在忙

此際，寫甚麼都會是太多，寫甚麼都會是太少。

往昔、今日、以後都不好說。

相遇、相識、相知，都留真歡喜。

感激每一位、每一位。

待休息一會和整理過後才再開敝blog。

Dear _______

A few questions that i need to know, how u could ever hurt me so.

I need to know what ive done wrong and how long its been goin on. Was it that i never paid enough attention? Or did i not give enough affection?

Not only will ur answers keep me sane, but i'll know never to make the same mistake again.

U can tell me to my face, or even on the phone, u can write it in a letter, either way, i gotta know.

Did i never treat u right? Did i always start the fight?

Either way, im goin out of my mind, all the answers to my questions i gotta find.

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." ~Aristotle

some comments on music

Several of my friends had complained to me that the kind of music I listen to put them to sleep.

I think I have a somewhat peculiar music taste. Mainly I think I'm not big on music; so I don't like to spend too much money on it; thus I don't have the time nor the sources to explore different types of music.

If I must categorize the kind of music I listen to, I like traditional jazz and solo piano (mainly George Winston). I also like music that showcase the vocalist, with minimal instruments. (Thus jazz vocal with a piano is the best.) I'm not into bands or loud music. It gives me headache. Rock? No way.

Maybe it's the age... for the past year or two, I have become more keen on exploring new things. Last year, after much contemplation, I bought Damien Rice's "O" (because I love the song "The Blower's Daughter"), and it blew me away! It's not the kind of music that I normally listen to but it's one of the best CDs I have. I listened to it for months. (Really!) (Though some of my friends still think this CD put them to sleep!! *Sigh*)

So, this year, I'm feeling even more adventurous! Two months ago, I bought few CDs that I wanted to explore. One of it is U2's All That You Can't Leave Behind. (Rock! Band!) Why U2? Last year I went to another church for Easter service; they ended the service with the song, "All I Want Is You." It brought me to tears. And later I found out it was U2's song. Plus, I have always had good impression of them (also have grown respect for Bono), so I wanted to try their music.

I have been playing this CD for the past week. My immediate like is, "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of." What a horrible thing that is! I'm sure we all have moments like this. I'm barely walking out of one, now.

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." ~Mother Teresa

What is love?

+ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 +

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
(New International Version)

愛是恆久忍耐，又有恩慈；
愛是不嫉妒；愛是不自誇，不張狂，
不做害羞的事，不求自己的益處，
不輕易發怒，不計算人的惡，
不喜歡不義，只喜歡真理；
凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。
愛是永不止息。

Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
(New King James Version)

一直知道，「愛是恆久忍耐」；「love is patient」。然後有一次，聽到是，比較接近原文的譯釋是，「love suffers long」。嗯，要恆久忍耐就是要 suffers long 吧。

從來都知道，愛，不是件容易的事情。我想，我是自私的吧。好怕去愛；怕自己做得不夠好。怕要受苦，就想逃跑掉。但，如果決定要去愛了，那就要盡全力，持守到底，對吧?

這段聖經，熟到可以背出來。但我又真正領悟到多少呢? 今日想起，然後好想自己再細心地一字一字牢記著。

要懂得去愛，才不至於失去所愛的吧。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." ~Auguste Rodin

where love must start

"It is easy to love the people far away.

It is not always easy to love those close to us.

It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home.

Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start."

~ Mother Theresa

So let our love begin at where i should be

Brave bird

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ~Chinese Proverb

Reply an article --- 寂寞

明月樓高休獨倚
一個人大到咁上下
沒有女友或老婆是件好慘的事
因為朋友陪不得你咁多
朋友之間的聯絡
密極有限
其實就算係女友或老婆
都無話時時可以陪到你

有時候呢種寂寞來襲
真係唔係話可以看看書睇睇碟聽聽唱片
做做這些一個人做得來的消遣可以鎮得住
就像感冒吃了藥不再涕淚交橫
可是三四小時後藥力過了
依然如故
就算有身邊人在旁相伴
那種寂寞仍然揮之不去

而我這個慣於孤獨的人
自從端午到離島回來以後
竟然覺得好寂寞
無以排遣的寂寞
無人可訴的寂寞

密切不同於熟絡
熟絡不等於相近
日久多見容或會熟
但不一定近
而近也不一定密切

比如OT完畢放工好累的時候
有熟到爛的人打電話來
你可能反而覺得係應酬
多了一重負荷
而另一個唔係真係熟到咁咩的人
你一聽到他的聲音
可能會雀躍起來
精神為之一振
(或者現實點講
是你很重視他
而這種重視
又只是單向的)

熟絡的人不一定近
近的人不一定密切
即如連續一段短的時間內
他跟你聯絡了幾次以後
就算他近得差不多觸到你的心
你還是有種逼狹的感覺
覺得密過頭
而密切程度
就反映在可舒服地聯絡的time scale上

而我的朋友
time scale都以月計
這就是孤僻的結果

秋風多
雨如和
簾外芭蕉三兩棵
夜長人奈何

寂寞﹐不是因為孤獨。
孤獨﹐是不會寂寞的。

若寂寞來襲﹐不孤獨時比孤獨時更顯寂寞。
當喧譁過後﹐寂寞會更赤裸地站在你跟前。

那時的寂寞﹐會更孤單﹐更難熬。
所以﹐寂寞來襲時﹐會更想孤獨。

寂寞﹐是自身的問題﹐
旁人﹐是不能幫忙的。

喜歡孤獨的人﹐多都不是寂寞之人。
害怕孤獨的人﹐才是寂寞而不自知。

寂寞﹐是不會因人多而離你而去。
孤獨﹐才是把寂寞揮去的好機會。

請不要把兩者混淆了。
不要把寂寞誤為孤獨。

我不喜歡寂寞的感覺﹐
但我享受孤獨一人時。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "It's the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it¡¦s the little differences that make them interesting." ~Todd Ruthman

