Competition is everywhere.

Joyo(Amazon)>> and Dangdang>> are two leading B2C websites in China with similar business scope, marketing model and user group. They seem to be twins, just as Coca cola and Pepsi cola, Mcdonald's and KFC, Rejoice and Pantene ...

One day, I heard that many bestsellers in Joyo started to be sold at a bargain price for sales promotion. Fortunately, It's just around my payday. So I made moves when it's necessary to make moves without any hesitation.





Then, after I had placed the order, I noticed that, in fact, the price in Dangdang for the same book is also not high too much. I felt shocked suddenly - have I paid a higher price?

For an answer, I paid a little further attention on the price comparison between Joyo and Dangdang, and finally found an interesting phenomenon.







Got it?

The prices of the four books I bought in Joyo are all 0.1 Yuan lower than Dangdang's.

Tiny difference ushers a rat race.

Thanks to Britain's Got Talent>>, a TV program from the distant England which is now coming more and more popular in China mainland, and Auntie Susan's wonderful show>> make me start to know about the Les Miserables in Concert>>.

Before I watched the stage musical, I have not read the masterpiece from Hugo and know little about the story, although my mom recommended it to me many times that it's really a great work.

Today, both of the story and the music of the musical of Les Miserables move me deeply. I have a strong desire to tell you how much I love it and to share it with you.

I'd like to recommend some fragments to you, which make me a profound impression,
04 I Dreamed a Dream>>. Solo from Fantine.
10 The Confrontation. Duet from Jean Valjean and Javert, a very heated argument.
11 Castle on a cloud. Solo from young Cosette, very beautiful child's voice. There are two children in the whole musical, a boy and girl. To my surprise, they are young, but very professional.
12 Master of the House>>. Solo and Duet from Mr. and Mrs. Thenardier. They are villains, so that the two performer have no opportunity to join in the final chorus. But the performance is excellent and the music is great, funny and vivacity, which make the dark theme a little bright. Viewers are easy to take part in its atmosphere, laugh and beat time.
15 Stars>>. If Valjean is a good man, as his sworn enemy, is Javert a bad man? I don't think so. He follows his way tenaciously, because he think it's right. So he pray to stars that he will arrest Valijean to do his duty. But he don't understand the world has been changed, so he kill himself at last.
17 Do You Hear The People Sing?>> Chorus from everyone. No more words, just listen it, because it's great.

Now, If you feel interested in it, the easiest way is watching online, here is the Part I>> and Part II>> on Youku.com, or downloading>> on VeryCD.com with Emule>>.

Are you patient enough to wait long time for curtain call? There are 17 "Valjean"s from 17 countries, sang the same song of Do You Hear The People Sing, in 17 languages. Ok, here it is:


Do you hear the people sing

Do you hear the people sing
Singing a song of angry men
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

Will you join in our crusade
Who will be strong and stand with me
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free

Do you hear the people sing
Singing a song of angry men
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France

Do you hear the people sing
Singing a song of angry men
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

PS: Is there anyone who can tell me who is the composer of Les miserables, Weber if someone else?

May 2nd. It was the second day of the May Day holiday.

Mom said, "Let's go to the Botanical Garden! Will you?"
I thought I could not throw a wet blanket on her passion, so I said "Yes", although there are countless "No"s in my heart actually. : P

Every bus, going to Xiangshan(Fragrance Hill, it's quite near to Botanical Garden) directly, was crowded. For a relatively comfortable trip, I decided to take another busline, and then change to the right one on half way.

So we went to Summer Palace instead, because the bus was so empty(relatively, in fact, not very much) that we made the mistake of thinking that there are fewer people in Summer Palace than Botanical Garden.



But when we arrived at there and had a glimpse in through the gate, "perhaps, the Botanical Garden can be a better choice?" I said to myself, "the area is much bigger, at lease."



Many vendors converged on the bus station outside of Summer Palace to sell kinds of goods, but they are not welcome in some certain area and kept off.





Finally, we arrived at the place of dream.



Although it was around mid-day, people's enthusiasm was much hotter than the weather.



Returning is also a big problem.

Whichever bus you take, there is a long long line waiting for your joining.

How people mountain people sea it was!

I once saw the same situation when I was little. At that time, there was no line at all, but endless chaos and crowd. Today, some ten years later, civilization seems to become better and better than ever before.



"Ten Yuan, to the No. 1 subway." Unlicensed cabs parked along the roadside, and drummed up their business. If you are not patient enough of prolonged waiting, maybe, I said maybe(no experience, no voice), it will be a win-win-win choice for unlicensed cab drivers, tourists and mass transit system.

A lovely smiling face.



Actually, everyone desires happy times to enjoy themselves in rarely holidays.



Besides the water, into the nature, to be a traveler.



To see how ants move house,



Or some different sunshine.

Coincidences are everywhere.

