This article summarizes my life, studies, and entertainment activities in 2023, as well as my expectations and plans for 2024. In terms of entertainment, I shared the movies, anime, and documentaries I watched, the novels I read, and my experiences with games and electronic products. In daily life, I recorded my eating habits, accommodation experiences, and travel experiences in various places. Academically, I shared my grades, research projects I participated in, and applications I developed. Additionally, I set goals and plans for the new year, looking forward to achieving more in the coming year. (Generated by ChatGPT 4.0)
Entertainment#
Movies#
This year, I went to the cinema to watch 5 movies, and I probably watched more at home. I didn't have time to see The Wandering Earth II in theaters when it was released in the U.S., so I caught up on it at home later, and in May and June, I also watched some Hayao Miyazaki films (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service).
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The Wandering Earth II - 4.5/5.0
xxxx - 03/2023 - $0
I really liked this movie; I was personally satisfied with both the plot and the special effects. The only issue is that you shouldn't think too much about scientific angles, like why a space elevator, which clearly costs more than a reusable rocket solution, would be used. As long as you don't overthink the scientific aspects, it's very enjoyable.
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Suzume - 4.0/5.0
AMC - IMAX - 04/13/2023 - $20.29 (about 145 RMB)
Suzume was released later in North America, so I only saw it in April, which was already on the premiere day. Reviews of Makoto Shinkai's new work varied; I personally thought it was quite good, slightly weaker than Weathering with You (which I rated 4.5/5.0). I watched the IMAX version in Japanese with English subtitles, and the English subtitles slightly affected the experience, as the translation style differs from Chinese translations. Especially the part with the door closing was translated literally, which is far inferior to domestic poetic translations.
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The Super Mario Bros. Movie - 3.5/5.0
AMC - Dolby Vision - 04/25/2023 - $12.25 (about 86 RMB)
Personally, I'm not a long-time Mario player; I played console/handheld games relatively little and only started using the Switch in the past two years. The only related works I've played are Super Mario Odyssey and Luigi's Mansion 3, and I haven't completed either. I found it quite enjoyable and didn't feel any barriers to watching it.
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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - 2.5/5.0
AMC - Dolby Vision - 06/13/2023 - $13 (about 92 RMB)
My rating is simple: what is this? To be honest, I could only give this score based on the special effects and nostalgia; I can't evaluate the plot very well. The plot is too cliché. Among the characters, only Mirage left a deeper impression on me; he's quite a cute character.
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Oppenheimer - 4.0/5.0
Mainland China - Star Rail IMAX - IMAX - 09/16/2023 - about $6.48 (45.9 RMB)
Creating the atomic bomb, how to say, I wish for world peace. Nolan's film is definitely top-notch in overall viewing experience; I will only mention my feelings about the plot. The plot is filled with a sense of American social intricacies, giving me a suffocating feeling; no matter how advanced one's technical level is, in the face of politics, one is just a clown, feeling very powerless. The research process involves a mix of self-affirmation and denial, which politicians see as a point to exploit. Moreover, if one really creates something that could potentially destroy all humanity but also help humanity, how should one choose? Should one continue or stop? For an ordinary person like me, thinking too much about these issues is certainly excessive, but for top scientists, isn't this the dilemma they need to face?
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Wonka - 4.0/5.0
AMC - IMAX - 12/26/2023 - $12 (about 85 RMB)
I watched this film, Wonka, at the end of the year; it is definitely a movie that people of all ages can find something to enjoy. I loved reading Roald Dahl's books as a child; I've read almost all of his books several times, and I personally really liked them. This movie is more of a prequel to the chocolate factory, focusing more on how the chocolate factory came to be, which is very dreamy. Just be careful not to think too scientifically while watching, or you might easily lose immersion.
Anime#
Moving on to anime, I watched an excessive number of series this year, just like in previous years. Honestly, I can't even count how many I watched (it totals 103). I will mainly highlight a few that left a deep impression and recommend them. Due to the current viewing environment on Bilibili, most of the anime I watched were on other sites. I would like to especially thank the Japanese subtitle groups dedicated to anime; I also have a subtitle group, so I understand the effort and hard work everyone puts in—thank you! I will analyze them by four quarters and five parts for catching up, only listing some of the anime I can evaluate and that left a deep impression. Those not mentioned may be due to not finishing them or not fitting my type, making it hard for me to evaluate.
New Anime in January 2023#
In this quarter, I watched 16 anime (out of a total of 62 scheduled, viewing 25.8%): Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, Shopping Skill Opens Up a Gourmet Journey in Another World, The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Ice Attribute Boy and Cool Girl Colleague, I Can't Help but Defend Myself Because I'm Too Afraid of Pain Season 2, Spy Classroom, Don't Be a Brother, Picked Up by Someone I Like After Turning into a Dog, The Ice Sword Magician Will Unite the World, The Tsundere Villainess Ligelette and the Streamer Endo and Commentator Kobayashi, The Evolution of the Real World: A Life of Victory Season 2, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a, Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement, Fictional Reasoning Season 2, JOJO's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part 3, The Way of the Househusband Season 2.
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Masterpiece
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Don't Be a Brother! (お兄ちゃんはおしまい！) - 5.0/5.0
Do I need to explain this? This is no ordinary anime; it's a work of art. Please keep a copy for your collection. From the first episode to the last, every frame screams "I have money," overflowing with budget. Please bring us more high-quality artistic content. The theme involves gender transformation, which has been overly sensitive in domestic review systems in recent years, making it hard to pass; I find this unacceptable. Oh, you sell it; I consider it one of the best of the year.
