3/27/2009

愛說政治, 愛台灣...

台灣人犯政治,眾所皆知,而且已經完完全全的進入人民生活.黨有顏色,媒體有顏色,節目有顏色,明星有顏色,廣告有顏色... 所以如果你是綠色,你可以讀綠色的報紙,交綠色的朋友,聽綠色的電台,吃綠色的餐廳,看綠色的電視,喜歡綠色的明星,坐綠色的小黃,娶嫁綠色的對象... 可以完全的保持不染.

就算到國外,還是一樣,前一陣子的某台灣駐加國新聞組長亂講話,被砲轟之餘,可以看見所有的處理方式.很激動的24小時討論節目,上網去找支持自己的文章,反正說來說去就會說到從前.這也可以看出台灣人的大象心態,視力差,只看到眼前的,但記性又很好,可以隨時回到康熙年代.

但這並不表示顏色的立場是絕對的,因為只要有錢賺,不管是反攻大陸還是台灣獨立,可以去中國撈錢就去,到那不管藍綠,嫖賭都來,壓榨童工絕對不會比日本美國少.被中國人罵台XX就算了吧,我們看到的中國採購團在買一包包的凍頂烏龍茶(台灣哪有那麼多凍頂),我們又怎麼罵中國人阿X仔...

最近,到是有很多中國客人跟我說想去台灣,除了阿里山,日月潭,故宮之外,他們其實最想看到的是台灣的文化.我聽了很震驚,台灣有文化?他們說台灣的中國文化保持的比中國好,文革時候所產生的文化斷層是永遠不能挽回,政府做出來的文化都是有目的的新的東西,反而是台灣還看得見以前的中國,例如繁體字,沒學過繁體字的中國客人在看唐詩時非常吃力.

有位客人看了許多近代的台灣電影,對候孝賢之後的電影如數家珍,對台灣的人文有強烈的懷念感,因為她說,中國任近幾年錢賺多了,人們也浮躁,反而找不到一個文化的根,在台灣的電影還可以看到閑淡,很羨幕.另一位客人,因為工作去了台灣十來次,自己開車上山下海,從南到北,也是很喜歡台灣的文化.

聽了慚愧,因為台灣有一半的人希望另一半人消失,也沒有人去想我們可以保留的東西怎麼對大家都好.

3/19/2009

給荺荺的信

荺荺,

好久不見了,昨天聽你說你要做今年的夏日新娘,說聲祝福妳.其實,我半年前就知道妳的好事,但朋友沒提,我也沒和妳聯絡,就這樣懸者.這祝福有點複雜,我們沒見有快六年了吧,一方面真的希望妳過得好,一方面會想起我們以前的時間.

和妳的分開,到現在還是一個疑案,電話上分手,還是一個經典.不論對錯,只能說你我都不夠認識對方.

之後的故事就不是那麼容易形容了,妳留在公司,感情的對象穩定,好像一切注定,真替妳高興.我自己則跌跌撞撞,雖然找到了自己想要的工作,或對象,發現維持才是努力的開始.

荺荺,我不知道你對我有多了解,但我的個性應該也曉得.當年對我的不信任感,不安全感,不知道會不會其他人也感受得到? 我真的很想知道,因為,妳之後的感情路越來越難走,也許你有答案?

有個朋友問我,是不是會想妳,是的,畢竟我們也走過那幾年的時間,就像一個不再連絡的好朋友,有點婉息.

我一直沒有謝過妳,當年把我從失去初戀的傷痛中找出來,雖然我們的開始並不容易,造成中間的問題,但我成長不少.從婚姻的逃兵到和妳一起看房子,從不想認識對方父母到為他們煮蓮子湯,我認真的考慮過我們的將來.也許沒和妳說過,也許不夠浪漫,也許也許...

知道你幸福就好,其他不再重要,沒說過的話也不用說了,也不一定需要當朋友.有過妳,我很開心...

欣欣

ps.我以前都叫妳均均,原來國語唸法還不一樣.

3/15/2009

無樂不作

從來沒想過我這輩子有機會當主唱,在幾百人前表演,雖然是對嘴,但感覺還不錯.


