The Other Side of Me

Robert Louis Stevenson: "For to miss the joy is to miss all!"

2012-01-15T02:46:00.000-08:00

Robert Loius Stevenson wrote:

"Toward the end of September when school-time was drawing near, and the nights were already black, we would begin to sally from our respective villas, each equipped with a tin bull's-eye lantern.
The thing was so well known that it had worn a rut in the commerce of Great Britain; and the grocers, about the due time, began to garnish their windows with our particular brand of luminary.
We wore them buckled to the waist upon a cricket belt, and over them, such was the rigor of the game, a buttoned top-coat.
They smelled noisomely of blistered tin.
They never burned aright, though they would always burn our fingers.
Their use was naught, the pleasure of them merely fanciful, and yet a boy with a bull's-eye under his top-coat asked for nothing more.
The fishermen used lanterns about their boats, and it was from them, I suppose, that we had got the hint; but theirs were not bull's-eyes, nor did we ever play at being fishermen.
The police carried them at their belts, and we had plainly copied them in that; yet we did not pretend to be policemen.
Burglars, indeed, we may have had some haunting thought of; and we had certainly an eye to past ages when lanterns were more common, and to certain story-books in which we had found them to figure very largely.
But take it for all in all, the pleasure of the thing was substantive; and to be a boy with a bull's-eye under his topcoat was good enough for us.

"When two of these asses met, there would be an anxious 'Have you got your lantern?' and a gratified 'Yes!'
That was the shibboleth, and very needful, too; for, as it was the rule to keep our glory contained, none could recognize a lantern-bearer unless (like the polecat) by the smell.
Four or five would sometimes climb into the belly of a ten-man lugger, with nothing but the thwarts above them — for the cabin was usually locked, or choose out some hollow of the links where the wind might whistle overhead. Then the coats would be unbuttoned, and the bull's-eyes discovered; and in the chequering glimmer, under the huge, windy hall of the night, and cheered by a rich steam of toasting tinware, these fortunate young gentlemen would crouch together in the cold sand of the links, or on the scaly bilges of the fishing-boat, and delight them with inappropriate talk.
Woe is me that I may not give some specimens! ...
But the talk, at any rate, was but a condiment, and these gatherings themselves only accidents in the career of the lantern-bearer.
The essence of this bliss was to walk by yourself in the black night, the slide shut, the top-coat buttoned, not a ray escaping, whether to conduct your footsteps or to make your glory public: a mere pillar of darkness in the dark; and all the while, deep down in the privacy of your fool's heart, to know you had a bull's-eye at your belt, and to exult and sing over the knowledge.

"It is said that a poet has died young in the breast of the most stolid.
It may be contended rather that a (somewhat minor) bard in almost every case survives, and is the spice of life to his possessor.
Justice is not done to the versatility and the unplumbed childishness of man's imagination.
His life from without may seem but a rude mound of mud: there will be some golden chamber at the heart of it, in which he dwells delighted; and for as dark as his pathway seems to the observer, he will have some kind of bull's-eye at his belt.

...

"There is one fable that touches very near the quick of life: the fable of the monk who passed into the woods, heard a bird break into song, hearkened for a trill or two, and found himself at his return a stranger at his convent gates; for he had been absent fifty years, and of all his comrades there survived but one to recognize him.
It is not only in the woods that this enchanter carols, though perhaps he is native there.
He sings in the most doleful places.
The miser hears him and chuckles, and his days are moments.
With no more apparatus than an evil-smelling lantern, I have evoked him on the naked links.
All life that is not merely mechanical is spun out of two strands, — seeking for that bird and bearing him.
And it is just this that makes life so hard to value, and the delight of each so incommunicable.
And it is just a knowledge of this, and a remembrance of those fortunate hours in which the bird has sung to us, that fills us with such wonder when we turn to the pages of the realist.
There, to be sure, we find a picture of life in so far as it consists of mud and of old iron, cheap desires and cheap fears, that which we are ashamed to remember and that which we are careless whether we forget; but of the note of that time-devouring nightingale we hear no news.

...

"... say that I came on some such business as that of my lantern-bearers on the links, and described the boys as very cold, spat upon by flurries of rain, and drearily surrounded, all of which they were; and their talk as silly and indecent, which it certainly was. ...
To the eye of the observer they are wet and cold and drearily surrounded; but ask themselves, and they are in the heaven of a recondite pleasure, the ground of which is an ill-smelling lantern.

"For, to repeat, the ground of a man's joy is often hard to hit.
It may hinge at times upon a mere accessory, like the lantern; it may reside in the mysterious inwards of psychology. ...
It has so little bond with externals ... that it may even touch them not, and the man's true life, for which he consents to live, lie together in the field of fancy. ...

"In such a case the poetry runs underground.
The observer (poor soul, with his documents!) is all abroad.
For to look at the man is but to court deception.
We shall see the trunk from which he draws his nourishment; but he himself is above and abroad in the green dome of foliage, hummed through by winds and nested in by nightingales.
And the true realism were that of the poets, to climb after him like a squirrel, and catch some glimpse of the heaven in which he lives.

"And the true realism, always and everywhere, is that of the poets: to find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing.

"For to miss the joy is to miss all.
In the joy of the actors lies the sense of any action.
That is the explanation, that the excuse.
To one who has not the secret of the lanterns the scene upon the links is meaningless.
And hence the haunting and truly spectral unreality of realistic books. ...
In each we miss the personal poetry, the enchanted atmosphere, that rainbow work of fancy that clothes what is naked and seems to ennoble what is base; in each, life falls dead like dough, instead of soaring away like a balloon into the colors of the sunset; each is true, each inconceivable; for no man lives in the external truth among salts and acids, but in the warm, phantasmagoric chamber of his brain, with the painted windows and the storied wall."

...

Excerpts from Across the Plains

いい加減、目覚めなさい！

2011-11-26T03:40:00.000-08:00

＜女王の教室・第２話＞

親なんて所詮．．．！

2011-11-26T03:32:00.000-08:00

鬼教師の阿久津真矢先生：

「親なんて所詮、
成績があがってくれればいいの、
面倒な問題を起こさなければいいの、
担任が自分のこと気にかけてくれるって分かればいいの、
要するに、自分さえよければいいの。
分かったら、
あなた達も余計なことを考えずに、
親の期待にこたえてあげることね。」

＜女王の教室・第２話＞

教育は、奇跡を起こせるからです！

2011-11-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

鬼教師の阿久津真矢先生：

「教育は、奇跡を起こせるからです！
子供たちは、成長していく中で、予想以上の素晴らしい奇跡を起こします！」

＜女王の教室・第１１最終話＞

「一公升的眼淚」主題曲：K「Only Human」！

2011-09-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

We Are Travellers in The Historical Sketches of Mankind!!!

2011-08-20T03:18:00.000-07:00

"We travel rapidly in these historical sketches.
The reader flies in his express train in a few minutes through a couple of centuries.
The centuries pass more slowly to those to whom the years are doled out day by day.
Institutions grow and beneficently develop themselves, making their way into the hearts of generations which are shorter-lived than they, attracting love and respect, and winning loyal obedience; and then as gradually forfeiting by their shortcomings the allegiance which had been honorably gained in worthier periods.
We see wealth and greatness; we see corruption and vice; and one seems to follow so close upon the other, that we fancy they must have always co-existed.

We look more steadily, and we perceive long periods of time, in which there is first a growth and then a decay, like what we perceive in a tree of the forest."

FROUDE, Annals of an English Abbey.

[Jose Rizal, The Social Cancer]

兄弟一二三四五！！！

2011-06-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

兄弟一二三四五
兄弟个十百千万

（正歌）
兄弟相逢三碗酒
兄弟论道两杯茶
兄弟投缘四海情
兄弟交心五车话
兄弟思念三更梦
兄弟怀旧半天霞
兄弟今生两家姓
兄弟来生一个妈
兄弟护国三军壮
兄弟安民万世夸
兄弟上阵一群狼
兄弟拉车八匹马
兄弟水战千艘艇
兄弟出塞百支笳
兄弟生离两行泪
兄弟死别一枝花

(副歌)
兄弟情夜空中万千星点
兄弟情红尘里无限光华
兄弟情是没有色的酒
兄弟情是没有墙的家

[tentatively translated]

Brothers, one, two, three, four, five!
Brothers, one, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand!

(main song)
Brothers encountering, three bowls of wine!
Brothers discussing the path, two cups of tea!
Brothers destining together, four oceans of passion!
Brothers exchanging heart to heart, five carts of words!
Brothers longing for each other, midnight (third of the five night watch periods) dreams!
Brothers remembering nostalgically, half a sky of red clouds!
Brothers in this lifetime, two family names!
Brothers in the next life, of one mother!
Brothers protecting the country, three army strong!
Brothers providing peace and security for the people, receiving praises for all ages to come!
Brothers going into battle, like one great pack of courageous wolves!
Brothers pulling war chariots, like the strength of eight horses!
Brothers into water battle, one thousand war vessels!
Brothers coming out of strategic passes, hundreds of reed whistles!
Brothers parting, two lines of tears!
Brothers parting by death, one single flower!

(chorus)
Brothers' passion, like myriads of starlight in the night sky!
Brothers' passion, like unbounded brilliance in the worldly red dust!
Brothers' passion is like wine without colours!
Brothers' passion is like home without walls!

.....

梁山泊好漢劫法場！

2011-05-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

＜第四十回　梁山泊好漢劫法場　白龍廟英雄小聚義＞

　　沒多時，法場中間人分開處，一個報道一聲：「午時三刻！」監斬官便道：「斬訖報來。」兩勢下刀棒劊子，便去開枷，行刑之人，執定法刀在手。說時遲，一個個要見分明﹔那時快，鬧攘攘一齊發作。只見那夥客人在車子上聽得「斬」字，數內一個客人便向懷中取出一面小鑼兒，立在車子上噹噹地敲得兩三聲，四下裏一齊動手。有詩為證：

閒來乘興入江樓，渺渺煙波接素秋。
呼酒謾澆千古恨，吟詩欲瀉百重愁。
鴈書不遂英雄志，失腳翻成狴犴囚。
搔動梁山諸義士，一齊雲擁鬧江州。

　　又見十字路口茶坊樓上一個虎形黑大漢，脫得赤條條的，兩隻手握兩把板斧，大吼一聲，卻似半天起個霹靂，從半空中跳將下來。手起斧落，早砍翻了兩個行刑的劊子，便望監斬官馬前砍將來。眾土兵急待把鎗去搠時，那裏攔當得住，眾人且簇擁蔡九知府逃命去了。

　　只見東邊那夥弄蛇的丐者，身邊都掣出尖刀，看著土兵便殺﹔西邊那夥使鎗棒的，大發喊聲，只顧亂殺將來，一派殺倒土兵獄卒﹔南邊那夥挑擔的腳夫，掄起匾擔，橫七豎八，都打翻了土兵和那看的人﹔北邊那夥客人，都跳下車來，推過車子，攔住了人。

　　兩個客商鑽將入來，一個背了宋江，一個背了戴宗;其余的人，也有取出弓箭來射的，也有取出石子來打的，也有取出標鎗來標的。

　　原來扮客商的這夥，便是晁蓋、花榮、黃信、呂方、郭盛﹔那夥扮使鎗棒的，便是燕順、劉唐、杜遷、宋萬﹔扮挑擔的，便是朱貴、王矮虎、鄭天壽、石勇﹔那夥扮丐者的，便是阮小二、阮小五、阮小七、白勝──這一行梁山泊共是十七個頭領到來，帶領小嘍囉一百余人，四下裏殺將起來。

　　只見那人叢裏那個黑大漢，掄兩把板斧，一味地砍將來，晁蓋等卻不認得，只見他第一個出力，殺人最多。晁蓋猛省起來：戴宗曾說一個「黑旋風」李逵，和宋三郎最好，是個莽撞之人。晁蓋便叫道：「前面那好漢，莫不是「黑旋風」？」那漢那裏肯應，火雜雜地掄著大斧，只顧砍人。

　　晁蓋便叫背宋江、戴宗的兩個小嘍囉，只顧跟著那黑大漢走。當下去十字街口，不問軍官百姓，殺得屍橫遍野，血流成渠，推倒傾翻的，不計其數。眾頭領撇了車輛擔仗，一行人盡跟了黑大漢，直殺出城來﹔背後花榮、黃信、呂方、郭盛，四張弓箭，飛蝗般望後射來。那江州軍民百姓，誰敢近前？

　　這黑大漢直殺到江邊來，身上血濺滿身，兀自在江邊殺人。晁蓋便挺朴刀叫道：「不干百姓事，休只管傷人。」那漢那裏來聽叫喚，一斧一個，排頭兒砍將去。約莫離城沿江上也走了五七里路，前面望見盡是淘淘一派大江，卻無了旱路。晁蓋看見，只叫得苦。那黑大漢方纔叫道：「不要慌，且把哥哥背來廟裏。」

.....

Rang De Basanti (Hindi: रंग दे बसंती Paint It Saffron)

2011-04-02T02:41:00.000-07:00

Struggling British filmmaker Sue McKinley (Alice Patten) comes across the diary of her grandfather, Mr. McKinley (Steven Mackintosh), who served as a jailer in the Imperial Police during the Indian independence movement. Through the diary, she learns about the story of five freedom fighters who were active in the movement: Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Ashfaqulla Khan, and Ram Prasad Bismil. Mc. kinley, in his diary states that he had met two type of people in his life, the first one... who died without uttering a sound and the second kind ... who died with lots of anguish.. crying over their deaths...Mc. Kinley reveals that it was then that he met with the third kind...

Having decided to make a film about the revolutionaries, Sue travels to India. With the help of her friend, Sonia (Soha Ali Khan), Sue initially casts four young men, Daljit "DJ" (Aamir Khan), Karan Singhania (Siddharth Narayan), Aslam (Kunal Kapoor) and Sukhi (Sharman Joshi), to portray as the revolutionaries.

Though they are not enthusiastic at the idea of acting in a film about the independence movement, Sue eventually manages to convince them. Laxman Pandey (Atul Kulkarni), a political party activist, joins the cast later, despite initially being unpopular due to his anti-Muslim beliefs and contempt for Aslam, a Muslim. In the process of filming, the idealism of India’s revolutionary heroes seeps into the protagonists. They gradually begin to realize that their own lives are quite similar to the characters they portray in Sue's film and that the state of affairs that once plagued the revolutionaries continues to torment their generation.

Meanwhile, Ajay Singh Rathod (R. Madhavan), a Flight Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force who is Sonia's fiancé, is killed when his flight crashes. The government proclaims that the crash was caused by pilot error and closes the investigation. Knowing that Rathod was an ace pilot, Sonia and her friends do not accept the official explanation. Instead, they claim that he sacrificed his life to save hundreds of other lives that would have been lost had he ejected from the aircraft and left the aircraft to crash into a populous city. They investigate and learn that the crash was due to a corrupt defence minister (Mohan Agashe), who had signed a contract exchanging cheap and illegal MiG-21 aircraft spare parts for a personal favour. To their surprise, they also learn that the key person who was responsible for organizing the deal was Karan's father, Rajnath Singhania (Anupam Kher).

Angered by the situation, the group and their supporters decide to protest peacefully at India Gate, a war memorial in New Delhi. Police forcefully break up their protest using batons; in the process, Rathod's mother (Waheeda Rehman) is severely hurt and she slips into a coma. DJ, Karan, Aslam, Sukhi, and Laxman decide that they must emulate the early freedom fighters and resort to violence to achieve justice. As a result, they kill the defence minister to avenge Rathod's death, while Karan murders his father for his corrupt actions. The minister is reported to have been killed by terrorists and is hailed as a martyr by the media. To bring forth their intentions behind the killings, the five of them attempt to reach the public through a radio station. They forcibly take over the All India Radio station premises after having evacuated its employees. Karan goes on air and reveals the truth about the defence minister and his wrongdoings. While still on the air, the police proclaim that they are dangerous terrorists who have forcefully taken over the AIR, and therefore they are to be shot on sight. The first to be shot is Daljit, who tries to get out of cover and establish that they are not terrorists, however the shot is not a fatal one.. Sukhi, unable to control his anger at this gets out and id instantly shot to death.He dies with the last smile still etched on his face. ASlam and Pandey are then shot together and the once arch enemies die holding hands and with smiles on their faces.

Daljit manages to crawl to the Recording Room, where Karan is still on air. When Karan understands that he has been shot, they speak amongst themselves for the last time, regarding the others, about Sue and about Daljit's love for her. It is there that they are shot to death, but not without the sound of their hearty laughter still hanging in the air like an echo of a long dead music. It is then revealed that Mc. Kinley described the third kind of people he came across as being the ones who embraced death as a friend and an equal albeit with a heartfelt laughter.

The film comes to an end with Sue describing the impact of the boys on her life. As Sue and Sonia watch from the rooftop that Ajay proposed to her on, they have a vision of the boys running in the fields, singing happily and victoriously throwing their shirts in the air, acting as if they are celebrating life itself, as if the ebb of their once- there vitality still reverberates in the places where they once used to go. A wave of melancholy comes over them as the film ends.

[source: Wikipedia]

Quasimodo to the Rescue of La Esmeralda!

2011-02-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

[Excerpts, Notre-Dame de Paris a.k.a. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Book Ninth, Chapter VI, pp. 338-339]

No one had yet observed in the gallery of the statues of the kings, carved directly above the arches of the portal, a strange spectator, who had, up to that time, observed everything with such impassiveness, with a neck so strained, a visage so hideous that, in his motley accoutrement of red and violet, he might have been taken for one of those stone monsters through whose mouths the long gutters of the cathedral have discharged their waters for six hundred years.

This spectator had missed nothing that had taken place since midday in front of the portal of Notre-Dame.

And at the very beginning he had securely fastened to one of the small columns a large knotted rope, one end of which trailed on the flight of steps below.

This being done, he began to look on tranquilly, whistling from time to time when a blackbird flitted past.

Suddenly, at the moment when the superintendent's assistants were preparing to execute Charmolue's phlegmatic order, he threw his leg over the balustrade of the gallery, seized the rope with his feet, his knees and his hands; then he was seen to glide down the façade, as a drop of rain slips down a window-pane, rush to the two executioners with the swiftness of a cat which has fallen from a roof, knock them down with two enormous fists, pick up the gypsy with one hand, as a child would her doll, and dash back into the church with a single bound, lifting the young girl above his head and crying in a formidable voice,--

"Sanctuary!"

This was done with such rapidity, that had it taken place at night, the whole of it could have been seen in the space of a single flash of lightning.

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!" repeated the crowd; and the clapping of ten thousand hands made Quasimodo's single eye sparkle with joy and pride.

This shock restored the condemned girl to her senses. She raised her eyelids, looked at Quasimodo, then closed them again suddenly, as though terrified by her deliverer.

Charmolue was stupefied, as well as the executioners and the entire escort.

In fact, within the bounds of Notre-Dame, the condemned girl could not be touched.

The cathedral was a place of refuge.

All temporal jurisdiction expired upon its threshold.

Quasimodo had halted beneath the great portal, his huge feet seemed as solid on the pavement of the church as the heavy Roman pillars.

His great, bushy head sat low between his shoulders, like the heads of lions, who also have a mane and no neck.

He held the young girl, who was quivering all over, suspended from his horny hands like a white drapery; but he carried her with as much care as though he feared to break her or blight her.

One would have said that he felt that she was a delicate, exquisite, precious thing, made for other hands than his.

There were moments when he looked as if not daring to touch her, even with his breath.

Then, all at once, he would press her forcibly in his arms, against his angular bosom, like his own possession, his treasure, as the mother of that child would have done.

His gnome's eye, fastened upon her, inundated her with tenderness, sadness, and pity, and was suddenly raised filled with lightnings.

Then the women laughed and wept, the crowd stamped with enthusiasm, for, at that moment Quasimodo had a beauty of his own.

He was handsome; he, that orphan, that foundling, that outcast, he felt himself august and strong, he gazed in the face of that society from which he was banished, and in which he had so powerfully intervened, of that human justice from which he had wrenched its prey, of all those tigers whose jaws were forced to remain empty, of those policemen, those judges, those executioners, of all that force of the king which he, the meanest of creatures, had just broken, with the force of God.

And then, it was touching to behold this protection which had fallen from a being so hideous upon a being so unhappy, a creature condemned to death saved by Quasimodo.

They were two extremes of natural and social wretchedness, coming into contact and aiding each other.

Meanwhile, after several moments of triumph, Quasimodo had plunged abruptly into the church with his burden.

The populace, fond of all prowess, sought him with their eyes, beneath the gloomy nave, regretting that he had so speedily disappeared from their acclamations.

All at once, he was seen to re-appear at one of the extremities of the gallery of the kings of France; he traversed it, running like a madman, raising his conquest high in his arms and shouting:

"Sanctuary!"

The crowd broke forth into fresh applause.

The gallery passed, he plunged once more into the interior of the church.

A moment later, he re-appeared upon the upper platform, with the gypsy still in his arms, still running madly, still crying, "Sanctuary!" and the throng applauded.

Finally, he made his appearance for the third time upon the summit of the tower where hung the great bell; from that point he seemed to be showing to the entire city the girl whom he had saved, and his voice of thunder, that voice which was so rarely heard, and which he never heard himself, repeated thrice with frenzy, even to the clouds:

"Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

"Noel! Noel!" shouted the populace in its turn; and that immense acclamation flew to astonish the crowd assembled at the Grève on the other bank, and the recluse who was still waiting with her eyes riveted on the gibbet.

...

The Hound of the Baskervilles!

2010-09-13T02:29:00.000-07:00

Aune Mire, a typical Dartmoor bog

Curse of Baskerville - A Flashback

Sir Charles was found dead in the yew valley due to heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles’s nephew Sir Henry, who is coming to London from Canada, Dr. Edward Mortimer appeals for help to Sherlock Holmes. Mortimer reads to Holmes and Watson a description of the origin of the curse written by a descendant of Hugo Baskerville. The curse he believes, chases the Baskervilles for centuries, in revenge for the misdeeds of Sir Hugo Baskerville, who lived in an earlier time. According to the legend, Hugo Baskerville, an evil man with a sadistic streak, became infatuated with a yeoman's daughter, kidnapped her and imprisoned her in his bedchamber. She managed to escape while he was talking with his friends. A drunken and furious Hugo cried that he would give his body and soul to the Powers of Evil if he could only overtake her. He rode after her onto the moor, his hunting hounds upon her scent and his friends in pursuit. Sometime later his friends came upon the bodies of Hugo and the girl. She had died from fear and fatigue, while a giant spectral hound stood over Sir Hugo's body. With his friends watching, the hound plucked out Hugo's throat and disappeared into the night.

Present day

Mortimer has deduced that Sir Charles had been waiting for someone at the time of his death. Sir Charles' face was contorted into a ghastly expression. His footprints suggested that he was desperately running from something. It was known that elderly Sir Charles' heart was not strong, and that he planned to go to London the next day. Mortimer also reveals that he observed the footprints "of a gigantic hound" near Sir Charles' body, a fact he did not reveal at the inquest into the death. Intrigued by the case, Holmes meets with Sir Henry, who has arrived from Canada. He is puzzled by an anonymous note delivered to his hotel room, warning him to avoid the moor. The note is composed of letters cut from a newspaper which Holmes recognises as the previous day’s Times. Only the word "moor" is handwritten. The sputtering of the pen and the lack of ink suggest the note was written in an hotel. The fact that the letters were cut with small nail scissors suggests a woman, as does the scent of perfume. This last detail Holmes keeps to himself. When Holmes and Watson join Sir Henry at his hotel, they learn one of his new boots has gone missing. No good explanation can be found for the loss.

The ghostly black dog of British folklore.

Holmes asked if there were any other relatives besides Henry. Mortimer tells him that Charles had two brothers. Henry is the son of the elder Sir Henry who settled in Canada and raised him in both Canada and the USA. Another brother, Roger, was known to be the family black sheep. A wastrel and inveterate gambler,he "made England too hot to hold him" and left for South America to avoid creditors. He is believed to have died there alone.

Despite the note's warning, Sir Henry insists on visiting Baskerville Hall. As Sir Henry leaves Holmes' Baker Street apartment, Holmes and Dr Watson follow him and spy a man with a fake-looking black beard in a cab also following him. He escapes when chased but Holmes catches the cab number. Holmes then stops in at a messenger office and employs a young boy, Cartwright, to go around to the hotels and look through the wastepaper in search of a cut-up copy of the Times.

By the time they return to the hotel, Sir Henry has had another boot stolen, an old one now. When the first missing boot is discovered before the meeting is over, Holmes begins to realise they must be dealing with a real hound (hence the emphasis on the scent of the used boot). When conversation turns to the man in the cab, Mortimer says that Barrymore, the servant at Baskerville Hall, has a beard, and a telegram is sent to check on his whereabouts. The inheritance is also discussed – while it is a sizable amount, the next in line is James Desmond, an elderly clergyman with little interest in wealth.

