Audacity，免费软件。有Windows, Linus和Mac的版本。我试了试挺好用的。一般的音频编辑足够了。录音功能也不错。等我有时间把我的磁带都转成MP3，再降降噪。
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

What do people expect when they go to the movie theatre? Entertainment, action, excitment, a moving piece of art? Or maybe all of them. I bet nobody go there to see something so boring that you wish the theatre is equiped with a fast forward button. Yes, I admit I wanted to see the Miami Vice simply because I want to see Gong Li. However, Two and half hours of tasteless boredom would make anyone sick.

How much they spend for the movie? Gossip says it may be more than $180 million. My gossh! Things are better off if they spend the money else where, like fight globle warming or promoting world peace. But this, we cannot decide. The alternative? Try not waste money on it, just ignore the movie as a whole.

If I am purchasing my MacBook Pro two weeks later, I'll definitely buy the new Bluetooth wireless mighty mouse instead of the classical wired mighty mouse. Once you tried the "4 button" mighty mouse with a 360 degree scroll ball, you'll love it immediately. On the surface, you can only see one button and a pair of side buttons (that you can squeeze). But the one button on the top actually functions as two buttons. The touch sensitive design allow the mouse to detect left or right click with only one button. You can use the mouse with Windows, but the scroll ball only works up and down instead of 360 degrees; the side buttons don't work.

Some brief comments on Athens Ohio restaurants

Athens in southeast of Ohio is a small college town. Unlike most big cities, there are few nice restaurants in town. Nonetheless, some of the restaurants are worth going, especially if you live in the area. If someone asks me, I would recommend the following restaurants (in alphabetic order):

1. Blue Gator
What to eat: Steak, Burgers, Sea food and more. Wines and bears are served. Last time I had Blue Gator Cake for appetizer and Orange Duck Breast for entree. The gator cake is literally made of alligator meat. The duck breast was tender; I like the sauce. However the portion size was too small. I bet the Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb is good as well. Gotta have it next time.
Miscellaneous: It is a pretty good restaurant, but also a nightclub. So enjoy live music performances at night in Blue Gator as well.

2. Casa Nueva
What to eat: Mexican food; Local grown products; Vegetarian or Vegan food; Seasonal menu. Frankly, Casa Nueva didn't impress me at first. I must be lost my mind that the first time I went to Casa, I ordered some really heavy stuff,  and I didn't like it. Try the Black Bean Salsa or the hot house salsa (with Jalapeno pepper). If you can eat spicy, try the habanero salsa. For Appetizers, I would suggest Tofu Fries and the Artichoke Parmesan Dip. Order anything you want as entree. Remember to save some space for desserts. If you can't make up your mind, try the blueberry thing (sorry, I can't remember the name.)
Miscellaneous: Prepare to wait at busy hours. They don't take reservations. The good news is, you can sit in the Cantina (bar), which is just beside the restaurant, while waiting.

3. Lui Lui
What to eat: Asian and some Itallian. Provide some vegetarian food as well. The breads there are very nice. I've been there several times, every time I had different flavored bread. I like the Artichoke and Spinach Crostini as appetizer. The first time I went to Lui Lui, I had the Salmon with red curry sauce. I was so impressed that I ordered it again the second time. I don't know why, but I still think what I had the first time was much better. I guess, either I am wrong, or Lui Lui need to improve its consistency of cooking. Other entrees are nice too. You may try the shrimp Fettuccini. If you choose side salad, try their raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

4. Miller's Chicken
What to eat: Fried chicken. This is not just some fried chicken! The difference is the flavor of the chicken itself. Miller's chicken is a local business. Their chicken is not raised in cages. It tastes much better that what you can buy from a grocery store. So buy some raw chickens to go.

5. Purple Chop Stix
What to eat: Asian and pastas, but no Chinese food. Please call for reservation. The tables are limited and the foods are really nice. The restaurant is decorated with art works from passion works studio etc. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't looking at the decoration all the time, I was enjoying my food as well. Go and try everything one by one.
Miscellaneous: Their Sunday brunch is back (I haven't tried yet.)

