记录两个味道

有些味道简单,但是令人感动。

在聚宝源,香脆的芝麻烧饼配涮出来的茼蒿。香脆的烧饼是芝麻酱,烤过的芝麻还有香脆的面饼的味道,可能还有些椒盐,他本身当然是制作繁复的小吃。香脆的芝麻烧饼是口感和味觉的融合。茼蒿(阔叶的那种蒿子,不是那种细杆的蒿子秆)在已经融化了羊肉的脂肪和鲜味的火锅汤里面涮过,注意火候不能太大。两三只茼蒿放到嘴里,软烂的羊肉脂肪的膻味被茼蒿清爽的味道镇住,有些烫烫的,这时候咬上一口上好的芝麻烧饼。那烤芝麻的香味,还有脆脆的口感与还留有一点脆劲的茼蒿在嘴中爆炸开,充满幸福的感觉。茼蒿的清香味道和厚重的芝麻香味遥相呼应,和谐的融合成一个新的体验。

在家中,黄瓜、芝麻菜、布里奶酪和一个意大利风格的葵花籽面包。黄瓜是用来腌黄瓜的那个品种,黄瓜的味道很重,外皮厚,粗粗傻傻的。布里就是普通的 double cream 的,切厚片放在外面布满葵花籽的意大利面包上,入烤箱烘一下,让布里开始融化。把黄瓜铺在布里上面,撒上涂匀橄榄油的芝麻菜,夹上面包。入口给你奶酪的奶油一样的口感,黄瓜的清新,葵花籽的坚果香味,面包则提供基础的口感,他们融合成一个新的体验。这个味觉的主力其实是黄瓜和布里,如果简化它只是把略微融化的布里和黄瓜片放在一起也会提供那种感动的体验。

站立办公桌

说来对工作环境和工作方式的关注是因为相信他们可以改进工作效率。但是有的时候我也觉得这无非就是无尽的物欲而已,难以自拔。站立办公桌这个东西,投入可大可小。对于我来说,我希望的是培养自己的一种仪式感(Ritual)。仪式感这个东西对我来说是很有用的一个心里工具。我一直尝试对自己进行心理暗示,很多时候它是一个有用的工具,尤其是使用在积极的场景。而具有仪式感的生活实践大都是有一个积极的初衷的。以后我还会陆续的记录我生活中的一些仪式。

站立办公桌在湾区这里非常流行,经过三藩大街上那些玻璃窗里开放的办公室你就能看到很多站着办公的潮人码农。关于站立办公优劣的文章轻易可以搜到一大把,我其实完全不在意那些文章所说。这其实也是个有趣的细节,估计大家都看到微信上面那些看似很合逻辑的科普文章吧?其实大部分时候,你应该尝试解读坐着的意图,而应该忽略他们那些逻辑。因为语言逻辑是有悖论的,完全可以用合逻辑的方式灌输一个谬误给你。在这个问题上我不相信逻辑和确定性,我相信直觉(但是你要优化自己的直觉,保持初心,而不是一味碰壁),我相信不确定性。我的直觉告诉我,站立办公应该不会让我减肥,也不会让我变得强壮或者更健康。但是站着办公应该可以帮助我进入 flow,并且减少长时间拖沓的工作(因为我会累)。长话短说,这几个月下来我的使用感受和我的预期一致。当然这也可以解释为心里暗示,我的偏见影响了我的判断。但是我不太在乎确定性 ^__^。

我的配置就是 IKEA 的那套经典穷人配置。唯一不同的是我用了加厚的桌面,我指的是作为底座的那个桌子,因为那个桌面更加厚实和沉重,质感更好。显示器我用的是 Seiki 的穷人 39 寸 4K TV,这个在 Hacker News 上讨论曾经很热。显示器就是公司配的 15 Retina MBP(公司会给你配顶配的,如果想换机器那就换个工作好了,当然公司也会毫不犹豫的满足你的需求的),用 HDMI 1.4 接到 TV 上面。因为 HDMI 1.4 的限制,在 3840 x 2160 的分辨率下只有 30Hz 刷新率。这个刷新率在使用 Logitech 的轨迹球的时候感觉不那么明显,但是使用 Apple Trackpad 的时候会比较明显。肯能是手指的移动让大脑更饥渴的看到鼠标指针的反馈吧(我试图在扭曲你的想法?)。在滚动网页的时候页面的顿挫感也很明显,解决方法就是减少页面滚动,反正显示器大了一页的内容会多很多。减少滚动对阅读来说其实是有积极影响的,这个我推荐大家尝试一下,即使没有很大的显示器,在 iPad 或者手机上也可以实践。键盘是 Apple 的蓝牙键盘,因为它的尺寸配合 Trackpad 感觉更舒适,否则 Trackpad 需要放在更远的右侧。Trackpad 属于我的个人习惯,我觉得它比鼠标和轨迹球都更舒适,对各种手势的支持也绝好。

