my cousin belle came to visit from mainland china a few days ago. my mom and uncle saw her off yesterday morning.
my mom told me that she was waiting in a line while my uncle and cousin belle were doing something else. my mom stroke a conversation with the person in front of her. the stranger asked her what are they doing there. my mom told him that her and uncle were there to "see her niece off". she's so happy while telling me this tonight. she felt she was talking real English then. She deserves to be happy. Her effort finally paid off! She also told me that she talked to my sister and asked my sis what to say in the same situation. my sis told her to use send away. I thought send her away is not as good as see her off. hehe, this probably adds to mom's happiness. though i don't think i could come up with a better one than my sis right on spot like that, either.
oh, and before she went to bed tonight, she called aunt Pei Lan. during the conversation, same question of how to say see her off came up. aunt immediately answered, "see her off". Ah ha! that's tripling mom's excitement! she's a purist in studying English!
Friday, April 30, 2010
On Peace of Mind
"On my head pour only the sweet waters of serenity. Give me the gift of the Untroubled Mind."
Once, as a young man full of exuberant fancy, i undertook to draw up a catalogue of the acknowledged "goods" of life. As other men sometimes tabulate lists of properties they own or would like to own, i set down my inventory of earthly desirables: health, love, beauty, talent, power, riches, and fame.
when my inventory was completed I proudly showed it to a wise elder who had been the mentor and spiritual model of my youth. Perhaps I was trying to impress him with my precocious wisdom. Anyway, i handed him the list. "This", I told him confidently, "is the sum of mortal goods. Could a man possess them all, he would be as a god."
At the corners of my friend's old eyes, I saw wrinkles of amusement gathering in a patient net. "An excellent list," he said, pondering it thoughtfully. "Well digested in contented and set down in not-unreasonable order. But it appears, my young friend, that you have omitted the most important element of all. You have forgotten the one ingredient, lacking which each possession becomes a hideous torment."
"And what," i asked, peppering my voice with truculence, "is that missing ingredient?"
With a pencil stub he crossed out my entire schedule. Then, having demolished my adolescent dream structure at a single stroke, he wrote down three syllables: peace of mind. "This is the gift that God reserves for His special proteges," he said.
"Talent and beauty He gives to many. Wealth is commonplace, fame not rare. But peace of mind -- that is His final guerdon of approval, the fondest insignia of His love. He bestows it charily. Most men are never blessed with it; others wait all their lives -- yes, far into advanced age -- for this gift to descent upon them."
----------------Joshua Loth Liebman
(錄自: 英美名家散文選, 陳淑玲編譯, Bruce S. Stewart 校閱, 學習出版社)
Once, as a young man full of exuberant fancy, i undertook to draw up a catalogue of the acknowledged "goods" of life. As other men sometimes tabulate lists of properties they own or would like to own, i set down my inventory of earthly desirables: health, love, beauty, talent, power, riches, and fame.
when my inventory was completed I proudly showed it to a wise elder who had been the mentor and spiritual model of my youth. Perhaps I was trying to impress him with my precocious wisdom. Anyway, i handed him the list. "This", I told him confidently, "is the sum of mortal goods. Could a man possess them all, he would be as a god."
At the corners of my friend's old eyes, I saw wrinkles of amusement gathering in a patient net. "An excellent list," he said, pondering it thoughtfully. "Well digested in contented and set down in not-unreasonable order. But it appears, my young friend, that you have omitted the most important element of all. You have forgotten the one ingredient, lacking which each possession becomes a hideous torment."
"And what," i asked, peppering my voice with truculence, "is that missing ingredient?"
With a pencil stub he crossed out my entire schedule. Then, having demolished my adolescent dream structure at a single stroke, he wrote down three syllables: peace of mind. "This is the gift that God reserves for His special proteges," he said.
"Talent and beauty He gives to many. Wealth is commonplace, fame not rare. But peace of mind -- that is His final guerdon of approval, the fondest insignia of His love. He bestows it charily. Most men are never blessed with it; others wait all their lives -- yes, far into advanced age -- for this gift to descent upon them."
----------------Joshua Loth Liebman
(錄自: 英美名家散文選, 陳淑玲編譯, Bruce S. Stewart 校閱, 學習出版社)
Thursday, April 08, 2010
designs in games that i think is extremely interesting
for oni, the fighting system and the movement design. i have no need to say anything about the fighting system. i think the movement design has a great potential to become a great platformer.
for bushido blade, the weapon system, one hit kill, and body damage design. weapon system was flawed, yet, it's fun. timing and reaction in the weapon system is very important in the series. one hit kill is really fun. but i wonder what would happen with a defense mechanic that players will need to participate. maybe it would be too hard to play? body damage design, is awesome addition to the animation and test for players skill and will.
blade of darknes, the weapon fighting, cutting limbs and head off design. i think the weapon fighting in the game is flawed. but many of its ideas are wonderfully portrayed. for example, the WASD + attack plus super combo is a great idea. cutting limbs and head off is awesome.
prince of persia sands of time series, platforming, gorilla boss fights. i actually intent to call PoPSoT's platforming as navigation system. because in a sense, its platforming is not as free as Mario in 3D. but the level design for this kind of navigation is just superb. i could never forget about he gorilla boss fights in PoP WW. i feel the design give players great sense of control and freedom.
Mount and Blade series, weapon fighting system, level design, mod. it's weapon fighting system is so wonderful, the only flaws are that there' re no fancy combos, and i could not think of a good way to fuse the system with Oni's fighting system. level design is wonderful. the macro level is a stroke of genius! modding is another way to add value and longevity to the game.
for bushido blade, the weapon system, one hit kill, and body damage design. weapon system was flawed, yet, it's fun. timing and reaction in the weapon system is very important in the series. one hit kill is really fun. but i wonder what would happen with a defense mechanic that players will need to participate. maybe it would be too hard to play? body damage design, is awesome addition to the animation and test for players skill and will.
blade of darknes, the weapon fighting, cutting limbs and head off design. i think the weapon fighting in the game is flawed. but many of its ideas are wonderfully portrayed. for example, the WASD + attack plus super combo is a great idea. cutting limbs and head off is awesome.
prince of persia sands of time series, platforming, gorilla boss fights. i actually intent to call PoPSoT's platforming as navigation system. because in a sense, its platforming is not as free as Mario in 3D. but the level design for this kind of navigation is just superb. i could never forget about he gorilla boss fights in PoP WW. i feel the design give players great sense of control and freedom.
Mount and Blade series, weapon fighting system, level design, mod. it's weapon fighting system is so wonderful, the only flaws are that there' re no fancy combos, and i could not think of a good way to fuse the system with Oni's fighting system. level design is wonderful. the macro level is a stroke of genius! modding is another way to add value and longevity to the game.
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