Parko Beero!

The blind pig. Here lor. Even though hor, its Spring break lah. This is a one week holiday. So we all supposed to be relax lor. But then suddenly got so many works to do. Is very siao one. Suddenly is Thursday already. The whole like disappeared like that. I dunno why. So I say lah, we all go Blind Pig to have a beer to relax. How can not relax? Is Sprint break mah! So the lab came. Fun fun. I had two beers, one is call er...dunno what, an India pale ale (7.2%), and the other is the famous Delirium Tremens (8%). Blind Pig very good lah. I think so is my favorite pub in Champaign. Got character. Feel like an old English pub. Got one of the most selection of beers in town. You even got beer you dunno inside got what. Anyway, we talk talk talk, and then we go home. At least got relax a little bit lah.

Soba Tempura

This is a set meal consisting of cold soba noodles, vegetarian tempura, and miso soup. I will be explaining how to make this as a set, rather than as individual portions, so the descriptions will overlap as I found this the best way to save time and hassle while making the meal. It is worth it though. Really really good!

Ingredients
For soba:
Soba
Soba sauce
White radish

For miso soup:
Spring Onions
Silk Tofu
Miso
Fish stock (dashi)
Dried seaweed (kombu)


For tempura:
White onion
Carrots
Shiitake mushroom
Anything else you want to fry
Flour
Oil
White radish
Sesame oil
Soy sauce
Fish stock

Method: Initial preparation
Batter
Place a bowl of flour into the freezer, this is to make the batter, and it is lighter cold. While waiting, prepare the soba.

Soba
Boil the soba noodles until soft. Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Place the noodles on ice cubes in a bowl and put in the freezer. Prepare the tempura pieces.

Tempura
Slice the onions, carrots, mushrooms and others into bite size pieces.

Method: Ready for the frying
Prepare the batter. Take the cold flour out and set aside a small portion on a flat surface, this is the coating flour. Take the rest and pour water to mix in small amounts while stirring. Add and mix only enough water so that you get a sticky mixture with some lumps in it, this is the dipping batter.

Heat up enough oil so that the tempura pieces can float in the fry. Heat the oil hot enough by testing it with some of the dipping batter. Throw some in and if it floats, then the oil is ready.

Take one tempura piece and coat it in the dry coating flour, then dip it into the dipping batter. Make sure it is well covered. Fry the tempura in the oil for about one minute, constantly turning and watching. The tempura is done when it becomes relatively stiff and floating freely in the oil. Remove it and drain the oil on a napkin. Prepare the miso soup.

Method: Miso soup
To make the miso soup, prepare the fish stock by either dissolving some pre-made fish stock or powdered dashi. Boil the stock. While waiting for the boil, prepare the seaweed by soaking bits of it in cold water. Cut the spring onion into small pieces for soup, and the tofu into small cubes. Dissolve the a spoonful of miso into one cup of cold water. Once the stock is boiling, add the miso mix under low heat. Add the seaweed and cubed tofu and let the soup warm under low heat. Do not over boil miso soup, it will taste bad. Serve the miso soup with the chopped spring onions.

Method: Sauces
Soba sauce
Shred some white radish and chop some spring onions. Pour some soba sauce in dipping bowl and add the spring onions and the shredded white radish. The soba sauce is ready. You can add wasabi and raw egg in it if desired.

Tempura sauce
Prepare the tempura sauce. Mix the soy sauce, a little sesame oil, the fish stock, and boil the mixture. Add shredded white radish. Serve in another dipping bowl.

Method: Serving
Take the soba out from the freezer. Serve the soba on ice cubes, the tempura pieces on a plate, the miso soup, and the soba and tempura dipping sauces. Recommended to serve with a cup of green tea or roasted tea (hoji-cha).

Enjoy your meal!

Lake of the Woods

This is a park about 15 min drive away from Champaign-Urbana. Not bad lah. A little small, but got lake. As you can see, its all frozen over, can walk and skate on it if you want...good for Sunday afternoon picnic.

Science and Intelligent Design I

One debate that is current is that of the existence of Intelligent Design. There are two basic camps. On one side, people believe in a God who started it all. On the other, people claim that there is no such thing, and things are simply the expression of physical laws that govern space and time. People from both camps can get quite heated and emotional argueing for each case. But I don't see why they should. When dealing with this matter, it is of utmost importance that one keep personal emotions and preferences and predispositions out of the arguments. One MUST sit down and cooly think through with reason the merits and pitfalls of either accounts of life as we know it.

