Saturday, October 31, 2009

Death in the Family

The following is a true recap of what has occurred these past two weeks. I felt like I wanted a way to remember what I've felt during this period, and hopefully see whether other people have felt the same way.

Friday, October 16
I had just finished my 2-3pm class early, the teacher let us out at about 2:45. There was going to be a Physics test on Monday, so I was pondering on whether I should stay with two other people to study for it. I went to the bathroom, then to my locker. I felt a buzz in my left pocket. It was my mom calling. I picked it up, and she asked me quietly in Chinese, "Are you still in class?" "No, we got out early." "Could you come to the hospital, your uncle's condition has drastically changed, and he may not have too long to live." "Oh...sure. Where is it again?" ... "I'll be there in I guess probably 20-30mins." "Alright, I'll wait for you there." I rushed back down to the classroom, where my three friends were still waiting. I said, "Uhh guys, my mom called and I have to go to the hospital now; my uncle's really sick and stuff." My friends were apologetic, with one remarking, "I hope he gets better." "Thanks," I said. I left with my friend to take the train. I gave a short description of what my uncle had gone through, including his 'battles' with the insurance company and his assigned hospital doctor, who had frequently been ignorant and out-of-reach from his immediate family. Before I took the train, I went to buy a Mega Millions lotto ticket, (the prize was over $200million), and said to my friend, "If I win this, I'm giving all the money until he's cured."

I took the local train, then switched to an express train, hoping to catch the preceding local, but ended up taking the same local train. I walked as fast as I could to the hospital, where I met up with my mom. She explained to me on how throughout the morning, other relatives, including my grandma, had also visited. I said, "Well, why didn't you call me earlier, I could have left class." Apparently, after going through a chemo just recently, his kidney was no longer functioning but his cancer cell count was at 99%. When I arrived at my uncle's room, his immediate family was there. He was already in a worse condition than in the morning. He had trouble breathing at times, and would frequently use the oxygen mask. He also had trouble talking and drinking, and seemed out of it at times. I now knew what the term "labored breathing" meant. I stayed there for awhile, until I left with my mom. That night, I prayed to the universe, to spare his life, and hoped that he would miraculously get better, because he was a strong man and had a strong and big heart.

For the next two weeks, every time the phone rang, I would keep thinking that it was a call that my uncle had passed. At first, my whole mind would seize up whenever I heard the home phone ring. Thoughts would go by of the bad news and the reaction from it. About a week later, news came that he was getting better; his kidney had started to work by itself again and he was more livid and partly back to his cheery and jovial self of his. Whenever the phone rang, I would think about it being of bad news, but less so because of his improving condition. I felt like my prayers had been answered, and that he would be back to his good old self and his cancer had gone away forever. On Friday, 10/30, my mom told me that my uncle had received another round of chemo.

Saturday, October 31
It was 6:30am. I woke up from a sharp ringing home phone. At first, no one picked up, because who calls that early? The second time, one of my parents picks up. For the next half hour, several more calls, which I later find out are apparently from my grandma and my aunts. I thought that my worst suspicions had come true, and ever more so when I heard my mom go out the door and went into my aunt's car, which headed to my grandma's place and then to the hospital. I dozed back off to sleep, realizing that my dad was still here and no one had woken me up, so presumably, it wasn't that serious. A few hours later, I woke up and asked my dad in Chinese, "So, what's the news?" "Uncle has gotten much worse; his temperature is dropping and they fear that this may be the real deal." I asked, "Well, should we go to the hospital? Who else is there?" Although I could tell my dad wanted to go, he replied that he was not feeling too well (flu-like symptoms) and did not want to get other my uncle sick. I spent the rest of the day doing homework and constantly thinking about whether this really was the end of my uncle's life, and what would happen. I thought about how ironic and symbolic that it was Halloween. And yet, I kept on remaining optimistic, hoping that he would be able to pull through yet again. I wished this again. My mom came home later in the day.

10:25pm
My family and I had finished watching Slumdog Millionaire earlier, and my mom went to take a shower. I was watching a rerun of one of my favorite shows, Boston Legal, when the phone rang. I thought it was just one of the many calls we had received earlier today. My dad, who was reading the newspaper, picked it up. My mom heard the phone ring and yelled, "Is it for me?" My dad gave the phone to her. A few minutes later, my mom came downstairs. She walked over to me and looked at me. I saw her, and looked back. She motioned with her hands a waving gesture. I perceived it to be to turn off the TV, but did not know why. She attempted to say, "Uncle has...," but then placed both of her hands over her face and started sobbing, sat down. I stared at her, thinking about whether It had just happened. I looked back at the TV and froze in place. I had no idea what to do - should I comfort her by hugging her?, or say I'm sorry?" I never personally went through a death in the family, and was in complete denial for several seconds. I shut off the TV. My dad, hearing her sobs, came over and sat down next to her. I then realized what had happened and leaned in close until our shoulders were touching. She sobbed so much, and just would not stop. I pondered to myself, should I get a tissue? But then I would be leaving her side? My dad then asked me to get a tissue, which I hastily got. She initially refused it until my dad said, "Come on, you're going to get a runny nose." I went back to get tissues a few more times. My mind was wiped empty, and I started to shed some tears a minute later. But I was thinking about how neither my dad nor myself really cried that much. When she stopped crying, I held her hand and tried squeezing it.

