It is a story about a flying house. Carl Fredricksen, a balloon vender and energetic zoo keeper, Ellie are happy couples. When young, Ellie has a dream live in Paradise Falls in South America. Therefore, they try to save every penny for the trip to Paradise Falls. Days by days, just as they finally are able to start their adventure, Ellie passes away. Reluctant to go to retirement home, Carl comes up with an intelligent idea to fulfill Ellie’s dream. One day, a huge big bag rises slowly into the sky and is getting bigger and bigger. Suddenly, thousands of colorful balloons float out of the bag into the sky and pull Carl’s house from the ground. Accidentally, Russel, a young Wilderness Explorer, just stands on the porch of the house. As a result, Carl and Russel start their exciting adventure with a flying house!
On their way to Paradise Falls, Russel finds a tropical giant bird, Kelvin, and a talking dog, Dug. With their companion, the journey becomes more funny and exciting. Carl even meets Ellie’s and his idol-the famous explore, Charles F Muntz. Can Carl and Russel arrive at Paradise Falls safe and sound? Will Kelvin and Dug make this journey more complicated? Why elder Charles Muntz stays in the South America? You have to join the mysterious trip and find out. “Adventure is out there!”
“Up” is a 2009 American computer-animated comedy-adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Pete Docter (The information is written on Imdb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/ and Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film) ). Compared to other animations produced by Pixar, similarly, “Up” has intriguing adventure, humorous and entertaining conversations, and characters with vivid and comparable personalities. The most different aspect of this film is that “colors” play an essential role even more than music. When Ellie passes away, Carl’s life becomes dull with nothing to live for. They use more gray and lifeless colors. On the contrary, after Carl starts his adventure with Russel, they use bright and delightful colors. I was impressed by the colorful reflections of thousands of balloons from the windows of the building when the house flies into the sky.
Most important of all, the story is unique and unpredictable. You can not imagine what is going to happen in next second with a floating house! Comparatively, there is not so much romance in this film. However, you will be touched especially by the relationship between Carl and Russel. Because of love and care, they become stronger to overcome all the obstacles and finally realize what is the most important thing in their lives. It is the time for you to let your imagination fly world wide with countless colorful balloons.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Compare bus system in Seattle to bus system in Taipei
When showing your U-PASS to travel all over Seattle, feel satisfied with the complete bus system here? Do you know there is a city providing convenient bus service in six times lower price than in Seattle? Taipei is a city also proud of their bus transportation. There are differences and similarities of these two bus systems, especially in their bus schedules, facilities and passengers.
The bus schedules are more constant in Seattle than in Taipei. In Seattle, on the bus stop there is a huge sheet which lists all accurate time of when the bus arrives. On the bus also provides brochures that indicate the time when the bus arrives in every stop. Therefore, it is convenient for passengers to organize their schedules. On the contrary, in Taiwan, people do not know exactly when the bus will come. All the information passengers have is the bus will come every 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Although the bus schedule is changeable, there are so many buses that passengers seldom wait for the bus more than 20 minutes. However, in Seattle, some buses do not operate on the weekend or late in the night, whereas in Taipei, almost every bus offers service from early morning until midnight for 365 days! The strategies of bus service in these two cities are different. One provides constant bus schedules every day, while the other increases the service time and numbers of buses for their citizens.
The quality of buses in these two cities is good. In Seattle, buses are big and provide comfortable chairs. Likewise, in Taipei, buses are clean and bright with big windows for passengers to enjoy the scenery of busy traffic and crowded roads. The only difference is that in Taipei, there is a screen inside the bus that gives passengers clear information of next stop, while in Seattle, bus drivers only use unclear microphones to inform passengers. Bus drivers in Seattle and Taipei are very kind and friendly. They try to help passengers and provide their best service as much as they can. In Taipei, some bus drivers also decorate their buses with thank you cards received from the passengers. Both Taipei and Seattle provide their citizens with not only high quality buses but also thoughtful service.
Passengers in these two cities also have differences and similarities. In Seattle, most of their passengers are students and office workers. Not so many elderly people take the bus. In contrast, in Taipei, bus service is free for the elderly, so, especially not in peak hours, the majority of the passengers are elder people. Bus conduct in these two cities is similar. In Taiwan, people yield seats to the elderly, children, pregnant women and physical challenging people. In Seattle, gentlemen also yield their seats to ladies. Although there are different majority of people who take the bus in Seattle and Taipei, both of their passengers respect each other to maintain a comfortable environment.
Bus service is an essential public transportation in Seattle and Taipei. There are pros and cons in these two bus systems. In Seattle, they have constant bus schedules. On the other hand In Taipei, they offer more frequent bus service. Both of them have high quality facilities and service to make their citizens enjoy taking a bus.
