Subject: 一笑解千愁
> 中國空姐
> 飛北京的路途上，空姐給飛機上的老外上餐
> …
>
> 老外問：What is this?
> 空姐答：Cake China ( 饅頭 )
>
> 老外問：What is this?
> 空姐答：Pizza China ( 餡餅 )
>
> 老外問：What is this?
> 空姐答：Salad China ( 黃瓜 )
>
> 這時空姐放了一個屁
> 老外又問：What is this?
> 空姐妙答：Air China ( 中國民航 )
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Another funny email collection from unknown source
thoughts of today
Ego does not = Big personality
Seriously, what makes people think having a big ego means having a big personality? Since when having a negative personality trend means a good thing? It is great to want to achieve a goal, but not at all cost!
Having ambition does not = success
Just because you are ambitious does not make you successful. It takes hard work, step by step... there is no fast way to get there unless you are extremely lucky. In the case of the later, you should be humble and thankful instead of feeling entitled! Even if you achieve your goal by real hard work, before allowing yourself to feel a great sense of entitlement, think first on who had helped you through along the way. Thank them first, only then you can enjoy the entitlement of the part you really worked for. Claiming things that don't belong to you or claiming the credits for something you did not do, will cost you a lot more later on in life. At least this is what I believe!
Don't teach what you don't know
Don't teach the skill to the others if you don't know anything about it. If you need to ask others what to teach, then you are most likely not allegeable to teach the materials at this point, perhaps in the near future, but not yet. Can we all be responsible of what we say and do and be realistic on our own abilities? Of course we can all learn and get better, but until then, don't do it!!! I wonder often how people can say they teach of "XYZ" when they cannot do or don't know anything about "XYZ"... is that legal in this country?
Being disrespectful to the others does not = you are better or smarter
Showing no respect to anyone really doesn't make one looks smarter or better. It only shows how insensitive, insecure and impatience you are.
Speedy result does not = quality result automatically
For some odd reasons, society only wants quick result but not quality result anymore. Of course it would be great if one can achieve quality result quickly. However, a speedy result at the cost of good quality is really not worth it.
Am I wrong on feeling and thinking this way???
Friday, August 01, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
An article by Charley Reese
I received this article from a friend's email a while back. Great article no matter what your political persuasion is.
This column was written by a guy named Charley Reese whose stuff appears primarily in Florida newspapers.
545 People
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President and nine Supreme Court Justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is NOT their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a SPEAKER, who stood up and criticized G.W. BUSH for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the Speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto.
REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense over-runs, that are not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation", or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
This column was written by a guy named Charley Reese whose stuff appears primarily in Florida newspapers.
545 People
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code. Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy. Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy. The Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President and nine Supreme Court Justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it.
No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
A CONFIDENCE CONSPIRACY
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is NOT their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a SPEAKER, who stood up and criticized G.W. BUSH for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.
Who is the Speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow Democrats, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto.
REPLACE THE SCOUNDRELS
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted - by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility.
I can't think of a single domestic problem, from an unfair tax code to defense over-runs, that are not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.
Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exist disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation", or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Let's all be politically correct.... NOT!
This society is all about being politically correct in every aspect. Unfortunately even in art and music. People want drama, but not to be challenged by it. They want perfect intonation, but only if it is in-tune with its own line, not to the others, forget about the polyphonic (Chordal intonation), that just creates too many variables to even grasp. They want colors, but only the pretty, beautiful non-offensive kind. (Often, dreamy is the top seller). Edge, but not too sharp; momentum, but only if its controlled and paced EVENLY throughout, definitely not the chaotic kind even if the music calls for it... (Note, do we all agree on the word "Agitato" means agitated? Do people often express agitation with steady heartbeats and speak calmly with a controlled measured speech???? If I am a scientist who wants to create a human-like robot, I would not be stupid enough to program the robot's agitated emotions that way. I rest my case if you want to argue with me on that.) Oh, interpretation of a piece of music needs to be there, but only if it does not offend anyone's sensibility.
Truly, is this how we want to live? What a waste of the resources of humanity!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Romanticism
It is so wonderful to be able to listen to the Brahms Clarinet Quintet run through while doing some housework. It is so thoughtful, beautiful and imaginative! I swear that I hear a lot of Tchaikovsky, and definitely some Schumann. I absolutely love the piece.
