tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345668829743674032024-03-13T16:38:48.383-07:00Jun's Blog on Books and Mother EarthJunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-7226133341948239182016-07-08T04:21:00.001-07:002016-07-08T04:21:12.076-07:00"The Course of Love" by Alain de Botton<i>The Course of Love</i> by Alain de Botton<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.08<br />
my verdict: crap<br />
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pro: short<br />
con: it's not <i>that </i>short<br />
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This one has the highest rating in goodreads.com among de Botton's <i>numerous </i>books. I found it too late that this is because it has been only very recently released. I believe the rating will go down to around 3.6ish in two months. Of course, for me, this is a one-star crap.<br />
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The book is comprised of a series of episodes that you have already seen in some sitcoms. The narratives are pretentious but hollow. De Botton's dumb style that attempts to decorate a pile of shit so that it looks like a cake, persists.<br />
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The highlight of the author's stupidity comes when he attempts to compose a bundle of proverbs of his own, when he speaks about Rabih's being ready for marriage. It makes you puke. Hold Caulfield would have puked like a million times about this phoniness.<br />
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This being not enough, the audiobook is read by some idiot, who whispers whenever he reads a part where Kirsten says something. Boy, he whispers when Kirsten is quarreling with Rabih.<br />
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This is the most horrible book experience for me this year, and I sincerely this does not happen to me again. Not to anybody, for that matter.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-60857601384629781482016-07-05T23:56:00.003-07:002016-07-05T23:57:42.313-07:00"Organisez Vos Idees avec le Mindmapping" by Denis Rebaud et al.<i>Organisez Vos Idees avec le Mindmapping </i>by Denis Rebaud et al.<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 3.5<br />
my verdict: mixed, but it's worth a shot<br />
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pro: sincere intention to invite you to the mindmap<br />
con: unorganized, incoherent, helter-skelter, verbose, out of focus<br />
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Everyone knows that action is the key to any change. David Allen's <i>Getting Things Done</i> is, in sum, about the importance of breaking things into pieces so that each piece becomes actionable.<br />
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Before this book, I've tried a few books on Mindmap, two books by Buzan himself and one by someone else. Even though the concept of mindmap is simple enough, I could not really grasp the usefulness of such a tool. Frankly, up until yesterday, my conclusion about mindmap was that it is another marketing BS. It felt like people are trying to sell something that they themselves do not know exactly what it is.<br />
<br />
Yes, I talked about action. What happened was, yesterday afternoon, I just decided to give it a shot. I just decided to try making a few mindmap. The authors of this book says mindmap can be used in almost all mind activities, from taking a memo to managing projects. I tried summarizing a report, and voila, it felt not too bad.<br />
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I finished the book this lunchtime. And in the meantime, I summarized about five work-related reports using mindmap. It feels fun!<br />
<br />
At the beginning of the book, it says one obstacle in using mindmap is people's gaze. Seeing you scribbling something on paper in a peculiar way, people might regard you a weirdo - is the fear you have that prevents you from trying mindmapping. Now I strongly agree. You'd better not take others' gaze into consideration when you want to decide whether mindmap is for you or not.<br />
<br />
Mindmap, despite its dirty look, has one clear advantage: that you can see the whole in one shot. Now I believe that it's worth trying at least once. You might end up being another mindmapper, or maybe not. But why don't you even test it once?<br />
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p.s. About the book itself, you can never say it's well written. The book is composed of incoherent parts sewn together. However, the authors' intention is sincere, and somehow they succeeded in persuading me that mindmap is worth a try. So, I give it three stars even though the book itself deserves even less than that. </div>
Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-78334424831815121782016-07-03T22:22:00.001-07:002016-07-03T22:22:52.232-07:00"The Art of Travel" by Alain de Botton<i>The Art of Travel </i>by Alain de Botton<br />
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goodreads.com rating:3.81<br />
my verdict: you can forego this one<br />
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pro: you might like some part of the book, guarantees a good night's sleep<br />
con: you get bored<br />
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Most of us can neither compose a decent piece of concerto nor paint a decent piece of oil-painting. However, most of us can talk and write. Of course, this does not mean that most of us can write a decent piece of essay. However, it is much easier to overestimate our capacity in writing than in composing music or in painting. Thus, writers are rather forced to foster a style of one's own. Simply put, styles can be either succinct or verbose. While succinct sounds positive, verbose does not. The reason is as follows: To be succinct is difficult. On the other hand, not to be verbose is very difficult.<br />
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I do not like the style of Alain de Botton. He easily bores readers. He is very verbose, often lost among his own words. He often overstretches similes and metaphors. He knows too much useless things. And worse, he wants to let it show. <i>The Arts of Travel </i>is like a sampler of his boring style.<br />
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My wife finished this book first and told me, "it gets better in the latter half." Yes, it does. However, it took her a whole week to finish this one. Seeing this, I took a rather strategic approach, and read a chapter every morning over breakfast. It also took me a whole week. (Yes, I read more in the weekend.) And yes, I liked the parts about Wordsworth (who has never been my favorite poet), Sinai Desert, and John Ruskin.<br />
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But, why, why should someone ever read this book? It does neither entertain nor inform. Actually, if you want to try this book, read a chapter every night, which will nudge you into a good night's sleep.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-45955771036361736362016-07-02T17:13:00.000-07:002016-07-02T17:13:22.809-07:00"Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely<i>Predictably Irrational </i>by Dan Ariely<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.09<br />
my verdict: super-fun reading<br />
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pro: interesting facts, funny experiments, great style<br />
con: nothing<br />
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It is known that we human are irrational. But the author says that our irrational behaviors are predictable. Therefore, we can predict our irrational tendency and choose to fix it if needs be.<br />
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In this fun book, Dan Ariely shows how we human beings behave in irrational, but predictable ways, by showing the results of his and other people's funny experiments. In many experiments, Dan himself carried out the experiments. For example, it was Dan who put the 6-pack cokes in the fridge to gauge their half-life. And it was also he who got beer orders in a restaurant when people tried to look unique just for the sake of it.<br />
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Most of all, I liked his style. He is not verbose at all, but he puts a few extra words to describe how irrationally people behave, which make you laugh out loud.<br />
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I would like to give this book 4.5 stars. But again, a few hearty laughs are worth more than half a star.<br />
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What follows are summaries of of each chapter, more or less for my personal record.<br />
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Chapter 1 - The Truth about Relativity<br />
Two choices are juxtaposed and we don't know which to choose. It is like, A is better than B in one trait, but in the other trait, B is better. Overall score looks similar. In this picture, a marketing guru comes in and puts another choice, namely, A-, which is overall similar to A, but a little bit (but noticeably) inferior to A. Then everyone rushes to A. With the backdrop of the inferior counterfeit, A suddenly looks better than not only A, but B. His episode with the Economist subscription tells the story in a succinct and clear way.<br />
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Chapter 2 - The Fallacy of Supply and Demand<br />
Price is not determined by supply and demand. Price is heavily influenced by the initial anchor! Given the same task, people who were suggested 90 cents bid higher wages than those who were suggested 10 cents. MSRP is designed to be the anchor for our willingness to pay.<br />
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Chapter 3 - The Cost of Zero Cost<br />
Zero cost rushes you to make choices you won't make otherwise. The author believes this is because of we human beings' deeply rooted fear about loss. When something cost you nothing, you don't see the downside of the interaction, and there it goes. But marketers know this well, and make you spend even more by giving you something for free. The Lindt vs. Kiss experiment shows this well. (By the way, in Switzerland Lindt is a cheap low-quality chocolate and is dirt cheap!)<br />
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Chapter 4 - The Cost of Social Norms<br />
People are willing to do things either when they are paid reasonably, or when they do it in the context of social relations. When they are paid inadequately, they won't do it. Your lawyer friend might pick up a parcel for you in return for a candy bar, but won't fill your legal form for the same candy bar! The even more important lesson from this chapter is, that a social norm relation can really quickly easily turn into a market norm, and that once deteriorated into a market norm, the social norm won't return easily. A bank might be able to cuddle a customer with simple gifts and free services, so that he feels he and the bank are in a social norm. Let's say, the customer fails to pay his due once, and the bank makes him pay the penalty according to the account contract. Now the relation plummets into a market norm, and will hardly ever return. So, corporations, if you want to make customers feel like they are <i>at home </i>with your services, choose wisely when to apply the market economics.<br />
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Chapter 5 - The Influence of Arousal<br />
Dr. Jekyll believes that he can control the dark Mr. Hyde. But no. Hot is actually hotter than we think. When hot, we cannot control ourselves and make lousy and dangerous decisions. Don't you affirm that you will be different.<br />
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Chapter 6 - The Problem of Procrastination and Self-Control<br />
We perform best when we are dictated to do things. The report deadline experiment shows this so crisply well we can't deny it. So, if we are fined when we skip our routine cholesterol check, general health level of the country will enhance. What I liked in this chapter is the author's meeting with the bankers, marketing a self-control credit card. While the bank will lose some $17 billion in interest charges, it will stand out among the crowd as the <i>good </i>bank. But the bank never called back. Perhaps they decided to choose the interest charges over the good bank image. Or perhaps they just procrastinated. ;)<br />
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Chapter 7 - The High Price of Ownership<br />
We price what we have simply because we have it. We are emotionally attached, and we focus more on what we lose than what we gain. The IKEA effect (TM) says that the more labor and efforts you put in, the more you value it. Furthermore, we assume ownership even before we actually have it. So, 30-day money back guarantee works. When the deadline approaches, your loss of what you already have looks much bigger than the meager cash payment you will receive in return.<br />