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Recommendations
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Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible - 4.0/5.0
Pure love, similar to Takagi-san.
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Picked Up by Someone I Like After Turning into a Dog (?) - 4.0/5.0
I can't evaluate this one.
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Fictional Reasoning Season 2 - 4.0/5.0
Recommended to watch after finishing the first season; pure love, very enjoyable.
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JOJO's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean Part 3 - 3.5/5.0
No explanation needed.
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The Way of the Househusband Season 2 - 3.5/5.0
Very interesting; you'll understand once you watch it—it's about a gangster boss becoming a househusband.
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Not Bad
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Shopping Skill Opens Up a Gourmet Journey in Another World - 3.5/5.0
Mainly because the food looks too delicious for me to resist, and the smooth little combos are just too smooth.
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Ice Attribute Boy and Cool Girl Colleague - 3.5/5.0
I really like the style of the plot; it's a blend of office pure love and supernatural abilities.
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Defensive
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Spy Classroom - 1.0/5.0
This is purely defensive; I forced myself to watch it. What is this? The plot is completely unwatchable, but the animation is quite good.
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Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement - 1.0/5.0
Where's the logic? The overall logic is absurd, rubbing the audience's intelligence into the ground. The animation is also quite good.
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New Anime in April 2023#
In this quarter, I watched 30 anime (out of a total of 54 scheduled, viewing 55.6%): The Bear Necessities Season 2, I Gained a Cheat-like Ability in Another World and Am Unmatched in the Real World, Allele of Bonds, Isekai Smartphone Season 2, The Duke's Contracted Fiancée, You Who Can't Sleep After School, The Game of the Dead, Youth in Motion, THE MARGINAL SERVICE, Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!, Gods in a Godless World, My Favorite Child, Dr. Stone Season 3, Yuri is My Job, The Hero is Dead, Ranking of Kings: The Treasure of Courage, Cuteness Overload Crisis, In Any Case, It's Very Cute Season 2, Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2, God's Outdoor Café, Edo-Front's Good-for-Nothing Elf, Heavenly Demon Realm, Hell's Paradise, Dating Yamada at Level 999, Something Dangerous in My Heart, One-Hit Sister in Another World, Neighbor Like the Galaxy, Summoned to Another World for the Second Time, The Reincarnated Aristocrat's Otherworld Adventure, My Home Hero, Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 1.
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Masterpiece
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Youth in Motion (スキップとローファー) - 4.5/5.0
The translation of this title leans slightly towards paraphrasing; the literal translation is "Skip and Loafer." The overall plot intertwines high school life with youthful romance. Although it differs somewhat from domestic high school life, the first-year high school experience can still resonate with middle school experiences. This anime presents a very comprehensive view, not just showing the protagonist's perfect side but also revealing their real aspects. This reflects the true experiences we go through in high school, transitioning from the awkwardness of adolescence to the complexities of adult social interactions, becoming more nuanced. The life and rhythm depicted in this anime truly mirror what we expect from real high school life; besides studying and exams, we also hope to have our after-school lives, whether it's going out to watch movies or dining with classmates. The profound memories of student life are not just about intense study and exams; the little moments and interactions with friends are also vital parts of our lives.
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My Favorite Child (推しの子) - 4.5/5.0
First of all, the OP has taken TikTok by storm and has dominated the Japanese music charts; it's indeed very catchy. Secondly, this series is also known as "Where Did Daddy Go?" The overall budget is explosive, especially the first episode, which is incredibly impressive; both the content and production are perfect. The animation studio is amazing! Although a few episodes later are relatively bland, the overall content is still solid. This anime also explores significant issues of online bullying, which has been a recurring theme in many masterpieces I consider (like Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai), highlighting a very serious issue. The main content focuses on the idol and entertainment industry in Japan, revealing many problems that might not sit well with some people.
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Heavenly Demon Realm (天国大魔境) - 5.0/5.0
First, it's a post-apocalyptic survival anime with a plot similar to The Promised Neverland. The beginning grabs your attention and keeps you watching. Midway, it reveals that the sister undergoes a gender transformation, and the concept of eliminating gender is pointed out within the organization. I think this is a very worthy topic to explore in today's society. What is the logic behind labeling people from birth? Should this logic apply to all scenarios? The production quality is also excellent, with a full budget. The content includes some bizarre elements, so those who are easily scared should avoid it.
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Something Dangerous in My Heart (僕の心のヤバイやつ) - 4.0/5.0
A pure love romance anime, it has a much larger audience compared to You Who Can't Sleep After School. The beginning isn't very engaging, but as you watch, the rhythm is excellent, and the animation is very good.
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Recommendations
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You Who Can't Sleep After School - 4.0/5.0
I actually wanted to give it a masterpiece rating; I really like it from both the animation and plot perspectives. However, since there are quite a few masterpieces this quarter, it doesn't stand out as much in comparison. I want to give it a masterpiece rating purely because I personally enjoy this genre; objectively, it is indeed at the recommendation level. It's mainly a pure love anime intersecting photography and astronomy. The male and female leads meet due to insomnia, start a club together, and later go out to take photos and camp. The overall style is very good; this is what youthful romance should look like, or rather, what we idealize it to be. The main themes of astronomy and photography are relatively niche, and the pace is slower, which may not suit everyone, so some might not enjoy this style.
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Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World! - 3.5/5.0
Long live the Axis cult! This anime is from the perspective of Megumin. Even friends who haven't seen Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! can watch it directly, as Aqua only appears at the end. There are some minor issues with the animation, so I deducted 0.5.
