Grandpa 's Journey

 A certain   evening, at a friend’s home. What a stage it became. A small gathering of old friends turned into a joyful celebration of music, friendship, and extraordinary food. The kind of evening that reminds you: life is not measured in years, but in moments like this. 🎤 Singing from the Heart We may not be professional singers, but when the microphone is passed around among friends, every voice sounds beautiful. Old songs. Classic melodies. A few emotional ballads. A few powerful duets. Some high notes bravely attempted — and enthusiastically applauded regardless of success. At our age, karaoke is no longer about performance. It is about connection. About memory. About singing the soundtrack of our youth together. And that is priceless. 🍷 A Table Worth Celebrating Before the singing warmed up our voices, the food warmed our hearts. The lamb racks were magnificent — beautifully seasoned, roasted to tenderness, rich and aromatic. Each slice revealed careful pr...

Some birthdays are quiet. Some are grand. Mine this year was smoky, spicy, slightly oily — and absolutely perfect. Alison chose Jin Gang Shan BBQ , a Northern Chinese Harbin-style barbecue restaurant. The moment we walked in, I knew this would not be a “light salad and soup” kind of evening. This was serious food. The kind that announces itself with chili, cumin, and sizzling skewers. And honestly? At my age, if you are going to celebrate, celebrate properly. Harbin-Style BBQ — Bold, Spicy, No Apologies Northern Chinese barbecue is not shy. It is: Spicy Oily Fragrant Generous Exactly the kind of food that wakes up your appetite. We ordered the usual heroes — beef, lamb, pork, chicken — plus vegetables and mushrooms. And yes, squid too. Grilled seafood with chili and cumin has its own personality — tender, slightly chewy, and very satisfying. The lamb skewers came out glistening with spices, sprinkled generously with sesame seeds. You could smell the cumin befor...

 This morning I stumbled upon a video about an AI-Powered Smart Clinic 360 Medical Kiosk . At first, I thought, “Another gadget?” But then I realized how practical it could be for folks like me. Imagine walking up to a kiosk at a pharmacy or mall and getting your blood pressure, heart rate, and other basic health checks in minutes — no long wait at the doctor’s office, no forms, just quick, AI-guided readings. It won’t replace your doctor, of course, but it can give you a snapshot of your health, catch small issues early, and even guide you toward the right next steps. For seniors, especially, it’s a tiny nudge toward staying on top of our health without making it feel like a chore. Technology like this doesn’t just impress me — it quietly makes life easier and a bit safer. AI-Powered Smart Clinic 360 Medical Kiosk Bloomed Digital

  (Inspired by the video 中国春节”彻底火爆全球！20国法定放假…) Every year, Chinese New Year — known in China as the Spring Festival — is the most vibrant, meaningful holiday for hundreds of millions of families. But in recent years, something extraordinary has been happening: people all over the world are joining in the celebration. From Asia to Europe, from North America to Oceania, the Chinese Lunar New Year is no longer just a Chinese festival — it has become a truly global moment of celebration and cultural exchange . 🌍 How Big Is This Holiday? The Spring Festival marks the beginning of the lunar new year , a tradition more than 4,000 years old embedded in East Asian calendars. As of today: Over 1.5 billion people either celebrate or participate in Lunar New Year events worldwide — far more than the entire population of North America or Europe. In about 15 to 20 countries , Chinese New Year is recognized as a public holiday . Some nations have historical or cultural reasons for...

  春晚揭秘 人机共武 硬核科技展示国术风华 | CCTV中文《新闻直播间》 - YouTube By Grandpa Journey If you’re like me and grew up watching  春晚  (the  CCTV Spring Festival Gala ) every New Year’s Eve, you expect the usual: singer-dancers, elegant folk performances, comedy skits, and children in bright costumes. But this year — in 2026 — something  wildly futuristic  took the stage alongside tradition:  humanoid robots practicing martial arts with real kung fu masters. 🎉 A Cultural Celebration Meets Tomorrow’s Tech Let’s set the stage: the Spring Festival Gala is not just another variety show — it’s arguably the  most-watched television event on Earth , with billions tuning in each year.  Against this backdrop of cultural pomp, a group of robots stole the spotlight. Not doing simple dances or programmed steps — but  real kung fu moves, backflips, and weapon handling alongside young martial artists. Yes — robots and human kung fu masters sharing the same confident stance...