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Chapter 8 - Keeping Doors Open<br />
Even smart people make bad choices just to have more options. So, parents teach their kids all kinds of things - foreign language, piano, painting, and Taekwondo - just to keep the doors open.<br />
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Chapter 9 - The Effect of Expectation<br />
The well-know effect of expectation on actual outcomes. The example is about the famous Pepsi blind test. When people are told that they will drink Coke, a part of the brain activates, and they come to believe that they are drinking Coke, their favorite brand. Asian girls will score higher in math when they are (secretively) reminded that they are Asian, but they will score lower when they are reminded of their gender. Their performance actually follow the popular myth - an expectation.<br />
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Chapter 10 - The Power of Price<br />
Continuing from the previous theme, the expectation effect, this chapter talks about the Placebo effect. A 50-cent drug can do things that a 1-cent drug can't.<br />
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Chapter 11&12 - The Context of Our Character<br />
Again, the priming effect. Primed by reminding oneself of the Ten Commandments, people cheat less. We feel stealing money much more uncomfortable than stealing a can of coke. As we get further away from "money", such as a token or a stock option, less qualm we feel.<br />
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Chapter 13 - Beer and Free Lunches<br />
When ordering in a restaurant, people tend to order different dishes when they are heard. On the other hand, when they can order in writing, they order what they want. So, be the first one to order in restaurants, or talk about what you will order before the waiter arrives. Behavioral economics do not presume rational human behavior, instead, it observes how they behave. In behavioral economics, because things are not perfectly organized, so you might be able to find a loose spot and earn some free lunches.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-19040856079635821192016-06-28T21:30:00.000-07:002016-06-28T21:30:05.623-07:00"Spark" by John J. Ratey, Eric Hagerman<i>Spark</i> by John J. Ratey, Eric Hagerman<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.09<br />
my verdict: yes, solid 4 stars<br />
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pro: it reads well, and it makes you feel good (the book makes you believe that you will exercise)<br />
con: somewhat repetitive?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Whatever health trouble you have, begin exercising right now.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Exercise is perhaps the best thing that can happen in your life, if you round up the overall score, after accounting for all the minute plus and minus effects. Even better, it is something that you can ignite, proactively. Whether it happens in your life or not, it is your choice.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">I do exercise regularly, and I feel the benefits - psychological as well as physical ones. I do enjoy the positive energy surging in my body when I finish the last lap of burpee in my daily exercise routine.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">According to the author, almost all health problems related with the brain can be treated by exercising, at least to a certain degree. Depression, stress, ADHD, hormone imbalance, dementia... the list goes on and on.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">However, do not count the author as another self-help book peddler. For example, he is subscribing medicines as well as exercise, which means he does not think that some strong belief can make anything happen. Of course, he is also giving lots of lab results as evidences, but I am one of those who do take statistics with a grain of salt. (I used to make living with statistics, for your information.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Overall, the book reads well and do not tire readers despite some repetitions. I think this is due to the power of episodes, the true stories of living people around us. This book is not just a pile of information. Actually, it reads like an exercise. Reading this book makes you feel good.</span>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-47551179258630205972016-06-14T16:26:00.001-07:002016-06-14T16:26:06.218-07:00"Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis<i>Zorba the Greek</i> by Nikos Kazantzakis<br />
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goodreads rating: 4.1<br />
my verdict: really good<br />
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This is a famous novel, but I was not lured to read this until someone mentioned that Meursault (from L'Etranger by Albert Camus) and Zorba belong to the same kind of human being. For example, Meursault carries on his life as usual the day when his mother died. He knows that people expect certain behaviors on certain occasions, but he does not wish to live up to <i>their </i>expectations. He would rather live up to his own desire. Zorba, in this context, looks very similar. For example, even though his boss ranks very high on his life's agenda, Zorba decides to spend all the trusted fund to Lola, to follow his own desire. The two personae are quite different from the perspective of social status, Zorba and Meursault, but they both behaves as they like. They do not give a damn what others might think of them. And we know this attitude is extremely difficult.<br />
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<i>Zorba the Greek </i>consistently kept me thinking about <i>Narziss und Goldmund </i>by Hermann Hesse. (And of course <i>Siddhartha</i> by the same author.) Simply put, Narziss versus Goldmund equals <i>the boss</i> versus Zorba. Two sets of personae, they both seek truth, but in different ways. Narziss focuses on mind activities for the purpose, while Goldmund decides to seek it in the world (<i>in der welt</i>). The boss, like Narziss, has been following books and buddhism to reach the truth. Then he meets Zorba, who seems to have found the truth already, by living in the world.<br />
<br />
Therefore, strangely enough but also in a very unavoidable fashion, Meursault also meets Narziss and Goldmund, along with Zorba. What is L'Etanger? Perhaps the most famous existentialist novel. Martin Heidegger's <i>dasein </i>is also <i>in-der-welt-sein. </i>In other words, being cannot be but being there (dasein), and it is also being in the world (in-der-welt-sein). Zorba knew it, and Goldmund came to know it. And, Meursault was also living it.<br />
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I am not sure if Zorba is right. (Right and wrong is a very childish idea, but I cannot find a better term here.) But I know that I cannot choose to live like Zorba. All my life when I was in the university, truth was the biggest theme in my life, and I still think I <i>want</i> it. Is Zorba the answer? I know there are people who behave like Zorba, and I know I am not one of them. Should I aspire to be like them? Or should I yet stay on the road of mind like Narziss did? I still want to learn, and books are the easiest tool, at least for now.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-19386351221031956852016-05-29T21:40:00.002-07:002016-05-29T21:43:21.395-07:00"Presentation Zen Design" by Garr Reynolds<br /><i>Presentation Zen Design</i> by Garr Reynolds<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmqA9SIxb0TYn2YUct1g-4aCKoM35zBpFc-0ve4yJwrN5Vqh0C5JWTpTfr0WY4rWhvHWCqSCVSBUBYlNFibJPCZHC2Cu-fpAsm0fSeRfBI1P3pt2yayWF5YXAMC1UveWSY1DcPqx4u0I/s1600/6697979.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmqA9SIxb0TYn2YUct1g-4aCKoM35zBpFc-0ve4yJwrN5Vqh0C5JWTpTfr0WY4rWhvHWCqSCVSBUBYlNFibJPCZHC2Cu-fpAsm0fSeRfBI1P3pt2yayWF5YXAMC1UveWSY1DcPqx4u0I/s320/6697979.jpg" /></a><br /><br />goodreads.com rating: 4.17<br />my veridct: main dish is excellent, but the hors d'oeuvre and the dessert are terrible<br /><br />pro: solid core messages, good examples<br />con: verbose and repetitive introductions, shallow show-off about the author's knowledge about Eastern culture<br /><br /><br />This book is almost refuting its own arguments in its design and contents. In presentations, less is more. The book could have been one third of its volume and still perfect. The book starts with a very long and boring introduction. When you're done with the waddling through the puddle and are gasping, you find that every chapter afterwards starts with its own verbose introduction, thoroughly till the end. You can imagine all those introductions are repetitive, thus boring.<br /><br /> Another thing that rubs you the wrong way is the author's imprudent quotes about Japan. The book starts with the author saying that the Japanese cuisine, "washoku(和食)", is about harmony. Following the same logic, the United States is a country of beauty, Germany a country of mercy, and France a country of law. I know that the author added "literally" in that argument to avoid this kind of criticism, perhaps. Then again, I can say that, literally, the author is one that protrudes in the family of Reynolds.<br /><br /> I know he lived in Japan for 20 years and I bet he knows a lot about its culture. But put yourself in the other's shoes. Imagine some Japanese guy who lived in France for 20 years talking about the Latin roots of French words. Most of Europeans will scorn at the insolence. His quotes about Chinese letters are actually very scornful for most East Asian people, but I will talk no more.<br /><br /> Now, on the bright side, content-wise this book is very satisfactory. Nothing spectacularly new, but most suggestions in the book are solid tips for good presentation (and the design of slides for it). I learned a thing or two about the selection of colors, among other things. And the examples found in the book are well chosen. What I liked most was, the suggestion about using a photo bigger than the screen, leaving the unseen for the realm of imagination.<br /><br /> Overall, the book is worth reading. If the author could have followed his own advice and have written the book in, let's say, 70 pages instead of 240+, it would have won 4 solid stars.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-82285331537162208712016-05-24T19:40:00.002-07:002016-07-10T23:07:14.512-07:00"Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki" by Higashino Keigo<i>Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki</i> by Higashino Keigo<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.34<br />
my verdict: the very best<br />
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pro: everything<br />
con: nada<br />
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Higashino Keigo is crude. To talk about his style, I can't say anything but that his style sucks. His style is worse than most junior high students. His characters are weak. I admit that there are exceptions (for example, Yukiho in <i>Byakuyakou</i>, or Ishigami in <i>The Devotion of Suspect X</i>) but most of his characters are just names. His storytelling methods are most of the time very banal, or to put it more positively, clich<b style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">é</b>. His employment of frame narratives is so crude that it hurts the flow.<br />
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Still, I like most of his novels, and love some of them. The stories he tells are way too powerful. The basic idea that sustains the whole plot is simply genius. Small devices here and there do their job artfully in delivering the overall effect. As a result, his story rivets into your mind.<br />
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Reading <i>Byakuyakou</i> ("Walking under the White Night") is like being stabbed with a knife in the heart. When Yasuko reports herself to the police, and seeing this, Ishigami falls on his knees and cries, who is it that can stop himself/herself from shedding tears as well? (<i>The Devotion of Suspect X</i>)<br />
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But, of all his works, I love this one best. I can earnestly say that writing such a story is itself a miracle (kiseki). This novel is like a touch of a warm, soft hand of your beloved when you least expect it. It is like the first snow. It is like the moment when a kid finds what he wished for in the Christmas Stocking. The boy rubs his eyes because he is only half-awake yet, but he wants to find out sooner. And the world outside is shrouded with cotton-soft snow.<br />
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What I want to tell you is, reading this book is like receiving a gift. You never knew you wanted that gift, but now you know it.<br />
