Saturday, January 01, 2022

Some stories, or recollections

 我媽媽是民國四十七年到台灣的。  當時,剛到的一段時間,台灣警備屬(好像是)還經常找外婆去喝茶。 感覺上,母親家從大陸到台灣在生活品質上,是降了不知道幾級。  當時他們從基隆港登岸。  之後就住到台北的汐止。  當時他們從小學五年起開始讀,因為,當時要考初中的。  他們需要一點時間來準備。  媽媽的身體一直都不好,小時候曾經食物中毒,所以她同年級的人都要去課後補習。外公外婆雖然也有付錢給老師,但是媽媽說他都沒有去補習。  這種情形下,他和外婆在一起的時間就變得比佩蘭阿姨和舅舅大概多一些。

媽媽在大學的時候常參加各種活動。  這些活動有時要當眾表演唱歌,輪到媽媽的時候,他說他都跟別人說他唱印度歌, 其實是印 「肚」 歌,只在肚子裡唱歌,別人聽不到的。  他說他當時都不敢在別人面前唱,所以發明了印度歌。。。  別人都拿他沒辦法。  

媽媽一輩子也做過一些不同的工作。  但是他自己最喜歡的工作是在頭城當老師。  他常常說他自己很受學生的愛戴,他自己也很愛那些學生。  那時,他回到南昌街的時候,跟外婆談起這個事情,眉飛色舞。  可是外婆顯然不希望他到宜蘭頭城教書,媽說外婆很不適應媽媽不在身邊。  另外,佩蘭阿姨也向媽媽抱怨,因為之前媽媽在的時候,很多事情都不需要佩蘭阿姨動手。  媽媽在頭城的時候, 佩蘭阿姨這時就得幫外婆做些事情。  但是他很不習慣。  外婆也不習慣, 聽媽媽說外婆寫了信給外公,意思大概是沒有媽媽在,不行。  媽媽在家裡的外號是 「管家婆」。  於是外公就寫信和之前在台灣的上司,一位姓歐陽的先生替媽媽在一個聯營辦事處(*不確定)找了一個職位。  媽媽說那是他最不喜歡的工作。  根本沒有事情做,大家只是聊天。  媽媽說他不是那種會講話的人,因此也不受到歐陽先生的喜歡。  沒幾下,就被調到圖書館了。  媽媽說圖書館也是沒事幹, 他在那邊認識了一個叫蔡寶珍(*名字猜的)的女孩,很喜歡打扮化妝, 其他的館員也是一樣。  媽媽說自己沒事幹,就只是在旁邊健身走路。  這樣下去不是辦法,連外公都同意。  於是,據說是劉淵幫外公替媽媽在某一個日本的單位找到事。  於是媽媽就去日本了。  結果,事情沒弄好,不知道是位置沒有空缺還是連公司都沒有。  於是媽媽就從日本回家了。  沒有想到的是,一回家就收到通知單,說她兩三年前去考的立法院聽寫員,之前只是個候補。  但是,現在有空缺,要他去工作了!  那也是媽媽最驕傲的一個職位。   

服利蓋

I watched Freeguy last night  It was  a fun movie.  Lots of references to video games, it was hilarious.  It reminded me of Trumanshow at first, then ReadyPlayerOne.  TrumanShow because the main guy is being watched by the world.  RPO because it's about video game.  I still think it closer to TS more.  

RyanReynold fits the movie really nice.  I felt the story was basically created with him in mind.  The actress is really good.  Although she looks different between real world and video game, her personality does not change a bit.  I actually like that.  Because I think it made ending more believable.  She's always working towards a goal, thus did not see what's really surround her.  The ending was handled a bit heavy handed, for I don't think it's necessary to tell the audience reason again.  But because of her personality, it's good to tell her about who the real FreeGuy coming from.  The Keys guy was really a low key character, but it contrast well with Ryan's character,  I felt FreeGuy as a flip side of the Keys character once I found out it's him who created the world.  It's such a good contrast.  People who cannot express well but has the talent to create something, they sometimes created an ideal version of themselves.  

I think it's very good fun movie just to loose myself in there for 2 hours without feeling the time.  This movie may not seem too serious but it is really well made.  It's not easy to fuse two world together, they did a good job!  

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

給人拿了,我還挺高興的

 I did a video 10 years ago.  But then it got removed from my channel for the copy right infringement.  I wasn't even aware of the removal at the time.  I was not happy about it, of course.  I had a lot of fun doing the video.  But then I don't know when, I found my video hosted by somebody else.  I felt humorous about the situation though I was happy that the video is still on the web.  

