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	<title>John X. Li</title>
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	<link>http://www.johnxli.com</link>
	<description>This is my blog.</description>
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		<title>Summer</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2011/07/25/summer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2011/07/25/summer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:33:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=109</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I hate my writing. I want to delete all of these posts on this page. I wanted to change the theme too, but I couldn't be bothered to find something better. Something minimalistic - that is what I am in the mood for. I have been playing a lot of Starcraft lately. Too much. But [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I hate my writing. I want to delete all of these posts on this page. I wanted to change the theme too, but I couldn't be bothered to find something better. Something minimalistic - that is what I am in the mood for.</p>
<p>I have been playing a lot of Starcraft lately. Too much. But usually I am able to say to myself, "Enough! There are more interesting, significant, self-benefiting activities out there to do!" But at this moment, I often feel that it's easier to face a lost game than a lost opportunity.</p>
<p>This month was really warm, especially two weeks ago. I moved my desktop into the living room, and set my computer up on the table. I think I am in everybody's way.</p>
<p>In the future, I'll probably look back on this post, as I have on many other occasions, with disgust.</p>
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		<title>iPod Post</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/12/29/ipod-post/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/12/29/ipod-post/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:29:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[what's up]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/2010/12/29/ipod-post/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There's so much to do before the end of break. There's even more to do before college ends. It's cliche to say, but time has gone by so immensely fast that I hardly can keep track of everything that has happened. I wonder how much I have changed as a person. Would tue person I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There's so much to do before the end of break. There's even more to do before college ends. It's cliche to say, but time has gone by so immensely fast that I hardly can keep track of everything that has happened. </p>
<p>I wonder how much I have changed as a person. Would tue person I was four years ago be impressed with who I am today? Have my values and ideals changed significantly? I feel as though the transformations that have occured have been the least tangible. Maybe a different flavor of maturity and experience, something that is so difficult to pinpoint. </p>
<p>I think I've come to accept a certain lack of uncertainty in my  life. Maybe I have gained a level of perspective that failure is always around the corner, and that it's how I deal with the thousand misfortunes that matters. </p>
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		<title>One Month</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/07/17/one-month/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/07/17/one-month/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/2010/07/17/one-month/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been nearly a month since I've been in Boston.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It has been nearly a month since I've been in Boston.</p>
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		<title>Weird Nap Dream</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/07/09/weird-nap-dream/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/07/09/weird-nap-dream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:12:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[dreams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[raas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=87</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So I was watching over somebody's little kid, I suppose, at this medical store/gas station/italian restaurant. It was daylight out. I was trying to keep an eye on the little guy, but he had a sharp tongue and had all these comebacks and would tell me crazy stories that he had made up. His father [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So I was watching over somebody's little kid, I suppose, at this medical store/gas station/italian restaurant. It was daylight out. I was trying to keep an eye on the little guy, but he had a sharp tongue and had all these comebacks and would tell me crazy stories that he had made up. His father was pretty friendly though.</p>
<p>We walked to the large room at the end of the hall, and entered the raas dance competition. For some reason we were performing with another team on stage, where one of us would perform with half the stage and then the other would perform. We were second to go, and we performed an awesome routine, but then we finished up by doing stomp without any music. There was only one aunty judge there, and she yelled, "your time is up!!!" really loudly (there were also no audience members and the lights in the room were on). So we finished our second stomp routine and I stood up awkwardly and gave a superfast Japanese bow.</p>
