As a first time buyer, it is worthwhile to read some books considering how much time one needs to work to pay off the house:
http://alturl.com/kd5kv。
Doesn't matter which agent you talked to, the top school districts on the list are:
Mission San Jose in Fremont, Monta Visa in Cupertino, Gunn Hign and Palo Alto high in Palo Alto.
But mine is a little different:
Palo Alto high, Los Altos, Homestead high, Laurelwood district, then Irvington district.
If money is not the problem, Palo Alto high district is nice and not too far to most of companies.
For the same price in Los Altos, one may have a bigger house, similar commute as in Palo Alto. People may argue that the Los Altos school is not as good as schools in Palo Alto. It is true today, but it is changing. After google co-founder Sergey moved to this area, it spends more money in the community to foster the education systems. You can see the news to find more details: http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_24730190/mini-exploratorium-opens-los-altos and http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/how-one-hour-of-code-can-launch-an-entire-computer-science-program/. It has very good potential.
Homestead high in 94087 area is very convenient for commute, easy access to freeway and caltrain. The school is becoming better and better. It is very close to target, and wholefood. There are a few parks in the area.
Same for Laurelwood district, it is just so convenient both for working people and old people. It has a lot of preschools and after schools in the area. Both the elementary school and middle school are in walking distance. One can easily walk to chinese grocery store, korean store, indian store, safeway. Millinkin is around the area too. Once Millinkin becomes a neighborhood school, Peterson middle school will jump to better, same to the high school.
If one wants to save money and sacrifice for a little commute, Irvington is a better choice. The house price is much cheaper and the school district becomes better. It has bart station too.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
How to select school for kids
Education is important for everyone. As parents, we all want to give the children the best education we can provide. In United States, it has a strange education system that the rich neighborhood has better schools. The schools' budges come from the local towns' property taxes. The towns with more expensive houses have more money, have more teachers, and better facilities. But don't be fooled by that. Some schools are better not because their teachers are better or teaching methods are better. They just have more motivated students.
There are two factors that have important impacts on kids:
1. The ratio of teacher to student and the teaching method. The nicer neighborhood have more money, so public schools there have the luxury to give higher salary or hire more teachers. It may have higher ratio of teacher to student too. Private schools in general have even more money comparing to public schools, so it has even better teacher to student ratio. Most public schools have a fixed curriculum and don't have much flexibility to fit individual needs. Private schools are designed for special purposes. Some emphasizes on arts, some pay more attention to science, some do more field trips, etc. One can put the kid in a special school to fit the kid's personality and interest. Teaching methods in private schools varies too. Some are really structured classroom teaching, some may use democratic teaching method.
2. The peers in school. If most of the kids do homework on time, love reading, study hard, it affects the envirnment of the school. This explains why the high correlation the of percentage of asians in school and the outcome scores. Even without putting a teacher there, they are just good kids. Kids like to do what their friends do, and are motivated by their friends too just like adults.
While selecting schools for my kid, I want him to have more fun and enjoy life as much as he can. Either he can get into ivory or not is not that important. As I remember clearly, how bored I was when I was in the classroom. My precious time was wasted for not much good. Harker looks attractive to us, as it offers 60 clubs instead of a few that most public schools have. The kids must find something interesting I hope :P. Also I talked to a few students who had studied there. They said they really enjoyed as they had a lot of activities to do. Remember the kids have a lot of energy and they need to burn them to get a sound sleep at night. Otherwise, they may be funky. One nice comment I got from a parent that if the kid forgets to turn in the homework, the teacher will notify the parent the next day. In public school, it is quite different. One of my colleagues' kid went to Monta Visa. She got to know that her kid got ZERO point on all his homework on Chemistry at the end of the semester. It is too late to make up anything. The kid failed on that class and he was sophomore already. Due to that, he could not get into 4 year college at all. Also he could not major in Chemistry, Biology, and anything prepared for medical school. It was so sad.
