Red Phoenix Tree

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: Sprawling From Grace

2012-02-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Date of movie watching: Feb. 11, 2012

Vania's comment: It is about the danger the sub-urbanization may lead to us in United States. The movie director suggested us to abandon the custom of driving cars too much. I think we really should drive less car. I wish our government can develop places that are close to where we live and we can shop and work. It demands the re-structure of our cities. And it is a very tough problem.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: The Betrayal

2012-01-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

Date of movie watching: Jan. 28, 2012

Vania's comment:

Very touching movie. I think about how Unite States could have betrayed the people of Laos who helped American in the Vietnam war. Also it let me think of the difference between capitalism and communism. Actually neither of them is truly good or bad. I recommend this movie to everybody.

About the title "Betrayal", there are several betrays in the movie. Obvious the Unite States government betrayed the Laos people, though it was not an intensive betrayal. But the US government did abandon them after the war. And the title also refers to that those original royal Laos soldiers might have betrayed their people since they directed the US force to bomb on their own land. But these royal Laos soldiers were doing what they believed the right things at the mean time. By this mean, it is hard to say they really betrayed the nation. And in the movie there is also a husband who betrayed his wife. Most importantly, the title refers to the family leaving Laos for America. They were thought by their nation as the betrayals.

About capitalism and communism, really I like neither of them. Instead I prefer to a form which is a mix of them.

About human right, we should pay more respect to these who are forced to leave their own nation. No matter what they have done, they deserve to be better treated for having insisted on what they believed the truth.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: Crossing Arizona

2012-01-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Date of movie watching: Jan. 21, 2012

Vania's comments:

I think we should allow the immigrants in. This country was founded by immigrants. Few people now in America whose ancestors were not immigrants. It is wrong not to let the immigrants come.

About how to stop the illegal immigrants from making damage to the ranches they pass, we should make some routes for the immigrants to pass. The routes should avoid being close to the ranches. Therefore we can prevent the living stocks from being hurt by the immigrants.

About the people who want to stop the illegal immigrants, we should persuade them. This is a nation of free speech. But we should tell them that we cannot eliminate those immigrants' right of looking for better life by designing some laws ourselves. They are illegal only because we do not welcome them, but not due to they are bad persons. So it is us who should be questioned instead of them.

Two Documentaries watched in the end of the year 2011

2012-01-01T13:07:00.000-08:00

The End of the Line (Dec. 30, 2011)

The Cove (Dec. 31, 2011)

Dad's Questions:

1. Which documentary do you like better? And why?

Vania: I like The Cove better. It is very exciting. It is like a mission impossible has been done.

2. What have you learned from The Cove?

Vania: One city of Japan (Taiji) is killing dolphins. I think we should help, somehow, to save dolphins from being killed. Apparently Japan loves fishing and we have a world-wide problem because of it.

3. How do you think of The End of the Line and what have you learned from it?

Vania: We have over-fished the ocean a lot and it could be an ocean without fish by 2048.

4. What can you do to prevent our future of being without fish in ocean?

Vania: Whenever we buy a fish, ask first where it comes from and if the species is in danger. If the species is in danger, say no to buy the fish. The government can regulate the hole size of the fishnets so that the young fish can survive.

Daughter's questions:

1. Which one is your favorite movie?

Dad: I love The Cove better too because it is a mission impossible. Moreover, the people showed their great courage to against a power much greater. This type of courage is what all of us need to have.

2. Why do you think the IWC did not protect the small whales like dolphins?

Dad: Because there are only few nations that are really concerning this issue. And among them, Japan is the most powerful and richest country. And therefore Japan can use its money to buy the votes and eventually pass the regulation that favors its situation. So IWC is not really a place that the truth can be spoken loudly and sound.

Recent weekend documentaries watched

2011-12-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

The Secrets of Mary Magdalene

Christianity-the first two thousand years (part 1 and part 2)

Vania's comments:

1. I will never go to Walmart again!

2. I like Mary Magdalene.

3. This documentary is so good. It talks not only the history of Christianity but also the history of western civilization.