在使用的过程中,我觉得后背和脖子会感觉舒服很多。但是腰(背部靠下的位置)还有腿部会比较紧张,时间长了它们都很疲劳。我的痛觉大概在 3 – 5 小时的站立以后会达到高峰,我一般就会停止站立。这的确有效的减少了我连续伏案工作的时间。因为腿部的肌肉酸痛和脖子不太一样,腿部的酸痛来的比较线性。也即是说腿部的紧张是慢慢加剧的,而脖子则是几个小时后或者第二天才显现出来,那个时候已经产生了明显的疲劳伤害(落枕)。肩膀和胳膊没有太多的疲劳感,但是 IKEA 这个穷人装备的手托的稳定性没有直接伏案工作好,但是这不是个严重的减分。39 寸的 4k TV 对于我来说像素密度有点太大,Apple 的操作系统目前不支持在这个廉价的 4k TV 开启 @2x (retina)模式。我倾向于把字体调大,然后可以让双眼离显示器远一些。如果你是字体或者像素癖患者一定会相当的不满意,我也的确费了一些时间适应。但是由于它渲染的并不够细腻,所以我也很少在它上面娱乐。做大部分需要进入 Flow 的工作来说,这个显示器已经足够我用了。当然,要不是在黎明前出手入了这个 4K TV 我一定会选择支持 60Hz 的 28 寸 4K monitor,那个感觉会让我更满意一些。软件上,我觉得 Divvy 是必须有的工具,因为更大的分辨率也就是更大的桌面需要很好的 layout 管理工具。Divvy 是第一个这样的工具,我习惯它也喜欢它,它很好的解决了窗口摆放问题,一个快捷键就可以把窗口布局做好。除此之外没有什么了。

周末和每晚睡前的私人时间使用这个配置的时间很短,完全不会有啥疲劳问题。在家办公的时候,完全专心的工作时间基本上可以控制在 3 小时和 5 小时这个范围内(可以早上 3 小时,下午 4 小时)。这样办公心里感觉很满足,因为思想的集中,和身体的疲劳时钟可以配合在一起。身体敏感度的提高其实可以帮助我集中精神,进入 flow,在这点上是一举多得的。我个人认为这是一个非常有趣的仪式。双脚稍微分开站立在显示器前面,脑袋平视可以到达显示器中线稍微靠上面的位置。小臂和身体可以垂直,手腕在敲打键盘和 Trackpad 的时候没有弯曲。也许这些自我描述是心里的意思满足感开始的地方,就和打坐一样帮助你联系物理感受和心理的一个状态。

Tin's Standing Desk

如果你还完全没有站立办公过,那我推荐你试试。

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

世界充满大事,但是那些小事也很重要。这不是个很好的翻译,但是我喜欢这样简单的翻译。这个标题其实来自 Ugmonk,是 Jeff Sheldon 的一个独立的设计品牌。我从 Offscreen Magazine 得知 UgmonkOffscreen Magazine 是一本独立杂志,他的出版人 是 Kai Brach。Kai 是一个网站设计师,而那本杂志充满了网站/设计圈的访谈和一些有趣的短文,很有趣。我有空再写文章介绍。Kai 在两个月前发起了一个 OFFSCREEN MAG + MOUNTAINS BUNDLE 的活动,$32 可以买一本 Offscreen mag 和一件 Ugmonk 的 Mountains T-shirt。Kai 在 他自己的博文 里面介绍了他与 Ugmonk 相识的过程。一开始 Kai 只是被网站和里面商品的设计吸引,但是读了 Ugmonk 的故事以后他发现原来这也是一个人全包(One man show)的品牌。这让 Kai 产生了很大的兴趣,并且定了一件 Mountains T-Shirt,他收到后很喜欢。

我看到 Kai 发布的 bundle 以后很喜欢,而且由于我贪图小便宜,所以就买下了(其实我已经有那一期的 Offscreen,但是多买一本可以送朋友嘛)。收到后我觉得那件 T-Shirt 做工挺一般,那个设计也非常简单。但是穿在身上感觉很好,这种简单设计给我一种平静的舒适感。后来我看到 Jeff Sheldon 的文章才知道他的图案是印在 American Apparel 的 T-shirt 上,这个牌子的衣服是美国制造的,号称剪裁合身材料舒适。Jeff 认为用 AA 的衣物保证了本国制造的优越感,并且 AA 的商品质量控制让他不用担心自己的产品在质量上出现问题(因为小品牌的出货量小,自己控制产业链质量不容易控制)。我觉得他这个思路很好,这样他就可以专心与品牌和设计了。做一个独立品牌是很难的,他把收入的一部分投入慈善,这对品牌价值提升很有好处。

it's the little things

上面介绍了 Ugmonk 和 Offscreen,他们吸引了我的眼球,让我消费了他们的产品。而且我在持续消费他们的产品。原因就是标题所说 “It’s the little things”这件 T-Shirt 我今天正好穿在身上。这些个人品牌在细节上非常卓越,没有扭捏的粉饰。从你听说这个品牌,到被吸引转化为消费,这个过程非常流畅。相比之下,T-mobile 这样的笨蛋品牌,一味追求低价,但是在消费者转化的过程中确忍受着巨差的用户体验,这个以后再聊。注意细节,耐心的琢磨这些小事,品牌就会很有味道。

Ugmonk by Jeff Sheldon from Ugmonk on Vimeo.

