Gwb's Blog

can only be measured at the end

2009-03-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

The man then said to his sons that they were all

right,because they each had seen but only one season in

the tree's life.he told them that they cannot judge a

tree or a person,by only one season,and that the essence

of who they are--the pleasure, the joy and love that come

from that life --can only be measured at the end , when

all the seasons are up .

if you give up when it is winter ,you will miss the

promise of your spring,the beauty of your summer ,the

fulfilment of your fall .don' let the pain of one season

destory the joy of all the rest.

our deathbed to lament

2009-01-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
　　The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.
　　Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
　　The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
　　The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
　　Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.

arms towards the shelves

2008-12-30T23:37:00.000-08:00

"Love it." "Me too. Settled then?" he asked and smiled his soft smile. It didn't surprise me that I nodded. After the reading and the curry dinner, I went into Malcolm's sitting room where there were more books than I'd ever seen on anyone's shelves. I began to read the titles. "Help yourself," said Malcolm. "Thanks. But if I read a book, I have add it to my collection." "Strange, same here." He waved his arms towards the shelves. "But look where it's got me." "I'd hate to be without books. They're ... friends." "That sounds like lonely," said Malcolm. I turned and pulled out a book. "Are you?" "Am I what?" "Lonely?" I shrugged. "Not really." "Not really but what?" My voice came from a distance as I tried to answer him. "I'm choosy about my friends. Don't have a great many." "I'm listening," said Malcolm and sat down, indicating the armchair opposite him. "My childhood was ... I mean, my mother loved moving around. She had no trouble putting down roots all over the place. I hated it! Books were the constant things, so I buried myself in them." "Hell, sounds familiar." I sat down in the armchair. "I had very academic parents," said Malcolm. "Was an afterthought, perhaps a mistake even. They loved me in their vague intellectual way but left me alone to get on with growing up. Hence the books." "That's lonely, too," I said. When I left, I took along a couple of Malcolm's books. My friendship with Malcolm grew but my curiousity remained. Who did I remind him of? My mother? If so, could he be my father? Although Mom had never bothered with books, our physical similarities, apart from my tallness, were undeniable. She had never told me much about the man who had fathered me. Clever, was all she had usually said. Once though, when I had been ill with chicken pox, and hot and scratchy, she had relented. "What was he like?" "Skinniest man you ever saw." "Where'd you meet him?" "In a park. I was catching a suntan and these papers started blowin' in my face. I was a bit cheesed off at them blowin' all over me and then this man comes runnin'. He grabbed and grabbed but couldn't catch them all. So he jus' stood still, a helpless look on his face. It was so funny, I started laughin'."

Just three dollars

2008-12-28T23:48:00.000-08:00

It was a freezing day, a few years ago, when I stumbled upon a wallet in the street. There was no identification inside. Just three dollars, and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been carried around for years.

The only thing legible on the torn envelope was the return address. I opened the letter and saw that it had been written in 1944 — almost 60 years ago. I read it carefully, hoping to find some clue to the identity of the wallet's owner.

It was a "Dear John" letter. The writer, in a delicate script, told the recipient, whose name was Michael, that her mother forbade her to see him again. Nevertheless, she would always love him. It was signed Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter. But there was no way, beyond the name Michael, to identify the owner. Perhaps if I called information the operator could find the phone number for the address shown on the envelope.

a sharp knife

2008-12-26T23:45:00.000-08:00

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, and owed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
　　The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.
　　He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
　　Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!”

hold people together

2008-12-24T23:43:00.000-08:00

I like the subtle friendship that does not hold people together. In stead, an occasional greeting spreads our longings far beyond...

I like the subtle longing for a friend, when I sink deeply in a couch, mind wandering in memories of the past...

Love should also be subtle, without enslaving the ones fallen into her arms. Not a bit less nor a bit more...

Subtle friendship is true; subtle greetings are enough; subtle love is tender; subtle longing is deep; subtle wishes come from the bottom of your heart...

the edge of the palm trees

2008-12-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

The man stood watching from the edge of the palm trees. He couldn't take his eyes of the dark-haired woman he saw standing at the water's edge, gazing out to sea as though she was waiting for something - or someone. She was beautiful, with her slim figure dressed in a loose flowing cotton dress, her crazy hair and bright blue eyes not far off the colour of the sea itself. It wasn't her looks that attracted him though; he came across many beautiful women in his work as a freelance photographer. It was her loneliness and intensity that lured him. Even at some distance he was aware that she was different from any other woman he could meet.

Lisa sensed the man approaching even before she turned around. She had been aware of him standing there staring at her and had felt strangely calm about being observed. She looked at him and felt the instant spark of connection she had only experienced once before. He walked slowly towards her and they held each other's gaze. It felt like meeting a long lost friend - not a stranger on a strange beach.

Much as I am now

2008-12-20T23:38:00.000-08:00

"And then?" "I helped and we chased all over the place after them papers. When we sat down to get our breath back, he told me he was a student. He was ever so clever. Can't re-member what the devil it was he was studyin'. Somethin' I'd never heard of then or since." "Why didn't you marry him?" "Marry him? Good Lord, Leanna, I wasn't ready to marry and he wasn't the type I'd have wanted to marry by a long shot." "What else did he look like, Mom?" "Lord, stop the questions, child. Get some sleep." She saw my disappointment however, and said she would write it all down for me. Put it in an envelope to open when she was dead and gone. I was happy with that. On a wet, slick highway, driving to France for a weekend, she was involved in an accident and died instantly. I was twenty-three then and on my own feet but as I sorted through and packed up the belongings in her flat, I felt like a child again. I looked for the envelope but didn't find one. For a long time after, my mother's death and not knowing who my father was, made me feel as though I was drifting on a sea without horizons. One lunchtime I just decided to brave it and ask Malcolm who I reminded him of. "Met her while I was a student," he said. "Was she studying too?" "Oh, heavens, no. That was what attracted me to her. She was ... so different." "What were you like?" I asked. "Like? Much as I am now. Nose in books, bit of a loner. Not very interesting. Not for a live wire like she was." "Go on," I said. "She fell pregnant. I was very happy until she told me she didn't want my help. Thought she'd change her mind, though, as the pregnancy advanced but when I attempted to see her, she told me to leave her be. I was very hurt but accepted her refusal to involve me. A few months later, I took a job I'd been offered in New York. Salary was dreadful but I thought it would be for the best." "Was it? " I asked. "No. When I returned, they'd moved. Left no forwarding address."

gave it to his daughter

2008-12-18T23:47:00.000-08:00

but not
to you. No one else is more
harsh and selfish and least
solicitous and considerate than you.
I sincerely want to let you know
what I said is true. Please do me a favor by
ending our relations and refrain from
writing me a reply. Your letter is always full of
things which displease me. You have no
sincere care for me. So long! Please believe
I don’t love you any longer. Don’t think
I still have a love of you!

Having read the letter, the father felt relieved and gave it to his daughter with a light heart. The girl also felt quite pleased after she read it carefully, her lad still had a deep love for her. Do you know why? In fact, she felt very sad when she read the letter for the first time. But she read it for a few more times and , at last, she found the key – only every other line should be read, that is the first line, the third, the fifth … and so on to the end.

green budding

2008-12-16T23:42:00.000-08:00

like the subtle fresh green budding from the branches of the tree -- the herald of spring, ushering in the dawn...

I like the subtle flow of cloud that makes the sky seem even more vast, azure and immense...

I like the subtle wind. In spring, it steals a kiss on my cheek; in autumn, it caresses my face; in summer, it brings in cool sweet smell; in winter, it carries a crisp chilliness...

I like the subtle taste of tea that last long after a sip. The subtle bitter is what it is meant to be...

Looking up

2008-12-14T23:42:00.000-08:00

Looking up, Lisa could see her pain reflected in the man's eyes. For the first time in months she didn't feel alone, she felt the unbearable burden begin to lift from her, only a bit but it was a start. She began to believe that maybe she had a future after all and maybe it could be with this man, with his kind hazel eyes, wet with their shared tears.

They had come here to dissolve their marriage but maybe there was hope. Lisa stood up and took James by the hand and led him away from the bar towards the beech where they had made their vows to each other three years ago. Tomorrow she would cancel the divorce; tonight they would work on renewing their promises.

a few years

2008-12-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

But that seemed such a long time ago now. A lot can change in just a few years - a lot of heartache can change a person and drive a wedge through the strongest ties, break even the deepest love. Three years to the day and they had returned, though this time not for the beachside marriages the island was famous for but for one of its equally popular quickie divorces.

Lisa let out a sigh that was filled with pain and regret. What could she do but move on, find a new life and new dreams? - the old one was beyond repair. How could this beautiful place, with its lush green coastline, eternity of azure blue sea and endless sands be a place for the agony she felt now?

he smiled in return

2008-12-10T23:38:00.000-08:00

"So you never knew whether it was a boy or ...? " "A girl?" asked Malcolm. I nodded. "A boy," he said. "Had the approximate date and went to the Registry of Births to look it up." I sat there, trying to take in what Malcom had said. I felt as though I'd been flattened by a truck. "Somewhere out there I have a child I know nothing about," Malcom continued. "I was stupid. Rushed off instead of staying to have a share in my son's life." "I thought perhaps it was a daughter." "Beg your pardon?" "A daughter. Me." "You thought I was ... your father?" "Books, curry, I'm tall. We ... we like the same things." "We definitely have things in common but I'm not your father." He looked at me. "I'm so sorry to disappoint you, Leanna." I tried to smile. "We're not related but we can be something else." "What?" "Can't you think of anything?" "Uh uh." "Friends." "Friends?" "It's been staring you in the face for weeks." Malcolm's use of that phrase made me burst out laughing. "Let me in on the joke sometime," he said. "Okay," I said. "Tell you sometime seeing we're friends." Then I smiled. And my smile was as wide and warm as the one he smiled in return.

I once expressed

2008-12-08T23:46:00.000-08:00

There once lived a lad who was deeply in love with a girl, but disliked by the girl’s father, who didn’t want to see any further development of their love. The lad was eager to write to the girl, yet he was quite sure that the father would read it first. So he wrote such a letter to the girl:

My love for you I once expressed
no longer lasts, instead, my distaste for you
is growing with each passing day. Next time I see you,
I even won’t like that look yours.
I’ll do nothing but
look away from you. You can never expect I’ll
marry you. The last chat we had
was so dull and dry that you shouldn’t think it made me eager to see you again.
If we get married, I firmly believe I’ll
live a hard life, I can never
live happily with you, I’ll devote myself

rich merchant

2008-12-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

had lost her baby

2008-12-04T23:41:00.000-08:00

Later, sitting at one of the many bars on the resort, sipping the local cocktails they began to talk. First pleasantries, their hotels, the quality of the food and friendliness of the locals. Their conversation was strangely hesitant considering the naturalness and confidence of their earlier meeting. Onlookers, however, would have detected the subtle flirtation as they mirrored each other's actions and spoke directly into each other's eyes. Only later, after the alcohol had had its loosening effect, did the conversation deepen. They talked of why they were here and finally, against her judgement, Lisa opened up about her heartache of the past year and how events had led her back to the place where she had married the only man she believed she could ever love. She told him of things that had been locked deep inside her, able to tell no one. She told him how she had felt after she had lost her baby.

She was six months pregnant and the happiest she had ever been when the pains had started. She was staying with her mother as James was working out of town. He hadn't made it back in time. The doctor had said it was just one of those things, that they could try again. But how could she when she couldn't even look James in the eye. She hated him then, for not being there, for not hurting as much as her but most of all for looking so much like the tiny baby boy that she held for just three hours before the took him away. All through the following months she had withdrawn from her husband, family, friends. Not wanting to recover form the pain she felt - that would have been a betrayal of her son. At the funeral she had refused to stand next to her husband and the next day she had left him.

Return to Paradise

2008-12-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

Lisa gazed out over the Caribbean Sea, feeling the faint breeze against her face - eyes shut, the white sand warm between her bare toes. The place was beautiful beyond belief, but it was still unable to ease the grief she felt as she remembered the last time she had been here.

She had married James right here on this spot three years ago to the day. Dressed in a simple white shift dress, miniature white roses attempting to tame her long dark curls, Lisa had been happier than she had ever thought possible. James was even less formal but utterly irresistible in creased summer trousers and a loose white cotton shirt. His dark hair slightly ruffled and his eyes full of adoration as his looked at his bride to be. The justice of the peace had read their vows as they held hands and laughed at the sheer joy of being young, in love and staying in a five star resort on the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic. They had seen the years blissfully stretching ahead of them, together forever. They planned their children, two she said, he said four so they compromised on three (two girls and a boy of course); where they would live, the travelling they would do together - it was all certain, so they had thought then.