At the end of the meeting, it is decided that, Holmes being tied up in London with other cases, Watson will accompany Sir Henry to the Hall and report back by telegram in detail. Later that evening, telegrams from Cartwright (who was unable to find the newspaper) and Baskerville Hall (where Barrymore apparently is) bring an end to those leads. Also, a visit from John Clayton, who was driving the cab with the black-bearded man, is of little help. He does say that the man told him that he was the detective Holmes, much to the surprise and amusement of the actual Holmes.

Watson takes charge

The Great Bittern

Mortimer, Watson, and Sir Henry set off for Baskerville Hall the following Saturday. The baronet is excited to see it and his connection with the land is clear, but the mood is soon dampened. Soldiers are about the area, on the lookout for the escaped convict Selden, who committed a vicious murder. Barrymore and his wife tell the baronet they wish to depart Baskerville Hall as soon as is convenient, and the Hall is, in general, a somber place. Watson has trouble sleeping that night, and hears a woman sobbing. The next morning Barrymore denies that it was his wife, who is one of only two women in the house. Watson sees Mrs. Barrymore later in the morning, however, and observes clear evidence that she has indeed been weeping.

Watson checks with the postmaster in Grimpen village and learns that the telegram was not actually delivered into the hands of Barrymore, so it is no longer certain that he was at the Hall, and not in London. On his way back, Watson meets Jack Stapleton, a naturalist familiar with the moor even though he has only been in the area for two years. They hear a moan that the peasants attribute to the hound, but Stapleton attributes it to the cry of a bittern, or possibly the bog settling. He then runs off after a specimen of the butterfly Cyclopedes, which was still found on Dartmoor until the 1860s. Watson is not alone for long before Beryl Stapleton, Jack's sister, approaches him. Mistaking him for Sir Henry, she urgently warns him to leave the area, but drops the subject when her brother returns. The three walk to Merripit House (the Stapletons’ home), and during the discussion, Watson learns that Stapleton used to run a school. Though he is offered lunch and a look at Stapleton’s collections, Watson departs for the Hall. Before he gets far along the path, Miss Stapleton overtakes him and retracts her warning. Watson notices that the brother and sister don't look very much alike.

Sir Henry soon meets Miss Stapleton and becomes romantically interested, despite her brother’s intrusions. Watson meets another neighbour, Mr. Frankland, a harmless eccentric whose primary pastime is initiating lawsuits. Barrymore draws increasing suspicion, as Watson sees him late at night walk with a candle into an empty room, hold it up to the window, and then leave. Realising that the room has a view out on the moor, Watson and Sir Henry determine to figure out what is going on.

Meanwhile, during the day, Sir Henry continues to pursue Beryl Stapleton until her brother runs up on them and yells angrily. He later explains to the disappointed baronet that it was not personal, he was just afraid of losing his only companion so quickly. To show there are no hard feelings, he invites Sir Henry to dine with him and his sister on Friday.

Photograph of prisoners at Dartmoor Prison tied together carrying a cart out the gates, circa 1900.

Escaped convict

Sir Henry then becomes the person doing the surprising, when he and Watson walk in on Barrymore, catching him at night in the room with the candle. Barrymore refuses to answer their questions, since it is not his secret to tell, but Mrs. Barrymore’s. She tells them that the runaway convict Selden is her brother and the candle is a signal to him that food has been left for him. When the couple return to their room, Sir Henry and Watson go off to find the convict, despite the poor weather and frightening sound of the hound. They see Selden by another candle, but are unable to catch him. Watson notices the outlined figure of another man standing on top of a tor with the moon behind him, but he likewise gets away.

Barrymore is upset when he finds out that they tried to capture Selden, but when an agreement is reached to allow Selden to flee the country, he is willing to repay the favor. He tells them of finding a mostly burnt letter asking Sir Charles to be at the gate at the time of his death. It was signed with the initials L.L. Mortimer tells Watson the next day those initials could stand for Laura Lyons, Frankland’s daughter. She lives in Coombe Tracey. When Watson goes to talk to her, she admits to writing the letter in hopes that Sir Charles would be willing to help finance her divorce, but says she never kept the appointment.

Frankland has just won two law cases and invites Watson in, as his carriage passes by, to help him celebrate. Barrymore had previously told Watson that another man lived out on the moor besides Selden, and Frankland unwittingly confirms this, when he shows Watson through his telescope the figure of a boy carrying food. Watson departs the house and goes in that direction. He finds the prehistoric stone dwelling where the unknown man has been staying, goes in, and sees a message reporting on his own activities. He waits, revolver at the ready, for the unknown man to return.

Holmes reappears

The unknown man proves to be Holmes. He has kept his location a secret so that Watson would not be tempted to come out and so he would be able to appear on the scene of action at the critical moment. Watson’s reports have been of much help to him, and he then tells his friend some of the information he’s uncovered – Stapleton is actually married to the woman passing as Miss Stapleton, and was also promising marriage to Laura Lyons to get her cooperation. As they bring their conversation to an end, they hear a ghastly scream.

One of Grimspound's hut circles where Holmes might have sought shelter

They run towards the sound and finding a body, they mistake it for Sir Henry. As their misery and regret grow, they realise it is actually the escaped convict Selden, the brother of Mrs Barrymore, dressed in the baronet’s old clothes (which had been given to Barrymore by way of further apology for distrusting him). Then Stapleton appears, and while he makes excuses for his presence, Holmes announces that he will return to London the next day, his investigations having produced no result.

Holmes and Watson return to Baskerville Hall where, over dinner, the detective stares at Hugo Baskerville's portrait. Calling Watson over after dinner he covers the hair to show the face, revealing its striking likeness to Stapleton. This provides the motive in the crime – with Sir Henry gone, Stapleton could lay claim to the Baskerville fortune, being clearly a Baskerville himself. When they return to Mrs. Lyons’s apartment, Holmes' questioning forces her to admit Stapleton’s role in the letter that lured Sir Charles to his death. They go to the railway station to meet Det. Inspector Lestrade, whom Holmes has called in by telegram.

Under the threat of advancing fog, Watson, Holmes, and Lestrade lie in wait outside Merripit House, where Sir Henry has been dining. When the baronet leaves and sets off across the moor, Stapleton looses the hound. It really is a terrible beast, but Holmes and Watson manage to shoot it before it can hurt Sir Henry seriously, as well as discovering that its hellish appearance was acquired by means of phosphorus. They discover the beaten Mrs. Stapleton bound and gagged in an upstairs room of Merripit House. When she is freed, she tells them of Stapleton’s hideout deep in the Great Grimpen Mire. They look for him next day, unsuccessfully, as he is dead, having lost his footing and being sucked down into the foul and bottomless depths of the mire. Holmes and Watson are only able to find and recover Sir Henry's boot used by Stapleton to give the hound Sir Henry's scent.

Epilogue

Some weeks later, Watson questions Holmes about the Baskerville case. Holmes reveals that Stapleton is the son of Rodger Baskerville, Sir Charles' younger brother, and with the same name as his father. Although believed to have died unmarried, Rodger Baskerville had married and had a son. The son John Rodger Baskerville, after embezzling public money in Costa Rica, took the name Vandeleur and fled to England where he used the money to fund a Yorkshire school. Unfortunately for him, the tutor he had hired died of consumption, and after an epidemic of the disease killed three students the school itself failed. Now using the name Stapleton, Baskerville/Vandeleur fled with his wife to Dartmoor. He apparently supported himself by burglary, engaging in four large robberies and pistolling a page who surprised him.

Having learned the story of the hound, he resolved to kill off the remaining Baskervilles so that he could come into the inheritance as the last of the line. He had no interest in the estate and simply wanted the inheritance money. He purchased the hound and hid it in the mire at the site of an abandoned tin mine.

On the night of his death, Sir Charles had been waiting for Laura Lyons. The cigar ash at the scene ("the ash had twice dropped from his cigar") showed he had waited for some time. Instead he met the hound, that had been trained by Stapleton and covered with phosphorus to give it an unearthly appearance. Sir Charles ran for his life, but then had the fatal heart attack which killed him. Since dogs do not eat or bite dead bodies, it left him there untouched.

Stapleton followed Sir Henry in London, and also stole his new boot but later returned it, since it had not been worn and thus lacked Sir Henry's scent. Holmes speculated that the hotel bootblack had been bribed to steal an old boot of Henry's instead. The hound pursued Selden to his death in a fall because he was wearing Sir Henry's old clothes.

On the night the hound attacked Sir Henry, Stapleton's wife had refused to have any further part in Stapleton's plot, but her abusive husband beat and tied her to a pole to prevent her from warning him.

In Holmes' words: "..he (Stapleton) has for years been a desperate and dangerous man.." It was his consuming interest in entomology that allowed Holmes to identify him as the same man as Vandeleur, the former schoolmaster.

[source: wikipedia]

The Death of Common Sense!

2010-08-24T20:34:00.001-07:00

An Obituary printed in the London Times...

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers:
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

.....

The Crush (1993 film)!

2010-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

The Plot...

Arriving in a new city, writer Nick Eliot (Cary Elwes) secures a job at Pique magazine and lodgings in a guest house belonging to Cliff and Liv Forrester (Kurtwood Smith and Gwynyth Walsh). The handsome Nick soon makes the acquaintance of the Forrester's 14-year-old daughter, Darian (Alicia Silverstone), a precocious gifted girl who develops an intense attraction to him. She secretly helps Nick by sneaking into his room and rewriting one of his Pique stories, which subsequently wins a rave from his editor/boss Michael (Matthew Walker). At a party thrown by the Forresters, Nick agrees to accompany the lonely girl on a nightly drive to a romantic spot, where she kisses him.

This intensifies Darian's crush on Nick, but he quickly wises up and attempts to put her off, having begun a budding romance with co-worker Amy (Jennifer Rubin). Darian continues to boldly pursue him, even going so far as to undress in his view. Nick, however, continues to rebuff her advances, and Darian's actions become destructive—she defaces a car he's restored and erases his computer discs—yet he's unable to convince Cliff and Liv of what's going on. Cheyenne (Amber Benson), a friend of Darian who has warned Nick about her, meets with an "accident" at the riding school they attend together. Then, after Dadrian spies on Amy in bed with Nick, the girl locks Amy in her darkroom and empties a wasps' nest into the vents.

Amy survives, and Nick, now convinced that Darian is big trouble, attempts to find new lodgings. However, Darian manages to sabotage his efforts. She then accuses him of sexually assaulting her with "evidence" obtained from a used condom from Nick's trash, leading to his arrest. After Michael bails him out (and fires him), Nick is met once again by Cheyenne, who informs him of a diary Darian kept that can acquit him. When Cheyenne leaves, Nick goes looking for her when he hears strange noises from the Forresters' house. He discovers Cheyenne tied up in the attic and is confronted by Darian and then Cliff, who attacks him. Darian, still infatuated, attacks her father, leaving Nick free to subdue her with one punch. Acquitted, Nick goes to live with Amy while Darian, confined to a psychiatric ward, wishes to express her remorse for what she has done to Nick. Her doctor comments that she is making good progress, but seems to be yet unaware she is developing a crush on him.

... source: Wikipedia

The Crush: Darian Forrester!

2010-08-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Darian Forrester

14-year-old Darian (Alicia Silverstone) was the sweet little girl next door, but when a journalist named Nick (Cary Elwes) moved into the apartment over the garage at her parents' home, she had found a new Crush. She started with some harmless flirting and wearing revealing clothing, but when that wasn't enough to finish the job, she tried the direct approach and went after Nick physically. Nick, being twice her age, did the right thing and turned Darian down; according to Darian, however, that was the wrong thing.

Soon after, Darian would begin performing the kind of acts that bitter ex-girlfriends would even be ashamed of. Nick became the victim of such "woman scorned" pasttimes as scratching up the guy's car, deleting important files so he'll be ruined at work, and leaving 6000 angry messages on his machine. That was just the tip of the iceberg, though, because when Darian found out Nick had a real girlfriend, she became insanely jealous, engineering a stunt to lock the girlfriend in a photographer's dark room and filling the sealed room with angry bees.

The real pies de resistance, however, was even more disturbing. Following a physical encounter with Nick, Darian faked an assault on herself and even stole a used condom from Nick's apartment to, ahem, "plant the evidence" of an apparent rape. Darian's only remaining friend her own age, Cheyenne (a young Amber Benson from Buffy!), would finally try to stop Darian, and end up with a broken arm because of it. But Nick finally took things into his own hands when Darian held Cheyenne hostage in exchange for his love. Nick would finally convince Darian's dad that she was a friggin' nutcase after punching her out during a surreal climax involving a carousel in the attic of their home. Darian would end up in a mental institution, unable to let go of her obsession with Nick, that is, until a new man worthy of her undying love - her doctor, to be exact - would come along. Gah... *chills*

... source: Movie Villains

Silk（诡丝）！

2010-08-15T04:42:00.000-07:00

Plot summary...

A team of ghost hunters pay a freelance camera man to photograph places looking for paranormal activity.
From the sounds of things, previous attempts have been unsuccessful.
The camera man is taking his pictures and this time captures the picture of a boy in a seemingly empty room.
The team of ghost hunters are thrilled and take it upon themselves to further investigate.

The ghost hunting team is actually a team of scientists whose research wasn't to hunt ghosts, but to discover the secret of anti-gravity and how to float or walk on the ceiling.
Lead scientist Hashimoto creates an element called Menger Sponge .
The Menger Sponge is a material that can trap types of electromagnetic energy, such as a spirit.
This Menger Sponge is used to entrap the young ghost boy in the room they found him in by surrounding the room in this material.
Hashimoto traps the boy because he wants to study him and learn why and how ghosts exist.
In order to be able to see and study the ghost, Hashimoto develops a spray form of the Menger Sponge that can be applied to the eyes.
Once applied to the eyes, the ghost and all his actions are visible.
Learning everything about the boy proves to be difficult.
He moves his lips like he is talking but they can't figure out what he is saying.
Everyday at 4:30 pm, he stands by the door and tries to leave the room but the Menger Sponge surrounding the door will not let him leave.
As a result of these problems, Hashimoto hires the best detective he knows of; one who can read lips and has a "special" ability to see things that most people overlook.
His name is Tung and he is very reluctant to join the team.
When Hashimoto mentions this may help better understand how to help save Tung's sick mother, Tung reluctantly joins the team.

Tung realizes this isn't going to be an easy assignment after seeing how violent the ghost boy can be.
He studies the body of one dead victim from before he joined the team.
He also witnesses one scientist get killed because she tried to help the boy escape and instead got trapped in the room and killed.
Realizing this is a dangerous yet puzzling mystery, Tung does everything Hashimoto asks him to.
He reads the lips of what the boy is saying to provide insight into the thoughts of a ghost.
One day when the boy goes to the door at 4:30 like usual, despite knowing he is dangerous they let him out.
Tung follows the boy everywhere to see where he goes and get clues as to who he is and how he died.

As Tung begins to gather these clues and unravel the mystery of the young ghost, Hashimoto draws ever closer to discovering how people become ghosts and what drives their actions.
But as the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, is Hashimoto properly assessing the facts or is he blinded because he has an illness and is looking to become a ghost as a form of immortality.

After an unfortunate accident, Hashimoto's studies are ordered to be shut down by his financier.
With Hashimoto believing he has discovered the mystery of the boy, he decides to let the boy go. Where will the boy go and how dangerous is he?
With the secret of the ghost seemingly figured out, will Hashimoto be able to use reason and recapture the ghost before people die or will Tung have to find a way to stop the ghost on his own?

source: wikipedia

「诡丝」：科幻片？恐怖片？

2010-08-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

昨天晚上，在家里观看了ntv7播放的恐怖片？科幻片？「诡丝」…

科學家橋本良晴（江口洋介飾）是個行動不便的學者。
他帶著一個「反重力小組」團隊來到台灣，並聲稱他用「孟傑海綿」捕捉到世界上第一個「鬼」（陳冠伯飾）。

他請台灣的動態視力專家葉啟東（張震飾），來調查該鬼魂的死因，並研究形成鬼魂的原因。
啟東憑著超人的動態視力，不但讀出鬼魂的唇語，更從鬼魂的話語間了解到他的死因。

橋本大膽推測，鬼魂是被自己的母親所殺，並埋在核電廠附近磁場的交叉點，所以才會形成鬼魂。

橋本調查團隊的蘇原（大S 飾），對著橋本的研究成果要與外人葉啟東分享不以為然，希望利用鬼魂威脅橋本。
她竊取了鬼魂，但是反而被鬼魂反噬死亡。
在她死亡的過程中，啟東彷彿看到一條「絲」狀物體，從鬼魂身體發出。

橋本再度推測，這種「絲」很可能讓鬼魂由能量狀態實體化，進而達到與生物接觸的效果。
鬼魂對於能感應到存在的人，都會加以殺戮，但是葉啟東巧妙的避開鬼魂的感應。
然而，鬼魂的暴走並不僅止於此，在日本派出人員搶奪橋本研究成果以及「孟傑海綿」之時，橋本將鬼魂封印在大型的「孟傑海綿」中。

而在封印的過程中，每個人都被鬼魂纏上了「絲」，其中更有來探望啟東，不小心目睹鬼魂實驗現場的啟東女友佳維（林嘉欣飾）...

源自：维基百科

The Curses of A Mind with a Turn Like Sherlock Holmes's!

2010-07-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

It was an ideal spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, which set an edge to a man’s energy. All over the countryside, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and gray roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light green of the new foliage.

With all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street, Watson:

Are they not fresh and beautiful?

Shaking his head gravely, Holmes:

Do you know, Watson, that it is one of the curses of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed there.

Watson:

Good heavens! Who would associate crime with these dear old homesteads?

Holmes:

They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.

Watson:

You horrify me!

Holmes:

But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of a drunkard’s blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of country which makes the danger.

... The Copper Beeches

To the Man who Loves Art for Its Own Sake!

2010-07-04T02:11:00.000-07:00

On a cold morning of the early spring, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson sat after breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street.
Holmes had been silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very sweet temper to lecture Dr. Watson upon his literary shortcomings...

Holmes:

To the man who loves art for its own sake, it is frequently in its least important and lowliest manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped this truth that in these little records of our cases which you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my special province.

Watson:

And yet, I cannot quite hold myself absolved from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my records.

Holmes:

You have erred, perhaps, in attempting to put colour and life into each of your statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is really the only notable feature about the thing.

Watson:

It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter!

Holmes:

No, it is not selfishness or conceit! If I claim full justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing – a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of lectures into a series of tales.

At the same time, you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial.

Watson:

The end may have been so, but the methods I hold to have been novel and of interest!

Holmes:

Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my zero-point, I fancy...!

... The Copper Beeches

The "Good One"!

2010-07-02T01:43:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded the following "Good One" to me today, read on...

Subject: Good One

This has got to be one of the most clever emails.
Someone out there either has too much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble. (Wait till you see the last one)!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:

DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE :
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

Bet your friends haven't seen this one!!!

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唇のねじれた男！

2010-06-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

著者：　コナン・ドイル
発表年：　1891年
出典：　シャーロック・ホームズの冒険
依頼者：　セントクレア夫人
発生年：　1889年
事件：　ネビル・セントクレア氏失踪事件

「唇のねじれた男」（くちびるのねじれたおとこ、The Man with the Twisted Lip）は、アーサー・コナン・ドイルによるシャーロック・ホームズシリーズの短編小説の一つ。「ストランド・マガジン」1891年12月号初出。

あらすじ＜注意：以降の記述で物語・作品・登場人物に関する核心部分が明かされています。＞

1889年6月に起こった事件と記されている。研究家の間では、この年月はほぼ信用に足るものとしている（ただし、正典中で「6月19日の金曜日」とあるのは誤りで、1889年6月19日は水曜日である）。

ワトスン（結婚し、妻と暮らしている）のところに、患者のアイザ・ホイットニーの妻から、夫をアヘン窟から連れ出してほしいと助けがあり、ワトスンはアヘン窟へ向かう。アヘン窟の中でワトスンはホームズを見つけ、事件が起こっているのを知る。

事件は、ネビル・セントクレア氏が妻によってアヘン窟の3階で目撃され、妻が警官とともに現場に向かったところセントクレア氏は消え失せ、唇のねじれた身体障害を患っていると思われる男ヒュー・ブーンがそこにいるだけであった。窓枠には血痕がありヒューはその場で逮捕されたが、セントクレア氏の遺体は発見されず、所在も不明のままだった。ホームズは既に亡くなっていると推理したが、夫人は夫は生きていると主張した。ホームズ持ち前の推理でセントクレア氏失踪の謎を解く。

ワトスンの名前について

ワトスンのフルネームは「ジョン・H・ワトスン」である。だが、妻のメアリーはこの作品でなぜかワトスンのことを「ジェームズ」と呼んでいる。これに関して、ワトスンのミドルネームはヘイミシュ（Hamish：ジェームズに当たるスコットランド名）で、Hはその頭文字である、という推論による解決策が研究者によって示されている。

出典：　唇のねじれた男

The Five Orange Pips!

2010-06-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in The Strand magazine in November 1891, the fifth of the twelve stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Client: John Openshaw
Set in: Sept 1887
Villain: The Ku Klux Klan

Synopsis (spoiler if you have not read it yet)...

Read the whole story here.

A young Sussex gentleman named John Openshaw has a strange story: in 1869 his uncle Elias Openshaw had suddenly come back to England to settle on an estate at Horsham, West Sussex after living for years in the United States as a Planter in Florida and serving as a Colonel in the Confederate Army.

Not being married, Elias had allowed his nephew to stay at his estate. Strange incidents have occurred; one is that although John could go anywhere in the house he could never enter a locked room with his Uncle's trunks. Another peculiarity was that in March 1883 a letter postmarked from Pondicherry, India arrived for the Colonel inscribed only "K.K.K." with 5 orange pips (seeds) enclosed.

More strange things happened: papers from the locked room were burnt and a will was drawn up leaving the estate to John Openshaw. The Colonel's behaviour became bizarre - he would either lock himself in his room and drink or he would go shouting forth in a drunken sally with a pistol in his hand. On May 2, 1883 he was found dead in a garden pool.

On January 4, 1885 Elias's brother Joseph receives a letter postmarked Dundee with the initials "K.K.K" and instructions to leave papers on the sundial. Despite his son's urging, Joseph Openshaw refuses to call the police. Three days later, Joseph Openshaw is found dead in a chalk-pit. The only clue John Openshaw can furnish Holmes is a page from his Uncle's diary marked March 1869 in which orange pips have been sent to three men, of whom two flee and the third has been "visited".

Holmes advises Openshaw to leave the diary page with a note telling of the destruction of the Colonel's papers on the garden sundial. After Openshaw leaves, Holmes deduces from the time that has passed between the letter mailings and the deaths of Elias and his brother that the writer is on a sailing ship.

Holmes also recognizes the "K.K.K" as Ku Klux Klan, an anti-Reconstruction group in the South until its sudden collapse in March 1869 -- and theorizes that this collapse was the result of the Colonel's maliciously taking their papers away to England.

The next day there is a newspaper account that the body of Openshaw has been found in the Thames River and the death is believed to be an accident. Holmes checks sailing records of ships who were at both - Pondicherry in January/February 1883 and at Dundee in January 1885 and recognizes a Georgia bark named The Lone Star. Furthermore Holmes confirms that The Lone Star had docked in London a week before.

Holmes then sends five orange pips to the captain of The Lone Star and has the police send a cable to Savannah that the Captain and two mates are wanted for murder.The Lone Star never arrives in Savannah; there are severe gales that year and the only trace of the bark is a signpost marked "L.S." sighted in the waves.

source: The Five Orange Pips

The Man with the Twisted Lip!

2010-06-25T02:58:00.000-07:00

... the sixth of twelve stories from "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," first published in the Strand Magazine in December 1891 ...

Story summary (spoiler if you have not read it yet)...

Read the whole story here.

Dr. Watson is called upon late at night by a female friend. Her husband has been absent for several days and, as he is an opium addict, she is sure he has been indulging in a lengthy drug binge in a dangerous East End opium den. Frantic with worry, she seeks Dr. Watson's help in fetching him home. Watson does this, but he also finds his friend Sherlock Holmes in the den, disguised as an old man, trying to extract information about a new case from the addicts in the den.

Mr. Neville St. Clair, a respectable and punctual country businessman, has disappeared. Making the matter even more mysterious is that Mrs. St. Clair is quite sure that she saw her husband at a second-floor window of the opium den, in Upper Swandam Lane, a rather rough part of town near the docks. He withdrew into the window immediately, and Mrs. St. Clair is quite sure that there was something very wrong.