所以,记得,那些小事很重要。

本文所以链接都不是 affiliate 链接,也就是说我不会收取任何经济好处

小型的聚会

在北京的时候,我非常喜欢我和朋友们在组织的 OpenParty。那是一个 Unconference,起先的一年我记得每次活动都要准备很久,现场的环节也都是严格按照我们计划好的方式和时间进行。但是随着时间的流转,我和朋友们开始变的不那么守规矩。每次进行一些大概的计划,到了现场就跟着感觉走了。

OpenParty 的规模大概是 50 – 100 人,属于小型活动。但是如果拿来和我们日常生活中的朋友聚会比起来,它已经是很大的活动了。

来到美国以后,我就没有组织过 Unconference 了。有个在国内参加过 OpenParty 的美国同事问过我为啥在这里我不来住址一下,我只是敷衍的说这里好的活动太多了,而且我语言不够自如。其实那是借口。在国内组织一个十人规模的饭局是很容易的,但是在美国这并不怎么容易。在美国是人规模的聚餐不容易订到长桌,所以一般我们会选择在公园烧烤。但是烧烤有个缺点,就是有人烧烤、有人聊天、有人玩。但是对比更小规模的聚会,这样的烧烤 Party 缺少深入的聊天。还有,烧烤聚会不会带来内心的平静,不适合于每个周末。

最近的半年,其实有很多更小型的聚会。有的时候就是一两家人在一起,自己做一些饭,聊聊天。这种规模的聚会可以分享你所喜欢的东西,深度的讨论从人为什么要活着一直到哪里买东西便宜这样的话题。并且由于规模小,可以自己动手做一些菜,或者买一些自己喜欢吃的喝的互相分享。分享与聆听都是我们 Enjoy 的。

其实这种感觉和这本杂志有重要的关系,Kinfolk 这是一本围绕这美食和生活的杂志,没有广告,会有一些访谈,私人菜谱和美丽的图。它有一本菜谱,叫做 THE KINFOLK TABLE: RECIPES FOR SMALL GATHERINGS。我这篇文章的灵感和名字就来自这里。就像负片的摄影一样,一些胶片和他们的冲洗方法会赋予照片特殊的质感。因为那些色调和抽象的取景会联系到你对相机和照相的人的感觉,这种人为的联系给简单的主题赋予丰富的感觉。比如一个细节,在森林里聚会的时候,带上一瓶红/白的葡萄酒,请不要偷懒带塑料杯子。带上一对玻璃杯,可以是最简单的那种,就会极大的提升品味儿的质感。

记得个把月前,和 Lordhong 与他的夫人 Lily 相约带孩子去森林野餐。这是一个标准的小型聚会。我们带上了一些鸡肉沙拉,酒杯,Trader joe 买的德国产 Riesling ($4.99 每瓶),一些 Farmers Market 买的新鲜水果。开车走 CA 84 好公路去 San Mateo Memorial Park 聚会。CA 84 是一条非常崎岖的山路,很不好开。快要到那里的时候得知 Lordhong 的孩子们都晕车了,很不舒服。但是当我们到达公园的时候,空气清新,阳光被密密的树林遮住。孩子们在一起蹦蹦跳跳的玩耍,很快晕车的事情大家就忘记了。我们在公园里面散了步,然后就找了树下的木桌子坐下野餐。

Lordhong 的夫人 Lily 的厨艺非常好,她带了一些自己烤的小羊排,还有鱼糕。我们在桌子上铺好桌布,一起分享美食和美酒。孩子们更喜欢吃那些新鲜的水果,还有果汁。这次我们带的食物其实并不多,但是在落满松枝的木桌上吃饭感觉非常愉快。

我们聊天的内容我已经记不清了。但是在高高的红木下品尝自己亲手制作的食物,配上有趣的白葡萄酒和啤酒是很有意思的。这样的小型聚会就像那些用心的胶片摄影一样,留下的是精致的质感。这样的聚会一点不会累,留下的是满心的平静和满足。

选择牛奶

很少写博客,找借口没有意思。但是,心里还是有一些想法时不时想要记录下来的。最近几个喜欢的博主都在挑战一个月内每天发布一条博文,我觉得这样玩不错。

今天再说说选择牛奶。我记得我写过 Wondermilk (万得秒)牛奶的博文,但是刚才搜索了一下我其实没有写过。所以我应该说今天说说牛奶的选择。

很喜欢的 Podcast ATP 里面有两个风格不同的 Geek。 Marco Arment 非常主观。虽然他也引经据典, 但是他完全不介意主观偏见。而 John Siracusa 则是个非常客观的 Geek,论证事情经常事无巨细。我这里沿用 Marco 的风格来主观的描述牛奶的选择。

