Friday, September 29, 2006
Ultimate Joy
Hello,
Are people who lived in the long past really past ?
In the comic book ZhuangZi Speaks II by the famous comic book writer, Tsai Chih Chung, ZhuangZi asks, "Is there such a thing as ultimate joy ? Or a way to preserve life ? There is an answer," he says.
" But people don't know what to grab a hold of and what to give up ! They don't know what to do or rely on, what to avoid or what to abide in, what to accommodate or what to eliminate, what to like or what to dislike."
" What most people respect are wealth, prestige, longevity, and goodness. What they like are physical security, rich flavours, beautiful clothing, fine colours and good music. What they debase are poverty, lowliness, illness and death. What they fear suffering are physical insecurity, flavours that aren't rich, clothing that isn't beautiful, colours that aren't fine, and music that isn't good."
" If they can't get these material pleasures, they worry and fret. Isn't living for one's body like that pretty foolish ? What common people pursue are physical pleasures. What students of the Dao (Taoism) pursue is spiritual joy."
"Physical pleasures harm the body and destroy one's nature. Spiritual joy is the Ultimate Joy."
Have a nice day,
Ronald
NB. ZhuangZi was a famous philosopher who lived in ancient China about 370 to 301 BC,
whereas Confucius lived circa 551 to 479 BC.
Are people who lived in the long past really past ?
In the comic book ZhuangZi Speaks II by the famous comic book writer, Tsai Chih Chung, ZhuangZi asks, "Is there such a thing as ultimate joy ? Or a way to preserve life ? There is an answer," he says.
" But people don't know what to grab a hold of and what to give up ! They don't know what to do or rely on, what to avoid or what to abide in, what to accommodate or what to eliminate, what to like or what to dislike."
" What most people respect are wealth, prestige, longevity, and goodness. What they like are physical security, rich flavours, beautiful clothing, fine colours and good music. What they debase are poverty, lowliness, illness and death. What they fear suffering are physical insecurity, flavours that aren't rich, clothing that isn't beautiful, colours that aren't fine, and music that isn't good."
" If they can't get these material pleasures, they worry and fret. Isn't living for one's body like that pretty foolish ? What common people pursue are physical pleasures. What students of the Dao (Taoism) pursue is spiritual joy."
"Physical pleasures harm the body and destroy one's nature. Spiritual joy is the Ultimate Joy."
Have a nice day,
Ronald
NB. ZhuangZi was a famous philosopher who lived in ancient China about 370 to 301 BC,
whereas Confucius lived circa 551 to 479 BC.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
A riddle
He visits me every morning and stays all day
The guests I have he welcomes as friends
And we are sticky playmates without end
At night I choose to play hide and seek
Yet there is nothing I do he cannot mimic
And he knows where to go when I sleep
Who is he ?
The answer is xmxyxsxhxaxdxoxwx without the x
The guests I have he welcomes as friends
And we are sticky playmates without end
At night I choose to play hide and seek
Yet there is nothing I do he cannot mimic
And he knows where to go when I sleep
Who is he ?
The answer is xmxyxsxhxaxdxoxwx without the x
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
FreeCell
Hello,
A simple way to keep the mind active and enjoy it too.
FreeCell is a solitaire played with a pack of playing cards. It keeps one busy physically and active mentally. It is a game which has gained much popularity, especially on the computer which takes the drudgery out of the shuffling of the cards. It is one game which keeps the mind in good shape as it is being enjoyed. Besides this, there are many lessons in life one can learn from the logic and moves of the game. It trains the mind to solve problems within constraints of space, order and sequence using simple logic. One finds its usefulness to practical problems as one plays the game. This is so when one needs to shift furniture about to paint the rooms, for example.
In the game FreeCell the cards are dealt out open from left to right onto eight columns, with the last four columns having six cards each, one card less than the other four columns, jokers excluded. The aim is to rearrange and stack all the cards in ascending order, from ace to king by their respective suits, at the four designated positions at the top right hand corner. There are four spaces at the top left hand corner where the cards from the columns may be moved out to temporarily and then moved back onto the columns for the purpose of rearranging the cards. In the eight columns, the cards can be moved about and placed over another column so long as they are in descending sequence, ace over two over three over four etc. and of alternate colours, black on red or red on black etc., not necessary of the same suit, all this under the single rule that there are available spaces to position the cards about one at a time.
As one will learn quickly, it is advantageous to get the aces out or free the columns as soon as possible, and then position the kings in the columns for subsequent stacking of the rest of the cards in descending order of alternate colours.