MJ on heaven

一生一世

Dear K, R, M, J

找個一生一世的伴侶固然難，原來一生一世的朋友也不易。

曾經，有過不少推心置腹的朋友。那種親密關係，其時是不會想到，原來是有期限的。曾經很介懷到了期的情誼。但慢慢就明白到，原來大部分的人，在我們生命中都只不過是過客。如果，他們的出現 — 縱然短暫，但 — 還是讓我們對生命有所領悟；那，又有甚麼值得傷感的呢。

如是這，我常這樣對自己說。


或許，有一天，當有人要從我的生命走遠；我會笑一笑，揮揮手；心只存感謝，那人曾陪伴過我的日子。

然而，現實中的我，仍未能如此瀟灑。心中那絲絲憂傷，沒法遮蓋。

原來我，還在乎；還懼怕。懼怕失去那不是一生一世的東西。

Truly yours,

RÊVER

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives." ~ Viktor Frankl

冷。靜

如果

四周的空氣是冰
那我們的情
也跟著冷卻成形

如果
你還未懂得冷靜
那我們的情
就永遠也談不成

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but you leave 'em all over everything you do." ~Elvis Presley

Life is always "mo loi"

我認識有些人，我真的覺得他們作狀到不得了。好受不住。但偏偏就有互相認識的人，會認為他們是很好很真誠的人。我常被這種事困惑著；把頭想爆了也想不出一點頭緒來。

然後剛剛我忽然頭頂有了亮光：其實，我成日覺得自己(懶)是真誠的，但很可能在別人的眼裡，我也只不過是個虛假小人。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." ~Ovid

He loves me

You said that I wasn't good, so I just believed you. And you said that I wasn't special, so I lived that way, with critical gazes and brutal amazement, at how my reflection could be so imperfect. With all of my blemishes, how could somebody want me?

But he loves silly. He doesn't see the way I see. He takes silly and turns it into something that is wonderful, apparently I'm good cause you love me.

I tried to clean up the outside, all shiny and new. Worked overtime to thin up and look right but inside. I knew that deep in the bottom were secrets, I thought I could try to ignore. Old ghosts in my corridors never get tired of haunting the past that's in me.

Help me believe why you love me, when I know you see everything.

Yes, God loves silly, he doesn't see the way I see.

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "I am too blessed to be stressed!" ~Anonymous

謊 言

~李蕊詩 摘自《貞萃》

是你告訴我
明月靜夜尋找我
但在星光點綴的深夜裡
你離開了我

是你告訴我
千言萬語你愛我
但在自私糊塗的世界裡
你丟下了我

是你告訴我
天涯海角想著我
但在海蕩樹影的靜夜裡
你忘掉了我

是你告訴我
海枯石爛伴著我
但在天鶴星河的霧雨裡
你棄掉了我

今生緣定是你意
偶遇情緣是我意
忘了你情
不是我！
忘了我意
卻是你！

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

三年前，我第一次接觸這詩，
記憶至今，難以忘懷，
只因，動人心弦

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Only through labor is one at home in the world." ~ Berthold Auerbach

Accurate

"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy."
~Aristotle


我經常諗嘅係，我應該做一個點樣嘅人，用咩眼光同態度去對待所有事物。當然哩個係攞苦嚟辛啦，做人嘅野，諗唔諗嘅話都係一個人嚟，而諗得多又未必解決到問題，可能煩嘅野仲多咗。所以我有時諗，哲學究竟係深化問題，抑或相反，將無問題都搞到係一個問題。

如果要跟足上面果句quote去做嘅話，大概未諗到個「啱嘅位」已經怒氣全消，然後覺得不如算把啦。
如果諗多兩野嘅話。「咦唔係喎，唔可以就咁算數，我要表現我嘅不滿話俾話你知道咩係對錯。」咁成件事又更加難，而且少d人生經驗都做唔到。

我話，做人就係不停去揾個「啱嘅位」。我對於依家哩個位仲有好多不滿，惟有繼續揾，我期待揾啱個靚位，對自己感到滿意那一刻。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness." ~Anonymous

Life is like a play

明末清初的文學家李笠翁早就說過：人生就是戲台，歷史也不過是戲台，而且只有兩個人唱戲，一個男人，一個女人。

而人是最拿不準的，人與人的難以溝通，不全因為外在力量對人的捆綁，而是由於人性自身情與理、愛與慾的搏鬥與廝殺，甚至自己都很難清醒地意識。無意的流露，有心的隱藏相纏擾，行動與結果的背道而馳.....組成了複習的人生。

逃避，不一定躲得過；
面對，不一定最難過； 　　
孤獨，不一定不快樂；
得到，不一定能長久；　　
失去, 不一定不再擁有。
可能因為某個理由而傷心難過。
但是，你卻能找個理由讓自己快樂。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows." ~St. Francis of Assisi

Cruel symbols

有人說，句號，是很傷感的符號。

當你不想完結的時候，句號就是傷感，因為它告訴你，文章已經讀到最後了。

如果文章真的需要終結，來一個乾淨俐落的句號，也好有個交待；它的責任本就是交待着一個完整的句子、段落、以至篇章。但若是掛上一個問號作為了結，才更叫人傷感呢。

同樣是在不願意的情況下，一個問號所帶來的那種失落與無奈，會是加倍的，因為那股疑惑就是纏人。

其實句號也好、問號也好、感歎號都好，要是真的要終結，那都總是一個終結的符號。可曾讀着好好的一篇，突然就在文章、段落、句子的中間停了下來，連甚麼標點也沒有畫上一個，留著空白？

這片空白，帶來何等的倉皇與無助，那傷痛就不明不白地繼續勾留，揮之不去。

這一片令人窒息的空白，多殘忍！

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Perhaps a human being does not die until he no longer sees anything but the past and the present moment." ~ Leo Baeck

a set breakfast

五時許，無睡意，於是起來
開啟msn，看見你，我逃...