The video was totally inspired by one picture that shows up through out the video.  A kitty and a cub sitting side by side.  That picture immediately reminded of the old tales from my youth.  It's good that at the time, I had collected so many pictures from online which I used to make the video.  The convenience and variety of my collection really helped the process.  The whole video was rough of course.  But one of the most memorable aspects of making this video was that some of my cat's photos were used to make the video.  

My cats were gone now.  But his pictures were alive on web in a way.  I am really happy.  Because I could watch the video from anywhere. 

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Thoughts on Growing成長路uprecording

 I did a recording of a book I really liked when I was young.  這本書叫做, 成長路。  作者是一個烏森人。  我從小就很喜歡聽故事,小時候一套 HanShengTongHua was always on when I had lunch at home.  Now think back, I feel it's an important part of my education for the development of speech, thinking, and behavior as well.  From last year, when I first thought about how I loved audiobook and its role in my early development.  I thought there're so many good writings in Chinese that 應該要成為有聲書。  有聲書可以讓人一邊做菜,一邊聽。  這些文章裡的用詞也因為常常聽,發音和詞句的應用也可以自然而然的變成腦子的一部份。  

成長路這本書實在翻譯得很好。  我在這段錄音期間查了一下作者是誰,發現作者汪班(當時的筆名袁永),他目前好像在紐約從事崑曲教學。  我想他對於戲曲的研究和愛好,可以使他在翻譯時更傳神的表達原作者的語意。  

我一開始錄音的時候,還滿雄心壯志的。  一方面, 故事裡的作者出身非常基層,非常貧困。  我覺得他和我們一般認識的烏森人是不一樣的。  我們認識的外國人都是很有名的人,不是政治人物,科學家就是企業家,再不然就是藝術家。  當我想起這些人時,都是烏森最美好的畫面。  但是這本書的作者卻不是,因為他的出生是那麼貧困,他所看到的烏森也不是我們一般人在電影電視和各媒體所看到的。  他看到的社會其實才是真正的烏森大多數人所看到的。  有很多窮困,有暴力,有溫情,有閒言閒語,有瞧不起,也有努力工作。  這些都是小市民的生活。  我當時就很希望可以一邊撥放錄音, 一邊把一般烏森人日常照片幻燈片似的同時撥放。  應該還蠻有趣的,而且作者的文筆不諱不隱,而又帶著烏森舊時社會的幽默感。  但是,my goodness, it is not an easy task.  I tried on some videos, but the result wasn't very successful.  I did a similar video for a short story of HanShengTongHua 10 years ago.  I could put different images for different plot twists, that way I felt it would be more interesting to see the video for the images meanings.  But here, it seemed I could not duplicate the same thing.  Because plot twists and daily life pictures described in each chapter is not that easy to come by in one image.  It will take a lot of time and effort to search for a picture for these dual purposes.  So I forego the plan eventually.  Now I just hope my recording can  be understandable, I am not even sure that 懂國語的可以聽得懂,或者有興趣去聽。


我也不期望會有很多人來聽,一方面台灣好像對版權重視的不得了,象我做的第一個影片就被禁了。  另一方面,我的聲音實在很難聽,咬字不清楚,念的快慢不一,而且我自己一聽和我媽我妹說的一樣,就是不太自然。  但是我還是在做,一方面我媽很怕我又是半途而廢,一直問我做完了沒;雖說做得很爛,可是半途而廢更糟糕。  另一方面,我也很希望可以完成一樣東西。  雖說實在真的很不好。  


----------------

聽只是聽得懂,還要能用。  但是,你想,如果沒有一開始聽得懂,記得住,哪兒有後來的說和溝通呢?  聽只是一個開始,卻是一個重要的開始。  我自己和我妹妹比,我可以講話,溝通 利卻是差很遠。  我會不會講話是一回事,會不會溝通又是另一回事。  但是,稍微還可以聽得懂別人大致在說啥。  雖說我也愈來愈懷疑自己到底有無聽得懂。。。

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Judge Bao

 最近在 youtube 上發現可以看我小時候的連續劇,包青天。  真是高興,馬上就看了好幾個故事。  連媽媽都跟著一起看了,但是他發誓不看了。  


我覺得還真是不錯的影集。  一開始我有點害怕,因為有時候小時候的東西再回頭看時,沒有以前感覺得好。  這影集倒是沒有這個問題。  依然是很不錯。  我覺得寫這戲的劇組實在令我刮目相看。  詞語雖然帶著很重的文言,但是台詞在演員的口裡卻並不陳腐,反而好像把這些詞語表現得鮮活起來。  而且可以把故事和人物表現得很飽滿。  厲害。  更令我驚喜的是背景音樂,幾乎都是國劇的音樂,或是中國古典樂器。  我很希望他們可以出一個包青天背景音樂集。  


在看了幾個故事後,我覺得他們的手法滿像現在烏森國的警探故事。  難怪那時候那麼吸引我們。  但是,他也有一個可惜的問題,就是我感覺很多地方都在拖劇情。  很多沒有必要的橋段可以刪除。  真真可惜。  


綠騎士觀後感含劇透

 I watched greenKnight recently.   I wasn't sure what the movie was really about.  I find it long and boring.  But the ending was interesting.  