chinese story - 12

2008-12-01T23:41:00.000-08:00

So Zhou Zhi sailed to the Bashan Mountains.
　　Next day Du Yu directed the army and the marine forces in a simultaneous advance.
　　the scouts reported： “The Ruler of Wu has sent the land force under Wu Yan, the navy
under Lu Jing, and the vanguard under Sun Xin！”
　　Du Yu led his forces forward. the vanguard of Wu, under Sun Xin, came up, and at the
first encounter Du Yu's army retired. Sun Xin landed his marines and pursued. But in the
midst of the pursuit a signal bomb sounded, and Sun Xin was attacked on all sides by the Jin
troops. He tried to retire, but the army he had been pursuing, Du Yu's force, turned back
too and joined in the attack. Wu's losses were very heavy, and Sun Xin hastened back to the
city. But the eight hundred Jin soldiers of Zhou Zhi mingled with the Wu army at the
ramparts and so entered the gates. The Jin soldiers raised signal fires on the walls.
　　This maneuver amazed Sun Xin, and he said, “the northern troops had surely flown across
the river into the city！”
　　Sun Xin made an effort to escape, but the leader of Jin, Zhou Zhi, unexpectedly appeared
and slew him.
　　Admiral Lu Jing of the Wu fleet of that had accompanied Sun Xin saw on the south shore,
in the Bashan Mountains, a GREat standard bearing the name Jin General Who Guards the South
Du Yu. Lu Jing became alarmed and landed to try to escape, but the Jin General Zhang Shang
soon found and slew him.
　　At his position at Jiangling, Wu Yan heard of these defeats and knew his position was
untenable, so he fled. However, he was soon captured and led into the presence of the
victorious general.
　　“No use sparing you,” said Du Yu, and he sentenced the prisoner to death.
　　Thus Jiangling was captured and all the counties along the River Xiang and River Yuan as
far as Huangzhou, which surrendered at the first summons.
　　Du Yu sent out officers to soothe the people of the conquered counties, and they
suffered nothing from the soldiery. Next he marched toward Wuchang, and that city also
yielded. So the glory of Du Yu became very GREat. He then summoned his officers to a council
to decide upon attacking Capital Jianye.
　　Hu Fen said, “A one-century rebellion will not be reduced completely at once. the time
of the spring rise of waters is near, and our position is precarious. We should do well to
await the coming spring.”
　　Du Yu replied, “In the days of old, Yue Yi overcame the powerful state Qi in one battle
in Jixi. Our prestige is now high and success certain, easy as the splitting of a bamboo,
which seems to welcome the knife after the first few joints have been overcome. We shall
meet no GREat opposition.”
　　So Du Yu gave orders to the various leaders to move in concert against the capital land
of Jianye.
　　Now the Jin leader Wang Jun had gone down the river with his naval force. From his
scouts he heard of the iron chains and the hammers that had been laid in the river to hinder
his proGREss. But he only laughed. He constructed great rafts of timber and placed on them
straw effigies of soldiers in armors and sent them down river with the current. The
defenders of Wu took them for real troops and, alarmed by their numbers, fled in panic. Then
the great hammers and chains were dragged away as the rafts drifted on. Moreover, on the
rafts they laid great torches many fathoms long, and very thick, made of straw soaked in
linseed oil. When the raft was checked by a chain, the torches were lighted and the chains
exposed to the heat till they melted and broke asunder. Thus the rafts went down stream
conquering wherever they came.
　　then the Prime Minister of Wu, Zhang Ti, sent two leaders, General of the Left Army Shen
Zong and General of the Right Army Zhuge Xing, to try to check the advance of the armies.
　　Shen Zong said to his colleague, “the forces above have failed to stop the enemy, and
the enemy will surely come here. We shall have to put forth all our strength. If haply we
can succeed, the safety of our South Land is assured. But suppose we fight and lose the
battle, then is our country lost.”
　　“Sir, you only say what is too true,” said Zhuge Xing.
　　Just as they talked of these matters came reports of the approach of their enemies in
irresistible force. The two leaders were seized with panic and went back to see the Prime
Minister.
　　“Our country is lost！” cried Zhuge Xing. “Why not run？”

chinese story - 11

2008-11-30T23:40:00.000-08:00

“How could I hesitate after your discourse？” said Sima Yan.
　　thereupon he returned to the council chamber and issued his commands. Du Yu was made
Commander-in-Chief and, with one hundred thousand troops, was to attack Jiangling； Sima
Zhou, Prince of Langye and General Who Guards the East, was to attack Tuzhong； Wang Hun,
General Who Conquers the East, to go up against Hengjiang； Wang Rong, General Who Exhibits
Prowess, to move against Wuchang； Hu Fen, General Who Pacifies the South, to attack Xiakou.
And all divisions, fifty thousand troops each, were under the orders of Du Yu. In addition
to the land forces, two large fleets were to operate on the river under Wang Jun, General
Who Shows Dragon Courage, and Tang Bin, General Who Possesses Martial Bravery. Marines and
lands troops amounted to more than two hundred thousand. A separate force under Yang Ji,
General Who Holds the South, was sent away to Xiangyang to coordinate all forces.
　　the Ruler of Wu was GREatly alarmed at the news of such armies and fleets, and he called
to him quickly his Prime Minister Zhang Ti, Minister of the Interior He Zhi, and Minister of
Works Teng Xun, to consult how to defend his land.
　　Zhang Ti proposed： “Send Commander of the Flying Chariots Wu Yan to meet the enemy at
Jiangling； Commander of the Flying Cavalry Sun Xin to Xiakou； I volunteer to take command
of a camp at Niuzhu, together with the General of the Left Army Shen Zong and General of the
Right Army Zhuge Xing, ready to lend help at any point.”
　　the Ruler of Wu approved his dispositions and felt satisfied that he was safe by land.
But in the privacy of his own apartment he felt miserable, for he realized that no
preparations had been made against an attack by water under the Wei leader Wang Jun.
　　then the favorite eunuch Cen Hun asked the Emperor why he bore a sad countenance, and
Sun Hao told him of his dread of the enemy navy.
　　“the armies of Jin are coming, and I have deployed troops for general defense. Only the
water front, by which Wang Jun and his several thousand battleships sail east along the
tide, makes me feel so worried.”
　　“But I have a scheme that will smash all Wang Jun's ships！” cried Cen Hun.
　　“What is it？” asked the Ruler of Wu, pleased to hear this.
　　“Iron is plentiful. Make GREat chains with heavy links and stretch them across the
river at various points. Also forge many massive hammers and arrange them in the stream, so
that when the enemy's ships sail down before the wind, they will collide with the hammers
and be wrecked. Then they will sail no more.”
　　Blacksmiths were soon at work on the river bank welding the links and forging the
hammers. Work went on day and night, and soon all the chains were placed in different
points.
　　As has been said Du Yu was to attack Jiangling, and he sent General Zhou Zhi with eight
hundred sailors to sail secretly along the GREat River to capture Yuexiang. There they were
to make an ambush in the Bashan Mountains and a great show of flags along the bank and among
the trees. Drums were to be beaten and bombs exploded during the day and many fires lighted
at night to give the appearance of a great army.

chinese story - 10

2008-11-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

Wang Jun, Imperial Protector of Yizhou, sent in a memorial advising an attack upon Wu.
He said：
　　“Sun Hao is steeped in vice and should be attacked at once. Should he die and be
succeeded by a good ruler, we might meet with serious opposition. the ships I built seven
years ago lie idle and rotting： We can use them. I am seventy years of age and must soon
die. If any one of these three events happen——the death of Sun Hao, the destruction of
these ships, or my death——then success will be difficult to ensure. I pray Your Majesty
not to miss the tide.”
　　At the next assembly of officers Sima Yan said to them, “I have decided to act. I have
received similar advice from Yang Hu and Wang Jun.”
　　At this arose Minister Wang Hun and said, “I hear Sun Hao intends to march north to the
Middle Land and has his army ready. Report says it is formidable and would be hard to
defeat. I counsel to await another year till that army has lost its first vigor.”
　　A command to cease warlike preparations was the result of this counsel. The Ruler of Jin
betook himself to his private chamber where he engaged in a game of chess with Secretary
Zhang Hua as opponent. While at the game, another memorial arrived. It was from Du Yu. It
read：
　　“Formerly Yang Hu explained his plans confidentially to Your Majesty, but did not lay
them before the court. The result has been much debate and conflict of opinion. In every
project there are pros and cons, but in this the arguments are mostly in favor. The worst
that can happen is failure. Since last autumn the proposed attack has become generally
known, and, if we stop now, Sun Hao will be frightened and remove the capital to Wuchang,
repair his fortifications in the South Land, and move his threatened people out of danger.
Then the southern capital cannot be assaulted, nor is there anything left in the countryside
to rob. Hence next year's attack will also fail.”
　　Just as the Ruler of Jin finished reading, Zhang Hua pushed aside the board, rose and
drew his hands into his sleeves, saying, “Your Majesty's skill in war is almost divine,
your state is prosperous, and the army strong. The Ruler of Wu is a tyrant, his people are
miserable, and his country mean. Now you can easily conquer him, and I pray that there be no
further hesitation！”

chinese story - 9

2008-11-28T23:38:00.000-08:00

Sima Yan said, “How beautiful it is to bring good people into prominence！ But why did
you write a memorial recommending certain people and then burn the draft so that no one knew
？”
　　the dying man answered, “I bowed before the officials in open court, but I did not
beseech the kindness of the private attendants.”
　　So Yang Hu died, and Sima Yan wailed for him and then returned to his palace. He
conferred on the dead leader the posthumous rank of Imperial Guardian and Lord of Juping.
The traders closed their shops out of respect to his memory, and all the frontier camps were
filled with wailing. The people of Xiangyang, recalling that he loved to wander on the Xian
Hills, built there a temple to him and set up a stone and sacrificed regularly at the four
seasons. The passers-by were moved to tears when they read Yang Hu's name on the tablet, so
that it came to be called “The Stone of Tears”。
　　[hip, hip, hip] I saw the fragments of a shattered stone One spring time on the
hillside, when, alone, I walked to GREet the sun. The pines distilled Big drops of dew
unceasing； sadness filled My heart. I knew this was the Stone of Tears, The stone of memory
of long-past years. [yip, yip, yip]
　　On the strength of Yang Hu's recommendation, Du Yu was made Commander of Jingzhou, and
the title of General Who Guards the South was conferred upon him. He was a man of GREat
experience, untiring in study and devoted to the Zuo Volume, the book of commentaries
composed by Zuo Qiuming upon the Spring and Autumn Annals. In hours of leisure, a copy of
Zuo Volume was never out of his hand； and when he went abroad, an attendant rode in front
with the beloved book. He was said to be “Zuo mad”。
　　Du Yu went to Xiangyang and began by being kind to the people and caring for his
soldiers. By this time Wu had lost by death both Ding Feng and Lu Kang.
　　the conduct of the Ruler of Wu waxed worse and worse. He used to give GREat banquets
whereat intoxication was universal. He appointed Rectors of Feasts to observe all the faults
committed by guests, and after these banquets all offenders were punished, some by flaying
the face, others by gouging out the eyes. Everyone went in terror of these Rectors.

chinese story - 8

2008-11-27T23:36:00.000-08:00

When Sima Yan read this, he gave orders for the army to move. But three officers——Jia Chong, Xun Xu, and Feng Dan——opposed it, and the orders were withdrawn.
　　Yang Hu was disappointed at the news and said, “What a pity it is that of ten affairs in the world, one always meets with eight or nine vexations！”
　　In the fourth year of Universal Tranquillity, in Jin calendar （AD 278）, Yang Hu went to court and asked leave to retire on account of ill health.
　　Before granting him leave to go, Sima Yan asked, “Do you have plans to propose to settle the empire？”
　　Yang Hu replied, “Sun Hao is a very cruel ruler and could be conquered without fighting. If he were to die and a wise successor sat upon his throne, Your Majesty would never be able to gain possession of Wu.”
　　the Ruler of Jin realized the truth, and he said, “Suppose your army attacked now. What then？”
　　“I am now too old and too ill for the task,” replied Yang Hu. “Some other bold and capable leader must be found.”
　　Yang Hu left the court and retired to his home. Toward the end of the year he was nigh unto death, and the Ruler of Jin went to visit him. The sight of his master at his bedside brought tears to the eyes of the faithful old leader.
　　“If I died a myriad times, I could never requite Your Majesty,” said Yang Hu.
　　Sima Yan also wept, saying, “My GREat grief is that I could not take advantage of your abilities to attack Wu. Who now is there to carry out your design？”
　　Hesitatingly the sick man replied, “I am dying and must be wholly sincere. General Du Yu is equal to the task, and is the one man to attack Wu.”

chinese story - 7

2008-11-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

Soon after came a special envoy from the Ruler of Wu to urge upon Lu Kang prompt activity.
　　“Our Emperor sends orders for you to press forward,” said the envoy. “You are not to await a Jin invasion.”
　　“You may return, and I will send up a memorial,” replied Lu Kang.
　　So a memorial was written and soon followed the envoy to the capital, which by this time was Jianye. When the Ruler of Wu, Sun Hao, read it, he found therein many arguments against attacking Jin and exhortations to exercise a virtuous rule instead of engaging in hostilities. It angered him.
　　“they say Lu Kang has come to an understanding with the enemy, and now I believe it！” said the Ruler of Wu.
　　thereupon he deprived Lu Kang of his command and took away his commission and degraded him into Marching General. Sun Ji, General of the Left Army, was sent to supersede Lu Kang. And none dared to intervene.
　　Sun Hao became still more arbitrary and of his own will changed the year-style once more to the Phoenix （AD 269）。 Day by day his life became more wanton and vicious. The soldiers in every camp murmured with anger and resentment, and at last three high officers——Prime Minister Wan Yu, General Liu Ping, and Minister of Agriculture Lou Xuan——boldly and earnestly remonstrated with the Emperor for his many irregularities. They suffered death. Within ten years more than forty ministers were put to death for doing their duty.
　　Sun Hao maintained an extravagantly large guard of fifty thousand heavy cavalry, and these soldiers were the terror of everyone.
　　Now when Yang Hu, on the Jin side of the frontier, heard that his opponent Lu Kang had been removed from his command and that the conduct of the Ruler of Wu had become wholly unreasonable, he knew that the time was near for him to conquer Wu. Wherefore he presented a memorial：
　　“Although fate is superior to human, yet success depends upon human effort. Now as the geographic difficulties of the South Land are not as those of the River Lands, while the ferocity of Sun Hao exceeds that of Liu Shan, the misery of the people of Wu exceeds that of the dwellers in Shu. Our armies are stronger than ever before, and if we miss this opportunity to bring the whole land under one rule, but continue to weary our army with continual watching and cause the world to groan under the burden of militarism, then our efficiency will decline and we shall not endure.”

chinese story - 6

2008-11-25T23:34:00.000-08:00

“Does your leader drink wine？” asked he.
　　they replied, “Only fine wines does he drink.”
　　“I have some very old wine,” replied Lu Kang, smiling, “and I will give of it to you to bear to your general as a gift. It is the wine I myself brew and drink on ceremonial occasions, and he shall have half in return for today's courtesy.”
　　they took the wine and left.
　　“Why do you give him wine？” asked Lu Kang's officers.
　　“Because he has shown kindness, and I must return courtesy for courtesy.”
　　When the gift of wine arrived and the bearers told Yang Hu the story of their reception, he laughed.
　　“So he knows I can drink,” said Yang Hu.
　　He had the jar opened, and the wine was poured out. One of his generals, Chen Yuan, begged him to drink moderately lest there should be some harm come of it.
　　“Lu Kang is no poisoner,” replied Yang Hu.
　　And he drank. the friendly intercourse thus continued, and messengers frequently passed from one camp to the other.
　　One day the messengers said that Lu Kang was unwell and had been ailing for several days.
　　“I think he suffers from the same complaint as I,” said Yang Hu. “I have some remedies ready prepared and will send him some.”
　　the drugs were taken over to the Wu camp.
　　But the sick man's officers were suspicious and said, “This medicine is surely harmful： It comes from the enemy.”
　　However, Lu Kang said, “No； old Uncle Yang Hu would not poison a person. Do not doubt.”
　　He drank the decoction. Next day he was much better.
　　When his staff came to congratulate him, he said, “If our opponents take their stand upon virtue and we take ours upon violence, they will drag us after them without fighting. See to it that the boundaries be well kept and that we seek not to gain any unfair advantage.”

