Piggy’s Blog - Journey of Success and Greatness

I was gonna do a repost of something today but decided not. My day started crappy with a traffic ticket. It’s a bit ironic how I never get ticket for speeding though I do it frequently and by wanting to go to a bank at a place I never intended to in the 1st place, I got a ticket for right turn on red because of unfamiliarity and hence did not see the sign. I will be going to the court to attempt to waive some penalties.

Next, I returned to the gym after 2 weeks of slouching. Glad that my weight capacity has not decreased.

I did not get a chance to mention this. As of this past Sunday, I found a roommate who promptly took the room and wrote me a check for his 1st month’s rent. A US-grown Brazilian named Jean (I thought it was John…haha) Just like how people always take Ken for Kin I guess.

I was somewhat reluctant about having a roommate due to the loss of some privacy/freedom, but I have to say Jean has been a pleasant roommate for the few days.

In fact, he rented a Brazilian movie named The Man Who Copied (aka O Homem que Copiava) tonight. It started out a bit slow as a small town story but took QUITE a twist that makes you think “what the heck” half way through. It was entertaining :) Highly recommended if you want a not-so-invovled, light-hearted movie to relax in the evening but also be entertained.

At the end of the day, things got brightened up and tomorrow is another day. For that I’m grateful.

And I shall persist on my piano pieces that’s proving to become challenging -_-

One would think the execution of the pre-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would close a chapter of the events in Iraq. Not so. Take a look at Saddam’s daughter joins protest in Jordan.

Remember 2 days ago reading the news of his hanging, he doesn’t look any different than any other old person, only helpless but calm. One would feel pity if without the knowledge of his past tyranny and atrocity, but then, in some of his own people’s eyes and people who believed him, he was just doing what he must to protect them, from what they see as enemies (Americans).

So for such a person, is forgiveness an option? I’m not here nor the one to decide but here’s some thoughts.

For people who’s friends, relatives, family, or the ENTIRE family were killed because of him, they can’t help but desire revenge. But looking at the article and from numerous lessons of history, hatred only produces more hatred, and killing, well, leads to more killings. Funny that even we can use the comparisons of two markov chain transition matrixes, one defines the transition of a violent/militant policy and one a pacifist policy, also explains the same idea, such that the 2 matrixes show the militant policy results in substantially larger amount of terrorists when one calculates to the stablized states of the chain.

This means, if you are not familiar with markov chain, in a nutshell that the militant policy - what US doing in Iraq, only leads to the creation of more terrorist vs. that of the pacifist policy on a large scale. This leads one to wonder what the heck they are doing in Iraq and why are we fighting, but hey, this is not solid proof and another topic so let’s move on.

So then, I question myself if I will be able to forgive someone who killed my family WITH the understanding of the idea described above. Or perhaps I will kill him for revenge and then his family and friends will kill me and people related to me. I cannot answer for I am in no such situation. Such forgiveness requires such courage and a big heart for how it may leave yourself with a burden to carry instead by giving forgiveness.

So what do we forgive? Forgive all wrong doings? Forgive nothing? Forgive some wrong doings? Forgive family/friends but not strangers? How do you choose? What a difficult topic. I can only wish I am wiser and I apologize for the lack of conclusion.

To all my friends out there (who find this blog, haha), I wish you all a happy new year.

Year 2006 has been a very hectic year for me. As I’ve mentioned before, I concluded my Master program in Computer Science at Stanford - So thankful it’s finally over :P After new year, I will be on my way to a job as developer job at IBM at the Silicon Valley Lab. I have also become an uncle - Alas, I’m getting old! And 4 months earlier, we have relocated our parents to the Bay area. Things have been quite different w/ them around - a little less freedom, but I’m glad they are here as their aging and the weather in the mid-west don’t go so well together. It’s good they’re able to help out with my niece.

A few small accomplishment including seeing some result from all the gym’ing and basketball, learned to play the 1st piece of Sena’s Piano - Close to You from Long Vacation (I’ve always wanted to play it since…high school!), my vocal is getting better.

Not just me, people around me are going through many changes also, I have my best wishes for them. Who knows what’s in store for all of us, but hopefully everything will be fine. As quotes from Jet Li in his Fearless interview, “Ourselves are our greatest enemy.” and “Do you best, it’s good enough.”

I disappeared for quite awhile…the thing is, after spending an extensive amount of time to tidy up my apartment. I’m stuck…playig Final Fantasy 12. You can read all about it through the link but here’s a few comments by me:

Final Fantasy 12 involves quite a bit of reformed elements in the game system, battle wise and character control. I believe some of the style is adopted from Final Fantasy 11 which I never played. For the system, the word simple comes to mind, but it’s still fun. I know the character models are definitely from 11 though. I don’t like the main male character’s “skin”.

The story itself also flows differently than previous Final Fantasy game. It resembles more of the FF Tactics game from before - revolve around kingdom, power struggle/politics, a bit dark. The story is still attractive yet I do not feel as close to the characters in 12 than the previous. They could have spent more time or portion of the game to develop the relationship of the characters, which I think is lacking to cause the “distance”.

I’m almost finished w/ it, still trying to get the secrets and sidequests before I hit the ending. I’m a bit of a perfectionist :P

My legs are also sore, from shooting basketball for a few hours after many days of inactivity, because I could FEEL how unhealthy I am after many days of sitting around and so forced myself to go shoot some hoops.

Hence, on a final note - Exercise is VERY VERY important.