This FreeCell game is easy going and not complicated, although some of the combinations can be quite difficult to solve, but rarely has one encountered the impossibles. There are people who are known to have been hooked by all the combinations that the computer can dish out. Initially there were over thirty thousand combinations, but now the number has gone into six digits.
Like all other solitaires, FreeCell aims to challenge the mind to keep it active and the hands busy, to be enjoyed in times of boredom and not to make one become addicted.
Have a nice day
Ronald
A simple way to keep the mind active and enjoy it too.
FreeCell is a solitaire played with a pack of playing cards. It keeps one busy physically and active mentally. It is a game which has gained much popularity, especially on the computer which takes the drudgery out of the shuffling of the cards. It is one game which keeps the mind in good shape as it is being enjoyed. Besides this, there are many lessons in life one can learn from the logic and moves of the game. It trains the mind to solve problems within constraints of space, order and sequence using simple logic. One finds its usefulness to practical problems as one plays the game. This is so when one needs to shift furniture about to paint the rooms, for example.
In the game FreeCell the cards are dealt out open from left to right onto eight columns, with the last four columns having six cards each, one card less than the other four columns, jokers excluded. The aim is to rearrange and stack all the cards in ascending order, from ace to king by their respective suits, at the four designated positions at the top right hand corner. There are four spaces at the top left hand corner where the cards from the columns may be moved out to temporarily and then moved back onto the columns for the purpose of rearranging the cards. In the eight columns, the cards can be moved about and placed over another column so long as they are in descending sequence, ace over two over three over four etc. and of alternate colours, black on red or red on black etc., not necessary of the same suit, all this under the single rule that there are available spaces to position the cards about one at a time.
As one will learn quickly, it is advantageous to get the aces out or free the columns as soon as possible, and then position the kings in the columns for subsequent stacking of the rest of the cards in descending order of alternate colours.
This FreeCell game is easy going and not complicated, although some of the combinations can be quite difficult to solve, but rarely has one encountered the impossibles. There are people who are known to have been hooked by all the combinations that the computer can dish out. Initially there were over thirty thousand combinations, but now the number has gone into six digits.
Like all other solitaires, FreeCell aims to challenge the mind to keep it active and the hands busy, to be enjoyed in times of boredom and not to make one become addicted.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Zhouzhou
Good morning,
An awakening for those who write off handicapped people.
Zhouzhou was born in China with Down Syndrome. As a boy, when his IQ was being assessed, the tester told him to answer I Don't know whenever he could not answer a question. Although the questions were simple, his answers were mostly I Don't know and his IQ score was about 30, a case of medium to high mental retardation. Zhouzhou did not go to school and could not read nor write.
His father played the cello in an orchestra, and Zhouzhou went along each time his father rehearsed or performed. Zhouzhou was restless, so he usually made himself useful, like helping to move and set things about for the musicians. But quietly he would listen to the music and watch the conductor wave the baton. He would also amuse himself by imitating the conductor. All the musicians liked Zhouzhou and they left him alone to have his own fun. Thus he became a permanent feature at musical and stage performances, having himself painted like the actors and wielding their spears and staff expertly with corresponding actions. He was a non-performing performer.
One day, many years later, some musicians decided to have some fun themselves. They asked Zhouzhou to conduct while they performed the musical piece Carmen. Zhouzhou in his simple manner accepted the wand, went up the rostrum, straightened himself and waved the wand about. And what began as some kind of a joke turned into a fine performance. At the end of it the musicians were all in praise of Zhouzhou. Not only was he accurate and crisp, he was stunningly musical. He actually radiated with a passionate rhythmic aura.
That was the beginning; from then on he began to conduct bands and orchestras with enthusiam and perfection. He does not read music, but he naturally has the ear for music and the beat.
Zhouzhou has conducted world renowned symphony orchestras in famous halls of music around the world. His name has been carved in the annals of Carnegie Hall of New York and the National Theatre of the United states.
Watching him perform is to sit in awe and admiration. His movements are very natural and automatic, really like a child playing, no stress or intention, just play like. One has to watch him perform to be mesmerised, a short tubby penquin-like dressed man teasing with a little wand a large group of talented musicians wielding different types of musical instruments to entertain a hall of music hungry audience in an atmosphere of complete silence.
Zhouzhou is a member of The China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. Its members are all handicapped people, dumb, visually or hearing impaired, physically disabled or even a combination of some of these defects, or mentally retarded. They are the only performing troupe for special art in the whole world that has entered the cultural market. With their formation in 1987, they have brought colourful songs, dances and music to the world, to more than thirty foreign countries, through a program entitled My Dream.
