Just saw this on CNN yesterday (or ROBtv?), Merrill Lynch is holding a boot camp for people in their twenties. No no, not the band camp, not the boy scout.
These twenty something must have personal investable assets over $50 million US, they will spend 1 week at Wharton School of Business to learn how to manage/diversify/balance their investment portfolios (I thought that is my job?), how to ask for a large loan, how to write up a prenuptial agreement (!?!)...
Of course, there were only about 3 dozen people there, but if you think about it, that is at $1.8 billion in that lecture hall.
Personal wealth is deemed quite important in this materialistic world, but how wealthy is considered wealthy enough? If you ask anyone who is rich if he/she thinks he/she is rich enough? The answer is probably going to be no, greed is at play here. And greed is what drives the world, or at least, the business world.
As Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street" said the best:
"The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that: Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right; greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed,..."
12/29/2006
12/25/2006
Merry X'mas to all of you!
Best wishes to all my friends:
To my A list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your family and other A list friends.
To my B list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your love one.
To my C list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your hubbie/wife.
To my D list friends,
hope you had a crappy xmas party, because you never returned my phone calls.
To my A list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your family and other A list friends.
To my B list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your love one.
To my C list friends,
hope you had a good xmas party with your hubbie/wife.
To my D list friends,
hope you had a crappy xmas party, because you never returned my phone calls.
12/22/2006
A toast to the merry married couple
Wishing you
A house full of sunshine,
Hearts full of cheer,
Love that grows deeper
each day of the year.
A house full of sunshine,
Hearts full of cheer,
Love that grows deeper
each day of the year.
12/19/2006
Save the last dance for me...
There is always something missing in taiwanese/hong kong love songs, they are always depressing, they usually are about the uncertainty in relationships. Either your love is leaving you, you are in love with someone else, or you are not sure where you are in a relationship.
What is missing are the maturity, and confidence required in a healthy relationship. Consider the following song...
Save the last dance for me
You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand neath the pale moon light
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he walk you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
Save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
So don't forget who's taking you home
Or in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
Ooooh
Baby won't you save the last dance for me.
You make the promise that you save the last dance for me.
Save the last dance
The very last dance
For me!
This is recently performed by Michael Buble. The narrator is telling the girl to go out and have fun with anyone she feels like, but at the end of the night, to save that one last dance for him.
If the same story was done in mandarin/cantonese, it might be very different. You can imagine a guy pleaing to the girl, please don't go, but if you have to go, please don't dance with other guys, but if you have to dance with others, don't go home with them, but you have to go home with them... please love me... please please...
Trust requires certain maturity and confidence, especially confidence. Just like in the song, when performed by Mr. Buble, you can tell that the narrator is very confident that she will be back for the good stuff at the end of the night.
And, I see that as the biggest difference between a mature relationship and a chinese/taiwanese pop song relationship.
Btw, the original song done in the 60s was about this war veteran who lost his legs, telling his wife who love to dance, to have fun, but remember to come back home to him...
What is missing are the maturity, and confidence required in a healthy relationship. Consider the following song...
Save the last dance for me
You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand neath the pale moon light
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never, never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he walk you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
Save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the musics fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
And don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
So don't forget who's taking you home
Or in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
Ooooh
Baby won't you save the last dance for me.
You make the promise that you save the last dance for me.
Save the last dance
The very last dance
For me!
This is recently performed by Michael Buble. The narrator is telling the girl to go out and have fun with anyone she feels like, but at the end of the night, to save that one last dance for him.
If the same story was done in mandarin/cantonese, it might be very different. You can imagine a guy pleaing to the girl, please don't go, but if you have to go, please don't dance with other guys, but if you have to dance with others, don't go home with them, but you have to go home with them... please love me... please please...
Trust requires certain maturity and confidence, especially confidence. Just like in the song, when performed by Mr. Buble, you can tell that the narrator is very confident that she will be back for the good stuff at the end of the night.
And, I see that as the biggest difference between a mature relationship and a chinese/taiwanese pop song relationship.
Btw, the original song done in the 60s was about this war veteran who lost his legs, telling his wife who love to dance, to have fun, but remember to come back home to him...