無樂不作
曲: 范逸臣 詞:嚴云農

想蒐集夏天的熱 穿越叫 幸福的河
想做吞大象的蛇
不自量力 說真的 又有何不可
我想寫歌

當 天是空的 地是乾的
我要為妳 倒進狂熱
讓妳瘋狂 讓妳渴
讓全世界 知道 妳是我的

天氣瘋了 海水滾了
所以我要 無樂不作

不要浪費 每一刻 快樂
當夢的 天行者

像妳這樣的天使 該有翅膀和名字
該美麗中帶著刺 該很認真的屬於 我一次

當 天是空的 地是乾的
我要為妳 倒進狂熱
讓妳瘋狂 讓妳渴 讓全世界 知道 妳是我的

世界末日 就儘管來吧
我會繼續 無樂不作
不會浪費 愛妳的 快樂當夢的 天行者

要快樂 OH~

3/12/2009

Country roads, take me home...

Living in cities all my life, I am not a big fan of country music, or should I say, I am not used to country music. First time I heard this song was in a company Koraoke, some co-worker in his 50s was singing this song. It was a good song. For people who dont listen to country music, you must have heard the chorus. This song is actually almost 40 years old, the singer and writer, John Denver, a country music legend died a while ago. But, boy these words is very suiting right now. In less than 20 hours, I will be on country roads... home...

Youtube

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gathered round her
Miners lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Teardrops in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice
In the mornin hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin down the road I get a feelin
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, now country roads
Take me home, now country roads

3/10/2009

Finding Northern Light...

One thing about going to NWT that makes other people excited is the prospect of seeing northern light, aka Aurora Borealis. There are a few myths about them, 1) it moves, it is true 2) it makes a sound when it moves, it is also true 3) if a child is born under Aurora, the child will be king, that i don't know.

The first question I asked before I came up here was, "can i see the northern light?", the answer was no, because the first time I came up here was in the summer, and summer in NWT means sun setting around 12am, and rising around 2am. No time for northern light.

Plus, it has to be cold enough. Best time to see is actually from Jan to March. It is March now...

Yesterday, someone told me that there should be northern light last night/this morning around 12am to 2am. So, I woke up around that time.

Fully geared up, except my tuque and gloves. Brought my camera and flash light. I had no idea how cold it was out there, given it was -51c earlier yesterday. Forgetting tuque was a big mistake, i had my jacket hat up, it was no use, it was so hard to breath. I only managed to walk 50 metres, and had to turn back. It was windy, but wasn't that windy. It was just really really cold. When I came back from the 10 min walk. I was still shivering from the walk for the rest of the night. I had ski jacket, jacket, sweater, thermal underwear and t-shirt...

The walk, however, was magnificant. It was bright outside with an almost full moon, look at the mountains around the campsite, you can see the top of the mountain perfectly from the moonlight. The world is just frozen in place. Only the smoke coming out from buildings can remind you that you are on earth.

The northern light? Nowhere to be found, just the big almost round moon out there...

3/09/2009

零下五十度慢談...

莫名其妙的,我又來到西北領域.是應該來一下的,但外面零下三十五的氣溫,加大風零下五十一度,正常人不會來吧.

兩天前從列治文出發,感覺像是要出國,整個飛機上,沒有一個說中文的.本以為,晚上十點往白馬市的人應該不多,結果是滿座.前後左右都是回家的育空人,有幾個還從哈立菲克斯,芝加哥,洛杉磯,再回白馬的.他們居然還說,再兩個小時多就可以到家,真好...我在旁邊聽了沒昏倒,有人會迫不及待的去零下三十幾的地方? 大概只有家,才會給人有這種期待.

剛到白馬,我在加國最低零下二十五的體驗就被打破了.叫了部小黃,還林肯的,司機說今天晚上還不錯,才零下二十七度...

和他閑聊一下,他說三年前,他的計程車行原有十六輛車,在高油價和爛經濟之後,只剩下他自己.我下車後,給了他五塊小費,希望對他有幫助.

隔天七點,我的司機就來載我,這司機已經從政府工作退休,享受退休金,還來開長程載人,好幾百公里...

不過他之前工作是急救人員,這趟車程是非常安全的.在途中還看見moose的殘骸,旁邊都是狼的腳印.除此之外,一望無邊的白雪.零下幾十度的外面,感覺上是很安靜的,好像世界是停止的.讓我想起捷克倫敦的書,小時候的最愛白牙...

九個小時半的車程,好不容易到了礦區,每個員工都在聊他們在墨西哥的假日,看那到七月都不會融的雪,好想家...

