Lamb's Rambling

My turn

2012-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

The big day is coming, though still many months away, but it is coming.

I have been in many pre-wedding meetings, talking about the schedule, the colour, the seatings, the little things. The newly-weds were usually overwhelmed by many many little decisions they have to make. Some would take charge on everything, some would let others decide, but all were a little confused and excited.

And it is my turn now...

Steve and Chester

2011-12-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

Chester grew up in a poor family in 1906, so he had to work at a very young age, sometimes, he would work before and after school. But it was at that young age, Chester became interested in printing and reproducing prints. While most 10 year olds want ponies and train sets, all he wanted was an office typewriter.

When he got out of Caltech with okay grades, he was in debt and the world was in great depression. He applied to 83 companies for job and finally Bell gave him a job as a researcher. But he never gave up his dream on reproducing prints.

While during his free time, he worked on just that. Unfortunately, his wife didn't share his passion and divorced him.

His work on reproducing print didn't go very far, even though he successfully reproduce something in 1938, it took the idea almost 10 years to become a viable product in the market. It was known as Xerox 914.

Since then everyone on this planet uses Chester's technology for about 500 pages a year, with 7 billion on this planet, we make 3.5 trillion copies every year.

15 years after Chester passed away, a young man walked into Xerox's office in California and borrowed the "mouse" idea from Xerox. That young man's name is Steve Jobs.

While Steve was a great promoter with millions of followers, Chester never forget his upbringing. It is said that Chester makes .16 cent for every copy we make. If he is still alive today, he will be making $5.6billion a year, about the net worth of Steve Jobs in 2010. When Chester Carlson passed away in 1968, he gave away most of his fortune. As Chester told his second wife, "my dream is to die a poor man"...

10 reasons why you are poor

2011-11-15T20:09:00.000-08:00

Found this on the internet:

10) They Are Unable To Manage Their State
9) They Set Impotent Goals
8) They Subscribe To "The Secret"
7) They Have Limiting Beliefs About Life And Money
6) They Choose Bad Mentors
5) They Are Controlled By Fear
4) They Try To Reinvent The Wheel
3) They Are Lousy At Business
2) They Are Uncomfortable With Words Like "Sales," Marketing," And "Persuasion"
1) They Slave Away For A Paycheck

Namesake

2011-11-15T20:04:00.000-08:00

In a sea of friends naming their babies, I watched that movie with Kumar (of Harold and Kumar fame). It is a story about two generations of indian immigrants to US.

It is very typical of a immigrant story, the hardship of adapting, the loneliness, the trying to get acceptance, overprotective of the traditional mother...

More importantly, the movie talks about our names, they might mean much more. That is where we have to find out ourselves.

I think, maybe we can make sure our names have meanings...

Birthday goals

2011-10-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog back in 2005, I set a 5 year goal. It is interesting to see how things have changed.

My own place (either 200k condo or 300k townhouse)
- Not done yet, but it has since been upgraded to a house (since condo and townhouse prices have doubled)
BMW 325i (Mystic Blue or Jet Black)
- I have driven that back in 2006 plus a few more cars in between
Laser eye surgery (might need mental support)
- Finally done it this year, with ms. cake
Fall in love (yes, I still believe in love)
- Fell and Failed in love a few times in between, but I found ms. cake!
25 million portfolio (my clients', not mine)
- Got it last year

I think I need a few 5 year plan, maybe a little more aggressive.

Letters from Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

I like apple products, but I love their marketing more. Of course, everything has much to do with the man, Steve Jobs. He created Apple in a garage and made a fortune then at age 30, he got fired by its own company, then came back to create a bunch of iStuff. He has done it all, now, at his 50s, he is retiring.

Letter from Steve Jobs
To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Steve had changed over years, comparing to his comment to his employees back in 2005 on Michael Dell, a man who has about 6B more net worth than him.

Team, it turned out that Michael Dell wasn't perfect at predicting the future. Based on today's stock market close, Apple is worth more than Dell. Stocks go up and down, and things may be different tomorrow, but I thought it was worth a moment of reflection today. Steve.

Steve is becoming less arrogant, maybe people do get wiser when they get older. After the ups and downs of apple shares yesterday during the Jobs-less Apple conference, I kinda miss the guy.

Is timing everything?

2011-09-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

My wedding seasons are over, baby seasons are coming. Many of my close friends are pumping out their first-borns. Every social gathering I go, there are babies or baby talks. I know I have lost many more friends to the D list, the friends' with kids list. Their lives will be dedicated by the schedule of their kids, and I will miss them

Among these good news, my company, place I spent my last 6 years, have been sold to another company. It is a huge change, as I thought I have finally found a place I want to be, and have finally settled down...

I have always wonder, is timing everything?

When is the best time to do what?

To buy a house, to go back to school, to go to the next vacation, or maybe to pop the question?

I think, in my life, I have been asking too many timing questions, and I have decided to pop that question, in this beautiful messy time. Perhaps, this is the best time to ask,

"Will You Marry Me?"

不勸

2011-08-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

也許, 受了劉墉的影響, 也許, 年紀有點了, 也許, 沒有閒情逸致了. 有時看見朋友們在浪費自己已經沒有的青春, 談他們自己都知道沒有結果的戀愛, 我沒辦法阻止, 也不會阻止, 有時還送上祝福, 加上一句, 如果需要我收拾你破碎的身體, 再來找我.

這不是諷刺, 這是真心的祝福, 也許, 他們真的會有好的結果, 如果硬勸, 無論他們有沒有長長久久, 朋友都難做.

有時做朋友的, 也要忍耐朋友做傻事的能耐, 以及作處理善後的準備.

冠宏是我看他長大的

2011-08-13T15:22:00.001-07:00

冠宏是我看他長大的, 就這麼看著看著我就長大. Brian是我們的另一位好朋友, 他也是今年結的婚, 所以我的以下致詞會是一模一樣.

我們都是在台灣製造, 但都是在溫哥華長大的, 快二十年前, 我們在同一間中學念書. KILLARNEY. 像所有的男生一樣, 我們會一起做一些傻事, 一起打電動, 看漫畫, 看愛情動作片, 一起泡澡和被女生追, 其實只有Brian而已.

但在高中的畢業舞會, 我們的友情才有了昇華, 我們同時在大廳外的走廊唉聲嘆氣, Brian的女伴不願意跳舞, 我的女伴不知道到哪去了, 而冠宏, 你們應該要看他那時的女伴, 一位韓國妹, 那時韓劇還沒開始流行啊, 她長得很像後來的李愛英, 我說的是如果李愛英整形失敗的樣子, 我記得她當時是穿者高貴的禮服, 把她身材展現得像黑色的粽子, 可憐的冠宏為了禮貌還一直不斷的和她跳舞.

那時候見到了冠宏的父母親, 他們真的是很恩愛, 每天都手牽手散步, 我相信以後的冠宏也是這樣的好老公.
有次, 我住在冠宏家, 隔天早上, 陳爸爸堅持要陪我走到公車站, 他握著我的手說, 冠宏在溫哥華沒有其他家人, 你們朋友要好好照顧冠宏, 我相信, 冠宏有天也會是這樣的好父親.

陳爸爸, 現在, 我們不需要照顧冠宏了, 因為他有emily了.

在emily 之前, 冠宏是孩子王, 他是大學社團的團長, 但他不是男人, 他是個有些焦躁, 有些沒自信的大男生. (當然他不會承認)

Emily給他了穩定, 讓他可以放心的去做, 就像陳爸爸與陳媽媽一樣.

在這裡, 身為冠宏的Best Man, 我必須要對emily說, 如果你欺負冠宏的話, 我一定會… 幫你加油, 因為距離的關係, 沒法幫你一起欺負他.

我這裡有一份禮物要送給冠宏, 好男人手冊, 我半年前買了兩本, 之前有送Brian一本, 聽說受益良多, 除了學到空手開啤酒, 怎麼把妹之外, 你還會學到如何做好老公.

Graham, 我的兄弟, 很榮幸認識你, and I love you brother! 給兩位, 你們有我與在座各位的祝福, 祝兩位永浴愛河, 百年好合, 早生貴子!

男人對車子的愛 - 轉摘

2011-08-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

我告別了陪伴我10年的老夥計，說真的他真的是一個可靠的夥伴，他從來沒在路上掛點過。
回想十年之前，當時因為我年邁的老父親的每個月總是要有一兩天的時間到離家大約1公里遠的耕莘醫院去抽血檢查血糖的狀況，但礙於80多歲的老父親因為糖尿病導致雙腳截肢的關係，需要有人推著輪椅帶父親去醫院，但一公里的距說遠不遠，說近不近，且因為這一公里的人行道高高低低不好走，加上人行道又窄，所以每當父親複診時要推著老父親的輪椅離沿著大馬路上走到醫院，來往的摩托車就在身邊穿梭而過，最後我都在跟父親在社區口搭排班的計程車到距離一公里之外的耕莘醫院。

由於父親雙腳截肢行動不方便，上下計程車時，我總是需要熊抱父親，抓緊老父親的後方的皮帶，將父親從輪椅上抱下來，並輕輕地放到計程車後座的沙發上，之後收起父親的輪椅到計程車後方的行李箱，然後自己在坐到司機旁邊的副駕駛座上，大約5分鐘之後到了離家不遠的耕莘醫院，我又需要請司機開到醫院裡面，先下車把輪椅打開固定好煞車讓輪椅不會亂跑，再打開計程車後座把父親熊抱下來，把父親放到輪椅上，然後推著父親到醫院的櫃檯報到。

因為家裡跟醫院的距離真的很近，當時的計程車的計價是每公里計價，有時計程車只跳5塊錢，我們就下車了，也就因為這樣我往往都偷偷塞給司機大哥200塊錢，有時省吃儉用的老父親看到我偷偷塞錢給司機大哥，就不高興地在計程車上說給那麼多幹什呢? 遇到好的司機大哥有時會退給我該找的錢，而有一次卻讓我印象深刻........。

有一天依照慣例我利用公司排休的日子，推著老父親在社區口搭了一台排班計程車，在安頓好後座的老父親之後，我做上前座說我要到耕莘醫院，司機大哥不說話，馬上催足油門一路鑽在機車陣中，連我年邁的老父親都感覺到他開車真的很危險，跟我說他開得好快，我當時只能尷尬地笑著安撫我的老爸說，馬上就到了，我當時心想，司機大哥應該是心理面不爽排班那麼久，卻載到一個又麻煩又是短程一對父子，到了耕莘醫院之後，我請司機大哥開到醫院玻璃門口，先塞了兩百塊錢給司機大哥，司機大哥愣了一下，並沒有說什麼，我慢慢把父親抱下車，推往醫院大廳，繼續跟父親有說有笑，父親一直跟我說他開車好快好快，好危險..............。

當天下午帶著父親從醫院搭計程車回到社區門口之後，把舟車勞頓的父親安頓好讓他先睡午覺，輕輕幫父親蓋上毯子，坐在客廳心裡面回想著剛剛計程車司機對我們的種種，我心裡面暗自發誓我再也不願意讓我父親看別人的臉色，受這種委屈。當下拿起摩托車鑰匙，騎著摩托車到當初陳水扁選台北市長競選總部的那個福特九和門市，看了一台最便宜的福特Tierra Activa 1.6，車價辦到好約51萬，刷了1萬的訂金，挑了顏色，就這樣訂了這台夥計。

這台夥計陪著我10年，每一次保養我都一定是到福特原廠，從牽回來第一天倒車路入庫就被自己的摩托車A到行李箱的板金，當時真的他X的心痛，靠著他，我到過武嶺看過冬季與夏季的銀河，到過墾丁龍磐公園看過一望無際的大海，到過花蓮七星潭看著F16戰機的起降，到過台東池上車站吃過真正的池上飯盒，到過高雄看過同事幫經銷商做的Server的教育訓練，到過新竹城隍廟吃過貢丸湯還有竹暫餅，到過大溪老街吃過豆乾，不知經過九彎十八拐幾次，不知經過北橫幾次，不知走過中橫幾次，他從來沒在半路拋錨過，他真的是台好車，直到我父親離開我，我還是每過幾個月就一個人開著他去跟父親上香說說話，跟父親說說大陸老家的近況，還有家裡的一切種種，他真的伴隨我度過好多回憶，被警察偷拍過好幾次超速，去好多好多地方釣魚，他的身上的每一個傷痕我都知道是怎麼來的，看每一道車身上的傷痕，我都能回想到當時的情景。

太多太多回憶了，光是被測速照相照的照片大概累計就有10張以上，如今他還是一樣盡著他的本分，但父親已經不在，看著後座我依稀都還感覺得到緊緊抱著父親上車時，身體緊緊靠著父親胸口的那種感覺，這是我的第一台車，我將他過戶給一位我信任的朋友，當我把車開到他家時，我一直叮嚀他，請他好好照顧我的老伙計，只要你好好照顧他，他一定不會讓你失望，如果你有一天要賣掉他，請讓我知道，因為我可能會跟你買回來，離開之前我再次坐在駕駛座上，回頭往後坐看去，我依稀看見白髮蒼蒼的老父親望著我對我笑著的模糊景象，這台車曾經載過我的最愛最愛的老爸，他的每一道痕跡，對我來說都是珍貴的回憶。

再見了我親愛的夥計，我這輩子都不會忘記你，真的很謝謝你，總有一天我一定會回來找你。

網路上有很多垃圾

2011-07-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

最近在網路上看到這樣的小故事:

數年前，一對老夫婦，女的穿著一套褪色的條紋棉布衣服，而她的丈夫則是穿著布製的便宜西裝，也沒有事先約好，就直接去拜訪哈佛的校長。
校長的祕書在片刻間就斷定這兩個鄉下老土根本不可能與哈佛有業務來往。
先生輕聲的說︰「我們要見校長。」

祕書很不禮貌的說︰「他整天都很忙。」
女士回答說︰「沒關係，我們可以等。」
過了幾個鐘頭，祕書一直不理他們，希望他們知難而退，自己走開。
可是他們卻一直等在那裡。
祕書終於決定通知校長︰「也許他們跟您講幾句話就會走開。」
校長不耐煩的同意了。

校長很有架子而且心不甘情不願的面對這對夫婦。
女士告訴他︰
「我們有一個兒子曾經在哈佛讀過一年，他很喜歡哈佛、他在哈佛的生活很快樂。但是去年，他出了意外而死亡。
我丈夫和我想要在校園裡為他立一個紀念物。」
校長並沒有被感動，反而覺得可笑，粗聲地說︰
「夫人我們不能為每一位曾讀過哈佛而死亡的人建立雕像的。如果我們這樣做，我們的校園看起來會像墓園一樣。」

女士很快的說︰
「不是，我們不是要豎立一座雕像，我們想要捐一棟大樓給哈佛。」
校長仔細的看了一下條紋的棉布衣服及粗布的便宜西裝，然後吐一口氣說︰
「你們知不知道建一棟大樓要花多少錢嗎？學校的建築物超過七百五十萬元。」

這時，這位女士沈默不講話了。
校長很高興，總算可以把他們打發了。
只見這位女士轉向她丈夫說︰「只要七百五十萬就可以建一座大樓?那我們為什麼不建一座大學來紀念我們的兒子？」
她的丈夫點頭同意。

而哈佛的校長覺得很混淆和困惑。
就這樣，史丹佛先生夫人離開了哈佛，到了加州，成立了史丹佛大學來紀念他們的兒子。

_____________________________________________

乍看之下是一個警惕人心的小故事, 但我想, 史丹佛不是19世紀就成立了嗎, 幹嘛一棟建築要750萬? 在19世紀, 阿拉斯加才價值720萬耶...