<p>Then the curtains closed and the other team had their mouths agape and said, "Wow, they're going to win." But the judge came through the closed curtains to bring us food because apparently she was literally the aunt of some girl on our team. We were worried that would look weird to the other team, but I woke up soon after that.</p>
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		<title>I&#8217;m Slow at Walking</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/06/30/im-slow-at-walking/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/06/30/im-slow-at-walking/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:58:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[what's up]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=83</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning I woke up and it was cold out. I sleep next to an open window, and the breeze sent shivers down my side. The way to work involves a lot of walking through a residential neighborhood in Cambridge. I've noticed that everybody walks faster than I do. It's a strange phenomenon, but for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This morning I woke up and it was cold out. I sleep next to an open window, and the breeze sent shivers down my side.</p>
<p>The way to work involves a lot of walking through a residential neighborhood in Cambridge. I've noticed that everybody walks faster than I do. It's a strange phenomenon, but for whatever reason, all the other suits and dress shirts pass me constantly. I've always thought my parents walk pretty slowly, and drive pretty slowly for that matter.</p>
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		<title>Connecting the Dots</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/06/20/connecting-the-dots/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/06/20/connecting-the-dots/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:07:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boston]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/2010/06/20/connecting-the-dots/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last night I landed in Logan Airport. We had descended from an altitude of 33,000 feet to find ourselves approaching water. The Boston Harbor was glimmering from the water's reflection, and held a subtle red hue from the setting sun. Lined along the water front were large houses characteristic of - well I wouldn't know, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" style="border: 2px solid black;" src="http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect6/logan-airport-address.jpg" alt="Logan Airport" width="320" height="201" />Last night I landed in Logan Airport. We had descended from an altitude of 33,000 feet to find ourselves approaching water. The Boston Harbor was glimmering from the water's reflection, and held a subtle red hue from the setting sun. Lined along the water front were large houses characteristic of - well I wouldn't know, they're simply different from the ones I'm used to. They were large, had many windows, many stories, and yet still retained a small quaint feeling about them. Houses like this are all over Boston.</p>
<p>We descended from 33,000 feet to find ourselves on a landing strip, only one other landing strip away from the water. "Welcome to Boston, we hope you enjoy your stay in Boston or wherever your final destination may be," cracked the pilot. "Have fun here!" one passenger said to another. A couple that sat behind me was going to Boston College for their daughter's orientation day. A girl that sat across the isle from me was here to surprise her father - for Father's Day.</p>
<p>After walking down the small terminal corridors and arriving at the baggage claim in the basement, I grabbed Di's suitcase and looked around. There was a Mass Transit machine. I went up to it. It was touch screen, and presented three different options. I can't remember what they were, but suffice to say it was much more complicated than the good ol' button pressing mechanisms of the CTA card. It also took credit card, which is what I used. I bought a $10 Charlieticket. I think I'll buy a Charliecard next time.</p>
<p>I walked out of the building, and watched the cars and buses pass by, with a Charlieticket in my hand. Where to go? I saw a sign that said I could get to the Red Line using the Silver Line, but I didn't know how to reach the subway. A bus passed by that said Silver Line. I was confused. I asked a uniformed guard how to get to the Silver Line. He pointed at the bus stopping nearby and said, "You better run if you want to catch that!"</p>
<p>Several passengers with large suitcases got on, and off we went. The bus took off, through the various tunnels and bridges at Logan Airport and towards the city. The sun had set. Large buildings, but not skyscrapers, loomed in the near distance as we made our way through more tunnels. Finally we had arrived at South Station, where I first took an elevator up to "Outbound Red Line", before realizing I had to actually take an elevator down to "Inbound Red Line".</p>
