Meeilei Grows Tomato, The Organic Way Without Being Told

This summer in Wisconsin is quite cool. Temperatures have been in the range of 60-70 F (or 15-21 C); very few days go beyond 80F (27 C). On August 28, the morning temperature dipped down to 48 F ( or 9 C, that is the temperature for Taiwanese winter). You need to be patient to grow tomato. And my wife, Meeilei, is a very patient person.

After several months of laboring, many tomato plants in her garden finally begin to ripe.

"I will pick up THIS tomato tomorrow", Meeilei pointed to the ripen tomato and said to me one day.

The next day, she walked to the garden to pick up that ripen tomato.

"Oh, no, some animals had bitten MY tomato !! damm..." She yelled and almost swore.

She was about to pick-up that tomato and threw it away but a second thought came in mind, she decided to leave that tomato on the ground near the tomato plant to 'feed the animal'

" I will use that tomato as a 'bait' for animals and will save the rest of my tomatos."

The strategy works like a magic. Animals which had bitten that tomato continued to enjoy the rest of it while leaving the other tomatos alone. The middle photo on top was taken when she first saw the 'bitten' tomato. the third photo was taken a week after she first saw the 'bitten' tomato. Meeilei finally got the rest of the ripen tomato free from the animal bits.

Recently, she also stringed old CD disks near the plant, as to "to scare the birds" from the CD disk reflection. (the top photo)

Meeilei has learned 'organic farming' herself. I had heard similar stories from the organic farmer friends in Taiwan. They usually plant few fruit trees in the outskirt of their fruit garden to feed the pest or animals and they can harvest the rest of the fruit free from pest. They also use reflection techniques to keep the birds off their fruit plants.

You would say, "All Taiwanese think the same."

First photo shows a CD disk hung near the tomato plant, second photo shows the tomato which got the initial bite from an animal. Third photo shows the remaining tomato that animals continued to enjoy leaving the rest of the tomato free.

Feeling Recession Pain--Dr. Chen Received An Appointment Letter And Was Notified For 3% Pay Reduction

UW-Green Bay will start fall semester of 2009 on September 3, about a week from now. As usual, all faculty will receive a formal appointment e-mail from the school authority.

My appointment letter arrived on July 30, 2009. The letter first thanks my contributions to the university and the state, and will appoint me as an associate professor for one full year assignment. The letter then goes directly to the following statement:

On June 23, 2009, the Governor issued Executive Order 285 which requires all nine (9)-month state employees to take six (6) days or 48 hours (prorated for part-time and part-year employees) of unpaid leave (furlough time off) in each of the next two fiscal years. Under the UW System plan for implementing the furloughs, which has been approved by the Office of State Employment Relations, your salary will be reduced by 3.065% for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011.

Three percents pay reduction sounds like a lot; but it is much better than the other states such as California. My brother-in-law teaches at Southern California State University. He told us all professors in the California received a 15% pay reduction. Even worse, the pay they get now is not really a paycheck, but a paynote. On the paper notes those professor received have the following statement: " The government owes you, ...$50,000..." In other words, those notes cannot be cashed right away. Only when the government says it is the right time to cash, then those teachers can get the real money.

Someone obviously turns this into opportunity. Those people will buy up those government notes with 80% of the note-value. Those people will hope that government will not bankrupt. In that situation, they will have 20% of net profit.

But, do we have faith in California that California will not go bankrupt some day?

Morakot--Taiwanese Are Stucked With And Stunned By Ma's Insensitive and Indifferent Remarks

Just like Americans who had no idea why did they put Bush into the presidential office in 2004, Taiwanese had no idea why did they put Ma into the presidential office in 2008. Ma's incompetence as the President of Taiwan shows clearly in his handling of Morakot rescuing efforts in Taiwan.

First, during the 8/8 flooding event, he and his key cabinet members were in a wedding banquet. After Morakot Typhoon was over, he forgot about his President office position as the commander-in-chief to order Taiwan military to mobilize the rescuing efforts. He had delayed such an order for two days causing many innocent villagers to be buried alive. Third, he refused all foreign aids except the Chinese aids. After public strong reactions to his decision, he finally allowed Americans to send helicopters to participate in the rescuing and the release efforts on August 17, 2009, 9 days after the flooding.