六時正，餓了，出門去找吃的
想去尖沙嘴中心那間Delifrance，怎料，原來已經閉門大吉。不想吃Charlie Brown和Starbucks，於是走進Sticky Fingers。灌了一杯咖啡，望向街外睡眼惺忪的人們，行色匆匆，顯得我有點悠閑。
噢！我的早餐來了！
有一片吐司、一點炒蛋、一片煙肉、一條德國腸和半個蕃茄，COOL 豐盛得很哩！！！

坐我斜對面的，是兩個外國人，微笑著跟我點頭，說要請我這一頓早點。嗯！在酒吧被請喝酒，就聽得多；被人請吃早餐還是頭一遭，但被我婉拒了。

我想要的，是一刻寧靜啊！
既然這一刻閑情已被劃破，我只好舉步離開。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are." ~Thomas Carlyle

一部應該留白的電影：《The Reader》

由去年底至今年初，看過不少電影。這段日子我心中一直有一份十幾部「待看」電影的清單，較有名氣的包括《The Curious Case of Benjamin Button》，《The Reader》，《Slumdog Millionaire》，《Wrestler》，《Waltz with Bashir》，《Doubt》，《Milk》，《Der Baader Meinhof Komplex》，《W.》等等。現在除了《Frost/Nixon》外都已看過了。

這份「待看」清單中，不少名大於實，令我失望。如要從中選一部好電影，我會選《The Reader》。當然，喜歡一部電影與否，乃主觀之感受。看倌若持異議，小弟洗耳恭聽。

《The Reader》題材十分thought provoking，提出不少道德論爭。而此片最值得觀賞之處，自是男女主角之演技。Kate Winslet能以之奪魁，乃實至名歸。難得Ralph Fiennes亦有一流表現，想來應歸功於導演功力。男主角Michael在女主角Hanna被審判時，對於應否作證的掙扎；Hanna入獄後，Michael前往探望的遲疑；還有Hanna出獄前，Michael那種既喜悅，但又忍不住譏問她坐牢學到何事之複雜心情，導演和演員都處理甚佳。表達一個角色之內心，而不用對白，殊為不易。但這幾幕戲只用了極少對白，反而更多是以演員的表情眼神來表達角色複雜之內心情感，這實為此片最精彩之處。

不過，我還是認為《The Reader》有一些敗筆。而這些敗筆，皆出於導演對觀眾的照顧。

Hanna和Michael去郊遊，在小店點菜時，Hanna拿著菜單，雙眼左右轉動，流露出徨恐的表情。這個表情，太也露骨誇張，是Kate Winslet在戲裡的敗筆。回看Michael為Hanna讀書時，Michael曾兩次將書遞予Hanna看，Hanna兩次都表現冷靜，淡淡地掩飾了文盲的秘密。點菜的徨恐，和前述兩幕的冷靜，非常inconsistant。

這個露骨表情，自是導演想向此時還未知道Hanna是文盲的觀眾，再次發出強烈暗示。也為之後的flashback埋下伏線。Michael在多年後的法庭上，回憶起三段flashback，亦即上述三幕戲；若觀眾至此仍想不到Hanna是文盲，實是無可救藥矣。

為何要這樣道破呢？如果沒有點菜的惶恐，沒有Michael在法庭上回憶的flashback，為電影保留一些想像的空間，豈非更有含蓄的美？太過照顧看不明白的觀眾，很多時會損害了電影本身的藝術性。

如果我來修改這部電影，我會這樣拍：Hanna在小店點菜，淡淡地看了看菜單，便交回Michael手上，著他為自己拿主意。Michael在法庭上，想得出神，但沒有回憶的flashback。他後來去找法學院的教授，詢問應否提出一些對被告有利的證據；再到集中營遺址一遊，一路若有所思。在電影結尾，Michael去找猶太人生還者時，他含淚但確切地告知對方，Hanna沒有寫過該份報告，但並無說出原因。

如此，聰明的觀眾可能一早想到原委，但導演全片都不予確認，保留一種含蓄的美。不太聰明的觀眾或會在心中留下不少問號，為他們提供很多想像空間，與及談論話題。

為電影留白，有時是更佳的選擇。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "A good laugh is sunshine in a house." ~William Makepeace Thackeray

我的ZUCCa

收到了第一隻CABANE de ZUCCa的錶 (LABORATORY)。

不是買不起也不是買不到，但由別人送贈，分外窩心。

以小龜毛公仔為記，一條半手臂遠的距離，尋找禮物。

這是屬於我的尋寶遊戲。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer." ~Norwegian proverb

後來

後來 ── 這是我們小時候作文最常用的字吧。

它最大的作用是為秋季旅行而寫的記敘文，

在出發與歸程作分水嶺。

後來，

這個「後來」變成曾經後的千山萬水。

後來，

我哭了。

後來，

我掛上一個微笑。

當人們說著不為所做的事後悔，

會不會，

後來有一天，

為不曾抓緊的萍水相逢，

心隱約的在牽動？

後來，

我們發現那天的擦身而過；

那年的夏天；

那日的陽光雲霧微風，

才是最深刻的曾經。

清澄，

彷如昨天。




後來　我總算學會了　如何去愛
可惜你　早已遠去消失在人海 後來　終於在眼淚中明白
有些人　一旦錯過就不再

在這相似的深夜裡　你是否一樣　也在靜靜追懷感傷
如果當時我們能　不那麼倔強
現在也　不那麼遺憾

你都如何回憶我　帶著笑或是很沉默
這些年來　有沒有人能讓你不寂寞
永遠不會再重來 有一個男孩　愛著那個女孩

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Power buries those who wield it." ~ Talmud: Yoma

"mercibeacoup", not "mercibeacoup," :P

謝謝金裝聆聽者，

讓我知道原來自己的遊戲文字，

竟也有人欣賞。

一心把生活中的感覺，

某些牽動過的章節記下來。

不為要別人明白自己，

只想將這些曾經作一個記錄。

可能明天依然是這一雙手，

但那顆心已經被瑣碎事蓋過。

今天的我，

依然是我。

在學習上尋尋覓覓，

在錢眼中打轉。

但這一天的我，

還想聽聽自己的心怎樣說。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well." ~Josh Billings