chinese story - 5

2008-11-24T23:34:00.000-08:00

Yang Hu maintained GREat simplicity, wearing the lightest of garments and no armor. His personal escort and servants numbered only about ten.
　　One day his officers came to his tent and said, “the spies reported GREat laxity in the enemy's camp. It is time to make an attack！”
　　But Yang Hu replied, “You must not despise Lu Kang, for he is able and crafty. Formerly his master sent him to attack Xiling, and he slew Bu Chan and many of his generals, before I could save that city. So long as Lu Kang remains in command, I shall remain on the defensive. I shall not attack till there be trouble and confusion among our enemies. To be rash and not await the proper moment to attack is to invite defeat.”
　　they found him wise and said no more. They only kept the boundaries.
　　One day Yang Hu and his officers went out to hunt, and it happened that Lu Kang had chosen the same day to hunt. Yang Hu gave strict orders not to cross the boundary, and so each hunted only on his own side.
　　Lu Kang was astonished at the enemy's scrupulous propriety.
　　He sighed, “the soldiers of Yang Hu have so high a discipline that I may not make any invasion now.”
　　In the evening, after both parties had returned, Yang Hu ordered an inspection of the slaughtered game and sent over to the other side any that seemed to have been first struck by the soldiers of Wu.
　　Lu Kang was GREatly pleased and sent for the bearers of the game.

chinese story - 4

2008-11-23T23:33:00.000-08:00

But Sun Hao GREw angry and said, “I desire to take this opportunity to return to my real heritage. Why do you employ this ill-omened language？ Were it not for your long service, now would I slay you and expose your head as a warning.”
　　He bade the lictors hustle Minister Hua Jiao from his presence, and Hua Jiao left the court.
　　“It is pitiful,” said Hua Jiao. “Ere long our silky, beautiful country will pass to another！”
　　So Hua Jiao retired.
　　And the Ruler of Wu ordered Lu Kang, General Who Guards the East, to camp his army at Jiangkou in order to attack Xiangyang.
　　Spies reported this in Luoyang, and it was told the Ruler of Jin. When Sima Yan heard that the army of Wu threatened to invade Xiangyang, he called a council.
　　Jia Chong stood forth, saying, “I hear the government of Wu, under its present ruler, Sun Hao, is devoid of virtue, and the Ruler of Wu has turned aside out of the road. Your Majesty should send Commander Yang Hu to oppose this army. When internal trouble shall arise, let him attack, and victory will then be easy.”
　　the Ruler of Jin issued an edict ordering Yang Hu to prepare, and so he mustered his troops and set himself to guard the county.
　　Yang Hu became very popular in Xiangyang. Any of the soldiers of Wu who desired to desert to the other side were allowed to come over. He employed only the fewest possible troops on patrol duty. Instead he set his soldiers to till the soil, and they cultivated an extensive area, whereby the hundred days supplies with which they set out were soon increased to enough for ten years.

chinese story - 3

2008-11-22T23:32:00.000-08:00

“In former times the Palace women numbered less than a hundred； for years past they have exceeded a thousand. This is an extravagant waste of treasure. The courtiers render no disinterested service, but are split into cliques and cabals. The honest are injured, and the good driven away. All these things undermine the state and weaken the people. I beg Your Majesty to reduce the number of officers and remove grievances, to dismiss the Palace women and select honest officers, to the joy of the people and the tranquillity of the state.”
　　But the Ruler of Wu was displeased, threw the memorial away, and showed his contempt for the Minister's remonstrance by beginning to collect material for the building of a new palace complex to be called the Reflected Light Palace. He even made the officers of the court go into the forest to fell trees for the work.
　　the Ruler of Wu called in the soothsayer Shang Guang and bade him take the cast and inquire as to the attainment of empire.
　　Shang Guang cast a lot and replied, “All is propitious, and in the year of the 'mouse' your blue umbrella will enter Luoyang！”
　　And Sun Hao was pleased.
　　He said to Minister Hua Jiao, “the former Rulers listened to your words and sent generals to various points and placed defensive camps along the rivers. And over all these was set Ding Feng. Now my desire is to conquer Han and avenge the wrongs of my brother, the Ruler of Shu. What place should be first conquered？”
　　Hua Jiao replied, “Now that Chengdu has fallen and the Throne there been overturned, Sima Yan will assuredly desire to absorb this southern land. Your Majesty should display virtue and restore confidence to your people. That would be the best plan. If you engage in war, it will be like throwing on hemp to put out a fire——the hemp only adds to the blaze. This is worthy of careful consideration.”

chinese story - 2

2008-11-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

However, the year-style was changed to Sweet Dew the very next year. The new ruler soon proved himself cruel and oppressive and day by day GREw more so. Sun Hao indulged in every form of vice and chose Eunuch Cen Hun as his confidant and favorite. When Prime Minister Puyang Xing and General Zhang Bu ventured upon remonstrance, both, with all their family, were put to death. Thereafter none dared to speak； the mouth of every courtier was shut tight.
　　Another year-style, Treasured Paramount, was adopted the next year （266）, and the responsibility of the Prime Minister's office was shared by two officers, Lu Kuai the Left and Wan Yu the Right.
　　At this time the imperial residence was in Wuchang. The people of Yangzhou shouldered heavy tribute and suffered exceedingly. There was no limit to the Ruler's extravagance. The treasury was swept clean, and the income of the royal domain exhausted.
　　At length Lu Kuai, Left Prime Minister, ventured a memorial, saying：
　　“No natural calamity has fallen upon the people, yet they starve； no public work is in proGREss, yet the treasury is empty. I am distressed. The country under the Hans has fallen apart and three states have arisen therefrom. Those ruled by the Caos and the Lius, as the result of their own folly, have been lost in Jin. Foolish I may be, but I would protect the state for Your Majesty against the evils we have seen in the other divisions. This city of Wuchang is not safe as a royal residence. There is a rhyme concerning it, the gist of which is that it is better to drink the water of Jianye than eat the fish of Wuchang, better to die in Jianye than to live in Wuchang. This shows the regard of the people as well as the will of Heaven. Now the public storehouses are nearly empty； they contain insufficient for a year's use. The officers of all grades vex and distress the people and none pity them.

chinese story - 1

2008-11-20T23:28:00.000-08:00

When Sun Xiu, the Ruler of Wu, knew that the House of Wei had fallen before the Jins, he also knew that the usurper's next thought would be the conquest of his own land. The anxiety made him ill, so that he took to his bed and was like to die. He then summoned to his bedside his Prime Minister, Puyang Xing, and his heir, Sun Wan. But they two came almost too late. The dying Ruler, with his last effort, took the Minister by the hand, but could only point to his son. Then he died.
　　Puyang Xing left the couch and called a meeting of the officers, whereat he proposed to place the heir on his father's throne.
　　then Wan Yu, Inspector of the Left Army, rose and said, “Prince Sun Wan is too youthful to rule in such troublous times. Let us confer the throne to Sun Hao, Lord of Wucheng.”
　　Zhang Bu, General of the Left Army, supported his election, saying, “Sun Hao is able and prompt in decision. He can handle the responsibilities of an emperor.”
　　However, Puyang Xing was doubtful and consulted the Empress Dowager.
　　“Settle this with the officials；” she replied, “I am a widow and know nothing of such matters.”
　　Finally Sun Hao won the day, and in the seventh month he was enthroned as Emperor of Wu, and the first year of his reign was Prosperous Beginning （AD 264）。 Sun Hao was the son of Sun He, a former Heir Apparent, and grandson of Sun Quan the GREat Emperor. The excluded prince, Sun Wan, was consoled with the title of Prince of Yuzhang. Posthumous rank was given to his late father, Sun He the Scholar Emperor, and his mother, Lady He, the Scholar Empress. The Veteran Leader Ding Feng was made Commander of the Right and Left Armies.

feigned a lance attack

2008-11-19T23:27:00.000-08:00

Toward the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty （25-220）， state power fell into Dong Zhuo's hand， a very cruel and manipulating person. Yuan Shao， the leader of an opposition force， led a punitive expedition to Lüoyang， the capital. Dong Zhuo sent a very battlewise general named Hua Xiong to meet sent a very battlewise general named Hua Xiong to meet the expedition army. Hua killed several generals in run from Yuan Shao's side. Guan Yu volünteered to meet Hua Xiong， saying if he failed to kill him he would kill himself. At this， Cao Cao， in admiration， poured a cup of heated wine for Guan Yu for encouragement. But Guan said， “Keep the cup here until I come back.” When Guan Yu returned with Hua Xiong's head， the wine in the cup was still warm. Dong Zhuo was alarmed at the news that his brave general Hua Xiong had been killed.
　　He dispatched Lü Bu with 150，000 troops to guard the Hulao Pass outside the capital. Yuan Shao sent eight armies to attack. When the two sides met， no generals from Yuan Shao's side seemed able to withstand Lü Bu； several generals had been killed by him. Zhang Fei charged Lü Bu， but after fifty rounds of fierce combats he still did not succeed. At the sight of his sworn brother Zhang Fei unable to gain an upper hand， Guan Yu lifted his crescent-moon shaped sword to join the battle. After thirty more rounds， hteir elder sworn brother， Liu Bei unsheathed his sword and charged up too. The three brothers closed in. This proved too much for Lü Bu， who feigned a lance attack and while one of the three dodged， ran back to Hulao Pass for his dear life.

IFC set to buy share of Changyu

2008-11-18T23:23:00.000-08:00

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private arm of the World Bank Group, will buy a 10 per cent stake in Changyu Group Co Ltd, a leading wine producer, if permission is granted.
　　The share transfer aGREement between IFC and Changyu's shareholder Yantai Bureau of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission was signed on Wednesday, the wine maker's listed company said yesterday in a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
　　According to the deal, IFC will pay 1.46 billion yuan (US$176 million) for the purchase.
　　The move is part of Changyu's plan to sell its State-owned shares.
　　Changyu Group, based in Yantai, Shandong Province, was previously owned by the local municipal government.
　　Last October, 45 per cent of the shares in the Group were sold to newly-established Yantai Yuhua Investment Development Co through an employee and management buyout.
　　In February this year, the company aGREed to sell another 33 per cent stake to Italian firm Illva Saronno.
　　After the share transfer to IFC, Changyu Group will become a Sino-foreign invested joint venture, with the city of Yantai retaining a 12 per cent stake, the company said in the statement.
　　But the deal is still to be approved by related government departments.
　　"The new shareholding structure will help drive the company's future growth," said Dong Junfeng, an industry analyst from Galaxy Securities.
　　The company has performed well in the domestic wine market. Its listed subsidiary Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co reported year-on-year growth of 42 per cent in its net profit for the first quarter.

Those Childhood Days

2008-11-17T23:22:00.000-08:00

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms.
　　You thanked her by weeping your eyes out.
　　When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.
　　You thanked her by crying all night long.
　　When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.
　　You thanked her by running away when she called.
　　When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.
　　You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.
　　When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons.
　　You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.
　　When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.
　　You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud.
　　When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
　　You thanked her by screaming, “I''m not going!”
　　When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
　　You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbor''s window.
　　When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.
　　You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.
　　When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
　　You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.
　　When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to gymnastics to one
birthday party after another.
　　You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.
　　When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the movies.
　　You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.
　　When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV shows.
　　You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.
　　Those Teenage Years
　　When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming.
　　You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.
　　When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.
　　You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.
　　When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.
　　You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.
　　When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.
　　You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.
　　When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
　　You thanked her by being on the phone all night.
　　When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.
　　You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.
　　Growing Old and Gray
　　When you were 19, she paid your college tuition, drove you to campus, carried your bags.
　　You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn''t be embarrassed in
front of your friends.
　　When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
　　You thanked her by saying, “It''s none of your business.”
　　When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
　　You thanked her by saying, “I don''t want to be like you.”
　　When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.
　　You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to Europe.
　　When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
　　You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.
　　When you were 24, she met your fiance10 and asked about your plans for the future.
　　You thanked her by glaring and growling, “Muuhh-ther, please!”
　　When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried and told you how
deeply she loved you.
　　You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.
　　When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby.
　　You thanked her by telling her, “Things are different now.”
　　When you were 40, she called to remind you of a relative''s birthday.
　　You thanked her by saying you were “really busy right now.”
　　When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.
　　You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their children.
　　And then one day she quietly died.
　　And everything you never did came crashing down like thunder.
　　“Rock me baby, rock me all night long.”
　　“the hand who rocks the cradle...may rock the world”.
　　Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute and show appreciation to the person
called mom though some may not say it openly to their mother. There''s no substitute for
her. Cherish every single moment. Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may
not aGREe to our thoughts, she is still your mother!!!She will be there for you...to listen
to your woes, your braggings, your frustations, etc. Ask yourself...have you put aside
enough time for her, to listen to her “blues” of working in the kitchen, her tiredness? Be
tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a different view from
hers. Once gone, only fond memories of the past and also regrets will be left.
　　Don＇t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Love her more than you love
yourself. Life is meaningless without her ...

