I am in shock as I write this: one of the teachers at Egan, Mr. Hagan, was arrested yesterday for having sex with two underage high school girls. One of the bitches apparently couldn't keep her mouth shut and told her parents, so that's how the incident came to light. This hit very close to home as Mr. Hagan was one of my P.E. teachers.
The age of consent is 18 in California, which essentially means one must be an adult before they can legally (ahem) engage in sexual activity. But from what I've heard, the girls had lied about their age. If that's the case, then Mr. Hagan isn't to blame. He is one of the most well-liked teachers at my school, and I really hope the charges will be dropped.
May 19 update: The Mountain View Voice has published two articles relating to Mr. Hagan's arrest. You can read them here and here.
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
Sunday, April 23, 2000
spring break + Taiwan trip report
The break was good as my family went to Taiwan. Mom and I came back yesterday without Dad as he is staying for business. The main reason for the trip was to see our relatives, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun!
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Monday, April 3, 2000
student of the day
We have a tradition at Egan where a student is chosen to be featured during the morning announcements. Only 8th graders are eligible. I wanted to share that I was today's "8th grader of the day." Imagine my surprise when they called my name!
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
Monday, March 6, 2000
return of swing dancing
We just started a dance unit in PE class. You may recall we did the same last year. I've always been shy around girls, but that didn't make it any less memorable.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
Monday, January 3, 2000
last semester at Egan
Christmas break has ended and school has started for me. It's hard to believe this is my last semester before I graduate.
So things were a little different this year. We're in the middle of a remodeling project and didn't have the chance to go anywhere during the holidays. On the bright side, the house already looks a lot better. I also had an awesome time celebrating the New Year at our family friend Carol's house. For me, that alone was a worthwhile experience.
One thing I'll miss for sure is Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. Too bad it's not longer. However, the good news is that Mr. Grijalva's industrial technology class looks fun too. I'm excited to see what it has to offer.
So things were a little different this year. We're in the middle of a remodeling project and didn't have the chance to go anywhere during the holidays. On the bright side, the house already looks a lot better. I also had an awesome time celebrating the New Year at our family friend Carol's house. For me, that alone was a worthwhile experience.
One thing I'll miss for sure is Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. Too bad it's not longer. However, the good news is that Mr. Grijalva's industrial technology class looks fun too. I'm excited to see what it has to offer.
Saturday, January 1, 2000
on the Year 2000 problem
Dad told me his company's security system went haywire. I guess the transition to the year 2000 wasn't exactly seamless. However, he says this was quickly fixed and didn't cause any damage. As far as I'm aware, there have been no major disruptions. So no power failures, plane crashes, nuclear meltdowns or accidental missile launches. Of course, the world didn't end either.
On the whole, this has been an uneventful day so far. Some argue that the money spent on Y2K — estimated at a few hundred billion dollars — was a waste. But there are many others who disagree. You can't take chances when it comes to critical infrastructure.
Currently playing: Duke Nukem
On the whole, this has been an uneventful day so far. Some argue that the money spent on Y2K — estimated at a few hundred billion dollars — was a waste. But there are many others who disagree. You can't take chances when it comes to critical infrastructure.
Currently playing: Duke Nukem
the party of a lifetime
Hope you guys had a great New Year's Eve. Or at least I did because the Liangs invited us to a big party at their house. :-)
We arrived at our family friend Carol's house in the evening and caught up with her. Carol ordered so much food that there was barely enough room on the table. After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to watch the Times Square ball drop. Imagine our anticipation as we counted down the seconds. One thing for sure is that this is a defining moment for our generation.
Some of us decided to watch The Matrix on video later. I enjoyed the special effects even though I didn't quite understand the movie. It ended pretty late — just before midnight Pacific time. Soon the year 2000 was upon us. Everyone was having so much fun that no one wanted to leave. We stayed for another hour or so before finally heading home.
One problem is that I'm socially awkward and don't have many close friends. I didn't know anyone except the Liangs and decided to take out my laptop. However, there were still opportunities to socialize. A guy saw me playing Quake and also wanted to give it a go. He turned out to be an expert at the game and even showed me some neat tricks. It's always nice to meet people with similar interests.
On the whole, the transition to the year 2000 couldn't have been better. It's hard to believe something like this only happens once every 1,000 years. Such an event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Perhaps science will one day allow us to live forever. But I digress.
Some predicted computers would crash and cause chaos. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. To my knowledge, there have been no incidents so far. At least my computers are working fine. Let's hope nothing too crazy happens. *crosses fingers*
1999 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise in the summer. Spending time with the Lins and the Shiehs made it even better. Our trip to Japan was pretty fun too.
Of course, there were also bad days. Dad wanted to take us to Tahoe in February but had to back out due to work commitments. Having the cancel the trip was a bummer. Although we invited the Liangs over for dinner — as a compensation of sorts — the mood was ruined when my dad and I got into an argument over trivial matters. I guess life doesn't always work out according to plan.
Currently playing: Quake
We arrived at our family friend Carol's house in the evening and caught up with her. Carol ordered so much food that there was barely enough room on the table. After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to watch the Times Square ball drop. Imagine our anticipation as we counted down the seconds. One thing for sure is that this is a defining moment for our generation.
Some of us decided to watch The Matrix on video later. I enjoyed the special effects even though I didn't quite understand the movie. It ended pretty late — just before midnight Pacific time. Soon the year 2000 was upon us. Everyone was having so much fun that no one wanted to leave. We stayed for another hour or so before finally heading home.
One problem is that I'm socially awkward and don't have many close friends. I didn't know anyone except the Liangs and decided to take out my laptop. However, there were still opportunities to socialize. A guy saw me playing Quake and also wanted to give it a go. He turned out to be an expert at the game and even showed me some neat tricks. It's always nice to meet people with similar interests.
On the whole, the transition to the year 2000 couldn't have been better. It's hard to believe something like this only happens once every 1,000 years. Such an event is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Perhaps science will one day allow us to live forever. But I digress.
Some predicted computers would crash and cause chaos. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. To my knowledge, there have been no incidents so far. At least my computers are working fine. Let's hope nothing too crazy happens. *crosses fingers*
1999 in review
Last year certainly had its ups and downs. I really enjoyed our Alaska cruise in the summer. Spending time with the Lins and the Shiehs made it even better. Our trip to Japan was pretty fun too.
Of course, there were also bad days. Dad wanted to take us to Tahoe in February but had to back out due to work commitments. Having the cancel the trip was a bummer. Although we invited the Liangs over for dinner — as a compensation of sorts — the mood was ruined when my dad and I got into an argument over trivial matters. I guess life doesn't always work out according to plan.
Currently playing: Quake
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