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HOW A SCRIPTPRO SP200 WITH COLLATING CONTROL CENTER ROBOTIC PRESCRIPTION DISPENSING SYSTEM WORKS

***Disclaimer. As a contract technician, I fix the Scriptpro SP200 Collating Control Center Robotic Prescription Dispensing machine for pharmacies around Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York. Based on my experience working on the hardware, this writing sample is a demonstration of my ability to explain how this machine works. Please excuse the lack of in-depth technical knowledge as some parts I don't know the technical name, but as for functionality I know how this machine works.

INTRODUCTION

Pharmacists today deal with more patients than they can handle. Even with on-staff assistants taking patients’ orders, answering phones calls, and checking paperwork, the demand to fill prescriptions is faster than the team can handle. Counting individual pills and filling bottles is time consuming in a workplace that requires constant interaction with patients. To improve and enhance productivity and customer relations, the ScriptPro SP200 with Collating Control Center Robotic Prescription Dispensing System (SP200) is the most ideal automated machine to fill out prescriptions, improve workflow up to 50-60%, and save time by allowing pharmacists to engage patients. The SP200 works very effectively:

1.      A pharmacist inputs a command on a computer

2.      The information is sent to the SP200 robot

3.      The robotic arm grabs a vial and fills it with the requested tablets or capsules

4.      The vials are moved onto a conveyor belt and wait to be sealed and delivered by a pharmacist

ScriptPro manufactures six different robot models, but this document will focus specifically on the SP200. As the largest of the six models, it takes up an area of 61.8 square feet. There are three primary sections to the robot: cell bay cabinet, labeling bay cabinet (which is divided into three shelves), and the robot control center. Each section serves its own purpose and it is important to understand what occurs where to properly use the machine and diagnose any issues that may occur.

  1.      CELL BAY CABINET

The first part of the SP200 is the cell bay cabinet. The cell bay cabinet houses 200 universal dispensing cells, a robotic arm that moves along a conveyor belt to fill vials with tablets and capsules, and vial dispensers. Before we look into how each part works, we must understand how the cell bay cabinet functions.

a.       BI-FOLD GLASS DOORS

Two bi-fold glass doors with a special door handle keep everything running smoothly. When locked down, each door handle presses a steel rod against two door-sensors. This tells the computer that the doors are locked and allows the robot arm to retrieve vials and fill prescriptions. When the handles are turned and the rods lift off the door-sensors, the computer sees the doors are opened. This is critical. If the computer thinks the doors are opened, the machine stops running.  While this may seem obvious and trivial, this is a failsafe. Pharmacists may need to refill cells or vial dispensers. Another reason, and this is key, comes to diagnosing the troubleshooting the machine while maintaining productivity. This will be explored in the preceding paragraphs.

  b.      200 UNIVERSAL DISPENSING CELLS

Inside the cell bay cabinet are 200 universal dispensing cells. These are basically plastic cases with a small door and motorized gear that feeds tablets and capsules into a vial. Cells are arranged in columns and rows, utilizing the Cartesian coordinate system. Columns are arranged numerically and rows are arranged alphabetically, therefore giving each cell its respective alphanumerical placement inside the cabinet. For example, the top far left cell is A1, the one immediately right is B1, and so forth. The cell directly below A1 is A2, and for forth. To improve cell naming, each cell is labeled with a bar code with all the information regarding the tablet/capsule, from pill strength to name. These cells can be easily removed and installed for refilling or cleaning. When a cell becomes empty, the machine will stop and an error message will display on the computer at the robot control center. The message will not disappear until someone manually accepts/rejects the message.

c.       VIAL DISPENSERS

To the immediate right of the cells are vial dispensers. Depending on the user’s preference, two bulk load dispensers or three vertical dispensers can be installed, carrying 12-40 dram vials or 12-60 dram vials, respectively. Each dispenser can carry approximately 100 vials per cycle. These dispensers are designed like a narrow column with an opening at the top for vials to be dropped. The first dispenser will be for 12-dram vials; the second dispenser will be for the 40-dram vials; and the third dispenser will be for the 60-dram vials. In order for the vials to drop upright 100% of the time, the vials need to be loaded into the dispenser in an alternating manner. This allows for the metal tabs inside the dispenser to catch the vials correctly. Vials are always waiting at rest on a metal platform for pickup. There is a small LED sensor focused on the vial. When there isn’t a vial present, the sensor tells the dispenser to release a vial.

The bulk load dispenser has a very different design. Instead of vials falling freely through the dispenser into place, the bulk load dispenser is much more complex. Vials go into the bulk load dispenser in any random order. It is more like a large box with a vertical carrousel and attached pick fingers to grab vials. Unlike the vertical dispenser, which gets vials by dropping them, the carrousel will continuously turn until it grabs a vial with one of its 5 pick fingers. And instead of just dropping one vial, it will actually drop two vials. One will just be sitting on top the other. Again, an LED sensor will always be focused on the second vial to ensure there are always two on the metal platform for pickup. Because vials can only fall on the platform when the pick fingers grab them, it can be a tedious and anxious task waiting for vials to fall into place.

d.      ROBOTIC ARM

The last thing inside the cell bay cabinet is the robotic arm. The robotic arm is made of a gripper, pill count sensor, spur gear, cell door actuator and bar code scanner. It slides vertically on a metal frame, which is about a foot wide and as tall as the cabinet. The metal frame is attached to a flexible conveyor belt that moves horizontally along the cabinet. When the SP200 receives a request from the pharmacist, it moves to a cell. The bar code scanner on the robotic arm reads and confirms the bar code on the call. A motor on the arm pivots the cell door actuator to open the cell door and dispenses tablets/capsules into the vials. Each time a pill drops the pill count sensor records it. Because the robotic arm handles pill counting, there is no risk of cross contamination. The robotic arm has a 99.7% counting accuracy and fills up to 150 prescriptions per hour.

When the machine first starts up, the robot arm will calibrate itself. First, the robot arm will move to the far left and very top (begins at A1). It will then move to the first vial dispenser and the robotic fingers will grab the air. After, the conveyor belt moves to the labeling bay cabinet and robot control center. From here, it will go back to the first vial dispenser and wait for a command. The door sensors become important at this point. (Please refer 1A for the door sensor). When the door sensors are pressed down, the robotic arm will move, and it will turn off when released. For troubleshooting purposes, it may become necessary to keep the doors open, but keep the machine running. Technicians will often fold up a small piece of paper so it is thick enough to keep the door sensor down while keeping the cabinet doors open. This will “trick” the computer into thinking the doors are closed, and the machine will run like normal. However, take precaution that the robot arm does not stop nor slow down if an object is in its path. The robot arm moves at approximately 3 feet per second. If you are adding or removing vials, watch out for the moving robot arm. Wait for it to completely stop before troubleshooting and repairing.

2.      LABELING BAY CABINET

The labeling bay cabinet is rather simple compared to the cell bay cabinet. It is much smaller than the cell bay cabinet. First, there is a conveyor belt that moves from the exit of the cell bay cabinet through the labeling bay cabinet and ends at the robot control center. As mentioned in the beginning, there are three shelves to the labeling bay cabinet. The top shelf is for storage and a small ScriptPro toolkit. The center shelf is where the label printer is. On the bottom shelf is the computer and a red emergency button.

a.       PRINT AND APPLY LABELING SYSTEM

Inside the center shelf of the labeling bay cabinet is the print and apply labeling system. In there, labels for the vials are loaded into the labeling system around a set of motors that print the customer’s information and drug information. The vials are led along a conveyor belt and stopped against two motors. These spin the vial so the label fits neatly on the vial before moving it out onto the robot control center.

  3.      ROBOT CONTROL CENTER

The robot control center is the end of the line for the prescriptions. They wait here until a pharmacist comes to cap the vials and package it for delivery. There is also a monitor, keyboard, mouse and infrared camera. The monitor displays the ScriptPro Central program that collects data and information regarding prescriptions in queue and those completed. The infrared camera is used to read individual pharmacists’ ID cards. Although this is the robot control center, there are work stations around the pharmacy typically assigned to certain pharmacists to send requests to the robot from remote.

  CONCLUSION

The SP200 is the most convenient and efficient way to improve workflow and time management for pharmacies. By automating the pill counting process, pharmacists can engage patients at a more personal level; multitask between talking on the phone and sending orders to the machine without the worry of forgetting something. Aside from the convenience of improving the work environment, the SP200 ensures no cross contamination between prescriptions and is a very accurate and efficient machine.