3/02/2009

自由的代價

我在2002年一月一日搬離家,開始了租客的獨立生活,一住就是七年多. 我剛搬進的時候,我的好友兼房東問我,我為什麼要搬出來住,住家裡有什麼不好.我說是為了自由.他不是很了解,因為他從小到大,很少有機會和父母同住.

以前住在家中的時候,時常和媽媽有摩擦,我媽媽是一個個性很硬的人,而我是我媽的兒子,自然常常硬碰硬.在還沒搬出家之前,就和她協議,如果找到穩定的工作,我就會搬出去獨立生活.

為了獨立是真的,可以為屬於自己的生活負責任,那時,為自己房間買家具,搬家具,裝家具,買車,自己煮飯…我可以大聲說,我很獨立,我不靠家裡.

自由的另一面就是寂寞,在宣布獨立之後沒幾個月,我和初戀分手,那真的是難過得不得了,但我要自己承受.有幾個不錯的星期五,愉快的回到家,夕陽灑進房間,才發現,沒有人可以和我分享,心情立刻從天堂掉到套房.

我的自由空間事實上是很小很小的,只有三公尺乘三公尺,但我的快樂悲傷都被濃縮在那裡.

我的房東夫婦是我好朋友的姐姐與姐夫,在這七年多的時間,他們是很好的房東,有好吃的一起分享,有電影一起看,現在想起來,他們還是唯一看過我所有戀情的人.他們對我個性的了解可能比我許多朋友都還多.

當初,瀟瀟灑灑離開家,我也東碰西撞一陣,換了幾份工作,談了幾次戀愛,主持過幾次婚禮,大型活動,當了一次會長,兩次財務長,一次公共關係執委,看了好多電影,照了許多照片,吃了很多泡麵,換了兩台桌上電腦,兩台行動電腦,兩台電視,還設了一個布拉格…

我在搬回家的前夕,我的房東問,你當初到底為什麼要搬家? 我還是回答,為了自由.

但我仔細想,如果沒有離開家,我會做這些決定嗎? 我會經歷這些事嗎? 我也不知道

自由的代價是什麼? 一台高級轎車的錢,十公斤的肥肉,髮線退後,銀行多了些存款.

2/24/2009

If I had a million dollars - Barenaked Girls

Okay, when times are tough, peoople think about alcohol, smoke and lottery. Right now, both alocohol and smoke are not affordable, people would go for lottery. It is true that the chance of winning lottery is about 1 in 14 million. (about the population of Shanghai) The best part about buying the lottery is the first 15 min after you bought the ticket, you think about what you can do with that money. Going on a trip, quitting your job, buying a fancy car/house/diamond...

There is a great song by a Canadian Band, Barenaked Girls. (no... they are all dudes), "If I had a million dollars", of course, a million dollar won't get you very far, you probably won't be able to buy a house (in Whitehorse maybe), and of course it won't be able to buy love. It is still a very cute song.

My favourite part is "If I had a 1,000,000 We wouldnt have to eat Kraft dinner...", in one version of the song, they added "But we would eat Kraft Dinner. Of course we would, we'd just eat more. And buy really expensive ketchups with it. That's right, all the fanciest Dijon ketchups! Mmm. Mmm-hmm."

___________________________________________
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you a house ( I would buy you a house)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you furniture for your house ( maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you a K-car ( a nice reliant automobile)
If I had a 1,000,000, I'd buy you love

If I had a 1,000,000
I'd build a treefort in our yard
If I had a 1,000,000
You could help it wouldn't be that hard
If I had a 1,000,000
Maybe we could put a refrigerator in there
Wouldn't that be fabulous!

If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I buy you a fur coat( but not a real fur coat that's cruel)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you an exotic pet(like a llama or an emu)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you John Merick's remains (All them crazy elephant bones)
If I had a 1,000,000 I'd buy your love

If I had a 1,000,000
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
If I had a 1,000,000
We'd take a limousine cause it costs more
If I had a 1,000,000 We wouldnt have to eat Kraft dinner

If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
i'd buy you a green dress ( but not a real green dress that's cruel)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you some art ( A Picasso or a Garfunkel)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you a monkey (haven't you always wanted a monkey?)
If I had a 1,000,000 If I had a 1,000,000 If I had a 1,000,000
If I had a 1,000,000 I'd be RICH!

