http://www.IreneEng.com There is too much money chasing too little intelligence to manage it. - JK Galbraith (1909-2006) Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:22:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In the years since World War II, piano manufacturing has shifted from Europe and America to Asia. Of the 480,000 pianos produced worldwide last year, 430,000 were made in Asia. China has rapidly emerged as the major player, producing 375,000 instruments last year. In terms of craftsmanship and tonal quality, mass-produced ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/24/the-piano/ Soy in Pocket Got soy in pocket Got vial? You're gonna need it Intention, I feel inventive Gonna make you, make you, make you no Dad Got motion, restrained semen Been driving, few sperm leaning No reason, just seems so pleasing Gonna make you, make you, make you no Dad Gonna use my soy nuts Gonna use my miso Gonna use ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/24/soy-foods-reduce-sperm-numbers/ I'm surprised, with Olympic in sight, Sichuan or China in that matter, hasn't executed few corrupted officials and contractors, or scape goats, a far better way to pacify the grieving and angry parents than money alone. The parents do deserve compensation, but unless the justice is done, there will be a ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/24/china-presses-grieving-parents-to-take-hush-money/ Sports Illustrated has Michael Phelps on the cover, projecting 8 gold medals in Beijing.  Yeeeeessss, you go boy wonder.  He isn't excel just in one event, but all four strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.  That, Is, Remarkable.  At 6'4" (6'7" wing), he should be at the other end ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/23/the-golden-boy/ Fen qing, angry youth is a term that widely used in China nowadays. When I first saw it, I thought about the sent-down young city slickersduring the Cultural Revolution.  When they finally managed to get back to their home towns, most were jobless and uneducated, a bleak future await.. hence the ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/22/the-angry-youth-fen-qing/ Not a bad idea. When will New York do it? The Gate and da Water Fall are great, but I think the bike rental is far better. How about New York build a world class aquarium? The Coney Island's one is so backyardy, it's embarrassing.  The west side where the city ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/22/tour-de-france/ For the record, I joined a writing workshop, for the very first time. There are eight of us (six women), each would get a chance to read out loud and get gentle and friendly critics. It's kind of eerie when I read mine - never done so before - felt very ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/22/my-first-workshop/ Few hours spent in Iraq could fortify Obama's credibility as a wartime leader is laughable!  2 years of hard studying can get you a law degree, 1-2 years a MBA and 4-5 years a PhD .. Obama sounds like a fairytale frog, opppps, I mean prince, very kiddish compares to McCain.   http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/22/obama-is-a-fairytale-prince/ http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/19/fashion-at-tanglewood/ Isn't it amusing to see "Golf shocker: Rising start Michelle Wie disqualified"?  Rising star? Oui .. Wie the Anna Kournikova .. I thought her career is pretty much over, thanks to her parents. Ok, it's over the top statement,.. ..but not too far from the fact, right? Look at Lorena ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/19/wie-in-the-news-again/ She was the US Women's Chess Championship in 1998 and 2007. She showed up at the Chess & Checkers at Central Park this past Sunday. First she did lecture then played simul. Golfer was one of the simulers.  Unforutnately after 12th move he had to abandoned the game, we had a ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/18/master-irina-krush/ Wow .. wondering if Al Sharpton knew any of this, that the South China Morning Post reported Friday that the crackdown on bars included police forcing bar managers in the popular Sanlitun district to sign agreements pledging not to allow black people into bars during the Olympic Games, as well ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/18/black-people-are-not-allowed-into-bars-in-beijing/ THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST COMPETITION ASKING FOR A TWO-LINE RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, BUT THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE -> My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife: Marrying you screwed up my life. I see your face when I am dreaming. That's why I always wake up screaming. Kind, ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/18/ode-to-wife/ Mr. Obama has a 300-person foreign policy team is soon going on his first overseas trip, as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.  Hmmmm, to drum up his image?  I'm wondering who will receive him - protocol wise - not by the head of the state, I'd think.  Then what's the point of the trip?  ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/18/shopping-and-sightseeing/   (一)某次去飯館吃飯，菜譜上有道菜叫「青龍過海」覺得新鮮，於是點了一道，結果盤子端上來一看，一碗清湯，上面漂著一棵蔥... (二)我在公司樓下的飯店點過一道菜 :「母子相會」，上來一看，居然是黃豆炒黃豆芽。 (三)我點過一個「走在鄉間的小路上」，是紅燒豬腳，然後邊上鑲點香菜。 (四)有一次和同學去巴山吃飯，然後發現有一個涼菜叫做「 一國兩制」，隨口問服務員這是什麼，服務員說 :「就是煮花生米和炸花生米」。 (五)我吃過一道菜叫做「火山下大雪」，就是涼拌西紅柿(台灣叫做蕃茄)上面灑上白糖。 (六)還吃過一道菜,叫「青龍臥雪」，就是一盤白糖上面放根黃瓜。 (七)某日在宴賓樓吃飯點了道「悄悄話」，端上來一看，原來是豬舌頭和豬耳朵。 (八)我點過一道菜叫「絕代雙驕」，就是青辣椒加紅辣椒 (九)有一個叫「心痛的感覺」，其實就是一杯白開水（50元）。 (十)有位朋友去泰山玩，在一家小麵館點了一份「牛拉麵」，後來發現一片牛肉也沒有。於是叫來店主論理，得到的答案是：做麵條的師傅姓牛！朋友當場幾乎暈倒，問：你們就不考慮長久生意嗎？店主答曰：一般的客人一生也就來一次泰山，能到我這兒吃一碗麵 我已經很幸運了！ China's attitude needed change. The naming of the dishes are pretty cute, as long as it indicates what it is, I think it's just fine: buyer be aware. http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/17/typical-china-%e8%8f%9c%e5%91%bd%e5%90%8d-%e8%b6%85%e7%88%86%e7%ac%91/ Silly, silly, silly .. Albany has just passed a bill giving the state dental society control over New York City’s dental society. This is not a tongue twister. The medical doctors' wallet are not only held by the MBAs, but lobbyists too. Poor thing. http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/16/dental-decay-in-albany/ http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/15/new-yorkers-on-a-weekend/ We took in two performances this past weekend, The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre and a piano recital at Mannes College the New School of Music on 150 W 85th Street.  John Cudia was the Phantom. This was my third time. His voice (acting was great too) blew me ... http://www.IreneEng.com/2008/07/15/the-journeymen/