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Following Green Technology and Becoming LEED Certified to Improve the Environment

Following Green Technology and

Becoming LEED Certified to Improve the Environment

 for

Champlain College

251 South Willard Street

Burlington, VT 05401

Submitted by

Tommy Ngan

Matthew Forrest

Stephen Pinkham

Students, Champlain College

251 South Willard Street

Burlington, VT 05401

 March 16, 2011

Discussion: LEED Certified Buildings in Vermont

According the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), there are 129 buildings in Vermont that are LEED Certified. 113 of these buildings are corporate buildings, each falling into one of the categories of five categories:

LEED for New Construction

LEED for Core & Shell Development

LEED for Schools

LEED for Retail: New Construction and Major Renovations

LEED for Healthcare

The remaining 16 buildings are in the category LEED for homes.

LEED certified buildings must have the same goals of preserving the environment through these five categories:

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy and Atmosphere

Materials and Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

By maintaining these five goals, the buildings enrich the following seven subcategories for the people affected by the foundation:

Asset value increased as operation costs lower

Landfills are reduced of waste

Conserve energy and water

Occupants are healthier and safer

Harmful greenhouse gases emissions are reduced

Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities

Owner demonstrates commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility

LEED has a point system that determines the rating of the building. Points are awarded based on the architecture of the building based on the categories listed above. Buildings needed a minimum of 34 points are needed to be LEED Certified. Here are the four ratings and the point system:

Certified         34-42 Points

Silver              43-50 Points

Gold                51-67 Points

Platinum         68-92 Points

Vermont has 10 corporate buildings that are Certified Rating. In 2003, the ECHO Center in downtown Burlington became the first LEED Certified building in Vermont. The ECHO Center holds 29 points (before the revised guide for 2008). The building utilizes efficient T5 fluorescent and LED lighting, daytime-responsive atrium lighting, recycled materials and lake-friendly products. Efficient windows and high quality insulation systems allow for low air leakage.

There are 12 corporate buildings that have the Silver Rating. The National Life Group received the Silver Rating in 2009 for its conservation efforts. These efforts include, but not limited to:

·       Each week, 2,500 pounds of shredded paper are recycled

·       73% of food waste is composted

·       Water saving fixtures in restrooms

·       Energy-saving light bulbs

·       Monitoring electrical consumption

Vermont has 15 corporate buildings that are Gold Certified. In 2009, Aiken Hall became the first LEED Certified building at Champlain College. Aiken Hall achieved 47 points, giving it a Gold Rating. Originally constructed in 1885, Aiken Hall promotes environmentalism through:

·       Energy efficient lighting

·       Improved insulation

·       Recycling original building material are hard wood

·       Using slated roofing shingles

·       Waste materials from landfill donated to Re-Cycle North

·       Alternate public transportation through CCTA buses and Carshare Vermont

There are 2 corporate buildings that have the Platinum Rating. The Franklin Environmental Center in Middlebury College achieved the Platinum Rating in 2009. The Center achieved 52 points for:

·       Using 47% less energy than a building of similar size

·       Energy efficient windows

·       “On demand” hot water

·       Solar panels that produce 8.5 kilowatts

·       Reduce CO2 emissions

·       Using local resources

There are 16 residential homes in Vermont that are rated in a similar manner as corporate buildings. The certification levels are based on this point system:

·       Certified         45-59

·       Silver              60-74

·       Gold                75-89

·       Platinum         90-136

5 homes have a Certified Rating; 3 have a Silver Rating; 6 homes have a Gold Rating; and 2 homes have a Platinum Rating.

"Certified Project Directory." USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council. USGBC: U.S.

Green Building Council - LEED, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/CertifiedProjectList.aspx>.

"Certified Project Directory." USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council. USGBC: U.S.

Green Building Council - LEED, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2683>.

Champlain College. Sustain Champlain. Aiken Hall Champlain College LEED-Gold

Rating. Champlain College, 26 Aug. 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <www.champlain.edu%2FDocuments%2Fsustain_champlain%2FAikenHallFactsheet.pdf&rct=j&q=Aiken%20Hall%20LEED%20rating&ei=oZSBTda7DdOWtweA7aDDBA&usg=AFQjCNGIKHS-1qMcSCzGpNh9tWCez7ivag&cad=rja>.

Green Design Etc. ECHO: Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Green Design Etc.

Jennifer Snyder, 8 Oct. 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <www.greendesignetc.net%2FBuildings_08_(pdf)%2FSnyder_Jen-ECHO_(present).pdf&rct=j&q=ECHO%20center%20leed&ei=75WBTffdG8yjtge_m6XEBA&usg=AFQjCNGGvVNdJlCu-RgyOiDpCFQG1v8A6g&cad=rja>.

Katrina Roberts. ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Becomes First LEED

Certified Building in Vermont. ECHO. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, 12 Jan. 2003. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <www.echovermont.org%2Fvisitors%2Freleases%2F20.pdf&rct=j&q=ECHO%20center%20leed&ei=0ZOBTdCkE4O4tgfGh6XWBA&usg=AFQjCNHcm0aNhGyoLcXCJ-g3y_zl4JxZIQ&cad=rja>.

National Life Group. National Life Project Receives LEED-EB Silver Certification - The

Largest Green Building Campus in Vermont. OpenPR. Rachel Carter, 23 July 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.openpr.com/news/89250/National-Life-Project-Receives-LEED-EB-Silver-Certification-The-Largest-Green-Building-Campus-in-Vermont.html>.

"Sustainable Features." Middlebury. Middlebury College. Web. 14 Mar. 2011.

<http://www.middlebury.edu/sustainability/design/franklin/features>.

"USGBC: Project Certification." USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council. USGBC: U.S.

Green Building Council - LEED, 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=64>.

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Graduation and Cigarettes - A Chinese Tale

Original Publication Date: May 11th, 2011

This is a very sensitive blog post and depending on your sensitivity level, this might be rather sad for you to read. I appreciate the courage of those who continue and read…

For the past few days I’ve been squatting at a friend’s place as I hear back from some prospective jobs. Oh I graduated last Saturday and haven’t exactly had a chance to write anything for a while and my friend is letting me borrow his laptop.

So let’s forget what happened at graduation because college graduation is kinda boring. Yes it is. All the graduates are crammed together in a large backstage holding cell while families and friends wait to witness their final sentencing. And we all know the ending. Congratulations you’ve graduated. Here’s your diploma and expect some mail with your student loans.

Two of my close friends from college showed up for graduation and it was pretty nice. Both my brothers are in China, working and renovating our family house. So after everyone transferred from the auditorium to crowding the streets, I took some pictures with friends and decided to bail. No reception for me!

Actually, I had something more important and personal to accomplish: celebrating with my family. With that, my friend drove me to the gas station so I could buy a pack of cigarettes, and we drove to Lakeside Cemetery. I’m so happy that April 7th was such a beautiful and gorgeous day. Every other year it has rained on graduation. Today the sun shinned and warmed the earth at a moderately warm temperature and a light breeze tiptoed against the skin. Sometimes the wind ran against my sleeves.

I don’t think I’ve given directions to my family’s grave before, but I knew the directions. In the distance came cheers from the parents and friends of the BHS football game. The three of us exited the car, and in my arms were my diploma, my SGA ropes, the commencement pamphlet, robe and hat; and in my pocket sat a box of Milano cigarettes with a lighter.

My family’s stone is very special. My brothers and I took years to design the face and back of the stone. The front is divided into four sections, one for my sister, my brother and both my parents. The men are on the right while women on the left, Chinese and English names embossed in the stone with ancestry to both China and America. On the back is a landscape of the Great Wall of China in the foreground with various locations of China in the horizon.

As I introduced my friends to my family, I opened my graduation materials and placed them before my family. It seemed somewhat ritualistic in a way, although I’m not sure how traditional Chinese these actions spoke. I just knew I needed to present myself as a graduate before my family and share the moment. With everything lying before my family, I bowed to my family, then Heaven and Earth. Heaven and Earth face away from my family towards Lake Champlain. After, I opened the box of cigarettes and lit three, bowed a total of nine times (three standing and three kneeling) and presented them to my father. Then, I presented an extra three to my brother and smoked on myself.

Now, here is some cultural context. Normally, I would burn incenses (joss sticks, papers, joss money), but I don’t have any. The cigarettes have a bit of significance. See, when I was in China back in 2005, my brother came to get me. While still in my hometown, we went to pray to our great-grandfather. When we got there, we realized we did not have any incense. But with a warm smile and strong voice, my brother asked if anyone had cigarettes. Of course every man had a pack. One of our uncles realized what my brother was thinking and said, “You can’t burn cigarettes in place of incenses!” My brother replied, “Of course we can! Great-grandfather loves to smoke! He hasn’t smoked in a long time!” With that, he lit some cigarettes and we prayed.

That is why I burned the cigarettes. I didn’t think about burning three for my brother, but decided to a minute after I burned them for my dad. So the three of us guys were smoking cigarettes and I noticed my dad’s three cigarettes burned faster. Of course his would burn faster because I started those first, but here is another cultural story.

