My daily life

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Math Formula

If:A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZIs represented as:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
AND, look how far the love of God will take you
L- O- V- E-O-F-G-O-D 12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

專家也要量力而為

報載一位三十一歲的壯漢,半夜等看足球,結果球賽未開,人卻猝死。
死因如何,要等解剖才知,但今日記者報導新聞,已有了一個依賴「專家」的習慣。一有三長兩短,除了自己寫報導之外,還一定要找個專家來講講。
專家也很為難,記者找上門來,不說有點不像專家,但說又不知就裡,連死因都不清楚,該怎麼說才好? 於是就說,捱夜勞累,容易觸發心血管病,這樣對身體就不好了,所以,捱夜也要量力而為。 是的是的,捱夜要量力而為,吃飯要量力而為,走路要量力而為,看書要量力而為,喝水要量力而為,寫字要量力而為,看電視要量力而為,看電影要量力而為,運動要量力而為,賺錢要量力而為……我可以這麼「量力而為」一直寫下,直至賺到這篇稿費為止。
這個世界,人是始終有等級的,其中的一等,叫「專家」,「專家」說的事情和道理,其實許多人都說得出,可能說得更精警,但因為等級不同,同樣一句話,專家說出來就是精句,你說出來就是廢話。 你明明知道世上任何事情都要量力而為,但你說就沒用,這個大家明白的道理,要通過專家的口說出來,才是道理。 所以我一直很想做專家,但因為「量力而為」,我知道自己做不了專家。(李純恩)

Friday, April 21, 2006

Killing Flies

Killing Flies

A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.
"What are you doing?" She asked. "Hunting Flies" He responded.
"Oh. Killing any?" She asked. "Yep, 3 males, 2 Females," he replied.
Intrigued, she asked. "How can you tell them apart?"
He responded, "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

書香宜人

中國歷史上都把世代讀書的人家,謂之「書香之家」或「書香門第」,為什麼要這麼稱呼?又何謂說是「書香」呢? 有人說,那是因為「萬般皆下品,唯有讀書高」的傳統觀念,把讀書人看成高貴的人上人,所以把書本看成「芳香溢」的珍貴物品。其實,實情並不是如此。原來古人為了防止書蟲咬食書籍,把一種柑橘類植物的葉子,採來放置在書本中,葉子散發出來的芳香,薰染了整本書籍,以後翻開來,都有一股清香宜人的香氣,故而稱之為「書香」。 有關柑橘類植物,現代生物學把其歸類為「蕓香科」。古人把柑橘通稱「蕓香」,依分析研究,葉子裡的揮發油的確有殺菌抑蟲的作用,古人的做法的確是有道理的。 因為在書本中放「蕓香葉」驅蟲,所以古時的「蕓」字似乎就與書結下不解之緣。例如「蕓編」指的就是書籍,「蕓閣」則為藏書的房子,並把校書郎這種文化官員,稱之為「蕓香吏」。(柯華)

Monday, April 17, 2006

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Márgarét, áre you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leáves líke the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! ás the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sórrow's spríngs áre the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It is the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

打工皇帝

●胡日天是一家大上市公司的一個部門經理,由於工作能力低,工作態度惡劣,經常被上司、下屬、客人客戶投訴。 有一天,忍無可忍的公司主席召見他。 主席非常憤怒,拍檯大罵:「你返工不夠半年,已經有三十六個投訴,包括日日遲到、計錯預算、同保安打交、性騷擾女秘書、偷公司金錢,簡直一無是處!」
胡日天低著頭說:「那怎麼辦?」
主席:「董事局開會後,決定採取以下措施。第一,你下午三點才上班,就不會遲到;第二,請多兩個會計師幫你,你就不會計錯數;第三,保安部歸你管,就不怕保安打你;第四,炒了那性感女秘書,就不怕有人投訴性騷擾;第五,加你五倍人工,等你夠錢花,就不會偷公司錢。那你還有甚麼問題?」
胡日天:「沒問題了。嗲!」

