Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Mystery Spot-May 19, 2012







我們家一向以隨興著稱,機動性很強,星期六早上整理院子,中午吃了午餐,下午兩個小朋友看了一個卡通,一切如常,忽然,老公說,要不要去Mystery Spot? 那是什麼?沒聽過。他說他十幾年前曾經去過,在Santa Cruz 附近,開車大約45分鐘,最近中午散步碰到以前的同事,說蠻好玩,所以看我們要不要去。

上網快速找了一下,發現是一個小tour,有一個人導覽,每次進去有人數限制,為了怕到了沒位置,所以用電話預約,訂了5點的那場,出門時大約3點,先去逛逛最近附近剛開的兩家店再上路,時間剛好。

在那裡,“據說” 地心引力或其他定律都不太能完全運用,水能從下往上流,球能從下往上滾,筆直的樹到那裡就會變彎,同樣的兩個人換個位置高度就不同。我們是不太相信就是了。我們覺得他們那支Home Depot 的水平尺不平,不過回家查了一下資料,發現他們的技巧比單單弄把不平的尺高一點。下面有篇文章,我懶得看,有興趣的人可以看看。

問哈哈好不好玩,哈哈說沒有很好玩,可是很interesting, 嘻嘻上車就睡著了,所以沒問他。我覺得如果自己玩,不要跟“團”,會比較自由,時間也比較多,有了導覽,變得有點像旅行團的走馬看花,被趕著走,因為下一團馬上就到了,時間排得很緊湊,害我們沒辦法好好研究,他們可能就是怕我們好好研究,才故意把時間排的緊緊的。

video















The following article was from the link:
http://www.sandlotscience.com/MysterySpots/Mystery_Spots_1.htm

Mystery Spots Explained
We know them by many names but collectively they are known as Mystery Spots because of the mysterious events which often occur in, or near them. Lucky for us their owners love to show them off and visitors are welcome to come in and see the resident "alien vortex," and other strange phenomenon...for a small fee. Mystery Spots are a product of the Great Depression, a time when entertainment was just about the only industry still growing in America. Mystery Spots continue to draw crowds and delight visitors to this day.
Most mystery spots share a basic presentation. You are shown into a special room or small cabin where the strange phenomenon will occur. A friendly guide explains that what you are about to see "lies well-beyond the scope of science." The patter may differ, but the stage is set for some rather astounding optical illusions. You will see balls roll uphill, and water flow briskly up the spout. You will watch as ordinary chairs defy gravity and cling to the wall without support, while fellow visitors stand around in impossible angles.
We can explain how the special effects and optical illusions are produced, however knowing the truth does not lesson the enjoyment of the experience. Rather they are are more fun just because you know. No good optical illusion is ever ruined by the truth.
The effects which you see at a mystery spot are deliberate; driven by spatial distortion and misdirection. They are cunning perspective and spatial illusions designed to boggle the senses, and they work very well.
How It Works. Mystery Spots are cleverly engineered. To construct your own mystery spot, first build a little room or cabin. My little sample below is a squarish room with a chimney.

Next, lift one side of the house until the room tilts about 25°. Some say that the first Mystery House slid down a hill in a rain storm and ended up at the perfect angle. Whereupon the owners noticed strange things happening inside. Personally I think Americans are clever enough to think up the idea with, or without a rain storm.
Important. Hide the fact that the little house is tilted. Place the room along a slope. Bury part of the floor if necessary. Use walls or fences along the approach to cleverly disguise the terrain; slope them the wrong way. The idea here is to distort the architecture, and add landscaping to make it look straight and level to a visitor. Remove as many vertical references as possible, and change the slant of the ceiling to make the room look level. Place purposely distorted objects around to further enhance the effect of normalcy. Everything has to look as normal as possible; as if the room weren't tilted. You are now ready to welcome visitors.
How People Stand at Impossible Angles. We can see what is actually happening from a vantage point outside of the cabin. From our vantage point the people look like they are standing in a normal, upright position..
However, things look different to the people inside the room (right-hand cartoon). They desperately cling to a false notion of normal 3D space, but are deceived by the environment. To people in the room, everybody looks like they are standing at an impossible angle. They see friends defy gravity and walk up walls. People lean effortlessly into space without falling. The "alien vortex" seems to have a powerful enfulence.
Normal ViewHow Water Flows Uphill. From our vantage point we see the water flowing normally down a slight incline and spilling naturally from the spout. 
Inide the room, things are getting stranger and stranger. To visitors it looks as if gravity is leaking out of the room. They watch in amazement as water flows uphill and pours out of the spout at an eerie, unnatural angle.