  Chinese New Year’s Eve has always been about reunion. Family members travel from near and far. The dining table fills with traditional dishes prepared with care and patience. Laughter echoes across generations. It is a time of gratitude, memory, and renewal. This year, our reunion dinner carried something more. A Table Full of Tradition The evening was warm and lively. Authentic Chinese dishes filled the table — each one representing hours of preparation by Sam’s mom and her sons. The food was not just delicious; it was an expression of love. We chatted, exchanged New Year wishes, and reflected on the year gone by. It was everything a reunion dinner should be. And yet, something quietly symbolic happened. When AI Spoke Cantonese During the gathering, Sam helped his mother set up ChatGPT on her phone — in Cantonese. There it was: Ancient tradition on the dining table. Artificial intelligence in her hands. It was a simple act — a son patiently guiding his mother through...

  Yesterday, after breakfast at Golden Horse and a quick shopping trip to FreshCo , my house was filled with the usual warmth: Julie preparing dinner, grandchildren exploring, and laughter echoing in the kitchen. The children were immersed in Google Gemini , asking how to make videos from just a few photos. Sam, their father, guided them patiently. They were learning and having fun. I couldn’t help but reflect on the contrast: at school, AI is restricted. The children are expected to rely on their own thinking, to develop original ideas. At home, they explore freely, guided by curiosity. It reminded me of my own experiences growing up. My generation, the baby boomers, gradually lost mental calculation skills because calculators replaced the need to practice arithmetic. My father’s generation memorized telephone numbers because necessity demanded it. Each era develops different skills, shaped by its tools. There is gain and there is pain. Technology gives unprecedented efficien...

Morning Nonsense at the Community Centre Every morning before ping pong, we line up at the community centre. We don’t stretch. We don’t meditate. We don’t discuss world peace. We talk nonsense. Politics? Avoid. Religion? Dangerous. Family issues? Too sensitive. Sex? At our age, better not open that door. So instead, we debate important scientific questions like: “Is there really gravity?” One friend insists gravity is fake — invented by the media to keep us obedient. Another says, “No, no, it exists. They just renamed it.” No one brings evidence. No one checks Google. No one wins. We laugh. That’s the point. We all learned about Isaac Newton and his apple. Some of us even remember hearing about Albert Einstein and space-time. But in our line-up, gravity is not physics. It’s entertainment. It’s brain exercise without tension. It’s proof that we are still thinking — even if not seriously. At our age, something changes. We no longer argue to win. We talk to c...

  When I think back on my years in HR , one lesson stands out: being the bridge between leadership and staff isn’t easy — but it’s essential. That lesson doesn’t just apply to offices; it applies to modern technology too. In fact, managing AI systems today is surprisingly similar to managing people. Being Close to the Staff In my HR days, I learned that understanding staff is everything. Listening to their concerns, observing their struggles, and noticing informal communication patterns allowed me to anticipate issues before they became problems. Staff aren’t just tasks on a chart — they are human beings with ambitions, fears, and ideas. The closer you are to them, the better you understand the real story behind numbers and reports. Knowing Your Boss At the same time, you have to understand your leadership. What are their goals? Their priorities? Their pressures? Being clear on this helps you translate strategy into action that staff can follow — without miscommunication. L...

  Technology surprises me again. Recently, my daughter shared something that truly impressed me. She had been growing indoor plants and flowers at home. Everything looked fine at first — green leaves, healthy stems — but after some time, the flowers started looking tired. Some leaves turned yellow. A few edges were drying out. Instead of guessing, she did something simple. She took a picture of the plant. Then she uploaded the photo to ChatGPT and asked, “What’s wrong with my plant?” Within seconds, the response came back. It analyzed the image and suggested: The plant might be receiving too much water Some leaves should be trimmed The placement may need more indirect sunlight Air circulation could be improved Clear. Calm. Practical. She followed the advice: She trimmed the unhealthy leaves. She adjusted the watering schedule. She moved the plant to a better spot. And gradually, the flowers recovered. Now she is very happy — and honestly, so am I. What ...