The group members, every one of them, their personal determination, struggle and success, easily moved all who came to know about them to tears, tears of happiness and joy for them.
People who have handicapped children, do ease your restrain, they could be geniuses trying to break out, just like Zhouzhou.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
NB. The dance "Kuanyin with thousand hands" which had been emailed around was performed by this troupe, its lead star is Tai LIhua who is a deaf mute.
An awakening for those who write off handicapped people.
Zhouzhou was born in China with Down Syndrome. As a boy, when his IQ was being assessed, the tester told him to answer I Don't know whenever he could not answer a question. Although the questions were simple, his answers were mostly I Don't know and his IQ score was about 30, a case of medium to high mental retardation. Zhouzhou did not go to school and could not read nor write.
His father played the cello in an orchestra, and Zhouzhou went along each time his father rehearsed or performed. Zhouzhou was restless, so he usually made himself useful, like helping to move and set things about for the musicians. But quietly he would listen to the music and watch the conductor wave the baton. He would also amuse himself by imitating the conductor. All the musicians liked Zhouzhou and they left him alone to have his own fun. Thus he became a permanent feature at musical and stage performances, having himself painted like the actors and wielding their spears and staff expertly with corresponding actions. He was a non-performing performer.
One day, many years later, some musicians decided to have some fun themselves. They asked Zhouzhou to conduct while they performed the musical piece Carmen. Zhouzhou in his simple manner accepted the wand, went up the rostrum, straightened himself and waved the wand about. And what began as some kind of a joke turned into a fine performance. At the end of it the musicians were all in praise of Zhouzhou. Not only was he accurate and crisp, he was stunningly musical. He actually radiated with a passionate rhythmic aura.
That was the beginning; from then on he began to conduct bands and orchestras with enthusiam and perfection. He does not read music, but he naturally has the ear for music and the beat.
Zhouzhou has conducted world renowned symphony orchestras in famous halls of music around the world. His name has been carved in the annals of Carnegie Hall of New York and the National Theatre of the United states.
Watching him perform is to sit in awe and admiration. His movements are very natural and automatic, really like a child playing, no stress or intention, just play like. One has to watch him perform to be mesmerised, a short tubby penquin-like dressed man teasing with a little wand a large group of talented musicians wielding different types of musical instruments to entertain a hall of music hungry audience in an atmosphere of complete silence.
Zhouzhou is a member of The China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe. Its members are all handicapped people, dumb, visually or hearing impaired, physically disabled or even a combination of some of these defects, or mentally retarded. They are the only performing troupe for special art in the whole world that has entered the cultural market. With their formation in 1987, they have brought colourful songs, dances and music to the world, to more than thirty foreign countries, through a program entitled My Dream.
The group members, every one of them, their personal determination, struggle and success, easily moved all who came to know about them to tears, tears of happiness and joy for them.
People who have handicapped children, do ease your restrain, they could be geniuses trying to break out, just like Zhouzhou.
Have a nice day,
Ronald
NB. The dance "Kuanyin with thousand hands" which had been emailed around was performed by this troupe, its lead star is Tai LIhua who is a deaf mute.
Friday, September 22, 2006
"Whoever makes it, tells it not.
Whoever takes it, knows it not.
Whoever knows it, wants it not.
What is it?"
Find the answer by taking out the x from Fxaxkxexmxoxnxexy
Whoever takes it, knows it not.
Whoever knows it, wants it not.
What is it?"
Find the answer by taking out the x from Fxaxkxexmxoxnxexy
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Health & Wealth Enigma
Good morning,
Is bacon and egg our breakfast anymore ?
Which comes first, health or wealth ? Apparently, this health or wealth priority has become an enigma, something like the chicken and egg theory. Why should this be so ? Strangely, this just became so; the topic has become a bandied about question, and even to the extent that surveys are being carried out on it.
One look at the alphabet that we all know clearly tells us that H comes before W, but then on closer look W has more weight than H since there are four strokes in W than the three strokes in the H, ha ha ha !
Politicians explain that without wealth what can follow ? With wealth there follow ownership, development, progress and whatever. Without wealth where do the five C come from. True, true, true; yet why is there this question ?
Someone said, "People spend their lives to make money, then they spend their money to save their lives."
Another said, "But people are living longer don't they ?"
A third voice said, "Yes, but does longer life mean healthier life ?
A fourth said, "I fear not to die, but I am scared of ill-health !"
A fifth said, "Make money and enjoy life first, let health take care of itself."
Anyone want to continue listening ......... ?