Some movies are easy to understand, those movie usually has conversations or monologues to guide audience by revealing characters' thoughts and feelings, or plot points.  There are other movies reveal very little through words, rather, they prefer to do it by invoking audience's imaginations or thoughts through images.  It required audiences to observe, and find out what is really going on in terms of plots, character development and feelings, and most importantly, movie creator's intent.  I feel greenKnight is such a  movie.  

I really like this movie's atmosphere and cinematography, absolutely awesome.  I almost feel like it's a ghost story.  I feel there's always a dark and melancholy mood, fogged around the whole set.  And yet, the image in the movie is not blurry.   I am listening to the soundtrack now, and thinking, the music complement the image as well, eerie and ominous.  It stirred my mind and made me unease.  Just for ears and eyes, it felt like a ghost story.  But why?  Is it director's intention to make it this way?  Or it's just my feeling?  They used a lot of images or ways to manipulate images, which to me does not have immediate realistic connection with the story.  I guess the intention is to invoke something inside.  I think the feelings caused by those imageries was very very hard for me to describe.  I just could not understand some of the images, but they still make me  feel uncomfortable.  

It truly is about a coming of age film.  I think I understand what the journey represents, the trials, to make Gawain to see what he really is inside.  The the flashing of his life as a coward towards the end really drove the director's intention home for me.  That make the last line of the movie meaningful.  

Do I like the movie?  I still think it's too long.  But it's a well crafted movie.  I think if I know more about the Arthurian tale, I'd enjoy more.  But for now, I feel it's only okay.  


----

Somehow the movie made me think of different cultures that has the same scorn for death.  The ending of the movie showed Gawain's growth by accepting the result of his own choices, even if it brought him death.  


---------

I don't understand the intention of the green knight.  why the challenge?  and why does gawain's mother summoned him?  



Saturday, December 11, 2021

TalkingtoPeoplebyPhone

 我是不打電話給別人的。  並不是說我不想打電話給別人。  有時候也滿想的,可是總是感覺沒麼好講的。  如果只是因為突然想到了人,打個電話過去,不可能只是打招呼,就掛掉電話。  打過去總要有個目的。  如果我只打個招呼,也不掛電話,那對方可能覺得怪怪的,可能覺得等說些甚麼,如果有的說,或許還好。  但是這不是逼著人說話嗎?  那有這種奇怪的事情。  如果沒有話說,那也就掛了。  

昨晚我在走路,突然想打個電話給小瑋,於是我就撥了電話。  可實際上我哪有甚麼話題呢?  小瑋接了電話,我倆就寒暄幾句,然後我就不說話了。  之後的整個卅分鐘幾乎全是他找話題。  先說了說牙醫的重要性,看我沒啥反應,他就改說一個弟兄要找人領養他的柴犬。  我得感謝有這樣一個老妹!  

我現在越來越想通了,其實我一定是沒有話要說的。  不然我早說了。  你看,這一整個網誌,只是希望在我自己裡面找一找有沒有話要說。  真的沒有。  篇數是不少,但是,但是言之有物的極少。  如果看了甚麼書啊,電影啊,或經歷了甚麼事情啊,我也有所感。  可是當我要寫出來的時候,卻是一片荒涼,不著一物。  可能有感,卻不能說,這麼久了。  我覺得一定是沒有東西在我裡面。  

我妹妹就不是。  他以前也並不是這樣的。  他以前也很愛說,但是,現在是愈來愈有 「物」了。  這就是成長和歷練吧。  

Thursday, November 25, 2021

towerHeist movie afterthoughts

 I like the movie.  I watched it once when it first came out in DVD.  I did not remember much at that time.  I am not sure I would remember the movie too much after last night either.  But I will remember that I liked the movie this time around.  

There're some plot twists that I felt confusing.  But the characters are likeable enough, and some scenes are intense enough.  I think it's a fun movie.  Though I had hard time shaking off the impression of the whole story being an imagination from Walter Mitty.  lol  

I think it's better than the don'tBreath 2.  



Monday, November 22, 2021

is it an accident?

 I wonder if they went to the court for this, what would the defense attorney say about LeBJ?  And what about IS?  