Love Is Just a Thread

2008-11-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to earn money in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’tact in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too luxurious for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of the question. Finally my father has a bad temper. When he’s very tired from the hard work, it is easy for him to lose his temper.
　　One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I silently sat down beside her and looked at her.
　　“Mom, I have a question to ask you,” I said after a while.
　　“What?” she replied, still doing her work.
　　“Is there love between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice.
　　My mother stopped her work and raised her head with surprise in her eyes. She didn’t answer immediately. Then she bowed her head and continued to sew the quilt.
　　I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. I was in a GREat embarrassment and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words:
　　“Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread. Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt strong and durable. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen anywhere or anytime, but it’s really there. Love is inside.”
　　I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly got sick seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked very pale. It seemed both of them had had a serious illness.
　　After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father walk slowly on the country road. My father had never been so gentle. It seemed they were the most harmonious couple. Along the country road, there were many beautiful flowers, GREen grass and trees. The sun gently glistened through the leaves. All of these made up the most beautiful picture in the world.
　　the doctor had said my father would recover in two months. But after two months he still couldn’t walk by himself. All of us were worried about him.
　　“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
　　“Susan, don’t worry about me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life.” Reading his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.
　　Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But from this experience, I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm

No Greater Love

2008-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

I heard this story when I was in Vietnam, and it was told to me as fact. I have no way of knowing for sure that it is true, but I do know that stranger things have happened in war.
　　Whatever their planned target, the mortar rounds landed in an orphanage run by a missionary group in the small Vietnamese village. The missionaries and one or two children were killed outright, and several more children were wounded, including one young girl, about eight years old.
　　People from the village requested medical help from a neighboring town that had radio contact with the American forces. Finally, an American Navy doctor and nurse arrived in a jeep with only their medical kits. They established that the girl was the most critically injured. Without quick action, she would die of shock and loss of blood.
　　A transfusion was imperative, and a donor with a matching blood type was required. A quick test showed that neither American had the correct type, but several of the uninjured orphans did.
　　The doctor spoke some pidgin Vietnamese, and the nurse a smattering of highschool French. Using that combination, together with much impromptu sign language, they tried to explain to their young, frightened audience that unless they could replace some of the girl’s lost blood, she would certainly die. Then they asked if anyone would be willing to give blood to help.
　　Their request was met with wide-eyed silence. After several long moments, a small hand slowly and waveringly went up, dropped back down, and then went up again.
　　“Oh, thank you,” the nurse said in French. “What is your name?”
　　“Heng,” came the reply.
　　Heng was quickly laid on a pallet, his arm swab bed with alcohol, and a needle inserted in his vein. Through this ordeal Heng lay stiff and silent.
　　After a moment, he let out a shuddering sob, quickly covering his face with his free hand.
　　“Is it hurting, Heng?” the doctor asked. Heng shook his head, but after a few moments another sob escaped, and once more he tried to cover up his crying. Again the doctor asked him if the needle hurt, and again Heng shook his head.
　　But now his occasional sobs gave way to a steady, silent crying, his eyes screwed tightly shut, his fist in his mouth to stifle his sobs.
　　The medical team was concerned. Something was obviously very wrong. At this point, a Vietnamese nurse arrived to help. Seeing the little one’s distress, she spoke to him rapidly in Vietnamese, listened to his reply and answered him in a soothing voice.
　　After a moment, the patient stopped crying and looked questioningly at the Vietnamese nurse. When she nodded, a look of GREat relief spread over his face.
　　Glancing up, the nurse said quietly to the Americans, “He thought he was dying. He misunderstood you. He thought you had asked him to give all his blood so the little girl could live.”
　　“But why would he be willing to do that?” asked the Navy nurse.
　　The Vietnamese nurse repeated the question boy, who answered simply, “She’s my friend.
　　GREater love has no man than this--that he will lay down his life for a friend.
　　By John W. Mansur

To See You

2008-11-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

Many say their most painful moments are saying good-bye to those they love. After watching Cheryl, my daughter-in-law, through the six long months her mother suffered towards death, I think the most painful moments can be in the waiting to say good-bye.
　　Cheryl made the two-hour trip over and over to be with her mother. They spent the long afternoons praying, soothing, comforting, and retelling their shared memories.
　　As her mother‘s pain intensified and more medication was needed to ease her into sedation, Cheryl sat for hours of silent vigil by her mother‘s bed.
　　Each time she kissed her mother before leaving, her mother would tear up and say, "I‘m sorry you drove so far and sat for so long and I didn‘t even wake up to talk with you."
　　Cheryl would tell her not to worry, it didn‘t matter, still her mother felt she had let her down and apologized at each good-bye until the day Cheryl found a way to give her mother the same reassurance her mother had given to her so many times.
　　"Mom, do you remember when I made the high school basketball team?" Cheryl‘s mother nodded. "You‘d drive so far and sit for so long and I never even left the bench to play. You waited for me after every game and each time I felt bad and apologized to you for wasting your time." Cheryl gently took her mother‘s hand.
　　"Do you remember what you would say to me?"
　　"I would say I didn‘t come to see you play, I came to see you."
　　"And you meant those words, didn‘t you."
　　"Yes, I really did."
　　"Well, now I say the same words to you. I didn‘t come to see you talk, I came to see you."
　　Her mother understood and smiled as she floated back into sleep.
　　their afternoons together passed quietly into days, weeks, and months. Their love filled the spaces between their words. To the last day they ministered to each other in the stillness, love given and received just by seeing each other.
　　A love so strong that, even in this deepened silence that followed their last good-bye, Cheryl can still hear her mother‘s love.

his mind on the paper

2008-11-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

In the song Dynasty (960-1279),there was a scholar whose name was Wen Tong and who styled himself Yuke. He was not only admired by others for his GREat learning, but also enjoyed widespread renown for his bamboo drawing. Every day there were always quite a few peoply who called at his house to ask for one of his bamboo drawings.
As a matter of fact,there were quite a few painters contemporary with him who could draw bamboos fairly well. But how did it happen that Wen Tong drew better than anybody else? Of this point Su Shi and Chao Buzhi, buth of whom were Wen Tong's good friends, gave vivid explanations in their respective poetic and prose works.
Actually, Wen Tong loved bamboos so much that he had grown various bamboos everywhere around his house. No matter what season it was and no matter whether it was sunny or rainy, he used to go to the bamboo forest to observe how they were growing. He pondered over the lenght and breadth of the bamboo poles as well as the shapes and colours of the leaves. Whenever he had gained a new understanding, he went back to his study, spread a piece of paper and prepareed some ink by rubbing an ink stick on an ink slab, and drew what was in his mind on the paper. Through accumulation over a long period of time, the images of the bamboo in different seasons, under different weather conditions and at different moments were deeply imprinted in his mind.So whenever he stood before the paper and picked up a painting brush with concentrated attention, the various forms of the bamboo which he had observed at ordinary times at once rose before his eyes. And so every time he was drawing bamboos he appeared confident and at ease, and all the bamboos he had painted were very vivid and true to lift.
When people spoke highly of his paintings, he always said modestly that he had just put the images of the bamboo imprinted in his mind on the paper.
A young man wanted to learn bamboo drawing; when he knew that Chao Buzhi had made a profound study of Wen Tong's art of drawing, he went to Chao Buzhi for instruction. Chao Buzhi wrote a poem to him. In the poem, there are the following two lines:
When Yuke was painting the bamboos,
He bad their images ready in his bosom.
Later people have summarized the lines as " having had the images of the bamboo ready in one's bosom," which means having had ready plans or designs in one's mind before doing a certain job so that its success is guaranteed. It is also used go mean being calm and cool - headed in dealing with things.
This story comes from an article writted by Su Shi concerning Wen Yuke's art of bamboo drawing.

position of strength and sphere of influence

2008-11-12T23:08:00.000-08:00

During the Spring and Autumn Period (707 - 476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Wanted to expand his position of strength and sphere of influence. Therefore he would like to send his troops to destroy the State of Guo on the pretest that the State of Guo often encroached on theborders of the State of Jin. But there was a third state, the State of Yu,between the State of Jin and the State of Guo, and the Jin army had to cross the State of Yu before it could reach the State of Guo . "How can my army cross the State of Yu without a hitch?" Duke Xian of the State of Jin asked his ministers.Xun Xi , one of the ministers, said, "The monarch of the State of Yu is short - sighted and covets small advantages. If we give him priceless precious stones and fine horses, it is not unlikely that he will allow our army to pass through his country. " Seeing that Duke Xian of the State of Jin was a little bit grudging, Xun Xi continued to say, "The State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor stated as closely related as lips and teeth. The State of Yu cannot exist independently if the state of Guo is destroyed. Your precious stones and fime hores are just left in the care of the monarch of the State of Yu." So Duke Xian of the State of Jin accepted Xun Xi's plan. When the monarch of Yu saw the precious gifts, he was elated,and readily promised to let the Jin army pass through his state. Hearing the news, Gong Zhiqi, one of the ministers as the State of Yu, hastened to admonish the monarch, saying," That won't do.For the State of Yu and the State of Guo are neighbor states as closely related as lips and teeth. Our two small states are interdependent, and can help cach other when problems crop up .If the State of Guo were destroyed, it would be difficult for our State of Yu to continue to exist. As the common saying goes, if the lips are gone ,the teeth will be cold, The teeth can hardly be kept if the lips are gone. So it won't do at all to allow the Jin army pass our state." The monarch of the State of Yu said," The State of Jin is a big state. Now they here specially to present gifts to us with the intention of being on friendly terms with us. Under suchcircumstances, how can we refuse to allow them to pass through our state?" Hearing this, Gong Zhiqi sighed repeatedly. Knowing that the State of Yu would soon be destroyed, Gong Zhiqi left the State of Yu together with his whole family. As expected, the troops of the State of Jin, allowed to pass through the State of Yu, destroyed the State of Guo and on their return trip captured the monarch of the State of Yu who went out personally to meet them, htus destroying the State of Yu as Well. This story appears in the chapter " The Fifth Year of Duke Xi " in Zuo zhuan,the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The Spring and Autumn Annals. The set phrase " if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold " is used to mean that two persons or things share a common lot and that is one fails ,the other is in danger.

A General History

2008-11-11T23:12:00.000-08:00

In order to suppress those who were against her, Wu Zetian, the empress of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), appointed a few merciless persons to be judges. Two of them were extremely brutal; one was called Zhou Xing and the other was called Lai Junchen. They killed many upright civil and military officials as well as ordinary people by framing up cases against tham and by administering inhuman corporal punishment to them. Once, Wu Zetian received a letter which informed against Zhou Xing. The letter aside that Zhou Xing was plotting a rebellion in collaboration with others. Wu Zetian was furiously angry when she read the letter, and immediately ordered Lai Junchen to deal with the case severely. Hearing the order, Lai Junchen had misgivings about it. He knew that Zhou Xing could not be forced to tell the truth merely by using a letter informing against him because he was very sly and crafty. Lai Junchen also knew that he would not be for given if he should fail in dealing with the case, because the empress would certainly blame him and punish him. How could he solve the problem then? He turned the problem over and over in his mind, and finally thought out a "brilliant scheme". Lai Junchen had a sumptuous feast prepared, and invited Zhou Xing to his home. The two of them urged each other to drink, and they talked while drinking. After the wine had gone round three times, Lai Junchen pretended to sigh, "When Ihandle cases in ordinary times, I often com across prisoners who stubbournly refuse to admit they are guilty. I wonder if you have any effetive measures." Hearing this, he took a sip of the wine. Lai Junchen immediately pretended to be very earnest, saying, "Oh, please do tell me at once." Smiling insidiously, Zhou Xing said, "Get a big vat, scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around, and then let the prisoner come into the vat. Will the prisoner fail to make a confession of his crime?" Hearing this. LaiJunchen nodded his head in approval repeatedly. He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat, and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said. He then turned to Zhou Xing and said, "Someone in the imperial court has informed against you, saying that you are plotting a rebellion. The empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely. So I beg your pardon, but would you kindly step into the "Someone in the imperial court has informed against you, saying that you are plotting a rebellion. The empress has ordered me to deal with the case severely. So I beg your pardon, but would you kindly step into the vat?" Hearing this, Zhou Xing dropped his wine cup to the ground and the cup broke with a crash. Then he knelt down with a flop, nodded repeatedly and said, "I am guilty. I confess I am guilty." This story appears in A General History as a Mirror of Past Events by Sima Guang of the Song Dynasty. From this story, people have derived the set phrase "kindly step into the vat -- try what you have devised against others".

obsessed with ambitions

2008-11-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

In the reign of Emperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.), the prime minister Zhao Gao, obsessed with ambitions, was planning to usurp the throne day and night. But he did not know how many of the ministers in the court were allowed to be ordered about by him and how many of them were his opponents. So he thought out a way to test how high his prestige among the ministers was and also to find out who dared to oppose him. One day when court was held, Zhao Gao let someone bring a stag to the court and, with a broad smile on his face, he said to Emperor the Second of the Qin Dynasty:"Your Majesty, here is a fine horse I'm presenting to you." Looking at the animal, Emperor the Second thought that it was obviously a stag and that it couldn't be a horse. So he said smilingly to Zhao Gao:"Mister Prime Minister, you are wrong. This is a stay. Why do you say it is a horse?" Remaining calm, Zhao Gao said:"Will your Majesty please see more clearly? This really is a horse that covers a thousand li a day." Filled with suspicion, Emperor the Second looked at the stag again and said:"How can the antlers be grown on the head of a horse?" Turning around and pointing his finger at the ministers, Zhao Gao said in a loud voice:"if our Majesty do not believe me, you can ask the ministers." The nonsense of Zhao Gao made the ministers totally at a lose, and they whispered to themselves: What tricks was Zhao Gao playing? Was it not obvious whether it was a stag or a horse? But when they saw the sinister smile on Zhao Gao's face and his two rolling eyes which were gazing at each of them, they suddenly understood his evil intentions. Some of the ministers who were timid and yet had a sense of right eousness did not dare to say anything, because to tell lies would make their conscience uneasy and to tell the truth would mean that they would be persecuted by Zhao Gao later. Some ministers with a sense of justice persisted that it was a stag and not a horse. There were still some crafty and fawning ministers who followed Zhao Gao closely in ordinary times. They immediately voiced their support to Zhao Gao, saying to the emperor:"This really in a horse that covers a thousand li a day." After the event, Zhao Gao punished by various means those ministers with a sense of justice who were not obedient to him, even with whole families of some of those ministers executed. This story appears in "The Life of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty" in The Historical Records written by Sima Qian. From this story people have derived the set phrase "calling a stag a horse" to mean deliberately misrepresenting some thing and misleading the public.

impenetrable shield

2008-11-09T23:06:00.000-08:00

A man of the state of Chu had a spear and a shield for sale. He was loud in praises of his shield.
"My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce it through." 　　He also sang praises of his spear. 　　"My spear is so strong that it can pierce through anything." 　　"What would happen," he was asked, "if your spear is used to pierce your shield?" 　　It is impossible for an impenetrable shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable.

The Frog in the Shallow Well

2008-11-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

Have you not heard of the frog that lived in a shallow well? It said to a turtle that lived in the East Sea, "I am so happy! When I go out, I jump about on the railing beside the mouth of the well. When I come home,I rest in the holes on the broken wall of the well. If I jump into the water, it comes up to my armpits and holds up my cheeks. If I walk in the mud, it covers up my feet. I look around at the wriggly worms, crabs and tadpoles, and none of them can compare with me. Moreover, I am lord of this trough of water and I stand up tall in this shallow well. My happiness is full. My dear sir, why don't you come often and look around my place?" 　　Before the turtle from the East Sea could get its left foot in the well, its right knee got stuck. It hesitated and retreated. The turtle told the frog about the East Sea. 　　"Even a distance of a thousand li cannot give you an idea of the sea's width; even a height of a thousand ren cannot give you an idea of its depth. In the time of King Yu of the Xia dynasty, there were floods nine years out of ten, but the waters in the sea did not increase. ln the time of King Tang of the Shang dynasty there were droughts seven years out of eight, but the waters in the sea did not decrease. The sea does not change along with the passage of time and its level does not rise or fall according to the amount of rain that falls. The GREatest happiness is to live in the East Sea." 　　After listening to these words, the frog of the shallow well was shocked into realization of his own insignificance and became very ill at ease.

