Sunday, October 29, 2006
The trap of a gift
Good morning,
Gifts are wonderful, but wrong use can lead to being trapped.
"Beware of Greeks who come bearing gifts." When I first heard this I was totally ignorant of what my colleague meant. Then he referred me to the Trojan war. In the story The Iliad by Homer, after the joint forces of the Greeks were unable to breech the walls of Troy for many years, perhaps ten, they retreated, leaving behind a gigantic wooden horse. The Trojans claimed victory, hauled the gift into the city and celebrated. In the drunken stupor of the Trojans after the celebration, the enemy came out of the wooden horse and opened the gates. Then the returning Greeks entered the city and slaughtered the Trojans. That wooden horse was one heck of a gift !
As humans we are born with gifts, personal gifts of beauty, strength or other assets, of our body. Each gift is meant for its special purpose. To misuse a gift or to be lured away from its main purpose can turn it into a waste, or even a trap.
To use the beautiful body to sexually attract the opposite sex could turn one into a gigolo or prostitute. Ngiachai was born very pretty and relatives and friends like to compliment her. She became flattered and vain and used her charms to get her way. She ended up serving drinks in a bar.
To use the strength of the body to fight may well make one a fighter and live the life of punching and being punched. There was a boxer who was so punched drunk that in his later years he could only worked as a jaga.
Oihkea was born very strong; he could haul up pails and pails of water from the well like picking feathers. He decided to be like Thaisan, or Tarzan. He practiced taking up weights; he used the wheel rims of a motorcar for weight lifting. He did become very strong, only that. As it turned out he was called Oihkea, a nickname meaning shorty.
To be clever at sizing up people may lure one to be cunning and manipulate others and situations. Jipunkia was born intelligent. As a young man he professed that he would be a millionaire before the age of thirty. He wouldn't mind if he went to jail so long as he had stashed away millions of dollars before that; he would come out after imprisonment and live in style. Whether he joked or not that was what he said. Jipunkia did go to jail and when he came out he had lots of money, but the truth was that very few people wanted to be associated with him.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Gifts are wonderful, but wrong use can lead to being trapped.
"Beware of Greeks who come bearing gifts." When I first heard this I was totally ignorant of what my colleague meant. Then he referred me to the Trojan war. In the story The Iliad by Homer, after the joint forces of the Greeks were unable to breech the walls of Troy for many years, perhaps ten, they retreated, leaving behind a gigantic wooden horse. The Trojans claimed victory, hauled the gift into the city and celebrated. In the drunken stupor of the Trojans after the celebration, the enemy came out of the wooden horse and opened the gates. Then the returning Greeks entered the city and slaughtered the Trojans. That wooden horse was one heck of a gift !
As humans we are born with gifts, personal gifts of beauty, strength or other assets, of our body. Each gift is meant for its special purpose. To misuse a gift or to be lured away from its main purpose can turn it into a waste, or even a trap.
To use the beautiful body to sexually attract the opposite sex could turn one into a gigolo or prostitute. Ngiachai was born very pretty and relatives and friends like to compliment her. She became flattered and vain and used her charms to get her way. She ended up serving drinks in a bar.
To use the strength of the body to fight may well make one a fighter and live the life of punching and being punched. There was a boxer who was so punched drunk that in his later years he could only worked as a jaga.
Oihkea was born very strong; he could haul up pails and pails of water from the well like picking feathers. He decided to be like Thaisan, or Tarzan. He practiced taking up weights; he used the wheel rims of a motorcar for weight lifting. He did become very strong, only that. As it turned out he was called Oihkea, a nickname meaning shorty.
To be clever at sizing up people may lure one to be cunning and manipulate others and situations. Jipunkia was born intelligent. As a young man he professed that he would be a millionaire before the age of thirty. He wouldn't mind if he went to jail so long as he had stashed away millions of dollars before that; he would come out after imprisonment and live in style. Whether he joked or not that was what he said. Jipunkia did go to jail and when he came out he had lots of money, but the truth was that very few people wanted to be associated with him.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Friday, October 27, 2006
What one possesses is but paraphernalia
It is what one does with them that is important
It is what one does with them that is important
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Cuckold
Good morning,
A cuckold story retold with an Oriental flavour.
Lauchieu had a beautiful, dutiful and faithful wife named Muigek, but to him these were the requisites for his wife only, not for himself. He also had designs on his wife's new maid, Siohuay. He confided with his good friend, Jeechiu, the barber with whom they shared similar interests.
Siohuay was perturbed by Lauchieu's advances so she informed Muigek. Muigek was upset but she had a plan. She thus made an arrangement with Siohuay to encourage her husband's moves, but to inform her when things came to the crucial night.