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Dr. Stone Season 3 - 4.0/5.0
Mainly because I've been following this series; I personally really enjoy this style of educational anime. The content and production are excellent; it's not just simple children's education; it also involves conflict and battles.
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Hell's Paradise - 4.0/5.0
I'm quite conflicted about whether to recommend this anime, to be honest. I could summarize the plot with this title, focusing on both hell and joy. Some content is slightly bizarre, so friends who are easily scared should avoid it; it can indeed cause discomfort. The animation by MAPPA is really good, very impressive, but the plot drags it down.
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Dating Yamada at Level 999 - 4.0/5.0
Although the female lead starts off very love-struck and gets hurt by a scumbag, she still has high emotional intelligence. It's a relatively conventional sweet romance anime; the online game is just a medium.
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My Home Hero - 3.5/5.0
The plot is dragged down by the animation and budget; it's about a rebellious daughter being persecuted by a gangster boss, and the father kills the gangster boss and cleans up the evidence to escape. The plot is very good, but the animation is quite poor and flawed.
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Not Bad
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Gods in a Godless World - 3.0/5.0
I must include a picture here; I can't hold back. Is the budget for this anime only 10 bucks? From the plot and content perspective, I recommend it, but the animation is simply relying on the defense; the content is very explosive, and you can never predict what bizarre thing will happen next. This is why I gave it such a high score and still placed it in the "not bad" category (to be honest, I even thought about putting it in the recommendations, but the animation is indeed a bit emmmm, overall it can't be compared to other recommendations).
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In Any Case, It's Very Cute Season 2 - 3.5/5.0
A sequel; you can just lie in bed and watch it. Make sure to watch the first season first for a better experience.
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Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2 - 3.5/5.0
Light yuri, but I think it's more about the friendship between equals. I personally think the character relationships are handled very well. You can watch it as a normal anime with sufficient budget and a good plot.
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Edo-Front's Good-for-Nothing Elf - 3.5/5.0
A very slow-paced daily anime; the later content is a bit awkward.
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Just Want to Talk
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The Bear Necessities Season 2 - 3.0/5.0
A sequel; since the first season was just an ordinary isekai anime for me, I can't recommend this sequel either. It's at the level where if you like the female lead and the overall art style, you can give it a watch.
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The Game of the Dead - 2.0/5.0
Don't be fooled by my low rating; I still finished it, which is absurd. I watched it quite carefully. But the same issue arises: the overpowered protagonist's journey is confusing, and the logic is very strange. I wanted to put it in the defensive category, but I feel like there are already too many defenses this quarter, so I placed it here instead.
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THE MARGINAL SERVICE - 2.5/5.0
First of all, the plot is a bit strange; the production and art style are okay, but overall it's very awkward. This is one of the few anime that all subtitle groups abandoned and updated immediately. To be honest, I found it okay at first, but the more I watched, the stranger it felt, and I felt powerless to criticize it.
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Yuri is My Job - 3.0/5.0
It's light yuri, but the relationships are not handled well. Especially the relationship between the two female leads feels a bit forced. The art style is very nice.
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Ranking of Kings: The Treasure of Courage - 3.0/5.0
From another perspective, I mainly like the character Boji, and I still feel it's overall good.
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God's Outdoor Café - 3.0/5.0
A fanservice anime; don't mind other aspects.
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Neighbor Like the Galaxy - 3.5/5.0
I personally really like the feeling this anime brings; it's a slow-paced pure love anime. It does a great job of sorting out the logic of the relationship between the male and female leads and the relationships between their two families. Watching it slowly is very enjoyable, with many sweet moments and interactions.
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Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 1 - 3.5/5.0
Personally, I'm not very good at evaluating this long and hard-to-remember final season title. Titans have represented a decade for us anime followers; the plot is quite strange, with everyone feeling remorseful, more like a commemoration for us, representing our decade.
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Defensive
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I Gained a Cheat-like Ability in Another World and Am Unmatched in the Real World - 2.0/5.0
The budget is full, and MAPPA's animation is top-notch. But the plot is really hard to criticize; a fat otaku turns into a handsome guy, and a goddess throws herself at him. In 2023, we still have such toilet paper. If you like overpowered protagonists, you can watch it.
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Allele of Bonds - 0.5/5.0
??? This is my evaluation. Are you kidding me? Ai-chan is in hibernation, and you're still consuming this?
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Isekai Smartphone Season 2 - 2.0/5.0
It was toilet paper from the first season, so of course, the second season is too. To be honest, I can't understand how a second season came out.
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The Hero is Dead - 2.0/5.0
? I couldn't hold back from the start; what is this plot? I can't even continue watching.
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Summoned to Another World for the Second Time - 2.0/5.0
The second time? So what? Are you used to it? What's the point? Another world toilet paper.
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The Reincarnated Aristocrat's Otherworld Adventure - 2.5/5.0
Another world toilet paper, overpowered protagonist, decent production; if you want to watch it, go ahead.
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New Anime in July 2023#
In this quarter, I watched 24 anime (out of a total of 53 scheduled, viewing 44.4%): Reincarnated as a Dessert, The Boy Full of Dreams is a Realist, The Person I Like Forgot to Wear Glasses, I Reincarnated as a Vending Machine and Am Wandering in the Labyrinth Again, My Happy Marriage, The Undead Girl Murder Farce, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!, The Unparalleled Saint, Spy Classroom Season 2, Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3, AI Electronic Gene, The Capable Cat is Also Melancholic Today, Lies of P, AYAKA, The Little Senior in the Company, Actually, I'm the Strongest?, Although My Level is Only 1, My Unique Skill is the Strongest, The Temple Cannot Be Spoken Of, Dark Gathering, Zombie 100: 100 Things to Do Before Becoming a Zombie, Mushoku Tensei Season 2, The Young Master and the Black Maid Season 2, Classroom of the Elite.