上wiki查了一下, 史丹佛大學真的是爲了紀念一位15歲的史丹佛, 但史丹佛把拔是鐵路大亨, 前加州州長, 也是美國國會議員, 哈佛的校長在怎麼樣也該認識吧.

老史丹佛建校前有詢問過哈佛校長, 如果要在加州蓋一間哈佛規格的大學要多少錢, 哈佛校長說大概1500萬.

所以上面的小故事是虛構的, 網路上的垃圾很多...

錢多事少離家近

2011-07-08T21:11:00.001-07:00

錢多事少離家近、睡覺睡到自然醒、位高權重責任輕；
老闆說話不用聽、五年就領退休金、領錢領到手抽筋；
旅遊出國休假勤、股票分紅拼命領、出差作事別人請；
金融風暴不擔心、月月出國去散心、雙Ｂ跑車任我行；
金卡銀卡刷不停、吃喝玩樂錢照領、全家出遊有獎金；
回來聊天談事情、經理來了不用停、只說謝謝你關心；
下班走人你最行、上班在家吃點心、遲到說是出外勤；
說了只有鬼相信、哪有這等好事情、原來作夢還沒醒；
醒來只有酒一瓶、藉酒澆愁撫心情、沒有付出沒報應！

You can bet on it

2011-07-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Gambling is always part of human natural, to bet on uncertainty, or else it wouldn't be a bet. We can bet on sports, events, and we can bet for beer, food, money, or love.

I was listening to radio the other day, there were bets on whether Prince William and his new bride will wear a cowboy hat in Calgary Stampede or not, or if he is going to hold a Quebec flag.

My extend of gambling is probably buying lottery, which is not a good investment, considering the winning percentage is extremely low. But the best part is actually the 10 min after I bought the ticket, I think about what to do with the money if I had won the lottery.

Unfortunately, the effect of that started to wear out when I age, another side effect of getting old.

Goodbye - Air Supply

2011-07-03T09:50:00.001-07:00

Goodbye by Air Supply, to ms. cake

I can see the pain living in your eyes
And I know how hard you try
You deserve to have so much more
I can feel your heart and I sympathize
And I'll never criticize
All you've ever meant to my life

I don't want to let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong

You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to say but good-bye

You deserve the chance at the kind of love
I'm not sure I'm worthy of
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/air-supply-lyrics/goodbye-lyrics.html -]
Losing you is painful to me

I don't want to let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong

You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to say but good-bye

You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to try
Though it's gonna hurt us both
There's no other way than to say good-bye

長假

2011-06-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

早在大學年代, 我就一直想要做眼睛雷射矯正的手術, 但遲遲不敢去做, 花了不少時間去研究, 錢也存好了, 就是沒有膽.

做手術就成了我年年的目標. 直到今年, 直到明天, 終於要做手術了.

記得一開始想要存手術錢的時候, 還在奶茶店打工, 那時沒有新聞媒體大肆渲染的毒奶, 但有那一直反覆放的CD, 就是長假電視劇的配樂, 聽了一年, 自己也跑去買了一張, 那音樂就成了我那時成長的配樂.

說也奇怪, 我到現在一次都沒看過長假, 裡頭的卡司可嚇人, 除了木村拓哉與三口智子, 還有稻森泉、松隆子、竹野內豐和廣末涼子, 這麼大陣仗, 大慨也是日劇的全盛時期吧...

感情良民證

2011-05-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

有位女性朋友這個月結婚, 所有事情都自己參與, 但反而在伴娘這關一個頭兩個大. 懷孕的不行, 要結婚的不行, 已結婚的不行, 離過婚的不行, 不想結婚的不行, 私生活太亂的不行, 太肥的不行, 不熟的不行, 太公主的不行, 搞了半天, 好像是她要找老婆一樣.

我與其中一位幸運入選的伴娘開會, 也聊到她的感情生活, 她也有自己的麻煩, 談的來的不見得適合, 適合的又不來電, 適合又談的來的又有一堆情感包袱.

我開始覺得, 是不是感情世界也要有所謂的良民證, 這跟好人卡不同, 感情良民證是給想要穩定感情生活的男女們使用. 無不良紀錄, 像是破壞其他人家庭, 劈腿, 打人, 罵街, 恐嚇... 或是有案底, 但已服過刑, 並有改過自新.

看來, 有良民證的人並不多...

The dream

2011-05-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

One sure sign of getting old is when you feel sleepy on a saturday afternoon, especially right after lunch, and it continues before and after dinner. Back in the days, Saturday nights were charged with energy. No, I didn't go out and party much, but standing in line in front of some crappy club trying to get in, for hours, did happen a few times.

So I went to bed early.

Then I dreamt of the semester before I was about to graduate from SFU. It was the time when I couldn't wait to get out of school, but was also very scared of the unknown lying ahead, the world outside, seems to be a lot bigger and scarier back then.

After I woke up, sat in the same room I slept in when I was still in SFU. I thought about the school, I thought about how much I have changed since, but the world doesn't seem to be as big nor scary anymore.

Maybe that is another sure sign of getting old.

王老師你老師!

2011-05-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

有時不得不覺得, 台灣近幾年的亂象完全要歸功於媒體, 那豐富的水果日報,數字日報, 還有好幾台的二十四小時新聞, 弄得好像每一天的台灣都很熱鬧, 當然, 台灣人本來就很愛湊熱鬧.

台灣人也很迷信, 政客當然也知道, 一到選舉, 一個個無論是藍是綠, 乖乖去廟裡拜拜上香, 選上了, 還可以題個字, 作個匾額留名千古...

最近有個王老師, 說什麼台灣在五月十一日會有十四級地震, 先是有一堆人網上傳來傳去, 後是有民眾尾隨王老師, 再來媒體去訪問, 談話性節目請專家, 最後連內政部長都要發言.

你說是誰比較白癡? 王老師? 信他的人群? 媒體? 政府官員? 還是不信但也要跟在旁邊起鬨的人?

Confession of a gamer

2011-04-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

You may not know Sean Plott, and you will probably never know this dude. He is a professional gamer living in LA, he won some international gaming contest back in 2005-2007, and started his own edutainment video on youtube under the name Day[9] Daily.

It is a little hobby of mine, to watch his youtube video from time to time, even though his videos are about Starcraft 2, a game that I don't own nor play. His videos are entertaining nevertheless.

I just thought of him as a nerd who plays too much video games living in some basement in LA while trying to get his Master degree.

Then I saw a video of him talking about his experience of the game he is playing.

Born and rasied in a small town in Kansas, he and his older brother started playing Starcraft in their early teens. When their single mom told them not to play video game before 3pm, they would obey and went to the mall and looked at the box of the game, discussed strategies under an escalator.

They would play together, as they only had one computer, one of them would be a backseat gamer. Then when things got more serious, they would drive hours to join a regional tournament. It was pretty amazing that their mother was very supportive of what they do, she would even buy tickets for them to fly to another part of the country to compete, and asked the school for a week off to compete.

During the time of his pro gaming, he got to meet people from Russia, Canada, Korea, Germany... and became really good friends with them. Through out these tournaments, his brother and mother would be right beside him, either over the phone or in person, supporting him.

Over the years, he learnt to be less serious about the win and loss, but more on what he can learn from them.

You can just see the passion in his eyes, if he is talking about another hobby, you might feel more proud for him and even moved by him. But, he plays video games as hobby.

But he made friends all over the world and have actually met them in person, he learnt valuable lessons in life and he loved his family... That is a better hobby than someone who collects expensive watches but has no friends.

It reminds me of the time when I played computer games with my brother, one of us would be playing, the other would be watching. We played hours of Romance of Three Kingdoms, Starcraft, and other games. For us, it was the pass time during the time when we were worring about school and being in a different country. Of course, we were never as passionate about the games we played, but my brother and I still developed something we shared together as siblings. And that was irreplaceable...

霹靂人妻

2011-04-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

很多男人都不喜歡看泡沫劇或連續劇, 我也不例外, 除了有段時間看看日劇, 看看有爆破的劇, 那種會有哭哭啼啼, 沒完沒了, 灑滿地狗血, 或手擠爆橘子的連續劇一概不看.

最近台灣很流行的一部終於要結束了, 我想國內外人夫與男朋友們終於可以鬆一口氣了, 除了要處理女人們一些對劇情裡男人的看法的疑問, 還要接受你們男人都很賤的訓話, 更糟的還要接受女人們加倍的神經質, 跟女性吃飯要報告, 電話不接要懷疑, 我想大概只有戴貞操帶女人們才能接受.

當然, 我有對蛋糕姐姐強烈懷疑這種連續劇的內容, 她是覺得劇情很真實阿, 隋棠很漂亮啊... 我很懷疑他的真實度, 正常情況正宮應該是像蔡閨演的, 然後小三像年輕的隋棠才對吧, 不過連續劇還不是為了女性, 他們如果要有共鳴, 還是用正一點的才"真"...

夜市人生算什麼

2011-04-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

我有時候午餐時間會看看報紙, 並不是為了看新聞, 大多是爲了看哪間皇帝蟹比較便宜, 現在投資者都看得到什麼資訊...

記得以前我常開玩笑, 說世界日報的亞洲新聞很有意思, 台灣新聞很多是很血腥, 不是抗議就是打架, 要不就是砍人, 香港新聞通常很芝麻小事, 有人在公廁被偷窺, 手指被貓咬斷... 而中國新聞則是很奇譚, 什麼千年古墓, 長毛綠龜...

今天也買了報紙, 看到以下新聞, 真的覺得台灣的鄉土片真的很寫實. 故事是一位馬姓商人, 六年前劈腿離婚, 再婚後還一直找女朋友, 連自己的繼女和她的朋友也不放過, 繼女懷恨在心, 又因為馬姓商人與前妻生的小孩畢業, 送給小孩價值400萬的房子, 90萬的跑車, 比起繼女30萬轎車, 她覺得繼父偏心, 起了殺機, 就連同丈夫, 與繼父的朋友(同時也是情夫), 設計在馬姓商人的車上裝炸藥, 把馬姓商人炸成了重傷. 你以為這繼女應該會被槍斃, 但沒有, 只有被判十二年. 你以為故事已經結束, 但沒有, 其實從頭到尾, 這繼母, 也就是馬姓商人再婚的對象, 都知情, 也就是默許自己的女兒謀殺自己的丈夫...

其實, 寫劇本好像不是那麼難, 看報紙就好...

The brotherly love

2011-03-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Change is good, according to many people. I, for one, is afraid of change, actually, I am more afraid of being alone.

When I moved out of my mom's place, I moved in with my friends. Then, I moved back home. Although I was always minding my own business, I have always been the opposite of alone.

Then I woke up this morning, the house was empty and quiet. I went to my brother's room and checked. Turned on the light and checked. It has finally occurred to me that my brother has really grown up and moved on.

My brother who looked up to me when he was little, who is reserved but full of ideas. He is a man now, starting his own life and family.

That boy who stole my candies and gave to his friends,
that boy who created cool stuff with legos,
that boy who sneaked downstairs and played video games with me,
that boy who bought a ps2 when he got his paycheque,
that boy who became a man, right in front of my eyes...

It was a strange feeling, sort of a feeling I had after going to my own elementary school graduation ceremony. I was excited, feeling a little lost and lonely.

Maybe, it is a time for me to grown up as well.

街角的排骨便當

2011-03-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

我們台北的家, 並不是在一個很富裕的區, 連最近的便利商店都要走一段才會到, 家前的巷子兩旁停滿車, 成了單向道, 通常就算坐小黃, 我也只要求坐到最近的小學, 在走個五分鐘到家.

附近當然也沒有什麼餐廳, 從小記憶最深的, 就是街角的排骨便當店, 其實我一直到幾年前才知道它是一間有名字的便當店.

離我家三分鐘遠, 每次下課回家時, 會看到老闆娘或老闆, 坐在街邊, 用槌子打平肉, 當然, 長大才知道是爲了讓更大片, 更軟.

我小時候很常吃他們的排骨便當與牛肉便當, 其實並不特別, 一片排骨, 一個荷包蛋, 一點配菜...

幾年沒吃到, 今年特地去買了一個便當回家吃, 老闆與老闆娘樣子沒變, 到是頭髮斑白了許多, 不知道這幾年過得如何, 我另外加了個燙青菜, 帶回家吃, 還是一樣的味道, 小時候的味道...

台北阿台北

2011-02-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

每次回台灣都有不同的感覺, 不同的目的, 每次的台北都變了很多.

這兩次回台北, 相隔不到兩個月, 感覺最多的就是那不安分的環境, 待久了好像人都很浮躁, 靜不下來, 無論是開車, 吃飯, 看電視, 走路, 廣告, 都給我感覺要快快快, 要快車, 要快買, 要快走...