Real Life Philosophy

2008-11-07T22:56:00.000-08:00

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read this straight through, and you'll get the point (an awesome one) it is trying to make!

Take this quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

Sand and Stone

2008-11-06T22:55:00.000-08:00

The story goes that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.
　　The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."
　　They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
　　After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life."
　　The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone. Why?"
　　The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
　　LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
　　They say it takes a minute to find a special person an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.
　　Send this phrase to the people you'll never forget. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them
　　Take the time to live.

beautiful trumpet lilies

2008-11-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a good old woman who lived in a little house. She had in her garden a bed of beautiful trumpet lilies.
　　One night she was wakened by the sounds of sweet singing and of babies laughing. She looked out at the window. The sounds seemed to come from the lily bed, but she could see nothing.
　　The next morning she walked among her flowers, but there were no signs of any one having been there the night before.
　　On the following night she was again wakened by sweet singing and babies laughing. She walked softly to her garden. The moon was shining brightly on the lily bed, and the flowers were swaying to and fro. The old woman looked closely and she saw, standing by each lily, a little Fairy mother who was singing and rocking the flower like a cradle, while in each lily trumpet lay a little Fairy baby laughing and playing.
　　The good old woman went quietly back to her house, and from that time on she never picked a lily, nor did she allow her neighbors to touch the flowers.
　　The lilies GREw brighter in color and larger in size, and they gave out a delicious perfume like that of roses. They began, too, to bloom all the year round.
　　The day came when the good old woman died, and the lily-bed was torn up, other plants were planted there, but they all withered, and from that time on nothing would grow there.
　　But the good old woman's grave GREw beautiful, for the Fairies sang above it, and kept it green; while on the grave and all around it there sprang up lilies, tulips, violets, and other lovely flowers of spring.

THE FATHER AND HIS SONSA

2008-10-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarrelling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it.

He next unclosed the faggot, and took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into their hands, on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."

Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow

2008-10-06T18:43:00.001-07:00

Chunyu Kun lived in the state of Qi during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). He was wise, humorous and eloquent. He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully went to many states as an envoy.
　　In the year 349 BC, the State of Chu dispatched a large force to attack Qi. The king of Qi sent Chunyu Kun to the state of Zhao to ask for help, with a lot of valuable gifts. The king of Zhao accpeted the gifts gladly and sent a hundred thousand troops to help Qi. The king of Chu withdrew his army that very night as soon as he got the news.
　　The king of Qi was released and pleased with Chunyu Kun. He set a banquet for celebration. During the meal, the king asked Chunyu Kun, "How much wine can you drink before you're drunk, Sir?" Knowing the king had a bad habit of drinking all night, Chunyu Kun decided to take this chance to admonish the king. So he replied, "I get drunk when I drink ten litres or hundred."
　　Puzzled, the king asked, "Since you are drunk after ten litres, how can you finish another ninty litres?"
　　Chunyu Kun then explained that he could drink different amounts of wine under different conditions. He said, "This occurs to me that when you drink to your limit, you get so drunk that you lose your sense; once joy reaches its height, then it's sorrow's turn. This is the rule for everything. Whatever you do, you are bound to end up in the opposite direction when you exceed the limits."
　　Realizing Chunyu Kun was advising him, the king answered, "You are right. I will take your advice."
　　From then on, the king of Qi gave up his bad habit of drinking and playing all night.
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Make three calls at the thatched cottage

2008-10-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

In the third century, China was divided into three kingdoms: Wei in the north, Shu in the southwest and Wu in the southeast. Shu was a weak state. The head of Shu, Liu Bei, was searching for talents everywhere for the kingdom. He heard of a very wise and knowledgeable man called Zhuge Liang who lived in Longzhong in Hubei province. So Liu decided to invite him to be his prime minister to help strengthen the State of Shu. In the year 207AD, Liu Bei with his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei traveled to Longzhong to ask Zhuge Liang to assist him. But Zhuge was not at home. Thus they had to return disappointedly.
　　Later, they came again. But again they failed to see Zhuge, because he had been wandering about for days and hadn't yet come back. This time, Liu Bei left a note expressing his meaning.
　　Some days passed, Liu wanted to make a third visit. Guan and Zhang wanted to stop him, but in vain. This time, Zhuge Liang was at home but he was sleeping. Liu let Guan and Zhang stand at the door, and he stood by the bed. When Zhuge woke up and saw him, he was moved by his sincerity. He complied with Liu's request and became his prime minister. With the help of Zhuge, Liu enlarged his territory and his kingdom became as strong as the Wu and Shu.
　　Later, people use it to describe people who invite someone in all sincerity and eagerness.
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Look for a noble steed according to its picture

2008-10-06T18:35:00.001-07:00

Bo Le was a famous horse-judging master. He wrote a book titled Xiang Ma Jing (classics of how to judge a horse) to tell people the way of recognizing good horses. It writes, "A good horse is with wide forehead, bulging eyes and round hoofs."
　　One day, the son of Bo Le went out to look for a good horse according to the description in the book. After a while, he came back, bringing with him a toad. He told his father, "I have found a horse similar to your picture but its eyes are not bulging enough and hoofs not round." Bo Le did not know whether to laugh or to cry at this. He kidded his son, "This horse is good at jumping instead of being ridden. What you've done is to look for a horse according to the picture."
　　From what Bo Le said we draw the idiom, depicting those who work mechanically or try to locate something by following up a clue.

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Look for a noble steed according to its picture

2008-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

Play the lute to a cow

2008-10-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

In ancient time, there lived a musician named Gong Mingyi. He was very good at playing the Zheng, a plucked string instrument. But he also behaved foolishly sometimes.
　　One day, he saw a cow eating grass in the field near his house. He was inspired by the scene and ran outside to play a tune for the cow. Gong Mingyi played beautifully and he himself was intoxicated by the music. But the cow paid no heed to the elegant sounds. It simply focused its attention on eating the grass. Gong Mingyi was surprised to see that. He couldn't understand why the cow was so indifferent to his performance. Obviously, it is not because his performance is poor. But the cow neither understood nor appreciated his elegant music!
　　From that story comes the idiom "Play the lute to a cow", which implies that someone speaks or writes without considering his audience. In general speaking, the speaker or writer has over-estimated his listeners or readers. In these cases, the idiom mocks the audience rather than the speaker.
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Beautiful Smile and Love

2008-10-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

The poor are very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition, and I told the sisters: You take care of the other three. I take care of this one who looked worse.

So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said just the words "thank you" and she died. I could not help but examine my conscience before her and I asked what would I say if I was in her place.

And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said I am hungry, that I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain, or something, but she gave me much more-she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face.

As did that man whom we picked up from the drain, half eaten with worms, and we brought him to the home. "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an angel, loved and cared for."

And it was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that, who could die like that without blaming anybody, without cursing anybody, without comparing anything.

Like an angel-this is the greatness of our people. And that is why we believe what Jesus had said: I was hungry, I was naked, I was homeless, I was unwanted, unloved, uncared for, and you did it to me.

I believe that we are not real social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of the people, but we are really contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we are touching the body of Christ twenty-four hours...

And I think that in our family we don't need bombs and guns, to destroy, to bring peace, just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world.

And with this prize that I have received as a Prize of Peace, I am going to try to make the home for many people who have no home. Because I believe that love begins at home, and if we can create a home for the poor I think that more and more love will spread.

And we will be able through this understanding love to bring peace be the good news to the poor. The poor in our own family first, in our country and in the world.

To be able to do this, our Sisters, our lives have to be wove with prayer. They have to be woven with Christ to be able to understand, to be able to share. Because to be woven with Christ is to be able to understand, to be able to share. Because today there is so much suffering...

When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread, I have satisfied. I have removed that hunger.

But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out from society-that poverty is so full of hurt and so unbearable... And so let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love, and once we begin to love each other naturally we want to do something.

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Mr. Jiang has used up his literary talent-At one's wit's end

2008-10-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

During the period of Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), there was a man of letters named Jiang Yan, whose father died young. Little Jiang Yan was strenuous and diligent, capable of writing beautiful poems and essays at his early age. He, who was thought highly of by those men of letters of that time, was called Mr. Jiang.
　　However, at fame and high position prevent him from go on making progress. His articles and poems written later were not a match to his earlier ones. People said that he was at his wit's end.

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What will matter?

2008-10-05T23:35:00.001-07:00

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no days, no hours or minutes. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will all expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Your gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success, but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.

It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

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If I were any better

2008-10-05T23:33:00.000-07:00

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
　　He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

　　Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don"t get it! You can"t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

　　Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, "Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood." I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

　　"Yeah, right, it"s not that easy," I protested.

　　"Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It"s your choice how you live life."

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"Packaging" A Person

2008-10-05T23:32:00.002-07:00

A person, like a commodity, needs packaging. But going too far is absolutely undesirable. A little exaggeration, however, does no harm when it shows the person's unique qualities to their advantage. To display personal charm in a casual and natural way, it is important for one to have a clear knowledge of oneself. A master packager knows how to integrate art and nature without any traces of embellishment, so that the person so packaged is no commodity but a human being, lively and lovely.

A young person, especially a female, radiant with beauty and full of life, has all the favor granted by God. Any attempt to make up would be self-defeating. Youth, however, comes and goes in a moment of doze. Packaging for the middle-aged is primarily to conceal the furrows ploughed by time. If you still enjoy life's exuberance enough to retain self-confidence and pursue pioneering work, you are unique in your natural qualities, and your charm and grace will remain. Elderly people are beautiful if their river of life has been, through plains, mountains and jungles, running its course as it should. You have really lived your life which now arrives at a complacent stage of serenity indifferent to fame or wealth. There is no need to resort to hair-dyeing-the snow-capped mountain is itself a beautiful scene of fairyland. Let your looks change from young to old synchronizing with the natural ageing process so as to keep in harmony with nature, for harmony itself is beauty, while the other way round will only end in unpleasantness. To be in the elder's company is like reading a thick book of de luxe edition that fascinates one so much as to be reluctant to part with.

As long as one finds where one stands, one knows how to package oneself, just as a commodity establishes its brand by the right packaging.

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A Good Heart to Lean on

2008-10-05T23:32:00.001-07:00

When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely crippled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would inwardly squirm at the unwanted attention. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to coordinate our steps -- his halting, mine impatient -- and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you. "
Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and despite nasty weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. A matter of pride.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help. At such times my sisters or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, NY, on a child's sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would cling to the handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice-free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn' on his way home.
When I think of it now, I marvel at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himself to such indignity and stress. And at how he did it -- without bitterness or complaint .
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don' t know precisely what a "good heart" is. But I know the times I don't have one myself.
Unable to engage in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. When a local sandlot baseball team found itself without a manager, he kept it going. He was a knowledgeable baseball fan and often took me to Ebbets Field to see the Brooklyn Dodgers play. He liked to go to dances and parties, where he could have a good time just sitting and watching.
On one memorable occasion a fight broke out at a beach party, with everyone punching and shoving. He wasn't content to sit and watch, but he couldn't stand unaided on the soft sand. In frustration he began to shout, "I' ll fight anyone who will tit down with me!"
Nobody did. But the next day people kidded him by saying it was the first time any fighter was urged to take a dive even before the bout began.
I now know he participated in some things vicariously through me, his only son. When I played ball (poorly), he "played" too. When I joined the Navy he "joined" too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that " I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, "This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different." Those words were never said aloud.
He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about trifles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart".
At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, "You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you."

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Is Fire Goddess Spelled with Two “D”s ?

2008-10-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

When I was eight years old, I saw a movie about a mysterious island that had an erupting 1)volcano and 2)lush jungles filled with wild animals and 3)cannibals. The island was ruled by a beautiful woman called Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano. It was a terrible low budget movie, but to me, it represented the perfect life. Being chased by 4)molten 5)lava, blood thirsty animals and savages was a small price to pay for freedom. I desperately wanted to be the Fire Goddess. I wrote it on my list of things to be when I grow up, and I asked my girlfriend if Fire Goddess was spelled with two “D”s.

Through the years, the school system did its best to mold me into a no nonsense, responsible, respectable citizen, and Tondalaya was forgotten. My parents approved of my suitable marriage and I spent the next 25 years being a good wife, eventually the mother of four, and a very respectable responsible member of society. My life was as 6)bland and boring as a bowl of 7)oatmeal. I knew exactly what to expect in the future. The children would grow up and leave home, my husband and I would grow old together, and we’d baby-sit the grandchildren.

The week I turned 50, my marriage came to a sudden end. My house, furniture and everything I’d owned was auctioned off to pay debts I didn’t even know existed. In a week I had lost my husband, my home and my parents who refused to accept a divorce in the family. I’d lost everything except my four teenage children. I had enough money to rent a cheap apartment while I looked for a job or I could use every penny I had to buy five plane tickets from Missouri to the most remote island in the world, the big island of Hawaii. Everyone said I was crazy to think I could just run off to an island and survive. They predicted I’d come crawling back in a month. Part of me was afraid they were right.

The next day, my four children and I landed on the big island of Hawaii with less than $2,000, knowing no one in the world was going to help us. I rented an unfurnished apartment where we slept on the floor and lived on 8)cereal. I worked three jobs 9)scrubbing floors on my hands and knees, selling 10)macadamia nuts to tourists and gathering coconuts. I worked 18 hours a day and lost 30 pounds because I lived on one meal a day. I had panic attacks that left me curled into a knot on the bathroom floor shaking like a 11)shell-shocked soldier.

One night as I walked alone on the beach, I saw the red orange glow of the lava pouring out of Kilauea Volcano in the distance. I was 12)wading in the Pacific Ocean, watching the world’s most active volcano, and wasting that incredible moment, because I was 13)haunted by the past, exhausted by the present and terrified of the future. I’d almost achieved my childhood dream but hadn’t realized it, because I was focused on my burdens instead of my blessings. It was time to live my imagination not my history. Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano had finally arrived.