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

中狀元

戲劇中,一中狀元就被任命為欽差大人,賜尚方寶劍、膺七省巡按……這都只是戲劇化的效果,實際上狀元一開始被任命的官位都是很低的,要從芝麻小官做起,慢慢地進級的。
為了清晰好記,亦可列出以下簡表:
童生→院試→秀才
秀才→鄉試→舉人(第一名為解元)
舉人→會試→貢生(第一名為會元)
貢生→廷試→進士(第一名為狀元)
多次考試還未得秀才者,稱為「老童生」,老童生一詞,常作「自謙」「自嘲」用,切勿輕言別人,因為它諷刺性很大。(輕舟)

Monday, April 10, 2006

白先勇在芝加哥的冬天

一九六三年,初來美國,完全不能寫作,因為環境遽變,方寸大亂,無從下筆。年底耶誕節,學校宿舍關門,我到芝加哥去過節,一個人住在密西根湖邊。湖上一片浩瀚,四周響著耶誕福音,到處是殘年急景。我立在堤岸上,心裡突然起了一陣奇異的感動。那種感覺,似喜似悲,是一種天地悠悠之念。頃刻間,混沌的心景,竟澄明清澈起來,驀然回首,二十五歲的那個自己,變成了一團模糊逐漸消隱,我感到脫胎換骨,驟然間,心裡增添了許多歲月。

Saturday, April 08, 2006

生活夾縫中的樂趣

生活夾縫中的樂趣
我退休後,社會責任已了,「做我所能,愛我所做」便成為此後優遊生活的圭臬,但自從六年多前首度中風後,所能的範圍大為縮小。正好約三年前,張栩得了日本本因坊,國內興起一片圍棋熱潮,《漢聲》的兩位編輯(就是書中的阿桃)帶了兩盒鼎泰豐的小籠包來看我,要我講講張栩的故事,由她們筆錄出來,登在她們辦的一張兒童漫畫報上,這件事在我「所能」做的範圍內。但我說張栩年紀尚輕,現在雖然已是一流高手,但要成為一代宗師,還有待時日的考驗,不如由我來講講幾位有代表性的當代宗師,選了吳清源、木谷實、林海峰、曹薰鉉、聶衛平等五位。這五位中後面四位分別在日本、台灣、韓國、中國大陸的圍棋發展上有代表性的貢獻,而吳清源是世界性的,他對圍棋創新的貢獻是劃時代的,不侷限於一區一國。
當然,我只負責故事,補充資料及漫畫圖說由《漢聲》編輯部門負責。這樣兩三個禮拜講一個故事,也吃一次鼎泰豐,經年累月下來,成了五冊書,就是這套棋王故事。做一件事自己喜歡,也帶給別人歡喜是最開心的事,我充分享受講的時光,這五位棋士我都有交往,也都有一些在被讓子情形下光榮的戰績(當然不光榮居多,但可以略而不說),夾敘夾吹帶夾吃是很過癮的事,阿桃們又告訴我,新春期間她們找了幾位包括大人小孩、懂棋不懂棋的人試讀,都覺得很有趣。顯然我無意中做了一件大家都開心的事。
但完成這套《沈君山講棋王故事》更帶給我一些啟發。首先是人在生活夾縫中總可以尋找新的歡愉。如前所述,我第一次中風後,所能的範圍大幅縮減,喜好的旅遊、訪友、棋橋比賽等,都受到侷限,但逐漸摸索出上網下棋和寫作的新樂趣,三四年時間居然出了幾本散文集。第二次中風後,起居行動都要人協助了,寫字極慢,而且歪歪扭扭,卻因「講」這本棋王故事,得到新的歡樂。因此,人生無論處在什麼境地,都不要放棄求歡樂的心情。唐時長安生活極貴,詩人白居易應試,作詩曰:「離離原上草,一歲一枯榮,野火燒不盡,春風吹又生。」主考官閱畢大笑:「長安居,大不易,斯人有此襟懷,無怪乎取名居易了。」蘇東坡晚年謫居海南島瘴癘不文之地,後被赦還,友人問他這幾年如何度過?他作詩回答:「九死南荒吾無恨,斯遊奇絕冠平生。」亦有相似的豁達襟懷。我兩次中風,一次比一次更侷限了我尋樂趣的範疇。在首度中風後,老友殘障前輩許倬雲教授跟我說:「我一出生就身體殘障,一輩子努力就像在泥沼裡向上爬,你卻是半路出家,一輩子都在天上飛,這次掉在泥沼裡,要調適自己比我困難得多,要有心理準備。」後來我深深體會到這段話的用意。但假若不斷怨天尤人,於事無補,徒增自已煩惱,對無可奈何的既成事實,只有努力調適,使自己過得快活些,對社會也有點正面的貢獻。像我若不是中風,退休之後,必定四處雲遊,絕不可能寫出幾本散文集和講出棋王故事這本書來,更不要說享受寫和講的樂趣和完稿後的滿足感。本書裡阿桃的描述非常傳神,那位貪嘴好吹、自得其樂的沈爺爺就是真實的中風後的我。
當然興趣的培養非朝夕可臻,年輕時起步事半功倍,像現在我在網上和對手下棋、打牌,做頭腦運動(Brain exercise),以保持腦筋不致退化得太快,都是在求學時打的基礎。寫散文、講故事則是長年教書和常寫政論文章的結果。科學家的研究預測:人類到二○五○年平均均壽命是一百三十歲,活到一百五十歲也是常事,但因為高科技社會的劇烈競爭,退休年齡不會大幅增高,現在十幾歲的少年到時正好是退休年齡,漫漫黃昏人生如何消磨?育(養老)樂這難以解決的兩事,肯定是政府和社會學家面臨的大問題。但兼善天下雖不易,要獨善己身卻是可以的,古人云:「養兒防老」,在現代社會顯然是不合時宜的了,這句話應該改一個字:「養趣防老」。在學時培養一些性之所近的業餘興趣,必定比背學測考題對未來人生更有用!
阿桃們告訴我,《漢聲》出版這套《沈君山講棋王故事》,是想讓八歲到八十歲的讀者都可以看的(尤以兩端為多),拉拉雜雜寫下這些話,希望讀者不要嫌囉嗦。
■沈君山

