Simon

 

In Vietnamese culture, Dragon Bridge (Cầu Rồng) stands as a powerful symbol of authority, luck, and prosperity. While it’s widely known, two neighboring bridges south deserve equal attention—even if their names date back to a tragic and brutal history. Sitting side by side, one is the quiet, decommissioned Nguyễn Văn Trỗi Bridge, while the other is the busy Trần Thị Lý Bridge, constantly alive with motorbikes and traffic. The decommissioned bridge honors Nguyễn Văn Trỗi, a young electrician and member of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF). He was convicted and executed by firing squad by the Republic of Vietnam after attempting to assassinate U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara during McNamara’s 1964 visit. Following his death, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam hailed him as a revolutionary martyr, commemorating his image on stamps, monuments, and educational materials. His name was subsequently given to streets, schools, and public landmarks across Vietnam. ...

Limit my checkout items I don’t care Self-checkout David Humble What a good idea Self checkout  No personal connection Take and go Self checkout Very convenient  No wait! Self checkout No need for patience  No long lines Self checkout  Bypass the human  Speed and convenience Self checkout  All about control The Ego Self checkout  Do you want the receipt Under surveillance Self checkout  Can I get a discount Maybe use the "Banana Trick"  Self checkout  How did I become the cashier Can I walk away Self checkout  Am I scanning and bagging Without pay Self checkout 

Your Poem (Bài thơ của bạn) Wow! Congratulations An amazing achievement How remarkable you must feel Worthy of a lengthy celebration Chà! Xin chúc mừng. Một thành tựu thật tuyệt vời. Hẳn là bạn đang cảm thấy vô cùng tự hào. Thật xứng đáng để ăn mừng thật hoành tráng I’m flabbergasted at your persistence  Amazed by your resilience  Excited and thrilled You completed your challenge valiantly  Tôi thực sự kinh ngạc trước sự kiên trì của bạn. Tôi ngưỡng mộ sự bền bỉ của bạn. Tôi vô cùng phấn khích và hào hứng khi thấy bạn hoàn thành thử thách với quyết tâm cao độ. I’m sure you must feel The need to continue  That emotional connection  With the ocean..the sea  Tôi tin chắc rằng bạn đang cảm thấy Cần phải tiếp tục Duy trì sợi dây kết nối đầy cảm xúc ấy Với đại dương... với biển khơi. I am completely convinced You will never see The ocean the same way…again Many flowers to you Tôi hoàn toàn chắc chắn rằng Bạn sẽ không bao giờ...

Today, while lying comfortably on the beach, I noticed for the thousandth time those microscopic organisms moving in my eyes. When I observe them, I’m never quite sure what to think. They seem like invaders over which I have no power. I can look at them, yet at the same time, they feel light-years away. Every time I shift my gaze, I brainstorm ways to get rid of them, but I never find a solution. I was looking directly at the sky when they reappeared. In my experience, they become exceptionally noticeable when looking up at a clear blue sky or a white wall. It turns out this is just one of those peculiar, yet completely normal, quirks of human biology. Officially known as eye floaters—or myodesopsia, from the Greek for "fly-like visual effects"—they are rarely noticeable when we are young. However, as we age, these microscopic fragments accumulate until we suddenly feel like we’re being colonized by tiny alien invaders. It’s easy to imagine someone noticing them for the fir...

Pickleball is so popular across Southeast Asia that I assumed it originated in Thailand or Vietnam. So I was flabbergasted when a friend from Portland mentioned its roots were actually in the American Pacific Northwest. A quick bit of research confirmed it: in the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell of Bainbridge Island, Washington, wanted to play badminton with their families but couldn't find a shuttlecock. Improvising with ping-pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball, they lowered the net and created a game the whole family could play together. By 1967, the first permanent outdoor pickleball court was built, and the game rapidly gained traction around Seattle. Seeing its potential, Pritchard and a group of associates incorporated Pickle-Ball, Inc. in 1968 to market and supply the required equipment. Word spread quickly from the Pacific Northwest down to California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida. By 1976, the sport reached a major milestone when Tukwila, Washington h...

I recently learned from a friend that in Vietnam that the 7th lunar month (Tháng Bảy) carries deep spiritual significance and unique cultural customs. This tradition is rooted in Buddhism and originates from the legend of Maudgalyayana (Mục Kiền Liên), a disciple of the Buddha who performed acts of merit to save his mother’s soul from hell. Upon discovering that his mother, Thanh Đề, had been reborn as a preta (hungry ghost), he brought a bowl of rice to the underworld to feed her. However, driven by her intense hunger, his mother covered the bowl with one hand while using the other hand to prevent other ghosts from stealing her food. Because of this legend, the period is equally known as Ghost Month (Tháng Cô Hồn). According to traditional beliefs, the King of the Underworld opens the gates of hell during this time, allowing spirits to visit the earthly realm. While many return to their families, spirits without living descendants are left to roam the living world, lost and hungry. ...