Does it matter if you know how it works? Even when you learn the secret behind the effects, they are no less amazing. In a Mystery House environment there are no mirrors or hidden panels; no flashes of light or clouds of smoke; the illusions are in-your-face real, and happening right now; to everyone present. It is an enjoyable and rewarding social experience as everyone present shares the same illusions. Mystery spots are an exciting, and fun excursion into the wonderful world of sensory illusions whether you understand how they work, or not.
Why do we like Mystery Spots? Perhaps because of our total belief and commitment to reality. Like riding a roller coaster; it is fun to lose control for a few brief moments. We like to tease reality, to lose the security of familiar spatial references for a brief time. It is no wonder that many people consider mystery spots to be a premium ticket.
How to Find Them. Here are some names and links to Mystery Houses. This is by no means a complete list. We have found that some mystery spots have their own web sites, and others are featured on city or state portals. Some of the following links may not be active. As an example, a visitor recently reported that the Knott's Berry Farm Haunted Shack is now closed. Call first, just to be sure. Visit a Mystery Spot today!
Confusion Hill Gravity House, Percy, CA; Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA; The Mystery Spot
Santa Cruz, CA; Calico Ghost Town Mystery ShackYermo, CA; Knott's Berry Farm Haunted ShackBuena Park, CA; Spook Hill, Lake Wales, FL; Mystery SpotSt. Ignace, MI; Mystery Hill, Irish Hills, MI;Mysterious Tuttle House, North Woodstock, NH; Mystery Hill, Blowing Rock, NC; Mystery Shack, Maggie Valley, NC; Mystery Hill, Marblehead, OH; The Oregon Vortex House of Mystery, Gold Hill, OR; Confusion Hill, Ligonier, PA; Gravity Hill, Bedford Country, PA; Cosmos of the Black Hills, Rapid City, SD; The Wonder Spot, Lake Delton, WI; The Teton Mystery, Jackson, WY; Mystery Hole, Ansted, WV.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Solar Eclipse May 20, 2012

哈哈很喜歡注意一些有的沒有的事情,像他今天下午把我丟到垃圾桶的六月選舉資料撿起來研究。前不久他就說廣播講這個月有很多奇異的天文現象,上星期他又聽廣播說這個主日有日蝕。平常我們車上的廣播都聽新聞台,不過說實在的,雖然它聲音響著,我們卻不太留意聽他們到底在講什麼,哈哈嘻嘻反而比較注意。

既然是有日蝕,我就上網查了一下時間,發現剛好是第三堂主日敬拜完的時間,我們作了兩個觀察日蝕的投影板,其實也沒抱太大希望,因為每次說有什麼天文現象,可是到最後其實也沒看見什麼了不起的東西。

第三堂玩,時間是大約6:20,我們飯也沒拿,先衝到停車場看看有什麼東西,我們發現天比平常六點多暗,知道可能有可看的,所以把兩個投影板拿出來。如圖,一塊板上挖一個洞,把太陽投射到另一塊板上。

這是大約6:20 的樣子,太陽已經缺個角了。照理來說,只要挖一個洞,可是我們洞挖太大,所以再挖個小一點的在上面,看得比較清楚。








這張是6:36,應該是最遮住的時候。










這張是7點多,我們快回家的時候。








我們把飯拿出來到停車場吃,一面看著日蝕的變化,真的蠻有意思,像上了一節天文課,我發現,這些自然狀況,不止小孩有興趣,我也蠻有興趣的。

同場加映,上上星期六的超級月亮,我個人是覺得我常看過比這個大的,所以沒什麼了不起。








To watch Solar Eclipse safely :
http://www.eclipse.org.uk/old/pparc_web/pinhole.html

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS FROM THIS LINK:

HTTP://WWW.TIMEANDDATE.COM/ECLIPSE/IN/USA/CUPERTINO

NEXT SOLAR ECLIPSE VISIBLE IN CUPERTINO – SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE

The animation shows approximately what the eclipselooks like in in Cupertino (weather permitting).
The annular phase of this solar eclipse is not visible in Cupertino, but it can be observed there as a partial solar eclipse.
The Moon covers a large portion of the Sun, so this is still a spectacular sight.