昨天在與朋友討論, 在台北, 我有時覺得自己很有錢, 有時覺得自己很窮, 有時一餐加幣三元就可以兩個人吃飽, 但隔壁的百貨公司裡頭的賣的高級商品, 有的在溫哥華只有一間, 在台北卻是每間百貨公司都有, 賣的價錢也往往高於國外, 也不知道裡頭幾百名員工是多少有錢人養的, 同時, 看得見台北的房地產, 動不動就上億, 一間30幾坪的公寓, 也要兩千多萬...

台北, 她很方便, 三分鐘一間便利商店, 便利商店裡有吃的, 有傳真, 有快遞, 還可以叫計程車, 每一區都有夜市, 熱鬧的很...

台北, 讓人習慣, 但讓人浮躁

空姐六師

2011-02-11T16:26:00.000-08:00

在台灣, 有些對女性的價值觀是在國外不能接受的, 就像綜藝節目裡看事業線, 虧老妹...

在工作的時候我電視看得多, 常看見網路婚姻介紹公司的廣告, 看得出來是偏女性觀眾, 通常是一對看起來很幸福的男女接受訪問, 講她們認識或求婚的經過.

這次在台灣也看了不少電視, 也看到網路婚姻公司, 叫月老銀行, 我一開始還以為是金融界的廣告, 看了兩次才看出來. 廣告很簡單, 黃字黑底, 幾個大字, "空姐六師", 什麼是六師? 又看了兩次, 原來是老師, 會計師, 精算師... 一類的專業, 看來也是針對女性的廣告, 下一個畫面, 還是黃字黑底, 保證六個月找到對象, 要不然六個月免費...

這讓我想起以前某個台灣報導, 最好嫁的職業, 不外乎是老師, 護士, 空姐, 那些愛情動作片裡的女主角職業. 看來, 台灣某些層面, 還真的非常現實.

拔牙

2011-02-04T23:32:00.000-08:00

記得小學六年級的時候, 老師有天為了強調牙齒保健的重要性, 要沒有蛀牙的學生站起來, 全班四五十個學生, 只有我和另一位同學還站著. 從那時開始, 我就以自己健全為傲...

好景不到兩年, 被抓去矯正牙齒, 本來就不是很注意刷牙, 漱口, 用牙線, 上了牙套更不注意, 結果就開始蛀牙, 補牙... 但都還好, 比起一些要做假牙, 牙套的, 我還算可以, 每次給牙醫洗牙, 都會被稱讚一番...

最近, 不知為什麼, 有顆牙在吃飯的時候總是有點痛, 痛幾天還是去看牙醫. 牙醫一看不得了, 牙齒從中間裂開, 要馬上拔牙, 在還沒完全有心理準備的情況下, 被打了幾針麻藥, 兩個小時後, 就莫名其妙的少了一顆牙, 想想小時候對自己那口牙的自豪都沒了, 真的是小時了了, 大未必佳...

打工

2011-01-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

很多人都有大學打工的經驗, 我也是.

我大二的時候, 在一間奶茶店打工, 那時的課業算是忙, 因為念的學校是二年級末才可以申請科系, 完全是看頭兩年的成績決定, 那時還有參加社團, 雖然是玩樂性質多一些, 但確實也用了不少時間.

開始的時候, 是做外場的工作, 外場工作除了招待客人, 還要打掃, 還要洗碗. 第一天, 就把杯子打破, 更慘的是, 把手也挖一塊肉下來. 還以為我的第一天會是最後一天...

還好, 那時的老闆並沒有這麼做, 我就繼續從外做到內. 那時候, 奶茶店是可以抽菸的, 每天都是忙到一兩點, 帶著滿滿煙味的衣服回家, 還無法一下睡著.

雖然那時的老闆給我機會, 但我必須說他不是很好的老闆, 一開始, 會覺得他很厲害, 三十出頭, 就可以自己開店, 後來才知道, 他還住在家裡, 店的股東是他父母, 而他忙著把妹. 慢慢的, 店裡的生意就不是那麼好了.

做了一年多, 某天晚上, 我拖著店裡沉重的垃圾去店後丟, 看著滿天的星星, 我問自己幹麼在這浪費時間? 抽了一年的二手菸... 家裡也沒什麼支持, 雖然我常帶飲料給他們, 我媽只有一次說你是不是該換更有挑戰性的工作, 我當下非常生氣, 她不懂, 她沒有做過服務業, 她沒端過盤子, 她沒被客人罵過.

後來離開了奶茶店, 但那時的經驗, 讓我成長了很多, 那時的戰友, 雖然沒幾還有連絡, 但有聯絡的, 都是一輩子的朋友.

現在有時忙亂之餘, 還會想起那純真與社會交叉的年代, 那永遠做不完的茶, 和最好吃的珍珠...

散場的擁抱

2011-01-12T10:15:00.000-08:00

最新的洗腦歌, 是一個混帥哥唱的, 聽說他是名製作人王偉忠力捧的新人, 看來會混得不錯!

從妳的眼角慢慢地明瞭
我能做的很少
原來妳藏著傷但不想和我聊

妳選的電影像某種預告
不坦白的主角
最後流著眼淚堅持獨自走掉

散場的擁抱我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵還能道歉和好
我知道妳留著和他所有合照
明明面前是答案卻撕掉不要

呵護地祈禱溫柔地討好
愛能讓人渺小
苦笑冒充微笑浪漫得不肯逃

散場的擁抱我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵還能道歉和好
我知道我們和你們不能比較
但我的愛多強悍出乎妳預料

散場的擁抱我還在燃燒
但妳心裡的浪潮拒絕讓我看到
妳煎熬不肯定什麼是最想要
愛才又像樂園又像監牢

散場的擁抱混亂的心跳
多寧願只是爭吵還能道歉和好
我知道太美的回憶像副手銬
越是掙脫越纏繞我比妳明瞭

三毛和她的那棵樹

2011-01-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

前幾天才與蛋糕姐姐去唱KTV, 點了首橄欖樹, 幾個七年級的小朋友用疑惑的眼神看我, 尤其上首才唱楊丞琳很熱鬧的歌. 看網路的新聞才知道昨天是三毛過世二十周年. 有關三毛, 大概只有看過她寫有關非洲那個沙漠的那本, 你如果認識的女生也想去埃及, 沙漠流浪, 大多是中三毛的毒. 不記得她寫了什麼, 但我記得三毛的人如筆, 都是很70年代的感覺, 要自由, 要找人生的目標...

其實她的一生, 跟那個被拍成人間四月天的小摩差不多, 小時候家裡很好, 被送去名校上課, 但就愛搞浪漫, 愛的死去活來, 後來就真的自殺了. 有錢, 有浪漫, 有文藝, 有才華, 有愛情, 有時間, 不必擔心生活, 這就是可以拍成連續劇的文人.

但話說回來, 她的橄欖樹歌詞簡單, 但很有味道, 越年長越了解其意思, 比起幫楊丞琳寫詞寫的上半句不接下半句, 強很多了...

不要問我從那裡來　我的故鄉在遠方
為什甚流浪　流浪遠方　流浪
為了天空飛翔的小鳥
為了山間輕流的小溪　為了寬闊的草原
流浪遠方　流浪
還有還有　為了夢中的橄欖樹橄欖樹
不要問我從那裡來　我的故鄉在遠方
為什麼流浪　為什麼流浪遠方
為了我夢中的橄欖樹

bye bye 2010

2010-12-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

Another great year is coming to an end. 2010 has been very good to me, I have been to more weddings, some of my best friends since high school. It was a great year career wise. I have prayed at the temple, I have gone to the hospital with my grandma, I have been the best man 4th time.

oh, and I have finally met Ms. Cake. Of course, we first met 5 years ago, but not really knowing her until this year.

2011 will be a great year, my brother will be wedded, and I will be one year older. One thing I did learn from 2010 is that I am getting old now, my parents are getting old now, and I am not physically fit or attractive comparing to my young days, or maybe I have never been either when I was younger anyways. But I have to work harder on that.

Goodbye 2010, you have been good to me!

吾家有弟初長成

2010-12-28T20:49:00.000-08:00

這個月初的某一個早上, 我弟問我,

"你行李有沒有空間?"
"有很多, 你要我帶什麼回來?"
"幫我帶一些喜餅"
"喔, 誰的?"
"我的"
"什麼? 你要結婚?"

就這樣, 我弟很迂迴的告訴我他要今年底要結婚.

當然, 很替他高興, 不過我沒幫家人結婚, 所以也不知道該做什麼. 帶著弟弟去買新的西裝, 新的領帶, 與其他行頭, 好像也只是我會做的東西.

這幾天睡得不好, 想來想去想到我過去這三十幾年到底有沒有做一個好哥哥? 好像很少有關心他的生活, 小時後雖然有玩在一起, 但有了同學之後, 好像又沒有那麼的親. 來加拿大的頭一年, 新的環境算是有一起渡過, 一起熬過, 但畢竟有自己的朋友, 自己的同學...

一直到去年搬回家住, 才有機會的關心他找工作的情況, 過得如何. 他和父親一樣是個沉默寡言的人, 但小時候很有創造力, 工作也很努力, 雖然會擔心他婚後的經濟狀況, 但非常替他開心.

我弟, 應該就是認識我最久的好朋友, 現在他要結婚了, 誰當我的BEST MAN阿!

The Xmas Anxiety

2010-12-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

It is almost the end of the year, after two years of never-ending emceeing, bestman-being and wedding attending. It does not look like the wedding bandwagon is going to be empty anytime soon. Even my own brother is getting married soon.

Luckily, so far, there are only 3 weddings I am attending next year, four more in Taiwan I won't be able to attend.

To all my friends who are getting married, already married, or married with kids, have a great holiday!

陪娶台灣行

2010-12-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

就這樣糊塗的回了台灣陪娶, 兩個從小長大的兩個好朋友, 今年先後定了終身. 時差沒時間調, 工作沒有停, 在台灣的時間像作夢.

看了幾遍兩人相遇,成長的影片, 還是感動, 因為知道他們走過的路.

見識到百桌大場面的婚禮, 歸寧時的禮節, 尤其是找路雞的使用方式.

那幾個高中的大男生, 南台灣亂晃, 好像回到十幾年前做一樣的傻事.

那個早結婚的大學好朋友, 和我分享創業的甘苦, 看他小孩的成長... 泡在溫泉裡, 說著說著, 十年, 二十年, 就這麼走過.

弟弟突然說要結婚, 好像有些措手不及, 看著這些朋友, 過十年, 二十年後, 又不知如何.

腦袋滿滿的記憶, 一下子也整理不出來, 也許有天, 也是泡在湯裡, 一點一點的隨水氣飄出來.

Perfect 8

2010-12-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

When I was single, group C married couples will always try to hook me up with single girls. "Try" is the operative word, they will only probe you with questions like, "you like long hair?", "you like teachers?", "you like girl with no car?"... then, I would wait and wait for them to set a blind date... and nothing happens.

Of course, married couples have other priorities. So, when they ask again, I would just politely tell them that I am not ready. When I am ready, I would tell them that I need more time just to stop them from asking those silly questions.

There was this one time however, a married dude asked me, hey I have a cute single friend I can introduce to you. I asked him to tell me more, he did a pretty crappy job at describing the girl (she is nice, is a good girl...), then he concluded that she is a 8, as in 8 out of 10.

Then I said, "get me a 10!" He never tried to hook me up again.

I thought about this conversation a few days ago, and I thought, who am I to pick a 10 out of 10? I am not a 10!

Good Luck James - part 2

2010-11-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

連續兩餐都是和最近結婚的好朋友吃飯, 不知怎麼想起自己幾年前寫的good-luck-james, 算算自己又老了幾歲, 又多了幾位結了婚的前女友, 現在只剩一位...

這個魔咒大概要到我自己結婚才會停止.

有時會想, 這些與我分手不到一年就結婚的前女友們, 到底是生理時鐘到了, 還是, 已經體驗過最差的男人, 見到好一點的男人就趕快訂終生, 好像股票止跌回升就馬上出售. 這是比較賤的朋友說的. 會安慰的朋友就說, 是因為她們錯過了最好的, 見了還不錯的男人就趕快訂終生. 好像股票過了高峰開始下跌, 就趕快賣出一樣.

無論如何, 她們都過得幸福, 才重要, 至少, 我有些安慰...

The German Restauranteer

2010-11-12T10:58:00.000-08:00

Last month, I was enjoying lunch at a Japanese restaurant, when an elderly gentleman turned around and asked him what the characters mean on his tea cup.

I told him I do not know because they are written in Japanese, and I can't read Japanese.

After the meal, I asked the gentleman if he enjoyed his meal. He said it was great except it was a little greasy, but he added, he has been spoiled with good food in his life. This gentleman in his 80s, has been running restaurants since the 60s.

He spoke with an accent, and I asked him where he is from, he said Germany. Then, he told me that he came to Canada in 1948 to work at a mill on Vancouver island. Later, found himself owning a restaurant in downtown Vancouver, back in the 70s.

What is more interesting is that he told me the name of his first investment advisor, Peter Brown. You see, Mr. Brown is the founder of Canaccord Capital, a TSX listed investment firm.

Talk to your neighbours during meals, you might find some really awesome stories.

The gathering of BCD

2010-11-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

A very good friend of mine a 2 day stay in Vancouver before flying back to Taiwan. He is a married man with two kids now. That would be a D friend. My other friend is also married but without kids. He would be a C friend.

Meeting up with these very good friends in different life stage is a very interesting thing. We can talk about the politics in Taiwan, cars, watches, women, work... But beyond that, it is hard to talk about their relationships with in-laws and raising kids. I could just listen.

They all have different priorities in life, I won't be seeing them often. I used to live with the D friend, we used to play video games together, I used to work out with the C friend, we used to have lunch often. Not so much now.

With my best friends from high school getting married all in this year. The A group friends will be getting very very small...

八卦不是關心

2010-10-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

人是八卦的動物, 看水果日報, 數字日報賣那麼好就知道了.

但如果發生在自己身邊的人,就更有意思了, 不管是朋友還是朋友的朋友, 還是不認識的人, 他們發生的事, 從工作順不順利, 和哪個人吵架, 感情有沒有著落, 有沒有新歡, 還是分手, 是不是有試著生小孩, 婆媳關係如何... 都是其他人討論的焦點.

我們會美名關心, 問你的事是因為在意你. 其實, 那是屁, 就算不在意的人我們也照樣關心. 而且真關心為什麼不直接關心當事人, 而是在背後關心? 要真關心就問問他過得怎麼樣, 需不需要幫忙,還是當當他的垃圾桶, 聽聽他的抱怨.