Thursday, April 06, 2006

鄭燮 -《春詞》

鄭燮有一年到郊外踏青,看到農家少女們頭插春花、身著春裝、手挽春桑籃、兜裡丟春菜在遊春散心的情景,隨口便吟出一首別致風趣的《春詞》:
春風,春暖,春日,春長,春山蒼蒼,春水漾漾。
春蔭蔭,春濃濃,滿園春花開放,門庭春柳碧翠,階前香草芬芳,春魚游遍春水,春鳥啼遍春堂。 又只見幾面農人笑開口:「春短,春長,趁此春日遲遲,開上幾畝春荒,種上幾畝春苗,真乃大家春忙」。春日去觀春景,忙煞幾位春娘,頭插幾枝春花,身穿一套春裝,兜裡丟的春菜,籃裡挎的春桑,遊春閒散春悶,懷春懶回閨房。郊外觀不盡陽春煙景,又見一個春女,上下巧樣春裝,滿面淡淡春色,渾身處處春香,春身斜倚著春閨,春眼盼著春郎,盼春不見春歸,思春反被春傷,春心結成春疾,春疾再把春心腹內藏。大家裝上壺春酒,唱上幾句春曲,順口春聲春腔,二月仲春鹿鳴,忽的一聲春雷響亮。
全篇含標點二百十一個字,句句不離春,嵌入了五十四個春字,自然流暢,不累贅,具體生動描繪出一幅遊春踏青的旖旎風光圖畫,給人以美不勝收的感受。