More phone calls came. My aunt was now getting ready to repeat what she had done this morning-pick my mom up to go to the hospital. My mom went and got ready. We were all still in grief. I was speechless for the next 10 or so minutes, only asking my dad, "Should we go?" My dad said that he would have to talk to my mom about it. After my mom got dressed in dark jeans and a black sweater with a black tie, she called my older cousin at the hospital. She didn't pick up. She tried the other sibling. He picked up and said that his family was leaving the hospital, since the hospital would now take care of the rest and there was nothing else for them to do there. My mom told me to call my grandma to let her know about this change of plan. My cousin also said that we would not have to go to the hospital tomorrow either. I was still hoping that my uncle would somehow, someway, come back alive.

Dai Yut Geen.
Ever since that first Friday, I had been thinking about how I wanted to write a post about this experience and my feelings. And so far, it's been an hour since starting it. I still have not had such an emotional outbreak as my mom did, and my mind is oddly clear. Perhaps this is because I've been thinking about what a great man my uncle has been these past two weeks, and perhaps this was a way of preparing for the bad news. I still cannot believe this, or maybe I have. Perhaps denial is hard to get over, or maybe it helps us deal with sudden catastrophic events. Maybe denial is a mental thing that acts as a protective bubble and you really do not realize the magnitude of a situation until it pops. Whatever it is, I know my uncle has left this earth doing what was good for his family and friends. He was a well-liked, friendly uncle who always made his home open and never gave up on the New York Giants. :) My mom is now (12:15am) trying to call my uncle in HK. My uncle always wanted to go back to HK but never could because he was dedicated to raising his two kids and supporting his family. Perhaps he will get to go now. You will be missed, and I hope that you will live a happy afterlife - I'll see you there in the future. Goodbye and goodnight, Uncle Gen.

12:28am
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Friday, October 30, 2009

Bloomberg '09: Better Transit for NYC

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With Mike Bloomberg's 8-year experience and proven independent leadership, he can bring NYC through these tough times and into a better future. He has been one of the most progressive mayors NYC has had and on this Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, vote for Mike Bloomberg for Mayor.

About Video: Mike toured the five boroughs to talk to New Yorkers about Moving NYC, his plan to improve our city's transportation network. Watch Mike talk to supporters and explain why building mass transit for the 21st century is simply too important to our economy, to hard-working families in every borough, and above all, to our city's future.
Youtube Link

About Video: Faster express buses for outer boroughs, cleaner stations, a 311 transit hotline, upgraded security—Mikes plan to improve our city's transit means reforms that would work for all New Yorkers. Mike's plan would transform mass transit in New York City while stressing accountability to cut waste and save millions.
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Bloomberg '09: Better Education for NYC Students

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With Mike Bloomberg's 8-year experience and proven independent leadership, he can bring NYC through these tough times and into a better future. He has been one of the most progressive mayors NYC has had and on this Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, vote for Mike Bloomberg for Mayor.

About Videos: Mike turned around the citys public schools by stressing accountability and focusing on results. When Bill Thompson was in charge of the Board of Education, it was dysfunctional, slow to adapt to better policies, and bloated. Mike cut millions in bureaucracy and placed it into the classroom. By cutting wasteful spending, stressing accountability, and demanding higher standards, Mike fixed a broken system and made our city's public schools work for our kids.


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Bloomberg '09: LGBT for Mike

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With Mike Bloomberg's 8-year experience and proven independent leadership, he can bring NYC through these tough times and into a better future. He has been one of the most progressive mayors NYC has had and on this Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, vote for Mike Bloomberg for Mayor.


About Video: A group of influential LGBT community leaders have come together to form "LGBT for Mike." This group includes Richard Socarides, attorney and former Special Assistant to President Clinton, and Florent Morellet, community activist and eponymous restaurateur.

Youtube Link

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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bloomberg '09: Green Rooftops

Mike Bloomberg for NYC Top Banner
With Mike Bloomberg's 8-year experience and proven independent leadership, he can bring NYC through these tough times and into a better future. He has been one of the most progressive mayors NYC has had and on this Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, vote for Mike Bloomberg for Mayor.


About Video: From the streets to the rooftops, Mikes Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan creates thousands of green jobs for New Yorkers by harnessing solar and wind power in new ways, retrofitting buildings, and developing new green technologies. Watch our new television ad here.

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Saturday, October 24, 2009

Best of Bill Maher

episode 172
Premiered October 16, 2009

Guests: Garry Shandling, actor/comedian; Alec Baldwin, actor; Chris Matthews, TV Host; Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD); Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL)

Maherisms
After Cheney came that exciting new group of Obama critics known as 'the Birthers.' Or as they used to be called, 'the Klan.

This is truly a bizarre year for Republicans. Their sex scandals were with women.

It was inspiring to see white men finally stand up to the oppressive, rigged system that has forced them to live in a hopeless cycle of wealth and opportunity.