洋娃娃

洋娃娃已經待在失物認領處有一段日子了，它心裡明白，自己不過是一件玩物。

洋娃娃也有爸爸，也有媽媽，可是，它沒有家。

當洋娃娃的爸媽發現它會長大，要吃東西會有要求，驚訝得說不出話來。

然後，把它丟棄了。

好心的小主人收留了洋娃娃，可是，玩物玩具玩伴的下場都是如一。

洋娃娃被放在一個蒙塵的角落。小主人偶而打掃的時候，會將洋娃娃拿出來看一眼。

然後，又放回原處。

洋娃娃偷偷的長大，瞞過了小主人。

有一天，它趁小主人在玩新玩兒的時候溜走了。

髒兮兮的洋娃娃最後不知怎地，被送進了失物認領處。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "I dream for a living." ~Steven Spielberg

17歲 ．一夜情

最近，我的一位朋友很煩惱，她生活得很好，風平浪靜，但她的表妹卻出了事。

正確來說，是她覺得表妹出了事，正在玩火。

到底出了甚麼事呢？

表妹現在十七歲半，剛完成會考，由於一向成績普通，預計在會考放榜後，會正式投身社會工作。

表妹跟許多少年人一樣，原本正正常常不好又不壞，偶爾有點反叛，都是人之常情。

但近日，隨著與家人的關係越來越差，表妹覺得父母只疼愛其他姊妹而不疼愛自己，開始不回家了。

表妹去了哪裡？猜也猜得到。

好從此開始了夜蒲加夜夜不同男伴的生活。

朋友嘗試過跟表妹談及這話題，卻惹來反感對她不瞅不睬。

Q： 朋友問我，那麼，剩下來的辦法是尋求社工輔導？告知其父母姊妹？同時，怎樣令表妹回頭是岸？

A：表妹都畢業了，不再是中學生，哪來駐校社工輔導她？十七歲半，聽起來是不大不小的年紀，但過多六個月，她就是成年人了，還要是一個已出來社會工作的成年人。成年人玩一夜情，又不是傷天害理的事，你情我願，誰多事理你？換個角度看，如果她不是你的表妹，是你的同事／朋友，她玩一夜情，你可會覺得她有問題，要找社工協助？你可會覺得她不知所謂，將其「惡行」公告天下，好讓父母對她心淡／循循善誘／責難她？剩下來的辦法是，請你放下長輩的身分，以平常心看待，尊重她，然後才找機會討論。記得，是討論，不是訓話。只要讓她明白，你總是在她身邊支持說夠。有天，她倦了厭了，自然會回頭。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change." ~Buddha

Moulin Rouge

喜歡這齣戲。

由戲院到VCD，感覺如一。

但記憶是有一部份模糊了。

到底是情節讓我感動不已，

還是氛圍令心悄悄悸動？

Satine:

Never knew... I could...

Feel... like this Like I've never seen...

The sky before Want to vanish...

Inside your kiss...

Everyday I'm lovin' you more and more Listen to my heart

Can you hear it sing?

Come back to me And forgive everything!

Seasons may change...

Winter to spring I love you

Till the end... of... time

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Better than a thousand useless words is one word that gives peace." ~Buddha

採訪上帝

不知誰跟我說過，

上帝拿走了我心愛的東西，

是因為衪安排了更好的給我。

我不明白不明白不明白。

衪的更好不一定是我的更好，

我只要面前的這件東西。

在衪眼中一文不值的，

可能就是我的花百姿復活蛋。

衪打我罵我將我趕進煉獄我也不願放手。

如果，

我有機會採訪上帝，

我想問他一條問題 ──

「為甚麼有人不費氣力，便可以贏；為甚麼有人向你日夜禱告，你要他輸掉所有？」

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power." ~ Benjamin Disraeli

心扉的信

「心扉，我說謊， 我並非甚麼都有， 沒有人可以甚麼都有， 尤其是我， 除卻溫飽，甚麼都沒有， 連自尊都早已失去， 侯書苓雖然待我不薄， 我仍覺得自己像一只小貓， 有些主人，對寵物真好得不得了。 」


或許，

這也是幸福的一種。

只是，

幸福得太過悽愴。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." ~Flora Whittemore

Edward Lam On Love

我喜歡這本小書。

不論別人怎麼說，

我依舊深愛他的文字。

或許，

當有一天，

愛情成為了一項失傳的美德，

你會發現，

曾經存在的愛情，

比其他一切都動人。




有人會說，我的生活累得賊死，怎麼還不給我「愛情」？ 不止，還要指定某人某時某地，像掛一個電話便預訂得到的晚餐桌，時裝、花束。 但，「愛情」不是天生的服務生，從來毋須為任何一次不周而鞠躬、致歉。 許多年前，G在我的對面說：「沒有人答應過你此生一定可以和愛情遇上。沒有人。」

聞言，但覺毛骨悚然。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.? " ~Thomas Fuller

午夜情

K的妹子身體不適，將網上行Love Music的concert ticket給了K，正好讓我們兩個「大嬸」混在年青人中，重溫八十年代的好歌。

惆悵舊歡如夢。

K，我們很久沒去跳舞了，找一天再來忘情森巴舞吧！

最驚喜的，還是劉美君。


Jay　一張醉臉傻癡癡　Jay　不喜說話像冬天
我　我甘願長相依　決意　一生跟你
Jay　這故事難啟齒　星　星閃過漸漆黑
願　願追逐無止境　隨便講　心裡沒你
Jay　不得已作段落　往日　是命裡安排
我　賣醉後是玩物　滿面　淚踐踏的傷
誰願意身體每處任撫摸　誰願　半點朱唇吻千個
Jay　歡場裡預無真心　Jay　不肯相信亦應知
但　每次見你傻癡癡　我甜絲絲　輕吻著你
我甜絲絲 深愛著你


十多年前的歌，今夜再聽一遍，只有更動聽，感受只能更深。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Never revisit the past, that's dangerous. You know, move on." ~Robert Redford