I may have this wrong, but this is from my family’s perspective. Each time we burn incense, we have to wait until the incenses are completely burned before starting the next part of the ritual. My brother once told me that the faster the incenses burn, the happier our family and ancestors are. I learned from my Vietnamese friend that is not always the case in his culture. While my dad’s cigarettes burned, my brother’s cigarettes did not burn as quickly. And I realized he might not be happy with the cigarettes. So I explained to him the reason I wanted to smoke. See, when I was little he and I would tell our father not to smoke. After 19 years, I guess my brother still feels the same. I explained to my brother that I would like to spend this moment smoking with my father and brother because this would be the only way we could do it. And then, the cigarettes burned faster. As I waited, I went to check on my two friends. One of my friends tried to hiding her tears. The other examined the Great Wall of China and the other locations.

The final stage was to burn the commencement pamphlet. Taking the cigarette butts with me, I went to the side of the road and burned the pamphlet and cigarette butts. With my Chinese friend watching, I cupped some water in my hand from a nearby faucet and poured it thrice on the ashes.

Together, the three of us left and I felt more connected with my family.

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Example Writing Piece- Who Stereotypes Eating Customs?

Who Stereotypes Eating Customs?

Who likes hot dogs? Just a regular cheap stick of sausage between a flimsy bun and lathered in ketchup? I really like hot dogs. Boiled…grilled…chopped and stir-fried…hot dog fried rice…I’ve liked hot dogs ever since I was a little kid. It was my understanding that this was the American snack for the American pastime: baseball. Even though I never watched baseball…

I don’t know if that’s just the American stereotype thing or just how I grew up. I remember an American commercial stating baseball and hot dogs go together. As I grew older, people started saying how gross hot dogs are because of how many different meats go into one of them, or something ridiculous. Yet people still eat them, so I guess they’re OK, right?

Well…this past weekend at the Accepted Students Day event, these two girls came up to me and asked if the dumplings were any good. I really dislike this question. Food is food. My preference, and practically everyone’s preference, is different. Sure, we may both like General Tso Chicken or a tuna fish salad, but we like them for different reasons. I’ll try practically anything (depending on how my nose and eyes perceive it!). I don’t like tuna fish, but when someone offered me tuna mixed with mac and cheese, I had to try it. And it was pretty darn good.

This question often comes up. “Do Chinese people eat dog meat?” Or cat…frog or any other animal. Depending on how you ask the question, you can come off as offensive or genuinely curious. It’s usually the former, cause once I confirm their question they go into, “Ew, that’s really gross! How could you eat a dog?” How can you eat a pig, an animal that resides in its own filth? “Oh, the meat is clean, processed thoroughly…blah blah blah.” Don’t give me that! What do you know about meat processing? Unless you can prove to me that McDonald’s chicken nuggets aren’t just a bunch of whole chickens blended together (guts and all) then processed and turned into those golden little nuggets that come in packages of 4 or 6 or 10, then don’t complain to me that eating a dog is gross.

Maybe there are some cultural values that people have with dogs. Dog is a man’s best friend. They are portrayed as companions, members of the family and even symbols of innocence in the media. That’s a good reason not to eat an animal who has been domesticated and lives with you. But then again, Homer turned a lobster in a pet then ate him after accidentally boiling him in a tub of hot water….

The first time I went to China in 2005, my family of 20 or so relatives, plus a couple dozen neighbors, set up an elaborate feast to welcome me. Five varieties of meat and several different vegetables were aligned across the table. Everything looked tasty and I tried everything without question. A week later, my brother asked if I liked the food. Of course I did! This was REAL Chinese food! Imagine chicken, goose, pork, shrimp…all these different dishes and the joyous celebration with family for my first arrival in China! My brother then apologized for not stopping me from eating the dog meat, but I had already grabbed it without knowing. I guess I liked it…I don’t even remember what it tasted like.

In 2009, I was at my cousin ErJie’s place (二表姐/二姐) in China and she asked what we should have for dinner. My other cousin, BiaoGe (表哥), was with me. I said anything, and ErJie got excited and said, “Let’s have dog meat! I have some in the freezer.” Quickly, I declined and asked for something else. She replied, “Don’t worry. I can defrost the dog meat easily.” BiaoGe then said, “Tommy and his brothers don’t eat dog meat.” Later, I told my brother the story and he laughed. Actually, I learned that my immediate family had a deeper, more personal reason, for not eating dog meat.

My great-grandfather had a farm back in the day and he also owned a dog. From old age, the dog died and my great-grandfather buried it. Quite sad to bury one’s own friend. Since then, my family does not eat dog meat out of respect for our great-grandfather.

Personally, I feel that is more valuable than saying, “I don’t eat dog meat because of some stereotype or prejudice.” Some people eat snails and frogs. Others eat scorpions or…what have you. Dave Chapelle actually makes a really good point about food.

People only see the surface. They see the division in our foods. Just because I eat chicken and watermelon, they think that something is wrong with me. Let me tell you something. If you don’t like chicken or watermelon, something is wrong with you ********

Maybe chicken and watermelon are more common than dog meat. But still…how can you label someone for what they eat? Do you not like watermelon? Or chicken? WOW…

I actually found a really good quote from an online forum about food! The forum is here.

American people eat beef, that’s just unholy in Indian’s eyes. American people eat pork, that’s just unholy in all Middle East and Muslim worlds.

- Hansioux

I never hear many Indians or Muslims complain about what Americans eat. Maybe that’s because I’m in Vermont and going to Champlain College where I don’t have the opportunity to meet these diverse groups of people. But for me, it’s not about saying, “Oh, I’m the host or the big man and whatever I make you have to endure.” No. It’s about accommodating and learning from other people’s cultures. I do feel guilty if I can’t meet everyone’s needs. That’s why I made chicken and pork dumplings and I felt guilty for not meeting the needs of vegetarians. When you can smell the food and not be able to taste it, that’s real torture right there.

Taiwanese refer to dog meat as 香肉 (xiāng ròu), meaning fragrance meat. It is their belief that dog meat has health benefits, such has raising the improving blood circulation and raising the body temperature. That is great for the long winter months! In 300 BCE, Chinese philosopher Mencius (孟子) proposed eating dog meat because of pharmaceutical benefits. In the Zhou Dynasty, dog, goat and pork were referred to as the three beasts. Dog meat is referred to as 地羊 (dì yáng) or “Mutton on Earth.” Cantonese call dog meat “三六香肉” (sān liù xiāng ròu) or 3-6 fragrant meat. 3+6 is 9, and in Cantonese, nine and dog are homophones (pronounced gáu).

Let’s forget dog meat for the time being. My favorite dim sum dish is 凤爪 (fèng zhǎo). Directly translated, this is “phoenix talons.” Of course, phoenixes don’t exist, but it’s fancier than saying “chicken feet.” That’s what we call it in English because they are literally chicken feet. Basically tender skin on tiny bones in a velvety sweet red sauce with black beans. I love chicken feet. You can buy them in the store, but nothing compares to eating them at a sit down dim sum.

Honestly, I think it’s just sheer ignorance and arrogance to discriminate one’s dietary customs. In the end, it’s just food. If you were riding a camel out in the desert and ran out of food and water, obviously you will eat the camel for survival purposes.

Now if we say that dogs are all cute and fluffy, what about other animals? Are they being discriminated against? In some weird fashion, cows are cute. Look at this one: 

How bout we don’t eat…chickens? Chickens are awesome! Look at them and their, white/brown feathers and…yellow beaks. Why not refrain from eating chickens? My grandma raises chickens then eats them. Did we just decide that dogs and cats, and whatever we domesticate, are not worth eating? People have fish tanks and still eat fish. That’s really contradicting! “Oh, but I have goldfish and those are cute little guys! teehee!” What about Japanese koi fish? Those are gigantic goldfish that we eat. Would you eat Nemo? Probably not cause he’s a CGI character, but if you were presented a delicious fish you’d eat it.

Who decided to take a dog and make it a family pet? What if gorillas grabbed humans and made us their pets? If they went on a sudden rampage, it would be Planet of the Apes. Then maybe we’d be domesticated and eaten. Anyways…perhaps we should all be vegetarians if we really care so much about preserving cute animals. That is the most unrealistic concept. We simply need to learn tolerance and respect. Sigh…

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ABC is Cultural Diversity - November 2nd, 2007

The most notable generation that is contributing to the United States is Generation-Y,  the generation of today. However, there is a second generation that is also contributing to society: Generation-ABC (Gen-ABC). ABC is an abbreviation of “American-Born-Chinese.” Gen-ABC is not an entirely new generation, but Gen-ABC is the generation that stands out most significantly amongst American Generation-Y. Gen-ABC has contributed to much of the cultural and ethnic diversity in the US.