I think it's LebJ was meant to swing his arm at IS.  Because he's frustrated with the kids.  I knew the type.  Powerful and strong, play with a heart.  But for the veteran like LebJ, after 19 years, this kind of push and tug started to wear both physically and psychologically.  The free threw went in, the kid still fighting like a puppy felling off the sky and he wanted to rescue it.  The frustration of being pushed so forcefully for nothing.  The passion only felt like inexperience.  LebJ reacted.  Out of frustration and impatient.  

The kid?   Being hit by LebJ was a shock.  The way LebJ acted afterwards, walking towards the kid, and said something.  Not sure what he said, but I think the body language showed intent to defuse the situation.  Though sometimes, no matter what you said, it's really a matter of who's listening.  But when blood pouring, something just sparked.  


Is it an accident?  Was there intention?  What's the intention?  Did the results match the intention?   The strike of hand was intention, but the result was not.  It started with emotion.  The kid making a scene, was the not the intention, but emotion is the intention.  It's a freak accident.  

Sunday, November 21, 2021

movie afterthought

 I watched a movie last night.  It's called Don'tBreath2.  I'd watched the first one and thought it was pretty good.  They created a good monster movie with a bit of twist.  But what drew me in in the movie really was the atmosphere it created.  So  I thought I'd watch the sequel.  

The whole thing was not as original as the first one.  The theme was quite unclear to me throughout the movie.  I understand the intention, but the plotline doesn't really have the emotional punch the director wished to create.  The twist at the end suffered because of the unclear theme.  But some the atmosphere was still there.  the main actor really is its main attraction.  I'd say it's merely okay if you really got nothing to do.  

And yet, I am writing this dumb piece for the movie.  

5h3 fefnt of kku cats

 i had my bcat arouldn 2004.  this say bwas a hppy say.  it was notp llanned or anything.  i just dropped off colege . 


Phoebe buffet smelly cat

Smelly cat, smelly cat,

What are they feeding you?

It's not your fault.   

They won't take you to the vet

you're obviously not their favorite  pet

you may not be a bed of roses

and you're no friend with those with noses

Smelly cat, smelly cat

what are they feeding you?

Smelly cat, smelly cat

it's not your fault


Penny Soft kitty 

Warm Kitty

Little ball of fur

Happy kitty

Sleepy kitty

Purr, purr, purr.  

Monday, November 08, 2021

Heard couple songs, jotted them down here

幼時的朋友現在的臉書網紅,常常帶著自己的兒子唱歌表演。  這些都是他們唱的。  爸爸帶著兒子。  自有一種幸福。   


歡樂年華

我們都是好朋友,讓我們來牽著手

美好時光莫錯過,留住歡笑在心頭

歡樂年華,一刻不停留

時光匆匆,哎呀,呀呀呀,要把握



=======


梁静茹
小手拉大手

還記得那場音樂會的煙火

還記得那個涼涼的深秋
還記得人潮把你推向了我
遊樂園擁擠的正是時候
一個夜晚堅持不睡的等候
一起泡溫泉奢侈的享受
有一次日記裡愚蠢的困惑
因為你的微笑幻化成風
你大大的勇敢保護著我
我小小的關懷喋喋不休
感謝我們一起走了那麼久

又再一次回到涼涼深秋

給你我的手 像溫柔野獸

把自由交給草原的遼闊
我們小手拉大手
一起郊遊 今天別想太多
你是我的夢 像北方的風
吹著南方暖洋洋的哀愁
我們小手拉大手
今天加油 向昨天揮揮手

還記得那場音樂會的煙火

還記得那個涼涼的深秋
還記得人潮把你推向了我
遊樂園擁擠的正是時候
一個夜晚堅持不睡的等候
一起泡溫泉奢侈的享受
有一次日記裡愚蠢的困惑
因為你的微笑幻化成風
你大大的勇敢保護著我
我小小的關懷喋喋不休
感謝我們一起走了那麼久

又再一次回到涼涼深秋

給你我的手 像溫柔野獸

我們一直就這樣向前走
我們小手拉大手
一起郊遊 今天別想太多
你是我的夢 像北方的風
吹著南方暖洋洋的哀愁
我們小手拉大手
今天加油 向昨天揮揮手


給你我的手 像溫柔野獸

我們一直就這樣向前走
我們小手拉大手
一起郊遊 今天別想太多
哇啦啦啦啦 像北方的風
吹著南方暖洋洋的哀愁
我們小手拉大手
今天加油 向昨天揮揮手
我們小手拉大手