6. Shishah cafe
What to eat: Mediterranean. Hidden in a alley, this place is not easy to find. A few steps down the alley, go into the door and a few steps down stairs, there is a well decorated restaurant. The business opened its door this March, so few people may know the place. I tried it once early this month and I will definitely go there again. The menus was limited now, but the food tastes very good. We tried the meze platter for appetizer, which includes all the appetizers they serve: baba gannouj (eggplant dip); hummus and domas (stuffed grape leaves w/ fresh lemon and olive oil).  For entree, I had the chicken b'steeya. It tastes great. The chicken is under a layer of sweet crispy crust. The almonds add even more flavor to the dish. I substitute my side salad with the couscous salad (with raisins and chickpeas). For beverages, they serve republic of tea organic iced teas, which, I think, is a good supplement to the dishes. Finally, don't forget to try the ladyfingers and the pistachio bird nest for desserts.
Miscellaneous: Tuesday belly dance, Wednesday open stage and Thursday Jazz night. (I don't smoke and I don't intend to suggest any to smoke, however, FYI: they provide Hookah. )

7. Village Bakery and Cafe
What to eat: local and organic food. Bakery, pizza, salad and more. So many people (including my committee member) told us about the village bakery. At last, when a sale woman in elder-bearman recommend us to try the restaurant, we decided to go right away. What a shame! I should have been there earlier. Village Bakery feels like Tuscan, especially in sunny days. Try the pizza and breakfast pizza. If you're like me, not a pizza guy, try the smoked salmon salad and the cucumber soup. The salad is a mixture of pieces of smoked salmon and some vegetables, including sunflower sprout. I never knew that sunflower sprout tastes this good.

美男时代 权作《超人归来》之影评

我很长时间没有写过影评了，就好象突然消失一般，还没有任何原因。超人也是。

说实话这一类电影从情节上来讲是很无聊的。无论情节如何曲折，结果总是相同的。要在成功塑造反面角色和不让他/她喧宾夺主之间平衡，否则整部电影就失败。对这一部《超人》，我认为反正角色太弱，使整个故事的对抗性不强。不过总体来讲，平平整整，感觉还不错。

然而我想说的，并仅仅是这一部电影而已。因为在这个年代，连超人都被剥下了衣服，别的男人更没有理由保留。

性感作为卖点，仿佛一直都是女人的专利。然而玛莉莲梦露的时代一去不复返罗。男人的身体，就象调味品一样，东撒一把，西撒一把，而且有意无意地成为了宣传要点。或许人们已经对裸露习以为常，所以象The Da Vinci Code，The Break-Up，X-Men: the last stand甚至Nacho Libre这样的影片中，男人们纷纷牺牲色相，展示自己或健美或不健美的身材。更不用说漫天遍野的媒体广告。据说古希腊男人的风气就是Shamelessly and obsessively expose their body，如今是否复古了呢？

复古也罢，流行也罢，美男的到来，也标示着我们这个时代的特征：自信，平等，健康，开放。

一不小心成了老妖怪

每到要离开一个地方的时候我都挺伤感的。恋旧，没办法。忍不住又去偷看武大师兄弟们的同学录，发现一句老评语，说某某穿得太年轻，过几年都成老妖怪了。这不就是我嘛。无心之失无心之失啊。想想我也确是有点老妖怪的。照片上可以看出，原先可爱的师弟妹们都成熟了，只有我还是原样，无非是重了一点，厚了一点。嘿！千年不变！这不是妖怪是什么？

你还别说，妖怪的老处在于可以成精，记“仇”。这些小孩（我们亲爱的任师姐语）我记得可清楚，这么多年来，还真少有能逃出我记忆之魔爪的人。比如小汪。

小汪：小汪的最大特点就是喜欢“扁”我。我是指在侍魂里。挺可爱的一小孩。毕业六年以来，一直在网上断断续续有联系。我聊天时总说自己长胖，如若能像他一般的猴子身材就好了。本月初，他突然发来一张照片（这小子六年来，一直答应要给我照片，说话从来不算数）。然后用他那独特的假腼腆语气说：“我长胖了点”。我一看，哪里是长胖了一点。已经肥得流油。你说比什么不好，胖也能比的？

有人的都上传到别的地方了。现在太忙。风景照只处理了几张。不过本来也没有怎么照。时间紧，任务多。呵呵。有四张是上周整理出来的。本来想等别的都搞好了一起上传，现在看来是没有时间了。所以先放上去，等有空了再弄其它的。