我之所以很挑剔牛奶是因为我对咖啡 Geek 式的偏爱(我比较接近 Marco Arment 描述的那种咖啡狂热,但是我和他对咖啡做法持不同观点),我希望我可以同时具有品咖啡和烹煮咖啡的能力。这是一种手艺崇拜。做个比喻,我比较像摄影爱好者圈的器材派。所以我对咖啡豆子,烹调工具和手段,杯具,牛奶这些“器材”都很重视。从此大家也就知道我的水平了,属于玩票的水平,相当的业余(自谦)。

我记得我和一些 OpenParty 的朋友分享过牛奶选择的知识。现在常见的是超高温消毒牛奶和巴氏消毒牛奶。前者保存时间长,据称只杀死了细菌和酶,不影响牛奶的营养成分。而后者因为是低温消毒,只杀死了细菌,所以保存时间短。我优先选择巴氏杀毒的牛奶,因为口味好,体现本地自豪感(因为巴氏奶不适合长途配送)。

上面那段好短,没有讲清楚为什么。但是这是我的意图,因为这种借口不同意见者都可以找来一大堆支持自己的论点,我找他们有啥意思呢?微信上还有人传喝牛奶致癌这些事情,你说我能反对的了么?我比较朴素的相信科学世界观,而且相信不确定性,所以我也不太在乎谁的理论更站得住脚这个问题。我现在更相信我的舌头和嘴,因为经过相对长期的啤酒品评的训练,我对自己品味道还是有一些自信心的。

那么我现在如何选择牛奶呢?目前我最喜欢的牛奶排名如下(美国湾区):

我不太喜欢的品牌是 Berkeley Farm 还有 Horizon,最后是 Trader Joe 的牛奶。Berkeley Farm 的牛奶带一股青草和酸的味道,而且非常稀,我受不了。Horizon 的牛奶带有很浓的香料味道(所以其实很好喝,但那不是奶的本味),而且他家是超高温消毒牛奶。但是我女儿很喜欢喝 Horizon 的调味牛奶,这也是我很讨厌它的原因之一(凡是特意迎合儿童的调味食品我都不喜欢,而且 Horizon 的儿童牛奶太甜了,非常邪恶)。而 Trader Joe 的牛奶喝起来和 Berkeley Farm 有点像。其实还有个 Costco 的 Kirkland 有机牛奶,那味道就好像有烧焦的东西放到了牛奶里一样,我的朋友没有一个喜欢的。我觉得我是个 Hater,用这么多篇幅描述我不喜欢的牛奶。

回到正题,为啥我会那样排名那些牛奶呢?我的基本思路是我很喜欢奶油味道重的牛奶,因为那是儿时玻璃瓶牛奶带的那种味道。其实这并非很自然的味道,可是我也没有喝过刚挤出来的牛奶。我不喜欢脱脂牛奶,所以可能就跳到喜欢加奶油的牛奶了。Creamtop 就是包装的时候上面附上一层奶油,这可以帮助牛奶保存相对长一点的时间(巴氏消毒以后低温保存也就是两周)。所以排名靠前的两个都属于 Creamtop。再有就是玻璃瓶优于屋型包装,屋型包装优于塑料包装。

其实上面说的这些还是扯淡,我之所以发现最上面三中牛奶是因为我发现 Blue Bottle 选择了这三种牛奶。Ferry Building 那家蓝瓶子一般选择 Clover 的有机牛奶。而 5th and Mission 那家很 fancy 的蓝瓶子 则选择了 Saint Benoit 和 Strauss 的牛奶。尤其是新奥尔良冰咖啡配 Saint Benoit 的牛奶那味道简直是完美了。

即使你的味觉不那么灵敏,尝一下我上面列的那三个最靠前的牛奶你基本上也可以尝出巨大的区别。Clover 的有机牛奶我个人觉得和万得秒 Wonder Milk 的牛奶味道很相似,那基本上是我对好牛奶划的线。这些好牛奶基本上都是没有使用人工荷尔蒙,Organic。Creamtop 的两款没有经过匀化(所以你会看到油花和沉淀,而且颜色会发黄),Clover 的则经过了匀化。他们都是巴氏消毒的牛奶,两款使用玻璃瓶(还要退瓶,挺麻烦)一款使用利乐包装。三款都是本地农场生产的。都被比较挑剔的咖啡师傅认可。在湾区这里,靠谱的咖啡店基本上都是用 Clover,但不都用 Organic 的。我觉得这写元素暗示了一些好牛奶需要具有的品质,希望它能帮助你找到适合你和你家庭的牛奶。

strauss and saint benoit milk

Good bye luke!

Hi Luke, I think that’s about 1 or 2 months after I heard your latest news. Hope you are all well in heaven! I’m sure your family miss you most, and I am just a very normal firends in your life; but I think I also miss you.

I wrote letters to you in dream, in my day dreams and when I’m drunk. I don’t know why? Maybe it’s because I used to admire you. Acctually I admire so much people, but I never let them now. I feel shy to let someone know that I’m a fan boy, say Steve Jobs. You are not as great as Steve Jobs I think, but you are great! I feel that my poor English expression limited my ability to express my feeling, but that’s what I’m trying to improve for very long time after I work with some people you know in ThoughtWorks, that’s a part of golden time in my life. OK, let me pour my feelings out now.