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Three good-for-nothing youngsters get into a shabby house. Then they find that there's a letter in the letterbox. They have nothing to do, and a night to spend. They decide to read the letter...<br />
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I still feel electrified just by thinking about the story.<br />
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I strictly stay away from containing spoilers in book reviews. So I do not wish to talk more. But I earnestly recommend this one to literally ANYONE. There are books that appeal to some but disgust others. But this one, I believe, will move any human being. I believe reading this book will make you happy, being reminded that you also belong to the same race.<br />
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(This is the cover of the Korean edition of the book, which I read)</div>
Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-26345104730201343722016-05-24T18:44:00.000-07:002016-05-24T18:44:00.890-07:00"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor<i>The Happiness Advantage </i>by Shawn Achor<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.13<br />
my verdict: good!<br />
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pro: actionable<br />
con: repetitive<br />
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Recommendation is a powerful tool in choosing books to read. The title of this book sounds so banal that you can instantly say that this must be a good-for-nothing self-help book that disguises itself as a psychology book. To tell the truth, the book title couldn't be anything else. This book actually says about the advantages of being happy. However, it is also true that I wouldn't have picked up this book if it were not for the recommendation of someone (and goodreads.com's high rating of course).<br />
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There are seven principles with the happiness advantage (even though they are not systemically interwoven like those seven habits of Stephen Covey).<br />
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1. The Happiness Advantage: capitalize on positivity to improve productivity/life.<br />
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2. The Fulcrum and the Lever: adjust your mindset (the fulcrum) so as to attain the most power (the lever).<br />
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3. The Tetris Effect: you are the lucky guy! Everything will turn out best for you!<br />
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4. Falling Up: Eureka, you fell! Now it's time to get up even stronger!<br />
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5. The Zorro Circle: start out small. Retain your core circle of control (i.e. the internal locus of control) whatever happens to you.<br />
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6. The 20-Second Rule: reroute the path of least resistance. Eliminate the 20-second obstacle to good habits. Build 20-or-more-second obstacle to your bad habits.<br />
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7. Social Investment: invest in friends, peers, and family so that you have a social support network when needed.<br />
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(Almost) Every item on the list is actionable. But I'd like to recommend the item number 6, that is, the 20-second rule, to people like me who get heavily challenged in terms of willpower on daily basis.<br />
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For example, you know daily exercise is great, but what if it takes 5 minutes in the morning to get ready and walk out the door to go jogging? Shawn says he went to bed in gym clothes so that he could automatically dash out of the bed to go jogging in the morning. For me, I found myself eating less potato chips when I put it in the pantry with a door, instead of right beside the coffee machine where I can see it (and grab it) more easily. So, for a good habit that you want to build on yourself, remove any obstacle that might discourage you from doing it habitually. For a bad habit that you want to shake off, build many obstacles so that it takes a lot of time and effort to do it. In other words, put your good habits on the path of least resistance.<br />
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Have I said that I like this book because it contains many actionable items? I will recommend some from the book.<br />
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1. Choose a day of the week. This is your good-deed day. Do five good things to others throughout the day. Of course, you will count each of them as you do it and feel great.<br />
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2. To have or to be? Spend money on experiences, rather than on stuffs. (This reminds me of the good book, <i>The Story of Stuffs</i>.)<br />
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3. Do you think you are doing petty things to earn living? That petty stuff most probably will lead to something greater in the bigger picture. Write down the petty thing you do not like, and draw an arrow. Then write down what that leads to. If that still does not satisfy you, draw another arrow and at the end of it write down what is accomplished by that. In most of the cases, your petty daily chore is a building block for a lot greater thing that you can be proud of.<br />
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4. Set an alarm at, let's say, 11 o'clock in the morning. When that sets off, begin writing down three good things that happened yesterday. Now your mind is set on the positive side.<br />
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5. When you get really stressed out, draw a table and divide the causes of your stress into two groups - those you can control and those you can't. Forget about those things you can't control. Focus on the little things you can tackle easily (the Zorro Circle). You will get improvement.<br />
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6. Clear obstacles to your good habits. Build obstacles to your bad habits.<br />
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7. Many people (including me!) spend energy and willpower in making small decisions that does not make any difference after all. Set up a simple rule and use it for quick decisions. Pizza or spaghetti? Toss a coin. You want to have one more cup of coffee? Set up the daily limit.<br />
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8. Make eye contacts. Look at people's eyes when they speak to you.<br />
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Wow, that's already quite a long list. At the end of the book, Shawn says about a man who thinks he is already doing all of these, while his wife isn't. Shawn told the man that he had heard the opposite from his wife a while ago. What I mean is, people (again including me) think they are doing things while they aren't. Let's start actually doing those good things. :)Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-74859616911251767362016-05-21T06:57:00.001-07:002016-05-21T06:58:15.744-07:00"Quiet: the Power of Introverts" by Susan Cain<i>Quiet: the Power of Introverts</i><br />
by Susan Cain<br />
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goodreads.com rating: 4.00<br />
my verdict: well! (see below)<br />
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pro: good intention<br />
con: this is part book, part manifesto (someone's review in Amazon.com)<br />
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All's well that ends well. So, the final verdict for this <i>book </i> is well(!) instead of good. The few pages at the end of the book, under the heading of conclusion, include some really good real-life advices for introverts, extroverts, teachers, and managers.<br />
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Except that, well, like the reviewer I quoted above, this may not be even a book. Yes, of course you can call a bundle of printed pages glued together a book. Yes, physically, a book. But what about the basics you learn at school about writing? I don't even accuse this book of being illogical. I accuse it of being incoherent. In one part, the author distinguishes being introvert from being shy, and goes on bedeviling shyness. In other part, she presupposes that being shy equals being introvert and goes on advocating shyness.<br />
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Even worse, for a very large part of the book, the author depicts a world torn apart between introverts and extroverts, and affirms single-handedly that it's the extroverts' bad. For example, she says the subprime mortgage crisis would not have happened if the bankers had been introverts instead of extroverts.<br />
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I am actually amazed that she has the gut to pitch this kind of stuff in the TED. Most people would have just ended up writing in their diaries.<br />
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However, as mentioned above, the book has a good intention. I wish it had a matching quality. And yes, I wasted a fair amount of time.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-68155580731245967362016-05-14T04:56:00.002-07:002016-05-14T04:56:41.355-07:00"Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel" by Carl Safina Goodreads rating: 4.38<br />
My verdict: Good<br />
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Pro: Interesting and emotional episodes<br />
Con: Do not expect science<br />
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<img alt="22320456" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415428650l/22320456.jpg" /><br />
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Having a rating of whopping 4.38 on Goodreads.com is a feat, you know. For your information, Richard Dawkins's <i>Selfish Gene </i>has a rating of 4.10, Stephen Hawking's <i>The Universe in a Nutshell</i>, 4.12, Keigo Higashino's <i>Namiya Zakkaten no Kiseki</i>, 4.33. My brief search could find only one book that has a higher rating: <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, </i>at 4.59.<br />
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This is a very interesting book, coming at you often with riveting stories of emotional depth that leave big impacts on your mind. I was an elephant lover but I am an adorer now. Wolves deserve much more respectable traits for metaphors. Killer whales, (I sigh,) they are much better beings than us humans, in every aspects.<br />
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But, is this a science book? If you expect it to be one, you will be disappointed. Most stories are told like a gossip. When the author argues something, what he brings as the proof is, most of the time, a hearsay. Yes, the hearsay is in the format of some scientist's argument, but the scientist is quite often a like-minded fellow researcher who happened to live in the author's neighborhood and told him the episodes over a dinner table.<br />
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This book is like the famous animal stories by Ernest Thompson Seton. The book strikes you with a very powerful insights about the world and the position of us human beings in it, but you'd better not expect what is told is scientifically solid. I strongly suspect the author actually believes that he is delivering a set of scientific arguments backed by solid evidences, but I don't think the author's arguments will appear on <i>The Nature </i>as they do in this book.<br />