So, the chicken and egg is a no answer enigma, but health and wealth is there no better way ?
Some facts are there to see and use; the rate of people afflicted with chronic sickness increases year by year. Manufacturing and production companies used to reap high profits, but investors currently prefer to invest in pharmaceutical companies. That the pharmaceutical industry has become the sunrise industry does that not point somewhat to a great sacrifice.
The chicken and the pig might have the last and loudest laugh !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Is bacon and egg our breakfast anymore ?
Which comes first, health or wealth ? Apparently, this health or wealth priority has become an enigma, something like the chicken and egg theory. Why should this be so ? Strangely, this just became so; the topic has become a bandied about question, and even to the extent that surveys are being carried out on it.
One look at the alphabet that we all know clearly tells us that H comes before W, but then on closer look W has more weight than H since there are four strokes in W than the three strokes in the H, ha ha ha !
Politicians explain that without wealth what can follow ? With wealth there follow ownership, development, progress and whatever. Without wealth where do the five C come from. True, true, true; yet why is there this question ?
Someone said, "People spend their lives to make money, then they spend their money to save their lives."
Another said, "But people are living longer don't they ?"
A third voice said, "Yes, but does longer life mean healthier life ?
A fourth said, "I fear not to die, but I am scared of ill-health !"
A fifth said, "Make money and enjoy life first, let health take care of itself."
Anyone want to continue listening ......... ?
So, the chicken and egg is a no answer enigma, but health and wealth is there no better way ?
Some facts are there to see and use; the rate of people afflicted with chronic sickness increases year by year. Manufacturing and production companies used to reap high profits, but investors currently prefer to invest in pharmaceutical companies. That the pharmaceutical industry has become the sunrise industry does that not point somewhat to a great sacrifice.
The chicken and the pig might have the last and loudest laugh !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
"Reframing teaches us to see things through an entirely different lens.
It is an amazingly effective method for self-renewal." --- Tom Russell
It is an amazingly effective method for self-renewal." --- Tom Russell
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Saul of Tarsus, Paulus, Paul, Saint
Hi,
The great turncoat, not because from Saul to Paul !
In days of old, soldiers literally turn their coats inside out and join the enemy. A turncoat is thus a person who changes to the opposite party or reverses beliefs, principles or loyalty. In the Bible there is one very great turncoat. He is Saul of Tarsus.
Saul was born a Jew in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, thus also of Roman citizenship. He was a Pharisee, nurtured by his teacher, Rabbi Gamaliel, a highly respected member of the Sanhedrin.
After the death and ascension of Jesus, his apostles and disciples were persecuted by the Jews. And when St. Stephen, the first martyr, was being stoned to death, Saul kept watch over the clothes of the attackers. Saul also laid waste the church and committed men and women to prison. Later he obtained a commission from the high priest to go to Damascus to arrest other members of the Way.
As he approached Damascus, a lightning struck him blind and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Saul answered, "Who are you, Lord ?"
The voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Then they led the blinded Saul into Damascus.
In Damascus a man named Ananias was instructed by the Lord in a vision to look for one Saul to cure his sight, while Saul was similarly given a vision of Ananias coming to heal him. Ananias was afraid, knowing of Saul's evil mission. But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
For three days Saul was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank but prayed. Ananias went and laid his hands on him, saying, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came has sent me, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and then began to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues.
All who heard him were astounded and said, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?" But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Then the Jews conspired to kill him, and they kept watch on the gates day and night to do so. But their plot became known to Saul, and his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, and lowered him in a basket out of the city.
Saul's name means asked of Yahweh; in Roman it is Paulus, or simply it is Paul.
Paul thereafter carried out the work Jesus set for him. He travelled widely, preached and suffered.
On his first missionary journey Paul and Barnabus visited the island of Cypress, then Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, all in Asia Minor, and established churches at Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
After the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, Paul, accompanied by Silas and later also by Timothy and Luke, made his second missionary journey, first revisiting the churches previously established by him in Asia Minor, and then passing through Galatia. At Troas a vision of a Macedonian was had by Paul, which impressed him as a call from God to evangelize in Macedonia. He accordingly sailed for Europe, and preached the Gospel in Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens, and Corinth. Then he returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem.
On his third missionary journey, Paul visited nearly the same regions as on the second trip, but made Ephesus, where he remained nearly three years, the center of his missionary activity. He laid plans also for another missionary journey, intending to leave Jerusalem for Rome and Spain. But persecutions by the Jews hindered him from accomplishing his purpose. After two years of imprisonment at Caesarea he finally reached Rome, where he was kept another two years in chains.