Lauchieu was happy with his progress and he went to celebrate with Jeechiu who delightedly reminded him to share his success in the event.
On the night Lauchieu went into Siohuay's room. Silently and amorously he made love to the coy lover who was actually Muigek; no word was spoken, such was the circumstances. When he was done, more in accordance with his capability than with his desire, he came out of the room and informed Jeechiu about the finest wench he had ever bedded. With alacrity Jeechiu went in to take Lauchieu's place. Jeechiu was younger, and this second time round Muigek was amazed at the renewed vigour and endurance. Lauchieu had never been so amorous to her before, and she was very happy and thrilled to have enjoyed a double portion of his gifts with such bliss in a single night. And when he took the ring from her finger she did not resist; this would be proof of her husband's infidelity when the time came. And such was their profound enjoyment that by the time the two left together it was almost dawn.
Later when Lauchieu discovered that Jeechiu was wearing his wife's wedding ring he tore his hair and banged his head against the wall, having made himself a cuckold and caused his wife shame without her knowledge, while Jeechiu consoled him by saying that perhaps Siohuay was wearing the ring temporarily .
When Lauchieu returned home he found his wife happier, prettier and heartier, having had a night of nights and also saving the honour of her maid. Muigek was even glad when he brought up the subject of the ring. That gave her the opening to accuse him of his concupiscence and sinful life. Nevertheless she lovingly childed him for his generous performance, saying that he did enjoy her but had always overlooked what he possessed. However she would forgive him if he mended his ways and only loved her as he had capably done.
Lauchieu was relieved somewhat to have escaped from such a trick turned bad, and he made Jeechiu promised to keep the event a secret. But like all whispered words in the ear, the secret was soon heard by all like from a trumpet from the roof top.
Have a nice day
Ronald
A cuckold story retold with an Oriental flavour.
Lauchieu had a beautiful, dutiful and faithful wife named Muigek, but to him these were the requisites for his wife only, not for himself. He also had designs on his wife's new maid, Siohuay. He confided with his good friend, Jeechiu, the barber with whom they shared similar interests.
Siohuay was perturbed by Lauchieu's advances so she informed Muigek. Muigek was upset but she had a plan. She thus made an arrangement with Siohuay to encourage her husband's moves, but to inform her when things came to the crucial night.
Lauchieu was happy with his progress and he went to celebrate with Jeechiu who delightedly reminded him to share his success in the event.
On the night Lauchieu went into Siohuay's room. Silently and amorously he made love to the coy lover who was actually Muigek; no word was spoken, such was the circumstances. When he was done, more in accordance with his capability than with his desire, he came out of the room and informed Jeechiu about the finest wench he had ever bedded. With alacrity Jeechiu went in to take Lauchieu's place. Jeechiu was younger, and this second time round Muigek was amazed at the renewed vigour and endurance. Lauchieu had never been so amorous to her before, and she was very happy and thrilled to have enjoyed a double portion of his gifts with such bliss in a single night. And when he took the ring from her finger she did not resist; this would be proof of her husband's infidelity when the time came. And such was their profound enjoyment that by the time the two left together it was almost dawn.
Later when Lauchieu discovered that Jeechiu was wearing his wife's wedding ring he tore his hair and banged his head against the wall, having made himself a cuckold and caused his wife shame without her knowledge, while Jeechiu consoled him by saying that perhaps Siohuay was wearing the ring temporarily .
When Lauchieu returned home he found his wife happier, prettier and heartier, having had a night of nights and also saving the honour of her maid. Muigek was even glad when he brought up the subject of the ring. That gave her the opening to accuse him of his concupiscence and sinful life. Nevertheless she lovingly childed him for his generous performance, saying that he did enjoy her but had always overlooked what he possessed. However she would forgive him if he mended his ways and only loved her as he had capably done.
Lauchieu was relieved somewhat to have escaped from such a trick turned bad, and he made Jeechiu promised to keep the event a secret. But like all whispered words in the ear, the secret was soon heard by all like from a trumpet from the roof top.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Monday, October 23, 2006
Gentleman's agreement
Good morning,
Standing tall without being tall
The traffic was slow, it moved and stopped; this was repeated over some distance. There was some football activity in the field and Karkhee was distracted. He turned to look too long and banged, his car hit the back of the bus. Both drivers got down to examine the vehicles and except for a dent in his bumper there was no other damage. They agreed to let the matter rest as it was. But as each walked towards his own vehicle, Karkhee said, "Do not report to the police !" The bus driver retorted, " Simi lan poh is boh lancheow !" That was a gentleman's agreement and the one who reports is not a man !; that was what the Hokkien reply meant.