I prefer to think of this matter in this way. First, how can we think about things or argue about the matter at hand? Here, we have to assume one thing. That anything which considers anything, and anything which communicates anything, must do so within the boundaries of logic. That is, if my opponent were to form conclusions from what I say that did not follow from prior premises, then there is no way to proceed, because the arguments would be arbitrary. Anything goes, and therefore there is no argument, no final goal for a truth. So, we must debate this within the confines of logic, or insofar as it is necessary, inference.

Second, are things real? Or is everything we experience part of a dream, or non-substantial, and thus inconsequential? Descarte had a brilliant answer. Cogito ergo sum. I think therefore I am. He approached the problem by doubting everything. But in the end, he realized that no matter how hard he tried, there was one inescapable truth (yes, there is apparently such a thing), that he could not doubt that he was doubting. It was impossible to think of such a state since to doubt that one was doubting, one would in fact be doubting, and end up concluding that if anything ever existed, it would be doubt. And to doubt, is to think, and to think, requires a thinker. Hence, cogito ergo sum. So, the thinker exists. And if a thinker exists, something exists.

More to come...

Catfish Creation

Ingredients
Catfish fillets
Broccoli
Potatoes
Carrots
Thyme
Parsley
Mustard seeds (black)
Olive oil
Chilli powder
Gin
Lemon
Salt
Pepper
Portabella Mushroom
Milk

Method
Season the catfish in a stock of gin, lemon, chilli powder (just a little), salt and pepper. Let the mix set in the fridge for about an hour or so. In the meantime, cut up the broccoli into bite size pieces, the potatoes and carrots as well, and the mushroom. Boil the broccoli, carrots and potatoes. Once well cooked, remove and set aside the broccoli, seasoning it with salt and pepper. Place the boiled carrots and potatoes in a mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper and add some milk, and mash the mixture.

Heat some olive oil in a pan, and some mustard seeds. Lightly fry the mushrooms for just a little while, then remove them and set aside. Next, lightly saute the catfish in the olive oil, mustard seed mix, with the seasoning sauce as well. Let the mixture simmer over medium fire for about 10-15 min.

Arrange the broccoli, mash, mushrooms and fish on the plates. Pour the sauce over the fish. Serve with White Zinfandel (chilled).

Blizzardy Evening

Storm finish. From top left to bottom right: Snow pile in Beckman Circle lot, Walkway lit by lamps in Beckman Circle lot, Charlene's car stuck, my car stuck, block of snow, bigger block of snow!

Lots of cleaning up, but even today, there's another snowfall, another 2-3 inches. But its not as bad as the previous one. Here's a video report of the day.

Post Blizzard Desert

So, let's start from the very beginning. It was a dark and stormy day. The wind was blowing at about 40 mph, snow was beating down of the roofs. Schools were closed, the University was closed. The University! That which has never closed in 30 years finally fell prey to yukimon! Everyone stayed at home and peered their eyes out the window to see whiteness falling and falling, growing, wafting, blowing, twisting, and they sipped their hot chocolates and tea.

The next morning brought better news. Sunlight. Something we haven't seen in a day. In all its glory. But it shines through the aftermath, through my kitchen window. Yet, the warmth is welcome as I have my coffee.



Of to the lab then! Stepping out, we are greeted with what appears to be last nights deposits. People will have to dig their way out of this one.





And yes, its about a foot of snow, but in some places it comes up to your waist. That's me in the middle, see where the snow stops. There's another view.










Onward still! Charlene's feet are in a foot. The cars are all under, and I had to dig my car out of its icy prison.



















Finally, we arrive at the Beckman again, it is still standing. This monolith, impervious to yukimon. Impervious I say.










So coming into the Beckman, we hang around and work a little, then we go for coffee. Here are some shots taken while on coffee break. And then eventually head back for the classic approaching Beckman shot again.

Blizzard!!!!