American-Chinese are one of the most culturally diverse cultures in the United States. The Gen-ABC of today is culturally diverse because of the emphasis from the placed upon them by the older Chinese generations, namely the parents and grandparents. However, the cultural identity of Gen-ABC is being jeopardized by their needing to fit in with the American Generation-Y era. The American teachers and students throughout grammar school emphasize the importance of Gen-ABC to learn English for proficiency throughout their school lives while the Chinese parents emphasize the importance of culture and heritage. Whether or not their parents emphasize the importance of language is the parents’ choice. If language is an issue, parents tend to teach their children verbal communication rather the writing and reading. After all, verbal communication outweighs writing and reading when Gen-ABC is growing up in an English-Dominating Country.

A blogger, who classes him/herself americanbornchinese, examines the ABC experience through his/her eyes: “The truth is, if you have been born and raised overseas outside of your mother country, there is an inevitability in terms of being accustomed to your host country’s way of life and culture and becoming removed from your own. It’s like this no matter what ethnicity you are” (From the ABC Perspective: Torn Between Two Worlds). However, the Chinese do not want their children to loose their culture. Culture is what defines people. The Chinese practice the Confucian principle of filial piety, which is the belief for one to have love and respect for one’s parents and ancestor; this idea is also geared towards elders.

The strongest aspect about the filial piety principle is how the Chinese honor the dead. On April 5th of the Lunar Calendar, the Chinese go to their respected ancestral graves (grandparents included) and burn incenses, joss sticks and give offerings of meat. The gravesites can be found on various mountainsides, which can be a 6-hour walk away. Walking across six mountains and carrying 20 pounds of food, incenses is common; I’ve done this twice. In an online article called A Letter from China: Differences in American and Chinese Cultures by Ernest Pinson, he expresses his idea about this practice: “…I wish we Americans would adopt where all family members go together to each separate grave site and remember their dead.”

Remembering where one’s roots lie is crucial to understanding oneself. Although not part of Gen-ABC, African-American Alex Haley emphasizes the importance of knowing where one comes from in his novel Roots. His book trails back nine generations to when his ancestor Kunta Kinte was born and sold into slavery in the United States. No matter how we came here, or arrived at our final destination, it is important to know where we came from.A final key aspect of the Gen-ABC is how they write. The basic structure and idea of English writing, according to Catherine McLoughlin in her piece Assessment of Writing in Multicultural Setting, “Composing an essay is a thinking process which calls on a number of complex cognitive skills. Writing has become compared to the problem solving which takes place in many everyday activities. While the finished product may show a linear development, in reality writing is not a progression through successive stages but a continual reworking of a number of stages, i.e, generating ideas, developing plans, composing an outline, reviewing and redrafting, organizing and reviewing.” This is accordance to the American style of writing. “Chinese rhetorical practices into a cultural context is especially important in order to dispel some persistent misperceptions about Chinese characteristics of writing.”

Gen-ABC strives to preserve cultural identity in a world that is slowly losing it’s culture to a fast-paced Generation-Y world.

MLA Citation

Americanbornchinese. “From the ABC Perspective: Torn Between Two Worlds.”

Americanbornchinese. 2007. 4 Nov. 2007

<http://americanbornchinese.wordpress.com/2007/06/05/from-the-abc-perspective-torn-between-two-cultures/>

De Vries, Kimberly. “Writing "Clearly": Differing Perceptions of Clarity in Chinese and

American Texts.” MIT. 2002 4 Nov 2007

McLoughlin, C. (1995). Assessment of writing in multicultural settings. In Summers, L.

(Ed), A Focus on Learning, p165-171. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Teaching Learning Forum, Edith Cowan University, February 1995. Perth: Edith Cowan University. http://lsn.curtin.edu.au/tlf/tlf1995/mcloughlin.html

Pinson, Ernest. “A  Letter From China: Differences in American and  Chinese Culture.”

Harbinger. 2000. 4 Nov. 2007 <http://www.theharbinger.org/xix/001003/pinson.html>

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

The Hy5 Power Generator

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Technical Writing Sample 1

The Hy5 Power Generator

“The world’s answer to a green sustainable future.”

by Matt Forrest, Tommy Ngan, and Steve Pinkha

Professor Warren Baker

WRT 231-02 -Technical Writing

ABSTRACT

The Hy5 Power Generator is an advanced electricity producing turbine, which is able to utilize the never-ending supply of gravitational energy to produce electricity perpetually. The Hy5 incorporates five different types of energy to create a positive net output of electricity. Gravitational, magnetic, hydraulic, solar and mechanical energy are all used to assist in the rotation of the turbine.

Because a normal turbine always requires more electricity to run than it will produce, the results are always a net loss of electricity. By relying on gravity to continually add energy to the matrix, The Hy5 is able to operate within the laws of accepted physics, therefore creating, in a sense, a perpetually sustaining rotational turbine - as any negative effects of gravity are counteracted by the combined effort of the other four assisting energies, resulting in enough force to produce electricity at a positive net gain.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

The Hy5 is composed of five main parts: an advanced hybrid gravitational/magnetic/hydraulic rotary system which is the main method of harnessing the sustainable energy of gravity; an advanced hybrid gear/pulley/pendulum rotary system and a solar powered rotary motor, battery and solar cells which are used as the primary system to counteract the negative effects of gravity; a slow speed electrical generator to produce electricity; and a human powered energy transmission and retention system to be used as the primary backup system in case of an emergency.

THE HY5 GRAVITATIONAL/MAGNETIC/HYDRAULIC ROTARY SYSTEM©

The main source of power generation comes from the gravitational/magnetic/hydraulic rotary system or GMH. The GMH consists of three main parts: the magnetic shell, the rotational magnetic cylinders, the Pelton wheel array and housing, and the internal hydraulic system and weight.

The magnetic shell and rotational magnetic cylinders work in much the same way as a contemporary maglev train. The cylinders are capped with a serious of alternating north/south magnets, which is mirrored on the inside of the housing shell. As the cylinders rotate within the magnetic shell, the magnets continually push and pull the unit, assisting in the rotation of the unit.

The internal hydraulic system and weight, along with the Pelton wheel, is the main system that allows the matrix to function. The GHM consists of four hydraulic cylinders, only two of which are filled with water at any one time. As the unit rotates, a weight inside the cylinder pushes the water from the bottom cylinder to the top cylinder increasing its weight and turning the Pelton wheel, allowing it to rotate. The system then continues perpetually.

THE HY5 GEAR/PULLEY/PENDULUM ROTARY SYSTEM© & THE HY5 HUMAN POWERED ENERGY TRANSMISSION & RETENTION SYSTEM©

The Hy5 GPP and HETR are the first and most powerful source of energy used to counteract the negative effects of gravity on the overall matrix. These systems utilize mechanical energy. The GPP consists of a series of hairsprings that are wound in advance by either the HETR or a specialized pendulum attached to the main shaft. If the matrix begins to slow the springs will begin to unwind and through the assistance of a series of multiplying gears and pulleys, be able to return the rotation of the matrix back to operating speed.

The HETR is an emergency system used in case of total system failure. A person is able to manually tighten the hairsprings by turning a crank at the base of the unit. Or a person my assist the pendulum at any time by tightening reserve hairsprings housed in the GPP, in case they are ever needed in the future.

THE SOLAR POWERED ROTARY MOTOR, BATTERY AND SOLAR CELLS

In addition to the GPP, the solar powered rotary motor also assists in the countering of gravity’s negative effects. Solar power is used to charge a high efficiency eco-organic battery. When the matrix begins to slow, and if the GPP does not have enough reserve energy to assist in the rotation, than the solar powered rotary motor will take over and return the matrix to proper operating speeds.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

  CONTACT:

Matthew Forrest

Hy5 Power Company

1-802-333-4HY5(4935)

1-802-333-4936

forrest@hy5power.com 

www.hyf5power.com 

  Hy5 Industries Unveils Hybrid Power Generator

  Burlington, Vermont, April 14, 2011 – Today, we welcome the latest generation of green power generators to the market: Hy5 Power Company's Hy5 Power Generator. The Hy5 Power Generator is the first of its kind and utilizes five different forms of clean and sustainable energy to generate power for any building or on-site project.

  Never before has there been a generator that uses multiple forms of clean energy and energy magnification in combination to create a completely emission-free and sustainable power source. Harnessing the power of the sun, gravity, and magnetic attraction/repulsion, the Hy5 Power Generator is able to effectively generate electricity. The synthesis of these different forces allows the Hy5 Power Generator to run completely independently from conventional fuels. The machine takes solar power and uses it to start the magnetic and gravitational system, which perpetuates its own energy, creating a self-sustaining circuit. Multiple fail-safes have been implemented in case the magnetic and gravitational system slows or stops or the sun is blocked by clouds.

  The Hy5 Power Generator was invented with energy efficiency, sustainability, and free power in mind.  

There is no reason to pay for electricity anymore, as a single Hy5 Power Generator is capable of powering a house, small office building, outdoor event, or construction site... for free. Home and small business owners are now able to cut their annual energy costs to the price of a Hy5 Power Generator. The world has been asking for free power. Hy5 Industries aims to meet this demand with the Hy5 Power Generator.