Karkhee remembered that when he was awarded a scholarship he had to sign a bond which was endorsed by his guarantor. In the bond there was an agreement that should he fail to graduate his guarantor would have to reimburse all the scholarship expenses. There was also the agreement that he would be immediately employed as obligatorily upon his graduation. That had been his dream came true, to be paid to study and guaranteed a job upon graduation. To Karkhee a gentleman's agreement was a gentleman's agreement.
Apparently a gentleman's agreement is not looked upon in the same way like Karkhee by some others. As a young man he stood guarantor for his friend who upon graduation reneged and abandoned his obligations; and Karkhee had to hold the baby. He had learned the mercenary way how to watch out for people who value money more than honour and trust.
There was a news report that Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways sometimes conducted business during lunch. He would scribble what he had agreed on on the napkin, and that napkin would be the agreement. That may explain why he is what he is, Sir Richard Branson !
Honour and trust, do these get worn out by time. By all means they do not; it is simply that there are men who are weasels, men who can never stand tall, among men.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Standing tall without being tall
The traffic was slow, it moved and stopped; this was repeated over some distance. There was some football activity in the field and Karkhee was distracted. He turned to look too long and banged, his car hit the back of the bus. Both drivers got down to examine the vehicles and except for a dent in his bumper there was no other damage. They agreed to let the matter rest as it was. But as each walked towards his own vehicle, Karkhee said, "Do not report to the police !" The bus driver retorted, " Simi lan poh is boh lancheow !" That was a gentleman's agreement and the one who reports is not a man !; that was what the Hokkien reply meant.
Karkhee remembered that when he was awarded a scholarship he had to sign a bond which was endorsed by his guarantor. In the bond there was an agreement that should he fail to graduate his guarantor would have to reimburse all the scholarship expenses. There was also the agreement that he would be immediately employed as obligatorily upon his graduation. That had been his dream came true, to be paid to study and guaranteed a job upon graduation. To Karkhee a gentleman's agreement was a gentleman's agreement.
Apparently a gentleman's agreement is not looked upon in the same way like Karkhee by some others. As a young man he stood guarantor for his friend who upon graduation reneged and abandoned his obligations; and Karkhee had to hold the baby. He had learned the mercenary way how to watch out for people who value money more than honour and trust.
There was a news report that Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways sometimes conducted business during lunch. He would scribble what he had agreed on on the napkin, and that napkin would be the agreement. That may explain why he is what he is, Sir Richard Branson !
Honour and trust, do these get worn out by time. By all means they do not; it is simply that there are men who are weasels, men who can never stand tall, among men.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Big Difference
Big Difference
Author Unknown, Source Unknown
The Boss drives his men,
The Leader inspires them.
The Boss depends on authority,
The Leader depends on goodwill.
The Boss evokes fear,
The Leader radiates love.
The Boss says "I",
The Leader says "We"..
The Boss shows who is wrong,
The Leader shows what is wrong.
The Boss knows how it is done,
The Leader knows how to do it.
The Boss demands respect,
The Leader commands respect.
The Leader inspires them.
The Boss depends on authority,
The Leader depends on goodwill.
The Boss evokes fear,
The Leader radiates love.
The Boss says "I",
The Leader says "We"..
The Boss shows who is wrong,
The Leader shows what is wrong.
The Boss knows how it is done,
The Leader knows how to do it.
The Boss demands respect,
The Leader commands respect.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Looks & Appearances
Hello hello hello,
Why do people make fun those who are born different ?
A person may have squint eyes, hawk eyes, slitty eyes, doe eyes, squeezy eyes, almond eyes, or whatever shape eyes - that is natural ! Eyes appear that way, they are alright, their look is really the design of the eyelids, the eyes are normal, all the same !
A person may have flappy ears, cup ears, monkey ears, flat ears, elephant ears, long ears, lobby ears or Buddha ears, they appeal to the eyes of the beholder. Whatever they look like they function and the person hears, they are as they are, to each his own.
A person may have a long nose, a short nose, a big nose, a small nose, an arch nose, a flat nose, a Jewish nose, a French nose, a cutie nose, a proboscis nose or a Chupakcheh or Pigsy nose, its purpose is for breathing and smelling, for survival. It lets us live as long as it functions, try shutting it !
But watch a person when he uses his mouth. On first appearances one sees only the lips - thick, thin, curly, sexy, pouty, wide, gloomy, cheery or hair-lip - it is the opening to what is hidden, for eating and making noises; it is fine as it is. It is what one does with it that makes a person what one is. Yes, wait till the person smiles, it's like a beautiful flower blooming, just like those time-lapsed colourful flowers giving forth their beauty we saw on television; what a pleasant fellow. Or wait till someone slights him and he scowls, ugly and frightening, how obnoxious.