聊八卦是爽的, 是用負責任的, 但是也是完全沒有價值的, 多真關心你的朋友吧!

不團結的台灣人

2010-10-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

人是很有趣的動物, 不能完全離開團體. 身在國外, 當然也會參與許多故鄉的社團. 很不幸的, 國外的台灣社團就是台灣的縮影, 有小圈圈, 有政治立場, 有八卦.

當然, 熱血的義工很多, 但閒著沒事的人更多.

令人扼腕的是不團結. 常聽到, 他們都如何如何, 都是誰的錯. 都是從同一個地方來的, 但什麼都要分我們, 他們...

年初冬奧時, 看見紅色的加拿大國旗海, 每個人興奮的表情, 很難想像台灣會有同樣的景象出現, 光是自己的定位, 藍色還是綠色就吵不完. 很多一窩蜂的態度, 或只見眼前的利益, 都看得出來台灣人對未來多麼的不安, 不用說自己是不是台灣人, 或對台灣有何認同, 有錢賺, 或心情爽, 什麼都好說話. 無論是崇日還是韓毒, 台灣人好像喜歡的是外來的東西多, 自己卻很滿足的抱著隨時可被取代OEM的權利, 在工資低的地方幫大公司賺錢, 反正, 有錢賺就好.

我母親覺得台灣人本質是好的, 只是被50年代的移民帶壞了, 我反而覺得台灣人本來就如此, 勤勞, 樂天, 但近視...

我以我是台灣人為榮, 但也為台灣人難過.

The flower boy

2010-10-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

On the most recent wedding, my best friend pointed at the flower I was wearing and asked, "how many flowers have you worn?".

For each wedding I have helped, I got to wear a flower, usually a rose on my chest. To be honest, I don't remember how many I have worn. On the list of things I have done in weddings, I have been the bestman, groomsman, videographer, emcee, setup, usher, sorta wedding planner, driver...

The only jobs I haven't done are probably pianist, photographer (will get to do that next month though), makeup artist, and bride's maid...

I kept some of the flowers, but after a few, I just couldn't remember whose weddings they belong to.

Weddings are fun, not just to attend, but to be part of it, the controlled chaos. Between wine and flowers, applauses and slides, there are the newly wed, holding hands, and that is the closest thing to total happiness, and that is why I wear the flower.

愛看戰爭片

2010-10-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

我愛看戰爭片, 不是為了看像Saving Private Ryan血肉橫飛的畫面, 許多很冷牌的電影, 例如美國南北戰爭的Glory, Gettysburg, 不是阿湯哥的Last Samurai, 而是像黑澤明的影武士, 或天與地.

有許多動作片是很單次元的, 有好人, 有壞人, 最後好人贏了, 警察姍姍來收屍, 好人傷痕累累的抱著妹離開. 戰爭片不一樣, 尤其是有歷史背景的, 通常可以看見人性最好也是最糟的一面, 可以看見人類為了貪婪而用盡方式去殺對方, 同時, 也看見同袍之情, 為了生存, 願意為身旁的兄弟犧牲.

另外有武器, 有戰略, 有爆炸, 誰不愛看?

The Killarney Saga

2010-10-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

A friend said the guys from Killarney are weird. He was right, a few years back, we were all unmarried, still playing video games.

Things have changed though, 4 guys from Killarney are getting married in September and October, all in Vancouver. Which means the weird guys from the east side are getting hitched in an amazing pace.

Good for us! I say!

Older and Wiser

2010-10-05T11:33:00.001-07:00

Another year as come and gone, like my friend said, every time when I am having a birthday party, it signified another year gone.

I wish everyone I know to stay healthy, live active life.

I also wish everyone to make their personal targets, at work, at school, at life.

And I will keep the last wish to myself.

I am yours - Jason Mraz

2010-09-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Saw this guy in concert last year, this is a great song.  Actually, the whole album is pretty good!  Lucky is another great song from the same album

_______________________________________________

Well, you done done me and you bet I felt it

I tried to be chill but your so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks, now I'm tryin to get back
before the cool done run out I'll be givin it my best test
and nothin's gonna stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

But I won't hesitate no more,
no more, it cannot wait
I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
listen to the music at the moment people dance and sing
Were just one big family
And it's our godforsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved

So, i won't hesitate no more,
no more, it cannot wait i'm sure
there's no need to complicate our time is short
this is our fate
I'm yours

Scooch on over closer, dear
And I will nibble your ear

I've been spendin' way too long checkin' my tongue in the mirror
and bendin' over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
and so I drew a new face and I laughed
I guess what I'd be sayin' is there ain't no better reason
to rid yourself of vanities and just go with the seasons
it's what we aim to do
our name is our virtue

But I won't hesitate no more,
no more it cannot wait
I'm yours

well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la one big family
it's your god forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved, loved

open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la happy family
it's our god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved

it's our god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved
listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
ah, la peaceful melodies
it's you god forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved

Guys, show your dicks!

2010-09-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

When I was shopping for cars back in Spring, I had consultations from lots of friends, guys had tons of suggestions, from european to japanese. Girls on the other hand, had no idea why cars are big deals to guys, to some of them, cars are cars are cars.

The thing with cars and guys are simple. A car is the extension of a guy's dick.

Never mind what a guy is telling you, how the job requires a more presentable car (that doesn't explain the 300hp), or safer car (that doesn't explain the highest speed of 250km/h), or they need to drive clients (that doesn't explain the 2 door coupe)... he just wants a nice presentable part of himself.

That is why when a guy has the chance, he will get a 2 door car, preferably with more than 200hps, preferably black. I have been trying to talk friends out of buying a crappy Audi TT, or a impractical Accord Coupe...

For those guys who have grown up, they will op into a SUV, because they are safer (not always), and give better vision (but many of them seats lying down, that doesn't give much vision). All they are doing is to avoid buying the unavoidable Van for future family members, to preserve part of their manhood, SUV is their last resort.

For myself, I got myself a black, totally unreliable, not exactly fast coupe... hey, i want my dick to look good!

Grumpy older man

2010-09-21T13:22:00.001-07:00

It is almost that time again, age is slowly creeping up on me. Although I have been telling everyone I have met this year that I'm 33, it still sucks when I age.

It's not like I cannot feel it either, I get sleepy all the time before lunch after lunch, during and after conversations...

The worst effect is probably the grumpiness that comes with aging. I mean I should become more patient and wiser. But I'm finding myself getting frustrated more easily.

Frustrated at traffic, at pushy sales, chatty friends, speed of my computer.

Of course there might be reasons other than aging causing my grumpiness.

But getting older does kinda suck. Especially when I always have feelings that when someone ages, it is the time to check if the person has accomplished enough.

I always feel under-accomplished, and that sucks!

Kayaking marriage

2010-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

My friend and her husband just came back from a 3 hour kayaking tour. Ms. Cake asked her how it was.

She said it was exhausting, all the paddling with and against the current. She wanted to quit a few times but knowing that her husband won't be able to paddle the kayak by himself, she soldiered on and survived...

Ms. Cake told me about the conversation and commented that it is a perfect metaphor for marriage as well. The couple is on the same boat, with clear goal in mind, one cannot quit because the boat won't go anywhere with just one person paddling.

Beautiful analogy, I said, and I added, "they should have fun and enjoy the scenery on the way to their goal as well". Like my married friends.

其實我很不浪漫

2010-09-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

最近不知道怎麼了, 面書上出現了一堆為女人寫的文章, "其實你不懂女人", "女人只要你的溫柔", "男人必看"... 光是看名字就很反感了.

今天早上, 看了女王的文章, 叫"他很不浪漫", 要不我拜讀過女王的文章, 我會把它當作靠腰文跳過去, 但女王至少還是兩性作家, 應該不會太靠腰.

看了以後, 就明白男生和女生成長的歷程, 曾經自己也是扮浪漫的小男生, 寫歌, 送花, 溫暖接送情. 不知道什麼時候開始, 會被罵, 被嫌, 不夠浪漫, 像根木頭.

其實, 我很不浪漫, 很少買花, 很少稱讚, 很少擺闊, 但我省下來計畫以後...

An ad that makes one cry

2010-08-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

New ad from Sony

This song is 15 years old by My Little Lover... such a great love story

歌手：JUJU
原唱：My Little Lover
作詞：KATE
作曲：藤井謙二・小林武史
歌名：Hello,Again～昔からある場所～
　　　Hello, Again~從以前就存在的地方~

いつも君と待ち続けた季節は
何も言わず通り過ぎた
雨はこの街に降り注ぐ
少しのリグレットと罪を包み込んで
總是與你一起等候的季節
無言地就這麼過去
雨落在這座城市
包覆了些許的悔恨與罪

泣かないことを誓ったまま時は過ぎ
痛む心に気が付かずに僕は一人になった
就在絕不哭泣的誓言裡時光逝去
當作痛的心不曾察覺時我成了孤獨的一個人

「記憶の中でずっと二人は生きて行ける」
君の声が今も胸に響くよそれは愛が彷徨う影
君は少し泣いた? あの時見えなかった
「在記憶裡我倆可以永遠一起活下去」
你的聲音如今迴盪在心底有如愛情徬徨的身影
你是否也有些許的哭泣? 當時我沒能看清楚

自分の限界がどこまでかを知るために
僕は生きてる訳じゃない
探索自己的極限在哪裡
那並非我活著的目的

だけど新しい扉を開け海に出れば
波の彼方にちゃんと"果て"を感じられる
但是只要推開新的一扇門來到大海
就可以清楚感覺海浪的彼方有"盡頭"的存在

僕はこの手伸ばして空に進み風を受けて
生きて行こうどこかでまためぐるよ遠い昔からある場所
夜の間でさえ季節は変わって行く
我要伸長手朝天空前進迎風而行
總會在某處再次遇見那早已存在的場所
即使是夜晚季節也不曾停止轉換

雨はやがてあがっていた
雨終於停了

「記憶の中でずっと二人は生きて行ける」
君の声が今も胸に響くよそれは愛が彷徨う影
君は少し泣いた? あの時見えなかった
「在記憶裡我倆可以永遠一起活下去」
你的聲音如今迴盪在心底有如愛情徬徨的身影
你是否也有些許的哭泣? 當時我沒能看清楚

Dslr is not cool anymore

2010-08-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

One of the benefit of using facebook is that u will get most updated gossip about your friends lifes, break ups, status changes and picture, tons of pictures. I for one loves to post pictures I take, started back in canon sd100 days, continued on fb with my dslr last year.

I thought it was cool until I see almost everyone are posting pictures of food, travel, weddings, pets, kids... With their spanking new dslr.

Which makes dslr officially uncool...

Btw, one of the facebook mom is very interesting, she kept on picture bomb everyone with her kids pics, then posted "please don't forward my kids pics", then post more kids pics, doesn't she know facebook is public?

三十下的爛咖?

2010-08-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

最近在台灣有位年輕有為的企業家說台灣三十歲以下的人都很爛. 身為三十以上的我, 當然沒有意見. 不過這種分配方式, 有點像三十以上未婚女士是敗犬, 二十後的年輕人是草莓族, AB血型是怪咖...

不過想想, 哪一個長輩不會說, "我們那時候哪有這麼好, 都是穿麻布袋, 光腳上課...", 或是"現在年輕人都...", 還是, "我們那時候的... 比較好...", 都是五年級罵六年級, 現在換六年級罵七年級...

我保證以前二年級也是罵屬於嘻皮年代四年級罵好玩的, 所以三十下的爛草莓不用擔心, 等到九年級的出社會, 你就有機會搖頭擺腦的說, "現在的年輕人阿... 都不如我們當年, 我們那時候的電腦只有Qua-core, 只有3g, 只有1080p的電視可以玩wii..."

Why u should not owe money on a credit card

2010-07-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

Lengthen of time it will take to pay off $3000 of outstanding credit card debt at 18% interest rate by making only the minimum payments: 14 years, 9 months. Amount you will pay in interest: $2350. In othet words, if you owe this money when your kid is born, your kid would be going to university next year and you should be able to pay one semester tuition... Wonder why credit card companies are good buys even when times are bad?

So long partner....

2010-07-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Just watched Toy story 3 over the weekend. It is amazing to see myself grew up over 15 years but the old gang has never aged a day.

What is more amazing is that Pixar can pump out one great film year over year. Not only the graphics but the story as well. I thought Wall-E was good until I saw UP, then I saw ToyStory 3.

Andy has grown up and so have I, it is time for the gang to move on. So long partner!

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles,I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it's me and you
Boy, and as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

鼓聲若響-陳昇

2010-07-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

作詞：陳昇　作曲：陳昇　編曲：China Blue　演唱：陳昇&黃連煜
阿爸你甘也有塊聽　聽到阮用心唱的歌聲
嘸管落雨天　或是風颱天　阮是跑江湖的藝人
阿娘你甘也有知影　阮置咧外頭真正打拼
嘸敢來耽誤　當時的詛咒　袂乎你親戚頭前嚥氣

若聽到鼓聲　阮的心情較快活
攀過了一山又一嶺　演唱阮甜蜜的歌聲
若聽到鼓聲　阮的心情會快活
沒疑誤環境的拖磨　唱出阮悲情的歌聲

心愛的你甘也會諒解　阮會來離開是不得已
三餐著要吃　嘸通來畏寒　想到你嘸敢來哭出聲

若聽到鼓聲　阮的心情會快活
攀過了一山又一嶺　演唱阮甜蜜的歌聲
若有聽到鼓聲　阮的心情會沉重
跳著嘸情願的屁股花(舞步)　全為你風流的人客兄

若聽到鼓聲　阮的心情就快活
拿出阮俐落的本領　演唱阮哀怨的歌聲
若有聽到鼓聲　阮的心情就快活
嘸要當做阮風度輕浮　全望你熱情的人客兄
歌聲真迷人　阮的心情是暗淡
日日夜夜塊作夢　返來去　我溫暖的故鄉
---------------------------------------------------
超級有味道的歌, 年輕人還唱不出其中的味道.

Freedom is overrated... sometimes

2010-07-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

A guy friend who is about to get married admit to me that he is a little scared. He said he has been by himself for all these time, it will be hard to adjust to a non-single life.