Stop trying to scare me with your Mayan calendar doomsday theories. I'm supposed to be terrified by counting the days on the Mayan calendar? Why, is my Mayan girlfriend late for her Mayan period? If the Mayans could see the future, how come they couldn't get away from Cortez? Besides, we have much scarier things to worry about in 2012. [slide of Sarah Palin]

On Balloon Boy
It was a pleasure to hear a newscast about a boy getting blown that did not involve the Church.

[Rush Limbaugh] wanted to buy the St. Louis Rams and they wouldn't let him. He was very upset. He said, this was a dream he's had his whole life, to someday own black people.

On Healthcare
[Republicans'] idea of healthcare reform would be to allow you to take your gun to the doctor's office. – Rep. Alan Grayson

On Afghanistan & Iraq
We could pay for healthcare for everyone in this country who doesn't have it simply by ending the war in Iraq. – Grayson

We are fighting a 14th century enemy with an 18th century strategy. There is no reason why we need to be there. – Grayson

Whenever a general says, 'I need more troops,' translation: we're losing. – Chris Matthews

If we spent the money we spent in Afghanistan or a fraction of what we spend in Iraq on alternative energy policy in this country, we wouldn't even have to bother with fighting wars for oil in the Middle East in the first place. – Alec Baldwin

On Don't Ask, Don't Tell
I think that we should rid ourselves of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' But then we're going to have to change other phrases like, 'I got your back.' – Garry Shandling

On Diversity
There are no Native Americans in the administration. And you would think at least...Chief of Staff. – Shandling

From: HBO Real time with Bill Maher

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A Tree Grows in (not Bklyn) the Road

An interesting way from Australia to calm traffic and provide a better environment to live in. Trees are planted in square plots of land that seem literally plopped onto the sides of roads and around crosswalks.



Youtube: Streetfilms Shortie: Planted Trees Green Streets/Calm Traffic (Melbourne)

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Bill Thompson = John McCain on the Inside?

New York City Mayoral Candidate Bill Thompson failed to call out one of his supporters earlier this year at a campaign stop. His supporter called City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, "She's a whore and you can quote me on that.... I'll call her a whore, and I'll drop my trousers and she can kiss my a--." Thompson did not call for him to apologize, and Bloomberg's campaign called this as, "Silence in the face of those comments speaks volumes." The lack of ethics from Thompson is similar to the actions of 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain, for when he failed to call out his supporters at his rallies called Obama a "terrorist" out loud, even at media-filled events.

Source: NY1 News

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Monday, October 19, 2009

Top 5 Health Care Reform Lies

Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!

The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."1 What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.2

If you'd like to read the actual section of the legislation that spawned these outrageous claims (Section 1233 of H.R. 3200) for yourself, here it is. It's pretty boring stuff, which is why the accusations that it creates "death panels" is so absurd. But don't take our word for it, read it yourself.

Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!!

The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.3 Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option—a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers—that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.4 If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.5 But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or individuals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now.

Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!!

The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered—that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that.

Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.6 And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation.

Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits!!!

The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits.7 Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care—in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.8

Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!!

The truth: We need health care reform now in order to prevent bankruptcy—to control spiraling costs that affect individuals, families, small businesses, and the American economy. Right now, we spend more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care.9 The average family premium is projected to rise to over $22,000 in the next decade10—and each year, nearly a million people face bankruptcy because of medical expenses.11 Reform, with an affordable, high-quality public option that can spur competition, is necessary to bring down skyrocketing costs. Also, President Obama's reform plans would be fully paid for over 10 years and not add a penny to the deficit.

Source

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Cooper Union: Out with Black, In with Green

Cooper Union has a new website. Right now, at a superficial and aesthetic level, it looks waaaayyyy better than the old one, which had a black background and was clumsy to navigate.

http://cooper.edu/

And not just that, Channel 7 WABC and channel 2 WCBS both aired a segment on Cooper's new academic building today. Video and news link provided below. What's key is although the building is aiming for LEED Platinum, the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, it is currently only certified for a Gold rating. Of course, the average person still has no clue what Cooper is. I overheard a woman passing by the school, taking note of the school name on the new building, asking her husband, "What's the Cooper Union?" He replied, "I dunno."

WABC: NYC school sets 'green' standard
WCBS: NYC College Unveils Eco-Friendly Science Lab

Of course, pictures of the inside are coming soon...just plenty of tests coming up.

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Bloomberg '09: Endorsed by Sergeants Benevolent Association

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With Mike Bloomberg's 8-year experience and proven independent leadership, he can bring NYC through these tough times and into a better future. He has been one of the most progressive mayors NYC has had and is needed.

At his Manhattan campaign headquarters on Sunday, Mayor Bloomberg received the endorsement of the Sergeants Benevolent Association. The association, comprised of approximately 10,000 working and retired NYPD sergeants, acts as an advocate for those who work on the front line of the largest metropolitan police department in the U.S.

Video Link

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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Streetsblog + Me = Cool

Articles from tips I've sent to Streetsblog:

1) AAA Times Square Magazine Article
2) DOT's Ped Plazas Survey
3) Soon to come (I hope), something on Cooper's anti-indoor bike rack...

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