There are two factors that have important impacts on kids:
1. The ratio of teacher to student and the teaching method. The nicer neighborhood have more money, so public schools there have the luxury to give higher salary or hire more teachers. It may have higher ratio of teacher to student too. Private schools in general have even more money comparing to public schools, so it has even better teacher to student ratio. Most public schools have a fixed curriculum and don't have much flexibility to fit individual needs. Private schools are designed for special purposes. Some emphasizes on arts, some pay more attention to science, some do more field trips, etc. One can put the kid in a special school to fit the kid's personality and interest. Teaching methods in private schools varies too. Some are really structured classroom teaching, some may use democratic teaching method.
2. The peers in school. If most of the kids do homework on time, love reading, study hard, it affects the envirnment of the school. This explains why the high correlation the of percentage of asians in school and the outcome scores. Even without putting a teacher there, they are just good kids. Kids like to do what their friends do, and are motivated by their friends too just like adults.
While selecting schools for my kid, I want him to have more fun and enjoy life as much as he can. Either he can get into ivory or not is not that important. As I remember clearly, how bored I was when I was in the classroom. My precious time was wasted for not much good. Harker looks attractive to us, as it offers 60 clubs instead of a few that most public schools have. The kids must find something interesting I hope :P. Also I talked to a few students who had studied there. They said they really enjoyed as they had a lot of activities to do. Remember the kids have a lot of energy and they need to burn them to get a sound sleep at night. Otherwise, they may be funky. One nice comment I got from a parent that if the kid forgets to turn in the homework, the teacher will notify the parent the next day. In public school, it is quite different. One of my colleagues' kid went to Monta Visa. She got to know that her kid got ZERO point on all his homework on Chemistry at the end of the semester. It is too late to make up anything. The kid failed on that class and he was sophomore already. Due to that, he could not get into 4 year college at all. Also he could not major in Chemistry, Biology, and anything prepared for medical school. It was so sad.
New Year Resolution: Being healthy and joining a fitness club!!!
At the end of year, it is time to set up the next year's plans or goals. Most people put the health at low priority. It is just so wrong! Remember, it is you that is the most important in your life. After some researching and trying, I just decided to join the Decathlon club to get into fit and be more healthier.
Being healthier is priceless!
I always feel relaxed and regain energy after visiting Decathlon Club. Decathlon club is the first club I used in bay area. I joined it back in 2007. Those time, I went there mostly for zumba classes. It has a terrific zumba class teacher that no one can be on her right in all zumba classes I have been too. I always love the indoor Jacuzzi, sauna room, and stream room too.
I had been to other fitness center in between, like 24 fitness and YMCA. They are really not in the same category as Decathlon at all. Recently I started swimming and were looking for a nice swimming pool. So I revisited Decathlon again. It built a new lap swimming pool and a kids' swimming pool. I just fell in love with it right away. At the current weather, one still feels nice in the water as it sets at 82 degrees. It feels terrific inside the water! Not cold at all, just freshness! After long time being in the water, one also can bath in the outdoor Jacuzzi. It is really like being at a resort, blue clear sky, nice cool water.
Being healthier is priceless!
I always feel relaxed and regain energy after visiting Decathlon Club. Decathlon club is the first club I used in bay area. I joined it back in 2007. Those time, I went there mostly for zumba classes. It has a terrific zumba class teacher that no one can be on her right in all zumba classes I have been too. I always love the indoor Jacuzzi, sauna room, and stream room too.
I had been to other fitness center in between, like 24 fitness and YMCA. They are really not in the same category as Decathlon at all. Recently I started swimming and were looking for a nice swimming pool. So I revisited Decathlon again. It built a new lap swimming pool and a kids' swimming pool. I just fell in love with it right away. At the current weather, one still feels nice in the water as it sets at 82 degrees. It feels terrific inside the water! Not cold at all, just freshness! After long time being in the water, one also can bath in the outdoor Jacuzzi. It is really like being at a resort, blue clear sky, nice cool water.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
How to select the health insurance plan
As I run a lot of errands for my father-in-law while he was in hospital, I got to understand the big differences between insurances.