When Paul was released from his Roman imprisonment, he traveled to Spain, later to the East again, and then back to Rome, where he was imprisoned a second time.
Paul was beheaded in the year 67. His tomb and shrine are at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Without the Walls .
Have a nice day
Ronald
The great turncoat, not because from Saul to Paul !
In days of old, soldiers literally turn their coats inside out and join the enemy. A turncoat is thus a person who changes to the opposite party or reverses beliefs, principles or loyalty. In the Bible there is one very great turncoat. He is Saul of Tarsus.
Saul was born a Jew in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, thus also of Roman citizenship. He was a Pharisee, nurtured by his teacher, Rabbi Gamaliel, a highly respected member of the Sanhedrin.
After the death and ascension of Jesus, his apostles and disciples were persecuted by the Jews. And when St. Stephen, the first martyr, was being stoned to death, Saul kept watch over the clothes of the attackers. Saul also laid waste the church and committed men and women to prison. Later he obtained a commission from the high priest to go to Damascus to arrest other members of the Way.
As he approached Damascus, a lightning struck him blind and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Saul answered, "Who are you, Lord ?"
The voice replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Then they led the blinded Saul into Damascus.
In Damascus a man named Ananias was instructed by the Lord in a vision to look for one Saul to cure his sight, while Saul was similarly given a vision of Ananias coming to heal him. Ananias was afraid, knowing of Saul's evil mission. But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name."
For three days Saul was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank but prayed. Ananias went and laid his hands on him, saying, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came has sent me, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and then began to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God in the synagogues.
All who heard him were astounded and said, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?" But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
Then the Jews conspired to kill him, and they kept watch on the gates day and night to do so. But their plot became known to Saul, and his disciples took him one night and let him down through an opening in the wall, and lowered him in a basket out of the city.
Saul's name means asked of Yahweh; in Roman it is Paulus, or simply it is Paul.
Paul thereafter carried out the work Jesus set for him. He travelled widely, preached and suffered.
On his first missionary journey Paul and Barnabus visited the island of Cypress, then Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, all in Asia Minor, and established churches at Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
After the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem, Paul, accompanied by Silas and later also by Timothy and Luke, made his second missionary journey, first revisiting the churches previously established by him in Asia Minor, and then passing through Galatia. At Troas a vision of a Macedonian was had by Paul, which impressed him as a call from God to evangelize in Macedonia. He accordingly sailed for Europe, and preached the Gospel in Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens, and Corinth. Then he returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem.
On his third missionary journey, Paul visited nearly the same regions as on the second trip, but made Ephesus, where he remained nearly three years, the center of his missionary activity. He laid plans also for another missionary journey, intending to leave Jerusalem for Rome and Spain. But persecutions by the Jews hindered him from accomplishing his purpose. After two years of imprisonment at Caesarea he finally reached Rome, where he was kept another two years in chains.
When Paul was released from his Roman imprisonment, he traveled to Spain, later to the East again, and then back to Rome, where he was imprisoned a second time.
Paul was beheaded in the year 67. His tomb and shrine are at the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Without the Walls .
Have a nice day
Ronald
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Misnomers
Hi,
Misnomer of sorts
"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet", so wrote William Shakespeare in the play Romeo and Juliet. This statement is well quoted, even now.
But is any other flower called rose make it just as intended. One will easily get away with frangipani, jasmine, orchid or other fragrant flowers, but do not try calling the Rafflesia arnoldii a rose, it will definitely not work !
But in the case of food, it does work ! Some favourite cakes and breakfast fares such as soonkway and chyethowkway are really misnomers. Is there any more soon, bamboo shoot, in soonkway; it is really turnip ? How much chyethow, raddish, is there in chyethowkway; it is mostly rice, with may be a smell of chyethow ? Are yam cakes made of yam ? And can one really find carrot in fried carrot cakes ?
How about shark fins soup; one can go on a treasure hunt for it at most Chinese dinners. And what do we get when venison dishes are served ?
The mooncake festival is near. Where will one find the favourite lotus paste that is what mooncakes were made of. Some shops are beginning to be frank enough to sell some of their mooncakes as towsar mooncakes , or bean mooncakes.
All this makes one wonder whether misnomers became so because of the way they evolved. Some young Singaporeans are beginning to think that chickens are featherless, so will future generations of Singaporeans called the pig a deer ? What is pork and what is venison ?