<p>The Red Line had seats that faced each other across the aisle. It felt roomy. I liked it. I think the El in Chicago was testing whether to switch to this setup, because I had sat in one of those a few months ago. I liked it then too.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention, on the Silver Line there was no pull string. At one time the bus driver just yelled, "Anyone getting off!?" And the automatic announcer was male, not female. Crazy. On the Red Line, the conductor announced each stop, and there was no "approaching" warning. That was scary.</p>
<p><img class="alignright" style="border: 2px solid black;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/Davis_sq_aug_2006.jpg" alt="Davis Square" width="240" height="160" />Getting off the Davis Square stop, I walked out into the most idyllic, lively, square I have ever seen in my life. It was something out of Gilmore Girls, except there were more people sitting around under the street lights, at various benches, hanging out, having a smoke, eating ice cream, and laughing. The cars and buses drove carefully along the narrow streets, and I tried not to get lost.</p>
<p>Fifteen minutes later, my arms were sore but I had arrived at 163 College Avenue. Taruja opened the door for me, and I got acquainted with my room - a twin bed, a desk, and a closet. The dresser was coming later. Taruja is from Drexel, here interning for an insurance broker. She didn't know anyone else in Boston. We walked back to Davis Square, and ate at a small Mexican place - Anna's Taqueria. I had a Super Burrito, Al Pastor.</p>
<p>I went next door to see the other half of the 10 person house (split into duplex with 5 on each side). 4 guys sat around the immediate living room, chilling, watching the Daily Show. I sat, and watched. I talked to Johnny about my rent and furnishings for the apartment. They seemed like pretty funny, outgoing guys. Calvin said whenever I wanted I could go over and chill. Lloyd was quiet. Meacham was funny, but also seemed nice.</p>
<p>I went back to my half, and Suma was cleaning her floor. She's from University of Vermont. I had asked her, "Vermont - that's like north, right?" First impressions are everything. I don't think she likes me very much.</p>
<p>There no Chase banks in Boston, at all. Good morning, Boston.</p>
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		<title>My Dad is In China</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/05/11/my-dad-is-in-china/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/05/11/my-dad-is-in-china/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2010 04:21:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/2010/05/11/my-dad-is-in-china/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Internet, Last night I called my dad, who's working in Shanghai at the moment. It sucks that I haven't seen him in so long. Actually, my original impression of the situation was that this set up would be temporary, that my mom and sister would stay in Michigan while my dad returned home frequently [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Internet,<br />
Last night I called my dad, who's working in Shanghai at the moment. It sucks that I haven't seen him in so long. Actually, my original impression of the situation was that this set up would be temporary, that my mom and sister would stay in Michigan while my dad returned home frequently from work.</p>
<p>Last night when I called, he said he really misses me and thinks about me. That never happens. And when I listened, I thought I heard his voice crack. And it made my heart crack.</p>
<p>I asked him when he'll be back. He said, well, Sherry and your mother are coming this summer to visit. I'll probably come back during the holidays.</p>
<p>And then it hit me how much this really sucks. I can't believe it took me this long.</p>
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		<title>Spring Break is Over</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/03/28/spring-break-is-over/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2010/03/28/spring-break-is-over/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:21:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[what's up]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=63</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Internet! Today was the last day of Spring Break 2010. What an adventure it was! I hate typing long sentences that lead to nowhere. Internet blogs are generally boring. These are the notes: I got an MRI for my knee from an orthopedic specialist. Possible tear in meniscus (since nearly two years ago)? You [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Internet!</p>
<p>Today was the last day of Spring Break 2010. What an adventure it was! I hate typing long sentences that lead to nowhere. Internet blogs are generally boring.</p>
<p>These are the notes:</p>
<ul>
<li>I got an MRI for my knee from an orthopedic specialist. Possible tear in meniscus (since nearly two years ago)? You betcha! Wait, still no diagnosis? Waiting on phone call from Indian doc whose name has escaped me. Leg still hurts. I need it to stop.</li>
<li>I made a lot of food: dumplings, stir fry, cheesecake, birthday cake. My mom went to the doctors and as it turns out her hand needs to be in a cast for another two weeks (owing to a torn ligament in hand from self-injury: her reaction from a semi backing up towards her was to quickly jam her hand against the steering wheel)</li>
<li>Went to see a dance competition (<a href="http://www.nachleexpress.com">Nachle Express</a>). Got to see familiar faces and my friend Hemal's team UIUC Fizaa win.</li>