Naturally, she tries to enter the building, but her way was blocked by the opium den's owner, a Lascar. She quickly fetches the police, but they cannot find Mr. St. Clair. The room, in whose window she saw her husband, is that of dirty, disfigured beggar, well known to the police, by the name of Hugh Boone. The police are about to put this report down a mistake of some kind when Mrs. St. Clair spots and identifies a box of wooden bricks that her husband said he would buy for their son. A further search turns up some of her husband's clothes. Later, his coat, with the pockets full of several pounds' worth of pennies and halfpennies, is found in the Thames just below the building.

The beggar is arrested and locked up at the police station, and Holmes initially is quite convinced that Mr. St. Clair has been the unfortunate victim of murder. However, several days after Mr. St. Clair's disappearance, his wife receives a letter in his own writing. The arrival of this letter forces Holmes to reconsider his conclusions, leading him eventually to an extraordinary solution. Taking a bath sponge to the police station, Holmes washes Boone's still-dirty face, causing the mess to fall away and his face to be revealed — the face of Neville St. Clair! Upon Mr. St. Clair's immediate confession, this solves the mystery, and also creates a few problems.

It seems that Mr. St. Clair has been leading a double life, one of respectability, and the other as a beggar. In his youth, he had been an actor before becoming a newspaper reporter. In order to research an article, he had disguised himself as a beggar for a short time, during which he was given a very large amount of money. Later in his life, he returned to the street to beg for several days in order to pay a large debt. Given a choice between his newspaper salary and his high beggar earnings, he eventually became a professional beggar. His takings were large enough that he was able to establish himself as a country gentleman, marry well, and begin a respectable family. His wife never knew what he did for a living, and Holmes agrees to preserve Mr. St. Clair's secret as long as no more is heard of Hugh Boone.

The story is unique among Holmes stories in two ways: when the mystery is resolved, it turns out that no crime has been committed and there is no villain; and unlike other stories, Holmes (or in fact, Doyle) does not explain how he solved the mystery, and leaves it to the intelligent reader to work out (the clue is fairly enough given in the story).

source: The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Ideal Reasoner!

2010-06-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

Sherlock Holmes remarks...

The ideal reasoner would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which would follow from it.

As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after.

We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to.

Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses.

To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilize all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment.

It is not so impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have endeavoured in my case to do.

[The Five Orange Pips, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes]

A Man's Brain - A Little Empty Attic!

2010-06-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

Sherlock Holmes to Watson...

I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.

A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.

Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic.

He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order.

It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent.

Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before.

It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.

[A Study in Scarlet. Chapter 2 The Science of Deduction]

A Scandal in Bohemia!

2010-06-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle

"To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman!" ... "And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman!"

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"How the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit!" in Watson's own words...

View all my reviews >>

The Complete Sherlock Holmes!

2010-06-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels & 56 Short Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

... into A Case of Identity at present.
... wonderfully interesting, and simplicity in itself...

View all my reviews >>

How Holmes Was Beaten by A Woman's Wit!

2010-06-16T00:52:00.000-07:00

The end of A Scandal in Bohemia reads...

He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself.
The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight.
Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter.

The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for."
My friend tore it open and we all three read it together.
It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:

MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:

You really did it very well. You took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call them, and came down just as you departed.

Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and started for the Temple to see my husband.

We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

Very truly yours,

Irene Norton, née ADLER

...

And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit.
He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late.
And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman.

.... the end.

Irene Adler - Always The Woman to Sherlock Holmes!

2010-06-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

A Scandal in Bohemia reads...

To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman.

I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name.

In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex.

It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.

All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind.

He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position.

He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer.

They were admirable things for the observer — excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions.

But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results.

Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.

And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.

... the beginning paragraph.

Hokkien Version of Covey's 7 Highly Effective People & more....

2010-06-13T01:50:00.000-07:00

Someone forwarded this interesting email to me...

Steven Covey's famous 7 habits for successful people are nothing more than a free adaptation of very common Hokkien phrases (surprised?)

So why pay thousands of dollars to attend talks when your grand-parents, parents, spouses and even the auntie who sweeps the floor can give you the same kind of advice FOC, every day?

Habit No 1: Be Pro-Active
Kin Ka Kin Chiew
(Fast leg, fast hand)

Habit No 2: Sharpen the Saw
Toh Bua Lai Lai
(Make the knife sharp)

Habit No 3: Begin with the End In Mind
Ooh Tao Ooh Buay
(Have head, have tail)

Habit No 4: First Things First
Chik Hung Chik Hung Lai - Ban Ban Lai
(One thing at a time, slow and steady); or
Cho Tow Seng
(Do first ; talk later)

Habit No 5: Think Win-Win
Long Chong Ai Yarh
(Must win everything)
This is definitely not thinking win-win. This is a zero sum game. Win everything!

Habit No 6: Seek To Understand Rather Than To Be Understood
Cho Lang Ai Eh Beng Pek
(You must be understanding)

Habit No 7: Synergize
Tai Kay Ai Hup Chop
(All must cooperate)

Scroll down – for more.....

1. England has madcow,
Hong Kong has Macau ,
Russia has Moscow ,
S'pore has 2 famous cows-
'Cow-peh and cow-bo'

2. When ur life is in darkness......
Pray 2 God and ask Him 2 free u from darkness.....
and If u r still in darkness... Pls pay ur electricity bill.

3. If u need ADVICE, SMS ME,
If u need DARLING, CALL ME,
If u need HELP, E-MAIL ME,
IF U NEED MONEY, Nombor yang anda dail,
tiada dalam perkhidmatan kami, Terima Kasih.

..... Hahaha...

A Strange Enigma Is Man!

2010-06-13T00:58:00.000-07:00

The Sign of Four reads...

Holmes: "Dirty-looking rascals, but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. You would not think it, to look at them. There is no a priori probability about it. A strange enigma is man!"

Watson: "Someone calls him a soul concealed in an animal!"

Holmes: "Winwood Reade is good upon the subject. He remarks that, while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle, in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. You can, for example, never foretell what any one man will do, but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. Individuals vary, but percentages remain constant. So says the statistician."

... Chapter 10, The End of the Islander.

My Mind Rebels at Stagnation! Give Me Problem! Give Me Work!

2010-06-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Sign of Four reads...

My mind rebels at stagnation.

Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere.

I can dispense then with artificial stimulants.

But I abhor the dull routine of existence.

I crave for mental exaltation.

That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.

... [Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four, Chapter 1]

Let's Begin by Mastering Elementary Problems!

2010-06-04T02:38:00.000-07:00

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote ...

Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study, nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it.

Before turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the inquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems.

... A Study in Scarlet, excerpts.

The Emperor’s New Clothes!

2010-04-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

... and the story goes...

An Emperor who cares for nothing but his wardrobe hires two weavers who promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or "just hopelessly stupid".

The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position or stupid; his ministers do the same.

When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they dress him in mime and the Emperor then marches in procession before his subjects.

A child in the crowd calls out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others.

The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but holds himself up proudly and continues the procession.

... source: Wikipedia

Animalism!

2010-04-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Animalism is an allegorical mirror of the Soviet Union, particularly between the 1910s and the 1940s, as well as the evolution of the view of the Russian revolutionaries and government of how to practice it. It is invented by the highly respected pig Old Major. The pigs Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer adapt Old Major's ideas into an actual philosophy, which they formally name Animalism. Soon after, Napoleon and Squealer indulge in the vices of humans (drinking alcohol, sleeping in beds, trading). Squealer is employed to alter the Seven Commandments to account for his humanization, which represents the Soviet government's tweaking of communist theory to make it more a reformation of capitalism than a replacement.

The Seven Commandments are laws that were supposed to keep order and ensure elementary Animalism within Animal Farm. The Seven Commandments were designed to unite the animals together against the humans and prevent animals from following the humans' evil habits. Since not all of the animals can remember them, they are boiled down into one basic statement: "Four legs good, two legs bad!" (with wings counting as legs for this purpose, Snowball arguing that wings count as legs as they are objects of propulsion rather than manipulation), which the sheep constantly repeat, distracting the crowd from the lies of the pigs. The original commandments were:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

Later, Napoleon and his pigs are corrupted by the absolute power they hold over the farm. To maintain their popularity with the other animals, Squealer secretly paints additions to some commandments to benefit the pigs while keeping them free of accusations of breaking the laws (such as "No animal shall drink alcohol" having "to excess" appended to it and "No animal shall sleep in a bed" with "with sheets" added to it). Eventually the laws are replaced with "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others", and "Four legs good, two legs better!" as the pigs become more human.

... source: Animal Farm, Wikipedia

Animal Farm: Plot summary!

2010-04-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

Old Major, the old boar on the Manor Farm, calls the animals on the farm for a meeting, where he compares the humans to parasites and teaches the animals a revolutionary song, "Beasts of England."

When Major dies three days later, two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, assume command and turn his dream into a philosophy. The animals revolt and drive the drunken and irresponsible Mr. Jones from the farm, renaming it "Animal Farm."

The Seven Commandments of Animalism are written on the wall of a barn. The most important is the seventh, "All animals are equal." All the animals work, but the workhorse, Boxer, does more than others and adopts the maxim — "I will work harder."

Snowball attempts to teach the animals reading and writing; food is plentiful; and the farm runs smoothly. The pigs elevate themselves to positions of leadership and set aside special food items ostensibly for their personal health. Napoleon takes the pups from the farm dogs and trains them privately. When Mr. Jones tries retaking the farm, the animals defeat him at what they call the "Battle of the Cowshed." Napoleon and Snowball struggle for leadership. When Snowball announces his idea for a windmill, Napoleon opposes it. Snowball makes a speech in favour of the windmill, whereupon Napoleon has his dogs chase Snowball away. In Snowball's absence, Napoleon declares himself leader and makes changes. Meetings will no longer be held and instead a committee of pigs will run the farm.

Using a young pig named Squealer as a mouthpiece, Napoleon announces that Snowball stole the idea for the windmill from him. The animals work harder with the promise of easier lives with the windmill. After a violent storm, the animals find the windmill annihilated. Napoleon and Squealer convince the animals that Snowball destroyed the windmill, although the scorn of the neighbouring farmers suggests the windmill's walls were too thin. Once Snowball becomes a scapegoat, Napoleon begins purging the farm, killing animals he accuses of consorting with Snowball. Meanwhile, Boxer takes up a second maxim: "Napoleon is always right."

Napoleon abuses his powers, making life harder for the animals; the pigs impose more control while reserving privileges for themselves. The pigs rewrite history, villainizing Snowball and glorifying Napoleon. Squealer justifies every statement Napoleon makes, even the pigs' alteration of the Seven Commandments of Animalism. "No animal shall drink alcohol" is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess" when the pigs discover the farmer's whisky. "Beasts of England" is banned as inappropriate, as according to Napoleon the dream of Animal Farm has been realized. It is replaced by an anthem glorifying Napoleon, who appears to be adopting the lifestyle of a man. The animals, though cold, starving, and overworked, remain convinced through psychological conditioning that they are better off than they were when ruled by Mr. Jones. Squealer abuses the animals' poor memories and invents numbers to show their improvement.

Mr. Frederick, one of the neighbouring farmers, swindles Napoleon by buying old wood with forged money, and then attacks the farm, using blasting powder to blow up the restored windmill. Though the animals win the battle, they do so at great cost, as many, including Boxer, are wounded. Boxer continues working harder and harder, until he collapses while working on the windmill. Napoleon sends for a van to take Boxer to the veterinarian, explaining that better care can be given there. Benjamin the donkey, who "could read as well as any pig"[4], notices that the van belongs to "Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler", and attempts to mount a rescue; but the animals' attempts are futile. Squealer reports that the van was purchased by the hospital and the writing from the previous owner had not been repainted. He recounts a tale of Boxer's death in the hands of the best medical care. Shortly after Boxer's death, it is revealed that the pigs have purchased more whisky.

Years pass, and the pigs learn to walk upright, carry whips, and wear clothes. The Seven Commandments are reduced to a single phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Napoleon holds a dinner party for the pigs and the humans of the area, who congratulate Napoleon on having the hardest-working animals in the country on the least feed. Napoleon announces an alliance with the humans, against the labouring classes of both "worlds". He abolishes practices and traditions related to the Revolution, and reverts the name of the farm to "Manor Farm".

The animals, overhearing the conversation, notice that the faces of the pigs have begun changing. During a poker match, an argument breaks out between Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington when they both play the Ace of Spades, and the animals realize that the faces of the pigs look like the faces of humans and no one can tell the difference between them.

source: Animal Farm, Wikipedia

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times!

2010-03-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

The Tale of Two Cities reads...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way –
in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

[Book the First, Recalled to Life, Chapter I, The Period]

East of Eden: Timshel - Thou Mayest!!!

2010-02-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

John Steinbeck’s Midrash on Cain and Abel

The best midrash on the story of Cain and Abel was not written by an eminent Talmudic scholar or a medieval rabbinic sage, but by a 20th century author born right here in Salinas. I am, of course, referring to John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.

Midrash is the process of interpreting and explaining the biblical text developed by the rabbis of the Talmud. Their midrashim can be found in the Talmud and were also collected in various anthologies. But the process of midrash continued throughout the centuries and continues today.

And although John Steinbeck probably was not aware of the term, he was indeed engaging in the process of midrash when he wrote East of Eden. Reflecting on this work, Steinbeck said

“I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one ... Humans are caught—in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, and in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too—in a net of good and evil... and it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue is immortal.”

Steinbeck was well-versed in the Bible and was particularly drawn to the story of Cain and Abel, and to one word within that story: timshel. This word occurs early in the story. Cain, a tiller of the soil, brings an offering to God of the fruit of the soil. Abel, a shepherd, offers God “the choicest of the firstlings of his flocks.”

God pays heed to Abel’s offering, but not to Cain’s. The text does not explain why, perhaps because it is obvious: Abel’s was the choicest of his flocks, while Cain’s was just ordinary fruit. This is the first of many times that God plays favorites between brothers.

Cain is distraught at God’s response, and God, notices Cain’s despair.

“Why are you distressed, and why is your face fallen?”

God asks.

“Surely, if you do right, there is uplift. But if you do not do right, sin crouches at the door. Its urge is toward you, but you can rule over it.”

These last words caught Steinbeck’s attention. Not satisfied with relying on English translations, he consulted the Jewish scholar Louis Ginzberg about the Hebrew text, specifically about the word which he renders timshel.

There is a difficulty rendering this word in transliteration. When it stands alone, it is pronounced timshol, with a long “o” in the final, accented syllable. But in this passage, as often happens in Hebrew, the word is connected to the word that follows, and therefore loses its accent. So, instead of a long “o” the vowel is reduced, and the word is most correctly pronounced timsh’l. Steinbeck chose to render this sound with an “e” and the word is usually pronounced timshel.

But Steinbeck was not so much interested in the pronunciation as he was in the meaning of the particular grammatical form. It is, in fact, second person imperfect, which refers to an act that has not yet occurred. And, as often is the case in Hebrew, it has a variety of meanings.

In East of Eden, the source of information about this word is the Chinese servant Lee. He recalls that when Samuel had read the Cain and Abel story to the family, Lee was intrigued by it, and examined it “word for word” (p. 346). He consulted a couple of translations, the King James and the American Standard, and was not satisfied with them. King James translates the phrase, “thou shalt rule over him” as if to “promise that Cain would conquer sin.” (p. 346) The American Standard, on the other hand, says “Do you rule over him,” which is not a promise, but an order. Lee decided that he needed to find its original meaning.

Lee explains that he went to San Francisco, to his family association to consult with the revered sages. He discussed the text with four of these sages, all of whom were over 90 years of age. The[y] engaged a rabbi to teach them Hebrew, and then, when they had learned more than the rabbi, another rabbi was brought in. Two years later, they were ready to tackle the verse in question. Their conclusion: the word timshel should be understood to mean “thou mayest rule over it.”

Lee explains to his family why the King James and American Standard translations are inadequate and why the Hebrew is so important:

The “word timshel—‘Thou mayest’—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’”

(p. 349)

Lee continues,

“’Thou mayest’… makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win.”

Steinbeck wants to emphasize that we human beings have free will, that we may choose good or choose evil, that we may rule over sin, or not. And while this interpretation is consistent with biblical thinking on the matter, it is not the only way to understand the text. As I said, the particular grammatical form has a variety of meanings; Steinbeck is entitled to embrace one and use it throughout his novel, but he oversteps when he tries to show that it is the original, and therefore only justifiable, rendering of the term.

But it is more than Steinbeck’s interest in this word that makes East of Eden such a great midrash. Rather it is how he tells his story to reflect the themes of the biblical text. The story focuses on Adam Trask and his younger half-brother Charles. Steinbeck chooses the same initials, A and C for the brothers who will play out the story of Abel and Cain in their lives.

One day when the two brothers are playing a game called peewee and Adam is winning, Charles suddenly attacks his brother hitting him repeatedly with the bat, knocking him unconscious. Although he does not die, as Abel does in the Bible, there is the implication that Charles has indeed mortally wounded Abel. Shortly thereafter, when the boys are fighting again, we are told that

“Adam looked at his brother as the condemned look hopelessly and puzzled at the executioner.”

As brothers often do, Adam and Charles compete for their father’s affection. And Charles perceives that his father loves Adam more. He recalls the birthday when he bought his father a beautiful knife.

“Where’s that knife,”

Charles laments,

“I never even saw him hone it… What did he do with it? ... You brought him a mongrel pup you picked up in the woodlot…That dog sleeps in his room. He plays with it while he’s reading. He’s got it all trained. And where’s the knife?”

Just as God pays heed to Abel’s offering, but not to Cain’s, Cyrus Trask –at least in the mind of Charles—pays heed to Adam’s birthday offering, but not to Charles’s. And so Adam suffers another beating at the hands of his brother.

And shortly thereafter, Charles receives his “mark of Cain.” He is working on the farm one day, clearing rocks from the land, when a he encounters a large boulder. Never one to back down to a challenge, he desperately tries to pry it loose with an iron bar, but when the bar slips, its upper end smashes against his forehead, knocking him out and leaving him with a large torn welt that will turn into a permanent scar. In a letter to his brother, Charles writes,

“It looks…like somebody marked me like a cow…. I don’t know why it bothers me…. It just seems like I was marked.”

In the biblical story, Cain complains that his punishment of being banished from the soil is too much, and that he would become a restless wanderer; protected with the mark of Cain, he settles east of Eden. Steinbeck has Charles settle on the family farm, while Adam becomes a wanderer, which turns out not to be the awful fate that Cain imagines it would be.

Throughout the book we are introduced to characters who cannot overcome their proclivity to sin and evil. Charles is the first, but the most important is certainly Cathy Ames. In Jewish terms, we would say that Cathy never develop a yetzer tov, a good inclination, and therefore her innate yetzer ra was allowed to run rampant destroying everyone and everything that got in her way.

It is not a coincidence that Steinbeck chose the name Cathy, with a “C,” because like Charles, she is another incarnation of Cain, committing the most heinous of sins throughout her life. If Steinbeck believes that we can indeed rule over sin, Cathy is an example of someone who does not. In fact, she is portrayed as being incapable to choosing anything but evil.

Finally, we are introduced to another generation of Cain and Abel, Adam’s son’s Cal and Aron. They, too, struggle with each other, as brothers do. At one point, when Aron has disappeared, Adam asks Cal,

“Do you know where your brother is?”

Cal replies,

“How do I know? ... Am I supposed to look after him?”

Like Cain, Cal denies responsibility for his brother.

To make a very long story short, Aron runs away and enlists in the Army, and is killed in fighting. But this time, as we approach the end of the book, someone accepts responsibility.

Cal speaks to his dying father:

“I did it … I’m responsible for Aron’s death and for your sickness. I took him to Kate’s I showed him his mother. That’s why he went away. I don’t want to do bad things—but I do them.”

At the end of the novel, Lee begs for Adam to give Cal his blessing.

“Don’t leave him alone with his guilt…Let him be free.”

And Adam, as he is dying, whispers one word:

“Timshel!”

He thus affirms that Cal has indeed, by accepting responsibility, demonstrated that he is capable of ruling over sin.

East of Eden is a literary masterpiece in which we see the story of Cain and Abel replayed in the lives of two generations of Salinas Valley families. Steinbeck demonstrates the powerful themes of this biblical story, and their contemporary relevance. We should not read the biblical words, without reflecting on Steinbeck’s lesson that we, indeed, can rule over sin if we choose to do so.

source: Timshell Farm
1st posted: November 18, 2009 12:42am...

Everything Is Only For A Day!

2010-02-06T02:14:00.000-08:00

The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius reads ...

Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered.

Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the Universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them.
For everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be.
...

Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple, not free from perturbations, nor without suspicion of being hurt by external things, nor kindly disposed towards all; nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in acting justly.

[what Lee and Samuel Hamilton read, East of Eden, Chapter 51-1]

Let's Boycott the Mamak Shop Opposite Bunka Kaikan!

2010-01-20T19:36:00.000-08:00

Very, very bad morning...

Very, very bad breakfast of roti telur bawang and teh tarik at mamak shop opposite our Bunka Kaikan... I will never step my foot again into this mamak black shop!

Half-way through my meal, I went for another curry refill...

While I was away, the boy assistant came and cleared everything up, thinking I had finished my meal... He threw all the dirty tissues on the table into my plate of half-finished roti telur bawang... and also, the teaspoon dirtied by the cigarette ashes on the table into my glass of teh tarik???

But, how come he never noticed that the Straits Time I was reading was still on the table, and my teh tarik was only half-drunk???

So, they made me another half-glass of teh tarik and maybe half-piece of roti telur bawang but I asked for just roti kosong [not to incur further loss to their business, so I thought]...

After finishing my meal, when I went to the counter to "kira," you know what the old man asked for, "tiga ringgit!!"...

From what I know, my usual meal of roti telur bawang and teh only costs dua ringgit enam puluh sen (RM2.60), RM1.60 for roti telur bawang and RM1.00 for teh...

And, he had the guts to tell me that because I went for my third refill of curry, he was adding 40 sen to the bill...

OMG [mind you, G for Gohonzon!!!]... All along, from what I know, refills are free of charge, whether you go for your 3rd round or 4th round... and this old man asked me for another 40 sen because I went for my 3rd curry refill...

I argued with him that I will only pay 2.60, and will not pay the extra 40 sen...
And, I stood my ground, after a few exchange of words [heated???], the boss's brother and another assistant asked him to just collect 2.60 from me...

And, he had the guts to tell me "kali ini saja, lain kali tak boleh!?"...
So, I told him straight off, "Lain kali saya tak mahu lagi makan sini!!!"...

So, that was it... It is disgusting to find that these people are so money-greedy... never putting their customers before anything else... just money, money, money, it's the m*m*k's world...

Hahaha...

Let's start our boycott today!...
Don't eat at the mamak shop opposite Bunka Kaikan...

11:30am Thursday, January 21, 2020...

I Am the Resurrection and the Life!

2010-01-20T01:54:00.000-08:00

A Tale of Two Cities reads...

I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord:
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
[John 11:25-26]

[excerpts, Chapter XV The Footsteps Die Out For Ever, Book the Third - the Track of a Storm]

Fringe: Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth!

2010-01-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

Astrid Farnsworth [Jasika Nicole]

Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth was assigned to the FBI's Fringe Division as Agent Olivia Dunham's assistant.

Soon after, her job required her to assist Dr. Walter Bishop in his lab while investigating and researching Fringe cases.

Astrid may be a junior agent, but her impressive background makes her an essential addition to the Fringe division.

She majored in Linguistics, minored in Computer Science, and studied cryptology all before joining the FBI.

Astrid also speaks five languages.

Astrid's extensive background has helped the team solve cases from interpreting Latin to helping reprogram homing pigeons to fit them with GPS receivers.

She also has the thankless job of looking after, cleaning after, and often feeding Walter Bishop who finds it nearly impossible to remember Farnsworth's first name.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: Nina Sharp!

2010-01-13T23:12:00.000-08:00

Nina Sharp [Blair Brown]

Ms. Sharp has worked for Massive Dynamic for over 16 years.

As one of Dr. William Bell's first hires, Ms. Sharp has risen to become the public face of this global corporation.

Once promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2004, she lead Massive Dynamic's expansion into entertainment, education, and environmental management.

After she lost her right arm to cancer, Dr. Bell personally designed a robotic replacement, making Nina a living embodiment of Massive Dynamic's cutting-edge technology.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: Agent Philip Broyles!

2010-01-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

Agent Phillip Broyles [Lance Reddick]

Homeland Security Agent Phillip Broyles leads the U.S. Government's official investigation into The Pattern.

A master of navigating the halls of power, Philip Broyles could easily have risen through the ranks of government without ruffling feathers.

But Broyles prefers to push limits and test boundaries.

When unexplainable events began to occur around the globe, he makes it his mission to find out why.

Now he has assembled a special team to look into these events, led by Agent Dunham with the help of the father-son team of Walter and Peter Bishop.

Managing this team will test Broyles's political skills and make him a target for those who do not want the truth revealed.

Broyles's goal: to find out who or what is behind these mysterious events, and to stop them from spiraling out of control.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: Dr Walter Bishop!