今天為我加油 捨不得揮揮手


Thursday, November 04, 2021

alsldfasodfiald k j j oaoao k

I just finished watching undisputedof shannonandskip talking about scot'sanger.  shannonandskip's chemistry really is incredible.  We all know where skipstands.  butshannon is the one medium who kept the balance and stay reasonable.  they talk like friends, with real opinions and contents.  sometimes, i'd feel talk show just so they could stir the motion of the audience.  But besides the topics and their acting.  the chemistry was so in harmony.  and when they look back, would they be as bitter as mikeandscot?  I don't think so.  because there's sincerity in both of shannonandskip.  


scotis really angry.  and likeshannon said, it's very understandable.  that doc recorded mike's last dance.  why does it show every embarrassing moment ofscott's career?  but the wayscott express this anger, at all direction, it's very bad for him and for history, which he is part of.  He's throwing poop at himself.  But who caused this in the end?  it is actuallymike.  

why are they doing the last dance now?  what motivates mike now?  it's lbj.  because lbj really moved mike a little bit in his heart.  and for that, mikeput out a documentary.  but i bet while he's making the doc, watching all the highlights and thinking back.  the many what if scenarios must have go through his mind.  

i watched the last dance very late, just 6 months ago, i think.  before watching it, i already watched and read many comments.  one of the most fascinating opinions was about bull's manager.  a lot of people say the doc trashed that manager.  but some say at the end, the documentary actually gave him back some credit.  But in the midst of scott'sanger.  shannonasked a very interesting question, why putting all the scott's embarrassing moment in the doc?  and here's what i believe the reason why.  In the process of making the doc, mike'sview on the manager started to shift.  What if Mike never left?  the coach left, scottleft, but with that general manager's vision, they could acquire tracymcgrady in place of scott, what would happen then?

mike has been managing a team of his own for quite a while now.  his vision has changed since his player year.  I think to include Scott's many embarrassing moments was in his psyche a regret, not letting the manager do his thing.  let the manager manager HR, I will lead whoever he acquired to victory.  And it was the manager, who always viewed scottwasa replaceable piece.  

shannonand many other people said scott's has misdirected his anger at mike.  but i think it's not.  because the value ofscott's inmike's mind should never be replaceable, at least in scott'sview.  but now it does.  if scott's fault is in how he expressed his anger now, mike'sffault is making a documentary and throw his most trusted team mate under the bus because he himself could not stop wondering the what ifs.  

it is truly sad,  because i was one of many who lived and amazed bymike and the chicagobull.  for 20 years, they are the team.  but now the doc brought something out, it felt llike the team was never really there.  and all the effort was fruitless.  the champion is the fruit?  or the team mates?  or the money they made?   it's just sad.  I still loved the game, but i played less and less each year.  I shall still treasure those years and think they are the greatest team andmike the greatest player.  but something is different.  

Sunday, October 31, 2021

asof9394kk

 I feel I am deteriorating.  This condition pretty much mirrored my mom's condition.   


當我還小的時候, 我的母親是我的動力來源。  我會游泳,騎車,打球,都是母親一手促成。  我唸過一些書,會一點算數,有一點知識,能做善惡的分辨也是我母親。  但是人到了某一個時期就應該可以自己產生動能,如果是這樣,就會向外尋找其他的動力來源。  很多時候,都是因著自己的喜惡來決定下一步的走向。  這有點像是在母親肚子裡時,胎兒靠著母親的血液;出生了嬰孩時期,靠著母親的乳汁;孩童時期,有父母的供養。  這時身體和靈性都是還和父母牽連著。  但是到了某一時期,人開始靠著之前的供養,逐漸長成獨立的人。  他會考慮自己的身體健康和心靈的快樂。  我知道,我似乎完全沒有。  可是,在某一方面,我希望自己可以這個樣。  但是,卻完全沒有發生。  在以前,我藉著母親給我的教養來做待人接物。  人人都以為我雖然一事無成,但還是個有教養的人。  可是這三年來,我知道我是每況愈下。  而這種情況連帶拖累我的母親。  

幾年前,舅舅提出了一個具有前瞻的想法。  那就是應該要為母親想想他的下一階段。  我知道母親自己其實是想過的。  不像我,我是沒有想,真正是走一步算一步。  母親覺得自己就這樣平平淡淡的過日子。  可是因為新冠的關係,他和聚會所的真正接觸減少了許多。  而平日的生活又是那樣毫無進展可言。  我不覺得這樣對他的情況會有好處。  但是,這些他或許都可以忍受。  我的沒有進展已是一個精神上的重擔。  