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Masterpiece
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BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! - 4.0/5.0
BanG Dream! Purely because this quarter was a bit lacking, being able to push BanG Dream! up is a joy for us niche fans.
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Recommendations
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My Happy Marriage - 4.0/5.0
I personally really like it; it has a strong CEO pampering his wife vibe, pure love, and is quite female-oriented. The male lead has high emotional intelligence, while the female lead has psychological issues due to being PUA'd by her family.
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The Undead Girl Murder Farce - 3.5/5.0
A very nonsensical start, but the subsequent plot is quite good, except for some strange parts, like the vampire father knowing his son is a murderer and directly beating him to death. The pacing is well-controlled, neither too fast nor too slow. The animation is excellent.
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Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 3 - 3.5/5.0
Continuing to follow this series is fine; it mainly features a dog-like male lead.
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The Capable Cat is Also Melancholic Today - 3.5/4.0
The initial camera work was too strange, feeling like drone footage, which was very odd. The theme is great; it's a cat that doesn't cost money and acts as a babysitter. It's a very daily slice-of-life anime. The art style is similar to K.
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Zombie 100: 100 Things to Do Before Becoming a Zombie - 4.0/5.0
The beginning has some issues with depicting women negatively. It has a bit of a refreshing feel, suitable for office workers. The high score is due to the strong animation.
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The Young Master and the Black Maid Season 2 - 4.0/5.0
Just start wriggling on the bed like a maggot; it's sweet and full of sugar.
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Not Bad
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I Reincarnated as a Vending Machine and Am Wandering in the Labyrinth Again - 3.0/5.0
The Japanese XP has finally developed in a strange direction; the plot is quite good, very novel and interesting.
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Lies of P - 3.0/5.0
A game promotion anime; the plot is relatively average, mainly for fanservice, focusing more on the visuals.
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The Little Senior in the Company - 3.0/5.0
The art style of P9 is nice, but the plot is quite formulaic.
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Dark Gathering - 3.0/5.0
In the horror anime realm, it's slightly scary.
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Mushoku Tensei Season 2 - 3.0/5.0
The male lead is a masochist; the pacing is a bit slow this season.
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Just Want to Talk
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Reincarnated as a Dessert - 2.5/5.0
It's hard to evaluate this; I initially wanted to see a pastry chef and their creations, but there was basically none. Another overpowered protagonist in another world.
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The Boy Full of Dreams is a Realist - 2.5/5.0
At first, the male lead is a dog-like character, and the female lead ignores him; suddenly one day, he stops being a dog, and the female lead comes to him. Emmmm, that's it.
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The Unparalleled Saint - 2.5/5.0
A relatively decent isekai toilet paper; the male lead's character is hardworking.
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AI Electronic Gene - 3.0/5.0
The reason I can't recommend it is that the plot is quite strange; it attempts to discuss the relationship between AI/robots and humans, but the execution is odd, and the plot is strange. The focus is good.
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AYAKA - 3.0/5.0
The plot is okay, but the logic is a bit strange; the art style is nice, truly AYAKA.
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The Temple Cannot Be Spoken Of - 3.0/5.0
A fanservice anime. The art style is decent.
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Defensive
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Spy Classroom Season 2 - 2.5/5.0
I didn't expect a second season; although it's better than the first season, the first season was really bad, which affected my evaluation of the second season.
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Actually, I'm the Strongest? - 2.5/5.0
Another world toilet paper; the male lead's stats are too high to measure, abandoned by the king and queen, adopted by border nobles, and then various hidden strengths and "unintentionally" exposing his power.
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Hero Classroom - 2.5/5.0
This is a bit of a brain hemorrhage; the male lead has low emotional intelligence and feels like he's constantly collecting a harem.
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New Anime in October 2023#
In this quarter, I watched 26 anime (out of a total of 76 scheduled, viewing 35.5%): Mickey and Dali, The Forbidden Reasoning of Duck Bridge, My Favorite is the Villainess, The Game of the Dead Part 2, Spirit Telepathy, The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent Season 2, BULLBUSTER, I Picked Up the Rejected Fiancée and Taught Her to Do Bad Things, 16bit's Touching, My Daughter Who Wants to Be an Adventurer Has Reached S-Rank, The Young Lady and the Guard Dog, Dr. Stone Season 3 Part 2, The Requiem of Fliren, The Story of You with Experience and Me with Zero Experience, Undead Unluck, Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2, The Troubled Life of a Homebody Vampire, Spy x Family Season 2, The Liver Should Be Hot Again, Our Rainy Color Agreement, The Apothecary's Girl's Whisper, Shangri-La: The Hunter Challenges the Masterpiece, OVERTAKE, MF Ghost, The Gluttonous Basaka, I Love You 100 Times, Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2.
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Masterpiece
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The Requiem of Fliren (葬送のフリーレン) - 5.0/5.0
Do I really need to explain? Why do we watch anime? Isn't it for this? Except for the OP being slightly mismatched, I can't find any flaws in the content. The plot is top-notch, the production is top-notch, and the music is top-notch. The main storyline follows Fliren as she witnesses the fleeting yet meaningful lives of humans over the long years. The fact that humans strive for a lifetime, even if known to the world at the time, will eventually be forgotten over time. The meaning of lifespan and existence brings us profound reflections. The magic of Fliren's favorite flower is also the favorite magic of her teacher and her beloved Simel.
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Spy x Family Season 2 - 4.5/5.0
Wow, cute is invincible.