The next day, I quit my jobs and invested my last 14)paycheck in art supplies and began doing what I loved. I hadn’t painted a picture in 15 years, because we barely 15)scratched out a living on the farm in Missouri, and there hadn’t been money for the tubes of paint, and canvas and frames. I wondered if I could still paint or if I had forgotten how. My hands trembled the first time I picked up a brush. But before an hour had passed, I was lost in the colors spreading across the canvas in front of me. I painted pictures of old sailing ships and as soon as I started believing in myself, other people started believing in me, too. The first painting sold for $1,500 before I even had time to frame it.

The past six years have been filled with adventures. My children and I have gone swimming with 16)dolphins, watched 17)whales and hiked around the 18)crater rim of the volcano. We wake up every morning with the ocean in front of us and the volcano behind us. The dream I had more than 40 years ago is now reality. I live on an island with a continuously erupting volcano. The only animals in the jungle are wild 19)boars and 20)mongooses and there aren’t any cannibals. But often in the evening, I can hear the drums from native dancers on the beach.

I’m free for the first time in my life. I am Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano, spelled with two “D”s and I’m living happily ever after.

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10 Definitions of Happiness

2008-09-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

Happiness is something everyone wants to have. You may be successful and have a lot of money, but without Happiness it will be meaningless.

That’s why I’m excited with this month’s theme of Happiness. We will discuss this topic all month long and I’m sure we will learn a lot. But, before we move further, it’s a good idea to get deeper understanding of the word happiness itself. Understanding what Happiness is will give us good ground upon which to build our discussions.

Let me start with an official definition. According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, here is the definition of Happiness: a state of well-being and contentment， a pleasurable or satisfying experience

This definition is a good starting point and we can dig deeper from it. The best way to do that is to consult some of the greatest minds in history. So I researched what these people say about Happiness and found 10 essential definitions. Each of them has deep meaning. Take your time to absorb it.

Here they are:

1. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Mahatma Gandhi

2. Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values. Any Rand

3. Happiness is something that you are and it comes from the way you think. Wayne Dyer

4. Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation.

William H. Sheldon

5. Happiness is not a reward - it is a consequence. Robert Ingersoll

6. Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing. George Sheehan

7. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. Aristotle

8. Happiness is not something you experience, it’s something you remember. Oscar Levant

9. Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling. Margaret Lee Runbeck

10. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude. Denis Waitley

All in all, I would say that happiness is a decision. Your Happiness is your decision to make. All the quotes above require actions on our part and actions require decisions.

So what do you think?

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experience everlasting love in life

2008-09-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

In order to experience everlasting love in life, you ought to first figure out what is missing in your life and then fill in the gaps. People fall in and out of love because they expect their lovers to be everything to them and do everything for them. They then become dissatisfied when the partner fails to meet all their requirements. If you have a dream of achieving everlasting love you better create your very own life crowned by hobbies, interests and beneficial passions. This makes you a full lover when you enjoy a complete, interesting life on your own. Create a world of your own. On your to-do-list add forgiveness. It is always healthy to forgive while you can, disappointments and sadness is a part of life.

Some people find it hard to forgive their partners especially if they happened to catch them cheating on them. Seek professional help from a marriage and relationship counselor. This is an important move towards search for everlasting love. Most buried resentments are the cause to failed marriages and broken relationships. At one time they resurface and blow the present things out of proportion. To find a smooth sail in your love life you have to learn to forgive and move on with a clean slate. Accept changes when they arrive instead of fighting the reality. In life change is inevitable. At one time you will be loved, dumped, married, you will have children, become sick and die. You should acknowledge the happenings in life and move through them strongly. No matter how settled you might be it is good to know that things can change in an instant.

Always accept the unexpected. Always find Happiness in what you have and be grateful to own what you have. It is a great secret to everlasting love. Despite the greatest fear and uncertainties of the unknown, when the inevitable things happen you will look back on the good old times and wish that you had been more grateful when things were more colorful. To enjoy your love life you should give thanks every moment and learn to appreciate the small problems we experience because unknown to us they can get worse and some time they probably will. To experience how it feels to have everlasting love, create time for each other as lovers. Many people who are unhappy keep on postponing time to be together. People get caught up in the many and demanding daily activities and forget to get time to live for today.

It happens to me and you. There will always be more laundry, more house chores and more errands to be carried out. It is a routine where we retire to bed when we are very exhausted late at night only to awake and follow the same routine again the next day. To live life to the fullest stop at some point and take time for yourself and for each other too. Today might be the only gift you have in life so live like there is no tomorrow. The precious moments we reckon in life are achieved by creating time for them against the much pressure of work. Create such short and fleeting moments everyday to enjoy everlasting love.

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go home

2008-09-25T22:34:00.000-07:00

They say you can never go home again.

　　Well, you can. Only you might find yourself staying at a Trave Lodge, driving a rented Ford Contour and staking out your childhood home like some noir private eye just trying to catch a glimpse of the Johnny-come-latelys that are now living in YOUR HOUSE.

　　It's a familiar story. Kids grow up, parents sell the family home and move to some sunnier climate, some condo somewhere, some smaller abode. We grown up kids box up all the junk from our childhoods—dusty ballet shoes, high school text books, rolled up posters of Adam Ant—and wonder where home went.

　　I'm not a sentimental person, I told myself. I don't need to see old 3922 26th Street before we sell the place. I even skipped the part where I return home to salvage my mementos from the garage. I let my parents box up the stuff which arrived from San Francisco like the little package you get when released from jail. You know, here's your watch, the outfit you wore in here, some cash. Here's the person you once were.

　　After a year, San Francisco called me home again. I missed it. High rents had driven all my friends out of the city to the suburbs so I made myself a reservation at a motel and drove there in a rented car.

　　The next day, I cruised over to my old neighborhood. There was the little corner store my mom used to send me to for milk, the familiar fire station, the Laundromat.

　　I cried like the sap I never thought I'd be. I sat in the car, staring at my old house, tears welling up. It had a fresh paint job, the gang graffiti erased from the garage door. New curtains hung in the window.

　　I walked up and touched the doorknob like it was the cheek of a lover just home from war. I noticed the darker paint where our old mezuzah used to be. I sat on our scratchy brick stoop, dangling my legs off the edge, feeling as rootless as I've ever felt.

　　You can't go home in a lot of ways, I discovered that night, when I met up with an ex-boyfriend.

　　"Great to see you," he said, giving me a tense hug. "The thing is, I only have an hour."

　　What am I, the LensCrafters of social engagements?

　　As it happens, his new girlfriend wasn't too keen on my homecoming. We had a quick drink and he dropped me back off at my motel where I scrounged up my change to buy some Whoppers from the vending machine for dinner. I settled in for the evening to watch "Three to Tango" on HBO.

　　"You had to watch a movie with a Friends' cast member," said my brother, nodding empathetically. "That's sad."

　　My brother and I met up at our old house, like homing pigeons. We walked down the street for some coffee and I 19)filled him in on my trip. He convinced me to stay my last night at his new place in San Bruno, just outside the city. I'll gladly pay $98 a night just for the privilege of not inconveniencing anyone, but he actually seemed to want me.

　　"I love having guests," he insisted. So I went.

　　It's surprising how late in life you still get that "I can't believe I'm a grown-up feeling," like when your big brother, the guy who used to force you to watch "Gomer Pyle" reruns, owns his own place. It was small and sparse and he had just moved in but it was his. The refrigerator had nothing but mustard, a few cheese slices and fourteen cans of Diet 7-Up.

　　We picked up some Taco Bell, rented a movie, popped some popcorn and I fell asleep on his couch.

　　Insomniacs rarely fall asleep on people's couches, I assure you. I don't know why I slept so well after agonizing all weekend over the question of home, if I had one anymore, where it was. I only know that curled up under an old sleeping bag, the sound of some second-rate guy movie playing in the background, my brother in a chair next to me, I felt safe and comfortable and maybe that's part of what home is.

　　But it's not the whole story. As much as I'd like to buy the cliches about home being where the heart is, or as Robert Frost put it, "The place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in," a part of me thinks the truth is somewhere between the loftiness of all those platitudes and the concreteness of that wooden door on 26th street.

　　I'll probably be casing that joint from time to time for the rest of my life. I'll sit outside, like a child watching someone take away a favorite toy, and silently scream, "MINE!"

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How To Grow Old

2008-09-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

1. In spite of the title, this article will really be on how not to grow old, which, at my time of life, is a much more important subject. My first advice would be to choose your ancestors carefully. Although both my parents died young, I have done well in this respect as regards my other ancestors. My maternal grandfather, it is true, was cut off in the flower of his youth at the age of sixty-seven, but my other three grandparents all lived to be over eighty. Of remoter ancestors I can only discover one who did not live to a great age, and he died of a disease which is now rare, namely, having his head cut off。

　　2. A great grandmother of mine, who was a friend of Gibbon, lived to the age of ninety-two, and to her last day remained a terror to all her descendants. My maternal grandmother, after having nine children who survived, one who died in infancy, and many miscarriages, as soon as she became a widow, devoted herself to woman’s higher education. She was one of the founders of Girton College, and worked hard at opening the medical profession to women. She used to relate how she met in Italy an elderly gentleman who was looking very sad. She inquired the cause of his melancholy and he said that he had just parted from his two grandchildren. “Good gracious”, she exclaimed, “I have seventy-two grandchildren, and if I were sad each time I parted from one of them, I should have a dismal existence!” “Madre snaturale,” he replied. But speaking as one of the seventy-two, I prefer her recipe. After the age of eighty she found she had some difficulty in getting to sleep, so she habitually spent the hours from midnight to 3 a.m. in reading popular science. I do not believe that she ever had time to notice that she was growing old. This, I think, is

　　proper recipe for remaining young. If you have wide and keen interests and activities in which you can still be effective, you will have no reason to think about the merely statistical fact of the number of years you have already lived, still less of the probable brevity of you future.

　　3. As regards health I have nothing useful to say since I have little experience of illness. I eat and drink whatever I like, and sleep when I cannot keep awake. I never do anything whatever on the ground that it is good for health, though in actual fact the things I like doing are mostly wholesome.

　　4. Psychologically there are two dangers to be guarded against in old age. One of these is undue absorption in the past. It does not do to live in memories, in regrets for the good old days, or in sadness about friends who are dead. One’s thoughts must be directed to the future and to things about which there is something to be done. This is not always easy: one’s own past is gradually increasing weight. It is easy to think to oneself that one’s emotions used to be more vivid than they are, and one’s mind keener. If this is true it should be forgotten, and if it is forgotten it will probably not be true.

　　5. The other thing to be avoided is clinging to youth in the hope of sucking vigor from its vitality. When your children are grown up they want to live their own lives, and if you continue to be as interested in them as you were when they were young, you are likely to become a burden to them, unless they are unusually callous. I do not mean that one should be without interest in them, but one’s interest should be contemplative and, if possible, philanthropic, but not unduly emotional. Animals become indifferent to their young as soon as their young can look after themselves, but human beings, owing to the length of infancy, find this difficult.

　　6. I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities. It is in this sphere that long experience is really fruitful, and it is in this sphere that the wisdom born of experience can be exercised without being oppressive. It is no use telling grown-up children not to make mistakes, both because they will not believe you, and because mistakes are an essential part of education. But if you are one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests, you may find that your life will be empty unless you concern yourself with you children and grandchildren. In that case you must realize that while you can still render them material services, such as making them an allowance or knitting them jumpers, you must not expect that they will enjoy your company.

　　7. Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death. In the young there is a justification for this feeling. Young men who have reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel bitter in the thought that they have been cheated of the best things that life has to offer. But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows, and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble. The best way to overcome it – so at least it seems to me – is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river – small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. The man who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. And if, with the decay of vitality, weariness increases, the thought of rest will not be unwelcome. I should wish to die while still at work, knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer do and content in the thought that what was possible has been done.

Note: Chinese-Online (http://www.chinesepal.cn) is a place to Learn Chinese, and to find free Chinese Tutors to teach Chinese Lessons ,a place to learn mandarin! The fees is in the page(http://www.chinesepal.cn/class_type.html).The Site map of our site to learn Chinese language is the link(http://www.chinesepal.cn/sitemap.html).You can find something what you want to Learn Chinese Online! If you have interested Learn Mandarin Chinese Online ! Please click the link to study Chinese Language! Your Chinese Translation will begin to here! you can find Chinese characters, Chinese writing , Chinese dictionary and so on!

The old monk

2008-09-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

The old monk often took the young monk to the hill outside the temple to recite the lection.

One day the young monk said to the old monk,” How slowly the time goes!"

The old monk said,” You can have a try like this---in the morning sit to the west to read; and in the afternoon sit to the east to read."

At the master's advice, the young monk recited the lection against the sun. By and by he neglected the passage of time.

The next day he told the old monk,"Master, you're so masterly that I forget time with a switch of direction and absorb myself in the lection."

The old monk said,” Whatever you do, only you leave time behind you can you focus on it selflessly."

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Being Happy after Losing Money

2008-09-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, when I had a nine-to-five job, I commuted to work — two to three hours to the office, four to five hours home. I did that every day for three full years. I’ve got the stubs from the bus companies to prove it.I no longer schlep1 to an office like a regularworking Sally, and these days I rarely take the bus anywhere. Although those long, grueling2 hours of traveling are far behind me, I still carry with me the priceless gift of one complete stranger.It was a warm March evening, and I’d just taken a seat on the bus that would take me home. I sat in the third row, by the window, on the driver’s side. It was nearly 6:00 PM, but the bus was not yet full and the driver gave no indication3 that he intended to get the bus on the road anytime soon.A middle-aged woman took a seat opposite me. She was crying. Not speaking to anyone in particular, she tearfully narrated4 her story.She had come to the city to visit her daughter. On the way to the terminal, a thief had snatched5 one of her hags. It had contained half of the money she’d brought with her. The other half was rolled in a hankie and hidden under her blouse, so she fortunately still had some money left.The bus conductor, driver, and other passengers listened to her tale. After a few minutes, she stopped crying, removed some cheese bread from her bag, and began to eat, worry still knitting her brow.An old man in tattered6 clothes got on the bus. He sat in the seat directly in front of the woman.After a few minutes, all seats were taken. The driver got behind the wheel and started the engine. The bus conductor collected tickets and began asking us where we were getting off. When he came to the old man’s seat, he became suspicious and asked the old man whether he had any money. The old man admitted that he did not. He explained that he had spent all his money this morning when he’d accidentally got on the wrong bus and now he was trying to go home.Upon hearing this, the bus conductor ordered the old man to get off the bus. The old man didn’t budge. He was almost in tears as he begged the bus conductor to let him take that bus so he could get home before dark. The bus driver, who had been listening to exchange, stood up, approached the old man, and repeated the conductor’s command to get off the bus.The woman seated behind the old man was also listening and observing the incident. When the bus driver and conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered. “Stop harassing7 him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver shouted.“Well, that’s no reason to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.Then she said, “How much is his fare?”The bus conductor mumbled8 the amount.“Fine,” said the woman. She reached inside her blouse, took out her remaining money, and handed the fares to the bus conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a hard time.”All eyes turned to the woman, who, just minutes before, had been crying over the money she’d lost.“It’s only money,” she shrugged.By the time the bus rolled out of the terminal, she had given the old man bread and a dollar. She rode the rest of the way home wearing a Mona Lisa smile of peace and grace, and the money she’d lost earlier was forgotten.On the road of life, the chivalry9 and smiles of strangers can lighten our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the journey when we make it a little smoother and richer for others!

