I found this wonderful web page "A Spoonful of Russian" to learn conversational Russian. You can subscribe the lessons from ITUNE's podcast for free. Happy learning!
http://speakrussian.blogspot.com/
or
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/ASpoonfulOfRussian
Friday, July 28, 2006
自由心證 - 王文華
An article emailed to me from my mother: 自由心證 by 王文華
我很喜歡「自由心證」這四個字，因為它代表著對個人無比的尊重和信任。
對於陌生的事物，懷疑和否定是人的天性。
但要能尊重和信任，就需要高度文明。
在法國超市買蔬果，挑完後自己拿到秤上。
秤上有各項蔬果的照片，你按其中一個鈕，
然後把東西放上去。秤會自動印出一張價錢標籤，你貼在塑膠袋上。
結帳時小姐掃瞄價錢標籤，不管裡面是什麼東西。
法國超市自秤重量
聰明如我們，已經想出了多種偷機的方法，但法國人不介意。
他們假設大部分人是誠實的，少數人做怪，是讓大多數人方便的必要代價。
上巴黎的公車，沒人跟你收票，你自己要到車上的「認證機」去刷票。
你若不刷，司機或其他乘客也不會管你。
但我看人來人往，就是很少人這樣厚臉皮。
巴黎公車的認證機
我在史丹佛念書時，考試時沒人監考，考完後沒人收卷。
鈴聲一響，你應該自己站起來，把考卷丟進教室外的教授信箱。
史丹佛交考卷的信箱
西方司法的基礎是「假設無辜」，意思是除非有足夠的證據證明某人有罪，他都是 無辜的。
在台灣我們教小朋友不要跟陌生人講話，意思是除非某人能證明他是好人，他就是壞人。
無奈，卻必要。不必怨天尤人，只求先盡本份。
練習自由心證，可以從分類廚餘做起。
雖然政府有規定，但你真的把廚餘和垃圾混在一起，也不容易被抓到。但「被抓 到」是做人的最低標準。
如果希望有一天能得到陌生人的尊重和信任，也許從今天開始，先做一個高標準的 人。
2.給自己一點時間
不同的人生階段，用不同的杯子。
在美國念書時，是個窮學生。午餐只吃沙拉，連飲料錢都省下。
拿個紙杯，到飲水機裝滿水。清水透明見底，就像帳戶裡的積蓄。
讀書時的紙杯
畢業後開銷增加，省錢壓力更大。
每天五點半起床，花半小時做早餐。
柳澄汁是基本配備，而且一定要用透明的玻璃杯。
手握著厚實的玻璃，牙齒咬著杯緣，鼻子聞著新鮮到冒出泡沫的果汁，一時之間雄心大志， 彷彿太陽在我杯中，我可以一口吞噬。
剛畢業時的玻璃杯
做了幾年事，手頭漸漸寬裕。起床時間變晚，開始到外面吃早餐。
我坐著商務艙去巴黎，入境後有司機幫我提行李。住進五星級飯店，小費是我以前一天的零用錢。
我走進「Paul」咖啡廳，早餐的紅茶裝在精美而沉重的茶具中。
拿起茶壺，好像有責任追究典故。拿起茶杯，隨時要保持坐姿優美。
我進入了上流社會，卻忘記了我是誰。
巴黎「Paul」咖啡廳的精緻茶具
做了十多年的事，我再度回到巴黎。
此時我什麼都不是，只剩下自己。
我沒有再去吃十幾塊歐元的早餐，只在街角小店點了杯五毛錢的咖啡。
我又回到紙杯的年代，坐在落地窗前，對著窗外走過的行人發呆。
我拿起紙杯，看見上面一句比咖啡更燙、更濃的話：「Take Time for Yourself」 (「給自己一點時間」)
「給自己一點時間」紙杯
突然間，我清醒過來。
我繞了這麼多圈圈，最後還是回到原點。
忙碌這麼多年，最後才體會到：生活最大的樂趣，是給自己留些餘地。
人生最大的財富～【是給自己一點時間】。
我很喜歡「自由心證」這四個字，因為它代表著對個人無比的尊重和信任。
對於陌生的事物，懷疑和否定是人的天性。
但要能尊重和信任，就需要高度文明。
在法國超市買蔬果，挑完後自己拿到秤上。
秤上有各項蔬果的照片，你按其中一個鈕，
然後把東西放上去。秤會自動印出一張價錢標籤，你貼在塑膠袋上。
結帳時小姐掃瞄價錢標籤，不管裡面是什麼東西。
法國超市自秤重量
聰明如我們，已經想出了多種偷機的方法，但法國人不介意。
他們假設大部分人是誠實的，少數人做怪，是讓大多數人方便的必要代價。
上巴黎的公車，沒人跟你收票，你自己要到車上的「認證機」去刷票。
你若不刷，司機或其他乘客也不會管你。
但我看人來人往，就是很少人這樣厚臉皮。
巴黎公車的認證機
我在史丹佛念書時，考試時沒人監考，考完後沒人收卷。
鈴聲一響，你應該自己站起來，把考卷丟進教室外的教授信箱。
史丹佛交考卷的信箱
西方司法的基礎是「假設無辜」，意思是除非有足夠的證據證明某人有罪，他都是 無辜的。
在台灣我們教小朋友不要跟陌生人講話，意思是除非某人能證明他是好人，他就是壞人。
無奈，卻必要。不必怨天尤人，只求先盡本份。
練習自由心證，可以從分類廚餘做起。
雖然政府有規定，但你真的把廚餘和垃圾混在一起，也不容易被抓到。但「被抓 到」是做人的最低標準。
如果希望有一天能得到陌生人的尊重和信任，也許從今天開始，先做一個高標準的 人。
2.給自己一點時間
不同的人生階段，用不同的杯子。
在美國念書時，是個窮學生。午餐只吃沙拉，連飲料錢都省下。
拿個紙杯，到飲水機裝滿水。清水透明見底，就像帳戶裡的積蓄。
讀書時的紙杯
畢業後開銷增加，省錢壓力更大。
每天五點半起床，花半小時做早餐。
柳澄汁是基本配備，而且一定要用透明的玻璃杯。
手握著厚實的玻璃，牙齒咬著杯緣，鼻子聞著新鮮到冒出泡沫的果汁，一時之間雄心大志， 彷彿太陽在我杯中，我可以一口吞噬。
剛畢業時的玻璃杯
做了幾年事，手頭漸漸寬裕。起床時間變晚，開始到外面吃早餐。
我坐著商務艙去巴黎，入境後有司機幫我提行李。住進五星級飯店，小費是我以前一天的零用錢。