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But do not underestimate this book. It will make you think about the world, mankind, and other habitants of our planet, from a different perspective than before. And once more, it is a powerfully compelling read. Science or not, you will enjoy this book and love the animals in it. And yes, there are other beings living in this world that matter too.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-8992699328170500642012-12-11T22:30:00.003-08:002012-12-11T22:30:16.938-08:00The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8526179555337876" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The title alone can attract a number of readers, I guess. The flip side of an attractive title is the disappointment you get when you find the snappy title contains nothing - like, for example, Haruki Murakami’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In my case, I’ve been betrayed quite a few times already, so the nice title actually </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lowered </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my expectation about the novel. Consequently, the actual reading was very pleasant.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><img alt="Front cover of book showing young girl from the waist down in knee socks and Mary Janes and empty brown Oxfords next to her on a picnic blanket." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bf/TimeTravellersWife.jpg/200px-TimeTravellersWife.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easily you can see the novel is about pain, or at least, loneliness, since it is about the wife, not the time traveler. But once you open the book, you realize it is also about the time traveler himself, and his pain. I will reveal one very important part of the plot, which means, you must stop reading this article if you don’t want a spoiler. I am giving this book a solid 4-star (out of 5) rating. So, if you are interested enough already, go read it!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The time traveler’s pain lies in that he does not have any control over his own time travel. He calls it a disease, and a doctor is trying to fix it. Henry, the time traveler, feels that he cannot and must not alter any events in the past. However, somehow he made his mind to do two audacious things: to train his younger self to increase the probability of survival when he leaps in time, and to tell her future wife about what will happen and what should be done. The second part, Henry telling Clare of some of their common future, creates a loop of causes and effects, and the fun part of the novel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t think that anybody will call this a science fiction in a serious sense. The author does not attempt to explain any kinds of time paradox, nor does she even try to make the events more plausible by explaining things in a pseudo-scientific ways. It is extremely uncommon in a usual time-traveling sci-fi that the time traveling self interacts with himself in the space-time he travels. Henry says that he could not affect the way things evolve even though he tried, then later he does things that might well affect the future, for example, buying winning lotteries and picking stocks with clairvoyance. More profoundly, what if he could avoid meeting Clare in their initial encounter-to-be? Henry says he dare not ride on airplanes because of the danger of being on 5,000 feet high in the air when he gets back from time traveling, but the danger is not much less for a car traveling.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, the gist of the novel lies in the feelings of the people involved in the fate of Henry’s. Therefore, this is not a science fiction, and is not to be blamed for such minor factors. Readers are fixated on such memorable scenes such as when Richard cuddles newly born Alba or when Henry meets 82-year-old Clare.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this respect, it is too bad that the author actually made the time-traveling a disease, which some people might be able to control well, like Alba. Alba will find it extremely difficult to avoid becoming a superhero after all, with her “controlled” disease. This takes all the epic nature of the disease away from her, and makes any further story-telling on her future meaningless.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Still, the final verdict on this novel is, yes, a solid 4-star rating. The emotional depth of the happy and sad story between Henry and Clare is strong enough to pull any reader into its gravity.</span></b><br />
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Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-7535149302514363152012-09-25T14:43:00.001-07:002012-09-25T14:44:04.059-07:00Cyberspace Polluting the Real World<b id="internal-source-marker_0.34631270729005337" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The New York Times had an impressive </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/technology/data-centers-waste-vast-amounts-of-energy-belying-industry-image.html?smid=li-share&goback=%2Egde_59693_member_167423736&_r=0"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">article</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last week, about data centers of Cyberspace giants polluting the air we real people breathe. Whatever you do on the Cyberspace, some of the actions require computer processing. These are done remotely in data centers, where huge (though nothing to compare to ENIAC) servers are run throughout the day to take your orders. Data centers are huge buildings packed with servers, which means 1) they require a lot of energy, and 2) they emit a lot of energy, in the form of heat. You might remember news about Google or Facebook worrying about cooling systems in their new data centers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For energy use, it is not just about how prodigal these data centers are in terms of energy consumption. They do eat up a whole lot of energy, for sure. But they are doubly polluting because they all have backup electricity generator, mostly run on diesel. The following picture shows a backup diesel generator at a large computer data center. (Picture at the courtesy of Richard Perry, New York Times, copied from the news article.) According to the annotation on the picture, there are six generators in total in the data center, enough to power 7,000 homes. And yes, they are polluting. Amazon was once fined by the environmental authority of North Virginia because they were running diesel generators without permits.</span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><img height="312px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Qb89qsdp1pY15scZUTcFCiAQQQRHVmcEvQtUk1SesE1DQ8IxBHh83PuWX57bnnbBEkFirCo_dEsHaGr-h0zEBeA-sRH6LpdyPzAUn7rIZIPZ0dv7IOk" width="466px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to generators, large data centers also hoard on flywheels and lead-acid batteries for additional backup. Indeed a super-conservative insurance measure. Why do they do this, then? Because data center operators lose jobs if there’s any failure in the system. These people are not paid for energy efficiency. They are paid to keep the system running 24/7.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The amount of electricity used in data centers is also massive. In 2010, data centers used about 2% of all the electricity used in the US, or 76 billion kilowatt-hours. The whole paper industry used 67 billion kilowatt-hours that year. Doing things in the Cyberspace does not save energy as we expect.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a research done by a consulting company, the utilization rate of facilities in data centers is around 6 to 12 percent. Up to 94% of computing resources at data centers are idle, in other words, in a standby mode to be prepared for a surge in usage.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pooling risks reduces risks. Suppose a data center have a peak time utilization rate of 90, but most of the day runs at 10. Since utilization rate of 100 is a nonsense, this data center keeps its facility level at 100, giving a safety margin of 10. Suppose another data center with exactly the same specs. If we can combine the two data centers into one, we do not need resources of 200, because the peak time will be most probably different for the two data centers. We might end up needing only, say, 150. The actual necessary resources depend on the covariance of the facility utilization rates of the two facilities. This is the basic concept of risk pooling.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, the answer can be found in risk pooling. According to the article, there are 2,094 data centers in the US in 2010. Using a simple binomial probability function, I could get interesting numbers as follows:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1) Assuming simple binomial probability distribution (and normal distribution), a data center that has average utilization rate of 12% can operate on a probability of failure of 1/10^50, with only 19.3% of its current resources. This shows the hyper-conservatism of the data center industry. They are massing up more than 5 times necessary resources to prevent any blackout. Perhaps you think 10^50 processing orders (such as clicks of a mouse) can happen in your lifetime? No way. It takes 1.06*10^33 years if 3 billion people clicks at the speed of once per second 24/7 nonstop.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2) Pooling two such data centers will require only 34.2% of one data center’s resources, not 19.3% * 2 = 38.6%. Pooling ten such data centers will require the resources of only 1.43 data centers, not 1.93. Huge savings on resources keeping the same probability of failure.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seeing the calculation makes the pooling solution so attractive. Then why don’t they do it? Because the data they are dealing with are sensitive data such as personal information. There are also business reasons, political and legal complications, and technical feasibility to some extent. So what? Cyberspace polluting the real world is a real phenomenon. We must start addressing the issue first by realizing it. Before people realized the significance of it, climate change was a kind of urban legend to many people.</span></b>
Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-56396989473310580152012-08-28T17:06:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:06:00.050-07:00Metro 2033: A Powerful Narrative about Human Existence<b id="internal-source-marker_0.22417337447404861" style="font-weight: normal;"><img 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" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The so-called post-apocalyptic fictions deal with the lives of survivors of a certain </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">apocalypse</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The art of the genre lies on how to depict the lives of human beings after the world as we know is scrapped. In this respect, post-apocalyptics are destined to be part sci-fi and part fantasy, both of which factors can lead to a big failure if not controlled well. Most of the time, writers are so involved in creating the new world, and fail to capture the simple fact that what they tell are, after all, about human beings. On the other extreme, some writers use the post-apocalyptic setting as a mere prop in their theatrical setting, which means, the post-apocalyptic part of the fiction is merely an unusual setting..</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky is by all means a very well written post-apocalyptic novel. The writer did not indulge himself into his own creation, nor did he simply borrow the scene of a post-nuclear war Moscow for no purposes. The themes are about human nature, and they are well woven into the story where people are forced to think about human nature.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The theme of this novel has two layers. One is the communication conundrum. The other is about the purposes and weight of life. The first theme on communication is dramatically presented at the very end of the novel, when the right message is finally delivered only a few seconds too late. The second theme about life is repeatedly presented by the hero of the novel, Artyom. But this theme again is revisited very powerfully at the very end of the novel, where he says that we human beings are doomed to creep on earth. In this sense, in that we human beings are left with the doom because of our fear of communication, the two themes are interwoven - beautifully.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most attractive aspect of the novel lies in its ending, where the coda is thrown at the reader like a sudden death. Throughout the whole time, Artyom narrates all kinds of thoughts on life and mankind to the reader. He is quite verbose. Then, at the very end, when all is lost, he does not elaborate. His action speaks louder, as he tears open the gas mask. It is time to go home.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I already said that this wonderful piece of art accomplished the dual objectives of a post-apocalyptic novel, which means the description of the life after the apocalypse is also all too powerful. I’ve heard some people say that the mutant creatures are too extreme - rather phantasmal than sci-fi. Yes, they are, to a certain degree. But not without a reason. Think about the librarians. They are big, brutal, but are also humanoid, and have hands rather than paws. They echo people’s speech. And they live in the library. Isn’t this wonderfully allegorical?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even from the perspective of pure ideation, Glukhovsky is excellent. There have been much imagination about </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">currency </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">after an apocalypse, like bottle caps in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fallout </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">saga. In the metro, it is the bullets. Means of life are gauged against the means to kill lives. At the same time, it makes a perfectly realistic sense. Since the life in the metro is full of danger, bullets become indispensable commodity to rely on, for survival.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though I have shed glimpses of this wonderful fiction to make my points clear, I did my explanations rather vaguely, because I sincerely do not want to ruin anybody’s experience with this novel with some careless spoiler. I recommend this book very strongly. Whether you seek action, violence, fantasy, or food for thoughts, you will find it.</span></b>
Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-54344254744333036542012-08-05T09:00:00.001-07:002012-08-05T09:00:06.429-07:00How to Avoid GMO<img src="http://leightonpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/GMO-corn.bmp" />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6661717514507473" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Capitalism is unbelievable in some profound ways, sometimes, as in the case of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). I bet those scientists would never test genetically modified corn syrup on their own children. Yet those food industry tycoons are motivated by the the stock market figures and media coverages, and the scientist working for them are driven by 99% monetary incentives and 1% scientific curiosity.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somehow, we are exposed to GMOs with little protection. This means we should take measures to protect ourselves from the god-knows-what impact of GMOs. As follows are some tips I garnered from the Internet.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Go organic. Buy food with organic labels. When I was in Switzerland, an American expat wrote an article on a journal, in which he said, “In Switzerland, I see food with organic label everywhere. Can I trust these labels?” That coming from an American person, perhaps this is not a trustworthy strategy in North America. However, let’s hope it is better in Canada.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Make a list of archenemies - soybean, corn, cotton, and canola. Someone says you should memorize the acronym, SCCC. They are produced in bulk in GMO, and are sold throughout the world. For example, canola oil seems to be en vogue in some parts of the world, but alas, most probably the canola oil you get at grocery stores will be from GMOs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Live like your grandpa, in the old-fashioned way. Buy grocery locally, preferably at a farmer’s market. Prepare food yourself, rather than microwaving packaged foods. In packaged foods, the contents are simply enumerated in the unit of basic ingredients, not the plants and dairies we see in the farmer’s market. For example, if a packaged food contains fructose, it is most probably from some GMO corn.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Go veggie sometimes. Animals are positioned higher in the food chain, hence have harmful substances in more concentration. Most cows feed on corn, and you won’t imagine them organically grown.</span></b>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Photo credit: </span></b><a href="http://leightonpost.com/2010/04/30/poison-on-your-plate-gm-foods-and-your-right-to-know/">http://leightonpost.com/2010/04/30/poison-on-your-plate-gm-foods-and-your-right-to-know/</a>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-38465672797886261022012-07-21T13:28:00.003-07:002012-07-21T13:28:50.907-07:00History Anywhere - Bill Bryson's "At Home"<img src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWXWZS0ssdA0ISyVJl_0wHh2k7JUuxcIA8AVZF756HsNaW-eog" />
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Bill Bryson is a born storyteller, so much so that what he tells, even though when I already know it, sounds quite savory to the ears. In a book called <i>At Home, </i>Bryson takes us back to many eras in time when people lived quite differently from the way of our lives today. For example, when he looks around in the kitchen, he tells us about a time when ice makers could make astronomical amount of money because they supplied ice for the old-fashioned refrigerators in the Industrial Age. In the dressing room, he reminds us of a time in our history when people wore 20 kg or more of clothing. Quite a well-off man like Thomas Carlyle had to read in the Kitchen at night because it was the warmest spot in his house, because of which his sole servant had to stay in the cold back-kitchen till very late every night.<br />
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In this book, Bryson tells interesting stories on many different aspects of human history in relation with our private life, in such areas as anthropology, paleontology, history of science, invention, medicine, and government affairs. Also, the way he tells his story reveals what a sensible man he is, just like he did in his previous book, <i>Short History of Nearly Everything.</i> Most probably, I will revisit one of his books in the near future, once again to be educated and entertained at the same time.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-26162938135636728062012-07-11T18:46:00.001-07:002012-07-11T18:46:41.483-07:00How to Make Good Decisions<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBhASDxIQEBAQEBAPFBUPEBAPEBAPDxAPFBAVFBYQFRIXGyYeFxkjGRISHy8hIycpLC4sFh4xNTAqNSYrLCkBCQoKDgwOGg8PGi4gHyQpLy8pKywsLCopLi8tLTUpKTUpLCwsLCksLCwsKSosLCk1KSwpKSwtLywtNSwtLCwsKf/AABEIAOEA4QMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAEAAQUBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgEDBAUHAgj/xABCEAABAwIDBQQIAwUGBwAAAAABAAIDBBEFITEGEkFRYQcTInEUMkJSYoGRwSOCoSRTkrHRCBVyotLwMzRDdIOTs//EABoBAQADAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwQFAQb/xAAxEQACAQIEAgkEAQUAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQQSITFBUQUTImFxgZGx8CMyodHhBhUzQvH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AO4oiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIipdAVRUul0BVFS6qgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIqEoCqLDxPGIKeMyzytiYOLjqeQGrj0C5ptD2xON2UMW6NO/mFyerYtB+a/kqqlWFP7mbMNga+Jf046c+B1Grq442F8j2RsGrnuDWj5lQ7Fu1qgiuIi+pcP3Td2P+N1r/K649iWLT1D9+olfK7hvuJA6Nbo35LEssM8Y39qPpcP/AE/TjrWlfuWi/fsT7Ee2SsfcQRQwDgXb0z/qbD9FHqrbrEpPWrJh0jcIh/kAWiRZZVpy3Z2aeAw1L7YL0v7ma/HKo5mqqD5zyn7q5DtJWt9WrqW+U8tvpda5VsoZnzNDo03plXoSih7TMTi/64lA9mZjH/qAD+qleFdtLchVUxbzfA7eH/rdmPqVytVVscRUjxMVbovC1d4JeGnsfReDbU0lUP2edjzqWX3ZB5sdn+i26+XmOIIc0kEZggkEHmCNFNNne1Wrgsyf9qiGXjNpmjpJ7X5r+a2U8YnpNWOBiugJx7VB37nv67ex21FptntrKWsZvQSXcBd8TvDKzzby6i46rcXW5NNXR85OEqcss1Z95VERekAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIioSgKqC7adpsVKXQU4bNUjJ2f4UJ+Ij1nfCPmRotd2m9oZhLqKkfaYi08rTnCCP+G0++RqeHnpyVoWHEYnL2Y7n0nRXRKrWq1tuC5+PcZmKYvPUyGWokdK86FxyaPda3Ro6BTfZSlwuviNPJA2nrN2zXxueO8t7bAXW3ubfp058vcchaQ5pLXNILXAkEEaEEaFYIVLSvLU+nr4VVKeSm3BrZrS3lxXcbPaPZuaim7qUXBuY5B6kjeY66XGoWNhODT1MgigjL3nM2ya0e852jR1K6dstiLcXo5aasj3nQ7v4zbBxJuGyD3ZBY34HlqFpMf2wbRb9BhsQgETjHLObGV7xkS08/iN+gCulSgu3fs/kwU8diJN4fJ9Vbv/AFtz5+R5rtl8NoIbV0j6ircLiGB+5u5adB8TvkFBqh7S8ljNxpPhZvF+6OW8dV5llc5xc5xc5xu5ziXOJPEkqddmuxkVUH1FQN+ON3dsjuQ17wA4l1tQA5uXG6rS62SjBW+cTTKSwVKVWvNyfzRLZEEa0nIC55DMoQRkcjyORXV8SZjIcW0VJT00DSRGIzSF5aNHG7rAnoFboP7632trKKKrgcQJGvbTFwaTm5pBzI6jgp9RrbX00KP7n2c3Y8OsV/a35OVopz2lbHRUpjnpxuRyuLHR5kMeBvAtvmARfLhZbXYnBKR9AZYYqeqr7EuZVHeax+9k3cOjbWN7Z81FUJZ3Blsukqaw8a8U2m7eHjy8TmN0XRqubF4/XwqkczkykjlZb8jiVqcfxDD5ILOoZaKuAvaOPu4S4HQtcR4SPhuOq8dK3H1VidPGubVo3T4xkpW8diJ09S+N7ZI3ujew3a9hLXNPQhdU2M7Vg8tgri1jz4W1AsI3nlIPZPUZeS5QqFqjTqypu6J4vA0sVHLNa8HxXzkfULSqrjvZ12hGFzaOrfeF1mwyuOcJOQY4+5yPs+WnYQV2KVRVI3R8FjMHUwlTJPyfMqiIrTGEREAREQBERAEREAUZ7QNqxQ0TpW276Q91ADn+IQfHbiGgF3yA4qTLgPbRtB32I+jg/h0bQzXIyvAe8/Tcb+UqurLLHQ2YKiqtZKW27If3xc4ucS5ziXOcTcucTcknmSslhWrZULLgqFx5xe597QrR2MxEabqtlSbUzoPZrtNRUkEwqJdySSQG2493gazI3A5ucoLiFT3k0sn7yR7/AOJ5P3WOqqyVRyio8jLSwkKdWdZXvK1/LkUU02A24ZRh8E7XGCR2/vNFzG8gNN28WkAaZ5KGIvITcHmRZiMPDEU3TqbMmlbsfRyuL6HEqRrHG4iqJO5ez4QbXI8wrmH7I08Tg+sxSmEbczHTTue945XGYHkCoOin1kb3y+5neFrZcvWu3gr+tvzY3m1VbSPkDaMT90293TSyPD3HQtY43aBnrmbrd4VgOG1VMPR6k01cAPDUTAN3xru2Au052IuRyUIReKpq20n84Ep4Z9XGEJtNcd7+N9zoFNgOPRH8Kou0aH0tj2EeTypJVYpHHQOZi8tNPMQ60ce66Q3HhAA9q/tAAdVxwH5eWSAK2NfLsvV3RkqdG9a05ySs73jHLL1uyi9NarkcBKpM8ALNY6rZjTLsnZPtgaiE0kzrz0zRuOJuZINATzLTYHoQuKySLO2bx00lZDUi9o3jfA9qI5Pb/CT+i04ebhK5yuk8PHE0XHitV4/yfTqLxDKHNDmm7XAOBGYIIuD9F7XYPgAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgKEr5GxrETPUzTnWaV8ufxPJA+hC+rMdm3KSof7kMrvpG4/ZfIgKz1uB1ejtMz8D1vL22aytos9jqqbRsaaustrDMHaKNAq/BUkcVTOknsdGhjGtJEiMa8kKzRYkDk5bVlM148JWZwZ1Y1otXNellnuwx3AK2cOf7pXmVlinHmYqLKGHv90q6zCJD7JXlmHOPMwEAW5h2ffxyWUMKjYLuOnNSUGVuvBGiipXO0BWV6I1gu8gdExDHmMu2MC/NRurxFzzmbqagUzxFlrobSsxUaNWqlrCViOevKuVMwzxMnsZUbnPcGtBc5xsGtFySeAC2OI7P1UDA+aIsY4gXu11idAbHI5FZWDRPggZLE29XWvMNMbXMcbSGvkb8RJ3b8ACtw3EmudNDI4zw0NLLvSvcXB9U+zS+51zc5rfK6uVJW1OdPGVFLs7cefy+n/DrPZfivf4VTuJu6IGB3nG7dH+XcPzUsXL+wSqJoqiP93OHD88bf8AQuoLbTd4o+dxUctaSXP+QiIpmYIiIAiIgCIiA1e1H/IVf/bzf/Fy+SgvrzGod+lnZ78UjfrG4fdfIYWetwOr0ftIqqqiy8MwqaokEcLC9x5aNHNx0A6qg6TaWrMRF1LCezGFsLhO7vJpGloc24ZESMi0cSOZ+i5hPEWvcw2Ja4tJGhINrj6KUouO5VSrxqNqPA9RS2W4w/Ei06rRK7FLZUyjc6NGs46M6FQYk1wF1t4ntI4LnlFWELf0WLcyq0+Ztcb6olYA5BUdIByWo/vUW1WBW4zlkV7dEFFs2mIY01g6qIYnjb3nXLksWtri45la977rxK57Kap7blZJbq2iKxKxjcm9WFUBV7p1gd02dk02NnEagHipWMYbhpEMMUclQAPSZpAXWeRcwssRYNvYnmppcymc3HSKuzZ7PYhSy0bI3TMpqqmZJCySS3gbI7xPaCQCd3LmDfmo1jFbBHF6JSOL494PmncLGd49UAcGN4czms/bSaKaKlrGMEclQJBI0cSwgX653F+VlFVOUuBnoUk+3rq9uTv+9jsn9n1/hrR8UJ/SQfZdeXIf7PrPBWu+KEfQSH7rry00vtRx8d/nl84BERWGMIiIAiIgCIiAoQvkDEqQxTyxHWKR8R82PLfsvsBfMHafh/c4xVttYPeJm8rSsD/5kqmstDo4CVpNEeoGRmVgmLmxFwEjm23gwnMi66biG09DhsfcUrGySD2WG4vb1pZOJ6a+S5UqqmMsux0KtFVGsz05HSNhcbnqZ6qoneT3cQDWjJjAXF1mt4f8PzXOJH3JPMk/U3U42LO5hmITaEtLAeoiIH6vCgq9lsiNFJTnbuX4CAoirNRk08i2EU61DHLNieqZxN+HqaWZs/SisSoqCVbL1jyPUErmic8qPD3ryiK4wt3YREQ8Jns/tZG2GOnrYGmnBvFKGeqWuvvEDWx9pufmr2M7F97K+rjqIjSyEzPk8T3MGrrNaPF/u6xIGCrwksaB3+HkvAAzdC65J/n/AAKMwYhKxj42SOayUWkYD4XDqFc5aWepz4025SlTeV3s1v592hk43iTZXtbGC2CBoiha71twG5e74nElx81rkRVN3N0YqKsjuXYHTWoqiT3590fkib/rXUFCux6g7vB4DaxmMkx/NIQ3/K1qmq3QVoo+YxMs1WT7wiIpmcIiIAiIgCIiALh/9oDCN2elqwMpGOp3n4o3b7fqHu/hXcFFO03Zw1mGTRtG9LF+0QgamSME7o6uaXt/MozV0X4eeSomfMSKl1VYj6En+FUr/wC4ZGxtc+SplLWtaCXH8RjdP/GVdwDsyAAlrXCw8XcsdYAfHJ9h9Vh7KbfMpaR0MjHPfG4mENsA5riXEOdws6/1Wmxjaasrnbni3DmIIQ4t+YGbvMq68bI5+Stmklor7/oztvqyhe6JtIBvRAxuMTQISzUAH2iDfPTPVRJe5oXMO69rmuGrXAtI+RXhVSd3c204ZIqKdwFkROWOrsZUJLQ0U3ZmQXKy4r2SragkaZyuERFIqCkGDU+Gd1vVcs3eknwQtNmt4AndNzxWNgWFxv35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/>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.268486229237169" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many of you think that your driving skills are better than average? In a typical poll, 90% of respondents say that they are better than average drivers.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me tell you about a person I know. Linda is thirty-one years old, single, outspoken, and very bright. She majored in philosophy. As a student, she was deeply concerned with issues of discrimination and social justice, and also participated in antinuclear demonstrations.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which do you think is more probable? 1) Linda works in a bookstore and takes yoga classes. 2) Linda is a bank teller. Most of you probably chose 1 over 2.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, another comparison. Which do you think is more probable? 1) Linda is a bank teller. 2) Linda is a bank teller and feminist. Most of you, I know, chose 2 over 1. However, ,think twice.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Linda being a bank teller </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feminist is clearly a subset of Linda being a bank teller. The probability of Linda being a bank teller and feminist cannot be higher than the probability of Linda being a bank teller. However, you made an apparent logical mistake. Why do you think so? It is because you formed a stereotype in your mind when I described Linda.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Linda test is from Danielle Kahneman’s book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011). </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this book, he suggests that we have two thinking systems: system 1, which is fast and intuitive, and system 2, slow but meticulous. Because we are lazy (according to Kahneman’s description), or because we seek efficiency in as many occasions as we can, we try to avoid the effortful system 2 as much as possible. In most cases, the system 1 will handle problems as they arise, and system 2 will occasionally check the validity of the system 1’s answers. Therefore, most of the time, we can respond fast with minimal efforts. This is also what Malcolm Gladwell describes in his book, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blink(2005).</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you hear the description of Linda, your system 1 responds accordingly, and searches through your cached database for plausible answers. The quick answer comes from the patternized knowledge database you have stored in your brain. In your patternized knowledge, Linda sounds more like a bank teller who is a feminist as well, rather than just a bank teller. So you choose the more plausible description even before engaging the system 2 to verify if the conjecture makes sense at all.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a conclusion, here is my suggestion for your decision making, based on my reading of those two books, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thinking, Fast and Slow, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blink. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you face a decision-making situation, your system 1 will automatically engage and provide a quick answer. Pause for a second at this moment, and effortfully engage the system 2, if you think the decision is worth the efforts. If your system 2 concurs with your system 1, you have the best answer you can have. If not, ask another question. Am I super-confident about my system 2 answer? If yes, go with it. If no, you’ve better stick with your system 1’s original answer. Probably, your intuition (based on your lifetime experiences) produced a good answer, even though you cannot quite articulate the reasoning verbally.</span></b>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-55243136683040682862012-06-16T08:00:00.000-07:002012-06-16T08:00:04.996-07:00Premortem - A Tool for Your Decision-Making<img height="257" src="http://www.gogamestorm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Pre-Mortem.jpg" width="320" /><br />