There is more to come when the mouth opens; then what does one see and hear ? Here is what really counts about a person's nature and characteristic. Look at the teeth, how they are maintained, and listen to what comes out, good or bad, pleasant or mean, kind or wicked, these tell all !
The mouth is the gateway and the giveaway of the heart and the mind.
We cannot help what we are born with,
but we can control how we use ourselves !
Have a nice day
Why do people make fun those who are born different ?
A person may have squint eyes, hawk eyes, slitty eyes, doe eyes, squeezy eyes, almond eyes, or whatever shape eyes - that is natural ! Eyes appear that way, they are alright, their look is really the design of the eyelids, the eyes are normal, all the same !
A person may have flappy ears, cup ears, monkey ears, flat ears, elephant ears, long ears, lobby ears or Buddha ears, they appeal to the eyes of the beholder. Whatever they look like they function and the person hears, they are as they are, to each his own.
A person may have a long nose, a short nose, a big nose, a small nose, an arch nose, a flat nose, a Jewish nose, a French nose, a cutie nose, a proboscis nose or a Chupakcheh or Pigsy nose, its purpose is for breathing and smelling, for survival. It lets us live as long as it functions, try shutting it !
But watch a person when he uses his mouth. On first appearances one sees only the lips - thick, thin, curly, sexy, pouty, wide, gloomy, cheery or hair-lip - it is the opening to what is hidden, for eating and making noises; it is fine as it is. It is what one does with it that makes a person what one is. Yes, wait till the person smiles, it's like a beautiful flower blooming, just like those time-lapsed colourful flowers giving forth their beauty we saw on television; what a pleasant fellow. Or wait till someone slights him and he scowls, ugly and frightening, how obnoxious.
There is more to come when the mouth opens; then what does one see and hear ? Here is what really counts about a person's nature and characteristic. Look at the teeth, how they are maintained, and listen to what comes out, good or bad, pleasant or mean, kind or wicked, these tell all !
The mouth is the gateway and the giveaway of the heart and the mind.
We cannot help what we are born with,
but we can control how we use ourselves !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Terrorist
Hello,
The alternative of despair is ..... ? ? ?
"I will go to the forest for justice.
The wind for my garment I wear ..... and the rain my drink."
Thus goes the introductory quote in Han Suyin's book and the Rain my Drink.
This book is about the days of the Emergency in Malaya when the Communists were terrorists, a one-way synonymy. The terrorists used guns and they terrorised the angmohs, the British colonials. They lived in and fought from the jungles, in conditions as aptly quoted. There was a time when they killed the British governor; and the result was that schools were closed, and schoolchildren had a holiday. What terror, what impact ?
Today, terrorists are not communists. They do not carry only guns, they carry bombs. They do not fight in the jungles, they bomb buildings, they bomb people. They do not kill a few or several, they killed by hundreds and thousands. They do not worry about personal safety, they choose to die in the fight. In a fight the aim is to kill and win; here it is to die and kill more, never mind who dies. This is terror, terrorism, terrorists, terror !
Like the Japanese kamikaze pilots who steered their plane to destroy a warship, these suicide bombers go into crowded areas and detonate the bombs wrapped around their bodies. This is the tactic of terrorism warfare, maximum damage to the enemy regardless of personal lives, as war is death anyway. This is the great difference between terrorism then and terrorism now.
Suicide bombing was an art of some freedom fighters in SriLanka. It has gone international, and it is leaning towards a synonymy with Muslims. And just like in the old popular TV series Candid Camera, SMILE or somewhere sometime somehow someone causes a spark and you are SATAY or barbecued delights !
In comic books of old there were great stories of mad scientists out to dominate the world at the expense of its destruction. Then it was only fiction because there was not the capability. Today the capability to destroy a country is quite widespread, and spreading. But the danger would not arise through a desire to dominate; more likely it will ooze out through a freak will to retaliate. And that will be the grandfather of all suicide annihilation.
Smile while we can !
Han Suyin's full quotation below, written in the 1950s, does point to some relevance.
The alternative of despair is ..... ? ? ?
"I will go to the forest for justice.
The wind for my garment I wear ..... and the rain my drink."
Thus goes the introductory quote in Han Suyin's book and the Rain my Drink.
This book is about the days of the Emergency in Malaya when the Communists were terrorists, a one-way synonymy. The terrorists used guns and they terrorised the angmohs, the British colonials. They lived in and fought from the jungles, in conditions as aptly quoted. There was a time when they killed the British governor; and the result was that schools were closed, and schoolchildren had a holiday. What terror, what impact ?