Poem for Mrs. Caputo at Christmas

2011-12-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

This is the poem written by Vania for Mrs. Caputo (her 5th Grade teacher in Pueblo Del Sol Elementary School.

Teacher

Thoughtful, appreciative

Understanding, loving, helping

Teaching in classroom, sitting before her

Working, learning, listening

Curious, talented

Student

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: Made In China

2011-11-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

Movie watch time: 10/29/2011 evening

Dad's questions:

Q: What is the theme of the documentary? Why is it titled "Made in China"?

Vania: The movie is about a guy searching for his father's past in China. The title is because his father was born in China.

Q: How do you compare the contemporary China to the old China in movie?

Vania: The contemporary China is more wealthy. More people move to live in big cities. The old China has more problems such as the Japanese bombing.

Q: Comparatively, you are "Made in America". How do you think of the Chinese heritage in your blood?

Vania: I am fine of being made in America. I have not thought a lot of my Chinese heritage.

Q: What is the most impressive scene in the movie to you?

Vania: How the movie director has dedicated to the mission.

Daughter's Questions:

Q: How do you rate the movie?

Dad: I like the movie. It contains many pictures and videos of the old China. I feel I have learned a lot of the past of my own ancestors.

Q: How do you like the new China?

Dad: In new China people certainly have lived much better than in old China. But still, people do not have much freedom of thinking. Most importantly, many contemporary Chinese do not even know that they are taken off the ability of free thinking by the education system. This is probably the saddest side of the contemporary China.

Q: How do you compare China to America?

Dad: China has much longer history than America. Chinese people often think things more throughout than Americans. But due to the same reason Chinese people are less creative than Americans because creation often means take more risk and make more mistakes.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: E2 the economies of being environmentally conscious | PBS

2011-11-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

Movie watch time: 10/16/2011 -- 10/23/2011 A series of 6 episodes

Dad's questions:

Q: How do you think of the renewable energy comparing to the traditional fossil fuel after watching this documentary series?

Vania: Renewable energy is good for environment. We must try to have more renewable energy replace the use of fossil fuel.

Q: Which type of the renewable energy do you think that fit best in Arizona?

Vania: Solar energy. In Arizona we have a lot of sunlight all year long.

Daughter's Questions:

Q: How do you rate the series?

Dad: The series is illuminating. It shows us how the renewable energy has gradually entered our regular life and becomes part of the mainstream economy. I think we shall have our house installed the solar water heaters. It will be good for the environment and saves us money.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: 2 Million Minutes

2011-10-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

Movie watch time: 10/7/2011 evening

Dad's questions:

Q: What do you think of the way you are studying after watching the movie?

Vania: I have studied sloppily.

Q: What do you think of the students of China and India? What will you learn from them and what will you try to avoid being like them?

Vania: I need to work harder. But I do not want to work so hard that I have no time for the other things, such as piano.

Q: What do you think of the two American students in the film?

Vania: I think they should work harder. They may need to pay more concentration on their studies.

Q: How is Basis Tucson? Tell me your feeling of this school after watching the movie.

Vania: It is a very good school. But I am not jumping to the final conclusion yet. I'd like to go to the school to see it myself.

Q: What are the questions you would want to ask these six students from America, China, and India if you might get a chance?

Vania: how hard do they think they studied? Were they studying willingly themselves or were they forced to study hard by their parents?

Daughter's Question:

Q: Who do you think study the hardest among the Indian, Chinese, and American students?

Dad: I think it is the Indian students. They started the study at 5:30 AM. It was very hard work.

Q: Who do you think study the least among them?

Dad: I think it is the American students. At the same time, however, the American students have done a lot of part-time jobs. I believe this is very valuable for the fostering of individual personalities.

Q: How do you think how hard I should study?