12/14/2006
舊情敵
幾個月前，我去公司附近的MALL吃午餐，在等待的時候，習慣性的東張西望。在一樓的攤位中，看見了我初戀時期的舊情敵...
在一些運動服裝中，我依悉認得出他的臉，看起來胖了些，看起來老了些。他坐在電腦前，打了一個呵欠，看來生意不是太好。我看著他，初戀時候的情節在腦海中一頁頁翻過。他是我初戀對象當時的男朋友，當初戀離開他的時候，他唱了許志安的心血給我的初戀聽...
心血
發覺你變得敷衍我 你的手逃避觸摸到我
若晚上和我坐 亦無言無話像厭我
你可知心多麼不好過麼
但你共我 同渡過生命悲傷歡暢
每次風霜把我們越擦亮
我問你難道你捨得這些心血
棄掉我倆 求你別這樣
誰如我愛你那麼多 別當我猶如路過
為何仍然贈我這苦楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 原來從未認識我
還是未真過
何故你似再也不喜歡我
縱相擁如陌生者一個 是我們完了吧
或旁人隨便代替我 我怕知
知得多增添痛楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 別當我猶如路過
為何仍然贈我這苦楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 原來從未認識我
還是未真過
每當我聽到'求你別這樣'的時候，總會想到一個哭泣的男孩...
後來，我和我的初戀分手幾個月後，我和她在夜市中看見了我的舊情敵在擺攤，我們聊了幾句，我們已經有各自的歸宿，覺得自己好像都長大了很多。
再度MALL裡遇到他的時候，覺得我們都老很多了。過幾個月，那個攤位已經不見了，不知道他有沒有看見我，不知道他是不是也覺得我也老了很多?
在一些運動服裝中，我依悉認得出他的臉，看起來胖了些，看起來老了些。他坐在電腦前，打了一個呵欠，看來生意不是太好。我看著他，初戀時候的情節在腦海中一頁頁翻過。他是我初戀對象當時的男朋友，當初戀離開他的時候，他唱了許志安的心血給我的初戀聽...
心血
發覺你變得敷衍我 你的手逃避觸摸到我
若晚上和我坐 亦無言無話像厭我
你可知心多麼不好過麼
但你共我 同渡過生命悲傷歡暢
每次風霜把我們越擦亮
我問你難道你捨得這些心血
棄掉我倆 求你別這樣
誰如我愛你那麼多 別當我猶如路過
為何仍然贈我這苦楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 原來從未認識我
還是未真過
何故你似再也不喜歡我
縱相擁如陌生者一個 是我們完了吧
或旁人隨便代替我 我怕知
知得多增添痛楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 別當我猶如路過
為何仍然贈我這苦楚
誰如我愛你那麼多 原來從未認識我
還是未真過
每當我聽到'求你別這樣'的時候，總會想到一個哭泣的男孩...
後來，我和我的初戀分手幾個月後，我和她在夜市中看見了我的舊情敵在擺攤，我們聊了幾句，我們已經有各自的歸宿，覺得自己好像都長大了很多。
再度MALL裡遇到他的時候，覺得我們都老很多了。過幾個月，那個攤位已經不見了，不知道他有沒有看見我，不知道他是不是也覺得我也老了很多?
12/11/2006
溫哥華的雪
今年的冬天好像來的特別早，女孩看著窗外已經下了一天一夜的雪，越看越是心煩。
她看手中的電話，越洋號碼只撥了一半，猶豫著要不要打給他…
嘆了口氣，她放下電話，幫自己煮了一杯咖啡，看著窗外白色的世界。她想起自己從來都不喜歡喝咖啡，但自從遇到他後，已經習慣每個早上喝一杯。
台灣應該是晚上十點，現在打去應該不會太晚…
回想三個月前，他興高采烈的在電話上告訴她年底要結婚，她到現在都還不很確定該有怎樣的反應。他在電話裡，email裡不斷的邀請她回去，他很希望她可以參加他的婚禮。她一口拒絕了，回去要以什麼身分? 自己是不是可以忍受的住?