Today, terrorists are not communists. They do not carry only guns, they carry bombs. They do not fight in the jungles, they bomb buildings, they bomb people. They do not kill a few or several, they killed by hundreds and thousands. They do not worry about personal safety, they choose to die in the fight. In a fight the aim is to kill and win; here it is to die and kill more, never mind who dies. This is terror, terrorism, terrorists, terror !
Like the Japanese kamikaze pilots who steered their plane to destroy a warship, these suicide bombers go into crowded areas and detonate the bombs wrapped around their bodies. This is the tactic of terrorism warfare, maximum damage to the enemy regardless of personal lives, as war is death anyway. This is the great difference between terrorism then and terrorism now.
Suicide bombing was an art of some freedom fighters in SriLanka. It has gone international, and it is leaning towards a synonymy with Muslims. And just like in the old popular TV series Candid Camera, SMILE or somewhere sometime somehow someone causes a spark and you are SATAY or barbecued delights !
In comic books of old there were great stories of mad scientists out to dominate the world at the expense of its destruction. Then it was only fiction because there was not the capability. Today the capability to destroy a country is quite widespread, and spreading. But the danger would not arise through a desire to dominate; more likely it will ooze out through a freak will to retaliate. And that will be the grandfather of all suicide annihilation.
Smile while we can !
Han Suyin's full quotation below, written in the 1950s, does point to some relevance.
I will go to the forest for justice,
For justice and righteousness,
And become a green-clad man.
The rulers pursue me with soldiers,
With riders, chariots and spears.
I will go to the forest for justice,
The people will flock to me.
I right their wrongs from the green shades,
And kill the rulers with arrows.
The horsemen stumble with fear.
I will go to the forest for justice.
The wind for my garment I wear.
Together with my many companions,
The wind for my garment AND THE RAIN MY DRINK,
we build a new heaven and earth
Have a nice day
Ronald
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thanksgiving
To Thank You Is a Gift One Gives Oneself
"To thank you is a gift one gives oneself,
Having felt the fullness of one's being.
As you might--or not--be listening,
None knows more than his own gratitude.
Knowledge is beside the point, the gulf
So wide between us there's no hope of seeing.
Gifts require givers, so one sings
In thanks that in oneself some grace might move.
Vast quantities of thanks lie on the shelf
In wait for a fresh faith that might be freeing.
Nor ought one hold one's thanks until some bell rings,
Giving one an object for one's love."
"To thank you is a gift one gives oneself,
Having felt the fullness of one's being.
As you might--or not--be listening,
None knows more than his own gratitude.
Knowledge is beside the point, the gulf
So wide between us there's no hope of seeing.
Gifts require givers, so one sings
In thanks that in oneself some grace might move.
Vast quantities of thanks lie on the shelf
In wait for a fresh faith that might be freeing.
Nor ought one hold one's thanks until some bell rings,
Giving one an object for one's love."
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Crossword puzzle words
Good Sunday morning,
Some crossword puzzle words in alphabetical order
ASK
to be enlightened or to remain ignorant
BEG
to elicit kindness with no violence
CRY
to display a need to be comforted
DEBUG
to take out what one puts in
ENRAGE
to prime up a human bomb
FART
to foul the air or stay bloated
GRUMBLE
to spoil a relationship fastest
HOPE
to sustain life miserably patiently
INSIST
to press meanly or lose one's objective
JOKE
to be funny to spread pleasantry
KISS
to be stupid when not knowing the target
LAUGH
to release uptightness
MOPE
does not know enjoyment
NEEDLE
to ask for trouble or a kick
OSSIFY
doing this will end up a mannequin
POUT
to grow up in reverse
QUEUE
to perfect the art of patience
ROAM
to put living life in action
SULK
to get rid of too much friendship
TALK
to clear up suspicion at times
URGE
to move inert people to action
VENT
to spew anger thoughtlessly
WAIT
to make it come sooner
X
to single out for attention or extraction
YELL
to sound a bit caninely
ZIGZAG
to do it steadily when sober
Have a nice day
Ronald
Some crossword puzzle words in alphabetical order
ASK
to be enlightened or to remain ignorant
BEG
to elicit kindness with no violence
CRY
to display a need to be comforted
DEBUG
to take out what one puts in
ENRAGE
to prime up a human bomb
FART
to foul the air or stay bloated
GRUMBLE
to spoil a relationship fastest
HOPE
to sustain life miserably patiently
INSIST
to press meanly or lose one's objective
JOKE
to be funny to spread pleasantry
KISS
to be stupid when not knowing the target
LAUGH
to release uptightness
MOPE
does not know enjoyment
NEEDLE
to ask for trouble or a kick
OSSIFY
doing this will end up a mannequin
POUT
to grow up in reverse
QUEUE
to perfect the art of patience
ROAM
to put living life in action
SULK
to get rid of too much friendship
TALK
to clear up suspicion at times
URGE
to move inert people to action
VENT
to spew anger thoughtlessly
WAIT
to make it come sooner
X
to single out for attention or extraction
YELL
to sound a bit caninely
ZIGZAG
to do it steadily when sober
Have a nice day
Ronald
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The wine puzzle
Hi,
A good brain can get rusty if it is not regularly exercised.