2010-01-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

Dr. Walter Bishop [John Noble]

Dr. Walter Bishop, once hailed as one of the most brilliant scientific minds of his generation, understands the peril and promise of fringe science better than any other.

His groundbreaking work with lab partner William Bell, in fields ranging from quantum physics to genetic engineering, propelled him into an undisclosed relationship with the U.S. government to advance its most scientifically innovative - and ethically questionable - research projects.

But that was before the accident in 1991 that sent a lab assistant to the grave - and Walter himself to St. Claire's mental hospital.

Seventeen years later, Walter has re-emerged.

Recruited by FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham and supervised by his estranged son Peter, Walter supplies the scientific genius and technological wizardry needed to explore The Pattern - a series of events that disturbingly often trace back to Walter's own scientific explorations.

Sadly, his shattered memory can only tell him fragments of the real story.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: Peter Bishop!

2010-01-13T22:56:00.001-08:00

Peter Bishop [Joshua Jackson]

As the neglected son of a real-life mad scientist, Peter Bishop had a less than idyllic childhood.

After Walter Bishop's institutionalization, Peter set out to make himself as different from his father as he could.

Peter is a college drop-out who passed for several months as a chemistry professor... an intuitive mathematician who has nevertheless lost his shirt and more in the casinos of Europe and America... a jack-of-all-trades who has held every imaginable job from bouncer to biochemical engineer.

Peter's discontent has led him around the world, unwilling to stay anywhere for long.

But his employment as a civilian consultant for the FBI, in order to supervise his mentally fractured father, could force him to put down reluctant roots.

Against his better judgment, Peter now finds himself following in his father's dangerous footsteps - while assisting a government agency that holds a file containing information about his own possible criminal activity.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: Special Agent Olivia Dunham!

2010-01-13T22:45:00.001-08:00

Special Agent Olivia Dunham [Anna Torv]

With Marine Corps experience and an impressive dossier of solved cases, Special Agent Olivia Dunham was a rising star in the FBI.

But now, horrified by the tragedy of Flight 627 and stunned by the betrayal of someone she trusted, Olivia can no longer return to the world of traditional criminal investigations.

As she delves ever deeper into the dangerous world of fringe science, Olivia comes to realize that science and technology have already advanced beyond our dreams... and nightmares.

Chosen by Homeland Security Agent Phillip Broyles, Olivia has assembled a task force to investigate The Pattern - a mysterious sequence of unexplained phenomena suggestive of someone or something performing experiments on the world.

With the help of mad genius Walter Bishop and his estranged son Peter, she aims to bring high-tech criminals to justice, while defusing previously unimaginable threats to national security.

... source: Fringe: Bios

Fringe: The Same Old Story

2010-01-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Season 1 Episode 2:
... aired: Tuesday September 16, 2008
... watched: Wednesday, January 13, 2010...

Episode Summary

Olivia, Peter and Walter Bishop investigate the strange death of a woman who had an even stranger child. The woman was pregnant for only hours, yet the baby she birthed was fully developed - and also aged 80 years in the span of a few minutes. Olivia asks Nina Sharp of Massive Dynamic for help.

... source: Fringe: The Same Old Story

Fringe: Pilot!

2010-01-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

Episode Summary

When all the passengers and crew on Flight 627 Hamburg-to-Boston die in a hideous manner, FBI agent Olivia Dunham investigates the event. While following up a lead, her partner and lover, John Scott, undergoes life-threatening chemical contamination. A desperate Olivia looks for help and finds Dr. Walter Bishop, who cannot help her because he has been institutionalized. The only way to even question him is with the help of his son Peter.

Olivia continues her investigations and goes to Nina Sharp, a manipulative executive. Olivia, Peter and Dr. Bishop begin to discover what really happened on Flight 627 and start to uncover a larger truth.

... source: Fringe Pilot

《富贵门》：人物关系图！

2009-12-06T02:49:00.000-08:00

...

... 源自：《富贵门》人物介绍

富贵门：沙富来/卓一鸣、Yatming！

2009-12-06T02:14:00.000-08:00

...

沙富来/卓一鸣（罗嘉良饰）

性别：男年龄：36 职业：老千／银行副行政总裁
性格：

聪明机智，灵活多计，风趣幽默，对兄弟有义气；周身刀，却没有一张利，而且意志不坚。本性善良，但因被家人遗弃，经历过极大困苦，故养成看风转舵、圆滑善变、没原则和立场的性格。

背景：

富来跟亲弟宝来的双亲早逝，二人自小已成孤儿。富来挣扎求存，带着宝来，于马来西亚的贫民区长大。富来为求生存而成了一名大老千，跟性格憨直的亲弟大相径庭。
阴差阳错，富来冒充一名刚身亡的富家私生子一鸣，进入了香港的豪门家庭卓家，佯装成一元的同父异母胞弟。

富来企图藉此骗财，但却在豪门中遇上一心。原来富来之前曾在沙巴跟一心邂逅，早已喜欢上一心，岂料一心原来是一元的亲妹。表面上，一心就是富来的同父异母妹妹，故富来若一直冒充一元的胞弟一鸣，就不能追求一心。一心以为自己曾喜欢上同父异母的哥哥，痛苦不已，但富来为了自己的发财大计，按捺住对一心的感情，继续当一心的「哥哥」。

一鸣(富来)跟一元入银行工作，还安排亲弟宝来作内应，从中不断取利。岂料一元识破，对一鸣(富来)痛骂过后，还是多番包容，循循善诱，苦心教导，令一鸣(富来)不无感动。与此同时，自幼缺乏家庭亲情的一鸣(富来)，开始喜欢上这一家人，感受到家庭温暖，令一鸣(富来)几乎忘记了自己是一名老千。

一鸣(富来)跟一元建立兄弟情，还跟开眉渐渐建立起深厚的母子情。

遭遇：

但一鸣(富来)未能忘怀对一心的感情。一鸣(富来)暗渡陈仓，意图对一心表示好感，却惹来一心的反感，越走越远。

一鸣(富来)渐渐清醒过来，决心骗取大笔金钱后，就跟宝来逃之夭夭。结果却被一元发现，引起冲突，更被一元指斥心术不正，恶习难改。

其后，一元遇上意外而失踪，一鸣(富来)被逼承担家族中的重责。从未感受到被人重视、从未坐拥偌大权力的一鸣(富来)，渐渐爱上冒充这个已死私生子的一切。

岂料一元险死还生，再加上亲兄弟宝来意外身亡，一鸣(富来)认为是由于一元间接导致，令一鸣(富来)钻入牛角尖，决意留下来夺取更多，甚至要取代一元的地位。一鸣(富来)的借口是报复，但心底深处，一鸣(富来)其实已被利欲熏心，渐渐不能自拔。

一鸣(富来)趁机打击一元，以及夺取一元的一切，当中还揭发一元与令姿的婚外情，令一元的人生陷于谷底。

然而一朝得志的一鸣(富来)却始终忘不了一心。奈何襄王有梦，神女无心，因为一心虽曾于这段「兄妹」的感情中迷失过，但最终还是保持清醒，把感情投向一元的得力助手拓文。爱不得的痛苦，令一鸣(富来)拿女同事亦欣来作感情的慰藉，亦欣虽知道自己只是一个水泡，奈何深爱一鸣(富来)，亦欣甘愿承受一切痛苦。

一鸣(富来)的狼子野心，越来越大，后来终被一元看穿其为人，并意识到家族事业及家庭已陷入莫大危机。一元振作后，决心反击一鸣(富来)，然而正直坦荡的一元，根本敌不过狡滑奸诈的一鸣(富来)，一元处于下锋；一鸣(富来)心中窃喜，胜利就在眼前。

一鸣(富来)害怕真正身份被揭发，越来越投入假身份的角色中，渐渐迷失自己。此时天祝意外发现一鸣(富来)的真正身份，一鸣(富来)不容有失，更对天祝痛下杀手，无论如何都要把身世的秘密永远埋藏！

一鸣(富来)见一元开始怀疑自己，一鸣(富来)不顾一切，企图铲除一元。一元为了反扑，不惜推倒一切道德底线，跟一鸣(富来)渐渐棋逢敌手。

一鸣(富来)为了名利、为了真爱、为了仇恨、为了好胜、甚至为了自己要变成「卓家真正的主人」，誓要跟一元斗过你死我活！这场斗争只有输赢，没有道德可言，究竟是谁胜谁败？富来又会否得到应有的下场？

... 源自：《富贵门》人物介绍

富贵门：卓一元、Marcus！

2009-12-06T01:47:00.000-08:00

...

卓一元（吕良伟饰）

性别：男

年龄：42

职业：银行行政总裁／董事局主席

性格：

敢承担，敢坚持；光明磊落，不畏人言；重情，重义，欲兼爱每一个人，却偏偏让最爱的人受伤害，自己更几乎一无所有。

背景：

一元是一个好儿子，好丈夫，好爸爸：在家侍亲至孝，爱护妻儿；在外跟随父亲打拼，令家族事业蒸蒸日上。人生走了一半，经历风吹雨打，一元已是事业有成，家庭和乐，众所公认的成功男人。但随着一个人的离开，两个人的出现，一切将起翻天覆地的变化，人生真正的试炼方告开始…

故事始于一宗意外变故。卓祟禧在马拉郊野遇上交通意外，生不见人，死不见尸。突遭变故，一元既要安抚几乎崩溃的母亲开眉，事业上又要日理万机，疲于奔命。但最痛苦的，莫过于遍寻父亲尸首不获，心中愧疚不已。正当一元痛苦地决定放弃搜索，以及要将一家人的生活导回正轨时，一元发现父亲一个不为人知的秘密：祟禧在外有一个私生子，下落不明，一直苦苦找寻这个失落的儿子！也许是愧疚、也许是血缘、也许是情义，一元决定寻亲，终于在马来西亚找到一鸣(即富来)－这个流落在外，历尽沧桑的弟弟！

遭遇：

一元深深同情一鸣(富来)，不但让他一起分享父亲的财富，而且把他给带回家去！一鸣(富来)曾当老千，贪婪狡猾，在家庭、公司都引起轩然大波，妻子爵年和得力助手拓文均认为他心术不正，不欲一元与之为伍。一元不是不知一鸣(富来)的问题，只是他对这个以为是同父异母的弟弟有情有义，用心包容之，教化之…精诚所至，金石为开，一鸣(富来)受其感化，渐得各人接纳，成为卓家的一份子。

可是命运弄人，意外一再发生。一元在印度遭遇绑架，面对生存的严酷挑战，人与禽兽无异，尊严遭到践踏，一元艰苦忍受，终于等到妻子的救援，重返家园…

一元虽逃过大难，但受辱经历却大大地改变了他的性情，一元变得猜忌多疑，进退失据。相反，在一元失踪的日子，一鸣(富来)临危受命，幸运地解决了银行危机，稳住了彷徨的一家老幼，俨然是一家之主，深得众人爱戴。一手带其出身的弟弟，今日竟要取代自己，挫败、猜疑和恐惧加深了一元的创伤后遗症，众人认为一元受打击太大以致失常，甚至母亲亦要求一元让一鸣(富来)主持大局，终令一元大权旁落。

面对众叛亲离，陷于人生低谷，一元投向了一个女人的怀抱，不是妻子爵年，而是旧情人董令姿！年轻时，一元与女友爵年是公认的一对璧人，怎料在二人短暂分开期间，一元瞒着爵年、意外地跟令姿堕入爱河，彼此爱得激烈。但一元始终犹豫不决，不懂抉择最爱，令姿最终带着情伤离港，一元则重投爵年，共谐连理。十多年后，令姿出任银行的法律顾问，二人重遇，情苗暗暗重燃。爵年贤淑大方，对丈夫体贴入微，一元喜欢爵年，但一元总隐隐然觉得这个完美的妻子并不需要他，形成一股无形的压力。印度被绑架的经历，成了一元的梦魇，一元欲摆脱之，但爵年却偏偏见到他最难堪、最不欲为人所知的一面！本是舍命相救的恩情，却成了挥之不去的心结。一元无法面对爵年，在情路上再次越轨，面临婚变。一元对两个女人皆有情、有义、有愧疚，陷入两难，从此周旋于两女之间，三人关系纠缠不清，斩不断，理还乱。

一元在温柔乡中逐渐复元，一鸣(富来)亦权势日涨。一元发现一鸣(富来)在银行弄权谋取私利，恶意打压拓文，当初所谓改过自身，都是一场戏！更可怕的是，一元在印度被绑架时，一鸣(富来)为了私利，确实故意对一元见死不救！一元在拓文的帮助下重回银行，要驱赶一鸣(富来)。一元欲揭发一鸣(富来)的罪证，过程中却导致一鸣(富来)的兄弟宝来意外身亡，从此一鸣(富来)视一元为死敌，不但要夺其财富地位，更要得到卓家的一切！可是众人早被一鸣(富来) 所迷惑、收买，除了拓文，一元已是众叛亲离，但是责任和亲情驱使一元坚持抗争下去…

一鸣(富来)终于露出狐狸尾巴，一元发现一鸣(富来)根本不是父亲的私生子，而是一个骗子！一鸣(富来)为隐瞒身分，不惜杀人灭口！要战胜魔鬼，一元只有比魔鬼更魔鬼，但押上去的赌注，不只是财富，而是原则、情义、自我…

... 源自：《富贵门》人物介绍

富贵门！

2009-12-06T01:25:00.000-08:00

故事大纲

银行家卓一元（吕良伟）错认老千沙富来（罗嘉良）为同父异母的弟弟卓一鸣，扶植他成为银行界举足轻重的一员。在亲情的蒙蔽下，一元未能认清富来包藏祸心，以致养虎为患。

一元在外地遇上暴乱被绑架，这段难堪的经历令他性情大变，爱妻贺爵年（戚美珍）多番开导劝解，可惜未能助他摆脱耻辱的阴影，更促使他走向旧情人董令姿（郭可盈）寻求慰藉。多年来的夫妻恩情一朝破碎。

富来走进卓家之后，初尝亲情的温暖，更发现心上人正是名义上同父异母的妹妹卓一心（袁咏仪），但一心难敌道德的藩篱，压抑着对富来的真情，投向钟情自己的高拓民（马德钟）。富来不甘失去所爱，又不愿放弃富贵，徘徊情感与金钱之间，最终选择了富贵之路，踏进堕落的富贵门。

一幕幕热血男儿的金钱角力、一段段爱恨悱恻的美丽纠缠、一场场挑战伦理的严峻试炼如箭在弦。

剧情梗概

这是一个关于人性试炼的故事。

故事以一元、一鸣(富来)这对真假兄弟为主。一元作为家族生意的主理人，在家庭中拥有举足轻重的地位，母亲开眉、妹妹一心、妻子爵年对他尊敬有加。但自从“二弟”一鸣(富来)出现，这个家便起了翻天覆地的变化…

沙富来本是个身世可怜的老千，在马来亚长大，自少父母双亡，在贫困交逼中把弟弟沙宝来带大，为了生存，学会了一身老千本领。在机缘巧合下，富来盗用了祟禧私生子卓一鸣(刚死)的身份，来到香港进入卓家，摇身一变成为豪门二少爷。

一元为人正直无私，对一鸣(富来)身份从未怀疑，视他为亲兄弟，开眉出于对一鸣(富来)的同情补偿，也视他如亲子。加上一鸣(富来)擅长讨人欢心，赢得众人的喜爱和信任。

一鸣(富来)本打算骗卓家一笔钱便抽身而退，但料不到，他在卓家得到的感情和利益，使他越来越不能自拔…事缘一鸣(富来)未冒认身份之前，先邂逅了一心，短暂的浪漫激情后，一鸣(富来)未几成为卓家二少爷，一心即斩断这段 “假不伦之恋”，但一鸣(富来)对一心却无法忘怀，从此陷入痛苦的畸恋中。另方面，一鸣(富来)从卓家得到他本来失落了的家庭温暖，而在卓家的企业王国，他享受着金钱和权力的巨大诱惑，欲罢不能，拥有了又怕失去，最终经受不起贪婪、恐惧、嫉妒的人性试炼，为了掠夺卓家的一切、得到一心，一鸣(富来)由一个老千变成一个魔鬼…

一元面对一鸣(富来)这个老千魔鬼，也经受了人性的巨大试炼。一元虽然视一鸣(富来)为亲兄弟，但也看出一鸣(富来)是个心术不正的人，初时包容他、试图感化他，不果之后，唯有防范箝制他。一鸣(富来)为了铲除一元这个阻力，不但离间一元身边的亲人、忠臣，制造灾难打击一元，一元被逼到妻离子散、事业家庭大权旁落、对抗病魔、最后生命受到威胁…一元一再受到人生的试炼，他都能够挺过来，但当家人受到一鸣(富来)的伤害，而他无法以法律制裁一鸣(富来)时，一元会否以暴逆暴，受不住魔鬼的试炼，自己也步入魔道呢？可幸的是，一元最终是以人性的善，令一鸣(富来)放下屠刀！但可悲的是，一鸣(富来)无法面对自己良心的谴责，而选择了自毁之路。

... 源自：TBVnew

What I am Presently Reading: East of Eden - Chapter 26!

2009-12-04T01:21:00.000-08:00

Finished Chapter 26...

Summary: Chapter 26

Adam rides the train back from Salinas.
Happy about his encounter with Cathy, he stops in at Will Hamilton’s car dealership and tells Will he would like to buy a car.
At home, Adam tells Lee that he now plans to make something of his land and to strengthen his relationship with his sons.
Lee confesses that he hopes to leave the valley soon to start a bookstore in San Francisco but agrees to stay in Salinas to help Adam for the time being.

Analysis: Chapters 23–26

One of the most important moments in the novel occurs during Samuel’s second visit to Adam’s home, when the men discuss the Cain and Abel story again, and Lee introduces the concept of timshel.

Timshel is the Hebrew word — meaning “thou mayest” — that God speaks to Cain about overcoming sin; it suggests that it is Cain’s choice whether to embrace goodness or evil.

Lee considers timshel to be a powerful idea about human free will, something that gives people the freedom to forge their own moral destinies.

The question of the validity of this idea of timshel, or freedom to choose between good and evil, recurs throughout the novel.

Ultimately, Steinbeck offers hope that no one is predestined to evil, despite the evil and sin in the world.

No individual is simply doomed to inherit the sins of his or her parents — as a number of characters, most notably Cal fear — but instead, have the power to choose their own actions.

Samuel’s final gift to Adam is the revelation of the truth about Cathy.

When Adam visits Cathy at the brothel after Samuel’s death, their conversation takes the form of a direct confrontation between good and evil.

Cathy insists that there is only evil in the world; as evidence, she shows Adam pictures of seemingly righteous senators and ministers she has photographed committing demeaning sexual acts.

Adam, however, now sees through Cathy, and her perverse attitude no longer threatens him.

The idea of timshel liberates him, and after seeing her depravity, he suddenly feels that he no longer needs her.

As Cathy feels her control of Adam slipping away, she becomes increasingly desperate, as though her loss of control over Adam measures the failure of her decision to live for sin and evil.

Cathy resorts to an attempt to use sex to control Adam, but he no longer finds her beautiful, and the idea of sleeping with her actually disgusts him.

Even Cathy’s claim that Charles is the twins’ real father — a possibility that the novel leaves open — does not faze Adam or hurt him.

Ultimately, Cathy is wholly powerless over Adam, who leaves with a peaceful smile on his face.

This scene represents an important turning point in the novel, as it marks the first time that good (represented by Adam) confronts evil (represented by Cathy) without fear.

Notably, this episode is also the first time that good emerges in triumph.

Evil needs good — as evidenced by Charles’s desperate need to have Adam around, and here in Cathy’s need to control Adam — but the converse does not hold true: when liberated by the idea of timshel, good does not need evil.

... source: SparkNotes

項羽！

2009-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

西楚（前232～前202年）下相（今江蘇省宿遷縣西南）人。
名籍，字羽，秦貴族後裔。少從叔父項梁習武。
秦二世元年（前209年），隨項梁於吳舉兵反秦，擁兵八千，受陳勝政權派遣，渡江西進。
陳勝死，與項梁共立楚懷王孫心為主，受封魯公。
三年，秦將章邯擊趙，圍困鉅鹿。項羽隨上將軍宋義往救，宋懼敵不進，羽殺宋取而代之。
率全軍渡漳水，破釜沉舟，獲鉅鹿大捷，摧毀秦軍主力。
九戰九捷，威名大振，封侯上將軍，統率各諸侯，領兵西進，於新安夜坑秦降卒二十餘萬人。
至函谷關，知劉邦已破咸陽，與范增設鴻門宴，定計滅劉邦，未遂。
又西屠咸陽，焚秦宮，殺秦王，掠奪寶物，自立為西楚霸王，大封諸侯，廢楚懷王，都彭城，與劉邦爭戰四年。

漢高祖五年（前202年）冬，被漢軍困於垓下，突圍至烏江，自刎而死。

...

East of Eden: The Liberation of Adam Trask!

2009-11-23T17:13:00.000-08:00

East of Eden reads...

On his drive back to the ranch Adam found that he was noticing things he had not seen for years.
He saw the wild flowers in the heavy grass, and he saw the red cows against the hillsides, moving up the easy ascending paths and eating as they went.
When he came to his own land Adam felt a quick pleasure so sharp that he began to examine it.
And suddenly he found himself saying loud in rhythm with his horse's trotting feet.
"I'm free, I'm free. I don't have to worry any more. I'm free. She's gone. She's gone out of me. Oh, Christ Almighty, I'm free!"

He reached out and stripped the fur from the silver-grey sage beside the road, and when his fingers were sticky with the sap he smelled the sharp penetrating odour on his fingers, breathed it deep into his lungs.
He was glad to be going home.
He wanted to see how the twins had grown in the two days he had been gone -- he wanted to see the twins.

"I'm free, she's gone," he chanted aloud.

[Chapter 26-1, 10:40pm, 23 November 2009]

What I am Presently Reading: East of Eden!

2009-11-23T02:02:00.000-08:00

Just finished reading Chapter 25...

Summary: Chapter 25

Samuel Hamilton dies of old age. After the funeral, Adam goes to Cathy’s brothel. As soon as he sees that Cathy is no longer beautiful and that she is actually a monster, Adam realizes that he finally can put her out of his mind. When he tells her as much, she responds that he is wrong to condemn her for her views, for there is nothing but depravity and evil in the world.

Cathy shows Adam photos of some of the most powerful and important men of the Salinas Valley performing sadomasochistic sex acts with her whores, and she brazenly admits to blackmailing the men with the pictures. As Adam rises to leave, Cathy suddenly panics, feeling him slip away—she even offers to sleep with him. When Adam shudders in disgust, Cathy cruelly claims that Charles is the twins’ real father, for she slept with Charles on the night of her marriage to Adam. Adam says that he does not believe her and that it does not matter anyway, even if she is telling the truth.

Cathy screams, and the brothel’s bouncer comes in and knocks Adam down. Even so, Adam leaves with a serene smile on his face, realizing that he is finally free of the burden of Cathy that has been on his mind for so many years.