Dad: You must work much harder than you are doing now.

a haiku I made:storm

2011-10-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hard winds blow astray
As clouds swirl around each other
Making day the night

Sneak Peek of my new book: Darkened Shadows

2011-10-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hi!This is Vania and this is a book I'm writing now,here's a sneak peek at it:

Darkpaw's heart was pounding in her chest as she followed the patrol.She reered back at the border line.
"fresh!"
Bramblepaw passed her onto enemy territory.
"Are you scared,little kit?"
He sneered.Sharkpaw and Autumnpaw ran ahead with Snakepaw and Willowpaw on there tails.Darkpaw hissed at Bramblepaw.
"In your dreams,mousebrain!"
She ran ahead,flooded by the smell of Blazeclan.Gorsepaw padded toward her.
"Did Bramblepaw tease you again?"
His eyes twinkled in the moonlight.
"I'm fine,let's go follow the patrol."
Darkpaw caught sight of Blazeclan camp.
"Ready?",Gorsepaw said.
"Never been more ready."
Her midnight-black fur blended into the darkness,only her green eyes could be seen in the shadows.She heard the warning cry of a cat,knowing at that moment:

This. Is.

WAR.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: I.O.U.S.A.

2011-10-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Movie watch time: 9/30/2011 evening

Dad's questions:

Q: How do you rate the movie?

Vania: 9.5/10. I can understand most of the movie, but not all of them. But the movie is very good.

Q: Why does United States own such a great number of debts?

Vania: They keep borrowing and borrowing money. Sooner or later their lenders will ask for the money back.

Q: Who should take the most responsibility of letting Unites States own such a great deal of debts?

Vania: The president. All the presidents.

Q: How do you think of the relation between United States and China by watching this documentary?

Vania: America borrows a lot of money from China. It looks like China is the most successful business in the world. If China pulls out, the economy of United States will be dropped significantly.

Q: Do you trust that our current leadership might be able to solve this debt problem?

Vania: I do not really know. I think I should trust. But I do not know whether I trust it exactly.

Q: What do you suggest for us as the individuals to do to prepare for that the national debts seemly increase indefinitely into the future?

Vania: Save money: A LOT OF MONEY.

Q: May you point out some shortcoming of how the director had conducted the movie? What may you do to make the movie even better?

Vania: Maybe he should explain the issue to be more friendly to kids.

Daugher's quesitons:

Q: How do you rate the movie?

Dad: 6/10. The director obviously tried to make some unbalanced argument. Although it is true that United States have borrowed a lot of money from the foreign nations, it is different from a person borrowing money from another person. The director avoided a critical issue in the debate. That is, what is the role of US dollar in the whole world economy. Much of the debts is due to the demand of US dollar from the foreign nations in contrast to United States borrowing money to sustain its own economy.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: An Inconvenient Truth

2011-09-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

Movie watch time: 9/25/2011 afternoon

Dad's questions:

Q: How do you rate the movie? And why?

Vania: 10/10. It is so touching. You can actually feel that we need to do something about this.

Q: How do you think of global warming after watching the documentary? Is it a real issue or a fake topic?

Vania: It is a real issue. Global warming is a very emergent issue. It destroys the world.

Q: What shall we do to help control or eliminate the global warming?

Vania: Reduce energy usage. Start recycling. Maybe riding more bicycles.

Q: How do you feel about Al Gore after watching this movie?

Vania: I feel like he should be the president.

Q: What do you think about the political opponents to the global warming advocates such as Al Gore?

Vania: They are doing the bad jobs. They should be more serious about the issue of global warming.

Q: What is the shortcoming of the movie? Is there any material you wish the director might have included in the movie?

Vania: The movie is pretty clear that global warming is an important problem and we should do something about it. I cannot think of any shortcoming.

Daughter's questions:

Q: How do you rate this movie?

Dad: 10/10. This is a well-directed movie. It describes a very important issue and it has presented it very clear.

Q: How do you think of Al Gore after watching this movie?

Dad: Al Gore is a politician with great passion on some topic that is very important to all of us. I feel sorry of his failure in year 2000 election. And I believe that United States could be better under his leadership from 2001 to 2008 than under the leadership of President George W. Bush.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: The War Room

2011-09-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Movie watch time: 9/17/2011 afternoon

Dad's questions:

Q: How do you feel of this movie?

Vania: I am confused. I have no idea what the movie talks about. I do not know the background and the movie does not provide enough explanation.