I told him that the freedom he is afraid to lose was never there in the first place.

My friend looked puzzled, so I continued.

"Just imagine how your friend will be different, will you be hanging out with different friends? Will you be doing different things if you are single?"

More then likely you won't, if you are a person who are used to watching PPS at home, you will still do that, if you are a person who plays basketball with your friends, you will still do that. The illusion of a "choice" if you are single is just an illusion, because if you are not that person who does other crazy things, that is just not you.

Freedom is overrated... sometimes...

Husband store - joke from the net

2010-07-08T09:28:00.001-07:00

The Husband Store

A store that sells husbands has just opened where a woman may go to choose a husband from among many men. The store is composed of 6 floors, and the men increase in positive attributes as the shopper ascends the flights.

There is, however, a catch. As you open the door to any floor you may choose a man from that floor, but if you go up a floor, you cannot go back down except to exit the building.

So a woman goes to the shopping center to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men have jobs.
The woman reads the sign and says to herself, "Well, that's better than my last boyfriend, but I wonder what's further up?"

So up she goes.

The second floor sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men have jobs and love kids. The woman remarks to herself, "That's great, but I wonder what's further up?" And up she goes again.

The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love kids and are extremely good looking. "Hmm, better" she says. "But I wonder what's upstairs?"

The fourth floor sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking and help with the housework. "Wow!" exclaims the woman, "ver tempting. BUT, there must be more further up!" And again she heads up
another flight.

The fifth floor sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak. "Oh, mercy me! But just think... what must be awaiting me further on?" So up to
the sixth floor she goes.

The sixth floor sign reads:

Floor 6 - You a re visitor 3,456,789,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at The Husband Store and have a nice day

話從前...

2010-07-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

這幾次與朋友的聚會變得有點奇怪, 好像大家聚起來都是在話從前, 說誰的是非. 那感覺很難形容, 好像自己的某個部分被質疑, 或是被攻擊, 最主要是朋友的討論到結果, 就是問我, "你為什麼要跟他要好?", 我還不知道怎麼回答好.

但他們的遭遇已經算好了, 而且他們也是用了相當長的時間, (這些是當年被我割地賠償的朋友), 才知道當年的我是什麼感覺.

但說得越不是, 我並不覺得越開心, 反而覺得自己的過去某種程度上被否定.

也許, 我應該要開心, 朋友還是朋友, 他們也是希望我過得好... 但可以不要再恭喜我解脫了嗎? 那已經是好久以前的事了, 可以恭喜我有新的開始!

新郎平均年齡33.9歲

2010-06-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

週末的時候, 在msn上遇到父親, 跟他報告今年底會回台灣參加好朋友的婚禮, 順便報告他兒子也老大不小了, 父親說不會阿33歲在台灣很受歡迎. 隔天早上就收到他的來信...
-------------------------------------------------
在台灣新郎平均年齡33.9歲

結婚人數減　初婚年齡創新高
2010-06-27
新聞速報
中央社
晚婚現象明顯，內政部統計，去年平均初婚年齡新郎31.6歲、新娘28.9歲，均較民國97年增加0.5歲，是歷年新高。去年初婚人數大幅減少，40年來首度跌破20萬人。

若統計去年結婚者年齡，包含初婚與再婚，去年新郎平均年齡33.9歲、新娘為30.3歲，與97年比較分別增加1歲及0.8歲。

去年實際結婚對數11萬6392對，較97年大幅減少3萬2033對。內政部分析，主要是去年適逢經濟不景氣、失業率提高以及孤鸞年，降低結婚意願所致。

內政部觀察，去年結婚人數大幅減少，主要是初婚人數驟降所致，屬於初婚的新郎及新娘40年來首度雙雙降至10萬人以下。

去年女性人口的初婚率為千分之27.6，較男性的千分之25.3高出2.3個千分點，兩者分別較97年驟減9.1及10.7個千分點。

國人越來越晚婚。去年平均初婚年齡新郎為31.6歲，新娘28.9歲，均較97年增加0.5歲，創新高紀錄。其中新郎以30至34歲者3萬5280人占36.94%最多，新娘以25至29歲者4萬3275人占43.75%最多。

去年結婚新人，新郎及新娘均為台灣籍者占81.3%，一方為大陸及港澳地區者占11.3%，一方為東南亞國籍者占4.8%，其他國籍者占2.5%。

觀察去年的再婚情況，平均再婚年齡新郎為44.7歲，新娘38.4歲，分別較97年增加1.2歲及1歲，也是創新高紀錄。女性再婚率僅千分之9.4，仍遠低於男性的千分之24.1，但男性再婚率已呈逐年遞減現象。

內政部分析，近年來女性再婚率約為男性的4成，未滿30歲女性再婚率雖高於男性，但35歲以上年齡組的離婚或喪偶女性再婚率遠不及男性，且隨年歲的增加落差愈大。
-----------------------------------------------------------

雖然知道是好意, 但感覺是壓力(只剩一年多?), 尤其知道我的大堂弟明年要結婚,. 仔細讀過壓力更大, 33.9歲有包括再婚的... 初婚(新名詞)年齡為31.6歲.... 哎呀.... 其實, 我父母算給的壓力小了, 母親不愛小孩, 不贊成婚姻, 父親不表示意見, 只有祖父母比較有期待. 知道了, 但這事, 不急...

Blessed...

2010-06-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started dating Ms. Cake, my friends have been very happy for me. Of course, my policy has always been pretty open book on my own relationship. They know how things are going, usually.

As of recently, my friends have been updated that things have become official, I get a lot of "congratulations!" from friends, maybe it is because they like Ms. Cake. Or, maybe, it is because it has been a really long time for me. One of my best friend commented, "it must have been your longest single break", I counted 1.5 years, longest since 1996.

Some friends kept on asking, "you must be so happy!"...

YES I AM!

Ms. Cake is worth the wait, even though I am not into sweet...

給親愛的c咖朋友

2010-06-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

請不要誤會, 我不是討厭你們, 只是你們的生活重心跟我不大一樣, 另一半比較重要, 也不是代表我們不再是朋友, 我覺得你應該多花時間與另一半計畫未來. 所以, 我不會因為你們放我鴿子, 玩無聊的home趴遊戲, 抱怨另一半, 一直給我看小孩/小狗照片而不開心.

其實, 我是羨慕你們的, 你們在人生的另一階段, 所以, 如果有困難, 還是可以讓我知道.

不過, 要提醒你們, 現在的離婚率那麼高, 你們的婚禮我大概也都有參與(如果不是我主持的話), 不要忘了當時的承諾, 祝你們百年好合!

Oh sh$t! I'm going to be rich!

2010-06-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
TELEX / COMPUTER DEPARTMENT
TINUBU SQUARE
LAGOS - NIGERIA

CABLE: CENBANK NG
CONTACT NUMBER: 234-8139736319 (24 HOURS)
PRIVATE EMAIL: pauldouglasadb@yahoo.cn

URGENT

DEAR SIR,

MY NAME IS MR. PAUL DOUGLAS OF THE TELEX / COMPUTER DEPARTMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA. I AM SENDING THIS PRIVATE E-MAIL BASED ON THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE TRANSACTION. PLEASE I WILL LIKE TO ADVISE THAT IF AFTER GOING THROUGH MY PROPOSAL AND YOU DO NOT ACCEPT IT, KINDLY KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

I AM STILL IN SERVICE WITH THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN) AND I WOULD NOT LIKE TO LOSE MY JOB. AS I FOUND OUT THAT YOU ALMOST MET ALL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CBN IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT. YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT OF INTEREST GROUPS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR PAYMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE MERELY DOING PAPER WORK WITH YOU AND THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU RECEIVE EMAIL AND PHONE MESSAGES FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN NIGERIA EVERYDAY.

THEIR WHOLE GAME PLAN IS TO FRUSTRATE YOU INORDER FOR YOU TO ABANDON THE CONTRACT PAYMENT AND THEN THEY WILL BE COMFORTABLE AND FREE ENOUGH TO TRANSFER THE CONTRACT FUNDS INTO THEIR OVERSEAS ACCOUNT. HENCE, YOU HAVE LOST TRUST ON WHOM TO BELIEVE TO BE GENUINE. TO SUM IT UP, I WISH TO ASSURE YOU THAT WITH MY POSITION HERE IN THE TELEX DEPARTMENT I CAN PUNCH THE COMPUTER AND CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT STRAIGHT WITHIN FIVE (5) WORKING DAYS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WILL GIVE ME AT THE CONSUMMATION OF THIS DEAL.

FINALLY, YOU WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL, IF YOU ACCEPT MY PROPOSAL, KINDLY GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY ON MY ABOVE PRIVATE MAIL, pauldouglasadb@yahoo.cn OR PRIVATE

NUMBER: 234-8139736319

EVEN IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT MY OFFER, I WILL SINCERELY ADVISE YOU TO FIND TIME YOURSELF TO COME AND REGULARIZE YOUR DEFECTIVE DOCUMENTS INSTEAD OF FRUITLESS EXCHANGE OF FAX MESSAGES WITH OFFICES HERE.

WHEN REPLYING THIS EMAIL, PLEASE RE-CONFIRM YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE

NUMBERS, AND EMAIL ADDRESS.

REGARDS.

MR. PAUL DOUGLAS.

轉載候文詠-我們這一班

2010-06-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

侯文詠 Houwenyong's Notes
我們這一班...Share
Today at 2:17am
前幾年國中的國文教科書開始收錄我的作品。

那時唸國中的兒子跑回來問我：爸，同學要我問你，你寫的那一課到底要考什麼？

我說：唉呀，我生平最痛恨考試的，我怎知道要考什麼？

考完試，我靈機一動，請兒子把考卷拿回來也讓我考，結果我只考了八十幾分。

兒子說：爸，你完了，我們班二十幾個人你只排名十幾。

這件事讓我覺得考試真是可怕。無獨有偶，我最近發現有人也有跟我一樣的經歷。

大陸的年輕作家韓寒做讀者寄來的他的文章大閱讀（考試的一個項目）只拿了沒幾分。

比我還慘的是的，我錯的多半是文法比較、修辭、辭義之類的題目，韓寒是連作者主旨都答錯了。

我鬆了一口氣，顯然把古今中外的作者組成一班來考國文的話，我下面應該還有人墊底才對！

是水還是樹?

2010-06-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

有個心理學家是這麼說的, 兩個人的相處可以向兩滴水, 或是兩棵樹, 兩滴水的人可以融在一起, 時時刻刻不分離, 你的手機是我的, 我的內褲你也可以穿. 兩棵樹的人, 就需要各自的空間, 才能呼吸, 才能成長.

講的很有理, 但這是不是代表一滴水和一棵樹, 沒辦法在一起? 水可以灌溉樹, 不是很好嗎?

選什麼？

2010-06-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

第一門風
第二祖公
第三秀才郎

以前臺灣選女婿的條件

New restart

2010-06-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

With career back on track, new phone, new car, new relationship. A restart, life is good again!

Foxconn and Apple - a business story

2010-05-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

On the same day when Apple surpassed Microsoft to become the biggest tech company in USA, an employee of foxconn, a Taiwanese company that makes majority of apple components, ended his young life. The 11th suicide of the year.

I am not going to comment on apple and foxconn's treatment of employees, nor am I going to comment on the working conditions in some parts of asia.

The CEO of hon hai, the parent company of foxconn, Terry Guo, is the riches man in Taiwan, most of his fortune has been manufacturing for big us electronic companies, like Dell, Hp, apple...

He has tens of thousands workers in china with 24 HR shifts, but how much does he make on each iPhone he made for apple? $50? $100?

Apple charges $699 on iPhone. Yes, apple might have higher overhead, but who is the winner in this deal?

兩朵花的故事

2010-05-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

十幾年前, 我在開課教折紙玫瑰時,認識了兩朵花.

多年後, 一位已經有穩定的工作,結了婚, 另外一位對自己的工作很不開心, 感情也沒有著落. 也許是她們的際遇不同, 有一點可確定的是, 十幾年前, 一位是容易開心的, 另一位是容易不開心的.

現在, 容易開心的還是開心, 容易不開心的還是不開心...

The test of innocence

2010-05-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

It happened again, this time at a busy intersection. A middle age man walked up to me, with change in his right palm, he asked, "you have some change?", he explained that he needs to eat, no, not only him, he and his fiancée need to eat. I looked at him, his face is red, probably from the sun, he is also holding some kind of device in his left hand.

Last night, I ran into a lady by 7-11, she was holding a bike helmet, claiming she needed a ride to 2 blocks away, she said she has been tricked by 2 men who said they would take her for beer, but instead took her last $10. She needed to get to her bike. This Caucasian lady actually said in Cantonese, "I am not going to rob you". Of course, I didn't take her. She did not have helmet hair...

"I am diabetic and bipolar", the man added, and he pointed at his heart.

The pedestrians around me either pretended not to be interested, or were looking at my reaction.

I must have looked puzzled, some of things he said don't make sense, how can a man asking for change on a street corner have a fiancée? From the man's desperate face, maybe he was telling the truth. Maybe the device is for dialysis, I have a grandmother who needs dialysis...

I could have given him some change, my left hand can feel the toonies/loonies in my left pants pocket. I always have, in the past. Especially the time when I was working in downtown area, in the 5 min walk from bus station to office, panhandlers are frequent encounters.

They always had different reasons, they were lost, they need bus fare, I usually gave them a dollar or two. They walked away. I usually never saw them again.

Until a time, when the same lady who claimed to be lost a few weeks before, asked me for change for "bus fare". I shook my head and walked away. I felt awful...

This time, I bit my lip, shook my head, looked away and walked away. I felt awful...