Most of us are affected by overconfidence sometimes in some part of lives. As a stark example, most drivers respond that they are better than the average drivers. In a typical poll, the rate is whopping 90%. So, they will drive as they will, because they are natural born drivers, and cause accidents. Is there a way to curb this overconfidence?<br />
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Run a premortem. When you plan for a project, whether it be a pre-project planning or fine-tuning in the course of action, take a time and think about what might kill the project. Then you can also think about ways to prevent the failure you imagined, before it actually happens.<br />
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In <i>Thinking, Fast and Slow, </i>Daniel Kahneman describes the idea of premortem, and credits Gary Klein for it. Kahneman says premortem enables us to overcome <i>groupthink, </i>the automatic flow into consensus about which most individuals in the group are not really enthusiastic. The consensus from groupthink is more of an acquiescence rather than a willing agreement. This stems from the lazy, easy, and intuitive thinking of the individuals in the process - which is called System 1 thinking by Kahneman.<br />
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System 1 quickly fetches a solution from intuition. System 2, which is about deliberate thinking and brooding, will occasionally check the validity of System 1. However, most of the time, System 2 does not run the audit too deeply. If the readily available solution makes enough sense, that's it. Therefore, we end up with tons of problems that come from not thinking deeply enough. Overconfidence and groupthink are examples of the problems presented by System 1's shallow solutions.<br />
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Run a premortem. Think about possible ways your project can fail. Then think about how to avoid them.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-37779091158240278532012-05-21T09:22:00.001-07:002012-05-21T09:23:13.077-07:00One Second After - An Anachronistic Cold-War Agenda?<img height="320" src="http://www.onesecondafter.com/pb/images/img3468496920e3011f2.JPG" width="210" /><br />
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<i>One Second After </i>is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel by William Forstchen, where the continental U.S. is hit by an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP), which instantly sends hundreds of millions of people back to the 19th century. It is rather surprising that a simple phenomenon of country-wide electric shut-down can cause such a huge damage, but when you read the novel, it sounds all too plausible - we are that dependent on electricity. The novel is well written in two aspects - one, the description of the post-EMP world is so touchingly real and persuasive, and two, the human drama is mind-numbing enough to make you think about the very nature of our existence and co-existence. Especially, I would like to recommend two scenes: the one with a girl soldier who dies holding John's hand after being triaged out, and the one where Jennifer, John's daughter, dies. The scenes are more riveting because the style of the narration is rather hard-boiled.<br />
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However, the novel reads too much like a Cold-war era propaganda against <i>enemies </i>of the state. John the protagonist and several others repeatedly say "But, this is America." For example, after describing kids who developed pot-bellies because of hunger, John reminisces seeing kids with pot-bellies in countries in Africa and Asia, but then he adds, "but, this is America!" Is child starvation in America qualitatively different from that in other parts of the world? (It is, actually, because it is fictitious, after all.) The novel is strewn with self-centered egotism deeply rooted in the protagonist's mind. For him, America is different, Black Mountain is different, and her daughter Jennifer is different. On top of that, the foreword to the book makes the whole thing sound like a Republican propaganda.Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-39154258999751114742012-05-16T17:14:00.000-07:002012-05-16T17:14:20.267-07:00How Much Caffeine Did You Consume Today?<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7742635542526841"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a caffeine addict, like you and the person over there with Starbucks paper cup. I know the undesirable side effects of caffeine, but abstaining from drinking coffee does not solve anything, because I will be still drinking lots of tea with even more chocolate. Right now, I am having tea and chocolate at the same time, and just found out that the nutrition facts sheet on the chocolate package does not include caffeine amount. So, I would like to share with you some facts I found by googling.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following is a table on caffeine contents in chocolate, from </span><a href="https://www.amanochocolate.com/articles/caffeineinchocolate.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amanochocolate.com/articles/caffeineinchocolate.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr">
<table style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"><colgroup><col width="183"></col><col width="89"></col><col width="137"></col><col width="113"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chocolate Percentage</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mg/pound</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mg/3.5oz (100g)</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mg/2oz (56g)</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">43% (Semi-Sweet)</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">353mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">77mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">44mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">50%</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">453mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">99mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">57mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">60% (Bittersweet)</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">544mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">119mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">68mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">70%</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">635mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">139mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">79mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">80%</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">725mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">159mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">91mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">90%</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">816mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">179mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">102mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">100%</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">907mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">198mg</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">113mg</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7742635542526841"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I am eating right now has 70% cacao, and I finished eating 75% of the whole, which is 35g. So, I’ve added 139mg * .35 * .75 = 35.44mg of caffeine into my system.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also from the same webpage, the following is on caffeine amount in drinks:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr">
<table style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial;"><colgroup><col width="209"></col><col width="138"></col><col width="117"></col><col width="58"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Food / Beverage</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Serving Size (oz)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caffeine (mg)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mg/oz</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee</span><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Brewed)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">107.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13.44</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Decaf Instant)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">0.31</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Decaf Brewed)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.6</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">0.70</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Drip)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">145</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18.13</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Espresso)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">77</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">51.33</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coffee (Instant)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">57</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7.13</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea</span><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Brewed)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">47</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.88</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Green)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.13</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Instant)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.25</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Lipton Brisk)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">0.75</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Lipton Ice Teas)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">0.75</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tea (Nestea Ice Tea)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">34</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.13</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caffeinated Sodas</span><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cocoa Cola Classic</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">34.