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Recommendations
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Mickey and Dali - 3.5/5.0
A story about two male leads and their adoptive parents. It reveals some issues faced by orphans; the lack of a stable family can cause severe psychological problems for children from a young age. I personally felt a bit suffocated and extremely heartbroken while watching, so I couldn't give it a high score.
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The Forbidden Reasoning of Duck Bridge - 3.5/5.0
A detective reasoning anime; from this perspective, it's very enjoyable. However, one issue is that the supernatural abilities are a bit hard to understand in terms of logical connections and positioning.
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My Favorite is the Villainess - 3.5/5.0
A reincarnation otome game; the theme is quite common, light yuri, with the female lead being a masochist and the 攻略者 being a sadist. The plot is very good in that it plays straight without too many convoluted tropes, making it very comfortable to watch.
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16bit's Touching - 3.5/5.0
I'm somewhat conflicted about whether to recommend it or just consider it not bad; the female lead can be irrational at times, and the addition of aliens is a bit strange. To be honest, it's a fusion of various elements.
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Dr. Stone Season 3 Part 2 - 4.0/5.0
Still recommended; the reasons are the same as Part 1.
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Undead Unluck - 4.0/5.0
The fight scenes are excellent, and the plot is also quite good, not dragging on or being overpowered. It has a bit of a My Hero Academia feel.
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The Apothecary's Girl's Whisper - 3.5/5.0
A portrayal of a Chinese harem from a Japanese perspective. The details and Chinese aspects feel a bit like giving an Italian a pineapple pizza; is this really a Chinese harem? Is this how your Chinese sounds? Putting that aside, the plot arrangement is quite interesting (though there are loopholes, it feels like the female lead came to solve cases in the harem), and there's no backstabbing in the harem.
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Shangri-La: The Hunter Challenges the Masterpiece - 3.5/5.0
An MMORPG-type anime; the content, plot, and production are all quite good. The theme isn't very innovative, but it's not bad.
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I Love You 100 Times - 3.5/5.0
Although it's a harem, this setting is too over-the-top; having 100 harem members without internal conflict is quite something.
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Not Bad
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Spirit Telepathy - 3.0/5.0
A slice-of-life light yuri from Houbunsha; I didn't watch much because the beginning was a bit awkward, but I should catch up later, as it should be much better. Houbunsha won't disappoint the moe fans.
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I Picked Up the Rejected Fiancée and Taught Her to Do Bad Things - 3.0/5.0
A bit nonsensical. The art style is very nice, and the setting is interesting. The male lead is a domineering CEO, which is quite good. There are sweet moments.
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The Story of You with Experience and Me with Zero Experience - 3.0/5.0
The female lead's actions are a bit hard to evaluate, to be honest; she doesn't mess around, and she is quite devoted during the relationship, but she still dates many people without any boundaries.
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Just Want to Talk
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The Game of the Dead Part 2 - 2.0/5.0
A sequel, but this time I couldn't get into it, so it's even worse than the first half.
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The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent Season 2 - 2.5/5.0
A sequel; in the first season, the female lead was summoned but was left aside because she was deemed not a saint. Fortunately, a kind person accepted her, giving her a place to stay. The second season's pacing is slower, a bit emmm.
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Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 - 1.0/5.0
Why isn't this defensive? Because no matter what, it marks the end of a decade of nostalgia, although watching it felt like being fed a defense, I still had to swallow it.
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Defensive
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My Daughter Who Wants to Be an Adventurer Has Reached S-Rank - 2.0/5.0
Toilet paper; you can casually watch it. There's no substantial content.
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The Young Lady and the Guard Dog - 1.0/5.0
? What is this?
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The Liver Should Be Hot Again - 2.0/5.0
Postpartum care for sows.
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Our Rainy Color Agreement - 0.0/5.0
In all my years of watching anime, this is the first time I've had no good feelings towards a series.
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The Gluttonous Basaka - 2.0/5.0
The beginning was somewhat interesting, but it got less interesting as it went on.
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Other Catch-Up Anime#
Here, I'll only mention the seven I can remember: Lycoris Recoil, Bocchi the Rock!, Mob Psycho 100 I, II, III, Yuru Camp Season 1, Season 2. However, all seven of these are masterpieces.
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Lycoris Recoil (リコリス・リコイル) - 4.5/5.0
07/2023 (2022)
A light yuri with two female leads. Orphans are trained to become assassins, killing criminals to make society appear to have a 0% crime rate. Some want to restore a normal society and expose Lycoris, leading to attacks against them. The later parts have some major plot holes, especially when the female lead's heart fails, and she refuses to use real bullets, whether it's her life or others'—I don't understand.
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Bocchi the Rock! (ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！) - 4.5/5.0
05/2023 (2022)
A socially anxious loner; it really hits home for socially anxious people.
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Mob Psycho 100 (モブサイコ 100) Seasons I/II/III - 4.5/5.0
06/2023 (2016/2019/2022)
Master Reigen is too kind, a dedicated chuunibyou for 20 years, and a mortal can speak fearlessly in front of psychics. The bystander, as the strongest on the surface, preserves his youth with Master Reigen's help.
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Yuru Camp (ゆるキャン) Seasons 1/2 - 4.5/5.0
08/2023 (2018/2021)
Houbunsha is eternal.
Documentaries and Dramas#
I haven't watched many documentaries and dramas this year; I mainly watched two: The Lonely Gourmet and China Rescue. China Rescue expanded my understanding of the domestic medical situation and common emergency diseases.