Back to 2007, I joined a team in ThoughtWorks studio. The guy who recruit me is Jez Humble and Hukai, you know those 2 funny guys, they are great. I was suppose to work in Cruise Control team, which was called Cruise team and later Go team. But the first job I did in TW is acctually in Mingle team, because both teams belong to Studio. I remember David Rice or Jen Marley introduce you to me. They said that you are great UX guy, and you can draw wireframe but also write html and css. That’s what I’m looking for when I join that company, being a cross-function specialist in team. And when I first talk with you I learn that there is a thing called wire-frame, which is a series of sketch shows the interation of UI. That’s great for a super junior developer, that’s the first time I learn that there is tool stimulate conmmunicate before something is deliveried. And with your wire-frame, I feel it’s quite confident to deliver a piece of UI without bother too much for a PS guy. But that’s not what blows my mind, when I see you doing a presentation in sprint planning, I was shocked. That’s the first time I see how a people showing off something before it’s implemented, that’s what we call lean nowdays. You play the magic which make us feels like watching a movie, imagine a hi-fi world with some black and white lines. OK, I shouldn’t make those moments magical, they acctually like old people told their life story, it’s quite plain and peaceful when it’s happending. I remember Jen told me that your time is precious, because you also have other things to do. You are a busy man.

It’s not far until I get a chance to see you face to face. That’s a away day of ThoughtWorks. It happens in Great Wall of China. I remember that you looks doesn’t match my imagination (I doesn’t see you picture before I see you). You are small, and soft. I remember you wear a red bennie, which is pretty special. I think I got lots of chance talking with you that day, because we talks a lot over skype. Beijing is my home town, so I want to share my knownledge of Beijing to you. And I think you like talking with me, which made me feel exciting. I remember that you mentioned that you like photography, and you did take lots of pictures on that day. My English is not very fluent at that age, and I think that’s not a barrier between us.

After we come back from Away day, you continued working for some days in Beijing office. I remember you shared that you must install a Parallel VM which running Windows, so that you can use a Powerpoint to draw wire frame. That’s the first time I feel respect about Microsoft, because you describe why Powerpoint is better to do wire-frame, and the Ribbon UI in Office 2007 is a big improvement in the industry. You show me how to do wire frame in powerpoint, and how utilize C&P which brings smooth experience for end user.

I didn’t see you after about half year after that. Then you come back to Beijing and did a cross team building. I remember Chris Stevenson also joined ThoughtWorks Studio, my impression for him is a purple monster (because he describe himeself like that after he got allergies). I rember that we have good time in Karaoke. I ordered “Can you feel the love tonight” to whole team, and you and Chris grabed Mic before me. But I got mic from you (thank you, you saw that I want to borrow your mic), so I can sing that song. Seems that’s the only English song I can sing in Karaoke, LOL. I remember you played tambourine instead, and you play very well; and you wore a red bennie with you. You did Jamming dance that day, that’s a suprise, you were fancy guy.

And after that I think I didn’t see you for another long time, I heard that you are starting a new business in Manchester. Then you become the head of Manchester businees in UK, that’s a big deal, I felt prod of you. Because I thought a UX pelple was also good at business is a miracle.

But I got another chance to see you in Beijing office. You were really busy at that trip. But you spent some time with me for Mingle project. I remember that we draw some wire frame together. That’s awesome! It’s like working with your star as a fan boy. I remember that I asked you how you make the looks and feel good in hi-fi design. You show me that you have a folder in desktop which includes lots of screen shots of different products and web-sites. You said those things inspire you when you want to create a hi-fi design. So you should find some feelings from heuristic brain storm, then you should find those elements in your design collection. Then you will find the graphic elements and colors for your new design. You mapped abstraction into details, so you have a practical plan to implement those designs. OK, that’s a big deal to me. I degist this for long time, and I think I do learn something from that.

After that, I didn’t see you face to face again. As far as I remember.

But skype and facebook notify me of your birthday. Year after year, I don’t remmber how much years is that. I thought I’m too normal a person in your life, you will forget me after some time. Because you are head of UK business then, and I already left TW. But you did remmber me, and say thank you for each greating. I remember that you poke me for my birthday too. That’s a weak relation, as a good friend looking each other across river. I enjoy that I know a good person like you. I saw you post lots of things about charity, like breast cancer run and some other thigns. And I saw you get merried and have babies. That’s great, I did that too. I feel that I know this is a serious life change, you were taking more and more responsibility.

In this year, I clearly remember that you joined a event “Live below the line“. I remember you have a tight budget to eat, and we can donate money for poor people who really live below the line. I feel proud of you. That’s a good sign when a adult play great social responsibility, some of my friends I respect also share this character. I do want to donate money at that time, but it’s a shame that I was busy working on something and I didn’t donate money. I will say that’s a lesson, I start donating money to charity a lot afterwards (In wholefoods, for children’s cancer, for lots of campaign in restaunrant and super market, and other place where I see someone need help). I feel much better then! Thank you for moved me.

But the next news I heard is absolutely sad!

