Holding Hands ..

I am not talking about the magical feel of handing hands with your better half. But I like to share with you about a clip (already with approximately 5.5 million hits) showing a pair of otters holding hands.

Related CBC News report can be found here.

Yes, I think the description “cute” is pretty appropriate. =)

Plus, bonding between animals is evident, in some sense.

We, the “ruler”, should protect them not just because they are endangered, but simply a true “ruler” protects.
人为万物之灵长！
我们便是万物之灵长之一。
然而，我们是这么样的一位万物之灵长呢？

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有一位圣者这么说：

道就在日常生活当中，并没有什么奇迹可言。
了解道的平淡无奇，
而依然抱守纯朴的心，有始有终，
这是最了不起的人。
但这种人实在太少了。

Outstanding Logos

While seiving through some of my older emails, I must admit I am quite impressed with one of them.

That particular email was talking about outstanding logos and “what’s behind them”.

They are really creatively!

Let's see how you feel about them.


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How many of you have noticed a hidden symbol in the Federal Express logo:

Yeah, I am talking about the 'arrow' that you can see between the E and the x. The arrow was introduced to underscore speed and precision, which are part of the positioning of the company.

This was a logo designed in-house for some internal event at IBM. I like that they are quite relaxed about the logo, unlike certain other companies who do not like the logo to be tampered with in any way even for internal promotions.

You might think the arrow does nothing here. But it says that amazon.com has everything from a to z and it also represents the smile brought to the customer's face. Wow, that is quite deep.

The SUN Microsystems logo is a wonderful example of symmetry and order. It was a brilliant observation that the letters u and n while arranged adjacent to each other look a lot like the letter S in a perpendicular direction. Spectacular.

This was a logo created for a puzzle game called Cluenatic. This game involves unravelling four clues. The logo has the letters C, L, U and E arranged as a maze. and from a distance, the logo looks like a key.

Eighty-20 is a small consulting company which does sophisticated financial modeling, as well as some solid database work. All their work is highly quantitative and relies on some serious computational power, and the logo is meant to convey it. People first guess that 20% of the squares are darkened, but that turns out to be false after counting them. The trick is to view the dark squares as 1's and the light squares as 0's. Then the top line reads 1010000 and the bottom line reads 0010100, which represent 80 and 20 in binary.


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Creative enough? Haha.. Okay, for this matter, I know our views may differ.

These (big) companies have a clever way of using something simple to link up with them. Easy to remember, very representative, pretty impactful.

I am just thinking, if we were to ask to draw a logo to represent ourselves, how would that be like?

Maybe human being is too sophisticated and may not be easy to capture the full essence within a logo.

Maybe, I am just plain lazy, I just don't bother to try. But even if I were to try, I think I will end up drawing just a stick-man with my name written across it.

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有一位圣者这么说：

人是感情的动物，故常有情绪高潮、低潮、喜怒形于外的表现。

加上有时未能自治自律，而常把脾气迁怒于他人的行为。

更因随着环境而使心境变化万千，不能自主，
往往因小事的磨擦误会，而使无明之火以及嗔怒之气爆发。

所以修养的进步，
是在逐渐摆脱情绪反应的束缚，
解脱自我主观的支配，
以冷静地心情来应变动乱，
以判断的思考来明辨是非，
以热诚的态度来待人接物。

Reverse of Love??

有人说「爱」的反面就是「恨」。
同样的「恨」的反面便是「爱」。

I believe the t-shirt design tries to present that idea pretty well.

Hey, I am just sharing a picture.
But erm.. I don’t quite believe in that idea.

「爱」若是会变成「恨」…
首先这个「爱」的出发点应该不对…
或是那所谓的「爱」根本就不是「爱」，
而可能只是一种「欲」…

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有一位圣者这么说：

一个人如果不能静的话，
就容易被外来的困扰，将理智给蒙昧了。

静观之意，
对自己而言是要反省检讨，
对事物而言是要探索观察。

因此，
一个人能常静观，便能平心静气，心平气和。

写不了多少

有人问为何我最近比较少接着写
难道会是生活过得比较单调无味
还是脑筋不再灵光比较没点子献

哈哈... 我道非也非也...