但他的email一封一封的來，有他和她的婚紗照，她一封都沒有回，一封都沒有看。她是很確定已經不再愛他，但離可以祝福他，還有一段距離。
不是的，那並不是她的初戀，也不是她最愛的，也不是她最忘不了的，只是結束太過愕然，好像兩人之間還沒有一個完美的句點。回憶他們相遇的季節，好像也是下雪的時候，從相遇到相戀，從相戀到分開，好像雪都還沒有機會溶化。
為什麼喜歡他，她已經不大記得了，他像大孩子的個性，倒是記得清清楚楚，他總是有意無意的挑起她心中的漣洟，但說過後兩天就忘了乾乾淨淨。五個月前見到他，他還說他還是很喜歡她，一直忘不了她，她那時只有一笑置之，不做回應。 果然，兩個月後就接到他的喜訊。
她放下手中的咖啡，一口氣撥了他的電話，響了幾聲，跳到了語音信箱，她留下祝福的口訊，不外乎是白頭偕老，早生貴子一類的話，順便道歉她因為工作關係不能參加他的婚禮。
因為工作? 她自己都不信的理由，她忍不住輕聲一笑。手上的電話響了起來，是他，那一頭聽起來人聲吵雜，他說朋友們要在他單身的最後一晚，把他灌到不行，還好她的電話救了他一命。她聽他嘮嘮叨叨的抱怨奔東走西為婚禮而忙碌， 她感覺到時間好像在他們之間流過，過去的事已經過去了，他用半醉半醒的聲音說她不能回來，他好難過，真希望她能在那祝福他的幸福。不必了吧，她想，兩條線交叉而過，不再相逢，又何必強求?
掛了電話，她看窗外的雪好像已經沒有那麼煩人。明天改喝綠茶吧，她告訴自己…
她才想起，她忘了告訴他溫哥華的大雪…
她看手中的電話，越洋號碼只撥了一半，猶豫著要不要打給他…
嘆了口氣，她放下電話，幫自己煮了一杯咖啡，看著窗外白色的世界。她想起自己從來都不喜歡喝咖啡，但自從遇到他後，已經習慣每個早上喝一杯。
台灣應該是晚上十點，現在打去應該不會太晚…
回想三個月前，他興高采烈的在電話上告訴她年底要結婚，她到現在都還不很確定該有怎樣的反應。他在電話裡，email裡不斷的邀請她回去，他很希望她可以參加他的婚禮。她一口拒絕了，回去要以什麼身分? 自己是不是可以忍受的住?
但他的email一封一封的來，有他和她的婚紗照，她一封都沒有回，一封都沒有看。她是很確定已經不再愛他，但離可以祝福他，還有一段距離。
不是的，那並不是她的初戀，也不是她最愛的，也不是她最忘不了的，只是結束太過愕然，好像兩人之間還沒有一個完美的句點。回憶他們相遇的季節，好像也是下雪的時候，從相遇到相戀，從相戀到分開，好像雪都還沒有機會溶化。
為什麼喜歡他，她已經不大記得了，他像大孩子的個性，倒是記得清清楚楚，他總是有意無意的挑起她心中的漣洟，但說過後兩天就忘了乾乾淨淨。五個月前見到他，他還說他還是很喜歡她，一直忘不了她，她那時只有一笑置之，不做回應。 果然，兩個月後就接到他的喜訊。
她放下手中的咖啡，一口氣撥了他的電話，響了幾聲，跳到了語音信箱，她留下祝福的口訊，不外乎是白頭偕老，早生貴子一類的話，順便道歉她因為工作關係不能參加他的婚禮。
因為工作? 她自己都不信的理由，她忍不住輕聲一笑。手上的電話響了起來，是他，那一頭聽起來人聲吵雜，他說朋友們要在他單身的最後一晚，把他灌到不行，還好她的電話救了他一命。她聽他嘮嘮叨叨的抱怨奔東走西為婚禮而忙碌， 她感覺到時間好像在他們之間流過，過去的事已經過去了，他用半醉半醒的聲音說她不能回來，他好難過，真希望她能在那祝福他的幸福。不必了吧，她想，兩條線交叉而過，不再相逢，又何必強求?