Novels#
To be honest, I only read one novel this year, The First Sequence by the author known as Elbow, and I also finished its anime adaptation. This novel mainly tells the story of an escape from an experimental facility against the backdrop of an apocalyptic world. Although it's a common theme, it's surprisingly good. It becomes slightly dull in the last 30% when the main map is completed, and they run to Europe to deal with wizards. However, the author's writing during this part is still quite good.
On the wasteland, human civilization barely survives.
Walls rise, but order continues to collapse.
Some say that when disaster strikes, mental will is humanity's first line of defense.
Some say, don't let the sorrows of the era become your own.
Some say, I want my sorrows to become the sorrows of this era.
This time is a new story.
After the catastrophe, light finally appears.
I can give this book an overall score of 4.0/5.0, deducting one point for the poor ending.
Games#
I didn't play many games this year; I was indeed a bit busier, and my entertainment time decreased. I'll briefly mention all the games I played this year.
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Stellaris - 4.0/5.0
A game where you become the Fourth Catastrophe and a cosmic war criminal. I started with version 3.6, and the latest version should be 3.10. Stellaris is an RTS game, similar to Red Alert 2, which I played since childhood. Develop the economy, research, and policies, then click the tech tree, build warships, occupy territory, declare wars, and vassalize or annihilate nations. It's a long-term game that consumes a lot of time; be careful, as playing this game can make time disappear (a characteristic of Paradox Interactive games).
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Overwatch 2 - 4.0/5.0
Blizzard's situation leaves us players with no choice; Overwatch is still fun. The 5v5 format puts more pressure on tanks and main healers and requires DPS to do more kills rather than just output. In the current version, if either the tank or main healer goes down, you have to pull back quickly, or you'll get wiped.
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Cities: Skylines II - 4.5/5.0
This game combines Cities: Skylines 1 and SimCity 5 and improves upon them. It features larger and more flexible maps, easier terrain leveling and road building, building expansions, etc. It also fully revamps the economic system. Although the optimization is still a bit lacking, as my 3070Ti struggles with 4K medium settings, the graphics and overall gameplay experience are indeed excellent. I hope they can improve issues like the inability to move or demolish certain buildings after expansion and the narrowness of the 80m bridge piers, which makes it impossible to build elevated roads now.
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Beat the Master - 4.0/5.0
This game scores points for nostalgia; it returned on November 7. I have fortunately reached the Master rank and cleared over 400 levels. It's one of the more beginner-friendly rhythm games (except for level 10 songs).
Electronics#
I spent very little on electronics this year (unlike previous years, where I updated and replaced a lot). Here, I'll mention four electronic products I bought this year.
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DDPAI Z50 Dashcam - 3.0/5.0
02/14/2023 - $145.44 (about 1030 RMB)
Why did I suddenly buy a dashcam? The reason is simple: I was maliciously rear-ended by a pickup truck while driving out on the first day of the Lunar New Year in the U.S. At that time, he was all apologies. After I reported it to the insurance, he told the insurance company that I intentionally backed into him? I was just waiting at a red light, and when I moved forward because he was too close, he followed me and crashed into me. So I bought this dashcam.
To be honest, the installation was a bit challenging; you have to turn it on and use auxiliary lines to calibrate it to the auxiliary sticker, and you have to run the wires yourself. In the end, I used the cigarette lighter for power, and the stability seems okay so far. The rear camera's quality is a bit lacking, while the front camera is decent during the day but has some noise at night.
The app is very frustrating; the overseas version is a separate app and differs from the domestic one. After connecting to the camera, it creates a lot of DDPAI albums in the phone's photo gallery, which is very annoying. Overall, considering the price, I gave it a 3.0.
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AirTag - 4.0/5.0
05/11/2023 - 4 for $91.96 (about 650 RMB) - Unit price $23 (about 163 RMB)
I don't need to introduce this much; everyone knows it. I mainly bought it for travel and to take to Hong Kong for two months to ensure the safety of my luggage. I placed one in my suitcase and one in my bag; the accuracy is quite good. I've used it for half a year without low battery warnings, so considering the price, I gave it a score of 4.
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NOCO Genius 1 Car Battery Maintainer - 4.5/5.0
06/06/2023 - $27.4 (about 194 RMB)
This might not be very familiar to everyone; I needed to park my car in the U.S. for three months without moving. If the car battery isn't used for a long time, it will run out of power. This device can be directly connected to the car battery, checking the remaining battery power and charging it when it gets low, stopping when fully charged. It protects the battery from dying and prevents overcharging, which is helpful for jump-starting (although the insurance company covers it, it's still a hassle).
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Xiaomi Mijia Blood Pressure Monitor BPX1 - 4.0/5.0
07/05/2023 - about $30.76 (217.73 RMB)
The reason I bought this is simple: its innovative strap design. Traditional straps require you to put your hand through the middle to fit it on your upper arm, while this design can be directly clipped onto the upper arm and adhered, saving a step. The accuracy is also quite good, making it a must-have small appliance for home use. The only issue is that while it can connect to the Mijia app, it can't automatically sync to Apple Health. If it could sync, it would be perfect. If you have a Mijia gateway at home, it's great for the elderly; every time they measure their blood pressure, it automatically uploads through the gateway and sends you a notification.
Apps#
This year, I want to mention only one app. Although it came out close to the end of the year, I think it's a very interesting and convenient app: the built-in Journal app in iOS. This app differs from other diary apps in terms of security and automation; it will push notifications to you about the places you visited during your travels and suggest content you might want to record, along with photos based on your location, providing some ideas. It will also offer good ideas for writing a diary when you haven't gone out or have no ideas.