There is an anecdote about Richard Nixon and Chow EngLai. After Nixon was well feasted in China with all the wonderful delicacies, he decided to impress Chow EngLai who in return visited the USA. After they had enjoyed the American favourite snack, Nixon informed Chow EngLai that it is called hot dog and asked him for his comment. Hesitating a little bit, Chow EngLai said, "We do eat wild and exotic food, but we do not eat this part of the dog."
Have a nice day
Ronald
Misnomer of sorts
"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet", so wrote William Shakespeare in the play Romeo and Juliet. This statement is well quoted, even now.
But is any other flower called rose make it just as intended. One will easily get away with frangipani, jasmine, orchid or other fragrant flowers, but do not try calling the Rafflesia arnoldii a rose, it will definitely not work !
But in the case of food, it does work ! Some favourite cakes and breakfast fares such as soonkway and chyethowkway are really misnomers. Is there any more soon, bamboo shoot, in soonkway; it is really turnip ? How much chyethow, raddish, is there in chyethowkway; it is mostly rice, with may be a smell of chyethow ? Are yam cakes made of yam ? And can one really find carrot in fried carrot cakes ?
How about shark fins soup; one can go on a treasure hunt for it at most Chinese dinners. And what do we get when venison dishes are served ?
The mooncake festival is near. Where will one find the favourite lotus paste that is what mooncakes were made of. Some shops are beginning to be frank enough to sell some of their mooncakes as towsar mooncakes , or bean mooncakes.
All this makes one wonder whether misnomers became so because of the way they evolved. Some young Singaporeans are beginning to think that chickens are featherless, so will future generations of Singaporeans called the pig a deer ? What is pork and what is venison ?
There is an anecdote about Richard Nixon and Chow EngLai. After Nixon was well feasted in China with all the wonderful delicacies, he decided to impress Chow EngLai who in return visited the USA. After they had enjoyed the American favourite snack, Nixon informed Chow EngLai that it is called hot dog and asked him for his comment. Hesitating a little bit, Chow EngLai said, "We do eat wild and exotic food, but we do not eat this part of the dog."
Have a nice day
Ronald
Monday, September 11, 2006
Jack of all trades
Hello to all,
Is variety the spice of life ?
Jack of all trades, master of none is one quotation which is very well known. And to be labelled as such is not to anybody's liking. Adults love to label children as such. I have a nephew who delves around in many kinds of sport. He is quite good in the various games he plays. In golf he drives the ball as far as professionals; how many of them can drive a ball a 270+ metres distance ? He can play this game well, but he prefers to play around in other sports with his friends. And aptly, he is one Jack of all trades, master of none, so people would say .
But, is this derogatory, as people usually dislike ? Certainly not ! If people know the correct or complete quotation, most of them would want to be a Jack of all trades. This proverb in its entirety is Jack of all trades, master of none, though ofttimes better than master of one. This saying is a figure of speech, describing a polymath, a person who is competent with many skills but is not very good with one particular skill.
One day I met a thirty something year old golfer. He told me that he had lost the zeal for golf years ago. Then the game was very easy for him; he would hit the ball and it would go as he played it, no fun, he said. He had come back to play for the exercise and the friendship. He wanted to have a more varied life. He said, "I would rather be a Jack of all trades than a master of one at any time. All I need to be is to be above average. I will get along fine in life. I can always engage the specialist where specialised work is required."
Have a nice day
Ronald
Is variety the spice of life ?
Jack of all trades, master of none is one quotation which is very well known. And to be labelled as such is not to anybody's liking. Adults love to label children as such. I have a nephew who delves around in many kinds of sport. He is quite good in the various games he plays. In golf he drives the ball as far as professionals; how many of them can drive a ball a 270+ metres distance ? He can play this game well, but he prefers to play around in other sports with his friends. And aptly, he is one Jack of all trades, master of none, so people would say .
But, is this derogatory, as people usually dislike ? Certainly not ! If people know the correct or complete quotation, most of them would want to be a Jack of all trades. This proverb in its entirety is Jack of all trades, master of none, though ofttimes better than master of one. This saying is a figure of speech, describing a polymath, a person who is competent with many skills but is not very good with one particular skill.
One day I met a thirty something year old golfer. He told me that he had lost the zeal for golf years ago. Then the game was very easy for him; he would hit the ball and it would go as he played it, no fun, he said. He had come back to play for the exercise and the friendship. He wanted to have a more varied life. He said, "I would rather be a Jack of all trades than a master of one at any time. All I need to be is to be above average. I will get along fine in life. I can always engage the specialist where specialised work is required."
Have a nice day
Ronald
Riddle
"What is it that is not wanted by the one who invented it, not needed by the one who bought it and not known by the one who used it ?"