掛了電話，她看窗外的雪好像已經沒有那麼煩人。明天改喝綠茶吧，她告訴自己…
她才想起，她忘了告訴他溫哥華的大雪…
12/07/2006
Lambofsilence, meet James Yang
A few years back, out of boredom, I googled myself, and found there is actually a guy with the same name, and a website named after him (or me) www.jamesyang.com.
Last month, I actually found James Yang's blog on my friend's blogspot link, he is using blogspot as well! Taking a second look at James Yang's website, he is a graphic designer who lives in New York, has sculpture in museum, done children's book, and did I mention living in New York?
To find someone with the same name living a different life in a different city is quite interesting. Then, to find that person might be 2 degree seperation from you is kind of creepy. But it is interesting though, I wonder what happens if this person looks/acts like me? Would I be envious of his life?
By the way, I have done search on lambofsilence as well, this time, I found myself. :)
Last month, I actually found James Yang's blog on my friend's blogspot link, he is using blogspot as well! Taking a second look at James Yang's website, he is a graphic designer who lives in New York, has sculpture in museum, done children's book, and did I mention living in New York?
To find someone with the same name living a different life in a different city is quite interesting. Then, to find that person might be 2 degree seperation from you is kind of creepy. But it is interesting though, I wonder what happens if this person looks/acts like me? Would I be envious of his life?
By the way, I have done search on lambofsilence as well, this time, I found myself. :)
12/05/2006
Breakfast at Tiffany.... in Vancouver
Tiffany & Co is opening its newest standalone store on alberni and burrard in downtown Vancouver. Of course its baby blue boxes and whats inside the boxes are what many ladies and girls want for Xmas. This grand opening features a $500,000 blue diamond ring and $100,000 diamond necklace. Funny though, if you have both, you still cannot buy a house in vancouver. According the the latest figure, the average housing price in Vancouver is $700,000.
People talk about breakfast at Tiffany, for those who haven't seen this film, I highly recommend it. Other than the charming love story, Audrey Hepburn's character is very recognizable.
Holly played by Audrey, is a young woman in her twenties, ran away from a rural home where she was married at 14. She wants to be in films, so she moved to Hollywood, then to New York. When that doesn't work out, she then decides to get married, to a rich man from brazil.
Paul played by George Peppard, is a young writer who has problem writing novels, instead, he lives on a much older married woman.
When they met, things got interesting, Holly gets into trouble, and keeps on trying new things. Paul gets inspired and started writing his novels, which finally got published.
They have different ways to handle their lives when they feel it wasn't a life they wanted. Holly was the reason Paul needed to get out of his routine, and Holly denies any reason (including Paul and her nameless cat) for her to settle down.
The film ends in a classic hollywood way, a short chase in the rain, and hug and kiss. Although the original novel by Truman Capote did not have a romantic happy ending, and Marilyn Monroe was supposed to play Holly.
It is great to see Holly finally stopped running away from herself, but I still see some girls running, running away from themselves...
People talk about breakfast at Tiffany, for those who haven't seen this film, I highly recommend it. Other than the charming love story, Audrey Hepburn's character is very recognizable.
Holly played by Audrey, is a young woman in her twenties, ran away from a rural home where she was married at 14. She wants to be in films, so she moved to Hollywood, then to New York. When that doesn't work out, she then decides to get married, to a rich man from brazil.
Paul played by George Peppard, is a young writer who has problem writing novels, instead, he lives on a much older married woman.
When they met, things got interesting, Holly gets into trouble, and keeps on trying new things. Paul gets inspired and started writing his novels, which finally got published.
They have different ways to handle their lives when they feel it wasn't a life they wanted. Holly was the reason Paul needed to get out of his routine, and Holly denies any reason (including Paul and her nameless cat) for her to settle down.
The film ends in a classic hollywood way, a short chase in the rain, and hug and kiss. Although the original novel by Truman Capote did not have a romantic happy ending, and Marilyn Monroe was supposed to play Holly.
It is great to see Holly finally stopped running away from herself, but I still see some girls running, running away from themselves...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)