Anime Merchandise#
I didn't buy many new figures this year. However, I bought quite a few small trinkets, standees, and other items when I went to Japan, which are all stored at home in China.
Life#
Clothing#
To be honest, I lost nearly 20 kilograms this year, and I couldn't fit into most of my previous clothes. I took the opportunity to buy some clothes from Uniqlo and GU when I went to Japan and returned home (they're cheap).
Food#
It's a well-known fact that the U.S. is a food desert; although it's certainly better than the U.K., the problem is that I can't afford to eat... So the issue lies with me; it's not that they're expensive, it's that I'm poor. Below are some foods I had this year in the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and other places that I think are worth sharing, including Cantonese cuisine, American fast food, Japanese food, Italian cuisine, desserts, and CUHK's cafeteria. Of course, I also included some dishes I made myself this year; most of the time in the U.S., I cooked proper meals like steak or quick and simple dishes.
- First, desserts and fast food are grouped together just to save space. The left column shows desserts, while the top two rows on the right are Hong Kong's McDonald's breakfast, limited edition fried chicken burger from KFC in the U.S., pizza from Domino's (thin crust), Dog Egg's burger shop, In-N-Out (my cafeteria), my most frequently eaten Protein Double Double, lobster rolls I had in Las Vegas, and 16 types of global cola I drank in Las Vegas.
- Next is the CUHK cafeteria, where I mainly ate at the one below Harmony College (because I didn't want to go out; it was too troublesome). A meal costs between 40-60 HKD, and I've already tried everything I could order in the two months at school.
- Following that are the Cantonese dishes I had in the U.S., Hong Kong, and Shenzhen. The top is dim sum (my favorites are glutinous rice chicken, shrimp dumplings, and spare ribs in black bean sauce), followed by roasted meats (my favorite is roast goose), then wonton noodles, beef tripe noodles, and bak kut teh.
- Then we have Italian cuisine: pizza, meatballs, pasta, risotto, and a strange cocoa-marinated steak.
- Next are Japanese dishes; the top two rows show sushi, followed by sukiyaki, grilled meat, eel rice, Japanese breakfast, and ramen.
- Finally, there's Thai food, with Thai curry being the most common.
- Lastly, here are some of the dishes I made myself this year. I made pork knuckles twice, lobster once, and countless steaks, chicken wings, fish, etc.
Accommodation#
This year, I was out of the U.S. for about three and a half months. Except for that time and a few days in Las Vegas, I spent the rest of the time in my rented apartment. The rent is $1200 a month for a 2b2b condo, and I've been living in a 1b1b for over a year. During the summer vacation, a good friend from the neighboring lab needed a place, so I sublet it to her for over two and a half months.
At the beginning of June, after the holiday, I stopped by Tokyo on my way to Hong Kong. I stayed at the Ginza Meitetsu Muser Hotel for 4 nights, costing about $150 (1078 RMB) for one person. To be honest, this place is a bit small; it can barely fit three 28-inch suitcases, leaving no space to settle down. But despite the small size, the room is surprisingly well-equipped, which is impressive. The last night, I used a Free Night from AMEX Hilton Aspire to stay at Conrad Tokyo without spending a dime. I was lucky to get upgraded to a sea view suite early in the day, which would have cost about $870 (approximately 6150 RMB) that night. Although the facilities are a bit old, the overall stay was quite comfortable, and the executive lounge for diamond cardholders was also decent. Below are the interior of the Conrad Tokyo sea view suite and the situation in the executive lounge.
After arriving in Hong Kong, I stayed in the Harmony College dormitory at CUHK for two months, costing 8000 HKD for two months. It was a double room with separate beds, desks, and cabinets, equipped with air conditioning, and utilities were included. Each floor shared bathrooms and toilets, and there were no LGBTQ dorms, only binary sex.
During my time in Las Vegas, I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton's Tropicana, mainly to use the $250 resort credit given by Aspire. I booked a standard room for three nights for $141.3 for one person. The diamond card doesn't work well in the U.S., so I was upgraded to a superior room, which was at least larger and had a better view. Breakfast was not included; I only got a $13 credit for one person, with no free breakfast. Overall, the experience was okay; I tipped the housekeeper, but they didn't take it.
Transportation#
This year, I drove a total of 6547 miles (10,520 km) in my car, consuming 232 gallons (879 L) of fuel, with an average fuel consumption of 27.66 MPG (8.54 L/100KM). The total fuel cost was about $1300 (approximately 9200 RMB), averaging about $5.6 per gallon (10.5 RMB/L).
While in Japan, I relied on subways and trains, never taking a taxi (which is extremely expensive). I spent about $35 (248 RMB) on subway and train fares over six days. In Hong Kong, apart from taking a taxi from the airport to the dormitory and back due to too much luggage (one way 340 HKD - red taxi), I used the subway for everything else (which is also quite expensive). I probably spent over 400 HKD on the subway (recharging the Octopus card is quite complicated, making it hard to keep track). In Shenzhen, I mainly relied on taxis and subways, as domestic taxi fares are very cheap.
This year, I took six flights, all purchased with cash tickets (using points wasn't very cost-effective). I flew from Los Angeles to Tokyo Haneda on Delta; I had no expectations for North American airlines, and LAX doesn't have a PPS lounge. From Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong, I took Hong Kong Express; as a budget airline, it gets you where you need to go, and I was busy shopping. When I went to Haneda, there was no PPS lounge. I returned from Hong Kong to Qingdao on Eastern Airlines, purchasing a student ticket, with a transfer at Shanghai Hongqiao, carrying too much luggage. The lounge at Hong Kong Airport had decent food, including braised beef and wonton noodles, along with some regular cold dishes. This Disney-themed plane wasn't too bad; it looked quite nice. Due to a thunderstorm in Hong Kong, my flight to Shanghai was delayed, and I was given a free rebooking on the next available flight, which had me in the first row; having three seats to myself was quite spacious. The food in the Shanghai lounge was quite standard, with some Chinese stir-fried dishes and noodles. Eastern Airlines provided a pretty good meal pairing for such a short flight from Shanghai to Qingdao. Since the construction of the Jiaodong Airport, I've flown from there to the U.S.; after two years, it was finally my first time landing there.