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.83</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cocoa Cola Diet</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">45</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.75</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pepsi</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">38</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.17</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pepsi (Diet)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">36</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.00</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Pepper</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">41</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.42</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr Pepper (Diet)</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">41</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.42</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Highly Caffeinated Sodas</span><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bawls</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">66.7</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.67</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jolt Cola</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">220</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.36</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mello Yello</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">52.5</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.38</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mountain Dew</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">12</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">55</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.58</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Red Bull</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8.3</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">80</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.64</span></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RockStar</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">160</span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: #fffef3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10.00</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since I had two tea bags of green tea and one cup of tea today, 25*2+47 = 97mg of additional caffeine has come into my body from the tea drinking.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then how much is OK? According to about.com, it is generally agreed that 300mg of caffeine per day is safe. I’ve already taken about 132mg of caffeine today, and most probably will drink one cup of coffee with some sweets this evening. That is additonal 77mg+ of caffeine. However, there will be some amount of caffeine in other foods, for example, the stir-fried noodle I had as lunch today, might also hold some caffeine in it, considering the various ingredients in it. According to some source, the caffeine in green tea is less absorbable into the body because of other substances in green tea. And I don’t have a clue whether the figures in the above table factors in this or not.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still, I think looking at a table like that once in a while will keep you from having another cup of coffee. Yes, only sometimes, but sometimes is better than never. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-38614698712146678722012-05-01T15:47:00.001-07:002012-05-01T15:47:33.736-07:00The Hunger Games - Another Round of Battle Royale?<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5510146778542548"><img height="302px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RgdfDLimosVvCpd-kw52sqarnW2BBoc8ZY6mbVLUDTA2dryvJeX68YmLsj7rSpZ_7ruEqPIKmn1KsLXsYRaNbl8YYekd4EshlJElngagcmHuM1FLERE" width="200px;" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The moment Katniss explained what the hunger games are, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(novel by Koushun Takami, published in 1999) came into my mind. I think that anybody who read the book or saw the movie will do the same, regardless she/he likes it or not. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was made into movie in 2000 featuring, among others, Takeshi Kitano, and was a mega hit. A lot of people know the movie. I should admit the fact that I like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a lot, both the novel and the movie, before putting forward this point of mine: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a poor-quality carbon copy of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></b><br />
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<b><img height="309px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/dz4z6jJnusN21ApepZHIsmGGqNunlzLL70dMkGYtevh8pY1k6yD9g9mF2xasUnZ2q5OufG9zND92_yTOv3If-3N-Nw0UbATdBuzKLXl0gi24KSGnRE0" width="220px;" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do not know whether </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">had any influence on Suzanne Collins when she wrote </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and I am not attempting to make any judgment on that part. I would like to compare the two, simply from the perspective of a pop culture consumer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The single most impactful difference between the two is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">depth </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">of the story. In </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, there are at least five (yes, 5) very deep plots that run intertwined with the main plot - those of Shuya, Shinji, Shogo, Kazuo, and Mitsuko. In addition to this, almost all the students are given characters deep enough to make readers think from the point of view of each character. In the movie, even the bad-ass teacher (Takeshi Kitano) is given a very deep character. On the other hand, in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it is just Katniss and, to a much less degree, Peeta, who are given enough character to brood upon. The majority of the game participants are not even given a name, to begin with. Consequently, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">feels like a shoot-them-all kind of video game, for which no literary plot is required.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">does not win even in terms of action. Even from the perspective of pure action (and gore), </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">has a landslide victory over </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is partly because of the difference in narration point of view - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a first-person narrative while </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a third-person one. However, the lack of more intense action is because of the lack of inter-relatedness of the game participants. In </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the participants are from the same class in school - they know each other, and some of them are in more intense relationship such as love, friendship, or even feud. But this is not the case in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my opinion, Peeta is the only character that has the potential to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">move </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">readers, and this is because of the conflict between his emotion and the situation. Other characters that show human emotion, such as Thresh, are not convincing enough to drive emotional response from readers because their stories lack depth.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first-person point of view also brings many uncomfortable flaws to the novel. In a first-person narrative, the narrator is sometimes forced to make voice for the author, for example, to explain some background. This is done numerous times in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and it hurts the character building of the heroine. For example, Katniss knows so much about details of past Hunger Games - which is not very convincing given that Katniss had to work so hard (with no holiday) to support her family. (Yes, watching the Hunger Games is mandatory, but will she remember all the details after all, when she have so much burden on her shoulder for daily survival?)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another striking difference between the two novels is the setup of the characters. In </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it is apparent that both Katniss and Peeta are distinguished for their attractiveness. This is typical of novels these days, which presupposes multi-source use of its contents - especially for movies. So, in short, beautiful girls and handsome guys are our heroes in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By contrast, this is not the case in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most beautiful girl in the novel is one of the main villains. In the movie version of the novel, the main heroine is depicted to have some moral defects. Even the most intelligent and resourceful hero, Shinji, fails because of a flaw in his personality. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Battle Royale </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">has full and diverse plots because it is full of such multi-dimensional characters. Nobody’s one-dimensionally perfect like Katniss.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is true that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is an enticing novel that drives you to read more. But the source of the power is the novel’s unique idea of a battle royal among attractive kids - which was already used in a novel that was written more than 10 years ago. Furthermore, the depth and intensity of the story, and the power to make readers think about human nature, is beyond comparison.</span></b>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-39891522056220813492012-03-14T19:13:00.000-07:002012-03-14T19:14:31.045-07:00The Plague by Albert Camus<img alt="ThePlague.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/ThePlague.jpg" /><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5039895847439766"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tarrou says, “Each of us has the plague within him. No one on Earth is free from it.” This would be the punchline of the novel, regardless of whether Camus himself agrees or not. (Camus said he was not an existentialist, in an interview over the book, according to Wikipedia.) The plague, in Tarrou’s argument, is very close to the concept of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dasein </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(“Being there”) and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sein-in-der-Welt </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(“Being-in-the-world”) of the German existentialist Heidegger’s. We are confined to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this, and only this </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">condition of life. And we agonize ourselves with this confinement. Camus is more direct to this problem of existence in his essay, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Myth of Sisyphus, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">saying that the only question we human beings should ask is whether we should commit suicide or not.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story has many characters with different views about life - the plague. The way they deal with the plague is the way they face their lives - their existences. Some acts upon moral codes, some derives the meaning of life from religion, and some - the main character Dr. Rieux - just lives on. Some sees it as being extremely unfair, while some others take courage (even delight) facing the revelation of the fact that everyone must face death. In this aspect, the novel is a wonder with allegorical mastery.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then what about the realism? Jean Paul Sartre once wrote a short story called </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Wall, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where he audaciously claimed that he would describe the last day of a prisoner who faced an execution the next morning. But, I would like to ask, how? What does Mr. Sartre know about this particularly intriguing situation? The short story is a miserable piece of crap, due to this very apparent reason - he dared to write on a thing he knows nothing about. Albert Camus, in this regard, is not free from the same kind of criticism.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My final verdict about this novel is this: it is a very good piece of literature if it is an allegory. However, should it be in the form of a novel? He could have achieved what he aimed at by writing a play - like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chairs </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Eugene Ionesco, or a more allegorical novel - like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jude the Obscure </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Thomas Hardy. This means, of course, Albert Camus is a lesser talent compared to Eugene Ionesco or Thomas Hardy as a literary writer.