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A Deep Compassion for Children

2008-09-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

As I get older, finding ways to help others is more and more what it’s all about for me. After I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 20 years old, Barbara Davis, the wife of the late studio executive Marvin Davis, took me under her wing. The Davises founded the Carousel of Hope benefit for childhood diabetes, and I was blown away by all the people who were not sufferers of diabetes, but were giving help to people like me. I saw how research was advancing because of the dollars those people gave to discover a cure. And I was directly benefiting. It was an eye-opening experience. So I’ve chosen a few causes where I feel like my presence makes a difference. About five years ago, I got involved with the Jenesse Center. It’s an organization that has many shelters now, but it started off very small. The group house women who are victims of domestic violence, and they usually have their children in tow. We try to help them get back on their feet, out into the workplace and able to take care of themselves. We also help get the kids cleaned up, give them new clothes. I remember this one little girl came in, and I fell in love with her and held her all day long. I came home that night and was itching5 and scratching6. The next morning, I woke up with head lice I’d gotten from this little baby. Some of the women and children who come in are really in need. My father was an alcoholic who was very abusive7 to both my mother and my sister. He was never abusive to me — probably because my mother and sister both were very rebellious and combative, whereas I would run and hide, not talk back. I’ve since become a different person. My mother got my sister and me to help when we were kids, and I have had a lot of therapy8 that many of these women never had, so I try to impart9 things that I’ve been lucky enough to learn. My mother taught my sister and me that if a man ever raised his hand to hit you, the last thing he saw was the smoke off your shoes ’cause you were going out the door. You don’t stick around to be beaten. Still, a lot of these women go back to their men, and it may take several times before they really figure out a new life. Part of our work is to convince them that they need to make other choices. We also remind them that their children are watching all of this. I’ve begun searching my soul — asking what is my real purpose here? I’ve looked at what I do. I make believe and make movies; I entertain people and get paid to do it. Sometimes it seems like such a shallow existence. How insignificant10 is that really in the scheme of life? But when I can take that and use it to do real good in the world, I get it: This is one of the things I’m supposed to do with the abundance I’ve been given. I believe in karma11, and it gives me peace knowing that I’m giving back, because I’ve been given so much in this life. “To whom much is given, much is expected.” I know I’m only one person and might just help one or two people on a monthly basis. But if everyone did that, eventually everybody would be taken care of.

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I Can Fly with My Belief

2008-09-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have a friend Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch1 in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant2 horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. ”“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of owning a horse ranch someday. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch. ”“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to the teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front was a large red F with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’ ” “The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive an F?’” “The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic3 dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud4 fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’ ”“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ ” “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.’” Monty then turned to the assembled5 group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption6 not to give up on yours.’” Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.

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Care for Your Dream

2008-09-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

My dream ended when I was born. Although I never knew it then, I just held on to something that would never come to pass. Dreams really do exist. But in the morning when you wake up, they are remembered just as a dream. That is what happened to me.I always had the dream to dance like a beautiful ballerina twirling around and around and hearing people applaud for me. When I was young, I would twirl around and around in the fields of wildflowers that grew in my backyard. I thought that if I twirled faster everything would disappear and I would wake up in a new place. Reality woke me up when I heard a voice saying, "I don't know why you bother trying to dance. Ballerinas are pretty, slender little girls. Besides, you don't have the talent to even be a ballerina." I remember how those words paralyzed every feeling in my body. I fell to the ground and wept for hours. We lived in the country by a nearby lake. I did not like to be at home. When my parents were home, my mother just yelled and criticized because nothing was ever perfect in her life. She dreamed of a different life but she ended up living in the country far away from the city where she believed her dreams would have come true.I enjoyed hanging out by the water. I would sit there for hours and stare at my reflection. There I was, looking nothing like a pretty ballerina dancer. Reflections don't lie. Once the waves would come, my reflection was gone. Washed away just like my dream to dance.As I grew older, I began to realize that the reason my dream was even born, was because it was something that was inside of me. The dream I had was never nurtured and cared for, so it slowly died. It's not that I wanted it to die, but I allowed it to die the day I started listening to the words, "You can't do it." When I finally woke up from many years of dreaming, I realized that you can't settle for dancing in the wildflowers, you have to move on to the platform.

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Evolution of sleep

2008-09-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Sleep is very ancient. In the electroencephalographic sense we share it with all the primates and almost all the other mammals and birds: it may extend back as far as the reptiles.
There is some evidence that the two types of sleep, dreaming and dreamless, depend on the life-style of the animal, and that predators are statistically much more likely to dream than prey, which are in turn much more likely to experience dreamless sleep. In dream sleep, the animal is powerfully immobilized and remarkably unresponsive to external stimuli. Dreamless sleep is much shallower, and we have all witnessed cats or dogs cocking their ears to a sound when apparently fast asleep. The fact that deep dream sleep is rare among pray today seems clearly to be a product of natural selection, and it makes sense that today, when sleep is highly evolved, the stupid animals are less frequently immobilized by deep sleep than the smart ones. But why should they sleep deeply at all? Why should a state of such deep immobilization ever have evolved?
Perhaps one useful hint about the original function of sleep is to be found in the fact that dolphins and whales and aquatic mammals in genera seem to sleep very little. There is, by and large, no place to hide in the ocean. Could it be that, rather than increasing an animal's vulnerability, the University of Florida and Ray Meddis of London University have suggested this to be the case. It is conceivable that animals who are too stupid to be quite on their own initiative are, during periods of high risk, immobilized by the implacable arm of sleep. The point seems particularly clear for the young of predatory animals. This is an interesting notion and probably at least partly true.
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the war between Britain and France

2008-09-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

In the late eighteenth century, battles raged in almost every corner of Europe, as well as in the Middle East, south Africa ,the West Indies, and Latin America. In reality, however, there was only one major war during this time, the war between Britain and France. All other battles were ancillary to this larger conflict, and were often at least partially related to its antagonist' goals and strategies. France sought total domination of Europe . this goal was obstructed by British independence and Britain's efforts throughout the continent to thwart Napoleon; through treaties. Britain built coalitions (not dissimilar in concept to today's NATO) guaranteeing British participation in all major European conflicts. These two antagonists were poorly matched, insofar as they had very unequal strengths; France was predominant on land, Britain at sea. The French knew that, short of defeating the British navy, their only hope of victory was to close all the ports of Europe to British ships. Accordingly, France set out to overcome Britain by extending its military domination from Moscow t Lisbon, from Jutland to Calabria. All of this entailed tremendous risk, because France did not have the military resources to control this much territory and still protect itself and maintain order at home.
French strategists calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the force necessary to defeat the British navy. Such a force would give France a three-to-two advantage over Britain. This advantage was deemed necessary because of Britain's superior sea skills and technology because of Britain's superior sea skills and technology, and also because Britain would be fighting a defensive war, allowing it to win with fewer forces. Napoleon never lost substantial impediment to his control of Europe. As his force neared that goal, Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and began planning an immediate attack.
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The Nobel Academy

2008-09-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

For the last 82years, Sweden's Nobel Academy has decided who will receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, thereby determining who will be elevated from the great and the near great to the immortal. But today the Academy is coming under heavy criticism both from the without and from within. Critics contend that the selection of the winners often has less to do with true writing ability than with the peculiar internal politics of the Academy and of Sweden itself. According to Ingmar Bjorksten , the cultural editor for one of the country's two major newspapers, the prize continues to represent "what people call a very Swedish exercise: reflecting Swedish tastes."
The Academy has defended itself against such charges of provincialism in its selection by asserting that its physical distance from the great literary capitals of the world actually serves to protect the Academy from outside influences. This may well be true, but critics respond that this very distance may also be responsible for the Academy's inability to perceive accurately authentic trends in the literary world.
Regardless of concerns over the selection process, however, it seems that the prize will continue to survive both as an indicator of the literature that we most highly praise, and as an elusive goal that writers seek. If for no other reason, the prize will continue to be desirable for the financial rewards that accompany it; not only is the cash prize itself considerable, but it also dramatically increases sales of an author's books.
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A Rare Fossil Record

2008-09-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

The preservation of embryos and juveniles is a rate occurrence in the fossil record. The tiny, delicate skeletons are usually scattered by scavengers or destroyed by weathering before they can be fossilized. Ichthyosaurs had a higher chance of being preserved than did terrestrial creatures because, as marine animals, they tended to live in environments less subject to erosion. Still, their fossilization required a suite of factors: a slow rate of decay of soft tissues, little scavenging by other animals, a lack of swift currents and waves to jumble and carry away small bones, and fairly rapid burial. Given these factors, some areas have become a treasury of well-preserved ichthyosaur fossils.
The deposits at Holzmaden, Germany, present an interesting case for analysis. The ichthyosaur remains are found in black, bituminous marine shales deposited about 190 million years ago. Over the years, thousands of specimens of marine reptiles, fish and invertebrates have been recovered from these rocks. The quality of preservation is outstanding, but what is even more impressive is the number of ichthyosaur fossils containing preserved embryos. Ichthyosaurs with embryos have been reported from 6 different levels of the shale in a small area around Holzmaden, suggesting that a specific site was used by large numbers of ichthyosaurs repeatedly over time. The embryos are quite advanced in their physical development; their paddles, for example, are already well formed. One specimen is even preserved in the birth canal. In addition, the shale contains the remains of many newborns that are between 20 and 30 inches long.
Why are there so many pregnant females and young at Holzmaden when they are so rare elsewhere? The quality of preservation is almost unmatched and quarry operations have been carried out carefully with an awareness of the value of the fossils. But these factors do not account for the interesting question of how there came to be such a concentration of pregnant ichthyosaurs in a particular place very close to their time of giving birth.
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Skyscrapers and Environment

2008-09-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

In the late 1960's, many people in North America turned their attention to environmental problems, and new steel-and-glass skyscrapers were widely criticized. Ecologists pointed out that a cluster of tall buildings in a city often overburdens public transportation and parking lot capacities.
Skyscrapers are also lavish consumers, and wasters, of electric power. In one recent year, the addition of 17 million square feet of skyscraper office space in New York City raised the peak daily demand for electricity by 120, 000 kilowatts-enough to supply the entire city of Albany, New York, for a day.
Glass-walled skyscrapers can be especially wasteful. The heat loss (or gain)through a wall of half-inch plate glass is more than ten times that through a typical masonry wall filled with insulation board. To lessen the strain on heating and air-conditioning equipment, builders of skyscrapers have begun to use double-glazed panels of glass, and reflective glasses coated with silver or gold mirror films that reduce glare as well as heat gain. However, mirror-walled skyscrapers raise the temperature of the surrounding air and affect neighboring buildings.
Skyscrapers put a severe strain on a city's sanitation facilities, too. If fully occupied, the two World Trade Center towers in New York City would alone generate 2.25 million gallons of raw sewage each year-as much as a city the size of Stanford, Connecticut , which has a population of more than 109, 000.
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the first chapter of a book

2008-09-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

“We are reading the first verse of the first chapter of a book whose pages are infinite...”
I do not know who wrote those words, but I have always liked them as a reminder that the future can be anything we want to make it. We can take the mysterious,hazy future and carve out of it anything that we can imagine, just as a sculptor carves a statue from a shapeless stone.
We are all in the position of the farmer. If we plant a good seed, we reap a good harvest. If our seed is poor and full of weeds, we reap a useless crop. If we plant nothing at all, we harvest nothing at all.
I want the future to be better than the past. I don’t want it contaminated by the mistakes and errors with which history is filled. We should all be concerned about the future because that is where we will spend the remainder of our lives.
The past is gone and static. Nothing we can do will change it. The future is before us and dynamic. Everything we do will affect it. Each day brings with it new frontiers, in our homes and in our business, if we only recognize them. We are just at the beginning of the progress in every field of human endeavor.
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The 4 Wives

2008-09-22T20:25:00.001-07:00

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.
　　He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
　　He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
　　Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
　　One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”
　　Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
　　The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.
　　He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
　　Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!”
　　Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
　　The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.
　　Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
　　The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
　　The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
　　Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.