The bus schedules are more constant in Seattle than in Taipei. In Seattle, on the bus stop there is a huge sheet which lists all accurate time of when the bus arrives. On the bus also provides brochures that indicate the time when the bus arrives in every stop. Therefore, it is convenient for passengers to organize their schedules. On the contrary, in Taiwan, people do not know exactly when the bus will come. All the information passengers have is the bus will come every 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Although the bus schedule is changeable, there are so many buses that passengers seldom wait for the bus more than 20 minutes. However, in Seattle, some buses do not operate on the weekend or late in the night, whereas in Taipei, almost every bus offers service from early morning until midnight for 365 days! The strategies of bus service in these two cities are different. One provides constant bus schedules every day, while the other increases the service time and numbers of buses for their citizens.
The quality of buses in these two cities is good. In Seattle, buses are big and provide comfortable chairs. Likewise, in Taipei, buses are clean and bright with big windows for passengers to enjoy the scenery of busy traffic and crowded roads. The only difference is that in Taipei, there is a screen inside the bus that gives passengers clear information of next stop, while in Seattle, bus drivers only use unclear microphones to inform passengers. Bus drivers in Seattle and Taipei are very kind and friendly. They try to help passengers and provide their best service as much as they can. In Taipei, some bus drivers also decorate their buses with thank you cards received from the passengers. Both Taipei and Seattle provide their citizens with not only high quality buses but also thoughtful service.
Passengers in these two cities also have differences and similarities. In Seattle, most of their passengers are students and office workers. Not so many elderly people take the bus. In contrast, in Taipei, bus service is free for the elderly, so, especially not in peak hours, the majority of the passengers are elder people. Bus conduct in these two cities is similar. In Taiwan, people yield seats to the elderly, children, pregnant women and physical challenging people. In Seattle, gentlemen also yield their seats to ladies. Although there are different majority of people who take the bus in Seattle and Taipei, both of their passengers respect each other to maintain a comfortable environment.
Bus service is an essential public transportation in Seattle and Taipei. There are pros and cons in these two bus systems. In Seattle, they have constant bus schedules. On the other hand In Taipei, they offer more frequent bus service. Both of them have high quality facilities and service to make their citizens enjoy taking a bus.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Holiday
When can you enjoy wonderful food, get lots of money, and have fun? The answer is Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in my country. Family and friends get together, enjoy good food and prepare for “a whole new start.”
Taiwan, we have ten days off to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. People clean the house carefully because we believe that the broom can sweep all bad luck away. People go shopping during Chinese New Year. You can hear happy and energetic songs everywhere. All stores provide candies for customers. People wear new clothes, especially red for good luck. We also buy new furniture to redecorate the house. Not only what you see and touch are new but what you hear is people’s cheerful greeting and laughing all the time. You will be totally emerged in the happy and exciting atmosphere for celebrating the coming of the New Year.
Chinese New Year is also an essential holiday for family to get together and have a big meal. It is interesting that every dish has its own meaning-roast chicken stands for “Safe home”, fish means “Wealth”, and cake represents “Progress”. People also visit old friends on Chinese New Year, which is the most intriguing event for children. They try to say “good words” for greeting to hosts, and they will get red envelops with money. Chinese New Year is the time for people to fill their stomachs with delicious food and their wallets with “lucky money”.
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for family to get together, to enjoy nice food, get some pocket money, and most important of all-to welcome the New Year. Once you have a chance, visit Taiwan during Chinese New Year. You will experience the most interesting and energetic parts of our culture.
Taiwan, we have ten days off to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. People clean the house carefully because we believe that the broom can sweep all bad luck away. People go shopping during Chinese New Year. You can hear happy and energetic songs everywhere. All stores provide candies for customers. People wear new clothes, especially red for good luck. We also buy new furniture to redecorate the house. Not only what you see and touch are new but what you hear is people’s cheerful greeting and laughing all the time. You will be totally emerged in the happy and exciting atmosphere for celebrating the coming of the New Year.
Chinese New Year is also an essential holiday for family to get together and have a big meal. It is interesting that every dish has its own meaning-roast chicken stands for “Safe home”, fish means “Wealth”, and cake represents “Progress”. People also visit old friends on Chinese New Year, which is the most intriguing event for children. They try to say “good words” for greeting to hosts, and they will get red envelops with money. Chinese New Year is the time for people to fill their stomachs with delicious food and their wallets with “lucky money”.
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for family to get together, to enjoy nice food, get some pocket money, and most important of all-to welcome the New Year. Once you have a chance, visit Taiwan during Chinese New Year. You will experience the most interesting and energetic parts of our culture.
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