When is that? I think I was 1 month or 2 months ago. I was super busy at that time. But I accidentally see Badri post something on Facebook, it says “Good bye Luke”. I think that’s not you, because you are health and at prime of your time. I see Badri’s word, it’s beautiful, I feel he is very sad. A friend of him passed away. I’m afraid, but I firmly believe that’s not you. But I leave a message said “Hope it’s not the Luke I know!”. And then I send some messages to other friend in TW circle to make sure it’s not you.

But next day, when I woke up. I sit on tolilet, I checked message. I saw Jiajun left a message, “No that’s the Luke we know, I’m afraid”, then she share a link from ThoughtWorks UK. I felt that my head is exploding. That’s super sad! I was under pressure on that days, but that message just make more even more sad. I know if TW post something that’s true.

I contacted Badri, I want to learn why you passed away, and what I can do for your family. I should say thank you to Badri, he said “Hugs!”, he said “We don’t know what we can do now. But please don’t write message on Luke’s facebook page. But you can let his family know that you feel sad about his passing away. And please don’t do anything before his family say they need help.” OK, I’m sadden in that mood for a while. I just feel it’s not fair.

And then 2 weeks later. I google your nane, I found that I even can’t type your name without google. I feel really sorry. I think no one should forget his/her friends’s name. That’s a shame. A man live in the world, and friends will always remember him/her. But I remember it now: Luke Berrett.

I didn’t leave any message on facebook which mentions you, or event not on twitter. I want to set a timeout for my memories, so that means it’s deepen in my mind. That someone cares about you even after you passed away. I know you family will miss you most, but we as normal friends in you life we also miss you.

When I google your news I learn that you was killed in traffic accident. But even more sad is that the accident is not very clear. They wanted witeness and the news. But you passed away, as a adult I know find the killer is not the most important thing. We should let you rest in peace. I feel shame that the god (sorry, but acctually I don’t have religion) chose a wrong one. But I know the human world is not fair, everyone has equal chance to be in heaven. The people who have beloved family should not have that earlier, because more living things suffer from that. But, but that’s the inifite possibility. I don’t trust logic, I just appreciate. I appreciate for friendship, for love, for every goodwill. I don’t want to say too much, becaus that’s out of my control.

I just keep living my life. But I occationally thing about you, especially I feel sad or under heavy pressure. I hope there’s karma, good people live good life. It’s just a silly hope. I know it’s not fair to you. I’m really sorry. But I do miss you as a normal friend. I have so many normal friends in my life, and I have close friends, I miss all of you. I’m just a simple emotional animal as most of human.

I was sick for a month. I have some illution that I’m dying. But I’m not, I have family, I need to live forever. Then I was very busy trasfer knownledge to my previous colleagues, since I’m moving to a new job. And then I joined a team, exciting, also was super busy. Then my wife sick, I was under pressure. I need to take care of my daughter, I worried about my wife, I won’t want to let my new teammates down. That’s not easy. But it gave me months of time to do reflection. It’s fortunate that I sill have a strong feeling that I should write those words down for you, for your family, for myself. I don’t want to express my sadness. That’s not how human live. We look up, we remember, we try hard to change the world!

So, luke, my friend, hope you have good day in heaven. Hope you family see you in their sweet dreams! Hope you blessed us, home you lessed eveyone live on the planet. But, Good bye luke! See you in heaven.

Your normal friend, Tin

Here is a picture of you, that’s the only 1 I can find (maybe more, but I’m poor on managing picture files).

Recommendation for my coworker Stan

I wrote a recommendation for my previous coworker Stan on Linkedin, but another coworker said it’s not proper and too funny for this serious site. So I guess I should rewrite it, but I will leave it here 😀

To be honest, Stan makes me cry, I can’t catch up with him. But it’s a honor to work with his brilliant mind. He is kind, he didn’t call us dummy. He has great abstraction ability, which IMHO is the most precious skill a software craftsman should have. He has good sense on new technology, and he build his own sharp toolsets and leverage other folks in his team. One thing I think he may improve is, he doesn’t drink beer with us, so he will always be sober when we are drunk.

Draft letter to Caltrain office

I break the law by accident. This is a big deal for me. I definitely wrong in this case, but I also found there is some issue on Caltrain system. So instead of being down forever, I will write a letter to Caltrain office. My friend tell me this is like burn a letter to immortal, no one will read or reply. But I trust in goodwill, so i will open this letter on my blog. If you read this by accident, please learn that break the law is painful, you should train yourself not making stupid mistake, this will make everyone happy, and make a better world. This letter is just a first cut draft, I will correct grammer mistake and improve weired sentence accordinly in those days.

Hello caltrain officers,

I’m a caltrain commuter live in Hillsdale, I start using caltrain from last December, and I like it. Caltrain has cleaner cabin than BART and muni, and the passenger on it is more polite. My company sponsor us commute by Caltrain through clipper direct, and most of my coworkers has Caltrian monthly pass auto loaded.