How bad was this 8/8 flooding? According to NPR (National Public Radio), Ma said to the foreign press that Taiwanese lost about 500 lives. I spoke to my Qi-Kong Taiwanese friends on the Skype yesterday (8/18/09). She said it was at least 3 to 4 times of 500 lives. She said that in Pingtung, there was a mountain whose peak height were originally at 800 m before the flooding. After the flooding, the remaining peak height was measured at 400 m. Almost half of the mountain mud, stones, trees were carried by the flood to bury the village near-by.

A CNN poll conducted on August 17, 2009 asking "Should Taiwan's leader stand down over delays in aiding typhoon victims?(Quickvote at CNN.com )" , 82% of the voters out of 13417( http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1033430&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng) said "Yes". Ma although apologized for his mishandling of the rescuing effort, said that he would not resign. In fact, Taiwanese are stucked with the incompetent Ma.

Taiwanese are even stunned by his several "remarks" to the news reporter after the flooding: Here are few examples that my Taiwanese colleagues sent me via e-mail:

On August 10, a young man in the Taitung county saw Ma and cried uncontrollably. He said that in the presidential election, our whole family voted for you. Why it became so difficult to see you after this flooding? Ma replied, "Didn't you see me now?"

According to August 13, Apple Daily's report (Apple Daily is a Taiwanese newspaper.) that a baby of 29 month old in the Na-Ma-Hsiau village of the Kaoshung county (高縣那瑪夏鄉) was buried alive and was pronounced dead. Her two old sisters were eventually rescued after being buried for as long as 2 and 5 minutes. Ma praised these two sisters for their abilities to consciously hold the breath and stayed alive for that long. The doctors said later that no one can consciously holding breath that long. The two sisters were forced out of the breath (or due to suffocation) for 2-5 minutes by the debris they were buried from.

During an interview with foreign press on August 15, Ma used the word 'they' to describe the victims among 5- Q/A sessions as if those 'victims' have nothing to do with him.


Bush's presidency in America cost Americans trillions of money spending frivolously in the Iraq war. Ma's presidency in Taiwan has cost many Taiwanese lives in this flooding disaster. Even worse he could possibly sell-off Taiwan to China.

MORAKOT--Aftermath; While Government Shows Incompetence In Handling The Disaster, Taiwanese Shows Love And Compassion

Ten years ago, when Taiwan experienced century-level-9-21-Earth Quake, the emergency relieve work to rescue and to rebuild the community exhibited by both Taiwan government (Lee Tung Huei then Chen Shuei-Ping administration) and Taiwanese people earned international respect. I remember that the pastor at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton, WI (USA) openly praised Taiwanese people.

In 2009, Taiwan experienced another century-level-8-8-Flooding disaster. The government shows incompetence in handling the emergency rescue and relief while Taiwanese shows love and compassion.

I have a student at National Chung-Hsing University sending me the following e-mail illustrating the current situation of Taiwan, a week after Morakot flooding. She said she was in tears when she sent that e-mail to me. Here is her message:

Dear Dr. Chen

I went back to my hometown in Kaohsiung yesterday, it's very hot right now and let me lazy.Many villagers in Jia-Sen (甲仙) were buried alive during the typhoon. We all hope this disaster will end soon.

President Ma was criticized by delaying rescue; he refused international rescue, except China. Everyday when we turn on the TV, all we can watch is victims crying and the government official showing around. Taiwanese are really sad, or, we're just deserving it.

Our farmers' market farmers also donated some money, even though they also suffered lots of loss. One fruit juice store next to my home in Taichung also donated their 3-day turnover for this disaster.From this typhoon, not only can we understand the corrupt politician deeply, but also feel the love and kindness among Taiwanese.

Yours sincerely,

XXX

Photo on the left the aftermath of the flooding; photo on the right shows Taiwanese volunteers worked to clean-up the mud in the village.

Aftermath--Hiroshima Part 4

“People were burned to char like barbecued. Passengers stood in the subway with hands holding on the handle. They looked like they were alive. But they were all dead.”

“A woman was holding my hands. Her hands, legs, and upper part of the body were severely burnt. An yellowish liquid was oozing out from her eyes. She called me Onesan. I watched more closely, and realized that she is my little sister, Imoto.”

“The rivers in the Hiroshima are also hells. People of severe burn came to the river. People of thirsty came to river. But, very soon, they died and floated on the river.”