  ABOUT HY5 POWER COMPANY

Hy5 Power Company was founded in 2011 by Matt Forrest, Tommy Ngan, and Steve Pinkham. Operating out of Burlington, Vermont, the company's goal is to reach the international market for green power generators and eventually become the world's number one supplier of green power generation technology. A larger scale and more powerful Hy5 generator is currently under development for commercial application in apartment buildings, large offices, and college campuses. For more information, contact: support@hy5power.com.

  – END –

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Against Free Will

I lost track of how long I stood in line. You sort of just get used to just standing here. The shock of just waiting in line to be judged by God Himself made time trivial. There were about a hundred people ahead of me. Everyone wondered when they would receive their wings and fly amongst deceased family and friends. From their friendly conversations, I couldn’t tell if they were friends in their previous lives or became acquainted here. Apparently there were some mothers who carried their children.

“You’re a young one,” said a man leaning on a cane. Still dressed in a black suit and matching tie, he smelled of preserved flowers and ointments. An orange lily peaked out from his breast pocket.

“Somewhat,” I replied, not wanting to attract attention. In fact, I was much younger than most people here. “I lived a good life.”

“A good life, or a short one?” the man grinned at the inappropriate joke. When he finished slapping his thighs, he extended his right hand. “I am Mr. Smith.”

My grip felt insecure in his bony hand. Even though we were in Heaven, I was sure I could break his hand with a firm grip.

“Come on, ya pansy!” he exclaimed, and I jumped. I hardly felt a change, but he tightened his grip.

“Mr. Smith, not to be rude,” I replied, lightly squeezing his hand, “but I’m not comfortable making friends now.”

Mr. Smith nodded and returned both hands to the cane. I thought he was going to strike me for being rude, but he simply smiled.

“It’s not that I am not friendly. I just don’t want to complicate things.”

“How much more complicated can you get? We’re all dead!”

“Some of us would rather go to Heaven than Hell,” said a guy with a deep voice. Jagged ritual scars, or so I assumed, curved over his eyebrows.

“I don’t think he meant it in that manner,” I replied. “I just don’t want to become friends with you guys here and never see you again.”

“We are all living in one world now,” said Mr. Smith. “You have no reason to go to Hell, do you?”

My mind felt numb and my cheeks became warm. Not a legitimate enough reason for God to send me to Hell, but an extremely personal one.

“I accepted God into my life.”

“Then you shouldn’t be denied Heaven,” the man with the scars said. “No matter my excuses or reasoning, I will go to Hell.”

From the healing scars on this man’s shoulders, I felt his sorrow. His eyes told a personal story that I only knew from human rights’ classes. My life, no matter how short, was something fortunate. I doubted his life was something that could be forgotten, or even cherished. I wondered if God would be merciful to ease this man’s memories or torture him with regret. I wasn’t here to make friends, but I wanted to ask this man questions of his experiences. Perhaps I could help him reach Heaven.

“If God is merciful, then your sins did will be forgiven,” I said.

“God does not forgive those whose fingers are stained with his brother’s blood.” At that I thought back to the Biblical account of the first murder. I wondered if we would meet a God of mercy or justice. “My brother would be better left off without me.”

Sunlight rippled against his eyes, and his jaw tightened as he held back the tears. “God would be most merciful to allow my brother not to see the eyes of his murderer.” He cleared his throat and turned to me. “So Mr. No Name, it sounded as though you have doubt of going to Heaven.”

“According to what I have been taught, I believe I will go to Heaven.”

“Then what’s the doubt?”

This man’s story moved me. I don’t know if my story or reasoning could even be compared to his. He had reason to argue with God to be in Heaven. I didn’t.

“There are many people here, I would imagine, who have reasons to be in Heaven. Maybe there are some who don’t deserve to be there and will fight to be in Heaven.”

“Yet you’re doing the opposite?”

I wondered if my heart still pounded in my chest. There was no pulse in that space between my eyes and ears, yet the unwanted truth heated my cheeks. Everyone around me had their personal reasons for going to Heaven, whether their beliefs gave them hope or a longing to see family.

“When I was younger, their faces were like a photograph,” I said, keeping a low voice. “I closed my eyes and felt my mother’s arms. My father’s laugh. Now when I close my eyes, the memories are like a movie without sound and scenes out of sequence. I don’t know which memories belong where. Even the sounds are redubbed from my own imagination.”

Two words came to the man’s mind and yet they served no purpose other than filling the silence. The ritual scars on his forehead wrinkled as he thought of a more meaningful response.

“So you would argue with God to be in Hell? To see your parents?”

Hearing it come from someone else made me cold. It surprised me that this man I only knew for a few minutes understood my reasoning. Some of my friends couldn’t figure out the reasoning on their own until I told them. Even then the more conservative of my friends would say God comes first.

“That’s very noble of you, my friend.”

Silver rays of light came into my peripheral and I noticed we reached the gates of Heaven. What happened to all the people that stood ahead of us? Only a single figure stood at the gates. Sunlight appeared to reflect against his wings, producing an aura of silver light.

“Welcome to Heaven,” said the angel, his voice smooth with a resounding echo. “God awaits His children beyond these gates.”

The angel waved a hand at the gates and curtains of light warmed our faces. For a moment, I felt euphoria and wondered if my acquaintance forgot his troubles. All the light around us softened until I noticed a row of pillars circling me. Emblems of crosses, doves, pentagrams and other unrecognizable religious symbols sat atop each pillar. Perhaps God’s influence extended beyond a single religious sect. Blue sky opened above me and the clouds were few. I was alone.

“Welcome, my child.”

I spun around, looking for the source of the voice. It was a voice I never heard before, but I knew the speaker. Some people heard Him in prayer. Others found comfort in Him from watching the sunset. At this moment, I understood why people sought His guidance.  I didn’t know where or how I’d find my comfort.

“Your heart desires that which is beyond your vision.”

“So you’ve already decided my fate?”

“Can it be true that you would rather suffer in Hell than a life of eternal grace?”

“My previous life lacked any suffering that should qualify me for peace. The only suffering I endured was never knowing my parents.”

“Is it not I who gives life to all creatures?” God’s words caused my shoulders to tense. “I am the Father of all life.”

 I felt His presence evading my mind. He knew I disapproved, yet how could I challenge His omnipotence?

“I would not suffer in Hell. Even without the luxuries of Heaven, my parents would provide me unconditional comfort.”

God’s voice left my mind. I wasn’t sure if He no longer looked over me from every direction. Perhaps I said something that upset the Father. I couldn’t imagine anyone else arguing against God to enter Hell. Maybe righteous men who knew they deserved Hell argued against Heaven. That’s a possibility. Millions died before me. I couldn’t be the only one who would ask to be damned for eternity.

As I stood waiting in God’s absence, I wondered how much my mother changed from the photographs. Had those wrinkles faded from the corners of her eyes? Did her hair remain curled at her shoulders for these past twenty years? Well she must have cut her hair once in a while. My last memories of her were sad. From her taking out a splinter from my left hand to shopping for bubble gum, I didn’t know which happened first. I guess the latter happened often.

I didn’t remember my father too well. Every waking hour he worked. I rarely saw him other than on the weekends, and even then he rarely talked. Too exhausted from working twelve hour shifts six days a week. Friends and family remembered his kindness for every customer and the dedication to his family. No one expected his dedication to providing for the family would create distance memories. I don’t even remember what we last talked about, but I figured I never said good-bye.

One of the last memories I had of my father, or at least I thought, was of me arguing with him about wearing a pair of socks. Could that be how I last saw him? I wasn’t sure.

As I tried reliving the past, a surge of pain filled my eyes. These weren’t simply memories. Even though two decades passed, I knew they happened. They weren’t something I created. I remembered living in that time.

“I do not wish to interrupt your thoughts, child. There is no return if you wish to reunite with your parents.”

My lips didn’t move. God must had known I had no intention of letting go. His utopia remained empty.

“What of the others who are sent to hell? What of that man I met before I entered heaven?”

God remained silent. I wondered if He knew what I wanted to say and was allowing me to speak, or He had other intentions.

“I don’t know what caused the man to kill his brother,” I said, somehow becoming a lawyer, “but he shouldn’t be sentenced to hell.”

“Do you take me as a merciful God, or a God of proper  judgment?”

I’ve always wondered how a merciful God would differ from a rational God. Forgiveness comes from mercy. If that were the case, then every criminal would be forgiven for their sins. A rational God, one who judges without remorse or pity, would damn the lives of even those who accepted Him if they committed inhumane crimes. It must be difficult being God.

It then occurred to me that I hadn’t chosen what mattered most. This wasn’t a decision of heaven or hell. Rather this was a decision of choosing my family over God. My whole life was clouded by religious ideals. Heaven or hell didn’t matter.

“I choose to be with my parents,” I said firmly.