... source: SparkNotes

宮心計：李怡、皇上！

2009-11-23T00:34:00.000-08:00

李怡（陳豪飾）

性別:男

年齡:30

身份:皇弟（穆宗時期10歲）→皇叔（武宗時期30歲）→皇帝（宣宗，30歲）

性格
聰敏過人，自知鋒芒畢露必招禍端，刻意隱藏才能，裝作愚蠢，行「韜晦」之計。忍耐力極強，但又缺乏安全感。明察果斷，勵精圖治，有「小太宗」之稱譽。

背景
雖為帝王之子，但礙於生母鄭太妃出生宮婢，童年時飽受歧視，在宮中歷盡人情冷暖，遇上三好才感受到一點點溫情。可是生母始終擔心李怡留在宮中，終會惹上殺身之禍，只好暗中命李怡假裝意外受傷，變得愚鈍，藉此求准出宮休養，以避禍劫。

遭遇
李怡以為終生將要如此蒙混過去，誰知生母病重，李怡重踏闊別廿年的皇宮，更找回當日有一糖之思的三好。三好心地善良，未有嫌棄愚鈍的李怡，李怡暗生好感。

武宗惡夢頻生，誓要置李怡於死地，幸得棋博士高顯揚出手相救，李怡得以幸免於難。李怡明白逃避最終只會踏上絕路，毅然接受權閹馬元贄的籠絡，以抗武宗，終得以繼位為帝。李怡登基後，敬重武宗朝丞相李德裕，為免馬加害之，故意將李德裕貶官至崖州。馬欲對李怡加強控制，逼使李怡納其義女萬寶賢為賢妃。時金鈴因替鄭太后解決了郭太后這個隱憂，深得其寵愛，李怡終順從鄭太后心意，納金鈴為麗妃。

李怡以為賢妃是馬派來監視自己的內應，冷淡對待，後得三好勸解，與賢妃感情日厚，金鈴暗生妒忌。其實李怡心中最愛是三好，只是明白三好與忠臣摯友顯揚相戀，才將愛意掩藏。及後，馬元贄狼子野心，密謀作反，間接令賢妃一屍兩命，顯揚墮崖生死未卜，打擊接二連三，李怡不得不主動反擊，負隅頑抗，要與馬作最後一戰。

... 源自：《宮心計》人物

宮心計：姚金鈴、麗妃！

2009-11-23T00:27:00.000-08:00

姚金鈴（楊怡飾）

性別:女

年齡:27

身份:學婢（7歲）→司珍房女史（27歲）→麗妃（27歲）

性格
出身家婢，機靈聰慧，堅強硬朗，觀人於微。本質善良，可惜淪為宮婢，為生存，不得不依從宮中爾虞我詐、猜疑人心的遊戲規則，為達目的，人變得狡詐陰險，利慾薰心，不擇手段，埋沒良知，犧牲好友亦在所不惜。

背景
本為劉府家婢，因為老爺被新皇秋後算賬，獲罪抄家，牽連全府上下，金鈴逐跟隨夫人采瓊與小主三好一同逃亡，終被官兵捉拿，沒入宮中當官婢，從此改變其一生。

遭遇
金鈴進宮不久，夫人采瓊就因為失職被杖打致死，令金鈴深切體會到宮中生活如履薄冰，一步之差，走的可以是晉升階梯，亦可以是下黃泉絕路，所以要生存，就要武裝自己，對夫人的遺訓「做好事、說好話、存好心」，未敢苟同。

長大後的金鈴，屢次受壓及遭出賣受虐，令金鈴認定宮中不能作好人，不應行好事，所謂感恩圖報，好人有好報等事，在宮中都是騙人的東西。只有三好，金鈴才會以心相交。一直以來，金鈴都偷偷教授三好造金釵技巧，後來三好因為一雙巧手，得郭皇太后賞識，下旨調往司珍房，鋒芒竟蓋過金鈴，妒意開始蠶食這段友情。李怡登基，金鈴借機討好鄭太后，最後心願得成，被封為麗妃。

金鈴封為麗妃後，性情漸變，凡威脅到自己地位的人，一一剷除。金鈴奸計終瞞不過三好，姊妹反目，最後更誣陷三好殺害鄭太后，要親手送好友上陰司路，三好身陷囹圄，無法自救，而金鈴亦已愈陷愈深，無法自拔。

... 源自：《宮心計》人物

宮心計：劉三好！

2009-11-22T23:59:00.000-08:00

劉三好（佘詩曼飾）

性別:女

年齡:27

身份:學婢（7歲）→司制房女史（27歲）→司珍房掌珍（27歲）→司珍房司珍（27歲）

性格
溫柔婉順，心地善良，忠直孝順，輕名利，重情義，有同情心，感恩圖報，富正義感，擇善固執，堅毅不屈，遇困難絕不退縮，堅守亡母江采瓊的遺訓「做好事、說好話、存好心」，作為行事做人的宗旨。

背景
出身官家，父親因支持憲宗立二子李惲為帝，被穆宗秋後算賬，獲罪炒家，父親發配充軍，三好與母親和婢女金鈴沒入宮禁當宮婢，惟母親未幾即因一支「鳯凰泣血」金釵激怒郭太后，杖打重傷，彌留之際，叮囑三好要「做好事、說好話、存好心」。

遭遇
三好被編入司制房當學婢，好友金鈴則入司珍房，三好發奮圖強，夜晚向金鈴兼學做首飾之法，二人各有所成。後因私下替何采女修整金釵，被王貴妃怪罪，不料卻因禍得福，被郭皇太后下令調往司珍房當掌珍。

感情方面，三好結識棋博士高顯揚，二人投契非常。一次，顯揚奉命迎戰日本棋士，勝負關乎生死，三好機緣巧合下與日本棋士有一席話，令其心結得解，以和局作結，顯揚得以保命。二人相處下，情愫暗生，但礙於三好宮婢身份，即皇帝的女人，情花難以有果，加上顯揚父親反對，關係膠著。另一方面，三好對小皇爺李怡曾經有一糖之恩，後來李怡登上皇位，三好本有機會離宮與顯揚開花結果，但二人重情重義，決定留在宮中扶助李怡對抗馬元贄。

及後，三好當上司珍，而金鈴亦心願得償，成為麗妃，但野心並未滿足，眼見三好與李怡友情漸濃，妒意日深，害怕三好有一日成妃成后會威脅自己，竟然犧牲多載友情，陷三好於不義。三好知悉金鈴奸計，痛惜友情已死，但仍本住一顆仁心，堅守亡母遺訓，心未有因怨恨而生惡念，最後雖身陷囹圄，仍心存善念，相信天公有眼，自有公道裁決。

... 源自：《宮心計》人物

Death, Samuel and Liza Hamilton!

2009-11-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

John Steinbeck wrote...

I have wondered why it is that some people are less affected and torn by the verities of life and death than others.
Una's death cut the earth from under Samuel's feet and opened his defended keep and let in old age.
On the other hand, Liza, who surely loved her family as deeply as did her husband, was not destroyed or warped.
Her life continued evenly.
She felt sorrow but she survived it.

I think perhaps Liza accepted the world as she accepted the Bible, with all its paradoxes and its reverses.
She did not like death but she knew it existed, and when it came, it did not surprise her.

Samuel may have thought and played and philosophized about death, but he did not really believe in it.
His world did not have death as a member.
He, and all around him, was immortal.
When real death came, it was an outrage, a denial of the immortality he deeply felt, and the one crack in his wall caused the whole structure to crash.
I think he had always thought he could argue himself out of death.
It was a personal opponent and one he could lick.

To Liza it was simply death - the thing promised and expected.
She could go on and in her sorrow, put a pot of beans in the oven, bake six pies and plan to exactness how much food would be necessary properly to feed the funeral guests.
And she could in her sorrow see that Samuel had a clean white shirt and that his black broadcloth was brushed and free of spots and his shoes blacked.
Perhaps it takes these two kinds to make a good marriage, riveted with several kinds of strengths.

Once Samuel accepted, he could probably go farther than Liza, but the process of accepting tore him to pieces.

[excerpts, East of Eden, Chapter 24, Part 1]

What I am Reading Presently: East of Eden!

2009-11-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

Presently, I am reading John Steinbeck's East of Eden, read Chapter 23 and into Chapter 24...

Here is the summary of these chapters:

Chapter 23:

In 1911, Samuel is stricken with grief after his favorite daughter, Una, dies shortly after moving to a remote area of Oregon with her husband.
When the Hamilton children visit Samuel and Liza for Thanksgiving, they notice that the previously youthful Samuel has suddenly aged significantly.
The children devise a plan get their parents off the ranch by taking turns hosting them for long periods of time.
Tom disapproves of the plan, saying it indicates to the aged Samuel that his life is essentially over.
The other children, however, like the plan and present the idea to Samuel as though it were a vacation.
Samuel accepts the plan but confides to Tom that he sees through it and realizes that his children are helping him transition into old age.

Chapter 24:

“[T]he Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’—that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open.”

Before he leaves his farm to stay with his children, Samuel goes to see Adam Trask.
Samuel talks to the twins, now eleven years old, and reflects upon the fact that the easygoing Aron (he has dropped the first A in Aaron) reminds him of Abel and the closemouthed Caleb reminds him of Cain.

Samuel, Adam, and Lee discuss the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
Lee says that he has been troubled by a discrepancy in the story that arises from two different translations of the Bible—according to one translation, God promises Cain that he will overcome sin; in another translation, God orders Cain to overcome sin.
According to Lee, the Hebrew word in question is timshel.
After researching the matter for several years, Lee has determined that timshel means “thou mayest.”
Lee considers this translation of timshel to be an extraordinary revelation, as it implies that God has given human beings the choice of whether or not to overcome sin—essentially giving humans the freedom to choose their course in life.

The men go for a walk, and Samuel asks Adam if he is happy.
Adam does not answer.
Samuel, hoping to force Adam to forget about Cathy, reveals to Adam that Cathy runs the most depraved whorehouse in the entire valley.
Overcome with shock, Adam hurries away.

... source: SparkNotes

泰國著名法醫普緹！

2009-11-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

.....

遊走太平間　普緹自我省視

彭雪琴

（吉隆坡12日訊）泰國著名法醫普緹不全然是一身炫耀打扮而引人注目，這位奇情女子在遊走在太平間與塵世間時，總能自我省視悟道，語鋒間磨鍊出閃著光芒的智慧。

最難忘：為下屬解剖

對普緹來說，最難忘的經歷是大海嘯。她說，當時大家都來不及準備，而她工作的場所聚集了成千具屍首。「我只能盡量在有限的情況下，為他們做到最好。」

普緹不曾為親屬「操刀」，但是，她最難過的經歷是為自己的下屬解剖。她說，就在去年於泰南發生的一場飛機事故，她的10位下屬喪生，而其中2位與她的關係非常密切，但她必須親自為他們解剖。

「我很難過，但是我必須堅強，我要支援其他人。」

退休後：當幼教老師

普緹今年54歲，她說，不曉得自己會工作到什麼時候，而在泰國，法醫可以一直工作到65歲。不過，若是退休，她將選擇成為一名幼教老師，因為她要教育下一代。

但她還是不會改變現在的形象：「我要告訴他們，世界是由內而外，不是從外部來評價。」

家庭生活：十年掌上明珠

談到家庭，普緹像一般女性一樣，揚起柔性的微笑，開懷表示她不介意談自己的女兒。「我等了10年才等到我的女兒，我也只有一個女兒，所以她的暱稱是 Ten（英文「十」之意），代表10年的等待。」她說，女兒選擇讀室內設計，而這是遺傳了她對藝術的喜好。她也說，藝術的喜好是她曾為法醫的原因之一，因為當她做特別的打扮時，死者不會投訴。

人生觀：為死亡做準備

普緹說，工作上對於生死的接觸，她有所感悟：「死亡的故事讓我有所感觸，我學習到如何管理自己的生命，如何為那（死亡）做好準備。」她說，泰國警方不喜歡她，但是大部分的人可以和她很好地相處，甚至蠻喜歡她。她認為，那是因為她總是誠懇待人。「很多人喜歡和我在一起，我想那是因為我的真誠，我從來不隱瞞些什麼。」

曾經患上癌症的普緹也說，癌症讓她放下不好的情緒，因為仇恨與氣憤將會使到癌細胞更快的擴張。她說，正面的態度很重要。

宗教信仰：信輪迴不盼重生

作為虔誠的佛教徒，普緹相信輪迴，但她不希望重生。她說，泰國人相信遭遇到不好的事情，就表示本身曾做了壞事，俗稱「因果報應」。

但作為佛教徒的她不那麼認為，她相信當面臨逆境時，那是一個學習的機會。「那是學習的機會，若能從中學習，就可從中獲益。」

服飾裝扮：不常如此光鮮

總是以一身超炫造型現身的普緹表示，她不是何時何地都會著鮮艷。「工作時，我喜歡穿著黑色，但是，到了週末或休假，我喜歡色彩繽紛的配搭，這樣的穿著容易搭配，我可以省點錢。」

她也說，她瞭解解剖的工作會讓一些相信鬼神之說的人畏懼她。不過，她相信通過特別的裝扮，可以讓人們減少對她的恐懼。

... 源自：東方新聞網

霍元甲！

2009-10-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

【历史人物】

霍元甲（1868年1月18日－1910年9月14日、得年42岁)，清末著名爱国武术家，汉族。
字俊卿，祖籍河北省东光安乐屯（属沧州地区），世居天津静海小南河村（今属天津市西青区南河镇，为纪念霍元甲这位名震中外的爱国武术家，经天津市民政局审核并报天津市人民政府批准，其故乡天津西青南河镇自2009年1月18日起更名为精武镇），为精武体育会创始人。
他的武艺出众，又执仗正义，继承家传“迷踪拳”绝技，先后在天津和上海威震西洋大力士，是一位家喻户晓的民族英雄，他的一生虽然短暂，但却轰轰烈烈，充满传奇色彩。

生平

霍元甲生在一个迷踪拳的世家。
父亲霍恩第以保镖为业，因霍恩第的秘踪拳出神入化，所以很多大商人都求他保镖，霍恩第只镖穷苦百姓、清白之人，对贪官污吏决不保镖。
霍恩第有三子：霍元英、霍元甲、霍元武，元甲排行第二。
据说霍元甲幼年体弱，父亲霍恩第不让他习武，可是霍元甲暗中练习，并在24岁那年5分钟之内击败了一位仅仅用三式打败了霍元甲的哥哥与弟弟的人。
之后霍元甲创办了迷踪拳。

霍元甲成年后在天津经营药材商店，后到上海办“精武体育会”（精武门），为发扬中华武术作出了巨大贡献。
在上海，他曾经在擂台上击败俄罗斯大力士（一说俄罗斯大力士被霍元甲亲自击败，另一说俄罗斯大力士听到霍元甲的名声放弃比赛）有一次日本一个大力士团来中国要求比试，霍元甲因病为理由派弟子刘振声接战比试，结果打败了日本力士。
“精武体育会”是1910年由霍元甲在上海创立的武馆，霍元甲在创立精武体育会之后数月内即逝世。
元甲被商会下毒而死。

霍元甲幼时体弱多病。
其父霍恩第是名显一时的秘宗拳师。
他担心元甲习武日后有损霍家名声，拒不授艺于他。
但元甲志存高远，他日日留心，处处参察，偷艺于父传兄弟之机。
苦练于舍外枣林之僻。
后为父知，受责。
元甲保证绝不与人比武，不辱霍家门面，方准父兄一起习武。
元甲天资聪颖，毅力惊人，功艺长兄亢进，在兄弟之中出类超群。
父见此，一改旧念，悉心传艺于他。
后元甲以武会友，融合各家之长，将祖传“秘宗拳”发展为“迷踪拳”，使祖传拳艺达到了新的高峰。
　　
光绪二十二年（1896年），山东大侠刘振声慕名来津，求拜于元甲门下。
霍察其正直，遂收为弟子。
从此破了霍家拳「传内不传外」的先例。
元甲侠肝义胆。光绪二十四年（1898年），谭嗣同变法遇难，大刀王五（王子斌）避难津门，与元甲一见如故，遂成至交。
后王子斌在京遇难，被八国联军枭首示众。
元甲与刘振声潜入京城，盗回首级，并取得《老残游记》作者刘鹗协助，将义士身首合葬，尽了朋友之义。

光绪二十七年（1901年），有一俄国人来津在戏园卖艺，他在报纸上登出广告，自称世界第一大力士，打遍中国无敌手。
霍元甲见了广告，并听说俄国人还当场信口雌黄，侮蔑中国人无能，极为气愤，当即邀怀庆会馆主人农劲荪和徒弟刘振声前往戏园，见到俄国大力士在台上吹嘘自己是“世界第一大力士”，“病夫之国”如有能者，可登台较量。
霍元甲在台下哪里还坐得住，不顾众人劝阻，一个箭步，气宇轩昂地跳上戏台，开门见山地说：“我是‘东亚病夫’霍元甲，愿在这台上与你较量”。
此时翻译将霍元甲生平来历告知俄国人。
此俄国人闻知霍元甲威名，不敢怠慢，连忙将霍元甲让进后台，霍元甲当场质责俄国人：“为何辱我中华？”并提出三个条件：一是重登广告，必须去掉俄国人是“世界第一”的说法；二是要俄国人公开承认侮辱中国的的错误，当众赔罪谢过；否则就是第三个条件：我霍某要与之决一雌雄，并命其当机立断，色厉内荏的俄国力士哪敢出场比武，只好答应了前两个条件，甘愿登报更正和公开承认藐视中国人的错误，从而灰溜溜地离开了天津。

宣统元年（1909年），英国大力士奥皮音（也称奥比音）在上海登广告，辱我“东亚病夫”。
霍应友人邀赴上海约期比武。
慑于霍元甲拳威，对方以万金作押要挟，元甲在友人支援下，答应愿出万金作押。
对方一再拖延，元甲在报上刊登广告，文曰：“世讥我国为病夫国，我即病夫国中一病夫，愿与天下健者一试”。
“并声言”专收外国大力士，虽铜筋铁骨，无所惴焉！
霍公之声威使奥皮音未敢交手即破胆而逃，连公证人，操办者也逃之夭夭。

1910年6月1日，霍元甲在农劲荪等武术界同仁协助下，在上海创办了“中国精武体操会”（后改名精武体育会）。
孙中山先生赞扬霍元甲“欲使国强，非人人习武不可”之信念和将霍家拳公诸于世的高风亮节，亲笔写下了“尚武精神”四个大字，惠赠精武体育会。
1910年9月，日本柔道会会长率十余名技击高手与霍较艺，败在霍的手下。
日本人奉以酒筵，席间见霍呛咳，荐日医为治，霍公一生坦直，不意中毒于9月14日身亡。
终年42岁。

霍元甲逝世后，当时精武会弟子和上海武术界爱国人士为霍元甲举行了隆重葬礼，敬献了“成仁取义”挽联，安葬于上海北郊。
转年，由弟子刘振声扶柩归里，迁葬于小南河村南。
上海精武会由元甲之弟元卿、次子东阁任教。
各地分会相继分起，十数年后，海内外精武分会达43处，会员逾40万之众。

有传说霍元甲被日本人下毒药害死之后，他的爱徒陈真替他报仇。
这个传说在1960年代末70年代初首次被李小龙搬上银幕（电影《精武门》，李小龙演陈真）。
但其实历史上并没有“陈真”这个人物。

此外还有有关霍元甲的长篇历史小说《津门大侠霍元甲》，作者：冯育楠，百花文艺出版。
通过作者考证的一些史料，基本再现了一代大侠霍元甲的风貌。

... 源自：百度百科

陈真！

2009-10-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

文学作品人物

陈真简介

陈真，相传是中国清末武术家霍元甲的弟子，在为被日本人害死的师傅报仇之后，被日本人杀死。
这个传说曾被多次拍成电影、电视剧。
很多影视作品都把陈真塑造成霍元甲的五徒弟，他不但身手高超，且在师父霍元甲死后，从日本回国来为师父申冤正名。
这个人物和霍元甲享有相当的声誉，以至于很多人都以为历史上确有其人。
事实上，历史上关于霍元甲徒弟的记载只有刘振声一人，关于陈真并无任何描述。
李小龙拍《精武门》时，曾邀请倪匡写剧本，而陈真也是倪匡想象出来的人物，并非确有其人．

影视中的陈真

李小龙：电影：《精武门》
梁小龙：电视剧：《霍元甲》
梁小龙：电视剧：《陈真》《陈真后传》
李连杰：电影：《精武英雄》
甄子丹：亚洲电视电视剧：　《新精武门》
陈小春：电视剧：《精武陈真》
吴樾：30集强档功夫巨片《精武英雄》

陈真--中国人心中的真汉子　

剧中人陈真面对日本人的枪口没有屈服，他宁死也不愿意向侵略者低头。
他是我心中的英雄，也是我们中华民族的英雄。
虽然陈真是死了，他用他的血激励起在每个中国人心中的精武精神，证明中国人并不是东亚病夫。
让我们永记：生为中国人，死为中国魂,扬我中华傲气，树我精武精神。

他完全是一个普通男人通过自我奋斗，走向成功之路的精神偶像。
家国飘摇的无情现实，更唤醒了他的大无畏精神。
悟出“侠之大者，为国为民”的深意。
锤筋锻骨的历炼成就了英雄陈真。
最后他用生命保卫了精武精神，枪声响过，豪气干云的陈真，是真的汉子。
在这个呼唤英雄的时代，陈真从古远的时光里走来，闯进了我们的视野，也填满了我们的心灵。

陈真的可能原型

霍元甲创立精武体育会不到半年就英年早逝，对精武日后的发扬光大只是起到了象征性作用，但在精武创立之初起到决定作用的人中，有3个人姓陈，可以断言，他们才是日后陈真这一英雄的来源：

其一陈其美，同盟会的元老级人物，与孙中山交厚，蒋介石的结义大哥，早年留日，入东京警监学校学法，回国后为同盟会在沪浙联络帮会，是青帮首领，辛亥革命后做到上海督军这样的高职，而蒋介石能有日后执掌国民党，真正为蒋与孙中山搭桥的是陈其美；为了与光复会争夺沪浙一带的领导权，陈其美指派蒋介石暗杀了光复会元老陶成章，他行事果断，心狠手辣，1916年被袁世凯暗杀。

其二陈公哲，同盟会会员，孙中山的同乡，早期的“精武四杰”之一，武功出众，为了精武会，不断的捐资散财，以致于家道逐渐败落。
在他的努力下，精武会于抗日战争前发展迅速，从上海到广州、港澳乃至东南亚、美国、加拿大等地都建起了分会。
是个文武兼备的社会活动家。
1920年精武会庆祝建会10周年，孙中山又应陈之邀为精武会题写了“尚武精神”的横匾，还给建会10周年特刊《精武本纪》写序文。

其三陈铁生，名绍枚，字铁生，广东新会人，同盟会会员，“精武四杰”之一，早年参加过南社。
亦任过上海精武体育会编辑，编有《技击丛刊》等。
1930年陈铁生曾出过武术专著《达摩剑》，去年还在台湾出过重印本，可见卓有造诣；1919年陈铁生曾因“义和拳”与当时如日中天的鲁迅笔战，又可见在文化界已非一般人物。

陈真的身世，应取自刘振声，带艺拜师；其性格应取自陈其美，敢想敢做不择手段，且有留日背景；其武功一定是取自陈公哲和陈铁生，着实的武术大家。
最让人感慨的还是“陈真”这样的电影真实如今差不多成了影迷们公认的历史真实，电影的力量有多大，看看这里就知了。

... 源自：百度百科

《巾幗梟雄》：柴九、柴九哥！

2009-10-23T02:38:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名 : 柴九（黎耀祥飾）

年齡 : 39

職業 : 米行雜工

性格：

觸覺敏銳，腦筋靈活變通，往往令他絕處逢生。為了生存可以拋棄尊嚴，不擇手段。為人心眼小，自卑感重，最痛恨別人看不起自己。生性記仇，有仇必報，心腸怨毒，別人罵一句話都可以記恨一世，而且必定雙倍奉還。一生中只佩服琦一人，對琦動了真情，與琦亦敵亦友，僅存的善良亦只在琦面前才會表露出來。
背景

九本為孤兒，被一婆婆執回來養大，從小在鄉間以務農為生，過著樸實的農家生活，對低下層的艱苦有深切體會。九從未到過大城市。後來一次大水災令鄉間的農地全數毁於一旦，災情甚為嚴重，鄉間各人只好離鄉別井，流離失所，九亦隨著飢民四處走避，為了填飽肚子無所不為，更不惜搶劫皇上的御米。

九終於流落到無錫，初到埗便因肚餓而殺了黑幫頭目鏗的黃狗，隨即卻受到鏗的欺凌，要他扮狗在大街上爬，又要他扮狗吠，受盡眾人恥笑，九無地自容，痛恨欺負他的人，一心想著他朝要向那些人報復，仇恨給了九生活下去的力量，日後九遇到更多令他憎恨的人。

九為了生活而加入慶豐年米業做雜工，生活艱難，為了與別人競爭，九不惜提出有食無工的條件。九終於在米行找到落腳之地，但九的遭遇並未有好轉，九自降身價，只求有食無工，因而受到其他工人的排斥。另一方面，米行大少文對工人刻薄成性，對九多番侮辱。文一向對工人待遇甚差。九多次因多添幾碗飯而受到文當眾責罵，九對文最為憎恨，奈何文是老闆，九有怨無路訴，只有記著文的種種不是，一心想著將來要向文報復。

九在蔣家雖然受盡屈辱，但琦最令九佩服。蔣家發生綁架事件，九猜出綁匪為誰人，琦希望九幫手，兩人合力散播消息說蔣家不會交贖金，終於令綁匪放人。九期後在多次事件幫助琦，處處顯露九為人聰明機智，琦遂晉升九為小管工。九感激琦的恩情，對琦大生好感。九處處維護琦，以自己是琦的親信自居，竟不放文在眼內，更發起工人罷工對抗文，事件令琦為難。九以為琦會幫自己，琦卻反而勸九不要生事，九一氣之下離開，到鏗身邊做事，其後鏗受其妹嬌的唆使趕走九，九無路可走下再次回到蔣家，文對九更為刻薄，九對蔣家的仇恨又再加深。

九一直想對蔣家報復，但苦無機會，等待多時，終於等到報仇的機會。九偶然發現文與鏗的情婦海棠有姦情，於是寫了一封告密信給鏗。事件揭發，鏗大動肝火，文大禍臨頭，九看在眼裡，樂在心頭。後來事件因嬌的阻止而平息，但文查出九是告密者，一怒之下打斷九的手，將九趕出蔣家。