This is a good puzzle, easy to understand but difficult to solve.
After the celebration, the host found that there was some fine wine left, exactly enough to fill a 6 litre vessel. He wanted to give this wine to his two servants equally, but he had only two other vessels with known capacity to measure it. The two vessels can each contain 2.5 litres and 4 litres respectively. It was quite a task, but being a fair man he finally found a way to give 3 litres to both the servants.
How did he do it ?
In case the brain does not wish to work at the moment or needs a rest,
the answer is as follows:
*
***
*****
Fill the medium 4l vessel, and leave the remainder 2 litres in the large 6l vessel.
Fill the empty 2.5l vessel from the medium 4l vessel, leaving 1.5 litre in the medium vessel;
the small vessel will contain 2.5 litres, the medium 1.5 litre, and the large vessel 2 litres.
Pour the 2.5 litres from the small vessel into the large vessel, and empty the medium vessel into the small vessel;
the small one will contain 1.5 litres, the medium one empty and the large one 4.5 litres.
Fill the medium vessel from the large one, leaving 0.5 litre in the large one;
now the small one will have 1.5 litres, the medium 4 litres and the large one 0.5 litre.
Top up the small vessel from the medium vessel,
leaving 3 litres there and 2.5 litres in the small one.
Empty the small vessel into the large one and that is the job well done;
the medium and large vessels will each contain 3 litres.
Have a nice day
Ronald
A good brain can get rusty if it is not regularly exercised.
This is a good puzzle, easy to understand but difficult to solve.
After the celebration, the host found that there was some fine wine left, exactly enough to fill a 6 litre vessel. He wanted to give this wine to his two servants equally, but he had only two other vessels with known capacity to measure it. The two vessels can each contain 2.5 litres and 4 litres respectively. It was quite a task, but being a fair man he finally found a way to give 3 litres to both the servants.
How did he do it ?
In case the brain does not wish to work at the moment or needs a rest,
the answer is as follows:
*
***
*****
Fill the medium 4l vessel, and leave the remainder 2 litres in the large 6l vessel.
Fill the empty 2.5l vessel from the medium 4l vessel, leaving 1.5 litre in the medium vessel;
the small vessel will contain 2.5 litres, the medium 1.5 litre, and the large vessel 2 litres.
Pour the 2.5 litres from the small vessel into the large vessel, and empty the medium vessel into the small vessel;
the small one will contain 1.5 litres, the medium one empty and the large one 4.5 litres.
Fill the medium vessel from the large one, leaving 0.5 litre in the large one;
now the small one will have 1.5 litres, the medium 4 litres and the large one 0.5 litre.
Top up the small vessel from the medium vessel,
leaving 3 litres there and 2.5 litres in the small one.
Empty the small vessel into the large one and that is the job well done;
the medium and large vessels will each contain 3 litres.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Monday, October 09, 2006
"Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power."
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power."
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Revolution
Hi,
Changes are made for the better until someone wants the better for himself.
A revolution may be defined as an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
Long ago, yet within the memory of some still living, there were revolutions over the world causing great upheaval and misery. Revolutions of this scale are past; but there are new forms of it occurring; some have succeeded while others have not, like in the Philippines, in Thailand, in England, in Taiwan, and in other places. These were not very harmful, some were diplomatic, some peaceful, some forceful while some just got started and simmered.
But there is one revolution of a very different kind which might happen. If that does occur it will be the mother of all revolutions, the revolution within a religious belief. It will be the greatest and a happy one, bringing peace worldwide.
As it is normal or usual, people get by and live by whatever conditions exist. It is only when they get wise that they will find a way to set things right, and when they go about it that is the revolution.
This revolution has to come, it must come, it will come; this is a human world.
And that is the grandmother of all hopes, ha ha ha ha ha !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Changes are made for the better until someone wants the better for himself.