2/23/2009

講座看人性

我的工作性質一直都是需要面對人,演講的機會非常的多。做了許多年大大小小的講座,這之中的所學得的人性不少。

有人說台上三分鐘,台下十年功,一點都沒有錯,而且越短的演講越難準備,聽的人越少也越難準備。不信?我們可以從另一個角度去看:

演講發現的人性第一條-人越多,人越笨。

通常您會注意到,大概是人多氧氣不足的關係,不管你是早上十點還是下午五點,一定有人會哈欠連連,甚至直接睡著。有人可能會說,一定是演講得太無聊,不夠生動。並不是,大腦缺氧就是缺氧,台上做什麼沒有關係。我自己的經驗就有一位,遲到三十分鐘進來,還敢自豪的跟其他人說,我每次都有來聽,坐下後,不到三分鐘就陣亡了。

缺氧的另一個後遺症就是腦的反應會降低,人越多,情況越糟糕。每個人都應該有這經驗,演講的重點可能反覆重複三四次,台下還是會有人問同一個問題,"所以...一加一是多少?",天阿,你之前沒聽見我重覆幾次嗎?還是我應該要配搖滾饒舌歌,你比較好記?

所以為什麼,人越多的演講,東西要準備的越簡單,每個人接受的速度不同,再加上大腦缺氧,更多分心的東西,你說能不簡單嗎? 人少,觀眾覺得演講者注意得到,就比較不敢造次。

演講發現的人性第二條-人越多,人越矜持。

人群有個奇怪的想法,如果演講的人的呼籲,對自己沒關係。我試過不只一次,在詢問觀眾時,沒有任何反應,每個人都睜大眼睛看著我,好像我問得是火星話,還是我剛剛在相聲表演,不用反應。有一次,在一個下雨的日子,面對幾百位觀眾,我拿著麥克風,呼籲大家稍微擠一下,可以多坐一些人,猜猜有幾個人移動自己的屁股?完全沒人,好像都很矜持,怕丟臉。重覆大概四次,才有人慢慢的移動。

所以,從一個人群,我們可以看出人性,人越多,人群的反應就越慢,越愚蠢。從股市,恐怖組織的崛起,戰爭,選舉...都可以看到活生生的例子。在世界走上國際村的同時,我很擔心人類的未來。

2/19/2009

失眠-親愛的安德烈

我老實說不大讀書,比起我那個愛讀書的爸爸,我一年摸過的書大概只有他看過的書的一半吧.我的書架上總有幾本平常不會想讀的書,像是"追風箏的人","達文西密碼"之類的.

但我還是把他們讀完了,都是失眠的時候.原本以為看兩頁就會睡著,但我通常都是一氣呵成,直到天明.

這次回台灣,老爸給我和弟弟各一本龍應台的作品,不不,不是野火集,那本我只有看過封面.老爸那本是"親愛的安德烈",翻翻後面的介紹,大概是龍應台寫給她台德混血兒子的家書.我猜得到老爸的意思.寡言的他,應該是在書中找到他想傳達的想法,要我們自己去找.像他在我十幾歲的時候,送我一本有關青少年性知識的書一樣,不好意思說,自己看.

那本書在一疊帳單下待了一個多月,昨天晚上被我找出來讀.

我從來沒讀過龍應台的書,但有聽說她是很犀利的作家,對民主成長很有見解.但她在本書完全看不出來,對兒子的態度還是溫柔點.

這對母子的對話還蠻有趣的,有幾個大題目,生長的環境,對自己的認同(哪個國家的人),對現代社會的看法...讀阿讀阿又是天亮.

看書出版的時間是2007年十月,書皮有點班黃,大概是老爸一出版就買了吧,但我還是不是很清楚,老爸你想要說什麼?

2/17/2009

明天會更好...

和我唱過歌的人都知道我喜歡唱一些舊到不行的歌,唱歌嘛,就是要有氣氛,各自唱自己知道的歌有什麼意思.我的最愛就是明天會更好.

這首羅大佑做的歌應該有快25年的歷史了,原本好像找了快60個藝人來唱.現在看,有些人引退很久了,有些人改行了(例如做議員),有些人不知道去哪裡了.