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Love is More Thicker than Forget

2008-09-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

Love is More Thicker than Forget
Love is more thicker than forgetMore thinner than recallMore seldom than a wave is wetMore frequent than to fail
It is most mad and moonlyAnd less it shall unbeThan all the sea which onlyIs deeper than the sea
Love is less always than to winLess never than aliveLess bigger than the least beginLess littler than forgive
It is most sane and sunlyAnd more it cannot dieThan all the sky which onlyIs higher than the sky

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Tell Someone You Love Within: You Love Them

2008-09-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

In a class I teach for adults, I recently did the “unpardonable.” I gave the class homework! The assignment was to “go to someone you love within the next week and tell them you love them.It has to be someone you have never said those words to before or at least haven't shared those words with for a long time.” Now that doesn't sound like a very tough assignment, until you stop to realize that most of the men were over 35 and were raised in the generation of men that were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho.”Showing feelings or crying (heaven forbid!) was just not done.So this was a very threatening assignment for some.
　　At the beginning of our next class,I asked if someone wanted to share what happened when they told someone they loved them.I fully expected one of the women to volunteer, as was usually the case,but on this evening one of the men raised his hand.He appeared quite moved and a bit shaken. As he unfolded out of his chair(all 6 2" of him),he began by saying, "Dennis, I was quite angry with you last week when you gave us this assignment.I didn't feel that I had anyone to say those words to, and besides,　who were you to tell me to do something that personal? But as I began driving home my conscience started talking to me.It was telling me that I knew exactly who I needed to say I love you to."
　　"You see, five years ago, my father and I had a vicious disagreement and really never resolved it since that time.We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely had to at Christmas or other family gatherings.But even then, we hardly spoke to each other. So last Tuesday by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him.It’s weird, but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest.''
　　''When I got home, I rushed into the house to tell my wife what I was going to do. She was already in bed, but I woke her up anyway. When I told her, she didn’t just get out of bed, she catapulted out and hugged me, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry. We stayed up half the night drinking coffee and talking. It was great!"
　　“The next morning I was up bright and early. I was so excited I could hardly sleep. I got to the office early and accomplished more in two hours than I had the whole day before."
　　“At 9:00 I called my dad to see if could come over after work. When he answered the phone, I just said, ‘Dad, can I come over after work tonight? I have something to tell you.’ My dad responded with a grumpy, ‘Now what?’ I assured him it wouldn’t take long, so he finally agreed.
　　“At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, praying that Dad would answer the door. I was afraid if Mom answered that I would chicken out and tell her instead. But as luck would have it, Dad did answer the door."
　　“I didn’t waste any time – I took one step in the door and said, ‘Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.’
　　“It was as if a transformation came over my dad. Before my eyes his face softened, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he began to cry. He reached out and hugged me and said, ‘I love you too, son, but I’ve never been able to say it.’
　　“It was such a precious moment I didn’t want to move. Mom walked by with tears in her eyes. I just waved and blew her a kiss. Dad and I hugged for a moment longer and then I left. I hadn’t felt that great in a long time.
　　“But that’s not even my point. Two days after that visit, my dad, who had heart problems, but didn’t tell me, had an attack and ended up in the hospital, unconscious. I don’t know if he'll make it.
　　“So my message to all of you in this is: Don’t wait to do the things you know need to be done. What if I had waited to tell my dad – maybe I will never get the chance again! Take the time to do what you need to do and do it now!”
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Care for Your Dream

2008-09-22T20:21:00.000-07:00

My dream ended when I was born. Although I never knew it then, I just held on to something that would never come to pass. Dreams really do exist. But in the morning when you wake up, they are remembered just as a dream. That is what happened to me.
I always had the dream to dance like a beautiful ballerina twirling around and around and hearing people applaud for me. When I was young, I would twirl around and around in the fields of wildflowers that grew in my backyard.
I thought that if I twirled faster everything would disappear and I would wake up in a new place. Reality woke me up when I heard a voice saying, "I don't know why you bother trying to dance. Ballerinas are pretty, slender little girls. Besides, you don't have the talent to even be a ballerina." I remember how those words paralyzed every feeling in my body. I fell to the ground and wept for hours.
We lived in the country by a nearby lake. I did not like to be at home. When my parents were home, my mother just yelled and criticized because nothing was ever perfect in her life. She dreamed of a different life but she ended up living in the country far away from the city where she believed her dreams would have come true.
I enjoyed hanging out by the water. I would sit there for hours and stare at my reflection. There I was, looking nothing like a pretty ballerina dancer. Reflections don't lie. Once the waves would come, my reflection was gone. Washed away just like my dream to dance.
As I grew older, I began to realize that the reason my dream was even born, was because it was something that was inside of me. The dream I had was never nurtured and cared for, so it slowly died. It's not that I wanted it to die, but I allowed it to die the day I started listening to the words, "You can't do it." When I finally woke up from many years of dreaming, I realized that you can't settle for dancing in the wildflowers, you have to move on to the platform.
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How to Find Time for Yourself

2008-09-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Do you ever find yourself longing for some time for yourself? Many of us are so busy with work, school, and Home life that often there is no time left over to do something that you enjoy. What follows are some ways to carve out that essential time you need to slow down, enjoy life, and rejuvenate yourself.
Scheduling Time with Yourself
1. Evenings with Yourself. Try to save certain weeknights just for you. If others ask you to do things those nights, just tell them you have plans. Use the time for gardening, reading, exercise, thinking, or the ultimate luxury of doing nothing!
2. Monthly Treat. Schedule a treat for yourself once a month. It could be on your lunch break, a weekend, or it could be leaving work early. Maybe you get a spa treatment, go see a movie, a haircut, play golf, or whatever treat you’re always thinking about but rarely get to. Schedule it in and it will happen!
3. Buy Tickets in Advance. sports, theater, concerts, or any other event you would enjoy. Schedule the plans with a friend later. Having the tickets already in hand will force you to make it happen!
4. Leave Work on Time. Huh? Yes, many of us stay at work late on a regular basis. If this is you, make it a point to leave work exactly on time at least once a week, if not more. And then enjoy that time! Leave work at work.
5. Join a Group. Here are some ideas of groups that can allow you some time away from work and Home: singing group, gardening group, astronomy society, book club, quilting (or any other craft) circle, biking/walking/running/etc clubs, ski club, etc. What are you interested in? Strike while the iron is hot. Look up a club in your area today and join! If you can’t find a club, consider starting one yourself!
6. Take an Adult Education Class. Take a fun class. If accounting is fun for you, then go ahead. If not, then think about some of these ideas: foreign language, photography, art, creative writing, or sports (kayaking, archery, golf, yoga). Belly-dancing anyone?
7. Exercise. For busy people it can be difficult to make time for this. But, you know what? You can do it!! All you have to do is decide today and then make it a reality tomorrow. A new habit is started with just one step. Take that first step tomorrow. Walk for 20 minutes in the morning. And then build on that success daily. Vary how you spend that time. On some days use the time for thinking and daydreaming. Other days listen to motivational audio and on days you want a real boost, listen to your favorite music! Here are a couple travel audio books you could borrow from your local library that will take you on a journey to a foreign land while you are walking or jogging: “Holy Cow:An Indian Adventure” by Sarah MacDonald or “The Places in Between” by Rory Stewart. If you’ve been exercising for a while and you usually listen to music, try go without any input for a change. Instead, let your mind wander and expand.
On the Go
1. Commute Via Public Transportation. If you can, ditch your car, and let someone else do the driving. Use that time to plan your day, do some reading, writing, creative thinking, or even meditation.
2. Driving in Your Car. Make the most of this time. Vary how you spend that time. If you always listen to music, perhaps also try: educational radio (NPR), positive audio tapes (suggestion: “Follow Your Heart” by Andrew Matthews) or even totally quiet time. Use that quiet time for brain storming. Either think in your head or even talk your ideas out loud. Bring a voice recorder. You could write a book via voice recorder over time.
3. Waiting in the Car. If you find that you have a certain amount of “waiting time” in your life, change how you perceive it. Instead of “waiting time” you can instantly change it into “me time” by bringing along reading, writing, or entertainment items. Or if you find yourself waiting and you don’t have any of these things use the time for creative thinking about your life or try some meditation.
Synergy
1. 2 Birds, One Stone. Look for ideas where you can fit in time for you within things you need to do already or that will have multiple benefits. See the ideas below to give you an idea.
2. Walk to Work. This is a a great one because you’re accomplishing many things at once. You’re getting exercise, you have time to think or enjoy music/audio, and you’re helping to save the environment.
3. Arrive Early. Any appointment that you have, plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early. Then use this time for you: reading, writing, meditation, relaxation, thinking, whatever.
4. Volunteering. There are so many benefits with this. You make a difference for others, you escape work and personal worries, and you grow as a person. If you could help one organization or group, which would it be? OK, now go ahead and Google them and find out how you can help - even if it’s just once a year.
5. Side Job. Find a side job at which you can make money, but that will also allow you to do something you love. Some ideas: coaching, teaching a class (art, writing, sport, hobby, anything else you know well), or training others (what special skills do you have that you could share with others? singing, windsurfing, math?)
6. Lunch Alone. Try sneaking away for a quiet lunch alone on a park bench or even in your car. Enjoy some quiet time with no one to talk to and no audio inputs.
Time Away from Kids
1. Organize “Mom’s Morning Out” Circle. If you have a friend or group of friends, you could arrange to share babysitting services a few times a month so that others in the group get some time alone.
2. Babysitters. Make a plan to have a babysitter that you trust watch your children once a month or once a week so that you can get some time for yourself. The key here is to take action and make it happen. If you want more time for yourself, you can get it. Just don’t be afraid to ask.
3. Gym with Babysitting Service. Find a gym that offers childcare so that you can take a yoga class, do some strength training, or even work with a personal trainer. Make sure you fully research the safety of their childcare program first though. Get some references.

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Relish the moment(www.chinesepal.cn)

2008-09-21T23:57:00.002-07:00

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls. 　 But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes for loitering –waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
”When we reach the station, that will be it! “we cry. “When I’m 18. “”When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz! “”When I put the last kid through college. “”When I have paid off the mortgage!”"When I get a promotion.”"When I reach the age of retirement, I shall live happily ever after! ” 　 Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
“Relish the moment “is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118：24：”This is the day which the Lord hath made；we will rejoice and be glad in it. “It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today. So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. In stead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

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Chinese language

2008-09-21T23:57:00.001-07:00

Chinese language, Hanyu, which is used by the biggest population, is the only official language in china and also is one of the five official languages in UN. More and more people all over the world are learning Chinese now as the development of Chinese economy and the Chinese-promotion of Chinese government.
Hanyu belongs to Sino-Tibetan and is a language with tones. Hanyu took pinyin which is based on the Roman letters as the phonetic symbol. There are 26 pinyin letters in pinyin phonetic system. These 26 pinyin letters compose 21 initials and 38 finals. Generally speaking, a Hanyu pinyin syllable is composed by a initial, a final and a tone or a final with a tone only. There are four tones in pinyin: flat, up, curve and down. The typical pinyin syllable is composed by a initial, a final and a tone.
The writing system of Hanyu is characters. Chinese character is a kind of phono-ideo-graphic language which means it is phonographic and ideographic both. Chinese characters are all in block shape and take the same area on the paper. The basic unit of Chinese character is stroke. The strokes make up of the radicals. Each Chinese character can be considered as on or some radicals. There is a certain order to write strokes and radicals in a Chinese character. So from stroke to radical to character is the traditional and effective order to learn Chinese characters.
The most important feature of Hanyu grammar is that there are not form changes. The nouns words do not have case, gender and number changes. The verb words do not change according to the person or tense. Another feature is omitting. The inessential parts can be omitted which will not influence the communication.
Hanyu is a venerable and charming language. Hanyu is also a perfect media language to know more about the developing China and wonderful Chinese culture. Learning Chinese, learning Chinese well, can help you directly and effectively to cooperate with Chinese business persons and to do all kinds of researches in China.

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Chinese characters

2008-09-21T23:56:00.000-07:00

A Chinese character, Han character or Hanzi is a logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi), Japanese (kanji), less frequently Korean (hanja), and formerly Vietnamese.
The number of Chinese characters contained in the Kangxi dictionary is approximately 47,035, although a large number of these are rarely used variants accumulated throughout history. Studies carried out in China have shown that full literacy in the Chinese language requires a knowledge of only between three and four thousand characters.
In the Chinese writing system, each character corresponds to a single spoken syllable. A majority of words in all modern varieties of Chinese are poly-syllabic and thus require two or more characters to write. Cognates in the various Chinese languages/dialects which have the same or similar meaning but different pronunciations can be written with the same character. In addition, many Chinese characters were adopted according to their meaning by the Japanese and Korean languages to represent native words, disregarding pronunciation altogether. Chinese characters are also considered to be the world’s longest continuously used writing system.
Chinese characters are also known as sinographs, and the Chinese writing system as sinography. Non-Chinese languages which have adopted sinography—and, with the orthography, a large number of loanwords from the Chinese language—are known as Sinoxenic languages, whether or not they still use the characters. The term does not imply any genetic affiliation with Chinese. The major Sinoxenic languages are Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

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Learn chinese

2008-09-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

We specialize in offering One-on-One online Chinese training programs via Skype, MSN, Yahoo Messenger, or B-meeting (an online meeting system developed by us),etc. This special teaching method helps people who are unable to study in China benefit from all the advantages of learning from qualified, native teacher. We help them achieve their Chinese language goals in an easy and cost-effective manner.Contact information Skype:chineseonline_chinaMSN:chinese-service@hotmail.comB-meeting:chineseonline_chinaYahoo:chineseonline_chinaGoogle Talk:chineseonline_chinaService Centre:+86-10-88508901E-mail: chineseonlinecc@163.com

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Chinese Online

2008-09-21T23:53:00.000-07:00

Chinese-online (http://www.chineseonline.cc) belongs to Hong Kong Big Dipper Chinese International Institute。 Chineseonline carries out the language training of Chinese, English and other languages, and it is characterized as the Natural Approach and language partner. Not only the learners can make appointments for training and tutoring 24-hour, but also the Chinese, English educational institutions can collaborate with it in teaching assistance, training and other field.The Chinese international institute is based in Hong Kong. At the present time, it mainly conduct the on-line teaching for English-speakers, Japanese-speakers, and Korean-speakers to study and train multi-language, and it had established many cooperation relationship and branches in North America, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe.
The Chinese International Institute pays great attention to R＆D which promotes the teaching. At present, the R＆D is focused in teacher training, teaching material design, curriculum design, teaching technology. The R＆D center/branches are going to be established in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shenyang, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which will conduct research on the development of teaching materials and teaching methods with Peking University, Tsinghua University, People’s University of China, Beijing Normal University, Beijing Language and Cultural University, Nankai University, Wuhan university, etc. The institute possesses a teaching system, a teaching material system and an education ideology system with distinct characteristic, and it swallow the merits of effective language education mode and the teaching thoughts from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other countries. It adapts the teaching materials of mainstream and high level.
The teachers mainly come from the universities having advantages in education, Chinese and other language teaching, such as Beijing Normal University, Peking University, People’s University of China, Tsinghua University, Nankai University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Jiao Tong University, Wuhan university, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing Foreign Languages University, Guangdong Foreign Languages University, etc. At the same time, the institute possesses a group of VIP teachers including announcers, special-class teachers, senior translators, and linguists, who can provide the high-level service for learners and training organizations.

The institute is characterized as “exchange mother tongue and study interactively”. The learners and the training organizations can obtain a large number of language partners free of charge so that they can study Chinese as a native language. For instance, a Chinese language learner of English-speaker can provide the English training to the partner whose mother tongue is Chinese, therefore, s/he can study and exercise Chinese. Another characteristic of the institute is “make friends international and interact worldwide”. Once registered, the membership will be permanent. When the member travel to other city, region, or country, s/he can get the preferential treatment from local branch, and the branch is obligated to provide the service and encourage the members to care about and help each other.

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