But I got a citation recently, which make me . The story happends that on Jun 3rd, it’s a Monday, the first working day of Jun. I and my coworker was discussing a working topic of our current project, and we take on Caltrain together from Hillsdale. Then 2 conductors came to us, and check our ticket. We show our clipper card as usual, but it says no. And we notice that’s first working day of a Month, so we should tag on the clipper card. And explained this to the conductors individually, they just gave both of us a citation of fare envation. I haven’t argue, because I’m a adult. The conductor refuse to read our monthy pass online order (which we showed), that means we don’t have nothing to show as prove of payment.

I said this almost ruin my life, it’s because I break the law, which make me desperate. I’m a alien worker, so I’m new here, I tried to behave as a moral citizen, be nice to everyone, and be well discipline. But when I got this citation, this dream collapse.

But I don’t want to be depressed forever, I should tell you my feeling, and let’s figure out what’s the best way to prevent this kind of situation happend in the future. Which will make the world a better place.

The monthly pass is not a way to save money, I think the ultimate goal is to make our daily commute smoothier. Because buying ticket is a pain at rushing hour, so clipper is a express way. Paying monthly save most of us tons of time. I cherrish the intention. But comes to reality, there is a gap. Other commute system like BART and MUNI has clipper gate, so when you come across it you need to swipe the card. But caltrain only has that at SF’s 4th and king station, there’s conductor standing there to check our ticket. But other stations is open, and some station only has few clipper tagging machine. So most monthly pass commuter doesn’t tag at most of days in a month, only tag it at very first day. So the gap is the habit we use the public transportation, for Caltrain we didn’t tag daily, but for MUNI and BART we tag daily even we have montly pass. That means we need to remind ourself to tag on first day, which is not work precisly as a clock.

So I hope caltrain can give us a notification on those critical day (very first working day each month). The clipper has our email, most caltrain station has message board (LED screen), both of them can work as a reminder for us. Which will help us not making this mistake. For a system need good self-discipline a reminder will reduce stupidity very much.

The clipper direct allow us setting up a recurring order of monthly pass, I don’t know why it can’t pre-load them as those montly pass we bought from walgreen? If it load automatically, we won’t make a mistake like that, this will free us from having a pressure on loading monthly pass. In our case, we acctually paid for monthly pass. But the ticket checking machine failed to load the monthly pass information, which make us be in a situation of no valid ticket, and that’s breaking the law. Break law in this way is miserable, we don’t want to be a fare invader, that’s immoral, that’s make us hateful, and it’s shame to tell our children that we are fare invader. I mean when we paid, but failed to show that we paid, because we need a process to activate this monthly pass, this is inconvinient and seems trapping us to be a outlaw. Probably there are technical reasons or other reasons to make clipper work in this way, but please make it more friendly and make good people keep being good.

Because we commute on caltrain for months, we saw lots of scenario between passenger and conductors. And almost all conductors is friendly and helpful. I saw conductor explains to those foreigners who bought wrong tickets, and ask the buy it correctly next time. I saw conductor asking people using clipper card who forgot tag on to tag it at next stop. I heared from my coworker who got educated when they forgot to tag it on first day of month. All those stories told me that conductors are helping us from making mistake, and educate us when we are wrong. But when this happend on me for the first time, I got a citation directly. I’m not asking mercy on me, everyone is equal by law, I just diserve this punishment. But consider a goodwill, we should using the punishment to prevent intentional fare envision, but educate the others. This will keep us in faith of justice. I still trust all conductors on the train is helping us from making this mistake. But on the day I got this citation, I saw 2 conductors chekcing ticket, and that’s the first working day of that month, there are 3 guys got citation in same cabin, this seems more to a punishment than education.

I won’t argu if I’m guilty here, I suppose to talk about it with judge in court. I only want to ask for some change on this system to ease our commute, make our life easier, hope no one will break the law in this way. Would like to consider those actions?

  • Give us the choice to pre-load the monthly pass
  • Give us a notifications by email (for clipper direct user), or show us notifications on station’s display on first (work) day of month
  • Give us a covinient way to tag the card, especially a way to tag on the train, alternatively should give us tagging machine on each entrance of station. So tagging daily is smooth for monthly pass commuter.
  • Give us a channel to show monthly pass proof if we got cited in this situation, when we paid for the pass.

Thank you for read, I won’t be despress forever, I trust that caltrain will be better, and we will be more happy to commute on this transportation system.

Me,
Jun 9, 2013.

品酒的好处

大约有2年品啤酒的经历,很喜欢品啤酒的过程。那么为什么要品啤酒呢?