Wherever God was, I felt His smile. A circle of radiant light swirled around me. A sense of warmth caressed my skin and I no longer felt alone. There she was, her hair glowing silver. Stepping next to her was a slightly taller figure with three freckles on his scalp. I didn’t need to rely on the pictures anymore. Before the light faded, I fell into their arms.

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Here is a sample of my artwork using Adobe Illustrator CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and sketches. I am a big fan drawing hands.

For more samples, please visit my Flickr Portfolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56059861@N08/with/5183820408/

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Mother and Child

I’ve watched you sleeping for a while,

Memorizing the curve of your crooked smile.

Faded teardrops grace the corners of your cheeks,

Infinitely weary, the shadows pull across your eyes.

Between my shallow breaths I cradled your broken weight.

We ran together, you pushed me forward.

Forcing me to accept promises that I couldn’t comprehend:

“Do not look back if you no longer hear my voice.”

Five steps ahead and fingers intertwined, we ran alongside gunfire.

Genocide.

Lies.

Fear.

Oppression.

Neighbors and friends

Who once grilled steaks on Saturdays

And shared beers on Sundays

Now aim AK47s and 9 millimeters at the fathers and sons, mothers and daughters

Of diverse faiths, identities, cultures and religions.

Voices tremble, denying their Gods.

“Hold back your gun, I will convert!”

Words emptied from my mouth, exhaustion filled my throat

As I fled from the boys I once played baseball with.

My faith may have misled me; my identity forever forgotten.

My culture demolished; my religion betraying its people.

Yet my innocence had not yet been tarnished.

Although deafened by gunfire and blinded from death,

I continued leading the path to freedom.

Fear trembled against your eyes, tears traced the contours of your chin.

Gunfire so close to my ears silenced my breath. But it was not me who met the ground.

Your silence, a single shot, helped break my promise.

I turned around, and you’re no longer five steps behind me.

Now in my arms. Your blood follows us.

My strength can only go so far.

I’ll never forget your broken gaze.

Like your unconditional warmth before mine

I hold you against my heart.

My eyes dare not close,

Fearing you will no longer be with me should I wake from sleep.

Can you hear my four words?

Four simple syllables, I could not even utter while we ran.

Would it have been different if I said them before my broken promise?

A wound deepens into my heart.

Pain more severe than death.

I deny the truth I must silently accept.

My voice will reach you, but your response will never reassure my quivering voice.

“I love you, Mom.”

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Making Chinese Pyramids

Good evening, Toudai.

Tonight’s recipe was inspired by Judy Lew’s Stuffed Tofu Triangles, found in her cookbook, Quick & Easy Dim Sum and Appetizers and Light Meals. Now she and I have some variations on how we prepared our tofu triangles. I just needed a bit of inspiration before I got started. So let’s begin!

First off, make your meat stuffing. As you may have noticed from the past few recipes, I often refer back to the Heavenly Pork Dumplings Recipe. I have come to notice that the basis for many of the dishes I make relate to the first recipe, and to be quite honest I never planned for that to happen! Please note that for this recipe, the meat stuffing will be the same as the one for the dumplings, but the quantities will all be far less.

Making the Stuffing 

For the stuffing, you will need the following:

1/2 lb of Ground Pork

1/4 Cilantro

1/4 Scallion Bulb

2 Tsp. Salt

1/2 Tbs. Soy Sauce

1 Tsp of Sesame Oil (optional)

Start by dicing the cilantro and scallion. You’ll get about ¼ cup of the cilantro and scallion mix. Add this to the ground pork and mix it with one hand, mixing and squeezing the vegetables and meat together. Spread the salt evenly on top of the meat and mix it again. Finally, add the soy sauce and mix that thoroughly into the meat. It should have a nice darkish red color. If you like the taste of sesame oil, mix that into the meat.

Preparing the Tofu

Tofu is a very solid block of bean curd, yet it is extremely soft and delicate. There is a Chinese proverb that goes:

Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a mind as soft as tofu.

I really enjoy this quote. Even if you have the knowledge and ability, don't come off as arrogant.

Tofu comes in pairs and the packaging is filled with water to keep them moist. Tofu is about 2 inches thick and is made in a perfect cube (more or less). Cut the tofu diagonally into two triangles. The next part is kind of tricky: making a pocket. Take one tofu triangle into your hand and make an incision into the center of the triangle. In order to make the incision the correct depth, measure one side of the triangle with the blade and mark it with your thumb. Then, poke the blade into the tofu, make a clean cut and there you have a pocket. Do this with each tofu-triangle. Refer to the pictures for guidance!

Stuffing the Triangles

This process is MUCH easier with chopsticks, so get them if you don't already have a pair.

Fill the triangle with about a tablespoon of stuffing. And it is much easier than it sounds, and patience is key. With chopsticks, begin stuffing about a pinch of stuffing and forcing it to the back. Little by little, keep adding stuffing until the tofu pocket is full. Don't overfill it or else the meat will fall out.

The Deep Fry

Fill a wok or pot with enough oil to cover all four tofu-triangles. It may take up to 6 minutes for the oil to reach the proper temperature (360 degrees Fahrenheit). Here is a useful method to check if the oil is the correct temperature. Take some flour and drop it into the oil.

If it slowly bounces back from the bottom of the wok/pot, then it is not yet hot enough.

If it rises immediately, then the oil is hot enough.

If there is smoke, then the oil is TOO hot. Slowly remove the wok/pot and lower the temperature of the stove. Return to the wok/pot to the stove.

Once the oil is ready, slowly lower the tofu-triangles one at a time with a pair of tongs or similar device.

Fry the two triangular sides until golden brown. That should be about 2-minutes on each side. Next, adjust the tofu-triangle so the meat side faces down and continue deep-frying for 4-minutes. Rotate is 180 degrees and deep fry the edges for another 4-minutes.

Total time to deep fry the tofu-triangles is about 12-minutes. Remove from the oil one at a time with the tongs. Let the oil drip off from the tofu-triangles and arrange on a plate. Add some soy sauce for dipping as the tofu will still taste bland. Two triangles per person.

Enjoy!

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

Fallen

Heaven’s finest has fallen.

Thought his fate has been set in stone

It has yet to be set in the stars…

Book I

Fugitive

Prologue – Three months before the present

Nestled between distant mountain peaks sat the setting sun, its waning warmth melting the clouds into gaseous amber. Gusts of cold air pushed the clouds against floating mountain peaks like the ocean surf breaking against sandy beaches. But the mountains floated high above the terrain below. Like nebulae giving birth to stars, these amber clouds somehow gave birth to these floating mountains. And for however briefly, nothing disturbed Heaven’s solitude.

From this high above the world, Heaven’s Ghost felt most free. Two decades of lies and years of guilt forced his head down. Ice glinted across his black hair. Without using his hands, the hood of his tabard rose over his forehead. He hated the cold. Sepia light swept over his obsidian eyes and the particles of ice melted. He stood atop the world on a bed of clouds, telekinetically keeping afloat. Though not the youngest Angel, the more experienced Archangels didn’t underestimate his abilities. Sunlight froze against his saffron skin. For millenniums, this war against Enya had been fought silently. Fear kept everyone silent. Only his intervention startled her crown. While he stood far from the ensuing battle he was not alone. From behind, his shadow separated a pack of griffons.

Each griffon hunched forward at three meters. If allowed to stand upright, their height would increase an extra meter. Golden feathers laced across their bodies and shimmered in the sunlight. Talons capable of tearing apart Archangels’ wings delicately held onto the clouds. Their very physical prowess overshadowed Heaven’s Ghost, yet he didn’t shudder.

“I could kill you all with a single stroke,” said Heaven’s Ghost, his voice commanding a power stronger than those he subdued. Savoring this moment before he joined his army, his knuckles turned whiter than his ragged tabard. The griffons’ salivating growls quickly muffled into helpless whimpers. Whether he burned in hell’s polluted oceans or vanquished from existence, the war will end tonight. With a slight jerk of his head, he released the beasts and they tore past him in v-formation. From their hardened shoulders branched out their wings. With each flap of their wings, the clouds broke. Griffons knew all too well an immortal’s weakness. The first to go to hell were the Angels, their lack of close combat experience making them easy targets. Archangels fell second, although their ability to create explosions with their telekinesis kept them alive longer. Only the strongest survived, though many would rather be in hell than here.

No matter the viciousness of the griffons, the Seraphs awaiting them were by far deadlier. Far stronger than Archangels who create explosions, Seraphs could paralyze life to the point of instant death. Heaven’s Ghost simply yawned without much enthusiasm. He readjusted his reverse grip on the most iconic sword ever created. With a blade crafted from Seraph feathers and a slightly curved hilt, the value of the sword measured beyond its aesthetic beauty.

Six wings swept over Heaven’s Ghost and he leapt off the cloud bed just before it combusted. Sunlight set an ambient flame along the edges of the Seraph’s white wings. Deep shadows formed from the tears of his ragged tabard. Not a single drop of blood or physical wound marked his flesh.