While he stayed in hospital for a week and we were there 24/7, we just got the chance to talk to the doctors for 2 or 3 times shortly. We didn't see any written diagnosis at all. The hospital just called us 4 hours ahead to discharge. The insurance company ordered the hospital to discharged him at midnight and moved him to a rehab center. There were no phone numbers/emails or any form that we can communicate with the doctors at all. For one month now, we still could not get a copy of all CT/Xrays or medical record at all even after we have submitted all the required paperwork.
At the rehab center, the doctor only sees him every other week. Still no phone numbers and emails. We are like walking in the dark and don't know what to expect and what have happened.
Comparing my experiences with my doctors, it is really a nightmare.
I usually can see any doctor on the same day or the other day if my issue is very urgent. If I am travelling, I just email my doctors and get responses right away. They call back immediately and fax/email me all the information I need. I can access all my medical records online since 2006 and compare the difference of the results easily. I am not an expert about how to select health insurance. But I think the following tips are really helpful and important:
1. Never buy the cheapest one or just buy what your friends buy. Do the research and know what you need. See if the doctors you see or like are in the network. The hospitals you use or may use is in the network. Personally I really love Palo Alto medical foundation. It has great doctors, good tools to browse records and communicate with the doctors.
2. Do the simple calculation about how much one pays for the regular checkup, and most importantly the worst case scenario. Don't let the 80% or 90% coverage fool you. The more meaningful part is the out of pocket' maximum, and deductibles.
3. The rule of thump: never use a HMO. It is just evil. For my father-in-law's case, the good doctors we know are all out of his insurance network. We don't mind to pay a visit of a doctor. The insurance would not pay a penny for any drugs/service that is ordered by a out-of-network doctor. It is just so evil.
Remember, networking is very important. If you find a great doctor, you are in his/her doctors' network. My family doctor referred me to a PT. She is great. I have chronicle backpain, stomach pain and have seen different doctors. After the first treatment from Carol from OrthoSport, my pain went away and I had the first sound sleep for years. Bowen's pediatrician was introduced by my OB and she is very detail oriented. For any questions/problems that a new mom has, she will explain or provide a solution.
While he stayed in hospital for a week and we were there 24/7, we just got the chance to talk to the doctors for 2 or 3 times shortly. We didn't see any written diagnosis at all. The hospital just called us 4 hours ahead to discharge. The insurance company ordered the hospital to discharged him at midnight and moved him to a rehab center. There were no phone numbers/emails or any form that we can communicate with the doctors at all. For one month now, we still could not get a copy of all CT/Xrays or medical record at all even after we have submitted all the required paperwork.
At the rehab center, the doctor only sees him every other week. Still no phone numbers and emails. We are like walking in the dark and don't know what to expect and what have happened.
Comparing my experiences with my doctors, it is really a nightmare.
I usually can see any doctor on the same day or the other day if my issue is very urgent. If I am travelling, I just email my doctors and get responses right away. They call back immediately and fax/email me all the information I need. I can access all my medical records online since 2006 and compare the difference of the results easily. I am not an expert about how to select health insurance. But I think the following tips are really helpful and important:
1. Never buy the cheapest one or just buy what your friends buy. Do the research and know what you need. See if the doctors you see or like are in the network. The hospitals you use or may use is in the network. Personally I really love Palo Alto medical foundation. It has great doctors, good tools to browse records and communicate with the doctors.
2. Do the simple calculation about how much one pays for the regular checkup, and most importantly the worst case scenario. Don't let the 80% or 90% coverage fool you. The more meaningful part is the out of pocket' maximum, and deductibles.