When returning from Qingdao to Los Angeles, I bought a new Singapore Airlines student ticket. The lounge at Qingdao International had quite good food; breakfast included noodles, stir-fried dishes, bread, various drinks, and snacks. The first leg from Qingdao to Singapore was on Scoot, which provided free drinks and meals (only vegan if not pre-ordered). The drink selection in Singapore was quite fun; the room temperature cola wasn't good (even if it was Coca-Cola, it wasn't great). I stayed in Singapore for one night, and the next day flew to Los Angeles. Changi's lounge was also very nice; our Asian airport lounges really have a great variety of delicious food. The flight to Los Angeles had a one-hour stopover in Narita, where I quickly paid for my pre-ordered duty-free items and left. The lounge there seemed small but had a good selection of food. Singapore Airlines' meals were quite tasty, and the dessert after the meal was a Magnum.
Credit Cards#
This year, I entered the 524 rule and initially wanted to be more restrained, but I couldn't help it. I opened a total of four cards. If you want a referral link, feel free to ask me in the comments or email me; I won't post them directly here. In February, I opened the AMEX Hilton Aspire, which was instantly approved with a CL of 8K; in April, I got the CSP, which said it could break 524, and I was instantly approved with a CL of 10K; in May, I saw Bilt offering 5X on card opening, so I opened it as well, also instantly approved with a CL of 2K; finally, in October, I opened the AMEX Hilton series revamped no annual fee card on the first day it was available (pending but instantly approved with a CL of 240K).
Others#
Since 2020, it's been three years, and I finally caught COVID once, transmitted by someone else; someone behind me kept coughing during class. It coincided with a whole weekend plus Friday and Monday. I had a high fever above 39 degrees Celsius and a heart rate over 120+ for the first two days; even fever-reducing medicine couldn't bring it down, and I felt completely drained. On the third day, my throat started to hurt a bit, and I began to recover from the fever, and after four or five days, I tested negative.
Production#
Income#
This year's income mainly came from part-time work at school, totaling around 10K, some odd jobs, and additionally, the benefits from credit card rewards (points not converted to cash), as well as a recent referral from Capital One that earned me $500.
The estimated income from credit card points is approximately $3,400 (23,800 RMB): UR points earned - 100K (about $1,600), MR points earned - 60K (about $720), Hilton points earned - 270K (about $1,080).
Debt#
This year, I paid off a significant portion of my car loan, leaving about $4,000 remaining. My goal is to pay off the entire car loan before graduating from my undergraduate program, and it seems achievable.
Academics#
All my course grades this year were A and A+, which is quite good overall, maintaining a stable GPA growth. This year, I also faced graduate school applications; I have already submitted applications to UCLA, USC, UCSD, Purdue, and NWU, with many more schools waiting to be submitted.
Research#
This year, I participated in three research projects, two at my school and one summer research at CUHK. My future development and research direction are also basically determined; currently, I will focus on ML, especially DL algorithms in healthcare and public health, emphasizing algorithms and models applicable to consumer fields and clinical settings.
Projects#
I worked on quite a few projects this year, including both front-end and back-end work, and even developed an iOS app. I also restructured my zl-saica.com and zla.pub blog backends and renewed the server. zla.icu is also a new domain updated this year, and the old bmmw.net short URL function has been migrated to the ICU site. The app site is also used for project display, and the next step will be to use it as my personal online resume.
2024#
Vision#
My biggest wish is, of course, to be accepted into the best MS program and start my MS life. I will definitely move to a new city, hoping that the new city and home will meet my expectations. It would be even better if I could have a good transition research project during the summer after graduation. Additionally, my wishes are well known to my closest friends; I hope to start a brand new life that I desire! Plus, good health.
OKR#
O1: Health Management
KR1: Go to bed early and wake up early, 23:30-7:30.
KR2: Maintain the current diet structure, high protein and low fat.
KR3: Increase exercise, at least 1-2 times a week (preferably 2 times), each time over 15 minutes.
KR4: Maintain weight in the range of 115-125 pounds and body fat percentage below 15%.
O2: Content Creation
KR1: Update the blog with at least 1 new article per month, totaling at least 20 articles for the year.
KR2: Write at least 2-3 entries in the journal each week, with at least 1 entry per day during travels.
O3: Academic Goals
KR1: Publish at least 1 article.
KR2: Complete the requirements for the Honor Program graduation.
KR3: Maintain a GPA above 3.7 in the first semester of the MS program.
KR4: Find a research group in the first semester of the MS program.
O4: Financial Management
KR1: Continue to maintain the habit of keeping accounts.
KR2: Read 3 books on financial planning and investment.
KR3: Keep monthly expenses within budget and pay off the car loan by June.
KR4: After paying off the car loan, save $200 each month, with $100 going to S&P 500 index funds and $100 to a savings account.
O5: Personal Growth
KR1: Complete at least 10 Coursera or similar online courses.
KR2: Learn Japanese, completing the 50 sounds and Duolingo courses.
KR3: Read at least 3 professional books unrelated to my field.
🥳 Happy New Year 2024!