我走進「Paul」咖啡廳，早餐的紅茶裝在精美而沉重的茶具中。
拿起茶壺，好像有責任追究典故。拿起茶杯，隨時要保持坐姿優美。
我進入了上流社會，卻忘記了我是誰。
巴黎「Paul」咖啡廳的精緻茶具
做了十多年的事，我再度回到巴黎。
此時我什麼都不是，只剩下自己。
我沒有再去吃十幾塊歐元的早餐，只在街角小店點了杯五毛錢的咖啡。
我又回到紙杯的年代，坐在落地窗前，對著窗外走過的行人發呆。
我拿起紙杯，看見上面一句比咖啡更燙、更濃的話：「Take Time for Yourself」 (「給自己一點時間」)
「給自己一點時間」紙杯
突然間，我清醒過來。
我繞了這麼多圈圈，最後還是回到原點。
忙碌這麼多年，最後才體會到：生活最大的樂趣，是給自己留些餘地。
人生最大的財富～【是給自己一點時間】。
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Hopkins Scientists Use embryonic Stem Cells, New Cues to Awaken Latent Motor Nerve Repair
Great News! Read more by going to http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/06_20_06.html
"In a dramatic display of stem cells’ potential for healing, a team of Johns Hopkins scientists reports that they’ve engineered new, completed, fully-working motor neuron circuits -- neurons stretching from spinal cord to target muscles -- in paralyzed adult animals."
"In a dramatic display of stem cells’ potential for healing, a team of Johns Hopkins scientists reports that they’ve engineered new, completed, fully-working motor neuron circuits -- neurons stretching from spinal cord to target muscles -- in paralyzed adult animals."
Thinking Out Loud by William R. Brody - East Meets West - From The JHU Gazette July 10, 2006 Vol.35 No. 39
Thinking Out Loud by William R. Brody - East Meets West - From The JHU Gazette July 10, 2006 Vol.35 No. 39
http://www.jhu.edu/gazette/2006/10jul06/10brody.html
http://www.jhu.edu/gazette/2006/10jul06/10brody.html
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Mozart Effect ...
A friend emailed this a while ago. Funny!
A new report now suggests that the Mozart effect may be a fraud. For you hip urban professionals: no, playing Mozart for your designer baby may not improve his IQ or help him get into that exclusive pre-school. He'll just have to be admitted to Harvard some other way. Of course, we're all better off for listening to Mozart purely for the pleasure of it. However, one wonders that if playing Mozart sonatas for little Hillary or Jason could boost their intelligence, what would happen if other composers were played in their developmental time?
LISZT EFFECT: Child speaks rapidly and extravagantly, but never really says anything important.
BRUCKNER EFFECT: Child speaks very slowly and repeats himself frequently. Gains reputation for profundity.
WAGNER EFFECT: Child becomes a megalomaniac. May eventually marry his sister.
MAHLER EFFECT: Child continually screams - at great length and volume - that he's dying.