Dear P

Dear P,

Dear P Dear P Dear P，謝謝你。

由一個累得不成樣子的人，去伴一個情緒低落得潰不成軍的人吃飯。

單是聽著，也為你難受 (暗暗笑)。

你對我的友愛，我總會記得。

我會記得那夜，你將淒苦的我帶出家中，吸一口新鮮空氣，陪我不著邊際說上數不清的話題。

我原以為我會哭的，但將眼淚忍了這麼久，已不再在乎發洩。

情願提起精神，努力開懷地笑。

一段日子不見，你身上的衣服，由深藍變成淺藍。

明明白白是一種明亮的顏色，但你的樣子，卻疲憊得好像那種淺藍快要塌下來。

喏... ... 該怎樣形容呢？

在餐廳淡黃的燈光下，看到你眼角紅紅，累得連眉梢肩膀也掛下來，就像一件被隨意搭在洗衣籃上，縐成一團等待用威潔33好好清洗一遍的恤衫。

請原諒我的用詞，這實在很可愛惹笑的情境。

生命有些時候，的確又長又悶，活脫脫是齣傷它悶透的百集婆媽電視連續劇。

所以，更要先嚐甜頭。

所以，明知你不情願，也硬要你吃一口泰拉蜜沾。

找到了你的嗜好沒有？

在找到之前，請做我的補習老師吧。

假若你能將我調教好，你便會相信，世上真有奇蹟。

Best Wishes,
ADORER_RÊVER

給自己的情書

素未謀面的朋友因一首歌認識了，除了我想要的那首歌外，還特意送了另一首歌給我 ──《給自己的情書》。

我對他說我明白他的用意。

沒有聊過天，沒有見過面，只憑藉我的記下的一點一滴，他已斬釘截鐵的說：「對，你不夠愛自己。」

是的，沒人會相信我愛自己，連我也懷疑有否愛過自己。

請不要灰心　你也會有人妒忌
你仰望到太高　貶低的只有自己
別蕩失太早　旅遊有太多勝地
你記住你髮膚　會與你慶祝鑽禧
啦啦啦　慰藉自己　開心的東西要專心記起
啦啦啦　愛謢自己　是地上拾到的真理

寫　這高貴情書　用自言自語　作我的天書
自己都不愛　怎麼相愛　怎麼可給愛人好處
這　千斤重情書　在夜欄盡處　如門前大樹
沒有他倚靠 歸家也不必撇雨

請不要哀傷　我會當你是偶像
你要別人憐愛　先安裝一個藥箱
做甚麼也好　別為著得到讚賞
你要強壯到底　再去替對方設想
拋得開手裡玩具　先懂得好好進睡
深谷都攀過後從泥濘尋到這不甘心相信的金句


在努力愛人之前，

不如將同樣份量的愛和熱情送給自己，

讓自己感受愛。

謝謝你。

我明白了。

點滴

當我們問別人為甚麼不愛自己，

其實這跟「點解放假先o黎落雨」一樣，

是無法解釋的。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring." ~Carl Sandburg

肉餅

問題仍未解決，但找到了一個令情緒平伏的方法 ── 學做菜。

Auntie是廚藝高手，廚房是她的聖殿，閒人勿進。

理所當然，除了煮一丁麵會人人讚好之外，我甚麼都不會。

Auntie有感自己健康欠佳，怕將來我孓然一身沒有住家飯吃, (as my mum isn't in hong kong) 終於o.o願意教我做菜。

她說：「由最簡單的肉餅開始學吧！可以學怎樣拿菜刀，又可以練手力。」

昨天我做了冬蟲草肉餅，今天則是咸蛋蒸肉餅。

記著，力不到肉餅不好吃。

用碎肉機攪出來的豬肉，永遠呆板難吃。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Everything should be made as simple as possible--but not simpler." ~ Albert Einstein

生舊叉燒好過

Recently, I went to何文田甚麼峰的club house宴會廳，attended一對小姊弟 (4歲和1歲) 的生日派對。

我從未見過一個這樣頑劣的4歲小妹妹。0,0

未輪到她玩遊戲輸了拿不到合心意的禮物聽到其他小朋友被讚賞，她的反應一律是尖叫推人跺腳哭鬧打人 I won't play I hate you。(she speaks English at home with her family.)

換了一條又一條的白紗裙，都要不甘心的將它撕破弄髒。

小小人兒竟然可以將5磅大蛋糕上的巧克力全部搶去做「獨家村」... ...



真係生舊叉燒好過 :P

English as she is spoke

It has been said by someone other than me that no language that pronounces the word colonel “kernel” is perfect. In spite of some flaws, English is a great language. It isn’t easy, though. I write a lot of English and never stop running into problems. (Actually, sometimes not :D)

A recent newspaper story said, “The teachers asked the students to read the papers they had written.” It isn’t clear who wrote the papers-the students or the teachers.

It’s easy to slip into redundancies. “Purchase price”? What other kind of price would it be? People speak of “the end result,” as if some results were not the end.

How come someone who writes a play is a playwright and not a play-writer?

We use a lot of ungrammatical short cuts, which seem OK to me. We say, “I’ll be home tomorrow.” No one bothers to say, “I’ll be at home tomorrow.”

When I write a sentence with a quotation in it, I put the period or the question mark that ends it after the last quotation mark but editors often change this. They put the period or question mark inside the final quotation mark. My question is, “Why?”

In Don Marquis’ delightful stories about archie and mehitabel, archie the cockroach typed everything lowercase, without any capital letters. He couldn’t use capitals because, as a small cockroach, he had to drive headfirst at the keys to make them hit the paper. He couldn’t simultaneously hit the key he wanted and the “caps” key, so everything archie typed, including the united states of america, looked like this.

Archie had an excuse, but there’s no excuse for e-mail being spelled without capital E. (For years I have objected to the policy of many newspapers not capitalizing the word “president” when it refers to the President of the United States. Maybe the policy was established for newspaper written by archie the cockroach.)

Written English is at its best when it’s plain and simple. Henry David Thoreau said, “If one has anything to say, it drops from him simply and directly like a stone to the ground... he may stick in the points and the stops wherever he can get a chance.”

I always liked that but Thoreau used “one” the first time, then a few words later in the sentence he drops “one” and goes to “him.” Once you start with “one,” you have to finish with it and I wouldn’t ever start with it. I must have sounded less pretentious in Thoreau’ s time. Writing was more formal.

It’s wrong, but I routinely use the word “like” as a conjunction in place of “as” both in writing and speaking. “I write like I speak,” not “I write as I speak.”