这一阵子见的人多、谈的也广、做的也繁、想的也真不少
就是觉得笔有千斤、身有疲乏、心有怠惰、才写不了多少

竟还想那些根本不该去想
该执行的我却又放置一旁
建设性的话也不见得会讲
算一算还真的是辜负天养

越想越是觉得自己很渺小
再思考也觉得自己不足广
幸身边有良师益友们做伴
偶尔提醒也做模范给我看

哈哈… 我真幸运非常...

继续思量能用心的扎根处
继续考量能落实的着力点

我的时间不知还剩下多少
结果是遗憾充满还是相反
决定权好像是在自己手上
相信你们也会帮助我一把

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今天也没有什么好东西与大家分享
不如就简单的上载几张水画共浏览

~ ~ Some art work formed by water droplets ~ ~

Guess a Place..

No one likes going there, I guess.

We usually see, feel or simply know that there will be one group of people in very bad or even critical condition(s). There will be a second group of people worrying badly for the first group. Then there will also be a third group of people attempting to alleviate the pain of the first group and at the same time trying to assure the second group as far as possible.

Basically,
gloom looms all over,
air of uncertainty certainly engulfs everyone,
divine intervention (for betterment) is much appreciated, ...

Guess such a place.

Answer (use the mouse to highlight the region after “:”) :
Emergency Ward of hospital.
Mm…
Every visit is never a pleasant experience.
Admire the people working there though.


It is not a matter of choice. I was there (again).

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有一位圣者这么说：

聪明的人，争取时间。
懒惰的人，等待时间。
愚蠢的人，浪费时间。

A (Sad) Dolphin Episode …

The following video clip can be rather sickening. Some people might not have the stomach for it. But it is something really happening.

So if you have the eyes for it …

Dolphin massacre in Japan : click here.
... After driving pods of dolphins into shallow coves, the fishermen kill the dolphins, slashing their throats with knives or stabbing them with spears. Thrashing about, the dolphins take as long as six minutes to die. The water turns red with their blood and the air fills with their screams ...

A more educational package is available in the following link :
http://www.savejapandolphins.org/

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I don’t think the message should be about just saving dolphins or saving dolphins of Japan. We may want to take the opportunity to also take a look at ourselves, humans : look at how we treat the animals in general.

I don’t think the message should be about just saving dolphins because dolphins are so lovable; like saving dogs because dogs are so lovable. Yes, I admit dolphins (and dogs) have very special bonding with humans because of their nature. Should we penalise and disregard lives of chickens, ducks, pigs, fishes, crabs ... etc... just because of their nature?

I don’t think the message should be about just saving dolphins because dolphins are so inhumanely or brutally killed for our selfish reasons. What if dolphins (or dogs) are killed in a style of the highest level of humility? Does that make dolphin’s (or dog’s) meat more palatable?

In the same breathe, I don’t think I quite believe in the idea of killing any animal humanely just for our survival. Just listen to their screams and observe how they struggle to get free. They value their lives too!

A little thought for any possible reader :
The grievances of all these animals (that were killed, that we are killing, that we will kill) when put together, what will we get?

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For You Yourself

After a test, C was so devastated.
When the scripts (together with the question papers) were collected,
he requested :
Mr Nanzi, can I have the question paper back. I want to go home and try again.

When I was on my way towards the office, he stopped me and said :
Mr Nanzi, can you please sit down. I want to talk to you.
(What he really meant was he really needs to talk to someone.)

我当然是奉陪到底。

He went through with me how he attempted the questions and hoped for my immediate comments. Ha.. After discussing the paper, he only added, “Oh no. I am going to fail. I think you can don’t need to mark the paper and just give me zero.”

A cartoon classmate (E) was nearby and he was trying to console him, “Hey, fail never mind. It is the experience that counts.” E turned towards me and said, “Mr Nanzi, fail me, make me learn.”

Haha..

C is so stressed. Mm..
E really made me laughed.
But C added quickly, “The next test, I score full mark for you.”

“For you yourself!”, I responded.

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本有一些感言
但是无力详谈
不过淡说无妨

不知是我得理不饶人
还是我吃错了什么药
一书又引起了小波浪

不知上位者是怎么想
竟排个人来要将我降
我若不给个面卖个情
这回可能不是很好看

后果如何我也不计较
就是还残留一些失望

这几年来我收敛不少...
其实我真的很想低调...

