How to play local video via chromecast?

Have you ever tried to chromecast your local video to your big screen TV?

I recently bought an android TV and encountered this problem. The below chrome app solved this issue perfectly. It could even replace your local video player of any kind. 4+ star rating in google app store.


Here's the download link:
Videostream for Google Chromecast™

Try it for yourself!

In case you have no idea how to launch chrome app/chrome app store. Here's how.
1, Type chrome://apps/ into your chrome. 
2, Click "Web Store" 
3, Search for Videostream

Have fun!

[Hugo Awards] The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem, BEST STORY of 2015 Hugo Awards. Below is purely my personal experience reading the novel, no spoiler involved. 
[Amazon link]The Three-Body Problem

I never thought this story would win the Hugo Awards when first reading it in Chinese several years ago, 2011 to be precise. It is a Sci-Fi novel running on a local magazine called "World of Science Fiction".

I clearly remember discussing looking for some noticable novels to read. "How abuot the three body problem by CiXin Liu?" I asked. A friends of mine smiled and said, "Ah, three-body problem, I started reading it before bedtime, thinking 'Hm... There's still time before sleep. Maybe just a little bit of bedtime story.' And the next thing I knew, is the sunrise of the next day." That's a pretty high recommendation for a book nowadays. Therefore, I decided that I will give this "The Three-Body Problem" thing a GO. I downloaded the book on my phone on my way back home that night and started reading around 11pm, and the next thing I noticed is the break of dawn.

To conclude, I have NOT felt this way about a novel for a long time.

[Did you know] Amazon offers price drop protection within 7 days of delivery

Imagine a 5-10% discount on lots of Amazon orders year around. Neat, isn't it?

Not until recently did I realize that Amazon actually provides price protection within 7 days of delivery date. It has been an equivalent of 5-10% discount on most Amazon orders ever since.

Since Amazon adjust their price tag via algorithm, it could change multiple times a day. Just check the price drop of your recent purchase especially large purchases, and simply contact amazon customer service via the below link. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/general-questions.html?skip=true

A refund is generally granted within 1-3 days for the price difference within 7 days of delivery date. 

I understand that it is better practice to use a credit card with price protection, such as the Discover it Card actually covers price drop within 90 days, amazing. But, applying for price protection covered by insurance company of your credit card could be a long and annoying experience, while contacting amazon customer service is simple and easy. It is not uncommon to purchase everyday household items from Amazon. Therefore, this could be a nice potential saving.

[BBC]Chinese Style Teaching is superior?

Recently, I watched the controversial BBC documentary called "Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School". 

Personally, I studied in the Chinese public school system for 19 years (5 years of elementary school, 4 years of junior high, 3 years of senior high, and 4 years in college and another 3 for advanced degree). Let me tell you some of the experience regarding what's it really like to grow up in Chinese Style Teaching.

1, Authority, authority, authority

If you watched the documentary, those are probably the best and "almost nicest" teacher I have seen compared to what I had in my 19-year school life. Yet, students are rebelling against them. 

In my above-average public elementary school, we only behave ourselves because teachers have the authority to have you standing on the playground in a sunny summer morning for the entire morning if you are chatting in the class or whatever. I would say that those "not so nice" teachers often times abuse their authority. One time, I did my Chinese homework in traditional Chinese characters (which is used in HK, Taiwan, Japan, etc) instead of Simplified Chinese (the official Chinese in mainland China), out of I don't know, fun? My punishment is quite severe. I have to copy the entire 3000 Chinese character in Traditional Chinese character 10 times. It took me a whole day. And another example is that I am trying to be a smart ass and finish the advanced maths exercises in my homework, which is not part of the assignment. My maths teacher is so mad that I have to "again" copy a part of the textbook for I don't remember how many times exactly. I understand that obedience is important in a 50-plus-student classroom, but aren't they take it too far?

2, Boring, boring, boring

Many of you might think in a traditional Chinese class, students are working hard and trying hard and behave themselves. Well, only the last part is true. Most of the time, I just sit there, feeling sleepy, trying to compose a story, probably a romantic one with a superhero in it, and only pretend that I am paying attention. Often time, there's no Q&A, no interaction in class. Teachers just keep talking, reading out loud what's written on the textbook or their reference book. I heard that different teachers gives the exact same class using the same examples and same assignment throughout the school. And it is a dead boring one. 

3, All about ranking

It is true that Chinese schools rank students by their exam score. We have our ranking in class, in the same grade, and a percentile ranking among students in the same grade in the entire city sometimes. Lucky as I am, ranking top in the school means one thing, freedom!!! I can read novel, listen to MP3 player, and sleep in class. As long as I keep my ranking, no one would bother.

To sum up, I am just picturing my personal reality of what's it like to attend public schools in China.