What is the world without Google?
Google is a big information provider on the Internet. It provides all sorts of information with easy to use interfaces. Right now they are betaing their GoogleMap which provides service like MapPoint, MapQuest, or YahooMap. Most of their map data are coming from NAVTEQ, so the only difference is the interface. I think Google is good at this.
On GoogleMap you can drag the map like you did on other offline map applications, and it response pretty fast. For other online map, you can only move map page by page and that cause the transition problem between blocks of the map. Also, by combing Google's Directory service, you can search a location more easily and put it into the direction more quickly. (There are some other features, you can take a quick look at Google's Maps Tour)
Is it a good thing that Google takes control of the information service? I am a heavy Google user. I use it to check my typo, to see the usage of certain words or slangs, and to finding manuals. From a user's point of view, I don't care if Google is becoming monopoly or not. But from the view of bussiness, monopoly stifles the improving service and lowering the price. However, I don't need to pay Google a cent for their service right now. I cannot forsee next move of Google. All I am thinking right now is: What's the world without Google?
Oh, today is Chinese New Year. So, Happy New Year everyboday!!
Deja vu
I watched the Forgotten yesterday. I started to wonder the reason that I am forgetful is because the same reason that people forget their children in the movie. I also feel many things that are deja vu. Maybe they didn't erase my memory completely, so I still can sense the events that happened when I experience some cues. But like the reason they ask in the movie. Why do they want to erase my memory? Yeah, that's a good question. Why?
(Maybe that cannot be an execuse for my forgetful.)
WWMX project
I am still thinking about the topic for my graduate thesis. I came up 2 idas; one is to create a photoware that enables users to manage photos based on time, location, and event. And based on the time sequence and location, it will create a path from one place to another. It's just like the way I travel. The other is to investigate "do people read manual before using a product?"
However, while I was searching relevant literature I found those topics have been done. My first idea is very similar to Microsoft's WWMX project . It's a photoware that incorporates time, location, and event concepts. Normally the difficult part on photo management is the location. The solution right now is to use an external GPS device and digital camera. They say that GPS device normally has the function to create track log (it is saved into GPX format) Then users use a software that will compare the timestamp in the track log and photos to add location information into photo files.
My another idea on that topic also about creating a "trip". A trip is a travel path that can be seen on a map, and the path is based on the time sequence and locations. Unfortunatelly, I found WWMX also has similar function.
Sigh, the only thing I can do rith now is to keep looking for other possible topics.
Loophole
My auto insurance has ended this month, and I need to get a new one. Since I still cannot get my driver's license reinstated, I have my brother sent me the International Driving Permit. I know it's expensive to use permit to buy insurance, because I've been there. However it maybe is a good choice for me right now. For those three tickets, I probably will get over 10 points on my record. If I use International Driving Permit, the insurance company will only put 4 points in their policy. So, it may will cheaper than using state issued licence. Ha, a loophole.
Traffic Law
Because I am struggling with tickets and license problems recently, I started to look for information about the traffic law that I didn't know about. I found following information that may be helpful for myself and those people who unfamiliar with the traffic laws. (Most of the links lead to websites contain information of traffic laws in Indiana, but many other states also apply.)
1. Driver Improvement Program
You can take the course voluntarily, and you can earn 4 credit points on your driving record. There are many institute provide this kind of service, and some say you can even get discount from your auto insurance company.
2. Drivers License Compact
Many people (especially international students)thought that traffic tickets receive from other states will not affect their driving record in Indy. That's wrong. Because of the Driveres License Compact, many states now share information. (My license got suspended because of the ticket got from TN is an example.)
The website provides some valuable information about the traffic laws
Guide to Misc. Traffic Laws(Brad Cuppy's Web Page)
Bad luck
I think I really had a bad luck recently. I've run a red light and stopped by the police officer. And then he found that my driver's license has been suspended. So, he gave me two tickets; one for running the red light, the other for driving while suspended. Then the officer had some one towed away my car, and left me at the road side. (Gee, it's around 11:00 pm, and he just left me there and told me there is a pay phone and call your friend to pick you up.)