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~ Team Work ~
Many people talk about team work.
Just how many people know how to make a team works?

If I dream that I …

If I dream that I’d got a car-crash ...
Will I stop driving?
Nay, I just got to be just as careful.

If I share this (the dream, I mean) with _________ , I think their first response would be :
What is your car number huh?

Mm..

我继续开着我的小车。
他们继续关心着拜六礼拜会不会开。哈哈。。

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有一位圣者这么说：

佛菩萨深彻了解世间人生的无常，故能
转识成智，
转恶为善，
转凶残为慈祥，
转污秽为清净，
变瑕疵为完美，
变空虚为充实，
变短暂为长久，
其整个人生因此改变，
就象是一只丑陋的毛毛虫，变成了一只美丽的蝴蝶。

蝴蝶的前身是众生，毛毛虫的后身是菩萨，
若想改变自己，就要有觉悟的勇气与毅力，
因为人心时常在变，
所以到底要变蝴蝶或做毛毛虫，
那就要看自己的发心了。

Before & After..

I am merely suggesting the magic of make-up cannot be undermined. The following pictures explain it all.

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So.. mm..
Everyone can be a super-star?
Ever thinking of getting a face-lift by a professional?

Actually you are already a super-star in some one else’s heart.
check with your daddy..
check with your mummy..
check with your better half..

我想...
外表还算容易修饰。
可是，一个人的人品就不那么容易被导正了。

Interesting Moments during PTD

During the so-called parent-teacher-dialogue (PTD) session, there was quite many “interesting” moments that I raised my eyebrows quite a bit..

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I noticed a pair of parents being particularly cheerful. It was already so late and I was getting a little tired and hence I decided to break the monotony.

They asked, “How’s my son, G?”

I replied, “These 3 weeks, he has been ACTING very studious.”

G was just beside, and he stared almost in disbelief, wide-eyed, expecting the worse to come.

His parents were a little shocked and questioned together, “ACT?”

I tried to contain my laughter and replied, “Oh, I mean I only know him for 3 weeks. But you have known him for 17 years. I can only say these 3 weeks he has been behaving really well, but I can’t tell if that is really him, or he may be just ACTING. Maybe you all can tell me more about him? ”

We all actually burst out laughing. Haha..

I think to G’s parent, I must be pretty crazy.

- - - - -

C’s mother : My son said you told him … blah blah blah… and I totally agree with you.

I don’t actually remember exactly what I had told C. But then, those words from her mouth did somewhat sound like mine.

I was quite shocked C actually shared even my silly opinions with his mother. That is how close they are. Nice.

After our not-that-brief conversation, this mother-son pair actually walked out of the hall hand-in-hand. Very rare and touching right? Oh, C’s mother also gave me a pretty long lecture of why I should get married soon. I think maybe by the next PTD, she may come equipped with photos, requesting me to pick and choose. Haha..

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I was talking to K’s mother. She seemed to be listening. Other than that, she was pretty expressionlessly looking at me. I felt my words were hitting walls. I became a little self-conscious of what I had said. Did I say anything wrong? Did she understand English in the first place?

“You follow me?”, I asked.

She replied in perfect English, “No worries, I am following very well what you are saying.”

There was a pause and she continued to look at me rather expressionlessly. I felt a little awkward and I continued to talk, carefully choosing my every words.

To my surprise, we ended the conversation with her saying (and smiling at the same time), “I like what you are saying. You are encouraging.”

I don’t even remember what I had said to her just now. I thought I felt quite stressed up lor.

昨日片断回忆 ...

三三两两
偶尔聊聊
天南又地北
一起来分享
每一次我的收获还真的不会少 … 哈哈 …

走走跑跑
心体齐操
空气蛮清新
地点有花草
有人说路边的车子有时还会摇 … 哈哈 …

登高望远
才知渺小
面迎着微风
精神可爽朗
投入大自然的怀抱就是那么好 … 哈哈 …

Ha..
This is an attempt to record a simple event. After reading it again, I realize it is so concise that it may not make sense to some. Pardon me, for this is also a little platform for me to “experiment” writing. :o)

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Are You in Drama?