“Her Majesty requests the Xeliri.” His reached outwards and a row of feathers followed his arm.

Heaven’s Ghost brought the Xeliri forward with grace as if the sword was his own. Still held in a reverse grip, he angled the sword defensively. He couldn’t decide whether courage or sheer ignorance brought this Seraph here. Probably the former. Enya would expend anyone to get the sword.

“You do not deserve the Cardinal Death.” Heaven’s Ghost rotated the Xeliri and brought his thumb against the dull edge of the blade. “Do not force me to end your existence.”

“Her Majesty demands deliverance.”

“Then I shall be the one who delivers.”

The Seraph’s eyes drew to the Xeliri. With eyes focused on the blade, he caused the air to explode by Heaven’s Ghost. As he recovered from the surprise attack, three feathers sped at him. Sometimes it felt like the Xeliri moved without his command. There came moments when that saved his life. This was not one of those moments. Just as the he deflected the first feather, gold flames burst from it. The Xeliri bent inwards before slipping from his fingers and he cringed as his ribcage cracked.

Ignoring the pain, he turned to the Xeliri. Two telekinetic forces reached for the sword and Heaven’s Ghost remembered the other two feathers. Instead of challenging the Seraph’s strength, he pulled away and telekinetically caught one of the feathers. There wouldn’t be much time before both the feather would explode and he lost the Xeliri’s power. The Seraph charged forward, hoping to meet the Xeliri, but he came to a halt. Buried deep in his chest burned the feather meant to weaken Heaven’s Ghost. Just as the searing heat tore through his flesh, he watched the Xeliri and Heaven’s Ghost disappear into the horizon.

Whether or not they were his own soldiers, Archangels and Seraphs alike blasted away in his telekinetic wake. By the time anyone felt his attacks, Heaven’s Ghost was miles closer to Enya’s castle. His imagination ran wild with hopes of seeing her beg for mercy at the end of the Xeliri. She was different from other Seraphs. Perhaps her powers were constant, even without the Xeliri. A more sinister thought came to his mind: what was it like to die?

Yet none of these questions really mattered. Only when he took the throne and avenged his parents would he finally be freed. Heaven would be freed. Just as he saw the translucent limestone walls of Enya’s castle, filled with confidence of the Xeliri, pride created doubt. After all the battles he won and all the training he received, none of it could best Enya’s strength. Hopefully the Xeliri would give him the necessary edge.

At the heart of the floating archipelago stood Enya’s castle, dominated the five smaller islands surrounded it. Each one of the islands had a spiraling steeple reaching up to hold the sky. Platinum arch catenaries connected the five steeples to the castle’s terraces like bridges to uncertainty. Her castle produced a dominant shadow upon the western island.

Heaven’s Ghost found himself standing atop the northern arch, still ten miles from the castle. That distance was trivial. Within seconds he could touch the cream colored facades or stand atop the bronze spires. With such power he felt weights locking his ankles. Could this insecurity hinder the Xeliri?

“I am Heaven’s Ghost,” he reminded himself. Enya’s soldiers trembled at his name, including those mindless griffons. Three winged-shapes extended from his shadow. Apparently no one learned how to properly engage the wielder of this sword. With a quick spin and an outstretched hand, he stopped the Seraph. He was a bit older than the others, and Heaven’s Ghost only knew this because of his golden wings.

“You dare challenge he who commands this blade?” Heaven’s Ghost growled.

“You are misled by overconfidence.”

A sudden migraine pushed through Heaven’s Ghost and his telekinetic grip weakened. The air blurred around him and three spontaneous explosions knocked him against the arch bridge. Obviously the Seraph knew a simple push does not incapacitate him. Heaven’s Ghost kicked off the arch before a telekinetic push left a large dent in the stone. A second migraine shocked his mind, and ignoring it made it worse. The Seraph raised his hand again and Heaven’s Ghost read the attack. Before the air combusted, he redirected the attack to the Seraph. Diving forward, he grabbed the Seraph’s lapel and raised the Xeliri. As he swung down for the killing stroke, his hand froze. He grunted as he pushed against the telekinetic shield. Right when he felt the shield weaken, the Seraph launched an offensive attack and Heaven’s Ghost fell further away. Unless he wanted more company, Heaven’s Ghost knew he had to end this bout. As he fell hundreds of feet to the sky, he telekinetically pulled the clouds tightly into a cushion. He threw the Xeliri forward. The Seraph ducked under the blade as it grazed through his brown hair. He looked back for Heaven’s Ghost, but he already left the cloud bed.

No matter how powerful Archangels and Seraphs became, Heaven’s Ghost preferred being a wingless Angel. Those wings had their special properties, but with the extra body mass they were less versatile. Heaven’s Ghost reappeared behind the Seraph and pulled the Xeliri back. With his other hand, he twisted the Seraph around and drove the blade through his chest.

Paralyzing his entire body with the efficiency of a virus, but faster than death, the Seraph held his breath. Though he’d felt this pain before when he died as human, this anguish reminded him there was no heaven afterwards. He slumped forward as Heaven’s Ghost pulled the Xeliri from his body. Along with the exiting blade came his spirit, a web of gold light outlining his veins.

This wasn’t the first time Heaven’s Ghost saw this light. Many times executed Angels under Enya’s command, sending their spirits to a netherworld no one could find. It’s been a long time since he took someone’s spirit. Seeing it again made his skin crawl. This Seraph wasn’t meant to die. Instead, he carried on and gave the soul one last chance to reunite with the body.

He doubted if sparing this Seraph’s life redeemed him the slightest. Probably not. This war alone ended the lives of thousands, even if he killed them indirectly. God didn’t even have the power to save his soul. No one was going to hold his shoulders and tell him his sins were forgiven. He alone could attain redemption, and hopefully Enya’s death would save his soul.

With only a few yards to cover, the Xeliri quivered in his hand, but that wasn’t his own doing. Even a calm river involuntarily rippled. That disturbance came from the Xeliri’s rightful master. As if retaining a hidden subconscious, the Xeliri forever trembled near Enya. Heaven’s Ghost tried to calm the sword from rattling, but that only enticed the spasms. A sudden calm weakened the Xeliri, yet Heaven’s Ghost continued facing the translucent walls. Unfortunately the Xeliri couldn’t let him see through solid objects. Through the layers of transparent glass, he could feel thousands of Seraphs waiting. Only one Seraph concerned him though.

“Still seeking to avenge the forgotten.” Somehow Enya’s voice startled him more than feeling ice against the back of his neck. Even the air felt more still, either out of fear or reverence. No one revered Enya. His sleeves flattened as Enya’s telekinesis coiled around his arms. For three millenniums she ruled this Celestial kingdom, but she didn’t appear much older than Heaven’s Ghost. Gravity shied away from her poised figure. Only the breeze caught the golden hair that ran the length of her bare neck. Her pale face only made her dark eyes ever more dominating.

“Yet you remember the reason I fight.” Heaven’s Ghost didn’t need to face Enya. He knew well the face of Heaven’s tyrant. With eyes closed, he could see her floating behind him in a golden aura. After fighting for so long, he was finally in her presence again. With her sword in his hand. Unlike those weak griffons he subdued, he feared what would happen if she opened her wings. Once again the Xeliri vibrated in his grasp reminding him the power she possessed. Taking a final breath, he called upon the Xeliri’s power. All his wounds healed instantly. Turning towards her, his telekinesis thundered from his palm.

Even without the Xeliri, Enya’s strength refused to falter. Storm clouds billowed beneath her feet. Telekinetic ripples brushed off her ash-white skin. She made no noticeable move, and Heaven’s Ghost slammed against the castle walls. Her powers showered upon the calm river that was Heaven’s Ghost. Overcome with despair, Heaven’s Ghost trembled to stand his ground. Drowning now, he screamed again as the Xeliri ignited one final time. Enya grimaced and crippled Heaven’s Ghost tightly. Thrice he slammed against the translucent walls, and by the fifth time he released the Celestial Sword. Bruises and shattered bones distracted him from reaching for the Xeliri. As he struggled to face the Xeliri, he felt the feathered-blade scrape against the bone in his shoulder. Sparks of electricity paralyzed his body as if thrown in a frozen lake. Color faded before his sight vanished entirely. 

[tommylonghua-blog-blog]

The Micro-Solution to Poverty

In the 21st century, we have developed ways to cure diseases, created vaccinations to prevent illnesses and discovered how to clone animals. We have launched missions to the moon, sent spacecrafts to Mars and have satellites orbiting the Earth. Those with this kind of power are still unable to cure hunger, prevent starvation or liberate poverty in parts of the world that have an unstable economy.