Answer:Itisaniffocspelledinreverse.
Answer:Itisaniffocspelledinreverse.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Mental Fasting
Good morning,
Motives cloud the path to objectivity !
Because the sovereign of Wei was very wicked, Yan Hui asked Confucius, "Please let me go to transform him !"
But Confucius said, "Of course you can go, but I am afraid that if you go intentionally to transform him, it will be difficult. Go home and fast for a few days, and then we will talk about it."
Yan Hui responded, "I come from a poor family, and it has already been several months since I have had any alcohol or meat.''
Confucius said, "That is the fasting to be done for sacrificial ceremonies, it is not mental fasting."
Yan Hui asked, "What is mental fasting?"
Confucius explained, "First, get rid of all intentional mental activity and make your mind an expanse of emptiness, then you will be able to respond naturally to everything. If you can do this, then others will respond to you."
Confucius added, "Acting intentionally means acting with self in mind, which will cause you to be conscious of gain and loss. We should eliminate the ego and not work for achievement, fame, or the self. If we can do this, then we can transform others."
In the Chinese classic Water Margin story, when ChaoKai was planning to rob the Birthday Presents of Grand Secretary Liang, meant for his father-in-law, they needed the participation of the three Yuan brothers. ChaoKai, the leader, wanted to send for them, but WuYung, the mastermind, decided to go personally instead. He knew that it would be a difficult task, and he went with the pretext of buying some big carps. He stayed with them, eating and drinking and never talked about the plot. Later, when the subject of the carps led to the bold bandits at Mount Liangshan and the cowardly officials who were scared of them, and the prevailing injustice, WuYung let the cat out of the bag; he told them about the robbery. The Yuan brothers were too delighted with the opportunity to get their hands on the gifts which were extorted from the poor people, and they volunteered to join the robbery, without WuYung having to ask them to.
Let people see the situation without prejudice and they will respond appropriately.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Motives cloud the path to objectivity !
Because the sovereign of Wei was very wicked, Yan Hui asked Confucius, "Please let me go to transform him !"
But Confucius said, "Of course you can go, but I am afraid that if you go intentionally to transform him, it will be difficult. Go home and fast for a few days, and then we will talk about it."
Yan Hui responded, "I come from a poor family, and it has already been several months since I have had any alcohol or meat.''
Confucius said, "That is the fasting to be done for sacrificial ceremonies, it is not mental fasting."
Yan Hui asked, "What is mental fasting?"
Confucius explained, "First, get rid of all intentional mental activity and make your mind an expanse of emptiness, then you will be able to respond naturally to everything. If you can do this, then others will respond to you."
Confucius added, "Acting intentionally means acting with self in mind, which will cause you to be conscious of gain and loss. We should eliminate the ego and not work for achievement, fame, or the self. If we can do this, then we can transform others."
In the Chinese classic Water Margin story, when ChaoKai was planning to rob the Birthday Presents of Grand Secretary Liang, meant for his father-in-law, they needed the participation of the three Yuan brothers. ChaoKai, the leader, wanted to send for them, but WuYung, the mastermind, decided to go personally instead. He knew that it would be a difficult task, and he went with the pretext of buying some big carps. He stayed with them, eating and drinking and never talked about the plot. Later, when the subject of the carps led to the bold bandits at Mount Liangshan and the cowardly officials who were scared of them, and the prevailing injustice, WuYung let the cat out of the bag; he told them about the robbery. The Yuan brothers were too delighted with the opportunity to get their hands on the gifts which were extorted from the poor people, and they volunteered to join the robbery, without WuYung having to ask them to.
Let people see the situation without prejudice and they will respond appropriately.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Missionaries & Cannibals
Hello,
Dancing with unpredictable headhunters !
Three missionaries were returning from a hard day's work at a tribal settlement deep in the jungles of Borneo. As they came to the river bank they found three headhunters around their boat. These headhunters were not hostile, but it was known that they would turn treacherously cannibalistic whenever they have an advantage in number; they wouldn't do anything harmful otherwise, that is, when they were outnumbered or even in number.
Under the circumstances, the three missionaries had a problem with their lives at stake because the boat could carry only two people at any one time across the river.
They could not leave a third member hehind by having two ride across on the first trip. But being learned and wise as they were, they managed to shuttle to and fro with the headhunters across the river and returned safely to their base.
How did they manage, since they must not be outnumbered by the headhunters on either bank of the river at any one time ?