How would you feel (or think) when someone ask you, “Are you in drama?”

A *little pal actually asked me this some days ago.

A few thoughts ran through my mind.
- I must be rather expressive (too dramatic for any good... )
- I may be quite unnatural (too fake for any good... ) when dealing with people
- I may be delivering my lesson in the wrong channel (so much so that the *little pals thought they weren’t attending math lesson)
- etc..

Anyway, I’d decided to take it as a compliment.

Hence, I replied, “Well, I guess if I want, I can.” (dragging the last word of the sentence during my utterance, and at the same time, smiling broadly... )
Very thick skin right??!! :P

有人说人生本来就如一出戏
是悲剧或喜剧掌握自己手里
偶来粉墨登场好象不是自己
若能博君一丝乐意我也愿意

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有一位圣者这么说：

人生看得开，则得失可淡。
生死识得透，则无什可求。
我见放得下，则争执可除。

(SMS) You are "Rejected" ...

I was attempting to sent a simple message (using my handphone), informing K about something.

My messasge was a long one. A part of the text should be
… you are selected …

My fingers went pretty fast and I thought I should have gotten every buttons right. Right!
Anyway, that part of the message turned out to be
… you are rejected …

Mm.. Oh my... “s-e-l-e-c-t-e-d” and “r-e-j-e-c-t-e-d” use exactly the same button sequence (7-3-5-3-2-8-3-3) when typed with a handphone! And I was just too careless not to have selected the right choice. Argg..

So, I did unintentionally cause K some momentary pain. :P

~ Fast & Accurate? ~

I am certainly far from being fast and accurate when comes to sending sms-es. Many times, the little embarrassments are on me.

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有一位圣者这么说：

不要被人言困住，不要被人情绊住，
不要被人欲缠住，不要被人阻难住。

Today is…

Today is ...

The sacred Good Friday…
The Holy 观音诞 ...

Relating to these events (I guess), I over-heard someone saying something over lunch. I wasn’t eavesdropping, he was just plain loud, as if he was telling me personally. Haha..

He said :
以前我不相信这些的。现在我相信 leh.
要拜拜啊。很好的 leh. 拜一拜保平安嘛。

He went on to talk about other things too.

Now that I’m only with myself, I think about his words again, and some thoughts just flow by ...

拜一拜保平安是不错啊。

可是自古以来，诸方大佛、万仙菩萨、各门先圣，
从来就没有一位说过：
来拜我，我会保佑你平安。

你作何想？

In other words, are we harbouring thoughts that we can live safely ever after, just by praying (or paying respect) to them?

诸方大佛、万仙菩萨、各门先圣们
苦口婆心、耳提面命的教诲、牵引、提醒，
我们有铭记多少呢？
我们又落实几分呢？

In other words, praying (or paying respect) to them may only be the beginning stage of a journey to safety, but definitely things cannot stop just there.

Many other thoughts surfaced, but I’m just plain lazy to write now. :P

Summarising :
May there be more peace to the world.

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有一位圣者这么说：

改变，蕴藏着生机与危机；
但不改变，只有死机。
这时你作何抉择？

改变需要不断的、一再的、
刻不容缓的自我回光返照，与自我鞭策、勉励。
绝不是三、五日、一瞬间，肤浅的在形象上作调动。

… Should Come & Tell …

A requested to meet me, which I was only too glad to agree.

A’s first few words were, “I have cancelled my PR.”

Mm.. I don’t see the link, frankly. He came all the way just to tell me that? He has so many other more “efficient” means of informing me. But he chose to do it in his real physical presence.

“You want to escape NS right?”, I joked.

“I am going overseas to study and I think I should come and tell you.” was the sentence that struck me most after that.

“Should come and tell”… mm…
Rather heart-warming indeed, for someone to take it as his responsibility to update me of his directions. It wasn’t the fact that I could guide him any further or better as he already has a very clear picture of where he is heading. Good for him.

Considering that I only tutored him during his first year in the college, it is pretty amazing that somehow we still keep in contact. Chatting with him has always been a light-hearted experience. We did so today for almost 2 hours. If not because I got to … we might just go on and on.

So he will be flying away real soon.
Mm.. What is that kind of feeling welling up within me? A little of this and a little bit of that. I can't describe.