“My son asked me what was going on in Hiroshima. I really did not want to tell him about it. I could not imagine that such a human tragedy could happen. But, I had to tell him about it.”

The casualty of Hiroshima atomic bomb was 132,000; seven times more severe that what Oppenheimer had predicted. No survival within the radius of 3 miles of the bomb.

The second bomb was dropped on Nagasagi on August 9. On the same day, Russians also invaded Manchuria. Japan surrendered on August 16, 1945.

Little Boy--Hiroshima Part III

On August 6, 1945, captain Morris Jeppson , and Wyatt Duzenbury, Joseph Stiborik, as well as two other crews carried the uranium bomb, Little Boy, on a bomber from Tinian Island to Japan sky.

“The bomb we are carried today is the most destructive weapon in human history. All other missions would look like small potatoes compared to this mission.”

“Captain, can you tell us what is about this bomb?”

“No, but would not limit your imagination.”

“Is this the chemist’s nightmare ?”

“Not quite.”

“How about the physicist’s nightmare?”

“That is close.”

“I saw Hiroshima”

“Eye goggles on. Here we go”

The uranium bomb was dropped on Hiroshima around 8:30 AM on August 6, 1945. The code name of this bomb is "Little Boy".

Apology to the readers: I lost the Japanese text for this part of the story. I used to be able to translate the English text into the Japanese text; but not anymore now. After many years of non-use, I got rusted in my Japanese ability.

Mr. President, Please Do Not Use Atomic Bomb..Hiroshima-Part II.

Two prominent scientists, Leo Szilard and Julius Oppenheimer, advised President Truman not to use the atomic bomb.

“I was working on nuclear fission in the 30’s .” said Szilard, “ Then I saw German scientists publications. I knew the race was on. It would be a terrible human tragedy for the Nazi to possess nuclear weapon before us. I asked Dr. Einstein to write a letter to President Roosevelt to convince the President to initiate the Manhattan project. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. I was wrong. Germany did not work on the nuclear weapon. I advised not to use the weapon. Should we test the weapon, we will give the top secret away to the world in general, and to the Russians in particular: Nuclear fission is possible.”

“We will change the rule of the war.” Said Oppenheimer, “ A single atomic bomb can kill 20,000 human beings. How much faith do you have on human being to grant them such a destructive power.”

Japanese Text:

大統領: 原子爆弾を投下しないで下さい

二人の著名な科学者、Leo Szilard とJulius Oppenheimer は大統領 に原子爆弾を投下しないとアドバイスをしました。

この言葉はその科学者から の引用です。

Leo Szilard:

私は 1930 年代、核子分裂を 研究 していました。ドイツ人の核子分裂に関する論文を見かけました。これからレースが始めると考えました。ドイツ人が先に原子爆弾を作れば、人類の悲劇になります。ローゼㅔェルト大統領 宛に手紙を書くように Einstein 博士 に 頼みました。大統領はManhattan プロジェクトを始めました。1945 年 の五月の8日、ドイツは 同盟国に降伏しました。私は 間違いました。ドイツでは、原子爆弾の研究がありませんでした。私は原子爆弾の使用を反対していました。原子爆弾の使用しれば、秘密を漏れてしまうと心配していました。この秘密では ロシア人も原子爆弾が作れます。

Julius Oppenheimer

私たちは 戦争の規則を変えると考えました。一個の原子爆弾は20000人を殺します。人類は、原子爆弾の使用に関しては本当に信頼できますか。

Trinity-- Hiroshima- Part 1

At 5:29 on the morning of July 16, 1945, a light flashed across the New Mexico desert so bright that it was seen from Arizona to Texas. A blind college girl, riding in a car near Socorro in those dawn hours, asked what the flash of light was. Unknown to her and to most of the rest of the world at that moment, the light resulted from the explosion of a plutonium bomb, a test known as Trinity in the Jornada del Muerto, 65 miles northwest of White Sands.

The people present at the test still remember the brilliant light more vividly. That light represented the imminent end of World War II and it changed the world for ever.