Q: What is your rating of the movie?

Vania: 1/10. Because I totally lost.

Q: Do you like politics?

Vania: I really do not know.

Q: How do you think of the political movies?

Vania: I do not know. I think I am not interested in politics.

Daughter's questions:

Q: How is your rating of the movie? And why?

Dad: 7/10. The movie tells me much I do not know before. It is informative. But I also got somehow lost in the middle. I think I am quite naive to American politics too. But I would like to learn more about it.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: Spellbound

2011-09-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Film watch time: 9/10/2011 afternoon

Dad's questions:

Q: Which speller in the movie does you like the most?

Vania: Nupur, the ultimate winner.

Q: Why do you like her the most?

Vania: She is very dedicate, has a lot of passion, and works hard.

Q: Do you have some other comments on the other kids in the movie?

Vania: It looks like Neil was with the least passion. His parents wanted him to do so. Besides, Harry was very much talkative.

Q: Do you want to attend the spelling bee contest after watching the movie? And why?

Vania: No. Because I feel the contest is very scary after watching the movie.

Q: But all contests must be scary. Are you willing to attend some other contests?

Vania: Yes. I think I may be better in the other contests.

Q: What is the most important thing you learned from the movie?

Vania: To work hard and have a lot of passion.

Q: What is your rating of the movie?

Vania: 10/10. Very good. I feel the dedication, the passion of these attendants except Neil.

Q: If you were the director, might you edit the movie better?

Vania: No. The director had done a perfect job.

Daughter's questions:

Q: How do you like the movie? And why?

Dad: The movie is terrific. I agree to give it 10/10. The movie is engaged with passion and dedication. I, even as a parent, feel the excitement of participating such a great event.

Q: Who is your favorite kid?

Dad: April is my favorite kid. April was with great passion on spelling. She is the one who was with the greatest passion about the contest among the eight. She was willing to trade anything for her time of spelling. Vania, I want you to have such a passion on the subject you like the most. You will have a very much joyful life for sure once you could be with such a passion in your life.

Q: Who is your least favorite kid?

Dad: This question is a tough because in general I like them all. But if you insist, regretfully I have to say it is Neil. Among the eight kids, Neil was the one who was likely passive. Many times it looks like that his father and mother were more passionate than himself of the contest. Although it must be unfair to him since he must be passionate for otherwise he could not win the regional championship, his passion of the contest was weaker when comparing it to the other seven kids in the movie.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

2011-09-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Movie watch time: 9/5/2011 afternoon

Dad's questions

Q: What are you going to say about Leni?

Vania: She is a great lady with successful career.

Q: Why do you say her career is successful by knowing that she was forced to be out of her career after the second world war?

Vania: She had already made great films. Moreover, she became a great photographer afterward. Even after her 70s, she started shooting pictures under the sea. She had a blossom life.

Q: Was Leni bad because of her relationship to the Nazi party?

Vania: It is hard to say. Few people can resist the pressure from Hitler at the time, don't they?

Q: what is your rating of the movie?

Vania: 10/10

Q: Wow, you think the documentary is perfect! Why is the movie so impressive?

Vania: The director collected much information that tells the entire life of a great lady. The film is well paced in its story. Very impressive.

Daughter's questions

Q: How do you feel about the movie?

Dad: I only give it 7/10 because I felt the director himself did not have a focused theme in the movie. It is a well-written narrative, but without the soul. Leni did have a great life, and it was both wonderful and horrible. Unfortunately, however, the director had not been able to deliver this theme to me, at least.

Weekend Dad & Daughter Documentary Time: Fahrenheit 9/11

2011-09-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

Movie watch Time: 9/3/2011 night

Dad's questions:

Q: What is your rating of the film?

Vania: 9/10

Q: What is the most impressive part of the film?

Vania: Learned a lot of facts that I have never heard before

Q: What is the most disappointed part of the film?

Vania: the director wants us to hate President George Bush

Q: What have you learned from the movie?