當他跟小瑋在一起的時候,我相信他可以感受到一種人生推進的力量。  但是他平常大部分都和我在一起。  我平常連話都不說,也不知道要說甚麼,要怎麼說。  不僅僅是不說話,連做事情都完全沒個準。  家裡要修的事,我接二連三地說我會做。  沒有一件完成。  我目前除了工作上想要完成的小計畫以外,所有時間都是是看 YT。  我自己也很煩,但是卻是什麼也不做。  除了一直跟自己說全是自己的錯以外,甚麼也不做。  玩遊戲,看書,看電影,幾乎都沒有甚麼興趣了。  如果做了也只是希望修磨時間。  我離開馬斯康三年了,工作一直換。  真正連人際關係都沒有。  我一天講不到三句話。  如果講話,講的話味同嚼蠟,因為都是一樣的東西。  媽媽很輝想辦法要我說話,就問我一些他知道我比較熟習的話題,但是,真的,我又能講出啥新意來呢?!  

母親不能睡,我的母親也一直瘦,我想到我的貓,他在死前也是一直瘦。  

Friday, October 29, 2021

States of being

 When I was born, I knew nothing of this world.  my state of being is pretty much blank.  

When I start to perceive though, my state of being changed.  At the very beginning, it was wet and dark.  There might sound sound and vibration, but they are muffled.  But after being exposed to the outside word, the sound and vibration was intensifying, I am not sure how much light I could perceive, but it certainly astounded me.  I was silent, and in silence I hold my breath.  But suddenly, a violent vibration on my buttocks.  I did not know I have a behind, but the vibration sent a quick jolt from that area! I can no longer stay quiet.  I cannot hold out any longer, I need to react.  I cried.  And so came in my first breath of air.  My first state of being was then complete.  

Currently I am sitting and doing nothing.  How I come to be at this state was definitely not by sitting and waiting.  

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

小時候的歌

 紅紅的太陽下山啦,伊呀黑,呀黑。

成群的羊兒回家啦,伊呀黑,呀黑。

小小羊兒要回家,伊呀黑,呀黑。

小小羊兒跟著媽,有黑有黃也有白,你們可曾知道哇(你們可曾吃飽啊)?

天色已暗啦,星星也亮啦,小小羊兒跟著媽,不要怕,不要怕。 

我把燈兒,點著啦,伊呀黑,呀黑,伊呀黑,呀黑,伊呀黑,呀黑。


---------------------------------------------


是很久很久以前,是媽媽告訴我。

在好深好深的夜裡,有位虎姑婆。 

愛哭的孩子不要哭,他會咬你的腳指頭。  

還記得,還記得,是媽媽告訴我,

虎姑婆別咬我,愛哭的孩子睡著了。


Tuesday, October 19, 2021

歌詞摘錄

 正在錄製成長路的聽書。  故事裡提到一首歌,作者翻譯成 皇天冥冥保佑人。  我很好奇地去看看原文,這首歌的英文是 【Rock of Age】。  很好奇聽起來是怎樣的。  就去 YT 找找,還滿好聽的。  有趣的是這題目並沒有明顯的聖經出處。  有一篇網路上的文章舉了幾個聖經章節。  雖然不是逐字逐句地從聖經上來,但是很明顯作者對聖經非常非常熟悉。  資錄歌詞如下:


Rock of Ages

Christian hymn written by Augustus M. Toplady, with music by Thomas Hastings in 1762

Rock of ages cleft for me

Let me hide myself in Thee
Let the water and the blood
be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath and make me pure

From thy riven side which flowed

Not the labors of my hands 
can fulfill Thy law's commands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow, 
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone. 
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I clin;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.  


一篇文章裡提到的聖經章節用來說明題目在聖經裡可能得出處:

Exodus 33: 20-23 But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live !" Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."

Saturday, October 16, 2021

A discussion

 A couple weeks ago, I heard an interesting discussion about teaching.  My cousin and his girlfriend are traditional Chinese martial art teachers, so was the friend they had the discussion.  

I remember what lead to the discussion was about what they think they should be called  by their students.  The friend told her students to call her 師父.  When she first got the school, everyone called her 師姐, it's natural, because they were all students to the previous master.  But one day out of blue, she got a call from the old master, who told her, she should let other students start to call her 師父.

My cousin and his GF, started to asking each other what should their students call them?  They said they never thought about it.  Their students always refer to  them by their names.  And from there on, the discussion sometimes went to what this title meant.  And then it turned into another interesting direction.  It is about how should they teach their students.  The friend said she thought many students behave badly.  They need to be reminded.  My cousin and his GF said they are reluctant to do so.  But the friend said if it's adult class, she cannot do too much.  But if it's kids class, she said they are more like a clean slate, she should teach them.  My cousin and Michelle, said they rather have the kids realizes something by themselves.  