There are 10,000 phrases that may not be good grammar but which are too useful to ignore, such as, “He wants out.”

I don’t like to use “whom.” “Who” suits me just fine for any occasion. I seldom use the subjunctive, either. I write, “If I was home...,” not, “If I were home.”

There are English words that can be used to mean a dozen different things, even though the spelling never changes. The word pretty is an example. We all know what it means when someone says, “She’s pretty.” The meaning of that word becomes complex, though, when you say, “She’s pretty pretty.” It means she isn’t beautiful, just fairly pretty. And it would be hard to explain to anyone who spoke another language what we mean when we say, “He’s sitting pretty.” (I seldom start a sentence with an “and” like that :P)

It would be hard (difficult) to go to the United States from someplace like China (even Hong Kong *-*) without any knowledge of English and have to start learning it. How long would it be before you understand all the nuances of “pretty”?

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "It is foolish to postpone enjoyment of your ordinary life until you are more successful, more secure, or more loved than you are today.?" ~Timothy Ray Miller

守望杜田

街上人來人往，讓你牽掛過的有幾人？

讓你的心在某刻感動過的有幾人？

並不多，對嗎？

四周那麼多人，都在匆匆忙忙都在拿著電話不知說甚麼。

站在其中，忽爾泛起無色無相的寂寞。

你抬起頭，看到他微笑步近，你笑了。

你知道，這人就是你生命中的魔術師。

魔術師也是凡人，你看著他為工作煩惱，你看著他將皮鞋東一隻西一隻隨處亂放，你看著他毛躁發脾氣罵人，你看著他的頭髮變得稀疏，你看著他的縐紋隨年月加深，你看著他身上慢慢有了一個救生圈。

你明明看著他老了憔悴了，但你總是歡喜。

因為只要他在你身邊，你的一顆心便會平安著地。


多想給你一個家　還想給你泡杯綠茶
多想整晚傾聽你心事　聽你說無間道好嗎
東邊西邊都有個杯子　襪子不可歸家
想起你一天到晚四處奔跑　回家休息好嗎
害怕天雨會將你沖走 害怕海嘯會將你捲到　天邊海角
叫我往哪兒把你帶回家
害怕美女會給你太多　我願意將一切都簡化
來到我身邊擁抱我吧 讓我快樂好嗎

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." ~Oscar Wilde

Things to do today

There are some things I’ve been meaning to do. For one thing, I’ve been meaning to make a list of the things I mean to do.

Try to be nicer to people I don’t like.

Try not to dislike so many people.

Sharpen all my pencils.

Do better job reading the newspaper.

Make bread in the bread maker I bought three years ago and never used.

Lose eighteen pounds by not eating ice cream.

Either wear them or take some of the old shoes and old clothes in my closet to Goodwill.

Go to see my doctor about that problem I’ve been having which goes away when I go to my doctor.

Fix the leg on the dining room table.

See the movie that’s going to win all the Oscars before it wins them and is too hard to get into.

Put a new washer in the nozzle of the shower so that one errant spray doesn’t get me where I don’t want to be got.

Organize my life.

Thank Blanche for the oranges she sent at Christmas.

Get a haircut.

Read a book. Finish the book I started two years ago.

Look at some of the television shows I’ve saved on type to look at later.

Buy new undershirts and socks to replace the ones with holes in them.

Learn how to type “Chinese”. ( This has been on my list for ten years now, during which time I’ve written so many Chinese essay with a “handwriting pad”.)

Get to bed earlier.

Find out how to program the VCR so I can tape a program I want to see that’s going to be on a week from next Tuesday at 10:30 because I’m going to be out that night.

Redo my tattered old personal telephone and address book, eliminating all the names of people I don’t talk to anyone because I don’t like them, because they moves away, or because they died.

Try to be the kind of person who really knows what he’s talking about more often.

Oil the hinges on the closet door in the bedroom that squeaks.

Stop during so much coffee.

Call several old friends I haven’t called.

Buy a supply of stamps to put on the penny postcards I’ve bought over the years that need more postage than when I bought them.

Get more exercise.

別問為甚麼

我有一位朋友叫CC，她在澳洲留學，和男友同居於他父母名下的物業四年多。不過， 她每月有交租予男友，租住屋內的其中一間房，但沒簽租約。男友是澳洲白人，跟CC一樣，都是大學生，「電車男」一名，課餘只躲於家中玩電腦。

最近一年，CC察覺男友性格有變，對她越來越冷淡，每日早出晚歸，對行蹤含糊其詞。CC明白他已變心，對他不存寄望。同時，她也忙於寫畢業論文準備回港，沒空細想搬家/分手問題。然後… …

個多月前，CC的男友忽然回家匆忙收拾行李，說家中出了事，要回居於另一城市的父母的家數天。他走得太急又不肯說明原因，她隱隱覺得有點不妥。怎料男友一走便音訊全無，手提關機email不覆。

上星期，他終於回覆email，沒有任何解釋，只說父母決定出售物業，週日將前來處理賣屋事宜，要她盡快搬走。事出突然，CC知道後很震驚，可是她沒簽租約，無法依據租約條文拒絕搬走。最令CC困惑的是，男友一走了之，連學校課堂也缺席。後來，她跟他的父母交涉，他們最後同意給予她一個月的時間搬家。

Q1. CC一向很尊重男友父母，但經過此事，覺得他們很絕情。問題是，她大有機會再見到男友父母，做不到若無其事又不想得失他們，畢竟她是住客他們是屋主。可惜，她沒有別的住處可以暫避。那CC該以甚麼態度面對他們？如他們不友善對她，怎辦？

Q2. CC由始至終都不明白男友為何走得那麼突然，她懷疑男友有了第三者但不能確定。無論如何，她很想問男友父母究竟發生了甚麼事，為甚麼他不敢回來？她覺得他們欠她一個交待，但又不知應否問及如何問。