3. The rule of thump: never use a HMO. It is just evil. For my father-in-law's case, the good doctors we know are all out of his insurance network. We don't mind to pay a visit of a doctor. The insurance would not pay a penny for any drugs/service that is ordered by a out-of-network doctor. It is just so evil.
Remember, networking is very important. If you find a great doctor, you are in his/her doctors' network. My family doctor referred me to a PT. She is great. I have chronicle backpain, stomach pain and have seen different doctors. After the first treatment from Carol from OrthoSport, my pain went away and I had the first sound sleep for years. Bowen's pediatrician was introduced by my OB and she is very detail oriented. For any questions/problems that a new mom has, she will explain or provide a solution.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Wild rice is not real rice
While shopping at Wholefood, I saw this wild rice thing. I bought one pound as it is really expansive, like $10 per pound. I mixed the wild rice with the regular rice and it is really yummy. It has a light vegetable aroma. I did some research to see how different wild rice comparing the regular rice we have all the time. Wild rice belongs to semi-aquatic grass, not in the rice category at all. Surprisingly, it has more nutritions then regular rice. One cup of cooked wild rice provides 15% or more of the daily value of 15% of zinc and over 20% of manganese. It is also high in protein and the amino acid lysine. It is a good substitute of rice for pregnant women or rice porridge for little kids. We are so addicted to wild rice, finally we found a good deal on amazon that is $4 per pound in stead of $10 per pound in wholefood.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
CS academic research
While reading Haystack Blog about difference between academic research and industry research. There are a few important missing points. I assume Haystack hasn't worked in industry or modern industry.
1. The politics in academia and industry is very different. To apply grant, one needs to play some politics to get huge grant, but that is mostly the professors' job. For most graduate students, they are still idealists and like to do research to fullfill their dreams or develop their full potentials. Graduate students love challenges and like to solve open problems. But in the industry, one could not take that high risk at all. In academia, the research can go for over years. That could not happen in industry. In some companies, it usually takes one year or even just half year to get one's project either launched or cancelled. Few people have the leverage to take few years to develop a project. It is just like facebook motto: done is better than perfect.
2. A lot of professors who gave up tenure and joined industry is mostly because of $$$. If they can get paid half million or one million a year, I guess they would be very reluctant to give up the tenure. A few of my fellow classmates bought houses over 1 million, but the professors in our graduate school seldom have houses with value over 1 million and some of them are MIT graduates. This leads me to think the fundemental problem is the structure of education system. We don't value teachers and professors enough.
3. I do agree with Haystack that during the faculty summits in the industry, it should be the professors to do the demo and presentations, and people from industry can try to connect/apply the research results to the real products.
Here is Haystack's original blog:
http://haystack.csail.mit.edu/blog/2013/08/26/can-academics-make-a-difference-in-cs-research/
1. The politics in academia and industry is very different. To apply grant, one needs to play some politics to get huge grant, but that is mostly the professors' job. For most graduate students, they are still idealists and like to do research to fullfill their dreams or develop their full potentials. Graduate students love challenges and like to solve open problems. But in the industry, one could not take that high risk at all. In academia, the research can go for over years. That could not happen in industry. In some companies, it usually takes one year or even just half year to get one's project either launched or cancelled. Few people have the leverage to take few years to develop a project. It is just like facebook motto: done is better than perfect.
2. A lot of professors who gave up tenure and joined industry is mostly because of $$$. If they can get paid half million or one million a year, I guess they would be very reluctant to give up the tenure. A few of my fellow classmates bought houses over 1 million, but the professors in our graduate school seldom have houses with value over 1 million and some of them are MIT graduates. This leads me to think the fundemental problem is the structure of education system. We don't value teachers and professors enough.
3. I do agree with Haystack that during the faculty summits in the industry, it should be the professors to do the demo and presentations, and people from industry can try to connect/apply the research results to the real products.
Here is Haystack's original blog:
http://haystack.csail.mit.edu/blog/2013/08/26/can-academics-make-a-difference-in-cs-research/
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