The blogger has been blocked?

Since 26th Oct. 2006, I counldn't open my blog. At first, I thought, maybe something wrong with the site of blogger.com. But, later, several days past, the situation haven't changed, and I knew almost all of the users of blogger couldn't log on their blogs. What is the reason?

I donot know exactly. I overheard on internet that maybe some relevant Depts. blocked the blogger, relating the establishment of real-name system for blog users.

Fortunately, I found another way to visit my blog. That is the agent internet server, it is: www.pkblogs.com/username.

The famous snacks (1)---bean curd slice ( Gan Tofu)

What is the most famous snack of Jin zhou city? I think, it should be the bean curd slice. The locals call it Gan tofu, means "dry bean curd slice". For this snack, different areas give it different name, even in the same province. Some people called it " Tofu pi"------skin of tofu. But actually, most north-eastern people think "Tofu pi" is another kind of Tofu, quite different with "Gan tofu".

Jin zhou's Gan tofu is fomous for its super-thinness, just like a thin paper. One time, my American friend, Chuck covered one piece of the Gan tofu on his cigarette box, the cigarette's brand can be recognized.

Eating this snack involves a rather ritual, not complicated. Preparing some leaves of shallot, then using one slice of the Gan tofu to wrap the leaves. Finally, dipping into a salty sauce.

You know, my friend, Chuck discovered a new way to eat the snack. He wrapped the Gan tofu around some slices of cucumber, then dipped into the sauce. He ate it as a kind of cookie.

Trip to the Bi Jia Mountain beach

These pictures were taken at the beach of Bi jia mountain. At that time, I just bought my new digital camera, so it is the first time that i took pictures by it. I remembered that day was quite nice. Five person went to the beach together. Most are fans of photograph, Mr feng and Xu bo are old-hands, i am just entry-level.

Several monthes later, when i look these pictures, they remind me of that day.

A contest or A joke???

I mentioned Ijonit the national day phot contest in one of my blogs, today, the results was announced. I got nothing, my friend, Mr. Feng became one of the winners.

Actually, The results should be accounced yesterday, and some unknown reasons, it was put off. After seeing all of the winner's entries, except my friend's works, i donot know how to describe the contest here. Is it a contest or a joke? I really want to know what the criterias are?

The future champions???

Tow weeks ago, I was selected to teach english in a ping pang ( table tennis) club. Actually, I don't want to do it, Because I have no experience in teaching teens, I prefer teaching adults.
In the class, the oldest student is about 15 years old, the yongest one is about 8 years old. All of the students joint this club to study how to play ping pang well. Some of them are from other cities, so they have to live here and study here.

Only after teaching 2 lessons, I figured out most were only 4th or 5th grade level of elementary school, even the oldest one. Obviously, they pay more attentions to study ping pang, and don't put their study first. The class was so noisy, few one wants to study english. I donot want to manage the class at all, I am not a professional english teacher, I am a clerk instead. I was just selected to teach them, not to take care children.

Maybe some of them could be ping pang world champions in the future, only just "maybe". If they can't be successful in this field, what can they do? Even as a ping pang coach, it also needs knowledge.

The ancient Jinzhou tower

The ancient tower locates in the Gu Ta park. It has already become a symbol of the city. Many mention it in their articles or websites. But what is its accurate origin? Few people knows it. Even some one gave its birth a wrong dynasty.



The ancient tower's full name is "Da guang ji Temple Tower", it was built in A.D. 1057 ( The period of Liao Dynasty, which is a minority Dynasty.)
What are the reasons of building this tower? Some history documents show: A queen of Liao kindom sent two officers to visit the Great Song kingdom, when the two officer came back, the emperor of Song kingdom gave Liao kindom white, green, and red, three bones of Buddha (She li, 舍利) as a gift. The queen was very glad after knowing it, she decided to build a tower and put the bones in this tower.

Jin zhou was selected. The reasons are: The queen ever lived in Jinzhou for some years, when she was yong. secondly, The emperor of Liao kindom hadn't gotten a son though he was 26 years old, and the queen prayed a son in front of a buddha in Jinzhou, and the next month, one of the emperor's wives was pregnant. Thirdly, the emperor believe in Buddhism, and he thought the bones could bring happiness and fortune.

Above is the simple origin of the tower.

The national day holiday photo contest

www.Chinadaily.com.cn is a very famous english website in china. Before the national holiday, the Chindaily website held a photo contest. They promised the winners will get the followings as awards:

1. high-quality cotton T-shirts with the special http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ logo.
2. they will establish photo galleries for the winners on the photo page of www.chinadaily.com.cn.
3. the winning pictures will be recommended to the China Daily newspaper for publishing.