A revolution may be defined as an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
Long ago, yet within the memory of some still living, there were revolutions over the world causing great upheaval and misery. Revolutions of this scale are past; but there are new forms of it occurring; some have succeeded while others have not, like in the Philippines, in Thailand, in England, in Taiwan, and in other places. These were not very harmful, some were diplomatic, some peaceful, some forceful while some just got started and simmered.
But there is one revolution of a very different kind which might happen. If that does occur it will be the mother of all revolutions, the revolution within a religious belief. It will be the greatest and a happy one, bringing peace worldwide.
As it is normal or usual, people get by and live by whatever conditions exist. It is only when they get wise that they will find a way to set things right, and when they go about it that is the revolution.
This revolution has to come, it must come, it will come; this is a human world.
And that is the grandmother of all hopes, ha ha ha ha ha !
Have a nice day
Ronald
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Lilies of the Field
Good morning,
Fact or fiction, divine hand makes good stories.
Five immigrant nuns, a Mother and four Sisters, were doing God's work. They lived off the land; they farmed. They had no money, but they needed to build a chapel. They had no means to do it but their faith was that God would help them.
A young man, Homer Smith, was returning home in his jalopy, happy as a lark. Bad luck, his car overheated. Where was he to get some water to cool the engine ? He spotted a dilapidated house and stopped by for the water. A few minute's work and he would be on his way, he thought. But he ended up building the chapel.
Homer was asked to fix the roof which he reluctantly obliged the helpless ladies, having helped himself to the water; he asked to be paid but he got served a meal instead. After the meal, he watched curiously as the nuns set up the gramophone and the four Sisters learned English guided by the Mother, who herself spoke only some. Then the mood got him to teach them in his own way.
Sort of coerced to stay the night, he was asked to build the chapel the next morning; with what, there was nothing except some bricks and a building plan. But again he obliged and started to lay the few bricks; and he ate the meals they set but he was not paid for the work he did.
Sunday came, Homer took the five nuns to church. When word got round that he was building the chapel, it was incredulous, the nuns had nothing to build anything. As it was, the priest was holding the service in the open, there was no church building. The community was really poor.
Then Homer saw a big sleek truck which attracted him, and he worked part time hauling things for the company. And with the money he bought provisions, and enjoyed the company of the nuns while teaching them English and sang church songs. Somehow he got rooted, wanting to depart but reluctantly stayed, while he laid the corner wall until he ran out of bricks .
But the Mother was not appreciative of his buying food instead of building materials, and he left angrily. The skeptics thus asserted that their impression of him was correct while others believed that he would come back.
And then Homer came back, happy as a lark, and that was the turning point.
From then, one by one, each of the poor folks brought building materials and helped. And even those who were indifferent before came to pitch in, including the bartender and the truck company boss who himself hauled in a truck full of bricks. There was a moment of comic stance when Homer refused to let anybody help, but the folks were discreetly persuasive during his tiredness carrying and laying those huge bricks, and he relented, after which he was not even allowed to work. But a big group of eager hands working independently could be quite counter productive, and before long he was unanimously appointed the Boss.
As a heart warming story of this sort, everything turned out well, and the chapel was magically completed with everything that a beautiful chapel ought to have, all which came from the folks own heirloom, statues, chandeliers etc..
That is the gist of the 1960's movie Lilies of the Field starring Sidney Poitier, a story which appeals to those who believe in divine guidance. It is a very good movie nevertheless, as it is usual with other movies Sidney Poitier starred in.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Fact or fiction, divine hand makes good stories.
Five immigrant nuns, a Mother and four Sisters, were doing God's work. They lived off the land; they farmed. They had no money, but they needed to build a chapel. They had no means to do it but their faith was that God would help them.
A young man, Homer Smith, was returning home in his jalopy, happy as a lark. Bad luck, his car overheated. Where was he to get some water to cool the engine ? He spotted a dilapidated house and stopped by for the water. A few minute's work and he would be on his way, he thought. But he ended up building the chapel.
Homer was asked to fix the roof which he reluctantly obliged the helpless ladies, having helped himself to the water; he asked to be paid but he got served a meal instead. After the meal, he watched curiously as the nuns set up the gramophone and the four Sisters learned English guided by the Mother, who herself spoke only some. Then the mood got him to teach them in his own way.
Sort of coerced to stay the night, he was asked to build the chapel the next morning; with what, there was nothing except some bricks and a building plan. But again he obliged and started to lay the few bricks; and he ate the meals they set but he was not paid for the work he did.
Sunday came, Homer took the five nuns to church. When word got round that he was building the chapel, it was incredulous, the nuns had nothing to build anything. As it was, the priest was holding the service in the open, there was no church building. The community was really poor.
