas price increases up to $5 a gallon, and they start rising immediately.

     There is no real reason for this. Supplies of gas are abundant. Pundits say trouble in the Middle East countries is the reason. Libya produces only 2 percent of our oil. Saudia Arabia has guaranteed the U.S. that they will made up any Middle East oil shortfalls.

     Next, we hear investors in oil futures are driving up oil prices. This is all a big scam and we, as consumers, should react and not let them succeed in this effort. Where do their profits come from us, the consumers. Let’s teach them a little lesson.

You can look at the Lowest Regular Gas Prices in the Last 36 hours here.

(Gas Prices in April, 2001, Kansas)

     

If the gas price keep going and breaking record, what will happan?

Or if one day the gas runs out, what will happen?





From National Geograpfic, Aftermath <World Without Oil>

Save Japan

   April 12, Japanese students from ESU hold a donation for Japan. President Aki Notami and vice President Hidenori Terao of Japanese Student Association lead this donation. All the money being donated will go to the Red Cross, who will send the money to Japan.

(From left to right: Hidenori Terao,Yukii Hoshino,Fumiko Nakamura)

  (Fumiko Nakamura)

(They collecetd the money in this way)

   ESU only has 44 Janpanese students. Compared with Chinese and South Korean is a little amount people, but they are so united.
   Yesterday, they took turn to stand at the cross-road, from 7:00a.m. to 9a.m., 11a.m. to 1p.m. and 4p.m. to 9p.m..

   They held up the paper-boards, which were made by Japanese volunteers, to attract the passer-by or driver`s attention. Many driver gave some  money when there was red traffic light. They sincerely said thank you to everyone who have helped them.
Until 7p.m., they have collected more than $300.
 

   In the afternoon, I met a guy, Steve Brown took his 4-year old son, Oloeu to support the donation. His wife is Japanese, and he worked in Japan as a pro-fighter for 14 years. Also, he built up an English School there. Since the Japan horrible earthquake and Tsunami, he took his family back to US. However, his wife decided to come back Japan to take care their business alone, and Brown will stay here to look after the children (they also have a one-year old girl).

 (Steve Brown & his son)