給希臘人的公開信

2010-05-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

【歐洲政治/2010.05.04/希臘危機/德國】TEWA編按：在歐盟各國討論如何救援希臘瀕臨破產爭論聲中，今年三月五日一封由德國明星週刊(Stern)作家Walter Wüllenweber 給希臘人措辭嚴厲的公開信,引起希臘人與德國人的論戰,作者認為是良性的反應，為歐洲公眾論壇影響歐盟政策創先例。請先看這封公開信的內容,很多地方值得我們警惕！信結束後,TEWA編譯將原作者對希臘人的反應所作的回答,有一個簡單的陳述：

《德國人不爽》

明星週刊(Stern)作家Walter Wüllenweber 給希臘人的公開信

親愛的希臘人！
你們都知道：在你們童年和青少年時,買第一輛自行車，買第一台收音機及第一次度假，總有這麼一位阿姨...會在你們的撲滿(儲蓄罐)塞幾張鈔票。她們沒要求甚麼的,只要你們有時候說聲謝謝就好了。親愛的朋友們，此信就是給你們錢的阿姨寫給你們的。別擔心，你們不必說謝謝。我們唯一希望的是：請你們站在我們立場來看一下情況。

自1981年以來，超過 29年，我們屬於歐盟同一個家庭。沒有其他的歐盟家庭成員在這段時間用這麼多錢投入共同基金，我們，投了淨 2000億歐元。而沒有一個人享受到的比你們多，你們收到的總金額是1000億歐元。其中大約一半是我們所傾入歐盟共同基金的，你們大大方方的給消化掉了。換句話說：在統計上，我們多年來，提供你們每個希臘人，從嬰兒到老人，每位超過 9000€。就這麼簡單，蠻不錯的，對不對？從來沒有一國的國民自願地在如此長的時間，如此慷慨的支持另一個國家的國民。

你們是我們真正最親愛的朋友。 (編按：暗示是最貴的朋友)

你們從來不問，這些年來我們是怎麼過的。我猜想，即使今天，你們也不會有這個念頭，想知道我們在擔憂一些什麼。但我還是要說給你們聽：我們的馬路是像古建築充滿坑洞，因為我們沒有足夠的資金進行維修。圖書館和游泳池已經關閉。一些城市在夜間關閉一半的路燈，因為他們付不起電費。與你們相反，歐元引入後，我們的工資實際上已經不再上漲。現在我們甚至還得救援你們希臘人。要對你們關心，那誰又會來關心我們？

你們確實贏得我們的不信任：在夏天，上帝賜給你們那塊美麗的土地上，經常傳出火燒山，然後你們要求我們的消防部門支援，因為你們自己無法把火滅掉。你們大家都想當公務員，但沒有人願意繳稅。如果只是一部分我們在過去幾個星期裡看到報導是真的，那麼，你們顯然只有當你們收到紅包時，才會想要工作。特別是你們的醫生和醫院的工作人員。你們在只要有機可乘的地方就相互欺騙對方。這與我們無關。但是，許多年來，你們也欺騙了我們。這對於我們而言，就不能置之度外了！

你們收取歐盟橄欖樹的補貼款的橄欖樹種植面積比你們國家面積還大。很明顯，你們很會作帳，為符合加入歐元國的穩定條款，你們有系統地，很技巧地偽造你們的帳簿，讓布魯塞爾沒有發現任何毛病。事實上你們不配加入歐元同盟國。儘管你們的偽造數據讓你們加入歐元區得逞，但加入後，從來沒有達到歐元穩定標準。為了誇大經濟數字， 2006年，你們用了自己覺得一個不錯的花招，將洗錢，販毒和走私所得收入，計算進當年經濟生產毛額。

幾十年來，你們花的錢比你們工作所得還多，理所當然靠犧牲他人來生活，不斷靠欺騙伎倆 - 這不可能永遠順利。最終，房子倒塌。現在,嚴格說來,你們國家已經破產了。

請你們不要抱任何幻想。如果梅克爾(Merkel)承諾，“不會將希臘置之不理”這是為了我們德國總理及我們德國人而非為你們希臘人。我們唯一擔心的是我們自己的未來。只是很不幸的：我們和你們環環相扣。如果你們沉下去，也會把我們拖下水的。舉例來說，多年來累積的債務3000億歐元。其中約 300億歐元，屬於德國儲蓄戶以購買政府債券的形式存在德國各銀行的。你們會有償還的一天嗎？

因為你們的緣故，歐元跌到谷底。我們正面臨通貨膨脹。這意味著，德國人為了未來生活規劃的儲蓄存摺或及壽險會越來越不值錢。儲蓄或投資本來就與你們不相關,這樣的想法對你們當然是陌生的。你們情願把歐元切割。在歐盟，希臘人是把薪資的絕大比例用於消費的一個民族。

歐盟領導人雖然決定，開始時，你們不能接受直接資助。但你們需要幫助。而在歐盟所謂的幫助，最後就是錢，更確切地說，就是我們的錢。

慢慢地我們德國人瞭解了：首先，我們要拯救銀行，現在我們需要拯救希臘人，再來又要搶救那些〝豬經濟〞的國家，“PIIGS，葡萄牙(P)，意大利(I)，愛爾蘭(I)，希臘(G)，西班牙(S)。很例外的，專家們一致認為上述國家之一破產的話，將是一個悲劇，雖然這群專家把銀行危機當作是一個喜劇。

聰明的德國憲法學者在引進歐元之前已經提出警告：沒有政治聯盟的經濟聯盟不能成功運作的。他們是對的。現在我們看到了戲劇性的民主赤字。我們德國人都依賴於希臘政府的各項決定。但是，我們無權選舉這個政府。你們希臘人可以選擇這個政府，但你們卻有完全不同的利益考量。我們希望貴國總理巴班德里奧(Georgios Papandreou) 至少能貫徹他的節約計劃。如果他的改革計畫再加一碼會更好。但很明顯的，你們不願意去做。你們還是做你們經常在做的事：就是罷工。上週公務員，下週各行各業舉行總罷工。

親愛的尊貴的希臘人，如果下週你們上街頭，罷工，然後示威，事實上你們不是在抗議貴國政府，而是針對我們而來。你們把經常向你們伸出援手而且還要繼續拯救你們的Zorro揣了一腳。

親愛的希臘稅務人員，請不要在下週罷工，該是去追討那些逃漏稅的百萬富翁稅款的時候了吧？一直到現在，你們對那些大戶視若無睹得到不少好處呢。

親愛的希臘醫生，請不要在下週罷工，好好治療你們的病人吧。從現在起，請不要收紅包。請老實按收入報稅。是的，那麼你們買寶時捷(Porsche)會耽擱了一年。但你們鐵定能挺過去的。

親愛的希臘退休長者，我們工作一輩子，拿到的養老金不到平均收入的百分之四十。我們在OECD排名倒數第四。誰是第一名？答對了：就是你們！你們享受的退休金超過平均收入的百分之95。為達成此目的，你們又有竅門：你們退休金不是用一生所有工作年數收入來計算，而是只有用最後3至5年的工作所得來計算。因此，最常見的是，你們的雇主在你們退休前把你們的薪資大加碼。用我們贊助你們將近30年的錢，享受一個更舒適的退休生活，這不是我們能負擔得起的。你們認為公平嗎？所以，親愛的希臘養老金領取者：就是你們這一代，造成目前這樣的困境。現在請你們止步，不要去示威，讓你們的政府好好去運作節約計畫吧。

還有，親愛的希臘國民，請不要把此次的災難僅歸咎於你們的政客們。你們發明了民主，你們應該知道，是人民作主，當然你們也要負責任。
沒有人強迫你們去逃稅，收受賄賂，用罷工反對任何健全的政策，和選出貪腐的政客。這些政客就是民粹主義者。他們正是在做你們想要的。

當然你們現在會說：你們德國佬，也好不到那裡去。說對啦！比如，幾乎沒有任何一個人敢信任的養老金制度；沒有人知道未來公務員的退休金要從何處來；一個稅收制度，看起來好像是專為逃漏稅老手制定的，而且，龐大如山的債務，不知何時會崩塌下來，把一切都埋葬掉，同樣的，我們也有這些問題。許多人相信，在你們那裡發生的毛病，只是比我們提前一點發生罷了。

以前，你們希臘人指示我們正確的道路，教會了全世界民主的方式，還有哲學以及初步的國家經濟學。現在你們又再次向我們指示道路。但是這一次是指示走入歧途。你們現在的處境，是無法再向前走的。

真誠的，Walter Wüllenweber

PS：請你們回應！我們會很高興收到你們的回答！“

《TEWA編按》
此信在希臘引起很大反彈,作者信箱到現在還天天被擠爆，作者對措辭嚴厲表示道歉，從希臘人的回應,他才知道德國武器外銷,希臘政府佔13%,德國連鎖店Lidl及Saturn也征服了希臘市場，整體希臘經濟操控在德國人手中。這場希臘人與德國人的論戰,作者認為是良性的反應，為歐洲公眾論壇影響歐盟政策創先例。

New York City smells like pee...

2010-05-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Growing up watching tv shows (friends, sex and the city, how I met your mother, Seinfeld, Mad about you, Beck... to name a few) situated in NYC, you can imagine the image I have in my mind of how NYC look, dirty, messy, cloudy, gritty and unpleasant, filled with pretentious people.

Still, it is a place I want to visit, not only it is the heart of the world economy, it is also the place that is "always happening", been to London, HK, and grew up in Taipei, I am not too sure what to expect.

The recent visit to NYC was very interesting to say the least. The first impression was the subway stations, it smells like pee, similar to London's underground system, it is centuries old, but it is bigger, less depressing than London, but smells lot worse. To be fair, most railway systems have similar smells, I know that because my father used to work in the railway field, and all railways smell like pee, probably because of the metal and the heat.

NYC is everything I expected it to be and more, the food, the people, the buildings, every little bit like the big apple I saw on tv.

However, I didn't expect to learn more about the Americans, they are loud, narcissistic and nosy, but also proud, optimistic and friendly. Do I have doubts that they will rise from the slump, not at all...

The trip was filled with desserts, fine dining, culture, arts and history, the only thing I didn't like about visiting NYC is that there were too many tourists (just like London), they crowded the streets, looking overweight and lost, blended in with the local crowds in their business suits near the financial district, very interesting sight, but it also takes away some of the experience.

Can't really blame the tourists, I am just like one of them, taken in by the big city, where dreams are created and destroyed.

New York

2010-05-11T22:09:00.001-07:00

Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys Lyrics
[Jay-Z]
Yeah,
Yeah, Imma up at Brooklyn,
now Im down in Tribeca,
right next to DeNiro,
But i’ll be hood forever,
I’m the new Sinatra,
and since i made it here,
i can make it anywhere,
yeah they love me everywhere,
i used to cop in Harlem,
all of my dominicanos
right there up on Broadway,
brought me back to that McDonalds,
took it to my stash spot,
Five Sixty Stage street,
catch me in the kitchen like a simmons whipping pastry,
cruising down 8th street,
off white lexus,
driving so slow but BK is from Texas,
me I’m up at Bedsty,
home of that boy Biggie,
now i live on billboard,
and i brought my boys with me,
say wat up to Ty Ty, still sipping Malta
sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives,
N-gga i be spiked out, i can trip a referee,
tell by my attitude that I most definitely from…
[Alicia Keys]
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[Jay-Z]
I made you hot n-gga,
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game,
sh-t i made the yankee hat more famous than a yankee can,
you should know I bleed Blue, but I ain’t a crip tho,
but i got a gang of n-ggas walking with my click though,
welcome to the melting pot,
corners where we selling rocks,
Afrika Bambaataa sh-t,
home of the hip hop,
yellow cap, gypsy cap, dollar cab, holla back,
for foreigners it ain’t fitted they forgot how to act,
8 million stories out there and their naked,
cities is a pity half of y’all won’t make it,
me i gotta plug Special Ed “i got it made,”
If Jesus payin LeBron, I’m paying Dwayne Wade,
3 dice Cee-lo
3 card Marley,
labor day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley,
Statue of Liberty, long live the World trade,
long live the king yo,
I’m from the empire state that’s
[Chorus]
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
Welcome to the bright light..
[Jay-Z]
Lights is blinding,
girls need blinders
so they can step out of bounds quick,
the side lines is blind with casualties,
who sipping life casually, then gradually become worse,
don’t bite the apple Eve,
caught up in the in crowd,
now your in-style,
and in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out,
the city of sin is a pity on a whim,
good girls gone bad, the cities filled with them,
Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
everybody ride her, just like a bus route,
Hail Mary to the city your a Virgin,
and Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends,
came here for school, graduated to the high life,
ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight,
MDMA got you feeling like a champion,
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien
[Chorus]
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[Alicia Keys]
One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty,
no place in the World that can compare,
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeah
come on, come,
yeah,
[Chorus]
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
[End]

有關車

2010-04-29T12:46:00.001-07:00

其實，我生長的環境是沒有車的，父母不開車，小時侯只有聽說長大要考車牌，那時想到就皮皮喘，家裡給我的教育是，開車是可怕的，車子是危險的。

到了加拿大，母親還是遵守開車可怕的教條，但我已經很迫不及待的想要考牌，在國外，有車牌就就有腳了，就是成人了。

有很多人，尤其女性看男性對車的注意很不以為然，常聽到的就是，可以開就好，其實不然，許多人看車就像看象徵自己的物品，就像女人會注意名牌服飾一般。雖然女人不會看車，她們還是會認牌子，一A二B認識，更貴的跑車牌子也認識，就像男人還是認識外雙C， LV一類的服飾名牌。更不用說會用名牌來界定一個人的身分地位了，車子，也是一樣。

所以，我見到的輕熟男，有錢就換車，其實跟輕熟女，有錢就會買名包，一樣的道理。

有個朋友高中的時候，在停車場，看見同年紀男生開名車，載美眉，語帶羨慕與忌妒的說，為什麼好車載的都是正的，我反問他，你開好車會載恐龍嗎? 他說也對。

這是一個很不成熟，也很不正確的價值觀。但這還是存在，你一定也試過，當你認識好幾個同名的朋友，要怎麼跟其他人講這個人? 通常，會說職業，要不就說開什麼車…

車與名錶對人，就是財力的象徵，當然，有人熱衷於其中的機械，但大部分的人不是。

以上是提外話，我自己第一台車的經驗，就是我媽的豐田可樂那，為什麼是這台車，因為我媽學車的教練車就是這台。中規中矩，沒什麼好玩。

到了上大學，家裡幫我買了一台菱木側踢 (sidekick)，這車算是SUV的前輩，因為SFU在山上，覺得好像比較安全。這是一台濫車，過了保固期，引擎先爛掉， $4000多去回收場換了顆引擎， Suzuki那時的廣告詞是 Driving is believing… 最好是，believing it is a POS!