This is an interesting puzzle, but for those who do not wish to tax their brain too much the solution is given in codes below to avoid being seen easily by those who wish to solve it.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Solution to Missionaries & Cannibals:
1F: 2h, 1R: 1h, 2F: 2h, 2R: 1h, 3F: 2m, 3R:1m1h , 4F: 2m
(Where m= missionary, h=headhunter, F=forward, R=return, and the number is the trip number)
After the fourth trip all the three missionaries were across safely with only one headhunter, leaving the other two headhunters on the other bank.
Dancing with unpredictable headhunters !
Three missionaries were returning from a hard day's work at a tribal settlement deep in the jungles of Borneo. As they came to the river bank they found three headhunters around their boat. These headhunters were not hostile, but it was known that they would turn treacherously cannibalistic whenever they have an advantage in number; they wouldn't do anything harmful otherwise, that is, when they were outnumbered or even in number.
Under the circumstances, the three missionaries had a problem with their lives at stake because the boat could carry only two people at any one time across the river.
They could not leave a third member hehind by having two ride across on the first trip. But being learned and wise as they were, they managed to shuttle to and fro with the headhunters across the river and returned safely to their base.
How did they manage, since they must not be outnumbered by the headhunters on either bank of the river at any one time ?
This is an interesting puzzle, but for those who do not wish to tax their brain too much the solution is given in codes below to avoid being seen easily by those who wish to solve it.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Solution to Missionaries & Cannibals:
1F: 2h, 1R: 1h, 2F: 2h, 2R: 1h, 3F: 2m, 3R:1m1h , 4F: 2m
(Where m= missionary, h=headhunter, F=forward, R=return, and the number is the trip number)
After the fourth trip all the three missionaries were across safely with only one headhunter, leaving the other two headhunters on the other bank.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Helpfulness
Good morning,
Helping others is helping oneself.
Helpfulness is one of man's great assets,
To be able to help others is blessedness.
What is a man when he has no one to help ?
How does man live when there is no help ?
Helpfulness enlivens a community and buoys it with vibrancy.
Without helpfulness, we are like hermits, each living in our own niche.
What would one have, and what progress would there be, then ?
Can one person do everything, even with all one has, from where ?
What is gotong royong, a term in Bahasa Melayu ? In the days of old, when the Government was not reaching out to the rural areas, how did the villagers get their access to heavy transport. They rallied together and put in their own efforts, and they levelled the path which became their road.
" No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of ....." so said John Donne.
Helpfulness is the key to one's own good living. Why do we get employed ? To do so is to help the employer to do things to help others. Why do we perform a service ? When we take reward out of the equation, we are basically helping each other, no ? In times of depression what do unemployed people do - wandering about looking to do something for people !
When people are well off they do not need help, or so they think. When people are in need they seek help, or to help for a purpose. People's aim is basically to help others to the stage where they do not need to seek help. Helping and needing help is all a matter of the order of the status.
"Help me get a job", this is when one is in need. "It does not concern me", this is when one has got what one needs; but this guy will still need help in many other ways. Even when one dies one needs help, is it not so ?
Could there be people who really do not need help ? What people ? The people most likely not to need help are the farmers and the fishermen ! They can simply live off the land, somehow somewhat !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Helping others is helping oneself.
Helpfulness is one of man's great assets,
To be able to help others is blessedness.
What is a man when he has no one to help ?
How does man live when there is no help ?
Helpfulness enlivens a community and buoys it with vibrancy.
Without helpfulness, we are like hermits, each living in our own niche.
What would one have, and what progress would there be, then ?
Can one person do everything, even with all one has, from where ?
What is gotong royong, a term in Bahasa Melayu ? In the days of old, when the Government was not reaching out to the rural areas, how did the villagers get their access to heavy transport. They rallied together and put in their own efforts, and they levelled the path which became their road.
" No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of ....." so said John Donne.
Helpfulness is the key to one's own good living. Why do we get employed ? To do so is to help the employer to do things to help others. Why do we perform a service ? When we take reward out of the equation, we are basically helping each other, no ? In times of depression what do unemployed people do - wandering about looking to do something for people !
When people are well off they do not need help, or so they think. When people are in need they seek help, or to help for a purpose. People's aim is basically to help others to the stage where they do not need to seek help. Helping and needing help is all a matter of the order of the status.
"Help me get a job", this is when one is in need. "It does not concern me", this is when one has got what one needs; but this guy will still need help in many other ways. Even when one dies one needs help, is it not so ?
Could there be people who really do not need help ? What people ? The people most likely not to need help are the farmers and the fishermen ! They can simply live off the land, somehow somewhat !
Have a nice day
Ronald