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

DD's article - Fall

FALL --- written by DD Chen

On your way out of the house you grab an apple off the kitchen counter, taking a bite into the sweet fruit. The crunch of the fruit reminds you of the sound made by the crunching leaves as you walk along the tree-lined sidewalk in the fall. An apple epitomizes fall; the crisp bite of an apple is similar to the refreshing breeze that fall brings. However, few open their eyes to really notice what fall truly has to offer.
People everywhere are reaching into the back of their closets searching for forgotten sweaters and scarves, preparing for the cold weather ahead of them. They are putting away the bathing suits and the sun tan lotion left from the summer. Outside, children are playing around in the tall piles of leaves while parents are busy raking them into little mounds again.
Two school boys are chattering loudly as they sit on the nearby bench waiting for the school bus. Children are preparing to go back to school again. Though they will miss the freedom of summer, they anticipate seeing their teachers and friends again. Remembering this, they cheerfully reach under their beds for school bags that have been there since summer’s beginning, now covered in a layer of dust. And some are dragging their parents into supply stores to buy new ones. It is funny how during the school year they waited so impatiently for the last month of school to finally come. Yet after two whole months of boredom, they craved seeing their friends and teachers again.
Fall does not affect one gender or a specific age group. It does not have political boundaries or religious specialization. The crispness of the season and soul wrenching feelings of color all around us is universal. Fall is made for everyone, and seemingly almost everybody has gained the same sense of joy from this season. It is one of those things that people everywhere can agree on. The three months of fall all have the same meaning in every corner of the world, in the soul of every human - it is a time to enjoy a colorful transition from the sweltering excitement and freedom of summer to the icy tranquility of winter.
Another spectacle of the fall season is the Harvest Moon, its beauty and splendor rivals the beauty of the aurora borealis. Its warm color reflects the colors of the season. Lovers swoon at its rising. It brings another dimension of romance to our earth and typifies the season.
The trees are bare, emptiness reflecting off them, as they loose their shroud of leaves. You lie in the shade under their great magnificence and stare in to the sky. The sun shines through the few remaining brown and yellow survivors. The rays bounce from the leaves and stems, bring in a new kind of rainbow. Peace envelopes you as you sit in the park, beneath the falling leaves, reading a book. Wandering into the adventures of different worlds with the protective veil of the shade form the trees and the shield made from the colorful leaves.
All around you are surrounded by the beautiful colors of fall. Different shades of golds, yellows, oranges, browns, and reds cover the sidewalk. Thinking back to those fall days, a wave of relaxation washes over you. Eyes open, hearts full of peaceful notion; fall arrives in a steadfast manner. Fall – the season of renewal and recollection.

Monday, April 03, 2006

張春申神父

在神修過程中,內心應有某種程度的透明,即明心見性的過程,才能真正的解決困難。因為在交談之際,人如只顧表達和辯護自己,很難深入內心作自我反省,外在的語言太多並不能除去內在積存的成見、固執及偏見,達到彼此心靈的透明與感應。如此,對問題的解決毫無助益,因為問題的癥結不在外在的行動語言,而在內心的態度。方東美在中國人生哲學概要中談到「中國先哲的人性論」時講了一則相當啟發性的小故事。

「相傳有甲乙丙三人到鄉間郊遊,忽然見路旁有一個心,乙丙兩人向甲指問道:那心是不是你的?
甲毫不遲疑的回答:我的良心從未離開我。
乙說:我的心是烏黑的,那顆心是鮮紅的,絕非我所有。
丙接著做更有力的聲明:我從來就沒有心,那心怎麼是我的。
中國先哲向來把一顆良心握得緊緊的,不肯放棄。」

中國人為了要保持這顆原本善心,就常靠自我的自省功夫調整自己,與他人及宇宙萬物的關係。

在靜默與獨居中,表面看來似乎與外界隔離,與團體脫節,事實上不然,靜默與獨居有著很深的溝通與敏銳的感應作用,能促進人與人更密切的契合,俗語說:心有靈犀一點通。為此當一個人靜坐或獨居祈禱時,心境會起變化,使紛亂、浮躁、不安,逐漸平靜,回到內在的生命中,進入真正的根源──父內。這回歸的過程,能將內心對團體或個人的偏見、成見、嫉恨等一掃而空,以獲得內心的透明,平穩而進入祈禱的單純心境。中國人所說的:「息事寧人」實富有深刻的哲理。當一個人從獨居或靜默中回到團體時,在新的眼光下,他的冤家已改頭換面,不再面目可憎,反而成了一個可愛的人了。可見靜默與獨居對建立團體有莫大的助益。