現在看起來非常應景,一起唱吧~

明天會更好

(蔡 琴)輕輕敲醒沉睡的心靈 慢慢張開你的眼睛
(余 天)看那忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨地轉個不停
(蘇 芮)春風不解風情 吹動少年的心
(潘越雲)讓昨日臉上的淚痕 隨記憶風乾了

(甄 妮)抬頭尋找天空的翅膀 候鳥出現牠的影跡
(李建復)帶來遠處的飢荒無情的戰火依然存在的消息
(林慧萍)玉山白雪飄零 燃燒少年的心
(王芷蕾)使真情溶化成音符 傾訴遙遠的祝福

(黃鶯鶯)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
(洪榮宏)讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     為明天獻出虔誠的祈禱

(陳淑樺)誰能不顧自己的家園 拋開記憶中的童年
(金智娟)誰能忍心看他昨日的憂愁 帶走我們的笑容
(王夢麟)青春不解紅塵 胭脂沾染了灰
(李佩菁)讓久違不見的淚水 滋潤了你的面容
(費玉清)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
     讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     為明天獻出虔誠的祈禱

(齊 豫)輕輕敲醒沉睡的心靈 慢慢張開你的眼睛
(鄭 怡)看那忙碌的世界是否依然孤獨地轉個不停
(江 蕙)日出喚醒清晨 大地光彩重生
(楊 林)讓和風拂出的音響 譜成生命的樂章

(合 唱)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
     讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     讓我們期待明天會更好

(蘇 芮)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
     讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     讓我們期待明天會更好(齊秦和聲)

(余 天)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
     讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     讓我們期待明天會更好(蘇芮和聲)

(合 唱)唱出你的熱情 伸出你雙手
     讓我擁抱著你的夢 讓我擁有你真心的面孔
     讓我們的笑容 充滿著青春的驕傲
     讓我們期待明天會更好

2/15/2009

與昨日擦肩而過

在說這個故事之前,要先介紹我一個很有緣分的朋友,我們先叫他M同學.M同學是我在台灣唸國中的同學,我們不能說是很好的朋友,但是因為家住得近,所以總是一起走回家.M同學家在學校附近的公館夜市賣蚵仔麵線,做的應該很不錯,因為他們家還有自己的店面.記得那個年代,許多同學家裡較忙就會定飯盒,飯盒還有分中式的便當,還是西式的炸雞薯條.M同學每到午餐時間都很受人忌妒,因為他總是兩個便當都有,聽說他每天的零用錢還有五百元,真是個高收入的學生.

他在中學二年級的時候就出國留學了,聽說去了美國.我自己則是在國中畢業的時候出國.

剛到加拿大的第一年,有一天和朋友在列治文閒逛的時候,迎面而來的居然是M同學,我們交換了電話.他告訴我他比我早到加拿大一年,之前去過美國和英國留學,現在在維多利亞的私立高中唸書.我借給他我們中學的畢業紀念冊,然後我們就失聯了.

又過了幾年,我高中也畢業了,在上大學的前幾天,去列治文看車,在豐田的代理商,看到熟悉的身影,居然是M同學在買CAMRY,我和他聊了幾句,他說他也是在看上大學代步的車子,才知道他也是唸SFU,不過唸的是每年最難進的工程系,他問我唸的是什麼,我說因該會是商系吧,他很驚訝的說,你以前功課不是比我好嗎?

雖然感覺不是太好,之後我還是有打電話給他,可以在學校一起吃午餐,他說我唸工程才沒有時間吃午餐.

就這樣,我忙我的社團,戀愛,偶爾唸書,居然和M同學在SFU沒再見過.畢業的那年,和一群好朋友回台灣,在公館夜市逛的時候,我和朋友說起M同學的故事,走著走者,就走到M同學家的那一間,赫然見到M同學在賣麵線.我們又聊了幾句,他說他是趁暑假的時候回家幫忙...

大學也畢業了,也出來不知道工作幾年了,有天在一間餐廳遇到M同學,他說他現在在西雅圖工作,剛好趁週末回來.我們都長大了,他講話也變得平和多了,不見當年的機車.

我們說拜拜之後,雖然有交換電話,但都沒有與對方聯絡...

直到昨天.