LOCAL TIMES FOR ECLIPSE IN CUPERTINO ON SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012

Click on the Sun/Moon symbols in the column entitled “Looks like” to see what the eclipse looks like during the different phases of the event.
EventTime in CupertinoDirectionAltitudeLooks likeComments
Partial eclipse beginsMay 20 at 5:17 PM271°West32.9°Eclipse as seen from earthThe Moon touches the Sun's edge.
Maximum EclipseMay 20 at 6:33 PM282°West-northwest17.9°Eclipse as seen from earthMoon is closest to the center.
Partial Eclipse endsMay 20 at 7:40 PM292°West-northwest5.3°Eclipse as seen from earthThe Moon leaves the Sun's edge.
Close to horizon, so make sure you have free sight to West-northwest.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Apple Store






今年柔樂生日會還是去build-a-bear,我們去年來過,所以還有點印象。我們這車比較早到,SF帶愛去上廁所,哈要我帶他們去Apple Store,他說去年有看到,在二樓。我們上了二樓,很快就看到Apple Store,我不太記得去年是怎樣,但今年人山人海,光是穿著藍衣服的店員,至少就有20幾個。每一個桌子上擺滿了“i"產品,人雖然多,但每個人總有一個“i"產品可以玩。嘻和信志同道合,找了一個I-Pad開始玩遊戲,哈則是想試試I-Phone 4S. 店裡網絡速度太慢,很難試語音系統,問它一個問題,要好久才有答案。我們時間不夠,只玩了一下就要到樓下集合了。聽說Microsoft 以後也要開這種專賣店,我幫他們取好名字了,就叫“MS Village"吧!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

九型人格


最近公司老闆要我們作人格九型的測驗,配上王天佑牧師的"輕鬆看9型“的書,讓我們更認識自己,也更了解同事的個性,工作上能更容易合作。
我是第七型,以下是從別的網站copy來的分析。我把我覺得像我的地方highlight起來。

有才藝,樂觀的類型。積極主動,才藝廣泛,衝動,精力分散。享樂型在變化、多樣性、刺激和創新方面非常擅長。他們表達清楚,有幽默感,能夠讓其他人支持他們的想法。享樂型總是追趕潮流,尋求新的可能性和觀點。他們能夠同時進行多個工作,但不能堅持。不健康時他們會變得很嘮叨,注意力分散,能量不集中,許多工作都會半途而廢在他們的最佳狀態時,享樂型會將焦點集中在有價值的目標上,工作會非常有效率。

一、形成性格的背景

  • 享樂型的童年充滿了美好回憶,他們的回憶就像一本裝滿快樂照片的相冊,通常,他們的回憶中沒有痛苦
  • 即使他們身邊發生了如父母離異等糟糕的事情,也很少會讓享樂型產生憎恨或者抱怨的情緒

二、外在表現

  • 即使身邊發生糟糕的事情,他們都不會產生負面情緒,因他們的注意力總是自覺地向積極的回憶靠攏
  • 願意接受競爭,渴望勝利,而且十分注重他人眼裡反映出的自身形象
  • 總是能量充沛,只要感興趣,他們就願意努力工作,喜歡同時擁有很多選擇,後果可能是他們無法完全投入到某件事情中
  • 很難對單一事件作出長久的承諾
  • 喜歡新鮮感,追上潮流,不喜歡承受壓力,怕負面情緒

三、處於安定和人格提升時

  • 走向第五型,懂得自我克制,心思慎密,會經過觀察和周詳的考慮才去作決定。會將自己深刻的體驗貢獻到環境上,不再害怕自己的快樂會被剝削
  • 沒有特別需要時,舒服自在時,會有五號的性格,寧願避開人群,安靜下來,在家中舒服地看書,或去看看海,什麼也不幹。

四、處於壓力和自我防衛時

  • 走向第一型,變得專制、容易發怒、固執而對人有所要求。如果某些人或事讓他們覺得似乎可以協助解決自己的不快樂,他們就會緊緊地捉著不放。
  • 七號受壓力時,會馬上啟動所有防衛系統,有著一號認真、挑剔的精神,只欠了少許嚴謹。與一號不同的是,一號辦事認真,是為了做得更好,做得正確,七號是為了去玩

五、健康的特點

  • 多才多藝
  • 轉數高
  • 容易學會新事物
  • 容易解決問題
  • 外向、達觀、感激
  • 自發性強
  • 充滿動力、熱心
  • 精力充沛,能量高企

六、一般的特點

  • 沉迷慾望
  • 愛玩、無節制
  • 吃喝玩樂
  • 一心多用
  • 膚淺,予人識少少扮代表的感覺
  • 過度活躍

七、不健康的特點

  • 會攻擊,辱罵別人
  • 極端失控
  • 貪威識食
  • 做任何事都要去到盡,愛出風頭,炫耀自己
  • 行事衝動,誇張,不切實際

Thursday, May 3, 2012

STAR Test

STAR Test, 就是Standardized Testing and Reporting, 是加州從小二的小朋友就開始每年考一次,用於評量學校和更了解小朋友的學習狀況。