Then Homer saw a big sleek truck which attracted him, and he worked part time hauling things for the company. And with the money he bought provisions, and enjoyed the company of the nuns while teaching them English and sang church songs. Somehow he got rooted, wanting to depart but reluctantly stayed, while he laid the corner wall until he ran out of bricks .
But the Mother was not appreciative of his buying food instead of building materials, and he left angrily. The skeptics thus asserted that their impression of him was correct while others believed that he would come back.
And then Homer came back, happy as a lark, and that was the turning point.
From then, one by one, each of the poor folks brought building materials and helped. And even those who were indifferent before came to pitch in, including the bartender and the truck company boss who himself hauled in a truck full of bricks. There was a moment of comic stance when Homer refused to let anybody help, but the folks were discreetly persuasive during his tiredness carrying and laying those huge bricks, and he relented, after which he was not even allowed to work. But a big group of eager hands working independently could be quite counter productive, and before long he was unanimously appointed the Boss.
As a heart warming story of this sort, everything turned out well, and the chapel was magically completed with everything that a beautiful chapel ought to have, all which came from the folks own heirloom, statues, chandeliers etc..
That is the gist of the 1960's movie Lilies of the Field starring Sidney Poitier, a story which appeals to those who believe in divine guidance. It is a very good movie nevertheless, as it is usual with other movies Sidney Poitier starred in.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
"Wise men don't need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their point aren't wise."
men who need to prove their point aren't wise."
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
He visits me every morning and stays all day
When I have guests he welcomes as friends
And we are sticky playmates without end
At night I chose 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
When I have guests he welcomes as friends
And we are sticky playmates without end
At night I chose 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
Monday, October 02, 2006
The Egg
Hi,
This chicken egg, our favourite food.
When Lokthow was ready to go to school his parents sent him to live with Chincheh in the city. The two cousins got on fine and they had a good time together. But the next morning at breakfast they got into a heated argument. The maid quickly went and informed grandpa Lee. Grandpa Lee came to the kitchen, and there was quiet. Peering over his spectacles at the two boys he asked, "Is there a problem ?"
Chincheh, pointing to Lokthow, said, "He said that the eggs are laid by chickens, but I saw them coming out of a factory."
Lokthow, standing up straight, said, "I know that the eggs come from chickens, but he argues that they are made in a factory."
Grandpa Lee was amused; sitting down he said, "You are both right because of what you saw." But he wanted to see the rationale of their argument, "Can you both elaborate ?"
Lokthow said, "I help my mother feed the chickens and collect the eggs. Most times the chicken cluck and cluck after laying an egg. Sometimes the egg is still wet after it is laid."
Chincheh said, "All my kindergarten mates and I saw the factory. There are two moving belts, one carry the powder into the big building and the other carry the eggs out. We saw the eggs put into the trays after they came out."
Grandpa Lee smiled, chuckled and said, "You both live at different places and saw things differently. The chicken farm and the factory, they both house the chickens; one is run by people the other is run by machines; inside both it is the chickens laying the eggs.
Both boys looked at Grandpa Lee, "Wow, you know all this !"
Grandpa Lee smiled and said, "Knowledge comes with age and learning, boys; this is why you are going to school."
Have a nice day,
Ronald
This chicken egg, our favourite food.
When Lokthow was ready to go to school his parents sent him to live with Chincheh in the city. The two cousins got on fine and they had a good time together. But the next morning at breakfast they got into a heated argument. The maid quickly went and informed grandpa Lee. Grandpa Lee came to the kitchen, and there was quiet. Peering over his spectacles at the two boys he asked, "Is there a problem ?"
Chincheh, pointing to Lokthow, said, "He said that the eggs are laid by chickens, but I saw them coming out of a factory."
Lokthow, standing up straight, said, "I know that the eggs come from chickens, but he argues that they are made in a factory."
Grandpa Lee was amused; sitting down he said, "You are both right because of what you saw." But he wanted to see the rationale of their argument, "Can you both elaborate ?"
Lokthow said, "I help my mother feed the chickens and collect the eggs. Most times the chicken cluck and cluck after laying an egg. Sometimes the egg is still wet after it is laid."
Chincheh said, "All my kindergarten mates and I saw the factory. There are two moving belts, one carry the powder into the big building and the other carry the eggs out. We saw the eggs put into the trays after they came out."
Grandpa Lee smiled, chuckled and said, "You both live at different places and saw things differently. The chicken farm and the factory, they both house the chickens; one is run by people the other is run by machines; inside both it is the chickens laying the eggs.
Both boys looked at Grandpa Lee, "Wow, you know all this !"
Grandpa Lee smiled and said, "Knowledge comes with age and learning, boys; this is why you are going to school."
Have a nice day,
Ronald