首先要明确 饮酒品酒 的区别。品酒应该是饮酒的一个子集,因为不喝下去完全闻味不是靠谱的品酒方式。品酒最大的区别在于为什么 (Why) 和如何做 (How) 不同,品酒的目的是分辨、欣赏、交流。

品酒是对模式识别的锻炼。模式识别是心智模式中的R模式,也就是一种基于图像的思维,模式识别是一种直觉。品酒必须要用语言记录,可以是和朋友在一起交流感受,或者写下来分享给更多的人。为什么品酒必须要交流呢?因为模式识别是R模式,但是人和人交流要使用语言逻辑,但是这种逻辑使用的是心智模式中的L模式。但是根据心智模型的理论L模式和R模式往往不能同步工作,如果一个人两个模式之间交流迅速和频繁,那么这个人表现出来就是 聪明。R模式和L模式交互有一种形象的表示法,我们管它叫做“比喻”。使用比喻能力强的人,我们一般说是文学能力强,但是其实更广义的说使用比喻能力强的人 聪明 。我们有一个更时髦的词叫“隐喻”,这是在各种专业能力中非常重要的一种基于直觉的技能,我们常说一个领域的大师具有的就是过人的直觉。或者说过人的 模式识别 和使用 隐喻 的能力。所以那本书说,幽默其实是一种使用 隐喻 的特殊能力,不管是使用幽默还是感受幽默都需要这种 隐喻 的能力。

如果大家读过酒评就知道为什么我说 模式识别隐喻 了。这里举个例子:

花香显著,并带有新鲜果香:柑橘、杏桃、荔枝、麦香,些许糖香。深琥珀色片红,入口时的发泡感强烈,使酒体感觉轻盈。酒液有些浑浊,泡沫丰富有粘性。酒体的厚度中等,酒感稍若,具有相当的苦涩感。苦味强劲,有酸味的错觉。烧烤饼干,红色果香,榛果杏仁。回香中有花香,苦味显著。余韵甘苦带涩,有果香,麦香与啤酒花香。又有非常好的复杂度。

摘自《比利时啤酒——品饮与风味指南》

这里用到了很多的隐喻。经常交流的啤酒爱好者可以看到大家使用的不同隐喻,并把他们使用到自己的语言中。这个过程还培养了对味道细节发现的能力,因为经常品酒后对很多味道的轻微痕迹描述的能力会增强,所以就可以更好的发现原来不能描述的味道。这其实就印证了很多朋友学习中的一个感受,当你能够定义和命名一种现象以后,你在遇到问题的时候识别的能力增强了,最后解决问题的能力也增强了。在搞编程的朋友中,都知道 Martin Fowler,他就是以这种能力著称。

最后,我想强调我说的是 品酒 ,很多极端的品酒者品尝酒品后会吐掉,以防止对辨别能力的影响。我们需要强调这样的精神,不要陷入把饮酒作为简单的习惯的地步,那样很容易酗酒,结果是很严重的。要保持 Know How 的同时 Know Why,这样可以长期健康的品酒。

我目前品酒主要使用 Instagram,照下酒评和酒杯,可以观察酒体和泡沫。然后在评论里面写下对啤酒味道的品评笔记。我主要使用 #mahbeer 这个标签分享,这个标签下有很多非常棒的啤酒的分享。而查啤酒比较重要的工具是 Ratebeer ,上面有大部分你能喝到的啤酒的信息和众多酒友的评价。

附上我非常早期的一个酒评:

  • 使用的是和Duvel类似的高级蛇麻草,非陈年款,味道比较鲜明,微苦
  • 有麦香味,水果味收敛,味甘甜,回味发甜
  • 香味不太明显,不酸,也不太苦,没有特别突出的单种口感
  • 泡沫丰富,细密,泡沫很白,大约有酒体的一半高
  • 酒色金黄,略微浑浊(雾)
  • 有肉蔻的香味留下,酒通过喉咙感觉酒精刺激明显,留下微微的薄荷的味道
  • 酒后口内没有酸和苦的回味,说明酒不是很甜酒花量也不是很大

能猜到这是啥啤酒不?(是Westmalle Blone,一种修道院啤酒 Trappist beer,不过属于没啥特点的一种)

我最爱的啤酒是什么?

这是在知乎的一个回复

在啤酒爱好者普遍认可的Ratebeer的综合排名里面,目前第一的是Westvleteren 12。它代表了Trappist修道院啤酒的最高水准,它的风格叫做Abt/Quadrupel,常见的Trappist风格是Blone/Brown (Dubble)/Trippel,Quadrupel应该翻译做四料啤酒吧,是超越Trippel的有更加丰富的酚和酯的极品啤酒。Trappist 目前比利时有6家,是Chimay、Rochefort、Achel、Westvleteren、Orval、Westmalle,还有一家在荷兰叫Koningshoeven。不过Trappist并非都是口味丰富的,比如Chimay、Achel、Westmalle都相对温和。Quadrupel则是味道层次最丰富,味道强烈的极品,据我所知只有Rochefort 10和Westvletern 12属于Trappist授权修道院生产的Quadrupel。修士在为上帝服务至于投入了毕生精力不断的优化提升啤酒酿造艺术,才有了这样的极品,所以……我就不多说了。

但是很不幸的是Westvleteren 12很难买到。能买到的Quadrupel是Rochefort 10,目前它也是我的最爱。这里和 @大Joy 不谋而合。

美国的同事比较一致的认为Russian River Pliny the elder是最好的美国啤酒,这个也供参考。因为北京是绝对买不到的。

但是我同意口味不应该排名,所以……我应该闭嘴。

我在slideshare分享过一个比利时啤酒的slides,里面有很多不准确的信息,不过还是可以参考。