男友父母不是你的父母，他們沒有生你養你，現在還對你那麼絕情，你幹嘛要尊重他們？如果因為你是住客，所以要對屋主客氣，CC小姐，你有交租的呀，是你給錢他們賺呀，大晒的。如你真的沒地方可以暫避，請將證件現金首飾跟身，貴重雜物寄存別處，以防他們回來隨時換鎖。當男友父母透明好了，若他們對你不友善，吵架囉，再嚴重點，報警囉。

無論原因是甚麼，總之，你的男友不要你了，他與父母夾手夾腳要趕你走了，夠清楚沒有？甚麼原因也改變不了你已被遺棄的事實，何必送上門像個傻瓜不停問為甚麼再被人奚落？他們不欠你甚麼，也無須交待甚麼。唯一要交待的是你自己，交待為甚麼你愛自己不夠多。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Prompted by love is greater than prompted by fear." ~ Rabbi Simeon ben Eleazar

又病了

又病了，額角有點燙，整個人都迷迷糊糊。

我討厭生病的自己，病倒了，便覺寂寞便會軟弱。

想起一篇羅冠蘭的訪問 ──

羅冠蘭一再強調，一個人的生活「不慘」，但，不寂寞嗎？ 「會，尤其是病倒或失意時，最想有個膊頭依靠一下，但明知沒有這個可能，就要強迫自己愛惜自己。出門口著多件衫，不著涼便不會病倒，不病倒便不會寂寞。把工作安排得滿滿，也不會寂寞。」

關於樂壇的心事

1.陳曉東真是一位好歌手
2.Babyshambles 真是非常naive Pete Doherty 真的很討厭 NME 是不是沒有人好捧了
3.我好賞識好想識好想識好想識My Little Airport
講完拜拜

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all." ~Buddha

關於自己的１3件事

關於自己的事。

大家tag來tag去，由blog到facebook，從16件變成25件。

逐一記下，然後發現你的尋常，其實是別人眼中的刁鑽。

好的，就隨便寫下13件關於自己的事。


1. 覺得自己是醜小鴨，但永遠不會變成天鵝，除非整容，大執果種。

2. 不吃牛肉，本來十分嗜血，例牌medium rare，自某天起，quota忽然用完。

3. 沒有試過暗戀，不明白如何可以無端白事暗暗愛上一個人。

4. 不穿任何platform shoes，好醜樣的義肢，ferragamo都係咁話。

5. 睡眠時間一般為上午7時到下午3時30分，如果被朋友吵醒，我會即時爆粗問候其全家，睡醒後再致電問候多一次。

6. 怕悶的人要住鬧市要樓下有7-11有翠華，我愛銅鑼灣。

7. 看餐牌時先看dessert menu，每天都要有甜品到肚。

8. 起床後一定要摺被，亂成一堆的床舖讓我感覺不衛生及有蚤。

9. 情緒化挑剔性急奇怪固執懶散沉悶偏激一無是處。

10. 錢，真的好重要，即使有情飲水飽，都要交水費。

11. 不擅詞令，交際應酬零智商，木獨常被誤解為西口西面。

12. 長期失眠，平均兩日睡一次，沒有stilnox我會死。

13. 極度需要獨處時間及空間，贊成同居但分房睡。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives." ~Sioux proverb

從零食物語到世界末日

我跟大多數的人一樣，正餐可以不吃，但零食呢，絕對寧濫莫缺。 開心的時候，買點零食錦上添花；不開心的時候，更需要零食來安慰自己。 君不見街上的零食店、傳統涼果店、大型新式超市的零食架，黃昏後的時段總是塞滿人？ 近來市道低迷，人心惶惶，零售業推出各式優惠救亡，但那些大減價大劈價，還是不夠吸引。 昨天逛吉之島十元店，連它都漲價至十二元，我快要失去這唯一的購物樂趣了。 手頭未見寬鬆，更要擔心明天，我以為，這時候更需要「抗壓靈藥」—— 零食，來拯救蒼生，誰知… … 我錯了。 那天，踏入零食物語，明明是周五的放工時間，怎麼會這樣的呢？不是寥寥數客，是空無一客。 大家不是要買多些零食，用以渡過周六周日煲劇看雜誌的時光嗎？ 我四處張望，找尋之前在屈臣氏買的價值 $10.5的大粒提子軟糖，啊！竟然 買一送一，$12兩包。 在另一零食架上，發現日本版樂天熊仔餅減價至$13兩盒，隨手放進購物籃。 然後，又買了一包$16的粟米條。 五件零食，總數只是$41，已覺得有點便宜，誰知cashier的妹妹還送上一包City Super有售，價值$16的軟糖。 頃刻之間，置身於零食物語內的我，懷疑世界末日即將降臨。 天國近了，我們應當多吃零食。

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Each day we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." ~Charles Swindoll

寧靚莫叻

有日，我與朋友A先生於網上閒聊，他在MSN問我：「喂，你之前咪幫朋友K先生登咗個徵友廣告既，佢搵到女朋友未呀？」

我的答覆是：「未呀，你係咪有好介紹先？」

他就說有一位「好女仔」現正單身，可以介給K先生認識，嘗試撮合他們。

那位「好女仔」的條件如下：

‧三十歲
‧努力上進
‧專業人士
‧事業有成
‧畢業於一流大學
‧碩士畢業
‧樣貌端正
‧不求高攀只求條件相近
‧渴望結婚

我越聽越心寒，不斷皺眉搖頭，聽完那些do re mi條件，無需徵詢K先生的意向，已代他決定—— 即是REJECT。

親愛的，這女人擁有如此優秀條件，就算不是目空一切，大概有一定程度的要求，當然，是above level那種。

朋友A先生還慌她唔死加多一句：「個女仔真係無嘢喎，性格好謙虛。」

嘩，咁仲死！

其實，有幾多男人需要這樣的超級女友？我的機械人女友受歡迎，是因為她聽聽話話，外型是F cup綾瀨遙，不是因為master degree囉。

無論於任何情況下，靚女總是較叻女受歡迎。

要不是的話，為甚麼我每次說有single & available的女孩子可以介紹給男性友人，有叻女有靚女，講完之後，所有男人都是問我要電車女王Tina的電話號碼？

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day: "Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action." ~ Benjamin Disraeli