九因告密姦情一事得到鏗的信任，得以加入鏗的幫會。憑著九的聰明博得鏗更大的信任，此時九已有野心，想取代鏗的地位。九終於等到一次機會發狠將鏗殺死，做了黑幫頭目。

九繼任黑幫頭目後第一件事就是要對蔣家報仇，但其時喬已死，由琦暫代當家，琦是九在蔣家中最佩服的人，九不欲與琦為敵，但琦卻偏要維護蔣家的人。九因此與琦不斷互鬥，其實九對琦一早已有感情，九與琦互鬥期間對琦的感情反而不斷加深，兩人的關係時敵時友，九因琦而多次放過蔣家，可惜琦對亡夫一往情深，從未忘情，對九只有表示感激。後來太平軍攻到無錫，慶豐年米業面臨最大危機，此時全靠九及時幫忙米行才得以逃過一劫。

... 源自：《巾幗梟雄》人物性格

《巾幗梟雄》：康寶琦、四奶奶！

2009-10-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名 : 康寶琦（鄧萃雯飾）

年齡 : 38

職業 : 米行暫當家

性格：

為人冰雪聰明，心思慎密，甚有識見。受父親教晦，有一顆慈悲的心。年青時歷盡劫難，磨練了琦的意志。性格堅毅不屈，外剛內柔，做人堅守信諾，對愛情執著，對喬用情專一。
背景

寶琦本名為寶燕，為南通知縣的掌上明珠，甚有教養。琦父為官清廉，愛民如子，甚受老百姓擁戴。琦從小見父著重農務，因希望百姓能有温飽，琦心底亦有此宏願。琦年青時便與喬互相愛慕，早已訂下婚約，將要共諧連理，奈何一次天災卻令兩人分別二十多年。

當年南通縣一帶大旱多月，百姓苦不堪言，甚至易子而食，生靈塗炭，災情刻不容緩。琦父不忍蒼生受苦，只好私下開倉偷取軍餉以救飢民，希望日後可以填補糧倉。奈何朝廷突派官員來查倉，琦父面臨危機。琦急向喬借米填倉，喬保證盡快送米解救。奈何喬卻未有依時送米，琦一家及有關官員難逃災劫，被滿門抄斬，琦幸得一監頭相救才大難不死，易名為寶琦，多年來隨著陳嬤嬤棲身於王府當廚娘，但心中對喬失約事一直耿耿於懷。

事隔廿多年，喬已是無錫米王，因救助飢民有功而得皇上賜御米宴，琦以廚娘身份隨王爺到無錫賜宴，冒死都要與喬相見，以解心中之謎。琦未與喬相認，其朝廷欽犯的秘密已被喬之妻儀所揭穿，向官員告密，琦被捕命危一線。喬挺身而出為琦求情，說出琦父為飢民而盜糧，其情可憫，亦說出當日失約實為父所阻，救不了琦一家而一生遺憾，琦見喬情深義重，大為感動。王爺為之動容，指皇法不可違，但琦五歲便入王府，並非喬口中所指的欽犯之女。琦得與喬重聚，喬雖已有三個夫人，但希望與琦重續未了之緣，終於嫁入蔣家為四姨太。

琦入蔣家後，儀及二奶奶嬌視琦為眼中釘，處處與琦作對，欲除之而後快。蔣家中只有三奶奶芳及其子正不好爭名奪利，較與琦親近。其實琦不欲樹敵，只想安守本份，奈何儀及嬌煽風點火，唯恐天下不亂，使琦不斷遇上難關。先有長子文捕禾花雀事件，幾乎弄至明年發生蟲禍，嚴重影響收成；之後又發生必武被綁架事件，琦因在王府見過同樣的事，知道綁匪為熟人，若交贖款後綁匪必會撕票，所以堅持不交贖款。眾人反對琦的主張，但琦仍堅持信念力壓眾人，又利用柴九威嚇嫌疑綁匪。後來武得以平安歸來，文又誇耀是自己的功勞，只有喬看在眼裡，佩服琦的識見及堅持，對琦更為信任。次子正生性重感情，心腸軟，被一女騙子丘敏呃了兩遍，仍想助敏，琦亦同情敏為勢所迫，將敏收為近身。

另一方面，長子文搭上黑幫頭目鏗的情婦海棠，此事令喬痛心失望，因而一病不起。喬憂心家業不知交由誰人打理，身邊只有琦可以信賴，臨死前將慶豐年米業交由琦暫管，希望琦可以找出接任的適當人選。琦堅負重任，背負著千斤重擔，琦對喬作了承諾，無論多辛苦都要做得到。儀及嬌見琦手執大旗，對琦自然更恨之入骨。

文、嬌不斷與琦搞對抗，令琦甚為難；外面亦潛藏著不少危機，令琦疲於奔命。九本來在蔣家打工，之前受盡文的欺凌，對蔣家甚為痛恨。九後來加入黑幫，發狠殺了鏗後取而代之，成為頭目。九第一件事就是要對蔣家不利。九在蔣家最佩服的人正是琦，本不欲與琦為敵，但琦因對喬許下承諾身負重任﹐無論多辛苦都要竭盡所能保護家人。九與琦不斷互鬥，不知不覺間卻鬥出感情來，與琦時敵時友，九對琦產生傾慕之情，但琦對亡夫一往情深，對九只有心中感激。

琦縱然面對重重困難，仍然咬緊牙關一一捱過，但她最大的心願是希望為喬找到合適的接班人。琦不斷細心觀察，終於發現正有和親之力，比文更適合成為蔣家接班人，遂決定委以重任！正生性逍遙，自然多番推辭，但琦沒有放棄，多番苦勸，正感於琦的苦心，終於答允任蔣家的繼承人。琦做到對喬的承諾，自感欣慰，竭力扶助正接掌慶豐年米行，希望正延續喬數十年的基業。

... 源自：《巾幗梟雄》人物性格

巾帼枭雄：故事大纲！

2009-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

偷開米倉全家問斬

清朝咸豐年間，京城王府廚娘寶琦跟隨王爺到無錫, 此行有機會令寶琦性命不保。但寶琦為解心中謎團，堅持冒險，為的是要見無錫米王蔣喬一面，因為當年二人曾有一段刻骨銘心的感情。

因蘇﹑浙發生水災，蔣喬傾盡一半家財，開倉救濟災民。皇上特派鐵帽子王爺率領家廚，以全席米宴賞賜蔣家。寶琦隨王爺來到蔣府，二人終於重逢。與此同時，有人揭發寶琦是朝廷欽犯。原來當年寶琦父親為南通縣官，管治米糧，因大旱失收，災民遍野。琦父毅然偷偷開米倉以軍餉救災，預備後來設法填補虧空。不料朝廷突然派遣官員來查察米倉存糧。寶琦急向蔣喬求助，蔣喬承諾將家中藏米急運填補虧空，不料蔣家世交之女，早對蔣喬鍾情的殷鳳儀知悉此事，即向喬父告密。喬父連忙趕去攔截蔣喬運米車隊，衝突間，蔣喬受傷暈倒。寶琦苦候，蔣喬最終沒有到來。

冒死相見再續前緣

朝廷發現米倉虧空，寶琦一家被定罪問斬，寶琦僥倖於混亂中逃脫。王府廚娘曾受康家恩惠，於是將寶琦收留於王府中，隱姓埋名以避禍。蔣喬無奈聽從父命，迎娶殷鳳儀。另因漕運發生問題，蔣喬與黑幫結交，納黑幫頭目胞妹彭嬌為妾。此外劉芳為保鏢之女，芳父為護送蔣喬而死，喬見芳品性善良，喪父之後無依無靠，遂納為三妾。

蔣喬共育有三子，長子必文為鳳儀所出，次子必正為劉芳所出，幼子必武則為彭嬌所出；必文於米行助父打理生意。劉芳出身寒微，亦怕槍打出頭鳥，所以自幼叮嚀必正，千萬不要爭權。必正生性豁達，愛交朋友，擔當米糧運送以求遨遊四方。

蔣喬與寶琦在王府重遇，寶琦被揭發欽犯身份，蔣喬拼死相救，家中妻妾力阻不果，王爺眼看就要將寶琦處死！蔣喬為救寶琦，慷慨陳辭，全場動容！王爺最後以妙計放過寶琦。

寶琦得以脫身，蔣喬為重拾前緣，決定迎娶寶琦！鳳儀﹑彭嬌大力反對，蔣喬以當年與寶琦有婚約，寶琦理應是正室，鳳儀反該為妾！眾人啞口無言，唯有接受寶琦嫁入蔣家作四姨太！蔣家妻妾互相傾軋，米行中亦暗起風雲。

流落異鄉受盡欺凌

柴九生於窮鄉僻壤，逃荒來到無錫, 被黑幫頭目彭鏗欺凌，及至柴九入慶豐年米行工作，必文刻薄，有食無工錢，受盡白眼，柴九心胸狹窄，心存怨憤，獨寶琦無階級觀念，柴九對寶琦略有好感。而在必武被綁架事件中, 柴九協助寶琦救出必武, 自此柴九更以四姨太的心腹自居。

必正碰到女騙子丘敏，遭丘敏騙財，必正知悉其只是為求生計，並非存心作惡。丘敏其後對必正生情，但遭家人反對，只有寶琦支持二人為所愛堅持。

內憂外患腹背受敵

必文垂涎黑幫頭目彭鏗的情婦海棠，並偷偷與之私通, 事情被柴九知悉，柴九早與必文結怨，一直伺機報復，於是揭發二人姦情，彭鏗大怒。蔣喬受重重打擊，不支病倒，病況嚴重。蔣喬知必文刻薄寡恩，難當重任，次子必正只懂感情用事，於是將當家之權交予寶琦，要寶琦當家，執掌家業！蔣喬逝世，寶琦當家，蔣家再次掀起波瀾！

鳳儀﹑彭嬌不服，是為內憂，柴九因揭發必文醜事，險遭暗殺，對蔣家怨氣十足，是為外患。寶琦頓時腹背受敵, 到底她如何面對這內憂外患? 又能否順利為蔣喬找到接班人, 以延續亡夫的數十年基業?

... 源自：故事大纲

IT IS EITHER ' HER WAY ' OR IT IS ' NO WAY ' !!

2009-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

...
This is quite interesting. ....
(To women) Please take time to ponder.....
(To men) Just enjoy the story.......

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom..

The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question was: What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man. And to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.

Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but first he would have to agree to her price.

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunch-backed and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc.

He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden.

But Lancelot, having learnt of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life. And the reservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered.

Arthur's question thus: 'What a woman really wants?'

She said, 'A woman wants to be in charge of her own life.'

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth, and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was. The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom. And Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and, Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was sitting by the bed.

The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth become her horrible and deformed self only half the time, and be the beautiful maiden the other half.

'Which would you prefer?' She asked him. 'Beautiful during the day .... or at night?'

Lancelot pondered the predicament.

During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch!
Or,
Would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day?
But by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous moments with?

(If you are a man reading this...) What would YOUR choice be?

(If you are a woman reading this...) What would YOUR MAN'S choice be?

And Lancelot's choice is given below...

BUT... please make YOUR choice first before you scroll down below... OKAY?
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Knowing the answer the witch gave to Arthur for his question, Sir Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time..

Because, he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.

Now... what is the moral to this story?
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The moral is...

1) There is a 'witch' in every woman, no matter how beautiful she is !

2) If you don't let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly !

So, be careful how you treat a woman and always remember:

IT IS EITHER ' HER WAY ' OR IT IS ' NO WAY ' !!
...

新宿事件！

2009-10-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

1990年代初期，鐵頭（成龍）是一名中国大陆的拖拉機司机，偷渡到日本，尋找自己在日本失去聯絡的女友秀秀（徐靜蕾）。偷渡過程中，鐵頭遺失了自己在中國的證件，成為一個沒有身分的人；他投靠先來日本的同鄉友人阿傑（吳彥祖），加入其他偷渡入境者，以打非法零工維生，直到發現秀秀已嫁給日本黑幫「三和會」的副会长江口利成（加藤雅也）。

鐵頭和其他來自中國大陸各地的打工仔，集資為阿傑買下一副攤販車；老實膽小的阿傑，卻為在柏青哥店作弊弄錢的朋友拖累，遭當店的台灣人幫派毀容並砍斷手掌。鐵頭為替阿傑報仇，潛入台灣人幫派老大捷哥（高捷）經營的俱樂部，卻意外目睹捷哥為三和會中人收買，暗算秀秀的丈夫江口。鐵頭及時出手，殺傷捷哥，救出江口，卻從此捲入日本的黑道鬥爭。

為了不再受人欺壓，鐵頭同意為江口賣命，刺殺暗算江口的三和會幹部；條件是江口須為鐵頭及其朋友取得日本居留權，並將原屬台灣人幫派地盤的新宿歌舞伎町交給鐵頭管理。事成之後，江口登上三和會會長寶座，鐵頭等人也取代台灣人幫派的地位；然而這也同時埋下了日後衝突的種子。

鐵頭用賣命換得的身分及財力，開始從事正當的农机贸易；阿傑等人卻在黑道路上越走越遠，吸收年輕人擴充勢力、包管店家、贩毒營利。前此一連串黑道仇殺事件引發社會關注，警方加大力道取締暴力集團；深知鐵頭為人的刑警北野（竹中直人）私訪鐵頭及其新女友麗麗（范冰冰），警告他們，警方已經盯上日漸囂張的中國人暴力團。鐵頭偕北野刑事前往勸說阿傑等人，反而激化眾人間的矛盾，衝突一發不可收拾。此時，江口的對手與台灣人幫派聯手反撲，正準備大舉突襲；一場錯綜複雜的黑道火拚一觸即發……

... 源自：维基百科 - 新宿事件

Vincent by 齊豫！

2009-09-19T23:51:00.000-07:00

.....

.....

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul...

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand
What you tried to say, to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free:
They would not listen; they did not know how --
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

Now I understand
What you tried to say, to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free:
They would not listen; they did not know how--
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you
But still, your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
On that starry, starry night
You took your life as lovers often do--
But I could've told you, Vincent:
This world was never meant
For one as beautiful as you.

Starry, Starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn, a bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know
What you tried to say, to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free:
They would not listen; they're not listening still--
Perhaps they never will...

[Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch Painter]

《溏心風暴》：故事大綱！

2009-09-18T02:34:00.000-07:00

草根富豪　富而不驕

上環文咸西街「唐記海味舖」在業界享負盛名，由一間小小老舖，發展成坐擁六億資產及物業之海味生意。坐擁數億身家的唐仁佳及正室凌巧，一家九口，為名副其實之草根富戶，故唐家並無豪門的冷漠疏離，反之一家和諧融洽。而主力維繫家庭溫馨的，正是唐家兩父子 - 人稱「大鮑細鮑」的唐仁佳及唐至安。

三十年前，佳把安拾回來收養，安生性豁達，從未為養子身份自卑，反之全心全意幫忙打理海味舖生意，亦把唐家上下當作自己親家人，對唐家事無大小盡心盡力，對自己的身世有著感恩的心。佳亦一直視安如己出，父子二人感情深厚。安「遺傳」了佳的個性，兩父子目標一致：努力令唐家齊齊整整，落力以歡樂感染全家。

佳性格和稀泥，家中各事望以和為貴，大事化小，一直致力建立一個既窩心又貼心之家。然佳身邊一個不容忽視的女人 - 王秀琴，卻為唐家埋下不少暗湧。琴為佳有實無名的妾侍，而佳之正室巧，持家有道，以理服人，深受唐家上下尊敬，唐家大小事項均以巧為最終「裁決人」；琴表面對巧恭敬順從，與巧情如親姊妹，內心卻對巧怨恨。

佳性格隨遇而安，對海味舖之生意不太著緊。而巧多年來與癌病抗爭，先後誕下兒子至逸及女兒至欣，一邊忙於照顧子女，一邊又為養病而奔波，海味舖之生意全交由親妹凌莉打理。莉多年前曾遇感情騙子，落得人財兩空，從此不再相信男人，只寄情工作，為海味舖出心出力，唐家由一間小舖發展成今日六億身家，全歸功於莉一人。但莉心中從無對唐家財產虎視眈眈，小心眼的琴卻一直認為莉有心分一杯羹，兩個女人面和心不和，經常勾心鬥角。

四角關係　糾纏不清

安偶然機會下認識欣的金蘭姊妹常在心及水明霞。心本是法律糸高材生，以當律師為夢想，上進勤奮。然心有一經常惹事生非之兄長常在德，把心當成人肉提款機，但心重視兄妹之情，一次又一次為德解難，加上心老父病重，心在重重壓力下被迫輟學。然並未放棄夢想，以半工讀方法繼續向夢想進發。

一次德又欠下鉅款要心幫忙，心硬著頭皮向安借錢解困，卻因一場誤會，心以為安抹黑自己，認定安品格低劣。幾番努力，安終消除心之誤會，二人言好，安更介紹心到鮑魚舖工作。二人朝夕相對，安漸愛上心。然心卻背負著一段放不低的感情，牽掛著一個想愛不能愛的人 - 程亮。亮為才華洋溢之律師，與心有過刻骨銘心的一段情。亮雖深愛心，無奈天性多情，最愛心卻不能只愛心一人，心忍痛與亮分手。心對亮放不低，二人糾纏不清，幾離幾合，心仍未能對亮忘情。安只有默默守候心，在心失落時陪伴在側，又常逗心歡喜。

另一方面，大情大性的水明霞，任職空姐，為時下典型之天生戀愛狂，卻屢遇人不淑，感情路上跌跌蕩蕩。尤幸天性樂觀，總能極速治癒情傷。後來卻暗戀上亮，與心的姐妹關係遂起變數。

沉迷孽緣　雞犬不寧

逸秘密向安借錢，安為好兄弟不惜兩脅插刀，爽快答允。未幾安竟發現，年少氣盛的逸，借錢的目的是為追求富商楊紹志之妻卓文麗！麗當年因貪慕虛榮下嫁志，與志的感情早已破裂。難得遇上逸的熱烈追求，二人愛得轟烈，打得火熱。

逸好勝，認為真愛無罪，無視唐家上下之阻止，繼續與麗交往。然紙包不住火，二人之戀情為傳媒揭發，頓成全港熱話。傳媒貼身追訪，令唐家上下受壓，波及琴等乘機挑撥離間，令唐家陰雲初現；唯獨巧心水清，知道麗已懷有逸身孕，非嫁入唐家不可，巧盡力拉攏唐家上下各人出席婚禮，逸成功迎聚麗，然一宗喜事卻是風雨陣陣的開始…

唐家鉅變　風起雲湧

唐家經歷幾許事變，已是烏雲密佈，各人心病重重，互不信任。時一個埋藏唐家多年的秘密終守不住，觸發唐家鉅變，把唐家的裂縫推向極點。原來安身世隱含極大秘密，琴意外地得知安身世之謎，工心計的她，故意佈局讓巧知道真相以刺激巧，巧感晴天霹靂，大受刺激，引致癌病復發，只餘兩個月性命。此時琴終現狐狸尾巴，先離間巧與莉之姐妹情，向巧告密，令巧知道原來莉一直隱瞞佳之私情。

後來巧過身，佳痛失愛妻傷心欲絕，引發輕微中風，琴立即安排佳與自己註冊結婚，虎視多年之唐家正室名份終到手。琴霸氣顯現，正式以老闆娘身份入主海味舖，要掌管海味舖一切事項，又把與自己有私情的常在德升任經理，與莉爆發連番衝突。琴另一方面繼續離間安與逸之兄弟情，令兄弟二人幾近反目。時佳才驚覺琴之野心，可惜為時已晚，佳更揭發琴與德之奸情，大受刺激，嚴重中風，機關算盡的琴，即與德隔離佳，阻止安及逸探望佳。

... ... 源自：《溏心風暴》故事大綱

《溏心風暴》：水擘擘！

2009-09-18T01:51:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　水明霞　（蒙家慧飾）

年齡：約２５歲

性格：
性格樂天開朗，不拘小節，仿如傻大姐，是一個笑口棗，更是一個天生愛情狂。
她對朋友重情重義，惟對愛情更為執著，遇上理想對像便主動爭取。
每次戀愛她都絕對投入，有時甚至同時投入於幾段感情之中，弄至自己喘不過氣來。

背景及經歷：
上環「四朵金花」之一，與心、草餅及欣等十分諗熟，時常出雙入對，高談闊論感情生活。
水是個空姐，時常飛來飛去，經常飛往東南亞泰國等地。
因其樣子標緻，所以被人暱稱為水擘擘，而且身邊的追求者眾，時常不乏裙下之臣。
雖然水身邊從來不缺乏追求者，有時她甚至同時與幾個人拍施，但水並不是濫情的人，她每一段感情都認真投入。奈何水卻遇不上合適的對象，對方不是對自己抱玩票性質，就是水終於發現原來並不真心喜歡對方，只是對方苦苦纏擾，因此水每次都落得失戀收場。
水每次失戀，她的世界便彷彿顛倒了。
每次都幸得心，欣及草餅等一班好姊妹支持才可安然渡過，水一失戀便會化身購物狂，胡亂花錢消費，破壞力驚人。
時常過後才懂得悔過，但為時已晚，身上已背負數萬元的咭數。幸好有心等人出手相救，在商場名店內及時制止。
另一方面，當水失戀時又會大吃大喝，失去節制能力，往往不顧後果，後悔莫及。
後來卻暗戀上亮，與心的姐妹關係遂起變數。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：心女！

2009-09-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　常在心　（鍾嘉欣飾）

年齡：約２５歲

性格：
性格倔強，是個說一不二的人，甚有個性，外人眼裡可能是一個好錢如命，十分吝嗇的古怪女子，其實家家有本難諗的經，心實是一個對家庭有擔戴的女子，家中有個惹事生非的大佬，令心的重擔百上加斤，心仍然表現堅強，每每忍氣吞聲，為家人解難。
但其實心底裡亦十分脆弱，渴望別人照顧，是一個外剛內柔的女子。

背景及經歷：
上環文咸西街「四朵金花」之一，與水、草餅及欣等十分諗熟，時常圍在一起高談闊論。四美當中，心本來是讀書成績最好的一個，但因家庭問題被迫輟學，只能在城大夜校進修法律，但她仍努力上進，希望將來可以當上律師，出人頭地。
心首次遇上安時，安欲以現金換回心手上的次等花菇，再贈送一包乾瑤柱碎，以免影響唐記海味的聲譽，安一心只想贈送一包乾瑤柱碎，但牙尖嘴利的心卻開口要兩包乾瑤柱碎，心貪小便宜的性格令安不禁留下很深的印象。
其後心再遇上安，原來安就是欣的大哥，安談笑風生的表現亦令心留下一定的印象。
再後來心因大哥常在德欠下債項而要向人借錢，剛巧水及欣都不在香港，心只好硬著頭皮開口向不太熟落的安借三萬元，而且更要求安不要追問借錢的原因，安竟然一口答應，本來這事情令心對安留下一個好印象，但後來因種種誤會，安以為心借錢是要用作賭波之用，一時晦氣向波提及，波後來竟當眾侮辱心，更叫心如果真的急用錢，可以出來當妓女，令心甚為痛恨安，誓要儘快還錢給安，更把法律課本及屋契都交給安作抵押。
後來，安終於從水的口中得知心有一個時常惹禍的大哥德，心借錢是為了替德還債，安因此而良心過意不去，多次向心道歉才能令心原諒自己。
當時心因財務公司的騷擾而辭掉了律師樓的工作，在惶恐之際安對心伸出援手，讓心可以在海味舖當會計的工作，亦讓心可以繼續完成城大校外進修的法律課程，心的內心對安不期然生出感激之情，更不禁對安的為人另眼相看；而安與心朝夕相對，亦對心生出一種不能言喻的感情來，可惜心的心內已心有所屬。
心的感情道路一直兜兜轉轉，原來心一直鍾情於之前律師樓一個年青有為的律師程亮，心一直深愛著亮，奈何亮生性不羈，每每見一個便愛一個，先有亮之前的女朋友出現，後來又有另一個新的情敵，縱然如此，但心始終未能忘記亮，多次與亮離離合合，令心十分痛苦，而這期間幸得安一直支持著她，終於令心重新做人。
而心亦嘗試與安拍拖，然而心卻一直害怕自己只將安當作愛情的代替品，所以心讀畢法律課程後，便離開安及唐記海味舖，出外過她的新生活，最終成為一位律師。
而安對心的心意亦全然明白，所以安然接受了這現實。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：舅父波！

2009-09-18T00:49:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　凌波　（阮兆祥飾）

年齡：３７歲

性格：
唐家子女都暱稱他為舅父波，為人好大喜功，貪財貪威，好賭成性，志大才疏，華而不實，好高騖遠，好逸惡勞，口甜舌滑，只懂仰巧的鼻息做人，不學無術，不切實際，自以為是，一直以為自己多年來都含怨受屈，唐家上下都有負於自己，所以怨氣甚深。