According to wikipedia, a blizzard ain't a blizzard until:
1. There is snow or ice precipitation
2. Visibility must be reduced to 1/4 mile (400 km)
3. Wind speed must be at least 35 mph (56 kph)

Here's footage of a blizzard happening outside my door right now. [blizzard movie]

UIUC never closes because of snow, but today, classes are canceled and movement is down to almost nil. The snow ploughs are working over time and the snow just keeps coming and coming...estimated about a foot or more of snow by the end of today.

Joseph's life as an example of Christ

I just discovered for myself this amazing message in the story of Joseph. Joseph was most favored, and also was "worshiped" by his brothers and father in his dreams. Joseph was then betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. Just as Jesus was crucified at the hands of men, His brothers, and took on our sins, and also became limited from His divinity during His time on earth, a sort of Egypt. While Egypt is rich and has comforts and wonders, it is temporary and it worships false gods. That is, they stop short of the ultimate reality. The true God. Instead, they attribute the wonders they see to half-way icons, idols. Just like here on earth. That is what we do.

But Joseph, even though he was in Egypt, he prospered it. He established it. In fact, if you read carefully, it was Joseph who brought Egypt and Canaan under Pharoah's control, and its seemed as if Pharaoh and the other Egyptians weren't doing much at all. It seemed that Joseph brought the lands and servants under Pharoah using economic superiority and also established a 20% tax system (the first national tax ever with priests exempt? at least the first mentioned in the bible - Moses might have later taken this up in the 10% tithe to God, and the Levite concept). We think we do great things on earth. Might it be that it is the Creator of the earth that actually knows how it really works that does these great things for us?

And later, Joseph is instrumental in saving his brothers and father from the famine as he is revealed to them, and also in sharing all that he has in Egypt (the world) with them. How he was once dead but is alive again! And more than alive, he brings his family with him into prosperity. In return, they are to take care of livestock, use their skill to prosper Egypt in kind. Sound familiar? It sounds like Christians, being blessed to bless in return, being saved by Christ in a "foreign land".

Note though, that there is a sense that Egypt is not the final destination for Israel. There is an even greater finality. And that is played out in layers upon layers, cycle upon cycles of biblical records. Moses, David, Judges, prophets, Abraham, Isaac, Joshua amongst others and finally the ultimate reality all these are pointing to - Jesus. Note also that this story of Joseph was probably written by Moses. And he probably had access to some historical records in Egypt to investigate how things turned out they way they did at that time. In faith then, he wrote this down, and we now have the benefit of the the revelation of Jesus to see how when Moses wrote this down, it was truly the Holy Spirit writing in him to tell us of Jesus that is to come. Who He is and what He does. Also, we see how God uses human knowledge to reveal a little of His plans to us. And even more so, we see how those who did not yet have a change to know Jesus at that time, since He had not come yet, could still hope in God through these themes of God's deliverance, and that is credited to them as righteousness through their faith and His faithfulness.

John 3:1-21

Nicodemus, Pharisee, ruler of the Jews...

This event occured while Jesus was in Jerusalem, after He has cleared the temple. Nicodemus' question shows that he has been considering Jesus for quite some time, along with others. And this reflects a certain contemporary thought at the time: that the Jews were expecting the Messiah to come and deliver. Jesus seemed to be a suspected candidate, but the things He did did not square with a lot of their conceptions about what Messiah would be like. And there, they were tripped up in all their thinking, even as Pharisees.

Note how Jesus begins the conversation. It has nothing to do with Nicodemus' statement. But Jesus knows his heart even before his mouth spoke and started the conversation immediately on what is important for Pharisees to know: the idea of being born again, to be saved.

"The wind blows where it wishes..."

Somethings happen, we experience it, and we believe that it is there. The wind. And we do not question it. How is it that we cannot bring that same faith into spiritual matters? That is the point in Jesus' declaration here about being born in the spirit. To be born again means to be born in of water and the spirit. Baptism? This is linked with John the author's references to baptisms before and after this passage.

"We know and testify what We have seen..."

Simply this, the only way to really know, is to believe the testimony of the one to whom true knowledge is found. We can try to increase knowledge through observing for our own, to believe only when we see things or experience things. But how often, even though the truth is before our very eyes, we still refuse to believe, but choose to explain it away by other "theories" or worse, ignore it. So then, perhaps this is something to consider with respect to philosophy of knowledge, perhaps the only true knowledge can only be obtained by faith in another. And this Another is the ultimate Another, who has seen what is the truth. So we can rest assured in His testimony.