Recently, I'm surrounded by kinds of coincidences which bring me great happiness and surprise. And now, the story I'm writing is about one which happened in the Ditan(Temple of Earth) book marked. But, actually, this story should be started from a accidental meeting several weeks ago.

One day, I went to Sihu(a place in Beijing) Bus Station to take bus home as usual. I think it must be a doom day, I waited for so long time before the Bus No. 1 slowly came. But I can stand for any waiting, because I had a book in my hand.

After I got up the but, I found a seat and kept on reading, until it crashed into a car, the tail of bus was even not away from bus station parking ground. All passengers left one by one with helpless complain, some of whom change to other lines or subway, but I decided to wait on for another Bus No. 1, because it's the best line to my home, and I had a book in my hand.

Finished another long time waiting, I stepped on my way home finally, while more than half hour had passed already.

Take a break for rest. Phew! Really very long, huh?

The people sitting beside me was an old man, who is talkative very much. At beginning, he talked with the conductor, and asked about the result of accident, so that I found the two buses I've got on are the same one. And the old man was also a faithful passenger as me. Gradually, he turned to me, and continue to talk with me all the way, sigh.

He asked me questions, then I answered. I'd like to tell others my opinions, and listen to others', so it was not difficult to make conversation carry on smoothly and deeply. He told me a lot, at the end, he recommend a book, about logic of writing, to me, which is The Minto Pyramid Principle>>.

Days or weeks later, I borrowed the Chinese version>> of this book from Chaoyang Library. I think it's a useful reference book for document writing, but its editing is barely satisfactory. I planed to buy the book of my own, if it's the English original version, of course, the best. I could try to search for it in the book market, where there are many English original books, but I won't place much hopes on it, after all, it's not easy to find a leaf in a whole forest.

May 4th, the youth day in China, every youth between 14 and 28 can enjoy a half day holiday. So I finished my job early, returned books to Chaoyang Library(it's very near to my work place), including The Minto Pyramid Principle, then got on bus and went to the Temple of Earth directly.

Just as I've said in Book Market in the Temple of Earth, Spring 2009>>, since it was a working day, there were not many people, so I was glad to enjoy my time wandering through bookshelves aimless, seeing this and touching that.

Then I saw a Japanese book about skills of thinking and writing. I took it in my hand, and tried to read the subheading and details. When I succeeded to translate the katakana word "ピラミッド" into its corresponding English word "Pyramid", an idea pinged into my head, and brought me a big surprise, -- "ピラミッド原則? Pyramid Principle!" -- which made my breathing speed up. Then I noticed the English book name in the middle of the front cover, which is much smaller than Japanese one but can also be seen clearly -- The Minto Pyramid Principle.

The appearance of the book seems very good. It's pretty nearly brand new, but with a little tiny flaws of dent on the hardcovers.

Of course, I bought the book immediatly.

What a wounderful coincidence! What a exciting gift!

May 4th, the Youth Day>> in China, commemorates the student movement in 1919 for patriotic anti-imperialism. It's the 90th anniversary today. 90 years ago, young people strove for their opinions with real passion, and now, 90 years latter, what do the young people do today? Recall what their great work, and do nothing by ourselves.

Thanks to their great work, every youth between 14 to 28 can enjoy a half day holiday on the very day of May 4th. So I finished my job early, because I plan to go to the book market in the Temple of Earth today.

At first I didn't plan to go to book market this year, because I have bought too much books to read up, and I've found a great bookshop, where the used books are much cleaner and, even, cheaper than those in book market, but, "didn't plan" means "I go there" at last. I think I must be sick on books, or only on buying books, oh my god, am I a biblioholism?

Since it's Monday today, a working day, there are not much people, so I'm glad to enjoy my time wandering through bookshelves. But, as someone said, the book market decrease year after year. I have to say, yes I agree.

I didn't buy many books this time, but 2009 is really a year full of surprises. OK, book list follows:

1. 考える技術·書く技術：問題解決力を伸ばすピラミッド原則>>, バーバラ·ミント, 2003, ダイヤモンド社. Oh, there is really a long story being worth writing something exclusively, I promise I will tell you later.

2. 日本の歴史·神話から歴史へ>>, 井上光貞, 昭和57年(1982), 中央公論社. It's 20RMB in all for these two books.

3. 经济学是什么>>, 梁小民, 2003, 北京大学出版社, 5RMB. I'd like to know some of economics.

4. Cultural Life in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1981, 5RMB. It's printed beautiful.

5. 陆游诗选>>, 1982, 人民文学出版社, 5RMB. I'm a fan of Lu You>>, a famous patriotic poet in Song Dynasty.

6. 柏杨回忆录>>, 柏杨, 1997, 中国友谊出版公司, 5RMB. I read The Ugly Chinese>>, a famous work of Bo Yang>>, recently, and pay much attention on his works, so I'm glad to find this book, and own it at the cost of very low price, and, the most important is it seems that there is Bo Yang's signature and seal on the second page. What a nice surprise!