背景及經歷：
凌家的三少爺，凌巧及凌莉的弟弟。自小生於富貴人家，養成嬌生慣養的性格，貪威識食，好高騖遠，到頭來一事無成。
在凌家老父的心目中最擔心的就是波，臨終之前一直叮囑巧及莉務必要好好照顧這個細佬，以免他行差踏錯，巧及莉一口答應，而波一直捉著這借口來數落巧及莉，控訴著兩位家姐從來都沒有盡心盡力的照顧他這個細佬。波一直自以為多年來在海味舖勞心勞力，勞苦功高，貢獻最大，唐家上上下下卻只當自己有如海味舖的一個小什工，二萬多元的高薪在他眼中亦只如唐家的一點施捨。
波心中一直認為自己的家姐不幫自己，自暴自棄之餘，百無聊賴，更變成病態賭徒，終日留連馬會，看著場內的電視營幕賭波，時常欠下賭債，更偷取海味舖的鮑魚燕窩去還債，每次都是莉出面為波解除被解僱之危。
波一直以為別人虧欠他，他從不會設身處地回想自己的所作所為，其實巧及莉一直有給機會波嘗試發展，出錢出力讓波發展事業，但波每次都弄至失敗收場，有一次波見鮑魚的價格高企，曾想過炒賣鮑魚，結果入錯次等劣貨而令海味舖損失慘重。
波的怨恨心令他一度走上歪路，更與琴聯手在家中煽風點火，搬弄是非，令原本大好的唐家四分五裂。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：欣欣！

2009-09-18T00:43:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　唐至欣　（陳法拉飾）

年齡：約17歲

性格：
巧的親生女兒，唐家的掌上明珠。
一直是家中最細的細妹，猶如在溫室中長大的嬌花，從未受過風吹雨打，備受眾人的疼愛，任何事皆有三個哥哥為她分憂，所以形成她刁蠻任性的性格。
一有不如意的事便會向人撒嬌。
她對愛情一事更是如醉如狂，情竇初開的她眼中只有愛情二字，一心憧憬著愛情只是甜蜜的快樂事，希望自己早一日可以嘗到愛情的滋味。

背景及經歷：
唐家的細女，一直受盡家人的溺愛，尤其是三位哥哥及佳對這掌上明珠更是愛護有加，在家中與歡是一對活寶貝。
欣與心、水及草餅等三女合稱上環文咸西街「四朵金花」，四人情同姊妹，時常圍在一起討論異性，又會分享彼此的感情生活。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：歡仔！

2009-09-18T00:18:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　唐至歡　（黎諾懿飾）

年齡：約２１歲

性格：
琴的親子，修讀日本研究的大學生，本身活潑好動，好出風頭，在校內甚為活躍，時常參與課外活動。
為人樂觀鬼馬，是一個陽光型的大男孩，時常與佳駁咀，與欣是唐家中的一對活寶貝。

背景及經歷：
唐家的三子，是琴唯一的親生兒子，在家中往往似是較受忽略的一個，但歡從來不覺得是怎麼一回事，反而樂得逍遙快活，一直是家中的開心果，時常與佳駁咀，每事唱反調，這是他一貫扮演的角色。
反而琴將一切厚望都寄於歡身上，時常對歡與逸作出比較，但偏偏歡每樣事情都比不上逸，令琴對歡的前景更為著緊，這可是歡最苦惱的事情，但並沒有影響歡與逸之間的感情。
琴時常在家中興風作浪，亦令歡頭痛不已，他一直希望可以和安、逸及欣等一家人開開心心的生活，無分彼此，但琴卻偏要分清你我，令歡對這母親亦不免有些反感。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：Gilbert、阿嬌！

2009-09-18T00:08:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　唐至逸　（黃宗澤飾）

年齡：約２６歲

性格：
唐家的天之驕子，自視甚高，作風急躁，好高騖遠，好勝心強，唐家上下都對其寄與厚望。
逸剛留學回來，讀完工商管理碩士課程，回港準備大展拳腳，但家庭的守舊作風與他的計劃格格不入，後來終於與家人反目。

背景及經歷：
巧所生的親生子，本為唐家的長子，自幼萬千寵愛在一身，但巧教子有方，反沒有一般富家子弟的浮誇討厭之作風，與兄弟妹的感情亦甚深厚，尤其與安更是仿如親生兄弟一般。
在海外留學一段時間，養成逸獨立的性格，讀書成績優越，畢業的成績比不少外國學生更好，奪得一級榮譽學位，令他自視更高。
從小他就不喜歡海味舖那種古舊的經營手法，雄心萬丈，一直不想靠父蔭，倒希望自己可以創一番事業，白手興家，出人頭地。
他愛上城中富豪楊紹志之妻卓文麗，二人打得火熱，完全不理後果，愛得義無反顧。
逸利用私家偵探偷拍志在外偷情的照片以作威脅，志終於同意與麗離婚，這事成為城中的熱話。
逸將要迎娶麗的事向唐家上下宣佈，家人均感愕然，尤其波及琴等人煽風點火，逸不理眾人反對，誓要火速舉行婚禮。
而事件立即被傳媒大肆報導，只有巧一人覺得事情內有文章，原來麗已有了唐家的骨肉，所以逸才迫於早日娶麗入門。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：細鮑、得得地！

2009-09-17T23:49:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　唐至安　（陳豪飾）

年齡：約３０歲

性格：
生性貪玩，為人作風輕挑浮誇，尤其對女子更是口不擇言，常令人忍俊不禁。
性格與其父唐仁佳可說舉世無雙，十分相似，人稱“大細鮑”，而常掛在口邊的口頭禪“得得地”亦成為別人對他的暱稱。
安表面雖似毫不踏實，其實為人心地善良，腳踏實地，而且因自己是養子的關係，所以對於自己擁有的一切都懷著感恩的心。

背景及經歷：
被唐仁佳拾回來的養子，表面上是唐家的長子，但眾人皆知他的養子身份，但安對此一點都不介意，將唐家上下當作自己的一家人，更對這頭家事無大小盡心盡力，對自己的身世懷著感恩的心。
安從小便跟著佳，從佳身上學到的無非是他的浮誇作風，而安跟佳亦特別投契，家中上下都以大細鮑相稱兩人。
安自小不是讀書的材料，學識不多，但為人聰明，腦筋靈活，自小在海味舖長大，對燕窩海味的認識極其豐富，加上口才了得，所以吸納到一班忠實顧客支持，安因而成為莉及佳在海味舖的得力助手。
安表面上對一切都不著緊，玩世不恭，其實對家庭的觀念極深，一切都以唐家為重心，唐家上下開開心心就是安最大的心願。
因為安是養子，所以對佳及巧十分感激。
安對自己的親生父母雖然從來隻字不提，但其實亦想查出到底是何許人，所以當逸為他作了一個尋親網頁時，他雖不抱太大期望，但其實打從心底裡希望找出自己的親生父母。
安對心情有獨鐘，但可惜原來心早已心有所屬，一直鍾情於之前在律師樓工作時認識的律師程亮。
心一直深愛著亮，奈何亮生性多情，每每見一個便愛一個，先有亮之前的女朋友出現，後來又有另一個新歡。
縱然如此，但心始終未能忘記亮，多次與亮離離合合，令心十分痛苦，而這期間幸得安一直支持著她，終於令心重新做人。
而心亦開始嘗試與安發展，但心卻一直害怕把安當作愛情代替品，終於痛下決心離開安，而安對心的心意亦完全明白，所以安然接受現實。
唐家的爭產事件終於鬧至對簿公堂，安必須尋求心的幫忙，心終於成為安的代表律師。琴處處針對著安，說話不留情面，令安的內心甚為難受，但安一直念著親情，處處對她忍讓。
琴認定佳死前遺囑為偽造，心與安必須找歡及欣出庭作證，證明遺囑屬實，但歡與欣都為著自己的理由而不肯出庭，兩人在這場官司面對著很大困難。
心與安因爭產案的關係日夕相對，心真心真意的安慰安，而心的支持成了安在這段艱難時期最重要的鼓舞，兩人之間的感情與日俱增，此刻心終於發覺自己並沒有將安作為愛情代替品，心已分不清對安的是友情還是愛情。
而水亦同樣對安有情有義，安面對兩段感情到底如何抉擇？

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：細契！

2009-09-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　王秀琴　（關菊英飾）

年齡：約５２歲

性格：
表面溫順，處處為佳及巧著想，實則性格陰險，每事都算來算去，不甘有任何捐失，當初嫁給佳亦是因為家庭環境所迫，一切都只是為了希望得到唐家的身家。
為了得不到的名份，琴忍氣吞聲多年，一直到佳正式娶了琴後才真真正正的現出專橫真面目。

背景及經歷：
自小生於貧困的家庭，父母都視錢如命，令琴自小便渴望過舒適的生活，希望能夠嫁一戶好人家，令家人生活安定成了她的目標，奈何自己學識有限，只能成為一個小小的看護，但機會終究來了。
琴任職巧的私人看護期間，表現得十分乖巧，甚得巧的愛錫，而且處處都表現得為巧著想，令巧深信琴是一個好女子。
巧終於決定讓琴入門，嫁給佳為妾，但巧的癌症奇蹟般地康復了，一年盼一年，琴想成為唐家的正室無望，當佳的妾氏亦算是有個名份，但奈何天意弄人，政府又頒下法令，不得立妾，琴的希望正式幻滅，心中一直有這口烏氣出不了。
琴在巧的面前一直表現和順，不敢放肆，但一次旅行事件卻鬧得兩人不歡而散，琴一心想與佳去歐洲旅行，但事情總要對巧左隱右瞞，仿如偷情一般，令琴屈怨多年的怒火終於爆發，當著眾人面前數落巧，指她一直未有兌現當年的承諾，自己一直沒有名份，在外人面前抬不起頭做人。
後來巧終於以理服人，令琴知錯，巧更表示會在兩間舖上加回琴的名，怎料這次事件又起風波，令琴與莉不和，琴更數落莉奪了唐家的生意不放，從中可見琴這人貪得無厭，處處算著別人。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：莉姨！

2009-09-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　凌莉　（米雪飾）

年齡：約４５歲

性格：
為人心思細密，忍辱負重，重情重義，心地善良，對唐家及大姐凌巧可謂盡心盡力，視唐家子女猶如己出，愛護有加。莉打理唐家的事業打理得頭頭是道，井井有條，唯缺點是個性太過重情，往往會因個人感情而對親人出現護短的情況。

背景及經歷：
凌家的二小姐，凌巧的細妹，凌波的二姐。
三姐弟早年感情十分要好，而莉對大姐更是關懷備至，對弟弟凌波則有恨鐵不成鋼之感，但依然對他愛護有加，處處維護，結果反而寵壞了波。
在凌家老父的心目中一直最疼惜的就是莉，亦對莉最寄予厚望，但因一次感情上的創傷，令莉抱憾終生，終生似乎闖不過情字一關，亦因此事令巧與莉兩姐妹之間的感情有所磨損，這段情傷成為莉一生之中的一條剌，插進了心坎之中，拔之不去。
莉年少時曾鍾情於一個溫文有禮、成熟穩重的醫生，在莉心目中是一個理想的結婚對象。
莉情到濃時瞞著家人與那醫生轟轟烈烈的談了一場戀愛，當時莉本有出外留學的機會，在當年的社會來說十分難得，但她輕易的放棄了，而且更不理家人的反對，堅持要與那醫生遠走高飛。
她輕易就相信那醫生的種種甜言蜜語，偷走家中的所有現款，準備與那人離家出走。
此事令凌老父甚為痛心，最後更因此而一病不起。
那醫生奪得現金後便去如黃鶴，不知所終，從此再無出現。
莉終於深深悔究過來，回到家中向眾人道歉，凌老父雖原諒了莉的錯失，但病情日益嚴重，終於返魂乏術。
巧本來對莉極為欣賞及愛錫，以有這個妹妹為榮，但她為了盲目愛情而所作的一切，巧一直引以為恥，心中更一直怪責莉激死了凌老父，兩人內心的一條傷痕始終未能痊癒。
因為那一次深深的情傷，令莉無膽再投入一段新的感情，多年來只懂寄情工作，盡心盡力的替唐家打理生意，企圖以工作麻醉自己，亦打從心底裡渴望對巧作出少少的補償。
多年來感情的一片空白，令莉對愛情再沒有任何寄望，莉已把唐家的子女視如己出，對他們關懷備至，事無大小，無論讀書入學還是小小的病痛，莉都一定會盡心盡力為他們安排妥當，莉將自己一切的感情都傾注入唐家，將唐家上下各人當作自己的家人。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：大契！

2009-09-17T23:14:00.000-07:00

.....

姓名：　凌巧　（李司棋飾）

年齡：約５７歲

性格：
為人賢良淑德，知書識禮，做人甚有原則，凡事愛講道理，甚有威嚴，是唐家的一家之主。
在外人眼裡或會以為她保守專制，其實她凡事講道理，對唐家可謂盡心盡力，對唐仁佳更是有情有義。

背景及經歷：
出身於大戶人家的凌巧，自小追隨父親出入於上流社會，見盡社會上的各種人的真面目，人情世故自是了然於心。
巧做人處事每每有她的道理，別人可能一時之間未能明瞭，但隨後便能證明巧處理事情往往有其道理。
在巧的眼中，一生之中最重要的就是她的家庭。她對這個家可謂盡心盡力，而且做到面面俱圓，巧相夫教子，令到唐家父慈子孝，兄友弟恭。
巧對佳這個丈夫可謂關懷備至，處處為佳著想。
巧處處為人設想，但上天似乎要給她一點考驗。
巧與佳結婚不久便患上癌症，對於自己可能將不久於人世，憂心忡忡，因此而作出了一個重要的決定，結果影響了唐家日後的命運，最後更導致唐家兄弟反目，家不成家。
巧得知自己有癌症後，因擔心無人替她照顧佳，又擔心佳將來不知會娶一個怎樣的女人作繼室，所以巧安排自己的看護王秀琴作為佳的妾氏。
琴是自己所揀選的，因此巧認為對這決定可以心安理得。
怎料巧的癌症奇蹟般地康復，雖亦曾試過復發，但每次都可從鬼門關走回來，一直生存下來，而琴在唐家無名無份的尷尬身份對巧來說是一種虧欠。
當巧的癌症康復後，早已想讓佳立琴為妾，但奈何在一九七一年政府已頒下禁令，不準再有立妾的行為，琴無可奈何之下與佳成為有實無名的夫妻。
琴的內心因此一直有一根刺，而巧亦自覺對琴有所虧欠。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

《溏心風暴》：大鮑、鮑飽、唐仁龜！

2009-09-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

....

姓名：　唐仁佳　（夏雨飾）

年齡：約５８歲

性格：
沒有遠大的抱負，但為人樂天知命，自認是幸福的男人，在家享盡齊人之福，有大小老婆照顧，在外的事業則有姨仔莉為他打理得井井有條，甚麼都不用他操心。
性格優柔寡斷，時常拿不定主意，貪玩好威是其性格的缺點，但對家庭的觀念極為重視，對兒女的希望亦已寫於他們的名字上－ “安，逸，歡，欣”，對佳而言，沒有任何事情比快樂更為重要。

背景及經歷：
從事海味行業數十年，在行內甚有地位，唐記海味舖是業界內信譽超卓的大商戶。
開業數十年來，由上環文咸西街的一間老舖，發展至現在數間分店，手上更有三十多間舖作收租之用，身家多達六億。
唐仁佳有現今的身份，身家及地位，這些都不全然是他自己的功勞，他可說是一個幸運的人，本身並沒有什麼過人之處，但因待人熱誠，又心地善良，對顧客或是生意顆伴都從不欺詐，所以本身亦有一定的號召力，能建立起唐記海味舖的信譽。
唐記海味舖之所以得以發展至現在的規模，主要是唐仁佳背後的兩個女人：凌巧及凌莉。
當年唐仁佳娶了凌巧，凌家本身已是大戶人家，憑著凌家的資本讓唐仁佳在上環開了第一間主舖，賺了第一桶金。
而往後的日子裡，擅於管理生意的凌莉為佳打理海味舖，又懂得投資買舖收租，所以令唐家的身家日漸豐厚。
唐仁佳的江山可算是這兩個女人為他打回來的。
因此，唐仁佳表面上雖是唐家的一家之主，但其實往往被別人在背後取笑他是老婆奴。
在家中掌權的是巧，而在海味舖的管理人則是莉，但唐仁佳對此從不介懷，他的性格永遠安天樂命，從不會怨天尤人，故此他的生活反而樂得逍遙。
只是有時細老婆王秀琴時常在家中搬弄是非，到處煽風點火，令他時常左右做人難，夾在巧與琴的中間成為磨心，家無寧日是他最激心及心煩的事情。

... 源自：《溏心風暴》人物性格

Male menopause: Myth or reality?

2009-09-16T06:05:00.000-07:00

.....

Male menopause is a catchy phrase, but it isn't necessarily accurate. Here's why.
From MayoClinic.com

Hormone changes are a natural part of aging. Unlike the more dramatic hormone plunge that occurs in women during menopause, however, hormone changes in men occur gradually — over a period of many years. Here's what to expect, and what you can do about it.

Debunking the male menopause myth

The term "male menopause" is sometimes used to describe decreasing testosterone levels related to aging. Female menopause and so-called male menopause are two different situations, however. In women, ovulation ends and hormone production plummets during a relatively short period of time. In men, hormone production declines more gradually. The effects — such as changes in sexual function, energy level or mood — tend to be subtle and may go unnoticed for years.

So what's the best way to refer to so-called male menopause? Many doctors use the term "andropause" to describe aging-related hormone changes in men. Other terms for so-called male menopause include testosterone deficiency, androgen deficiency of the aging male and late-onset hypogonadism.

Understanding male hormones over time

Testosterone levels vary greatly among men. In general, however, older men tend to have lower testosterone levels than do younger men. Testosterone levels gradually decline throughout adulthood — about 1 percent a year after age 30 on average. By about age 70, the decrease in a man's testosterone level can be as much as 50 percent.

Still, it's important to have a thorough medical evaluation before attributing low testosterone to normal aging. Left untreated, various medical conditions — such as obstructive sleep apnea — may decrease testosterone levels.

Recognizing low testosterone levels

Some men have a lower than normal testosterone level without signs or symptoms. For others, low testosterone may cause:

Changes in sexual function. This may include reduced sexual desire, fewer spontaneous erections — such as during sleep — and infertility. Your testes may become smaller as well.
Changes in sleep patterns. Sometimes low testosterone causes insomnia or other sleep disturbances.
Physical changes. Various physical changes are possible, including increased body fat, reduced muscle bulk and strength, and decreased bone density. Swollen or tender breasts (gynecomastia) and hair loss are possible. You may experience hot flashes and have less energy than you used to.
Emotional changes. Low testosterone may contribute to a decrease in motivation or self-confidence. You may feel sad or depressed, or have trouble concentrating or remembering things.

It's important to note that some of these signs and symptoms are a normal part of aging. Others can be caused by various underlying factors, including medication side effects, thyroid problems, depression and excessive alcohol use. A blood test is the only way to diagnose a low testosterone level.

Feeling your best

If you suspect that you have a low testosterone level, consult your doctor. He or she can evaluate possible causes for your signs and symptoms and explain treatment options. You can't boost your natural testosterone production, but these steps may help:

Be honest with your doctor. Work with your doctor to identify and treat any health issues that may be causing or contributing to your signs and symptoms — from medication side effects to erectile dysfunction and other sexual issues.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. Eat a healthy diet and include physical activity in your daily routine. Healthy lifestyle choices will help you maintain your strength, energy and lean muscle mass. Regular physical activity can even improve your mood and concentration and promote better sleep.
Seek help if you feel down. Depression in men doesn't always mean having the blues. You may have depression if you feel irritable, isolated and withdrawn. Other signs of depression common in men include working excessively, drinking too much alcohol, using street drugs or seeking thrills from risky activities.
Be wary of herbal supplements. Herbal supplements haven't been proved safe and effective for aging-related low testosterone. Some supplements may even be dangerous. Long-term use of DHEA, for example, may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Treating aging-related low testosterone with testosterone replacement therapy is controversial. For some men, testosterone therapy relieves bothersome signs and symptoms of testosterone deficiency. For others, however — particularly older men — the benefits aren't clear. The risks are a concern as well. Testosterone replacement therapy may increase the risk of prostate cancer or other health problems. If you wonder whether testosterone injections or other testosterone treatments might be right for you, work with your doctor to weigh the pros and cons.

©1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.

.....

修緣！

2009-09-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

一個好友電郵了以下的詞句給我...

好好活，慢慢拖，一年還有一萬多；
不要攀，不要比，不要自己氣自己；

少吃鹽，多吃醋，少打麻將多散步；
按時睡，按時起，打拳跳舞健身體；

只要能吃飯，錢就不會斷；
不要嫌錢少，就怕走得早；

官再大，錢再多，一樣都得進土窩；

一個中心：以健康為中心；
兩個基點：糊塗點，瀟灑點；
四個忘記：忘記年齡，忘記疾病；忘記恩怨，忘記過去。

人生其實就是碰碰胡......緣，
碰對了方向，光彩一輩子；碰對了環境，舒坦一輩子；
碰對了時運，順當一輩子；碰對了愛好，充實一輩子；
碰對了愛人，幸福一輩子；碰對了師長，收獲一輩子；
碰對了領導，寬鬆一輩子；碰對了朋友，樂呵一輩子；
碰上了神仙，還有下輩子。
願你全碰對！

.....