"For God so loved the world..."

The famous verse. The only hope we have. Note, how we cannot do anything to have everlasting life other than to believe. And how this all stems from one point only. God's love. Love that saves, but also, love for which the rejection of is unimagineable.

Jesus' pleads here are entirely logical and reasonable. He who does truth comes to the light. Why then do people still not believe in the One? Choosing other alternatives? If they truly do what is true? What is their thinking and answer to Christ's words here?

Japan House Winter Tea

Atsunobu, Charlene and I take a short walk in the Japane House, Arboriteum area in Urbana, IL. We also stop for some hoji cha and make some snow angels. Check out the movie Snow Angels: [click here for movie]. The temperature is 11F (feels like -1F). The hot tea in the hut warms you up, and feels good in contrast to the cold environment. The brown tea contrasts with the white snow. We also had cookies and some rice crackers. Some people were cross-country skiing and sledding down the hills, the highest natural point in Urbana. Highly recommended!

Breaking Breaking News!

The snow has stopped. I estimate at 6-8 inches.

Guess what this is in the Beckman?

Can you figure out what this is?
Clue: Its in the Beckman.

Put your answers in the comments.
Answer will be posted soon!

Ugli Fruit

Sad sad name for fruit.

If you were called Ugli fruit
And that was your name
Would you feel ashamed?
Would you fade in fame?
Would you say you were lame?
Would you find someone to blame?
Ugli fruit, Ugli fruit
Sad sad name for a fruit
Sad sad song to toot.

Breaking News: SNOW!!!!

So its finally here. Today, temperature is -13C (-6F). And its snowing and snowing all day...these two pics from left to right, Beckman Institute, and The Boneyard Creek. Here are some clips as I walk from Psychology to the Beckman.
Snow1, Snow2, Snow3, Snow4, Snow5.

And here's one from Starbucks at Green Street: Snow6.

As you can see, plenty of the white white thing. About 6 to 8 inches maybe!

Olive Oil Chicken Pasta

Light yet solid taste, a satisfying meal for a gentle evening.

Ingredients:
Spaghetti
Mushrooms
Chicken
Parsley flakes
Garlic
Shallots
Asparagus
Pepper, salt, chilli powder
Olive oil
White wine

Method:
Slice mushrooms and chicken into bite size pieces. Cut asparagus bottoms off. Mince garlic, and slice shallots. Boil spaghetti in seperate pot first. When done, rinse with cold water to stop cooking and set aside. Fry garlic and shallots in olive oil until golden brown. Add chicken, asparagus and stir fry until chicken starts to turn white. Add spaghetti, mushrooms, pepper, salt to taste, a little chilli powder. Stir to mix and fully cook the chicken. Add white wine and let mixture simmer a little. Add more olive oil and parsley flakes and mix it in. Ready to serve! Serve with tomato soup and Beringer White Zinfandel recommended.

Breaking Arctic Blast Newses!

As if in answer to the warmer than normal December, today's temperature went down to a feels-like of -8F! Flurries all day, and tomorrow. Little snow powder falling down all day long.

Another news, Bill Meier said he would step down this July, to move on to another ministry. Kinda sad. He is a good man and pastor. He shared that he felt that he had completed all that God had led him to do at TCBC. And this was God's calling for him to move on. May the peace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit go with him.

The Wii is sold out at Target and Meijer's. It is supposed to be selling at $250 USD. Hopefully it will be in stock again in a couple of months. In the meantime, save up.

What is this thing at the back of the Beckman?

Well, its acherly a liquid nitrogen tank lah. The water tend to steam around the pipe, so when its cold, the ice accumulates like that. See, it accumulate until it come out of the fence.

Winter Shots of Champaign

Here are some pictures I took while walking around. The best depiction is the movie clip in the post a few days back, but these capture the idea pretty well too. From left to right, UIUC Quad facing south, the Boneyard creek in Engineering Quad UIUC, outside my apartment, my apartment parking lot.

Birthday 2007

Aiyah, lau liao lah. Sa chap huei! Acherly hor, is not so bad lah. It was a nice celebration. People many many. And we eat steamboat. Very re nao. And "Wife Swap" was on TV. Good cake, good food, good friends. What more can you ask for?

Photos not I take one, but I got them and put them on my photo site anyway, see them here.