Is there anyone who can tell me, whether it's autography?



7. 日语常用动词用例>>, 2005, 北京工业大学出版社, 5RMB. For Japanese study, no more words.

It's really a pity that I have no much time, for many untenable reasons, to travel around with my camera when the short, but wonderful, spring comes. But I've tried my best to record lives when I go through a park, in fact, on the way to some other places, at times.



Have you still remember the Lianhuachi(Lotus Pond) Park? it's very small, but it's the nearest park to my home, so that I have many chances to record it repeatedly. As its name shown, the park is famous for her lotus bloom>>. But I won't miss the stray cats>> either in the park.

Speak of Lotus, it's really the story of the dawn of summer. But for this very aim, many workers have already been working hard from spring, even in a beautiful weekend afternoon.



They plow the field, and pick last year's lotus roots out, for new planting.



But need it plant every year?





Old people was practising playing Ruan>>, a traditional Chinese instrument.



A shutterbug like me.





What makes mom get into big trouble?
Her son acts up in public.



It has been more than 3 hours later after I saw him, the sugar gourd seller, for the first time.



To Be Continued. Wan Bo Hui Plaza, a new business area, is located in the south square ground of Beijing West Railway Station. In fact, it has two section of Musical Instrument Plaza and Culture Street. And here, I will pay more attention on the first one.



Why am I interested in it?

The association of musical instrument and railway station is really an interesting match to me, isn't it? And, I like musical instrument with beautiful sound. Moreover, it's very near my home, just go through a park.



Inscriptions from famous music teachers.



Reception desk of the training center.





A small stage.





The instrument merchant here just take off. Some sections are still decorating.

To be continued. Recently, I've read the book of Lust For Life>>, it's a biographical novel about Vincent Van Gogh>>, the famous Dutch artist. But I made a irresponsible comment on him when I've knew little about him actually, so I must say sorry to him sincerely after I've read this book and had a more thorough knowledge of him.

It's a coincidence to start getting interested in Van Gogh. One day, when I fiddled with TV control and change channels aimlessly, I was suddenly attract by a program about him, although it had been going to the end, through which I got known that Van Gogh cut his ear and finally killed himself.

Then, in National Library of China>>, I borrowed the book of Lust For Life immediately at the first sight, by another aimless coincidence.

But there is no enough time to read up the book, before I met a girl in English Corner of Renmin University>>. Her major is public media, but has a particular interest in paining, and her idol just happen to be Van Gogh. Can it be considered as the third coincidence? So we began to talk about Van Gogn with pleasure. I said Van Gogh is a madman, his paintings are colorful, but his soul is dark, because he cut his ear and kills himself at the end. "No," the girl replied, "It's not true."

Now, after reading the book, I found I was wrong to judged others according to insufficient knowledge. So, sorry.

Have you even seen a house built of porcelain? It's China House at Chifeng Road, Tianjin.

Firstly, I have to admit embarrassed I am not a good freelancer. Yes, that's true. I am so insentive to fresh news that I'm afraid I will miss good opportunities even though they strike me again and again. But I'm keeping on doing my utmost to be a better one.

I took these pictures below nearly 2 years ago, the exact time is September 3th, 2007, the very opening day. But, at that time, I am in completely ignorance of it, so I've written little to introduce it in my blog then.

Recently, I've read something about it>> by accident. On seeing that, I can't help sighing "Wow!"



To be brief:

1. The house was once a French style building, having construction area of nearly 4000 square meters, lying in the center of downtown.

2. The house takes more than 4000 ancient porcelains, 400 white marble statues, 20 tons crystal and agate, and hundred of thousands of ancient ceramic chips. 
IMPORTANT: No modern porcelains, and some of them are even from 5 ancient kilns of Din, Ru, Guan, Co and Jun, covering all historical periods, including celadon of Jin Dynasty, Tang sancai(Tri-colored glazed pottery of Tang Dynasty), blue and white porcelain of Ming and Qing Dynasty, and so on.

3. The wall was named as PingAn(Safe) Wall for the same pronounciation of Ping(means bottle) in Chinese. The combinations of porcelain and white marble statue was considered as Shi Lai Yun Zhuan(means the time of luck returning) for the same pronounciation of Shi(means stone) in Chinese. Such morals are everywhere.

4. More than 300 stone lions. One pair of them in front of gate are made in Ming Dynasty.

5. Everything in the house is antique.

6. The course of construction is very hard, because it's not easy to fix porcelains on walls, what's more, in certain style.



The householder, Zhang Lianzhi, thinks it's not only a colletion of artwork, but also a display of Chinese symbols and cultures.

How do you think about the ceramic house?

In my opinion, it's blasphemy to treat ancient porcelain as tile.

If you are interested in the ceramic house, click HERE>> for more detail pictures.

I am a Caoni(Sod) Horse, living on the Male Gobi.