The Big C

I started watching this show mainly because of the main character, Laura Linney. I saw some films and shows that she appeared, such as Love Actually, The life of David Gale, The Savages, John Adams, and so on. I like the way she act. She is not 'very' beautiful woman, but she is beautiful enough as an actress and very good at showing the inner strength hiding in vulnerable appearance.

The Big C is a show talking about cancer. Middle age woman just realized that she has a late stage cancer. Gosh... what if I face that kind of situation. You know that you're dying and currently do not have good 'treatment' for the disease. At first Cathy - the leading role in the show, played by Laura Linney, of course her name starts with big 'C' - decided to enjoy her life instead of taking 'not-that-promising' painful treatment attempts for her own dignity. Throughout most of the first season, she takes her own journey in life without letting her family/friends know about it. Only her doctor and old lady living across the street know that she has a cancer. She tried to tell her family few times, but somehow it dosen't work out well.

At the end of the season, she changes her mind and decides to fight back to cancer with her family. Recently it is announced that the second season will air next year. I thought that the first season was good as is, but I am very curious how the creator/writer will continue the story in the next season. The writer was pretty smart in not telling much about 'cancer' and also 'drama and tears' coming from the cancer story except the very last few seasons.

I really appreciate the fact that I didn't have to go through this kind of hard time during my life, and hope to be lucky like this for the rest of my life. However, if I were to face this kind of situation, I hope that I could be strong enough to handle it...

When Cinema and Biology Meet

Few days ago, I read an interesting article in the New York Times homepage. It was about the biological/medical illustration. Truly people are doing extraordinary works to visualize 'the life'. Seeing is believing. They think that presenting visualized biological objects/events will attract many kids/students in life science and also help them to understand the life.

Below is the link for the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/science/16animate.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=gener

Amazing work...

You may find other video or clips from the harvard MCB website.

http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/media.html

A talk in TED from whom participated in creating the animation, David Bolinsky.

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_bolinsky_animates_a_cell.html

More history on medical illustration can be found from the website below.

http://www.netterimages.com/artist/netter.htm

Life is... extraordinary.

Trip to Germany Part III: Rothenberg, o.d.T.

After BBQ for lunch @ Minjung's house, we drove to Rothenberg ob der Tauber, which is famous for its well-reserved medieval old town.

So beautiful town.

Many buildings are decorated with ivy, which turned reddish...

We were following a beautiful sunset.

Minjung is explaining menu for us.

Platz in front of the citi hall. We were sitting outside of a cafe.

Getting cold after the sunset, but still loved the chilly air and couldn't leave.

Trip to Germany Part II: Heidelberg

We took a train to Heidelberg.

View from our hotel room.

We loved our hotel. It was small and cozy. Also very close to nice places...

I loved looking outside from the hotel room.

The other side of town, Old Bridge, people, and autumn leaves...

Look down from our hotel room.

There was a pub/restaurant on the first floor.

Also a lot more nearby... German truly love beer.

View from the Philosopher's street.

It was pretty steep in the beginning, but top area was relatively flat and moreover... nice view.

Beautiful Old Town, Old Bridge, and Heidelberg Castle in one frame...

Old Bridge seen from Philosopher's street.

I love the color of this city.

Walking down to the Old Bridge.

Heidelberg Castle and Old Town view on the way to Old Bridge.

With Suyong @ Old Bridge.

Heidelberg Castle is seen behind.

With Minjung @ Old Bridge.

Monkey mask and mouse on the left.

Near old bridge and also near our hotel.

There are many restaurants and cafe.

Platz in old town.

People enjoy sitting outside in spite of the chilly weather.

They also provide blanket.

View of old town and old bridge from Heidelberg Castle.

With Minjung @ Heidelberg Castle.

She has a great smile :)

With Minjung @ Heidelberg Castle.

Pretty old and famous castle.

With Minjung @ Heidelberg Castle.

You can see the old bridge and the other side of town.