<li>Heard about my choir group conductor's daughter being involved in a horrible accident (which really still is in my mind).</li>
</ul>
<p>This upcoming week is show week for <a href="http://www.chicagosasa.com">SASA</a>, and first week of spring quarter -- hurray!</p>
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		<title>My First Birthday Present</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2009/12/25/my-first-birthday-present/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2009/12/25/my-first-birthday-present/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:41:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[memories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=61</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I remember my very first birthday present. It was a Mighty Max digital watch. The exciting about the watch (and all Mighty Max merchandise of that time, really) was that you could open the clasp covering the watch and reveal a miniature setting based on the Mighty Max television series, including a small plastic Mighty [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I remember my very first birthday present. It was a <a href="http://thetoymuseum.blogspot.com/2009/01/fantastic-watch-collection-episode-2.html">Mighty Max digital watch</a>. The exciting about the watch (and all Mighty Max merchandise of that time, really) was that you could open the clasp covering the watch and reveal a miniature setting based on the Mighty Max television series, including a small plastic Mighty Max figure of himself. The figure could be made to stand on holders inside the scene such that it felt like Mighty Max belonged in that dungeon, or cave, or whatever it was.</p>
<p>My mom took me to Toys 'R Us and told me that I could pick any toy that I wanted. I don't remember the exact thought process that brought me there, but I ended up in the aisle with all types of colorful watches for children. I probably wanted a watch when I was young, I remember associating watch-wearing with adulthood.</p>
<p>And after we had bought it, I remember her remarking to my dad how surprised she was that it was all that I wanted. And it was. I was absolutely in love with the watch, and played with it any opportunity that I had. I wore it to school all the time, and had it on when I played outside. One afternoon, while playing on my neighbor Jeff's swing set, the Mighty Max figure fell out onto the grass, and was forever lost. That was quite the traumatic experience for me, since I adored that thing.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, the watch was not the same without Max. It was 1996, at the start of my second year in the United States. Not very often nowadays do I treasure objects as much as I did toward that watch. Rosebud.</p>
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		<title>Quarrel</title>
		<link>http://www.johnxli.com/2009/12/23/quarrel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.johnxli.com/2009/12/23/quarrel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:15:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.johnxli.com/?p=57</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A quarrel is a funny thing. Well, they're either funny or tragic, not that there's a big difference, or whatever. They're funny because everything seems to make sense in the heat of the moment, and the next moment when all is settled, we find little rationality for quarreling itself. Certainly, the cause for dispute can [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A quarrel is a funny thing. Well, they're either funny or tragic, not that there's a big difference, or whatever.</p>
<p>They're funny because everything seems to make sense in the heat of the moment, and the next moment when all is settled, we find little rationality for quarreling itself. Certainly, the cause for dispute can be life-or-death, but when two people get into a quarrel, it takes a life of its own that almost seems disconnected with the original cause in the first place.</p>
<p>A quarrel between siblings is a prime example. Last year, Sherry and I got into a quarrel regarding who left the door open to my room. My room happens to be the most well insulated room in the entire house, for whatever reason, and I love to leave the door closed so that it's nice and toasty. Well, this argument quickly got out of hand (picture in your mind a 20 year old guy and a 15 year old girl screaming at each others' faces) and resulted in us not talking for the next half hour. Now, I'm not one to hold onto grudges (some would disagree), so I didn't remember this instance, but Sherry told me about it.</p>
<p>And she said something that we all universally feel about quarrels after the fact: "It was stupid."</p>
<p>But the thing that bothers me about quarrels is the need to not only vindicate one's position, but come out on top. For when we get into truly emotional and irrational disagreement, we develop an unquenchable desire to prove the righteousness of our own position, all the while attempting to impose our version of reality and truth unto someone else.</p>
<p>And while the wise will destroy the budding weed of pride, most often we unconsciously allow ourselves to falter to this sinister nature of man, this sin. And when all is lost, there is nothing to win. Nobody wins.</p>
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