I went to BMV next day and asked them what happened to my license, and they said it's because I failed to pay a ticket in Tennesee. Yeah, I know that ticke, a speeding ticket. I tried to get the information about how to pay it, but I couldn't. I tried several times and still couldn't get it, therefore I thought there maybe some kind of problem in there communication. Then I just stopped trying and forgot about it. But who knows it become a problem to me now.
According to the BMV, I have to pay the speeding ticket first and then I will be able to reinstate my license. So, I tried to call again and this time they found it. I guess it's because I told them my first name is Ming.(I told them Ming-Liang before. I guess they think the Liang is the middle name. They always do they, according to Eva. I still don't know what the hell is the middle name for.) So, I need to pay the fine by mailing money order to a court in TN, because there is no pay-by-phone or pay-online there. So, I don't know when will they receive the payment and then notify BMV( or DMV? Whatever...) in TN. Then They will notify the BMV in Indy. I don't know how long it will take, and even the person in the court doesn't know. So, the only thing I can do right now is waiting and call them to see if they hadle it successfully or not.
However, I still need to go to school everyday, and my house is far away from campus. It's not possible for me to get to campus without driving. So, I decided to live in my frined's house. He can drive me to school everyday. I got home a packed some clothes in to my suitcase, but when I got my friend's house and tried to open my suitcase. I couldn't open it. I tried and tried, but it just sealed as a clam. So, the only way I can do was breaking the lock. (Sigh, hope it didn't break my luck.) I hope it's all over now.
Maybe it's all over now, because I got two cokes while I was trying to buy a coke from a vending machine. I hope it's a start of my good luck. There is a Chinese saying goes like this: 否極泰來 (Pee Gee Tai Lai). Which means after you experienced all the deepest, then it's a time for uprising. Because you cannot go deeper.
I am very lucky to have many good friends here. Stephen lets me staying in his place and drives me to school everyday, Eva drove me home at that night, Benson took me to fetch my car, Chatree offered his place and food, and Waew's support.
Brown County
I went to Brown County State Park in Brown county, IN. It's close to IU Bloomington. It's the biggest State park in Indiana. I went there to see maple leaves, but they are not red enough yet. There is another town called Nashville which is a small town filled with antique and craft shops. Most of the prdoucts in the shops are made by artists who live there.
Busy? Lazy?
I didn't update my BLOG for a while. I guess I am busy now. However, I still have to time to travel, to buy Playstation 2.:p So, I think that lazy it's the major reason. I bought a Playstation 2, and got the network adapter and a hard drive. Most importantly, the HD Loader. HD loader is a software on PS2 which allow you to install games into hard drive. It reduce the time on waiting, and also reduce the using of laser head. It's reall a great product.
Doodle
This is part of my doodling. I did in a session of a class. I love to doodle on textbooks since I I was a kid.(I am always not a good student.) There are 7 animals in the doodling. Can you tell which 7 and what kind of species are them? (If you cannot, it's not your fault. It's me that don't know how to draw.)
Mooncake, Language
One of the three major Chinese festivals, Moon Festival, is coming this month. The Chinese Culture Club at IUPUI held an event for celebrating the festival. In the event, we ate Chinese food, and of course the moon cake. While eating, I need to explain different kind of filling of mooncakes to my classmates in English. I couldn't do it at that time, because I didn't care what are those ingredients inside, I simply eat. So, after that I started to search information on Google and discussed it with Waew. So, I got following terms in English:
Red bean paste (紅)豆沙
Longan paste 桂圓/龍眼(龍眼Longan means Dragon Eye in Mandarin.)
Pecan核桃
Lotus seed paste 蓮蓉
Jujube paste 棗泥
Five nuts 五仁 (Waew's favorite, which is mixted with 5 different nuts)
I also learned the mooncake in Thai
ขนมไหว้พระจันทร์ = Moon cake
ขนม = bakery
ไหว้ = the gesture that Thai use for greeting (Chinese use to worship god)
พระจันทร์ = moon
oh, BTW most people don't like Jujube paste flavor. My classmates, roommates, and I.