出社會後，第一件事就是換車，那時馬士達廣告的兇， zoomzoomzoom直打我心，五門掀背又很實際，愛得不了了，差不多是每個月洗車，再加上那時剛搬出家，這小黃就是我最值錢的東西，也是我最驕傲的負擔，想想一個幾百元的貸款，保險，油錢… 我那時的老闆，很不喜歡小黃，總覺得那是年輕人的車，不夠穩重。

我換工作時，開始租車，正式的成為德國車家族， BMW的3系列，我都叫它Anna，因為聽起來就想很high maintenance的女人。但總覺得租來的車不是自己的，就沒有那麼的細心照顧… 之後的日產阿踢馬(小黑)，也是一樣，但有小小的插曲，有人就跟我說，怎麼差那麼多，從德國車變日本車… 其實回想還好，因為那幾年真的難熬，好險有中規中矩的它陪我。

現在小黑也要回娘家了… 又是換車的時候…

眼淚

2010-04-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

great song from my time... damn i missed those times!

青春若有張不老的臉但願它永都不被改變
許多夢想總編織太美跟著迎接幻滅
愛上你是最快樂的事
卻也換來最痛苦的悲
苦澀交錯愛的甜美
我怎樣都學不會 ha...
Oh 眼淚眼淚都是我的體會
成長的滋味
Oh 眼淚忍住眼淚不讓你看見
我在改變孤單的感覺
你從不曾發現我笑中還有淚
Oh 眼淚眼淚流過無言的夜心痛的滋味
Oh 眼淚擦乾眼淚忘不掉一切曾有的眷戀
眼淚是苦眼淚是傷悲眼淚都是你
眼淚是甜眼淚是昨天眼淚不流淚

Battle of Left over cake

2010-04-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting story, I recently heard a couple broke up over a slice of cake.

What happened was that this couple were at a friend's bday party, the dessert cake was delicious. The guy was stuffing himself even though he was really full, 'cause he didn't want to waste the cake. When he realized that he couldn't finish the cake, he asked for a takeout box for the remaining 3 bites.

The girl was really annoyed and embarrassed, 'cause no one at the party was packing their leftover cake, nevermind for only 3 bites.

It got worsen when the bill came, when the table decided to split the bill evenly, the guy told the girl that "you should pay less, 'cause you didn't order a drink". The girl was again embarrassed in front of her friends...

The fight started after the dinner, and they have decided to break up.

The friend who told me the story concluded that "they were thinking about getting married, but they didn't love each other enough to compromise!"

I think there is more to that, they are both adults, they have been molded in their own ways, to accept and to compromise requires at least some form of understanding of the background each person is been brought up. Sometimes, a different set of believe systems will come in conflict. I am sure some people see the guy as been thrifty, some see the guy being cheap...

It reminds me of a time when I had a fight with one of my ex, when she went shopping for fruit, she would buy anything she wants to eat, no matter the season. For example, strawberries in winter. My point was that the fruit is not in season, it wouldn't taste great and it would be too expensive. Her point was that she wanted strawberries, and she should get strawberries.

Luckily, it wasn't something that would extended into a breakup, but it is just a small thing that shows that it takes more than just love to bring two together...

You can't be mad at someone

2010-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

I had a discussion with Ms. Cake the other day. She said have you ever imagine, of the people you meet everyday, there is a chance that you will never run into them again. If that is the case, we can't be mad at anyone you meet. I like the idea. And I am sure I will see you again, Ms. Cake!

Penny for a Diamond Ring - A love story

2010-04-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a true story about a little girl, who dreamt to meet someone special. There will be this day that she will walk down the aisle with someone in hand. So she dreamt.

When she grew older, had a boyfriend or two, some were dumb and some were abusive, but none worked out. She was still hoping that one day, the dream will come true.

On the new year eve, mom took the girl to a temple, the fortune teller said she will meet someone. Someone from oversea. So she travelled oversea, thinking she will meet him there.

She went to Europe, in Rome, at Spanish Steps, just like in the movie "Roman Holidays", she threw a penny into the Fountain of the Old Boat just like Audrey Hepburn did. She preyed and wished that her man will show up, maybe in Rome?

When she came home, she ran into this young Physio-therapist who used to live in the same neighborhood. But you see, he was studying oversea!

They fell in love. It wasn't easy, but they have overcame challenges and stayed together. One day, the young man kneed on one knee and proposed with a diamond ring. The man indeed, is the man of her dreams. Her dream has finally come true! A penny for a diamond ring, and a great man along with it!

The wedding diary - Part 2

2010-04-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

I thought I could get away with attending a handful of weddings this year... Guess not... With January and March weddings done, I have 2 more in Jul, 2 more in Sept, 2 more in Oct, maybe one more in Dec. Luckily, I am only working in a few of them. Unfortunately (or fortunately), some of these will be my best friends, and last of the good ones...

愛拚才会赢

2010-03-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

一時失志嘸免怨嘆　一時落魄嘸免膽寒
那通失去希望　每日醉茫茫　無魂有體親像稻草郎
人生可比是海上的波浪　有時起　有時落
好運　歹運　總嘛要照起扛來行
三分天註定　七分靠打拚　愛拚才会赢

Add Oil to me! Add Oil to everyone!

When boys become men...

2010-03-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

My landlord has sold the house I used to live in for 6 years. It has been torn down for a new house. I was asked to picked up a few things I didn't pack when I left, there were Models I didn't finish when I moved to that place many years ago.

There were about 4 car models, a airplane model and a submarine model.

Back in 2001, me and my boys were desperately looking for jobs or getting out of school, it was a tough time, we started building models at night.

Over time, I have built myself, one tank, and 7 cars. Since then, out of the boys, one got married with 2 kids, one getting married this autumn, one probably going to get married this winter...

When I look at these unfinished models, I think of the time when men were still boys, when times were tough, but we got through them, and moved on to better things. I wonder now... should I finish these unfinished products myself?

經濟泡沫化-十七世紀篇

2010-03-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

最近金融風暴剛過, 比起二十一世紀初的高科技股, 受傷的股民更多, 但比起第一個有紀錄的經濟泡沫化, 這個慘兮兮的經驗, 其實還不算什麼.

在十六世紀中葉, 從奧圖曼帝國(現在土耳其)傳入歐洲一種植物, 造成轟動, 尤其是皇宮, 貴族, 有錢人, 無不愛它, 它就是鬱金香. (不是LV)

那時的鬱金香成為財力的象徵, 顏色漂亮的品種更是以將軍命名, 因為有錢人愛, 種植又不易 (一朵花可能要種個7-12年) 好花的價錢迅速膨脹, 在1636年時, 因為它的需求大, 甚至鬱金香的期貨都出現了, 加上當年有專害鬱金香的病毒流行, 花種的價錢就急速膨脹, 在1636年的11月, 到次年的2月, 花種的價錢一共昇了200倍!

在最高峰的時候, 一個最高級的總督(Viceroy)花種可以賣到4200荷蘭幣, 那時一個很好的工匠年薪才300荷蘭幣. 在1635年時, 還有40朵花種賣100,000荷蘭幣的天價, 平均一朵2500荷蘭幣. 根據維奇百科的記載, 2500荷蘭幣可以在當時買到: 4800噸的大麥, 9600噸黑麥, 4隻肥黃牛, 8隻肥豬, 12隻肥羊, 1100公升的紅酒, 4000公升的啤酒, 2噸的牛油, 1噸的起司, 一張床, 一套好衣服, 還有一個銀製的酒杯... 不是一種, 2500荷蘭幣當時可以買到全部! 可以夠幾個人過活阿!

如果還是沒概念, 那時一塊錢荷蘭幣大約是20元加幣, 所以那朵總督要差不多84000加幣, 應該不只, 那時一頭羊才現在120加幣, 好的工匠才6000加幣年薪, 那年代的工匠差不多是現在工程師的工作, 就算現在工程師只有120000加幣年薪, 那朵總督要差不多1680000加幣, 一百六十八萬買一朵花的種子!!!

那時有許多人傾家蕩產, 更是有人願意用12英畝地換兩朵花種, 就是為了要炒鬱金香. 好景不常, 在1636年的2月5日, 鬱金香市場終於泡沫化, 買期貨的投資者突然發現自己要付的價錢是市場的十倍, 賣花種的人發現自己的花種只有開市十分之一的價值, 法庭也沒有方法強迫執行合約, 荷蘭的經濟就這樣垮了好多年...

還是一句, 投資不要賭, 要分散...

千里之外

2010-03-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

今天去唱歌, 來首周董的歌, 與小哥奇特的組合, 還是不會唱rap.

屋簷如懸崖　風鈴如滄海　我等燕歸來
時間被安排　演一場意外　妳悄然走開
故事在城外　濃霧散不開　看不清對白
妳聽不出來　風聲不存在　是我在感慨
夢醒來　是誰在窗台　把結局打開
那薄如蟬翼的未來　經不起誰來拆

我送妳離開　千里之外　妳無聲黑白
沉默年代　或許不該　太遙遠的相愛
我送妳離開　天涯之外　妳是否還在
琴聲何來　生死難猜　用一生　去等待

聞淚聲入林　尋梨花白　只得一行　青苔
天在山之外　雨落花台　我兩鬢斑白
聞淚聲入林　尋梨花白　只得一行　青苔
天在山之外　雨落花台　我等妳來

一身琉璃白　透明著塵埃　妳無瑕的愛
妳從雨中來　詩化了悲哀　我淋濕現在
芙蓉水面採　船行影猶在　妳卻不回來
被歲月覆蓋　妳說的花開　過去成空白
夢醒來　是誰在窗台　把結局打開
那薄如蟬翼的未來　經不起誰來拆

我送妳離開　千里之外　妳無聲黑白
沉默年代　或許不該　太遙遠的相愛
我送妳離開　天涯之外　妳是否還在
琴聲何來　生死難猜　用一生

三寶

2010-03-08T22:50:00.001-08:00

宅男有三寶：科技、女優、人真好
型男有三寶：親親、抱抱、再推倒
周董有三寶：唉呦、不錯、這個屌
韓劇有三寶：車禍、癌症、醫不好
台客有三寶：拎娘、Ｇ８、跨啥小
威武有三寶：蜆精、大鵰、愛福好
謊言有三寶：天長、地久、愛到老
謊言再三寶：海枯、石爛、你最好
老師有三寶：劃線、重要、這會考
國小有三寶：起立、立正、老師好
國中有三寶：腦殘、白目、愛耍屌
高中有三寶：補習、熬夜、拼聯考
大學生有三寶：複製、貼上、過就好
大學男生有三寶：聯誼、把咩、學妹好
大學女生有三寶：化妝、打扮、穿得少
上班族有三寶：上班、下班、公司倒
海綿寶寶有三寶：小蝸、水母、愛蟹堡
海綿寶寶再三寶：章魚、海星、比奇堡
台灣網路有三寶：斷線、LAG、修不好

人夫人父對上草食男

2010-03-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

這幾天好朋友回來溫哥華, 覺得以前和我一起社團打拼一起打工, 晚上拼模型, 打電動的朋友真的長大了。雖然每年看到他一兩次, 雖然每次講起話來黃腔不斷, 偶爾我們還會各自打一點電動。但他現在出來就是完全人父樣,買東西也是買小孩的,嘴裡說的也是爸爸經。

人夫偶爾會教育我攝影, 汽車與名錶的知識。但說來說去, 還是回到已經捏熱熱手機中﹐兩個小朋友的照片, 口中喃喃自語﹐時間過得好快...

回去的時候還不忘唸我, 感情趕快有著落, 以後有小孩才可以分享。雖然我還沒想那麼遠,人父已經計畫好以後他的兒子要把我的女兒,不要再催啦~知道啦~

The Olympic Stories

2010-03-04T10:49:00.001-08:00

The big party where Vancouver, Canada welcomed the world has ended. It has been an awesome experience.

The stories in this Olympic really brought the real Canadian Values out. It started with the young Georgian luger who died in the accident. The first gold medal won on Canadian soil by a young man who has a disabled brother. The female ice skating bronze medalist whose mother passed away a few days before her competition. And of course, the moment our Men's Hockey team won the gold...

There were moments that make me proud to be a Canadian, there were moments that really answered the question, "What it means to be a Canadian", there were moments when it is okay to waive the maple leaf flag and sing O Canada on the street. (even though, both the song (1980)and flag (1965)have only been around for less than 50 years)

I wonder, why can't I see the same thing in Taiwan? Where is the sense of being someone of something?

I see Red, White and Gold...

2010-02-28T08:19:00.000-08:00

May the Hockey God grant our wish and bring us the gold!

The 2 week hockey fans...

2010-02-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I am not really a hardcore hockey fan, but I drive a lot, so I keep an ear on Canucks' Hockey games whenever I am on the road, since 2000.

Getting familiar with terms and players is one thing, getting into the game is another.

Most girls are not into Hockey because they think it is too violent. The winter Olympics has changed that however. I have ran into a few girls who are telling me the results of hockey games, how they did, how disappointed they felt when we lost a game.

"The goalie Bordor didn't do a good job" according to one girl "fan", Bordor? That sounds like lord of rings, you meant Martin Brodeur?

Some girls will comment, "Crosby is hot", or "Ovechkin is hot", but the Ovechkin fan doesn't know he plays for Russia, she thought he is a Canadian.

Granted, people from Taiwan do not pay much attention to Hockey, nor winter sports in general, we are more aware of the political situation or the celebrity gossips in taiwan. Most of us do not know who Wayne Gretzy is (my own mom called hm, "that wayne guy"), why he was carrying the Olympic flame...

That is all fine, this is the only time we can get them to be excited about Hockey, maybe sitting through a game or two, I will take that anyday, the Canadian experience...

Happy for my friends

2010-02-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

As another high school friend, my guitar instructor and workout buddy is getting ready to tie the knot. Another best friend is planning his wedding in September. Maybe the last unmarried best friend will get married this December. I am happy for you guys, you have all found the perfect match, but darn it! why do you have to do it in the same year?!!