There are approximately 2-billion people in the world affected by poverty. Of these 2-billion people, 13-million Bangladeshi live in poverty. Poverty is cause either from poor governance, in which the government abuses its power, does not implement policies or just unequally distribute the wealth amongst the upper class and disregard the poor. Over the past five decades, solutions to end poverty have been discussed amongst professors and scholars. In 1983, Dr. Mohammed Yunus of Bangladesh found a way to alleviate poverty through the practice of micro-finance.

The majority of people living in poverty do not have the resources needed to take out a loan. Typically these resources include collateral and credit history. “Collateral is the key word��a lot of poor people don’t have collateral” (Baker). Collateral ensures that there is a form of repayment if the loan is not possible. The loans are typically given to entrepreneurs who are selling simple products, such as woven bamboo baskets or cow milk in the free market. Without collateral or some form of ensuring they repay their loans, a bank is unlikely to loan money. These people own nothing of monetary value. No Audi to trade in in case a person is unable to pay back a bank loan, or even a simple cell phone when a food loan is late. There is no credit history to ensure whether or not these peoples can steadily repay their debts. Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) disregard the concept of collateral, instead offering these people money on the basis of interest. MFIs target the very poor and provide them with financial services: loans, banking and credit without requiring collateral. Usually, money is either donated or given to MFIs through individuals or groups. The MFIs will then redistribute the money amongst entrepreneurs affiliated with their institution.

Dr. Yunus, a professor of economics at the Chittagong University and founder of the Grameen Bank, discovered the seriousness of poverty when he conversed with a woman selling bamboo stools, which sold for two pennies per stool. This is because the woman buys bamboo from a trader who “imposed a condition on her: that she has to sell all the products she makes to him at the price he decides” (Small Fortunes). Dr. Yunus went around his village with in a similar situation; he found forty-two others. Altogether, the villagers needed twenty-seven Taka to break even. Twenty-seven Taka is approximately forty cents. Dr. Yunus generously gave them the money from his own pocket, which initiated the foundation of the Grameen Bank and an answer to poverty.

The primary borrowers of micro-financing are women. “Microcredit has shown its effectiveness in approving the lives of poor women worldwide. Today, they represent 80% of all borrowers” (Small Fortunes). Kathryn Keely, an Opportunity Innovator, said, “It’s a very simple answer: women repay at a much better rate. Grameen, Ranco Sol --other ones around the world -- started out with men, changed very quickly when they saw that women repaid at a faster rate” (Small Fortunes). Rita Lugogo, CEO of the Yehu, supports her claim: “There’s been a lot of studies done that show that if the woman gets an education, if the woman gets additional income, the whole family benefits. If it’s the man, it’s the man that benefits and maybe there might be some trickle down effect” (Small Fortunes). Reasons for this are that women are not going to let their children starve and they care very much for the family’s well being. Another argument arises when people make the assumption that micro-lending does not reach out to the entire population in poverty because the men are being ignored. Dr. Yunus points out, “It’s not a loan only for her purpose. It’s a loan for any member of the family as a collective.” Maria Otero, President of Accion says, “If you exclude men, you’re imposing on poverty, a set of requirements that are really not there at all.”

Some of the preconceptions of micro-lending are that the loans are quite small. However, the loan amount is in accordance with the exchange rate and the country’s currency. One United States Dollar is roughly 68.02 Bangladesh Taka. Mico-entrepreneurs are not pursuing large businesses like selling cars or manufacturing computers. They are using the material at their disposal to make items to sell in the market: ox milk, bamboo baskets, wigs, shopping bags. The small amount of money that is loaned to these people is enough for them to buy the supplies they need – sewing machine, buckets, bags – to get their business started while having just enough left over to buy food and send their children to school. According to John Thatch, founder of FINCA, “93% of all our borrowers have all their school-age children in school. The priority of the mother is not growing the business, but growing the child’s education. Supporting the child in school becomes her strategy for escaping poverty” (Small Fortunes). But is the loan enough to buy all of this – schooling, supplies, food? Linda Hunt mentions, “Micro-entrepreneurs are proving with innovation and a solid business plan, they can sell just about anything. Even without formal business training, they have shown remarkable skill in adapting to changing market conditions. Over the past 30 years, the poor have demonstrated that, with access to credit, they often have the skills necessary to work their way out of poverty” (Small Fortunes).

Similarly to issue of micro-financing and not having the money to pull out of poverty is the issue of Maternal Morality in India. According to a study done in October of this year by the Human Rights Watch titled No Tally of the Anguish: Accountability in Maternal Health Care in India, India has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. 2005 is the last available data for India’s maternal mortality rate. While the information is 4 years old, the statistics are still overwhelming. India’s Maternal Mortality rates are 16 times higher than Russia, 10 times higher than China and 4 times higher than Brazil. According to the study, 1 in 70 girls will die during pregnancy, childbirth of unsafe abortion. This estimate is compared to the 1 in 1,7300 deaths caused in the developed world.

Because India is heavily influenced by the law of karma, many of the elderly people or neighbors who have been affected by the death of a close one link the death to either fate or destiny. They are unaware that these deaths are preventable if women and girls have access to appropriate health care.

If a pregnant woman goes to the local hospital, she will be imposed with a price for operation. Usually, the cost to deliver a baby will be too expensive to pay and she will directed to another hospital. As the pregnant woman is able to find a hospital willing to care for her, the nurses will impose

The Indian government has taken initiative for women’s demands for deliveries in health facilities. They believe that doing so will promote safe deliveries. Public health facilities have been upgraded to improve the standard of health care. Through the Health Management Information System, health facilities are required to submit an annual survey to document more health-related information.

Another method of improving women’s health care is by ignoring the caste system. By explicitly addressing the problem, they will be able to “…make a difference in the lives of women and girls, regardless of their background, income level, caste, religion, number of children place of residence, and other arbitrary factors” (7).

Between November 2008 and August 2009, experiments were conducted in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has the highest maternal mortality rate in India. There are four major reasons to the high maternal mortality rates: barriers to emergency care, poor referral practices, gaps in continuity care and improper. In 2005, the Indian government implemented the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to improve the public health systems, which did show improvement between 2003 and 2006. While these numbers are relatively success in the more developed regions of India, they are “…small in relation to the scope of the problem, and camouflages disparities” (6). States such as Haryana and Punjab have not been positively affected by the NRHM. Disparities arise from poor income, the caste system and place of residence. The caste system becomes apparent when nurses and doctors of higher class will not attempt to treat the Dalit, or untouchables.

According to the study, there were seven main reasons for the maternal mortality rates:

Socio-economic (caste system)

Cultural

Early marriage

Inaccessibility to contraceptives

Husbands/mothers-in-law controlling women’s care seeking provider

Poor Heath

Mother Protection Scheme

The Mother Protection Scheme, also called Janani Suraksha Yojana or JSY, is when the nurses impose upon the pregnant women extra fees to deliver the child. They use the excuse of culture to give money after the birth of a child. No one dares file a complaint to the superior because they fear that even more complications will arise, such as denying services. Even if the family pays the extra fee, there is no guarantee that the delivery will be a successful. Complications, such as hemorrhages, obstructed labor, hypertensive disorders or seizures could cause death during delivery. “…most health staff in community health centers of Uttar Pradesh said that they conducted only ‘normal deliveries.’ Women with complications were referred to another facility, with little or no referral support” (10). 45% of the health centers do no have the funds for proper health services. 1 in 100 facilities have blood storage facilities, causing nurses and doctors to refer pregnant women 100 km for blood transfusion, even for a caesarean section.

While the government has solutions to solve the problem of maternal mortality, they are constantly challenged. The government wants all healthcares to formally report all pregnancy-related deaths and have a government official investigate these deaths. The Indian government also wants to work with the United Nations to provide better equipment.

By facing the seven primary obstacles, the government will be able to successfully maintain and control the maternal mortality rate. Women are either not independent, unaware of their rights, unable to file a complaint or the health workers simply reject their request.

If micro-financing is able to aid those in poverty back onto their feet, is it possible to implement the same practice to the pregnant? While the price of obstetrical healthcare may be cost significantly more than loans for entrepreneurs to begin a business, the principles are the same. A small loan from one person, plus another small loan and more small loans add up in the long run. With women being able to successfully deliver a child and simple businesses coming out of poverty, isn’t that the most important principle of human rights?

                                                Works Cited

"India: Reveal Truth about Childbirth Deaths | Human Rights Watch." Home|

            Human Rights Watch. 4 Nov. 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009.

"No Tally for the Anguish: Accountability in Maternal Health Care in India." 

            Human Rights Watch. Oct. 2009. Web. 1 Oct. 2009.

Small Fortunes: Microcredit and the Future of Poverty. Dir. Matt Whitaker. 2005.

            DVD.

Zaman, Hussan. "The Scaling-Up of Microfinance in Bangladesh: Determinants,

            Impact,and Lessons." The World Bank. The World Bank, Sept. 2004. Web.

            1 Oct. 2009.