As I was listening, I find it interesting.  I was thinking it's a difference between USAn (the friend) and Chinese(my cousin and his GF, although they are USAns as well).  But then I thought of opposite examples from both sides as well.  If the thought was around American and Chinese, I think it's kind missing the point.  Like the previous Tiger Mom discussion.  I bet there are some scary USAn moms too.  And I feel my cousin's upbringing kind of reflect his current attitude.  So, again, it's still a individual family styles, don't matter where you are from.  

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Tree company ruined front yard

    My neighbor hired a company(East Coast Tree Remove company) to cut trees in his back yard.  They came yesterday with a huge cram and biggest wood chipper I've ever seen.  They occupied the whole street.  It was loud and dusty  When I came home, I saw them setup right in front of my house, they even blocked my drive way.  I had to park in four houses down.  Anyway, they made a huge mess.  My front yard was totally ruined by them.  Because when the cram brought those huge tree trunks to the streets they swung wildly in my yard.  It's not just once, or twice, they consistently hit my dahlia again and again, my sedum on one side was ruined as well.  And my lamp post was hit, the light fixture was completely knocked off, the post loosened.  And the trunks hit my wall so many times and left tree tunk's marks.  They came at 7 am in the morning and worked around 8.  I was at Mao's at 6, Mom called me saying that she cannot get online.  Then around 8, she called again saying that all the neighbors were outside, and she had not electricity so she stepped out to see what's going on.  Nick, my neighbor saw her and yelled don't come out!  There's live wire  in front of our house.  I heard from a neighbor saying when he came home last night, there're police cars, fire trucks, and national grid trucks everywhere.   Mom said she cannot get online either.  When I got home last night, the electricity was back, but no internet.  There's one cable lying on my drive way, which I guessed is the internet cable.  Mom said the neighbor who hired the company came by to say he will take care of the mess.  I called the internet company, they said they already had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow at 12-2pm.  

    I got up to take lots of pictures on the damage next morning.  And after talking to my sister on the phone, I went and tried to address my concern about the damages.  John was not in, her wife Denise told me John will give me a call, which he did.  And by noon time, the cable guy came and put up a new wire.  But frankly that cable guy sucks, because he did not even take the downed cable off my property!  The tree company had a guy came over trying to fix the light fixture, helped me to take the damaged internet cable off my property.  But the light fixture he bought was damaged, so he left to get a new one.  Then the other guy from the company showed up, I feel like I saw the guy before, he was in the tree cutting crew yesterday, but I am not sure.  Mom was adamant on seeing him fix the lamp and to make sure the lamp is not wobbly.  The road in front of us was ruined.  She made sure he fixed it.  But she is not satisfied with the repair job at all.  But most of all, our dahlia was so ruined.  She was mad, and wanted to ask for money.  The guy kept saying these are perennials, they will grow back.  And  I was so naïve and said I was going to save the bulbs anyway.  So the guy basically left without doing anything for the flowers.  Later, when I was accessing the damage, I truly regretted for what I said.  We should ask for dollar repayment.  There's no way that company should come and ruined a patch my yard and left not scathed!  And in the morning, my house was filled with spider webs.  I bet it's from the trees that got cut down.  They must have left us with lots of insets and bugs in my yard.    

    
    After the guy left, my mom and I went out for a walk.  We were checking the condition of the road surface and saw a lot of gouges on the road.  We talked to Nick for a while, his wife Sandy said she even called police when she saw the cram in the morning.  Nick also mentioned that the company got be able to handle these damages with their own insurance.  My mom thought it's absolutely crucial to show and talk to John.  So we immediately went and talk to him.  We showed him the gouges and ruined dahlias.  He said he will call the Andover Town about the road.  And he will tell his landscape company to take a look at our yard.  And he will talk to the company again.  But he is very focused on the trees in his backyard.  Because apparently the cop came last night to stop the operation.  John still got a big trunk half cut in his back yard.  And he is even more concerned about two dead trees behind his house though they are not in his property, one belonged to Emily, the other one is Ryan, another neighbor on the Howell drive.   

And I have to say, the attitude of the company was horrendous.  I called the company to lodge a complain, when I mentioned I was almost hit, in fact I was hit by the tree trunk twice while I was in my yard.  The first time I was a bit close to the road, about 6 feet.  The second time I was 5 feet in front of my front door, after they've already broke my lamp post.  The lady on the phone was laughing, saying I should not be there when the tree crew were working.  I feel the company was assholes from top to bottom.  I cannot stand 5 feet away from my front door?  How close was their chance to hit my house?  