SCHOENBERG EFFECT: Child never repeats a word until he's used all the other words in his vocabulary. Sometimes talks backwards. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child blames them for their inability to understand him.
BABBITT EFFECT: Child gibbers nonsense all the time. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child doesn't care because all his playmates think he's cool.
IVES EFFECT: Child develops a remarkable ability to carry on several separate conversations at once.
GLASS EFFECT: Child tends to repeat himself over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
STRAVINSKY EFFECT: Child is prone to savage, guttural and profane outbursts that often lead to fighting and pandemonium in the preschool.
BRAHMS EFFECT: Child is able to speak beautifully as long as his sentences contain a multiple of three words (3, 6, 9, 12, etc). However, his sentences containing 4 or 8 words are strangely uninspired.
MILES (Davis) EFFECT: Child speaks with few words, yet says a lot, however he may be irrational, violent, flush money down the toilet and his back is turned to you when he speaks.
BEATLES EFFECT: Child has people screaming and fainting every time they speak and if you record him/her and play it backwards you get a message that Paul McCartney is really dead.
CAGE EFFECT: Child says nothing for 4 minutes, 33 seconds. Preferred by 9 out of 10 classroom teachers.
A new report now suggests that the Mozart effect may be a fraud. For you hip urban professionals: no, playing Mozart for your designer baby may not improve his IQ or help him get into that exclusive pre-school. He'll just have to be admitted to Harvard some other way. Of course, we're all better off for listening to Mozart purely for the pleasure of it. However, one wonders that if playing Mozart sonatas for little Hillary or Jason could boost their intelligence, what would happen if other composers were played in their developmental time?
LISZT EFFECT: Child speaks rapidly and extravagantly, but never really says anything important.
BRUCKNER EFFECT: Child speaks very slowly and repeats himself frequently. Gains reputation for profundity.
WAGNER EFFECT: Child becomes a megalomaniac. May eventually marry his sister.
MAHLER EFFECT: Child continually screams - at great length and volume - that he's dying.
SCHOENBERG EFFECT: Child never repeats a word until he's used all the other words in his vocabulary. Sometimes talks backwards. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child blames them for their inability to understand him.
BABBITT EFFECT: Child gibbers nonsense all the time. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child doesn't care because all his playmates think he's cool.
IVES EFFECT: Child develops a remarkable ability to carry on several separate conversations at once.
GLASS EFFECT: Child tends to repeat himself over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
STRAVINSKY EFFECT: Child is prone to savage, guttural and profane outbursts that often lead to fighting and pandemonium in the preschool.
BRAHMS EFFECT: Child is able to speak beautifully as long as his sentences contain a multiple of three words (3, 6, 9, 12, etc). However, his sentences containing 4 or 8 words are strangely uninspired.
MILES (Davis) EFFECT: Child speaks with few words, yet says a lot, however he may be irrational, violent, flush money down the toilet and his back is turned to you when he speaks.
BEATLES EFFECT: Child has people screaming and fainting every time they speak and if you record him/her and play it backwards you get a message that Paul McCartney is really dead.
CAGE EFFECT: Child says nothing for 4 minutes, 33 seconds. Preferred by 9 out of 10 classroom teachers.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Birthday thoughts - 7/15
Am I an idealist and a reformer at heart?
Being an idealist is dangerous thing in today's society. Idealists are often vulnerable.
Society is intolerant of idealism and of true reformers.
Have I been intolerant and even scornful of those who do not share my views on life?
No, I have not. On the contrary, people have been intolerant and even scornful of my simple views on life. Not following the trend has been the downfall of my whole entire life so far.
Do I not have much sensitivity about human weaknesses and needs?
Yes, I do. Do the others?
*****************************************************************************************************************************
I spent most of my birthday on the airplane flying to Memphis for a concert, and stayed with one of the nicest couple, John & Vicky Brown, there. They had a fat Jack Russell Terrier whose name is Copper who looks just like Totoro in plus size. I also finished reading "Intelligencer" by Leslie Silbert! A fun and interesting book.
Being an idealist is dangerous thing in today's society. Idealists are often vulnerable.
Society is intolerant of idealism and of true reformers.
Have I been intolerant and even scornful of those who do not share my views on life?
No, I have not. On the contrary, people have been intolerant and even scornful of my simple views on life. Not following the trend has been the downfall of my whole entire life so far.
Do I not have much sensitivity about human weaknesses and needs?
Yes, I do. Do the others?
*****************************************************************************************************************************
I spent most of my birthday on the airplane flying to Memphis for a concert, and stayed with one of the nicest couple, John & Vicky Brown, there. They had a fat Jack Russell Terrier whose name is Copper who looks just like Totoro in plus size. I also finished reading "Intelligencer" by Leslie Silbert! A fun and interesting book.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
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