Vania:

1) War of Iraq is for business and oil
2) I feel George W. Bush might have lied to many of us about the war.
3) Everyone was terrified of terrorism

Q: What do you want to learn but the documentary does not include?

Vania: Who is indeed responsible for 9/11?

Q: If you were the director, how would you have developed a different plot from the director Micheal Moore?

Vania: I want to treat President Bush a little bit fairer. I want to have some positive reviews about Bush in my film.

Daughter's questions:

Q: How do you like this movie?

Dad: I like it. I think the movie tells us many things we did not know originally. The movie certainly has its own bias. But it shows the greatness of United States as a nation---the right of free speech, which is critical to every human being.

I do not like wars and I do not like the war of Iraq in particular. But I do not agree to the director in the movie who declared the total innocence of Iraq with the terrorism. Unquestionably Saddam Hussein is a bad guy and he had many connections to the global terrorists. On the other hand, however, does it give us enough reason to invade the nation and kill so many civilians?

Mama's comment: the spread of fear was exaggerated in the movie. There are no enough evidences in the movie showing that the Bush administration had intentionally made the circumstance of fear in order for their "evil" plan. Michael Moore had created a great plot of storytelling. But it is insufficient to the conclusion of the documentary.

Q: what is your rating?

Dad: 7.5/10. Superior storytelling. But it is significantly biased in its theme.

R,I.P. My "Blue Pen"

2011-01-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

Vania's R.I.P. message for her favorite Blue Pen.

Here lies "Blue pen" my favorite pen.
Born ? --- Jan 14, Friday, 2011
May he rest in peace. His ink is gone, but his body remains.

A Letter to Santa

2011-01-04T13:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like the super Mario Kart for Nintendo Ds. It has multiplayer and single player races. It also has extras like boosters for the karts. My 3 reasons are because I do all my homework, I have bought gifts for my best friends, and the last one is that I am always loyal to my friends.

I always do my homework and always get it done. I keep doing it no mader what. Maybe i'll stop just to sleep, but nothing else. So I can keep going. I have my mom (and dad sometimes) to keep me up. I am really good at doing my homework so I can get a good grade (and presents now!).

My second reason is that I bought gifts for my best friends. It took me sometime and I am still going to wrap them up! I picked out two books for them. I picked them just to there style so they will like it very much. Now do you see why I shoud have my present!

My thrid reason is that I am always loyal to my friends. I gave the vampireology to Kate to read just like I said. Also the gifts I gave my friends. At the games I play, I always play fair (well, maybe sometimes I have cheats.).

Well, that's all my reasons I was good this year. To me, think I had some good reasons. I think I should get the gift. Remember I was very good this year!

comment by dad: This is one of Vania's homework before Christmas. Very funny. Some typos are kept as they are in the original text.

Vania read: Where the wild things are

2007-12-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Read by Vania, edit by Yihong, the book originally written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Book Reading: 10/28/2007

2007-10-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

Five books Vania read recently by herself.

Once When I Was Shipwrecked. Written by Judith Womersley, illustrated by Kevin Burgemeestre, 1992.

The Teeny Tiny Woman. Retold by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by R.W. Alley, 1986.

The LITTLE INDIAN and the ANGEL. Written by Mildred H. Feague, illustrated by De Grazia, 1970.

Aesop's Fables. Selected and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger, 2006.

Horace the Horrible. By Jackie French Koller (Author), Jackie Urbanovic (Illustrator), 2003.

Book Reading: 8/20/2007

2007-08-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Two books by Robert Lopshire. Put Me in the Zoo and New Tricks I Can Do! They are read by Vania herself.

New Progress, August 2007

2007-08-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

Vania is now a First-Grade student at Pueblo Del Sol Elementary School. Recently, she has taken a STAR Reading(R) computer-adaptive reading test. The test result shows that Vania reads at a level greater than 90% of her same-grade peers nationally.

Book Reading: SAMMY The Seal

2007-08-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Story and Pictures by Syd Hoff.

Vania now has no difficult on reading this level of books all by herself.

We are back

2007-08-09T10:24:00.001-07:00

It seems a long time ago we wrote here. I promise my darling we are back again for her reading.