Eclipse is a great tool. The more I use it, the more I want to master the tool in and out. It is a great example in front of me to learn about software architecture and design issues. I belive I will be closer to my ideal programmer model after understanding more about eclipse.

I will devote my time and concentrate on 'Contributing to Eclipse'

Bronx Zoo trip

Today is March 26th, 2005. Six years ago, Wenlei and I vowed to live together in Columbus, OH.

To celebrate this special date, we decide to take Anbo to Bronx Zoo to see some REAL animals otherwise normally only shown in Baby Enistein shows. ( Well, the real reason is that Wenlei wants to see a real Giraffe )

Both wether and traffic were perfect. We took off at around 10:30AM and got the zoo by 11:30AM. Many other parents also took their little babies to see animals, so there were really many strollers in the zoo. Most of the time, Anbo is not very interested in those animals because no baby would be interested in LAZY animals.... lazy tigers, lazy bisons, lazy bears... almost every outdoor animal was very lazy. Only one exception -- Giraffe. Anbo was riding on my shoulder when we looked at those graceful Giraffes. By feeling my hairs was firmly grasped by Anbo's hands and my neck was tightly pressed by Anbo's feet, I was pretty sure that Ano was exercited by Giraffes.

Shihyi and Kevin met us in the zoo. So, we actually had a family reunion in the zoo except for Father. He rested at home to recover from injuries in his feet due to over-exercises.

We had a little accident in the zoo. Wenlei, by accident, dropped $700 valued camera on the ground, and the camera malfunctioned. Wenlei was very depressed by what she had done. She kept blamming herself.. Well, given that circumstance, nobody in my family dared blame her.
Anyway, what is gone is gone.

We had dinners in Fort Lee which is only 20-minute drive distance from the zoo. I was too tired to go shopping after dinner, so we drove home directly from Fort Lee.

"No salary increasing for the next year", announced in CEO's letter to all employees today.

Actually, the $10M money was already allocated, but was called on hold yesterday. Then, followed by this 'no salary increase' news.

Almost everybody I ran into expressed his/her disappointment to this news. However, I was different. I did not feel depressing nor angry about this decision. Actually, I felt relieved. I was finally relieved from what holds me. I became a mentally free man.

I remembered there was a book called "Who moved my cheese" published around three or four years ago. Now, my cheese was moved away and I shall put on my running shoes again to look for cheese somewhere else.

Another thought is that we shall try to have finanically freedom as soon as possible. Take Gary for example. If he was not wise to be financially cautious, he would be in trouble soon since he may not be able to build a good financially net egg for his family. I am not as wise as Gary, so I should be more financially cautious, so I would be better preparred for this mid-year crisis.

Ran into Subir Das in the hallway yeterday.

We exchanged our opinions about the future of the company. I was quite surprised that we have many same ideas. Probably, everybody sees the same thing and holds the same idea in their own mind.

Through him, I also learned that Hong Liu moved to Seattle and worked in Microsoft now. Glad to hear that. I think it is a correct move for Hong. I myself is also arming myself and preparing for the predictable future.

Don't know why, but I am kind of obsessed to Knuth in these days. I kept listening to Knuth's talks. I gave a definition to those masters in their own fields: Masters are those who can deeply explain very complex concepts in a straightforward way. Yibei listened to Richard Feynman's talk on Probability, and he also expressed the same feeling. For Knuth, I found that he has a very regular life style. I envy his life style. I hope that one day, I can also have a life style like him. This life style is built upon a financial freedom.

I will summarize the financial book I just read, so those ideas could be carved into my mind board. I also plan to evaluate our financial situation tonight and move some money in eTrade over to Mutual funds.

I am better each day

After today, I will become a different person.

1. I love my family more.
2. I pay respect to my money and my work.
3. I won't be afraid of speaking out.
4. I listen to NPR and read newspaper daily.
5. I write diary before bed.
6. I read, and I write.
7. I think, and I share.

My son and I in the Mentropolitan Museum. 

Romeo and Juliet in the Central Park in NYC  

Wenlei and the Gates