</span></b>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-49072917594549210602012-03-03T07:57:00.001-08:002012-03-03T07:59:20.004-08:001491: new revelations of the Americas before Columbus<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3643835431430489"></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3643835431430489"><img height="395px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sopZRbVGy4ObzNu2wnWAtOhsTfVr4OYS7Ti4NSFglGBim1PhM0Fkvk1hIEtuEH0aDPuHGvYQ-jF5SIWG4_5oi7fYj5VYtxZ1KjTv7TPypRLvdzZHYxo" width="267px;" /></b></h1>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3643835431430489"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book aims to change the popular view about the native American people before the advent of the Europeans. (I do not think Indians are the right term to denote them, despite the author’s rationale.) There are two popular views about the native Americans: 1) uncultivated primitive people with a wretched level of technology, or 2) the noble savages. Roughly, my view about them was aligned with the second category, even though my view differs a lot from the vanilla version of the noble savages. I thought of them as people who gained wisdom to live with the nature, rather than being ignorant of living in the capitalistic ways.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The big questions are as follows: 1) was America really a vacant place with small populace? 2) were the native Americans technologically behind the old world? 3) did the Europeans </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">enlighten </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the native Americans, leading to a better way of life?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, the answers to all those questions are NO. The population of the Americas before Columbus is an on-going issue of debate, but many evidences show that the continent was rather densely populated. The massacre by the European diseases was of a magnitude much bigger than usually imagined. It is almost sure that the population was reduced to less than half the original size solely due to the epidemic. In some extreme cases like Plymouth, the death ratio was roughly 95%. I am sure nobody these days buys into the rationale of the Europeans settling in a vacant continent, but the take-away should be realizing the magnitude of the tragedy done by the separately developed diseases and viruses. As the author says, if the Americas had had their own hoofed creatures like pigs, the pandemic would have been two-directional instead, killing much of the population in Eurasia as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the second question, the author’s exemplification with the case of plow is very cogent. Before they adopted the Chinese version, the European plow was extremely inefficient, even though it is so hard to imagine that the Europeans could not discover the simple twitch. The same goes for the American civilizations. They had wheels, but only for children’s toys! Though unimaginable to us who are accustomed to the use of wheels, things can happen that way. Another insight is, like anything else, technological and scientific advancement is also relative. For example, the super-complex alloying technology the Incans used for their gold ornaments are simply amazing. As an even more important example, the North American natives’ political systems of having each gender taking care of different affairs of social life, is at least much more advanced than the political systems of most European countries in the 19th century.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The answer to the final question is apparent when we have answers for the first two questions. Ben Franklin wrote the following: Native Americans who were kidnapped early in their lives who were educated in the European way, will desert into the wild once they know of the way of living of her native people. On the other hand, European people who were kidnapped young to live among the natives, even though they learn about the European way of living, will not change the way of their lives. Even though they are taken by force to join their European relatives, they will seek opportunities to escape and return to the native American’s way of life. One might recall the move </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dance with Wolves. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason behind this phenomenon would be apparent: human beings seek happiness by nature.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though this book aims to repel the myth of noble savage concept of native Americans, I believe we are back to about the same position in the altitude/latitude. The native American people, living by themselves for thousands of years, acquired a different way of living - which might be less desirable for some of us, but more so for some others. Understanding and accepting differences is the least we human beings must be able to do to call ourselves </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sentient beings</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I believe.</span></b>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-433175504055842712012-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:002012-02-14T09:42:35.262-08:00Superstring Theory: So You Wanna Be the Hero?<br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.19810326490551233"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whatever the result, I’ve finished reading </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Elegant Universe </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Brian Greene, on January 28th, 2012. It was a difficult book to follow, primarily because the theory itself is difficult, but also because the book is poorly written. Quite often the author says something he want to communicate is easily demonstrated mathematically, but hard to show in any other way. Of course, that is a valid statement because string theory has so much math in it: it almost started with mathematics. However, I would like to ask Mr. Greene, what are you doing here? Wasn’t this a science book for laymen?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just encountered so many additional question marks while I was reading this book. So I googled about this and that - for example, Calabi-Yau spaces, and even watched the TBC documentaries starring Brian Greene. We learn better by teaching - communicating what we understand. I will attempt that in the following paragraphs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Theory of Everything</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Superstring theory is one of the contenders to become the Theories of Everything (TOE), which tries to fill the gap between quantum physics and general relativity. Three out of four basic forces in nature - strong and weak interactions and electromagnetic forces - are unified under the standard model of elementary particle physics. However, gravity could not be unified in the standard model. TOE is expected to do this task, and the Superstring theory is one candidate for the job. I like the Superstring theory explanation on the zero mass of graviton. Strings can perfectly eradicate mass when two (or more, in a collective manner) strings cancel each other out to become zero wave magnitude. As per Fineman’s theory, wave patterns spread to all directions at the same time. Hence, zero wave amplitude (i.e. zero mass) for the particle that mediates gravity.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Dimensions</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are 10 or 11 dimensions in the universe according to the Superstring theory. To be more exact, 10 according to vanilla String theory, and 11 for the M-Theory. Since 1 dimension is for time, there are still 9 or 10 spatial dimensions in the universe. Why six more? Greene says it’s math. Anyway, only three dimensions expanded in the inflation phase of the Big Bang, and the remnant remained </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">curled </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the tiny tiny space of the pre-Big Bang universe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Black Holes</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brian Greene allocates a whole chapter to the black holes. Black holes are indeed the testing ground for a Theory of Everything, since the black holes are where the theory of general relativity and that of quantum physics </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">must </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">meet. In general, general relativity deals with the vast universe - the macro level of the universe, while the quantum physics deals with the microworld of Planck scale. They do not cross each other. However, in a black hole, which has super massive mass-energy in a ultra tiny dimension, the two theories must come up with a coherent explanation that does not counter each other. The standard model could not do this, so there are several contenders for the Theory of Everything - including the Superstring theory. According to the Superstring theory, a possible wreck of the space-time dimension - i.e. a singularity point - can be described as being looped by a single string. This can explain the stability of a singularity point existing in the universe. What if the singularity point is too large to be covered by a single string? Here comes the (to my thought) the most thrilling part of the theory.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. T-Duality</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A very surprising revelation by the Superstring theory is that there is no measurable difference between a really small universe and an extremely large one. More exactly, the theory states that a string that loops around a dimension smaller than itself and a string that move along larger dimensions do not have measurable differences. In technical terms, a string with a wavelength of x and momentum y in a universe with radius R, will be basically identical to a string with a wavelength of y, a momentum of x in a universe with a radius of 1/R. See the picture below.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><img height="325px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0Wthbp1eHk7hJtdmyqW6AkrMaoNGO78bbBe96WOueD1_VEHOLPPYjGNTbSiuPDOJ21cvVJ-e0y8HspfQgXNwrdI5Rgf84hgsfoKjBuDfjstIl1nu1K0" width="463px;" /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Picture courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.slimy.com/~steuard/research/MITClub2004/slide29.html"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.slimy.com/~steuard/research/MITClub2004/slide29.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In other words once more, things happening in a dimension of R does not differ from things happening in a dimension of 1/R. To illustrate this in an interesting way, we might actually be living in a tiny universe with a infinitesimally small size. This micro universe does not show any detectable difference from a immensely vast universe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Criticism</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Superstring theory has many shortfalls as well. Most notably, the formulas for Superstring theory yields infinite numbers of solutions. Another problem is this theory is almost impossible to test via experiments. The energy level required to test the theory is said to require a particle accelerator with the size of our Solar system!</span></b></div>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-534566882974367403.post-86521643787181115762012-01-07T10:11:00.000-08:002012-01-07T10:11:16.390-08:00Global Warming with the Ice Age Coming<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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Many scientists claim that we are long past the due date in getting back to the Ice Age. I also encountered so many people who say that the global warming can be a good countermeasure against the planet's tendency to cool itself. Of course, I do not think this <i>argument </i>is worth countering. I do not think either that there is a serious scientist who puts forward this kind of unsophisticated statement.<div>
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However, I am reading Bill Bryson's <i>A Short History of Nearly Everything</i>, and I encountered a wonderful line about the above-mentioned comment, which goes like this: "When you are confronted with a fluctuating and unpredictable climate, the last thing you want to do is to conduct a vast unsupervised experiment on it."</div>
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Of course, there are other, more scientific arguments, for example, that a rising temperature might induce an ice age by making more clouds with expedited evaporation. However, I think the argument above is more than sufficient to counter such a naive speculation.</div>
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To sum it up, we human race do not understand the delicate eco-system. However, it is much better (and safer) to contain our efforts to reducing our impact on the planet, than to tinker around it.</div>
</div>Junhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941523457727850912noreply@blogger.com3