向前走 - 林強

2010-02-17T22:56:00.000-08:00

火車漸漸在起走　再會我的故鄉和親戚
親愛的父母再會吧　到陣的朋友告辭啦
阮欲來去台北打拼　聽人講啥物好康的攏在那
朋友笑我是愛做暝夢的憨子　不管如何路是自己走
OH!再會吧! OH!啥咪攏不驚 OH!再會吧! OH!向前行
車站一站一站過去啦　風景一幕一幕親像電影
把自己當作是男主角來扮　雲遊四海可比是小飛俠
不管是幼稚也是樂觀　後果若按怎自己就來擔
原諒不孝的子兒吧　趁我還少年趕緊來打拼
OH!再會吧! OH!啥物攏不驚 OH!再會吧! OH!向前走
台北台北台北車站到啦　欲下車的旅客請趕緊下車
頭前是現在的台北車頭　我的理想和希望攏在這
一棟一棟的高樓大廈　不知住有多少像我這款的憨子
卡早聽人唱台北不是我的家
但我一點攏無感覺

Olympic Fever

2010-02-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

I cant say I was totally excited about the game. I am a supporter of the game, don't like the monopoly that IOC plays and how commercialized it has become, don't like the construction sites around my office...

But, when the time comes, time for Vancouver to shine, it is hard not to be excited by all the activities around town.

When I was at a local pub last night, saw Wayne Gretzky carrying the torch, saw the familiar street lights of Downtown Vancouver, saw how excited ppl are, I think I have finally caught the fever...

The girl at 11:53am

2010-02-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

To the girl who comes out to walk her Golden Retriever everyday at 11:53am, I think you are hot, but I am more envious to the fact that you don't need to work during weekdays, maybe you don't need to work at all? How did you get your financial freedom? More importantly, how do i get mine?

每個月都有情人節

2010-02-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

網上看到的﹐OMFG﹐情人的錢真好賺...

記情人節(Diary Day)：1月14日

在這一天，情侶們會互贈足夠紀錄一整年戀愛情事的日記本，以此象徵兩人將攜手走過未來一年，並留下更多美好回憶。

◎白色情人節(White Day)：3月14日

西方並沒有所謂「白色情人節」的傳統，在東方，2月14日女孩送男孩禮物表達情意之後，如果對方也有同樣的好感或情意，就會在3月14日回送女孩一份情人禮物，表示彼此心心相印；如果男孩對女孩沒感覺，只要刻意忽略這個日子，便算是委婉的拒絕。

◎黑色情人節(Black Day)：4月14日

雖然並非天下有情人都能天長地久、甚至曾經擁有，但誰說孤家寡人或曠男怨女就不能過情人節？「黑色情人節」就是屬於單身貴族們的情人日。在前兩個月他們或許既沒收到甜蜜小禮物，也沒人可以送巧克力，但4月14日這天，大家共聚一堂，彼此鼓勵、加油打氣，化悲憤為力量，倒也熱熱鬧鬧十分開懷，藉此消除形單影隻的落寞感。

◎黃色與玫瑰情人節(Yellow and Rose Day)：5月14日

如果已經到了5月，你的情事還是沒有任何進展，在這一天穿著黃色襯衫或黃色套裝，吃黃色咖哩飯，就是告訴大家「I am still available」的最好暗示。春日融融，將黃色穿在身上，也相當符合季節氣氛。

◎親吻情人節(Kiss Day)：6月14日

這是一個屬於成雙成對戀人的重要節日，在這一天，情侶們不必再害羞，可以大大方方地用親吻表達對對方的愛意。當然，花前月下、燭光晚餐等浪漫氣氛，對一吻定情可是很有幫助的喔！

◎銀色情人節(Silver Day)：7月14日

銀色情人節，是把你的意中人帶回家給老爸老媽認識，或介紹給其他你所尊敬的長輩的好機會。當然，這一天的全部開銷，都由這些「可愛的長者」買單〈為「安全」起見，你最好先確定長輩對這個節日很熟悉〉。銀色情人節也是愛侶互贈銀製禮品、飾物的日子。

◎綠色情人節(Green Day)：8月14日

名為綠色情人節，當然和蓊鬱的森林脫不了關係。酷熱難耐的夏日午后，不妨和你的另一半作一趟涼爽而清新的森林之旅，盡情享受戶外大自然，度過健康而愉悅的一天。還在尋覓愛侶的人，可以參加Soju〈韓國綠牌薯酒〉派對，度過喧鬧的室內綠色情人節。

◎音樂情人節與相片情人節(Music Day & Photo Day)：9月14日

音樂情人節這一天是舉辦大型社交活動、輕歌漫舞的日子，也是將你的心上人介紹給朋友、同事認識的好機會。而單身一族，更可以藉此機會看看活動現場有沒有自己中意的對象。許多情侶喜歡在這天就著蔚藍晴朗的天空合影，所以9月14日又稱為「相片情人節」。

◎葡萄酒情人節(Wine Day)：10月14日

10月14日這一天戀人們輕啜葡萄美酒，慶祝充滿詩意的秋天。通常小倆口會選擇在浪漫且別緻的餐廳裡共進晚餐，然後聊聊彼此對未來的規畫，以及共同的目標等話題。

◎橙色情人節與電影情人節(Orange Day Movie day)：11月14日

電影情人節這一天情侶們可以連趕兩場電影，或許先看一部緊張刺激的動作發洩壓力，然後再來一部感人肺腑的浪漫愛情片互拭淚水。看完兩人也該補充水分了，來杯健康的百分百柳橙汁吧！單身的人這一天也要喝杯柳橙汁，當然，想喝兩杯才痛快也沒人管得著。

◎擁抱情人節(Hug Day)：12月14日

12月14日，想和你的情人抱多久都可以，在公開的場合擁抱，向世人宣告你倆的愛意，也讓寒冷的冬天變得格外溫馨。尤其是那些甜甜蜜蜜慶祝過2月14日華崙亭情人節的情侶，到了年底依然能熱情相擁，也見證了兩人情意如昔。

南海姑娘

2010-01-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

找了好久的歌, 鄧麗君唱的, 很好聽, 想像熱帶的南洋..

南海姑娘

椰風挑動銀浪

夕陽躲雲偷看
看見金色的沙灘上
獨坐一位美麗的姑娘
眼睛星樣燦爛
眉似新月彎彎
穿著一件紅色的紗籠
紅得像她嘴上的檳榔
她在輕歎
歎那無情郎
想到淚汪汪
濕了紅色紗籠白衣裳
哎呀南海姑娘

何必太過悲傷
年紀輕輕只十六吧
舊夢失去有新侶做伴

她在輕歎
歎那無情郎
想到淚汪汪
濕了紅色紗籠白衣裳
哎呀南海姑娘
何必太過悲傷
年紀輕輕只十六吧
舊夢失去有新侶做伴

A confession from far far away...

2010-01-31T01:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, read this on the internet, do not judge this young man until you finish reading the whole confession...

*****************DISCLAIMER************************************

NOT MY STORY, BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE JOKE, YOU HAVE TO WATCH STARWARS, AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHOSE DAD IS DARTH VADER...

******************************************************************

'm just sharing my story because people asked...

Wow... okay, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to tell anyone about this, but it's late and I'm sleep deprived so i guess I'll just write it now and regret it in the morning

First of all, - just for some background: My mom died right when I was born, (she was actually really, really hot- but this isn't about her. I guess that's messed up to say, but whatever.) I actually grew up with my dad's family, because my dad has all sorts of emotional issues and he bailed before I was born. So you can see, my childhood was really kind of messed up.

Anyways, growing up I feel like there was always a lot of distance between me and my sister. When I was about 17 or 18 I first noticed that my sister was a hottie.

I don't want to go into to many details about it, but basically what happened is that I accidentally found a video that she made of herself. I knew she didn't make it for me- but I thought she was so beautiful that I watched it twice. (probably would have watched it a hell of a lot more, except that like right around the time I found the video, all this crazy ***** went down and I had to leave home. (My dad's family who I was staying with got in bad trouble with the law. I never talk about it).

Sooo... I was totally lusting after my sister at that point. She was also having bad trouble with the law. She was actually in custody when I left home.

My friend and I went to go pick her up. When I saw her that day, after seeing the video, I have to be honest, I just wanted to f' her brains out. Looking back on it now, it's pretty messed up- but I think she had feelings for me too. She actually kissed me right after we came to get her... and it wasn't a sisterly kiss, you know? I mean, it wasn't like ridiculously sexual or anything, but it definitely wasn't sisterly.

After we left, we all went to crash with my Sister's friends. On the trip there, my friend sort of implied that he wanted to get with my Sister, and I got a little jealous. He's a good looking guy- and even though she was my sister- I just felt like he was competition. Not much else happened between us for a while except some maybe-sexy hugging.

Pretty much everyone in my life at that point was wanted by the government, so we all moved around a lot. I'm not saying that I'm proud of it or anything, but it was kind of an awesome time.

My friend and my sister never hooked up I don't think- but I thought there was some serious sexual tension going on between them. It was around that time that I got really badly hurt in an accident. It was *****ed up. I almost died. But when I was in recovery my sister came to see me, and out of the clear blue sky she started gives me this awesome, slow, passionate kiss on the lips.

Sadly (although, I guess for the best) nothing ever came of it. We spent some time apart... and I started to get really religious, so I tried not to think of her that way. It was actually going well for a long time- like I was totally over her. But I have to say, like a year or so after all that stuff went down, we were out sailing (not like a date or anything romantic like that), and she was wearing like the hottest bikini I've ever *****ing seen and it brought back all the old feelings. Sigh.

A little while later she actually wound up with my friend from before (the sexual tension guy). I can't say I was surprised.

But even after she was shacking up with my friend, there was one time we were at a party... my friend was inside, and my sister and I were outside alone. It was a really intimate moment. I think something might have happened, except that I killed the mood when I told her that Darth Vader was our father and that I had to go face him.

When I was a kid...

2010-01-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, I dreamed of going up to space, and touched the stars.

I dreamed of operating the crane, the big yellow machine that picks up debris and knock down buildings.

I promised my grandma, that one day, I will buy a convertible car and take her out for a spin.

When I was a kid, I couldn't imagine by the time I turned 23, it would be in the 21st century!

喜歡愛...

2010-01-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

昨天有個朋友問我, 什麼是愛, 什麼是喜歡, 我一開始以為愛比喜歡多了點對未來的期望, 但如果這樣說, 很多人, 包括我的初戀就不算愛嗎? 也不對, 聊到後來, 我也糊塗了, 到底什麼是愛, 是那種小鹿亂撞的感覺? 還是為他開心的感覺?

大概很久沒愛過了, 也不是很記得那是什麼感覺, 也說不上來跟喜歡有什麼不一樣, 但就愛一定是多一點, 好像回憶中有發生過, 趕快把舊的照片挖出來, 那個笑容是不是戀愛中的笑容? 感覺很遠了...

我有愛過吧?

Wavin' Flag - K'naan

2010-01-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

An awesome song by K'naan, it makes me wonder... aren't I old enough?

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

你們不要走...

2010-01-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

新的一年代表又是一年的好事, 各個朋友結婚的消息像潮水撲了過來, 現在才一月, 應邀的婚禮就有五個, 還不包括已經訂婚, 尚未決定時間的人. 說也起怪, 好像朋友結婚都專選我單身的時候...

幾天前, 和準新郎以及其他的朋友在吃飯的時候, 默默的發現, 這桌的朋友又都是以結婚, 或是將結婚的, 感覺好像這些高中, 大學就認識的朋友們都已經進行到人生的下一階段了. 從 A 到 B 到 C 到 D, 一個個尋獲自己的幸福...

雖然, 自己好不容易工作有點成績, 但新的一年又代表全新的開始, 頭一個月的成績又沒有什麼, 兩頭加起來, 壓力還真不小.

有人說我玩得不夠, 有人說我太挑, 有人說時間未到, 無論如何, 你們不要走太快, 我的朋友們... 我快看不見你們了...

btw, 婚禮參與者現開始接受報名, 有需要我參與的婚禮, 請及早報名, 以免相偶.

Productivity = singleness?

2010-01-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

2009 was a very productive year for my blog, averaging 10 posts a month. Does that mean I use more brain power when single?

村上你個春樹

2010-01-17T03:34:00.000-08:00

這次在台灣每沒買什麼, 但書買了三本, 一本是侯文詠的靈魂擁抱, 一本是這樣照相曝光才漂亮(沒錯, 韓國翻譯本就是這奇怪的名字), 本不想再帶書了, 但好友一直推薦, 就買了本春上村樹的世界末日與冷酷異境...

說起台灣有個很好的地方, 就是到哪裡都有書店, 到哪裡都有人在看書, 雖然書有百百種, 但有在看書不會是壞事.

說起這春上村樹, 是我好朋友的最愛作者, 從以前就聽過他的大名, 但我知道我好朋友與我的興趣大不相同, 從來沒想過要拜讀他的大作. 感謝感冒加時差, 還是看了他的書. 其實有些後悔, 他的書很像碎碎唸, 不是在唸看過的英文的電影名字, 就是英文的酒名, 要不就一直提到性交, 性器官... 開始的沒頭沒腦, 結束的也沒頭沒腦, 看了以後頭更痛了.

興趣差這麼多, 我跟好朋友還能是好朋友, 真了不起...

2009 was big, how about 2010?

2010-01-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

2009 went by very quickly, i did the count down at a hotel at Zhiben in Taidong with a few friends, we counted down with the tv, then we went to bed, we are getting old...

2009 was a good year for me, I have finally picked up a few things as interests, guitar and photography. Although I am not making big headway with guitar, I am seeing some results with my photographic skills, that is probably from years and years of taking pictures of food.

2009 was also a cool year on concerts, the only concert I have been to was maybe a 2006 concert in Taipei, although I saw a few stars, it wasn't really a concert experience for me. In 2009, I have seen Il Divo (yes Il Divo), Jason Mraz, and the best, Bryan Adams. Come to think of it... I have been to a Mayday concert at Taiwanese Cultural Festival, but it felt more like work...

On the career side, it was a good year for me too, finally seeing some results, it is not going to get any easier, but I am going to do alright.

Relationship wasn't something one can really ask for, 2009 wasn't a year for me, a few misses, but maybe after the praying at two most popular temples in Taipei, things will change. Papa Lo thought, maybe I am enjoying my single time too much, maybe I haven't done playing. I don't really think so, because I haven't really done any playing yet. I did watch too much tw variety show on my spare time though. ( you can check with friends in tw, i know more about current events in variety shows then they do)

So, what is in 2010? I don't know, but I am excited to find out!