在我的想像中,學校和老師應該很緊張,如果在台灣,之前可能要模擬考好幾次,寫一堆參考書,可是這裡老師的應對策略,有點讓我跌破眼鏡。

他們可能覺得這考試是為了發現小朋友的真正程度,所以其實到了考試前一天,才有一個小模擬考,讓小朋友了解題型。考試的這4天,完全沒有作業,讓小朋友放輕鬆,早點睡覺,第二天有好精神。唯一老師特別提醒的,就是要每一個小朋友一定要吃早餐,腦筋才會靈活。

後來我和我同事談了,才發現哈嘻的學校不是最奇怪的。我同事女兒的老師叫她們可以帶口香糖,說嚼口香糖能幫助集中注意力。她女兒在after school的朋友的學校老師准許大家鞋子襪子脫了考試,在舒適的環境中作答比較有效率。

美國和台灣有不太相同的教育方式,不過也沒有絕對的誰好誰壞,我覺得以前的學習就是會考試,表面上好像學了很多,可是現在記得的也沒多少。也有可能是我記憶力不好,別人可能都還記得。

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

薑湯,好喝!

從小,我討厭蔥薑蒜,菜裡只要有3者之一,一定挑出來,絕不留情(感謝主,我的兩個兒子沒那麽嚴重)。幸好爸媽家裡煮湯時只取薑的味道,大大一個,絕不會不小心拿到薑。老公愛薑,剛結婚時我很不習慣,只要是他煮菜,薑一定切的又多又細,我挑都挑不出來,煮個雞湯,吃起來也跟薑湯差不多。他的理論是薑暖身,多吃薑少感冒,聽起來蠻有道理,所以我也沒什麼理由反對,只是我還是切大大,便於我挑出來。

過幾年之後,他有一次說我切太大,薑的功用沒法進入湯裡,所以我切小一點,又過幾年,大家比較常感冒,他說可能是太久沒吃薑,所以我切的更小,更多,後來,我自己也習慣薑的味道了。今年,有一次煮番薯湯,加了一些薑,辣的好喝,我居然愛上了薑湯,老公番薯一箱一箱的買,我薑都挑最大的買,每幾天就煮一次番薯薑湯。現在連哈哈都喜歡薑湯,有時我沒煮,他都會叫我煮。不過,我真的覺得在冬天喝薑湯感冒次數少很多,幾次快要感冒,薑湯一喝,第二天就沒事了,就算第一天發燒,喝了薑湯,第二天也會沒事。

妻子順服丈夫,也沒那麼難,先放下自己的喜好,以他的滿足為滿足,最後居然也被傳染,成為愛薑一族,全家也因薑而少感冒,是神的祝福。

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

哈哈魚片

哈哈的興趣廣泛,對親手(亂)作的東西尤其感興趣。他自己作釣竿,結果整個被魚帶走,屍首無存;自己作烤架,用蠟燭放在鐵絲網下,一天到晚跟我講想去後院烤小綿綿糖;用paper towel塞棉花幫possum 縫了一個枕頭....當然,對煮東西也大有興趣。

我們只有星期天晚上一起看電視,本來都是看綜藝大哥大,但有一次,我不小心轉到Food Network, 哈嘻居然喜歡看,從此,每個星期我們都是看煮菜節目,我再也轉不回中文節目了。

有一次,節目裡的競賽者(我們看the worst cook in America)學片魚,哈哈也躍躍欲試,我剛好有3條小的吳郭魚,便答應讓他試一隻。通常星期一是我們的吃魚天,所以他星期一回到家,就先到廚房報到。他有點不記得星期天節目中怎麼教的,所以拿個電腦放在旁邊,照著說明一步一步作。我完全沒插手,只是提醒他要小心不要切到手。魚不大,所以不是很容易片,他有兩片完全沒刺,一片有一點,其他所有刺都在另一片上。

他用蒜鹽,胡椒等醃了一下魚,拿平底鍋煎熟,最後淋上一點ponzu,說實在的,味道還蠻正常的。他還做過一次沙門魚,味道也不錯,很正常。So far, 弟弟只是喜歡看煮菜節目,還不太有興趣自己煮,有朝一日,他們倆個都喜歡煮了,我就可以從廚房退休了。