中元節！

2009-09-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

..... 在此聲明，以下是作為一般的知識，提供給大家作為參考，並不代表本人的信仰思想！

中國自商代（公元前1600年—公元前1046年）以降，就非常相信鬼神。
雖然在他們的信仰中除了人鬼之外，還有天神和地祇的存在，但是卻以「人鬼」作為中心信仰。

中元節，即是和人鬼有密切關係的節慶。
因此我們將從中元節的由來、中元節的傳說、中元節的意義，以及中元節有關的活動等方面來探究這個屬於鬼月的大日子—七月十五日中元節。

（一）中元節的由來

「中元」之名起於北魏，中元節又稱「鬼節」或「孟蘭盆會」。
根據五雜俎的記載：「道經以正月十五日為上元，七月十五日為中元，十月十五日為下元。」
修行記說：「七月中元日，地官降下，定人間善惡，道士於是夜誦經，餓節囚徒亦得解脫。」
佛教也在這一天，舉行超渡法會，稱為「屋蘭瑪納」（印度話ULLAMBANA）也就是孟蘭會」。
孟蘭盆的意義是倒懸，人生的痛苦有如倒掛在樹頭上的蝙蝠，懸掛著、苦不堪言。
為了使眾生免於倒懸之苦，便需要誦經，佈絕食物給孤魂野鬼。
此舉正好和中國的鬼月祭拜不謀而合，因而中元節和孟蘭會便同時流傳下來。

（二）中元節的傳說

有關中元節的傳說很多，最主要的有—閻羅王於每年農曆七月初一，打開鬼門關，放出一批無人奉祀的孤魂野鬼到陽間來享受人們的供祭。
七月的最後一天，重關鬼門之前，這批孤魂野鬼又得返回陰間。
所以七月又稱鬼月。目蓮救母的故事：佛陀弟子中，神通第一的目犍蓮尊者，惦念過世的母親，他用神通看到其母因在世時的貪念業報，死後墮落在的惡鬼道，過著吃不飽的生活。
目犍蓮於是用他的神力化成食物，送給他的母親，但其母不改貪念，見到食物到來，深怕其他惡鬼搶食，貪念一起食物到她口中立即化成火炭，無法下嚥。
目犍蓮雖有神通，身為人子，卻救不了其母，十分痛苦，請教佛陀如何是好。
佛陀說：「七月十五日是結夏安居修行的最後一日，法善充滿，在這一天，盆羅百味，供巷僧眾，功德無量，可以憑此慈悲心，救渡其亡母。」
這便是台灣普渡拜「好兄弟」的由來。

（三）中元節的意義

從有關中元節的傳說中，可深切體認到中元節的祭祀具有雙重的意義在，一是闡揚懷念祖先的孝道，一是發揚推已及人，樂善好施的義舉。
這全是從慈悲的角度出發，很有人情味。
所以，我們在慶贊中元的同時，應該跳脫鬼的角度，期勉互愛。

（四）與中元有關的活動

中元節的藝文活動最主要的有—

普渡拜拜—七月十五日下午，大家便開始準備黃昏的大拜拜。
祭壇上各種牲醴及水果擺上幾百盤，殺豬幾十條甚或百多條，米穀整卡車，魚山、內山聳立著，極盡鋪張能事，與「做醮」相同。
另請和尚或道士登壇作法誦經，引渡孤魂野鬼，回歸天地，有時也上演鍾旭道捉鬼等民間戲曲。

孟蘭盆法會—七月十五日是佛教所謂的結夏安居修行的最後一日，法善充滿。在這一天的法會中，和尚誦經，盆羅百味，供養僧眾，功德無量。

除了善渡拜拜、孟蘭法會外，還有「搶孤」、「放水燈」、「立燈蒿」等藝文活動。
這些雖然並非各地年年舉辦，但仍是中元節頗受重視的藝文活動。

七月間節門、中元普渡，可說是從慈悲的角度出發，認為孤魂野鬼無人祭祀，統一在每年中元節祭拜，很有人情味。
所以我們宜利用此一節日宣揚「博愛」、闡揚「追遠」、發揚「好施」的情懷，如此才具有實質的教育意義。

..... 源自：中元節

農曆七月十五日！

2009-09-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

..... 在此聲明，以下是作為一般的知識，提供給大家作為參考，並不代表本人的信仰思想！

農曆七月十五日（有些地方，尤以中國南方，是七月十四日，相傳是宋代末年蒙古人入侵某地，居民為逃難而提早一天過節），道教稱為中元節，佛教稱為盂蘭盆節（簡稱盂蘭節），民間俗稱鬼節，七月半。

在漢字文化圈不少地區都有相關的節日活動，“先数日，市井卖冥器靴鞋、幞头帽子、金犀假带、五彩衣服。以纸糊架子盘游出卖。”〔《东京梦华录》卷八，“中元节”条〕。

相傳這一天，地獄大門打開，陰間的鬼魂會放禁出來。有子孫、後人祭祀的鬼魂回家去；無主孤魂就到處遊蕩，徘徊於任何人跡可到的地方找東西喫。所以人們紛紛在七月，以設食祭祀、誦經作法等事舉行「普渡」，以普遍超度孤魂，防止它們為禍人間，又或祈求鬼魂幫助治病和保佑家宅平安。

因此一些地區在這一天有普渡的習俗，稱為「中元普渡」，後來更發展為盛大的祭典，稱為「盂蘭勝會」。

佛教典故

依照佛家的說法，农历七月十五日這天是僧徒功德圓滿的日子，佛教徒在當天舉行「盂蘭盆法會」供奉佛祖和僧人。

據大藏經的記載，「盂蘭盆（ullambana）」是梵語，「盂蘭」意思是「倒懸」；「盆」的意思是「救器」，所以，「盂蘭盆」的意思是用來救倒懸痛苦的器物，衍生出來的意思是：用盆子裝滿百味五果，供養佛陀和僧侶，以拯救入地獄的苦難眾生。這種儀式最早從南北朝時代目連救母的功德法會中開始流行。

相傳目連的母親做了很多壞事，死後變成了餓鬼，目連知道後十分傷心，就運用法力，將一些飯菜拿給母親食用，可是飯一到母親口邊就化為灰焰，釋迦牟尼佛告訴他，必須集合眾人的力量，於每年七月中以百味五果，置於盆中，供養十方僧人，以此般功德，其母方能濟度，目蓮依佛意行事，其母終得解脫。

後來這目連救母的傳說形成一種民間習俗，並逐漸演變，從供養僧人演變成供養鬼魂。每年到了農曆七月中，人們都會宰雞殺鴨，焚香燒衣，拜祭由地府出來的餓鬼，用以化解其怨氣，不致於為禍人間。久而久之，就有了盂蘭盆節這一節日。

道教說法

道家全年的盛會分三次（合稱為「三元」），認為「三元」就是天官、地官及水官「三官」的別稱，正月十五、七月十五以及十月十五各為三官大帝的誕辰。

正月十五日稱為「上元」——主要是舉行賜福的儀式。
七月十五日稱為「中元」——用以赦免亡魂的罪。（中元法事是為亡魂赦罪，但是絕對不能完全解除罪孽，只是減輕了一些，希望他們早日安息。）
十月十五日稱為「下元」——是為有過失的人解除厄運。

相傳七月地獄大門開放一個月，所有的無主孤魂全從陰間出來，到陽間接受人民的供養，因此各地方都紛紛在這一個月舉行「普度」的祭祀儀式。

從前，各地輪流進行普度，把七月的每一天安排得滿滿的，據說引起孤魂野鬼的酗酒、毆鬥事件；後來有些地方普度便統一在中元正日七月十五舉行。

不過閩南、台灣並不從此風俗，在七月的每一日皆有人舉行祭典。在台灣，1952年起，國民黨政府大力推動「掃除迷信」政策，管制台灣民間信仰儀式與佛教、道教等宗教活動，以「節約拜拜」為名，要求民眾於七月十五日中元節當日，統一普度，不過此令幾無人遵守。

民間信仰與祭典

中元普渡

在诸多华人社会如中國大陆、香港、澳門與台灣、新加坡等，中元是相當重要的民俗節日，不少人會在舊曆的七月初一到七月卅日之間，擇日以酒肉、糖餅、水果，甚至全豬（閩南語俗稱神豬）、全羊等祭品舉辦祭祀活動，以慰在人世間遊玩的眾家鬼魂，並祈求自己全年的平安順利。
較為隆重者，甚至請來僧、道誦經作法超度亡魂。
也有人會在這段時間，請出地藏菩薩、目連尊者等佛像放置高台、或請道士、藝師扮演驅魔大神鍾馗（有的是請藝師操控鍾馗之懸絲傀儡），以消弭死者亡魂的戾氣。

祭拜亡靈之前，會先祭拜一位名為面燃大士的神祇，信徒多尊稱其為「大士爺」、「普渡公」。
相傳舊曆七月，所有在陽世的亡靈，都歸「大士爺」管理。
關於「大士爺」，佛教說法有數個：一是祂是觀音大士的化身，故稱「大士爺」。二是祂原為諸鬼的首領，因受觀音大士教化而皈依其門下，從此被稱作「大士爺」，成為護持中元普渡事項的神明。
道教的說法則是太乙救苦天尊化身「面燃鬼王」，為陰間諸鬼之統帥，也負責中元節監督亡魂受領陽間香火事宜。
另，靈寶派等一些派別不是請「面燃鬼王」監齋，而是有「何將軍」、「喬將軍」兩神分任此職。
如宋末元初林靈真所撰《靈寶領教濟度金書》寫為「北魁玄範府神虎何、喬二大聖」。

華人社會則多採佛教說法，各類法會多以佛教形式塑造大士爺神像：「頂生二角、青面獠牙，高大威武，頭上還有一尊觀世音菩薩佛像，象徵其代表慈悲的觀音大士」。
有些慎重的信徒，在中元節時會以紙紮出大士爺塑像，也有些用牌位、畫像、木石雕像祭祀，並將大士爺神位或神像放置供桌之前，以求祭祀順利，待到七月一過，一般會火化大士爺像、位，送其登天。
在南洋，華僑風俗，中元普渡時，會懸掛寫著「南無渡幽拔苦阿彌陀佛」或「南無分衣施食阿彌陀佛」之類字樣的幢幡於大士爺神像之側，甚至是神像手上；如書「渡幽拔苦」之類字句是希望佛祖引領亡靈往生佛國，若寫「分衣施食」等等詞彙，則指祈請阿彌陀佛助大士爺，平均分配紙錢、衣物、食品予眾家亡魂。

閩南人、台灣人習俗，中元節祭拜時，會在各水域先放流燈火，迎接到來的亡魂，幫亡魂照路，邀來同享香火，號稱「水燈」。
多是以紙糊如宮殿形，中有蠟油點火，內有一置彩色三角形紙旗，號稱「普渡旗」，該旗以毛筆寫上「慶讚中元」、「廣施盂蘭」、「敬奉陰光」、「冥輝普照」等「中元敬語」字樣，並寫上自己的姓名，讓好兄弟（閩南語對亡魂的敬稱）知曉是哪家施主所供奉，也有直接寫在燈上而不用旗者。
俗謂水燈漂浮愈遠，該施主愈得庇佑。

而閩、台擺桌祭拜普渡，又分成「公普」（又稱「聯普」，全聚落、團體或廟境居民聯合舉辦）與「私普」（個人或單一家庭、機關舉辦），舉辦時供桌上也會豎立「寫有中元敬語與施主姓名」的「普渡旗」，並在每一項供品插上一炷香，也會在供桌下放置香皂、毛巾與盛滿清水的面盆供「好兄弟」梳洗。
許多抽菸者，還會點菸插在香腳上，推己及「魂」，供「好兄弟」吞雲吐霧，別有一種人情味。

閩南人地區在中元節還有一特別儀式，稱為「搶孤」，將供品或旗子放置高柱上，將柱子塗滿油脂，令眾人同爬其柱，先得旗、物者勝。
不但能取得獎品，且代表自己會得到神鬼的祝福。
不過這是一項危險性很高的活動，時有傷亡，在台灣清治時期，台灣巡撫劉銘傳曾令禁止。
今日在台灣的頭城與恆春、香港福佬社群舉辦的盂蘭勝會依然有此儀式。

祭祖

民間信仰相信，祖先也會在此時返家探望子孫，故需祭祖，但祭祀活動一般在七月底之前進行，並不局限於特定的一天。
某些地區通過一定儀式，夜晚接祖先靈魂回家，每日晨、午、昏，供三次茶飯，直到七月卅日送回為止。
送回時，燒紙錢衣物，稱燒「包衣」，或佛門或道教的超度法事。
在江西、湖南的一些地區，中元節是比清明節或重陽節更重要的祭祖日。

早期華北世家居士，在中元節祭祖時，則盛行「盂蘭三佛爺懺」的一種法事，在家門庭前，塑立三寶佛像，聘僧念經，張燈結彩為祖先祈求冥福。
其信仰意義為：希望先供養釋迦佛以減輕先人的業報；再祈求藥師佛使祖先不再受病痛折磨，最後希望阿彌陀佛接引先人到西方淨土。

..... 源自：维基百科

The Sword of Damocles!

2009-09-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

.....

The Sword of Damocles has been a legend since the ancient times yet its lesson endures without end.

Historians first attribute it to Timaeus of Sicily in the 3rd century BC although it is believed to be much older than that. It was included in his forty-book history of Sicily, now unfortunately lost.

The Roman statesman, lawyer, and orator Cicero used the anecdote in his book Tusculan Disputations.

King Dionysius

The legendary famous sword story opens in the court of King Dionysius, strongman and tyrant of Syracuse in 4th century BC. King Dionysius ruled with an iron fist on the citizens; his cruelty was known far and wide in the kingdom.

His palace’s halls were great in splendor, sprawling in majesty, and lavish in ornaments. The King was not moderate in his lifestyle. He bedecked his court with the trappings of wealth—sparkling jewelry, opulent clothing, sumptuous and choicest food.

He was surrounded with servants ready to spring to his side to do his trivial biddings. He was considered at that time by his contemporary the luckiest man on earth.

Damocles

King Dionysius liked to hear praises offered onto him for his ego was without any satisfaction. He asked that flatterers be hired to compliment him day in and day out. One of these flatterers was Damocles. He was seized by the magnificence of the palace and the extravagance of the court so much that he so desired to live like a king, like King Dionysius, even just for a day.

Upon hearing this King Dionysius called Damocles and offered him to be king for a day. Damocles agreed right away.

Damocles a king for a day

King Dionysius ordered that Damocles be given the best of everything. A table filled with delectable food was prepared before him. He was placed in a couch wrought from gold, covered with the most expensive fabric, and adorned with beautiful needlework.

His tableware was made from purest of silver, glinting in gemstones. Perfumed incense was burning, flowers were arrayed grandly, and winsome boys were waiting for his orders. With luxury all around him, Damocles ate his festive repast.

Sword of Damocles

Damocles however, in the middle of his meal, noticed a sword hanging over his head. To his terror, it was fastened only by a single hair of the horse! His appetite was immediately gone. He could no longer touch his plate, look at his handsome attendants, or reach the table. At that very moment, Damocles understood how great men and kings and tyrants were in constant threat of death in spite of their power and affluence.

He begged King Dionysius for his leave and wanted no more to be a king.

... source

Kopi Susu - Sandra Reemer!

2009-09-08T02:04:00.000-07:00

Barbara Alexandra "Sandra" Reemer was born on October 17, 1950 in Bandung, Indonesia. She is a Dutch singer of white Dutch, Chinese and Javanese extraction. ... source

She was 13 when she cut this album way back in the sixties...

Read more about Sandra Reemer...

Kopi Susu is strong local coffee with condensed milk, which is very popular throughout Southeast Asia. It is a must-drink for many in the morning...

Here's the lyrics: ... source

KOPI SUSU

kopi susu gula pasir, kopi susu gula di panci }x2
jikalau nona cintalah sungguh sayang }x2
aduh jiwa sayang }2x
jiwa manis terbayang-bayang

kopi susu gula pasir, kopi susu gula di panci }x2
suruh menyuruh tentu saya mahu sayang }x2
aduh jiwa sayang }x2
jiwa manis terbayang-bayang

ulang semula / repeat all

.....

Criminal Minds: Spencer Reid!

2009-09-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

... continued

Who is Reid? His Character Development by Season...

Season 2 ... continued

Episode 2.06 "Boogeyman"
Reid tells Morgan about how he talked to Elle before she shot William Lee and that she was drinking.
He blames himself for not saying anything to someone.
Morgan tells him that Elle made her own choice, and that it's on her and not him.
We also learn that Reid doesn't like eating spinach and that he is afraid of the dark.

Episode 2.11 "Sex, Birth, Death"
Reid is sought out by a young man, named Nathan Harris, who shows the warning signs of one day becoming a serial killer.
At the end of the episode, Nathan cuts his wrists while with a prostitute, leaving Reid's business card on a table beside him.
The prostitute calls Reid's number and he and Garcia arrive in time to save Nathan's life.
Another great moment between Gideon and Reid - what if Nathan does become a serial killer? "Then you catch him."

Episode 2.14 "The Big Game"
Reid and JJ go to the house of a suspect, Tobias Hankel, and split up.
Reid goes behind the barn and into a cornfield where he overhears Tobias talking to himself.
He is hit over the head, captured and held hostage by Tobias.

Episode 2.15 "Revelations"
Reid is held hostage and drugged by Tobias as the rest of the team races to find him.
Footage of Reid being tortured is placed on the Internet.
During dilaudid-induced unconsciousness, Reid sees scenes from his childhood and this causes him to confess to Tobias that he had sent his schizophrenic mother away.
Tobias drags Reid out and forces him to dig his own grave.
Reid gets a hold of Tobias' gun and shoots him.
Reid takes some dilaudid off of Tobias' dead body.

Episode 2.17 "Distress"
Still dealing with the trauma of Georgia, Reid focuses his anger on Prentiss, repeatedly snapping at her throughout their search for an UnSub suffering from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Reid himself continues to display some possible symptoms of PTSD, most notably his irritable reaction to the loud noise of the city-wide construction around them.

Episode 2.19 "Ashes and Dust"
During a briefing, Reid likens the arsonist to a drug addict, saying that "it would be almost impossible for him to quit without help."
The comment draws stares from Gideon, Hotch, and Morgan, making Reid uncomfortable.

Season 3
Episode 3.02 "In Name and Blood"
Reid worries about Gideon and goes to his cabin to check up on him.
The cabin is empty, except for Gideon's gun, badge, and letter.
The letter is addressed to Reid, apologising for his actions.
It is also in this episode that Reid's possible drug addiction is mentioned again, when Hotch tells Prentiss "another [agent] might have a serious drug problem which I didn't report."

Episode 3.03 "Scared to Death"
Reid and the team wonder why Gideon left the letter for him specifically.

Episode 3.05 "Seven Seconds"
Reid helps Morgan interview Katie's (the missing girl) cousin.
He was the last person to see her before she went missing.
Reid does a great job interviewing the boy and in the last interview reveals some of his personal life to the boy.
He talks about when he first started noticing girls at 13 in an effort to get the boy to open up.
He also shows empathy at the end when he tells the boy whose parents have both been arrested that they (the team) will make sure he is okay.

Episode 3.12 "3rd Life"
At the end of this episode, Reid goes to the high school where the father is going to kill the UnSub.
The father shoots the UnSub in spite of Reid's efforts to talk him down, leaving Reid standing in shock as the father (a State's witness), walks away without being charged.

Episode 3.16 "Elephant's Memory"
In this episode, Reid identifies with the UnSub, Owen Savage on all levels.
Reid admits to Morgan that when he was a high school freshmen, a girl, Harper Hillman, approached him in the library and told him the most gorgeous girl, Alexa Lisbon, wanted to meet him behind the field house.
When he arrived, Alexa was there with the entire football team.
They stripped him naked and tied him to a goal post.
Everyone there laughed at him and he begged them to help but nobody did.
He finally got free and went home at midnight to find his mother having an episode, so he never told anyone what had happened.
Morgan is the first person he's ever told.
Reid also tells Hotch that being the smartest kid in school also meant being the loneliest.

Season 4

Episode 4.03 "Minimal Loss"
Reid and Prentiss go undercover to a cult ranch where they are held captive.
Press leak that an FBI agent is in the compound, prompting action from the cult leader, Benjamin Cyrus, who first suspects Reid.
However, Prentiss willingly gives herself up as the agent and is subsequently beaten by him.
Feeling responsible, a regretting Reid is later assured by Emily that what Cyrus did wasn't his fault and that it was her decision to reveal herself as the agent, helping Reid regain his peace of mind.

Episode 4.07 "Memoriam"
Reid meets his father after 17 years.
He discovers his father worked only 10 minutes away from him.
Reid has Garcia hack his father's computer and he learns his father has collected all articles and information on Reid since he left him and his mother.
Believing his father to be involved in the murder of a young boy named Riley Jenkins - who had been on the same softball team as Reid - Reid undergoes hypnotherapy and recovers memories of his father burning bloody clothes.
He interrogates his father, leading Morgan and Rossi to believe he's taking out his personal frustrations.
Diana Reid reveals that the real murderer was likely a pedophile named Gary Brendan Michaels who had approached a then-four-year-old Reid while playing chess, causing Diana to become suspicious.
She had informed Riley's dad, who then murdered Michaels while Diana was outside.
Diana returned home where William Reid helped cover it up.
William admits that the knowledge of what had transpired had become too big of a burden for him to stay with Reid and his mom.
When Reid asks why he didn't come back, William admits he had lost his confidence and didn't know how to handle Reid any longer.
At the end of the episode, Reid returns home to discover JJ has given birth to baby Henry, and he is asked by JJ to be the godfather.

Episode 4.20 "Conflicted"
Reid remembers his abduction by Tobias Hankel when dealing with another UnSub with multiple personalities, and he feels guilty for not being able to notice it in time to save Adam (the submissive personality) and the other victims.
At the end of the episode, he is shown helping Amanda (Adam) to find Adam´s personality.

Episode 4.24 "Amplification"
Reid risks his life to save innocent victims after a deadly strain of Anthrax is released into the air.
He refuses to let the doctor give him any narcotics because of his past drug addiction to dilaudid, and suffers through the pain.
He has Garcia record a goodbye message for his mom in case anything happens to him.
He helps solve the case while trapped inside the house the Anthrax was found in, and is later seen in an ambulance, suffering from aphasia (inability to speak properly), and coughing blood - all symptoms of the Anthrax.
At the end, he is seen in a hospital bed while Morgan eats his Jell-O.

Trivia

No main characters, except for Gideon and JJ, have called him by his first name in normal conversation. The only other person to call him Spencer is his mother.

In all seasons, Reid is often portrayed as wearing his watch over his shirt sleeve, regardless of whether it is a light shirt or a thick sweater. This is a typical gifted trait - gifteds are often oddly sensitive to things like clothing tags and jewelry against their skin.

Reid read the book Empty Planet, by Ursula Kent when he was six. He remarks that it would take him ten minutes to buy and reread.

Reid is the statistical expert of the team. In "Ashes and Dust" Prentiss asked him if he had a percentage of arsonists that are caught. He had to admit he did, although he tried to be vague by saying "few" in an effort to be conversational. It didn't work.

Reid has also proven himself to be a magician, a Star Trek nerd and a coffee (with plenty of sugar) addict.

Spencer Reid wears mismatched socks. So does Matthew in real life.

Reid's favorite movie as a kid was 'Babar'.

Reid prefers Mozart over Beethoven.

Reid is very freaked out by baby kicks.

The topic of his dissertation in engineering was "Identifying Non-obvious relationship factors using cluster weighted modeling and geographic regression."

His doctorates are in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering. He also has BAs in Psychology and Sociology, and is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy.

During the episode 4.07 'Memoriam', Garcia tells Reid that his father stores in his computer everything ever published online about Reid. The four stories below are the transcripts of the ones who appeared on her screen while she said that.

One Down, Two to Go
A year ago I wrote a story on young Spencer Reid who had just graduated college... at the age of sixteen! It is rare for such a young student to fulfill their undergraduate but to go on the following year and achieve his doctorate degree in Mathematics the next is a bit unheard of.
"I'm thinking this next year I'll go for either Chemistry or Engineering. I haven't decided where I want to focus my energy just yet," says the young super-genius. When I ask why he chose Cal Tech over MIT and Stanford, he quickly runs down a list of Professors he had a desire to study with. He makes no mention of the weather or girls.
"There was a week or two where I thought I might go to Yale to study the Classics," he says. "But then I realized I've already read everything they teach in the curriculum." Sound absurd? It is, until you remember he can read 20,000 words per minute. How does that skill translate to math equations, I ask. "Surprisingly well," he says. "Once you've taught one part of your brain to concentrate to focus, it frees up energy in another part of your brain which can give you a certain lucidity. Time begins to stand still relatively, of course."

BAU's Newest Member
By Paul Milworth
It's not everyday the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI accepts a new member to their elite team. Even more rare is the addition of a 22 year-old to the team.
"Agent Spencer Reid has a gifted mind," said team leader Special Supervisory Agent Jason Gideon, whose own resume dates back to the very beginning of the BAU. "He is young, and while he has never served in law enforcement, I see him as an integral part of the future of the BAU."
Others in the FBI community are surprised such a young man would be named to the FBI's elite, but when asked, Agent Reid had this to say. "My age is not the issue. Certainly, when dealing with an emotional situation it can be difficult to accept bad news. It's one of the reasons logic needs to become a more prominent state of being. Logically speaking, I'm the most qualified for the job."
Indeed, with three doctorate degrees from Cal Tech already, and a staggering IQ of 187 (higher than Einstein's, reportedly) as well as an eidetic memory, there is no psycho-logical exam or test the FBI could put in front of him he could not ace inside of an hour.
But what about the social aspect of the job? Knowing how to talk to victims' families and dealing with local police are two facets law enforcement types will tell you are impossible to learn from a book. "It's one of the reasons I have brought him aboard," said Gideon. "With a little tutelage and some field experience there will be nothing Agent Reid will not be able to accomplish with this team."

Fed Saves Railroad Passengers
By Rose Tamlyn
USNTNews.com
One Security Officer had already been shot and killed. The FBI Agent, who happened to be on the train, was handcuffed to her chair. The stand-off, which took place yesterday in a train car in Texas, could have ended far worse, authorities say.
"I only went in because I felt I had the best understanding of the suspect," said Special Supervisory Agent Spencer Reid. "In these situations, you have to first of all understand who it is you're dealing with in order to save as many people as you can. Fortunately for us, we were able to save almost everyone."
When asked how he handled things once inside the train, Reid said simply, "Delicately."
Doctor Ted Bryar, a physics professor in the midst of a psychological break, was put into custody after being rushed to the hospital, suffering a gunshot wound from another passenger. The passenger, whose name is being withheld by the FBI, had brought the gun on board, and waited for what he judged to be the opportune time to use the weapon.
"We do not condone the actions of the passenger who shot Doctor
[Note: The text is not entirely shown.]

FBI 'Crucial' in Finding Madison Child Killer
By Stanley Hartdale
Four children were dead. A fifth had gone missing. The small town of Madison locked all its doors, windows and even cancelled little league games.
The Sheriff was exhausted. The Deputies were stressed and at a loss for things to say to members of the community who just wanted to know when they're children would be safe again.
"I called in the FBI because I felt I had done everything within my own abilities to put an end to all this," said Sheriff Donalds.
"When our help on the case was requested I was handed the file so that I could do a routine assessment of the case," said Supervisory Special Agent Spencer Reid. "It became clear to me, about half way through the file; this was a serial and it wasn't going to stop any time soon. So we came out to Madison and we were able to help."
Help indeed. Before they were even here. Agent Reid was on the phone with Sheriff Donalds warning him of another abduction. Sure enough, about an hour later he received a call that another child had gone missing. Normal protocol was thrown out the door.
"Normally we wait a few hours, but given the prior kidnappings and the advice from Agent Reid we were on the case immediately. He gave us ideas of how to differentiate a missing child from one who had just wandered off for a few hours. By the time they got here, they were half way to solving the case."
The parents of the recovered child, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed their gratitude to Agent Reid and his team. "Without you we would be lost without our child."
Agent Reid dismissed their thanks amiably, adding, "It's our job to help when we see fit. This was one of those times the threat was imminent and we acted. It's a win for us."

... source