Driving by the awards, my friend, Mr. Feng and I joint the contest. Mr. Feng has already posted many pics on the website, I only posted three entries. And I think the pic called "sunset" maybe can get the award.

The manager of the website answered, the result will be published by next monday (23th, Oct. 2006).

The "common" views of Nortern Lake park

I bought a new digital camera this year, it is the Canon Eos 350 D. One day, I invited two my good friends to take some pictures at the northern lake park. But they donot want to go, because they think the landscapes of the lake are quite common, the wonderful pictures can not be created there. I insisted on it, then we went there and took some pics.

The natural crystal and gem shop

The natural crystal and gem shop openned last month. Its main products are crystal, gem thrinkets and decorators. During the National day vacations, only one transaction was made, actually it was not a really transaction. The management of the market arranged a promotion campaign, some of the city's celebrities participated this activity and bought one commordity from each stall as a reward.
After the national vacations, it seemed that the business was getting better. Some patrons started to buy something, though the sale amount was quite low. Everyone has confidence for this business, we think it can take off in the short future.Today, I designed a beautiful business card for the shop. I would post the pic of the business card on the blog later.

The alcohol culture

In northeastern China, the people are famous for their alcohol culture. It seems that every northeastern people can drink much. I think, maybe the climate and the customs creat this. I am a northeastern person, I can drink some also. But sometime, I really dislike the alcohol culture, especially when someone force me to drink much.

In a formal occasion, if "some one" attend a dinner, and unfortunately the one can drink much, that means a boring dinner starts. During the dinner, the one will force others to drink. If anyone disobeys his will, that means the guy doesn't give the one a "face", then it will embarrass the both sides. So, before the dinner ends, the consequence is: several guys has already spouted out all of the food. Maybe the theme of the dinner is " communication". Actually, no one can not and donot want to speak one word. Some are drunk, some are thinking how to avoid the next cups of alcohol.

One of my American friend ever said, he doesn't like anyone force him to drink how much, because how much He wants to drink is his business and his freedom. Everyone attending the dinner just need to mind your own business. I agree with his view. But I am a Chinese, a northeasten chinese. Maybe I should adapt this alcohol culture, but I really donot want to put it up anymore.

The spicy fish （水煮鱼)

In china mainland, recent years, one kind of Si chuan (province) food called spicy fish （水煮鱼）is more popular. The meaning of its chinese name is fish boiled by cooking oil. The taste of the authentic spicy fish, like other sichuan food, is very very spicy. But more and more people like it, even some foreigners.
How to cook it? Actually, I don't know the details. For the restaurants which are selling the spicy fish, the ingredients are still a commercial secret. most diners only know: cut fish into very thin pieces, then pickle them with a special sauce, finally pour the boiling cooking oil on it with many many red peppers.
Yesterday, a friend who like to research cuisine invited my wife and me to have a dinner at his house. The major dish is the "spicy fish". In my memory, it was the third time that he cooked this dish for us. Each time he selected the different way to pickle the fish, because he is still discovering it. But yesterday, I think the third method is unsuccessful.

The interior competitions

Recently, our head office required all of the staff of the head office should work in the front-line branches for one day. So, yesterday, I went to a branch and worked there. During the time of working there, I found out that the branch's business was really busy. Within one day, each clerk needs to deal with several hundred transactions. Comparing with other institutions, this situation really makes us confident for our business and outlook. But the most important issue I found out is the "Interior competitions".Speaking of the "Interior competitions", once I took a taxi, after the driver realized I was a clerk of our bank, he asked me a question. The followings are our dialog.
Driver(D): why each time I draw money at your bank's different savings offices, they ask me to change a new passbook?
Me(M): Really?
D:Really. They said there is something wrong with my passbook, and they need to change a new one for me. Especially, I went to the different savings office and was given the same treatment.
M: Sorry, I donot know the reason. If you face the same situation next time, maybe you can ask them clearly. I am really sorry.
But yesterday, I found the answer. The savings office just wanted to change the passbook into another one which is issured by itself. Then, the amount on this new passbook can be calculated as this savings office's contribution.
By comparision, this savings office tells the customers the truth. They did not make any excuse.,and did not lie to the customers. But it also brings trougbles to the customers. Summarising in one word: "Interior competition".I think, putting more attention and emphasis on the amount of savings is the main reason that causes this phenomenon rising. As a clerk of the manangement department, we should think it over.

The Tv ad.

Before the 2006 spring festival, our enterprise decided to take a video ad. on Tv. But nobody had ideas about what this ad. should be. The manager allocated this work to me. And the time given for preparation was only one day.The next day, I went to a wholesale market for some props. At the same time, several clerks who have some performing experiences were noticed to join in the event.It is only 30 seconds movie. I let everybody say one greeting sentence as the lines with the props in their hands. Finally, we finished the ad. and took this picture as memory.