昨天到聽說已久的Q Landing Outlet, 某間店前,看見一個小女孩在玩手把,一個年輕的爸爸站在她身後,溫柔的用英文和她交談,他一抬頭,居然是M同學,他沒認出我,我跟他進了店裡,他居然已經有兩個小孩了,偷偷的打量他,一點都沒有變,和昨天那個M同學一模一樣,但已經為人之父了.我不敢認他,也不想認他.走出店,好像與昨日擦肩而過...

2/03/2009

How I knew Joanna Wang - Times of Your Life

One day I was browsing youtube, and I came across this girl, not particularly pretty, singing in her bedroom with a guitar. She had a very intriging voice, and she was taiwanese! That girl was Joanna Wang. Then I bought her first CDs for a friend's bday. Then I waited eagerly for her second album. I realized that she is not really the Lisa Ono singer as we know in the first album, she is something else. Something that takes some used to. Wonderful still, I saw part of the MTV for "Times of Your Life" on TV, and it worked! Although I don't remember the original version by Paul Anka, I definitely like Joanna's version. That unyielding, uncomprimising voice, very much like a Leo.

______________________________________

Good morning, yesterday
You wake up and time has slipped away
And suddenly it's hard to find
The memories you left behind
Remember, do you remember

The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember
The times of your life (do you remember)

Reach back for the joy and the sorrow
Put them away in your mind
The mem'ries are time that you borrow
To spend when you get to tomorrow

Here comes the saddest part (comes the saddest part)
The seasons are passing one by one
So gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life

Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life
Of your life
Of your life

Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life
Do you remember, baby
Do you remember the times of your life

2/02/2009

Purple Hearts and the war that never was

It was near the end of WW2, plans were developed to invade mainland Japan to end the war decisively.

When Empire of Japan's loyal soldiers had demonstrated their unwillingness to surrender via kamikaze attacks and mass suicides. Heavy losses were expected in order to achieve victory, judging by the 72000 causalities US had suffered in the 81 days of battle in Okinawa, tacticians were expecting up to 1 million causalities.

Purple Heart is one of the oldest medal in US military, it is awarded to men and women who were wounded or killed in battle. In anticipation of heavy losses, US had manufactured 500,000 Purple Hearts, just in case.

Luckily, invasion of Japan never happened, Japan surrendered after two nuclear bombs were dropped. All these Purple Hearts were stored for future use.

Many wars after WW2, including Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq War... These Purple Hearts never ran out. According to some sources, there are still about 120,000 sitting around somewhere for "future use".

It is scary to think that 60 years after they were manufactured, wars are still happening, people are still dying around the world to receive these Medals.

1/30/2009

說好的幸福呢? - 周杰倫

話說這次台灣行有一個很重要的任務,就是確認我那個跟我一起長大的摯友還過得可以,他那轟轟烈烈長跑十年的愛情,應該要完完美美的收尾,但卻在吵吵鬧鬧中結束.雖然,只有和他四處走走,沒有真的花時間去鑽研未來,那麼久的感情,又怎麼幾天就細數的了?

到頭來好像只有一句個性不合,以前我是不相信個性不合的,尤其花了那麼多時間在一起,早該知道合不合. 但感情不是這麼運作的,總有一些原因,兩人會遇上,會來電,會愛上,但踏上教堂門前的階梯,有多愛已經不是唯一兩個人要考慮的.

他說那該死的周董又出新歌了,那首說好的幸福呢,字字到心,我總說我沒聽過,事實上早聽過千百遍,只是不願去細讀歌詞,周董咬字又不是很清楚.

到頭來,說好的幸福呢? 還在,但不在這.

給我的摯友,你選擇你的方式避免不幸福,她也要去用自己的方式為自己的幸福負責.不是嗎?

___________________________________________________________

你的繪畫凌亂著 在這個時刻
我想起噴泉旁的白鴿 甜蜜散落了
情緒莫名的拉扯 我還愛你呢
伴你斷斷續續唱著歌 假裝沒事了

時間過了走了 愛情面臨選擇
你冷了倦了 我哭了
一開始的不快樂 你用卡片細寫著
有些愛只給到這 真的痛了

怎麼了 你累了 說好的 幸福呢
我懂了 不說了 愛淡了 夢淹了
開心與不開心 一一細數著 你在不捨
那些愛過的感覺都太深刻 我都還記得
你不等了 說好的 幸福呢
我錯了 淚乾了 放手了 後悔了
只是回憶的音樂盒還旋轉著 要怎麼停呢