Monday, September 20, 2021

Book afterthoughts

 我近幾個月從沒看完幾本書,這本是讀完的少數之一。  本書在講述乾複印機, Xerography 從發明家到真正成為一件產品的過程。  我看這本書的原因實在是因為我想在 YT 上放一些我喜歡的故事,我自己念,把他們錄製成說書。  我本來是拿著一本讀者文摘出的一本叫雋永集的精采文章編錄。  其中有一篇叫做乾複印,就在講述這個發明家。  雖說我讀了文章後,發現這只是一篇很簡單的文章。  我看了以後不知道為啥, 一直很著迷。  這是一件奇怪的事情。  後來在我家附近的圖書館找到一本相關的書。  於是就借出來看看。  

我以為這本書會放在圖書館傳記區,但是他竟然是放在有關工藝的地方。  這真是一件令人不解的事情。  這本書叫做, "Copies in Seconds"。  這位乾複印的發明家叫做 Chester Carlson。  作者一開頭從最古老的歷史講起。  從埃及的草紙,一直講到現代。  我想這樣講,是想讓大家對乾複印的與眾不同有個真正的認識。  我很佩服歐美人士對自己的歷史是多麼認真,從這麼一本不到三百頁的書裡,作者光是講歐美在複印史上的歷程就仔細的不得了。  各種過程裡,人名,時間,地點,社會背景,當時的科技程度,他都要閱讀和仔細的研究一翻才能寫得出來。  到了乾複印,也就是廿世紀初到中期的時候,書中所舉出的人物,和他們自己所寫的書,或對相關人士的採訪,經過作者的穿針引線,真正紅靈活現的把那時的這些人,他們所面對的遭遇,挫折,他們當時的感想,後來的回味,似乎也把我帶進那曾經走過的道路上,跟著一起經歷著。  

我看完了在想,這個故事到底為什麼讓我這麼著迷?  我想是當時這個團隊吧。  我們往往把一個發明的完成通通放在一個發明家身上。  這本書裡,每一個人都知道誰是乾複印的發明者。  可是,做為一個讀者,我可以很清楚的看到,如果沒有一個團隊,發明家本身永遠無法證明他的發明是可行的。  我想我對雋永集那篇文章有點感冒的原因就是,他只提發明家。  另外,這本書裡的團隊也並沒有掩蓋住發明家的光環。  這位發明家的出身微寒,憑藉著自己的努力,而發明了乾複印。  但是,這卻不是我最佩服的地方。  他的忍耐和他的信心更令我佩服。  他的忍耐從他一發明乾複印開始,到真正的產品出廠,總共廿五年。  期間沒有大廠要他的發明。  即使碰到了一家公司相信他的發明極有潛力。  但是,他依仍等待了十二年,產品才上市。  忍耐並不是純粹的坐在那兒等著天上掉水餃。  他依然籌畫借錢,並且參與改良,並且謙卑的敦促那公司的總經理。  謙卑的敦促實在是一個奇怪的講法,但是,我實在想不到用啥形容詞來描述這本書裡所展現的發明家。  

另外,這家公司, Haloid Xerox, 的總經理,或者總執行長,在銷售乾複印的手法實在很靈活。  因為一開始的乾複印機(941)實在太貴了,光是造價就要兩千元,那還是1960 年代的兩千元。  所以他們靈活的以租賃為賺錢的手段,招攬公司行號,公家機關,法人團體來租賃。  當時實際上已經有其他的複印機,只是這些複印機限制太多,操作不便。  但是,他們便宜。  當時 Haloid Xerox 公司想和 IBM 合作生產,結果 IBM 找了家投資風險顧問公司來做風險評估。  結果是風險太高, 因為市場已經充斥各種影印機,這台超貴的機器怎麼與之抗衡,而且他們認為一般的公司實在沒有必要用這樣的機器。  IBM 便放棄合作。  Haloid Xerox 後來自己也找了家公司來做評估,結果一樣。  但是,這位總經理,仍然奮勇向前,而且後來的策略成功。  Xerox 成為複印的代名詞。  

我總是會抄錄一些書本裡的段落,這裡也不例外。  


"Technology doesn't evolve steadily and continuously.  New ideas often arrived in clusters, having been generated by cumulative cultural forces whose origin and exact nature aren't always obvious at the time, or even later."  


"We ourselves are copies. 'And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' A living organism, from its DNA up, is a copying machine.  the essence of life -- the difference between us and sand -- is replication." 


"Copying is the engine of civilization: culture is behavior duplicated." 


到這裡,也可以做一個結束了。  但是,我依然很好奇,似乎還想知道日本的複印機。  因為現在幾乎我所看到的複印機都是日本的或著是某大電腦公司的。  很少看到 Xerox。  而且聽說在 1980 年代, Xerox 和日本的複印公司也有過很強烈的競爭。