We ended our conversation with him saying, “I will definitely stay in contact with you.” That was followed by a warm hand-shake.

I know we will meet real soon again, at least before his departure to a greener pasture.

~ Staying in Contact ~
A has always impressed me with his sincerity in doing things.
This time round, no less.
真诚就是那么容易感动人。

他的成绩真的很好。
相信不久的将来会有一番作为。
所以在不久的将来我会认识不少很有作为的人。
~ ~ 哈哈哈 ~ ~

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有一位圣者这么说：

改变、转型的过程，必是艰辛痛苦。

一开始困难重重，常有遇到瓶颈而不知所措的无力感；

再来是别人对你的冷嘲热讽、批评、不赞同，甚至不屑一顾的眼光；

最后，你为自己理出一条路，向着更高的目标前进，
别人对你的赞美、称颂之声不断，
这正是你最危险的时刻、最难熬的关头。

在进一步、退两步，进两步、退四步大转型过程，
你们更需要的是自助与互助、自信与互信。

若没有这样的情谊联系，愿景就不是所谓的完善。

Some Random Thoughts in CL or EL ?

I was trying to summarize some random thoughts. Mm..

酒不醉人，人自醉；我没有醉、只是有点儿陶醉。
色不迷人，人自迷；我非好色、只是有点儿着迷。
天不美人，人自美；自尊自爱、实会增添几分美。
山路不转，人自转；若想突破、只有用心来变通。
祸福无门，人自召；种瓜得瓜、种豆得豆铭于心。
天无弃人，人自弃；不要怀疑、坚信来行就光明。

Erps.. I was in a chinese-mode again. It hits upon me that I still have some difficulty expressing certain things in English. But when I am writing in Chinese, the going is so so slow, although I enjoy the process it slightly more. Mm.. Also, taking into consideration that most readers here are more comfortable reading English, I am thinking of trying to adapt by writing/expressing more things in English. I guess it will take me quite some time to learn, to sharpen my saw. Haha..

~ ~ What’s in Your Mind? ~ ~
At times, there are so many thoughts in my mind that I don’t know what to write and how to go about writing them. Yet through these years of writing (or trying to write something), I can say writing makes me think more (quite differently at times) and maybe also makes me think deeper (although I may not express it right at times).

Mini Dreamy Talk..

A pal was commenting how dreamy her sleep can usually be. I mean her sleeps are usually filled with many dreams.

I was thinking to myself : What so good about dreaming?

If the dream is so beautiful ..
- We only get to learn that dream indeed differs from reality...
美梦只不过会让人更体会到《现实》与《梦境》很多时候是相反的。
所以才会有人说：你醒醒吧！不要再做梦了！根本就不可能 ...

Of course, of course, many people may enjoy those dreams allowing us to experience the impossible / incredibles, fulfilling our wishes which otherwise couldn’t be felt in reality. We may then wake up with a smile, open our eyes, reality strikes back. Haha..

If the dream is so much like reality..
- We may get the same hurt twice, get bored twice, get the same nag twice ...
“残酷”的事实如果一再梦境重演，伤害、无聊是否会加倍？

So it is the same old predictable things that are going on and on. He nags, she ignores, ... Of course, let’s be more positive, it could also be the case where the happiness is multiplied.

If the dream is so much like a nightmare..
- We may get scared for nothing...
难道现实不够可怕吗？

If your heart can take it.. why not? But I don’t think it’s anything enjoyable. It is going to be so energy-draining.

If the dream is about someone telling you something, passing a message...
- Wow.. I like this best. But most often than not, I would forget the exact message.
来自他方的讯息，有可能让我们了解他访的奥秘。

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Actually, I feel better without having any dream in my sleep. Many times, I KO-ed within minutes after I closed my eyes. Then alarm rang, I opened my eyes, it was already the next day. I felt that I didn’t sleep long, but I felt fully-recharged. I could bounce off from my bed, literally. :p

But occasionally, dreams slip in.
而且，时常都是日有所思，夜有所梦。

Dreams are dreams after all ...
Not getting serious...

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有一位圣者这么说：

为善必昌，为善不昌，祖上有余殃，殃尽必昌；
为恶必亡，为恶不亡，祖上有余德，德尽必亡。