你連20元都不值

我有一位朋友，空姐啦當然，還是貌美那種。

最近，她跟一位機師date緊，即處於約會階段，進展不俗。

不過，她有少少疑惑，就是跟機師外出的時候，一切使費都是AA制的，連一個二十五元的茶餐也不例外。

最重要的一點是，那位機師永遠不會接送她回家，即使他有車代步，由銅鑼灣送她回土瓜灣的家也不肯。

原因是：過海要俾廿雞紅隧賺，佢覺得好貴。

我這位空姐朋友想知道… …

Q1. 她覺得AA制有點說不出的奇怪，這個想法會否好港女呢？

Q2. 她應否與這位機師繼續約會呢？

我的答案是：「不」，和，「不」。

A1. 首先，港女又如何？別人認為你港女，你又不會少條頭髮，或出糧時少了一個零。說回AA制，真的要讚讚香港男生，他們習慣約會時連女方的費用也一併付清，說真的，這是他們好風度，「俾晒錢」不是必然或老馮的。AA制，其實對雙方都公平，只是香港女孩子很多時候覺得有點奇怪，她們情願你俾一餐我俾一餐這樣的方式來約會。

A2. 完全不應該，他拒絕的原因，不是明早有flight又或是你日光日白回家不構成安全問題，是「過海要俾廿雞紅隧好貴呀」。看到沒有，你的性命比不上一張二十蚊紙那麼矜貴，你連廿雞都唔值呀呀呀﹗﹗﹗你在他的眼中，最多只值$19.9，他還要補多一毫子，才夠錢買壹周刊。

如果我愛上阿嘉

如果海會說話，如果風愛上砂，如果我生活無憂，不需要擔心失業會捱餓會睡到街上去，失戀時可以用往後所有的時間當作悠長假期，但仍然付得起屋租水電雜費，我會愛上電影《海角七號》裏的阿嘉，甚至窮一生去找這樣的一個男人來談戀愛。阿嘉那戀慕的神情，熱熾得教人灰飛煙滅也沒所謂。明明知道這人性格飄忽毫不可靠，當他唱着「妳會不會把妳曾帶走的愛，在告別前用微笑全歸還」時，可以看到他眼內的深情，但同時感覺到他的殘忍。總有一天，他會辜負那個本來很愛很愛的女人，原因就是忽然不愛了。


然而，現實是失戀過後，我只曾放過一整個夏天的長假。某天，在回首時終於懂得，假若幸福的標準，是世俗認定的一夫一妻生兒育女白頭偕老，那麼，阿嘉不必也千萬不要擁有這樣的下場。愛上如此的一個人，不要奢望改變得了他。結局往往是，數年後，一個尋常日子，外出後回家，卻發現雙人床屬於自己那半的位置，躺着另一個女人，哭着狠狠掌摑他，二人拉扯爭吵，將家中的一切東西亂擲，從此不相往來。又或是，回到家中，他不見了，心中有數他不會回來的了，沒再見沒解釋，從此生離。有些愛情，必須暴烈必須有着恨意，才會莫失莫忘。愛上一個壞人，注定要傷心，但感激用心愛過。他既能賜你快樂，明知終會遍體鱗傷也甘心。

Our Poor Are Rich

We should help the poor because we're rich and they aren't but then after we've helped them, it seems to me we have the right to ask a lot of people of the world, who resent the success of our civilization, who they haven’t done more to help themselves.

Men and women from the poorest, most underdeveloped countries make their way to the United States and prosper in our society. Professional and business people from economically retarded countries come here and frequently distinguish themselves. Individuals are not responsible for national failures. So who is?

Almost all of Europe, South America, Russia, China and Japan have working economies, stable governments, police forces, a judicial system, rods and public services like water and electricity. At the same time, dozens of countries in other parts of the world do not have the amenities of civilization. The United Nations has estimated that half the people on earth love in poverty.

If it weren’t for television, which occasionally shows it to us, we wouldn’t understand poverty at all. Poverty to us means a handful of dysfunctional homeless people in our town. Few are in danger of starving or freezing to death. Real poverty means whole countries whose people not only don't have jobs they don’t have an organized society, houses, food clean water, places to go to the bathroom. Forget bedrooms, two-car garages, swimming pools, refrigerators, central hearing and air conditioning. They don’t have houses.

Poverty anywhere in the world is a concern to us because we ‘re nice guys and we’re pained to see hungry and unhappy humans anywhere. We are also concerned because it’s only human of the world’s poor to resent our prosperity, and we don’t like being hated.

You look for reasons why so many countries are what we euphemistically call”backward”. Many of the most depressed countries are under the heel of some oppressive potentate who keeps himself rich and the people poor. However, it isn’t easy to determine whether a dictator in a poor country is a cause or a result of nation’s problems.

It’s a mystery why the people living in the warmest parts of the earth are often the worst off. You’d think that not having to expend money, energy or resources staying warm would be an advantage but that doesn’t seem to be so. Africa is the warmest continent but it has many of the least successful societies.

Warm weather should give the people of Africa and the Arab countries a head start on prosperity. Even in the United States, for no discernible reason, the South was for years the poorest and most backward part of the country. In the past 50 years, the South has developed into one of the most prosperous parts of our country. Maybe it’s coincidence, but the change seems to have been concomitant with the development of air conditioning. Maybe we ought to raise the money to air condition the earth. It would be cheaper than war.

While I’m not comfortable using the term “Arab” because the definition of the word is vague, many Arab countries are not among the world’s most successful. If it were not for oil, they’d probably be destitute because they haven’t created any kind of economy for themselves independent of that natural resource.

There was a time in history when the Arab would led all others in the knowledge of geometry, astronomy, chemistry and medicine. Europeans in the Middle Ages learned Ages learned a lot of what they knew of science from the Arabs. They world has not learned much from Arab countries in recent centuries.

I don’t know how it can be done, but it’s important that we find out why the people of some parts of the world prosper while others live lives desperately devoid of pleasure or the basic necessities of the good life. You wonder why the poor cling to life as tenaciously as do those of us who have a life so clearly worth clinging to.

weird building