Japanese Text:

1945 年、七月の十六日の朝の5時29分、一瞬閃光はNew Mexico の砂漠を輝かしました。非常に明るくて、閃光がArizona から Texas まで 見えました。Socorroの近くで、車に乗っていた盲目の女子学生は何の閃光ですかと聞きました。その時、女子学生を初め世界の人人はその閃光の真実が知りませんでした。

閃光はplutonium 原子爆弾の爆発の結果でした。その爆発は White Sands から西北の方 に65 miles 離れている Jornada del Muerto で、Trinity という原子爆弾の試験爆発でした。その試験爆発に参加した人たちは今でもその明るい閃光を鮮明に思い出せます。あの閃光は第二次世界大戦の差し迫った終わり表示しました。

世界は一瞬間で 変化しでしまいました。

Prelude On Hiroshima

About 8 years ago, as I was at the peak of Japanese learning, I challenged myself to write stories both in English and in Japanese and had my Japanese teacher to edit over my Japanese writing. One of the stories I wrote was about the first atomic bomb that American dropped on the Hiroshima. There were 5-6 short stories strung together on this. I have also presented the English part of the stories in various occasion. These were my favor stories.

So, relax and enjoy the stories.

American Seniors Often Congregate At McDoald In The Morning...

Taiwanese seniors often come to a park or a school campus to exercise in the morning with a group if they can move around. In the afternoon, they may get together under a tree to chat or simply play chess.

What do American seniors do? This morning (8/8; happens to be father's day in Taiwan), I walked to McDonald (It is about 30 minutes walk from my home.) and found a group of American seniors (Most of them were men.) congregate together to chat or to gossip. They greeted me as I walked in because I knew this group last year before I went sabbatical in Taiwan.

McDonald fast food restaurants are attractive places for the seniors to congregate in the morning. First, they offer senior discount coffee. For a 60 cents (approximately NT$ 20), seniors enjoy McDonald's coffee that can be refilled without limit. The breakfast that often consists of muffin and eggs can be as low as $2.00 or NT $60. If the senior id health conscious, he can also order fruit and walnut salad which is also quite inexpensive with a price as low as $2.00.

Seniors congregate here can converse in many different subjects that include sports, or neighborhood gossip. Someone may spend 25 cents to buy a newspaper then everyone else can share and read the rest. Some will even do the crossword puzzle.

It is quite interesting that while men usually congregate at McDonald in the morning, not many American women seniors are here. I wonder where did they go.

The Love Of Mantou, 饅頭, or まんじゅう

Meeilei is a loving wife and also a very fine cook. Having realized that I missed Taiwanese mantou, 饅頭, or まんじゅう, she got into action. She managed to get flour, and yeast and made the mantou herself. Our kitchen in Wisconsin even had a steamer that I can steam mantou whenever I like to eat. She made the mantou on August 3 and they tasted delicious.

It is the mantou of love. I really appreciate it.

Folk Dance Group Grew Last Year To Reach A Membership Near 30

Americans have pass-time activities just like Taiwanese. While Taiwanese spontaneously form membership using free sites at the park or school campus, Americans will recruit members and rent a space to conduct pass-time activities.

One of the activities that I participated in 2007 before I was on sabbatical leave was the folk dance group. This dance group actually grew while I was absent and have reached a membership near 30. Most of them are senior citizens; the group has a tough time to recruit young dancers.

I joined in the dance group through the connection of one of our recorder group, Barb Westhofen, a lady of about 80 years old. I surely enjoy the dance because of the music and because the dance patterns are very mathematical. I had been in the group for about 3 years.

Americans Love Farmers' Market

Americans usually shop at shopping malls or mega-food stores such as Festivals, or Cops-Food. Recently, Americans find out shopping and socializing at Farmers' Market are actually more fun than shopping at the mall or mega-store. Here, at the market, you meet with your neighbors and you can carry few conversations that you would not have them at the mall. Attached are few photos that I took at the Market.

In Taiwan, there are many different kinds of market, from night market to dusk market. Recently, Chung-Hsing University organizes organic farmer market on Saturday. Most Taiwanese markets are bigger than American farmer market except Taiwanese organic farmer's market. The organizer of Taiwanese organic farmers' market once has told me that he got the idea from Wisconsin farmers' market. That is quite interesting. Then the next question is where did the organizer of the American farmers' market get the idea from?

Top left: Musicians play at the Market. Top right: Meeilei posted with her church friend, Judy Philips. Middle, Meeilei shops corn at the market. Lower photo: Crowds in the market.