It is also however, very crucial to be able to hear the melodic structure as well as the harmonic progression underneath since so much of the inner feeling is built on the harmony. That is something i think all musicians are guilty of forgetting from time to time while enjoying and indulging in the beautiful melodic lines. Poly-textural writing is wonderful to explore while working on the pieces. Layers and layers of colors, lines, poly-rhythmic textures, are truly the fundamental make up of the complex musical expression in Romanticism.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
$&*^#&*^$@%(*&!^%_@*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so angry!
Please tell me there is someone out there who can be nice with no agenda...unless my idea of the human nature is fundamentally wrong... that must be it. Then, what is the point.... I can very well just take care of my stuff and block everything else out. Let them deal with their own issues and problems on their own. Ignore the passive aggressive behaviors from the others. The term passive aggressive is so unnecessary. It really means "AGGRESSIVE" and "MANIPULATIVE". How simple and easy life can be if I just block them all out... sad but doable.
This world is HORRIBLE. Selfishness is what runs this world right now. If people are not selfish, then they won't feel the need to take from the others. Is it so hard to understand that the best source for anything is from ONESELF!!! not OTHERS!!!
Perhaps I should just wake up and see the reality as told otherwise I will be used and reused and probably at the same time being laugh at for being stupid and naive.
Why work so hard so all your effort gets to be taken, twisted, used by EGOMANIACS then finally be thrown away? If the work is good, it often ended up being used and somehow became OTHERS' work, if the work is not so good, it will be used anyway, and of course since it was my work, I will get the blame for it not being so good. HOW WONDERFUL! How convenient for the others but for me. You know what, in another way, I have been used as if I am a slave... not a slave of labor, but slave for ideas... that is it! But, why should I be??? I am not a slave! The term "slave" should not have been invented at the first place. I WILL NOT let this continue. Let them do their own work... I will do my part, and that is it!!! Then, just sit back and wait or just walk away.
Ideas are to be "shared and developed", not to be taken and manipulated for other purposes. What is giving? Giving to the ones who need is a wonderful act, but giving to ones who don't need but pretend to is just stupid. Giving to the ones who are lazy and want the easy way out is unforgivable, and I am GUILTY to all that! I am not asking for everything to be fair, because that is impossible. Besides, who is to judge what is fair and what is not. However, one should protect oneself from being used, and I should do precisely that starting NOW!
From now on, when I see passive aggressiveness, I will take is as a real personal attack, it is! I will see it as an act of stealing.... yes, passive aggressiveness = stealing.
Please tell me there is someone out there who can be nice with no agenda...unless my idea of the human nature is fundamentally wrong... that must be it. Then, what is the point.... I can very well just take care of my stuff and block everything else out. Let them deal with their own issues and problems on their own. Ignore the passive aggressive behaviors from the others. The term passive aggressive is so unnecessary. It really means "AGGRESSIVE" and "MANIPULATIVE". How simple and easy life can be if I just block them all out... sad but doable.
This world is HORRIBLE. Selfishness is what runs this world right now. If people are not selfish, then they won't feel the need to take from the others. Is it so hard to understand that the best source for anything is from ONESELF!!! not OTHERS!!!
Perhaps I should just wake up and see the reality as told otherwise I will be used and reused and probably at the same time being laugh at for being stupid and naive.
Why work so hard so all your effort gets to be taken, twisted, used by EGOMANIACS then finally be thrown away? If the work is good, it often ended up being used and somehow became OTHERS' work, if the work is not so good, it will be used anyway, and of course since it was my work, I will get the blame for it not being so good. HOW WONDERFUL! How convenient for the others but for me. You know what, in another way, I have been used as if I am a slave... not a slave of labor, but slave for ideas... that is it! But, why should I be??? I am not a slave! The term "slave" should not have been invented at the first place. I WILL NOT let this continue. Let them do their own work... I will do my part, and that is it!!! Then, just sit back and wait or just walk away.
Ideas are to be "shared and developed", not to be taken and manipulated for other purposes. What is giving? Giving to the ones who need is a wonderful act, but giving to ones who don't need but pretend to is just stupid. Giving to the ones who are lazy and want the easy way out is unforgivable, and I am GUILTY to all that! I am not asking for everything to be fair, because that is impossible. Besides, who is to judge what is fair and what is not. However, one should protect oneself from being used, and I should do precisely that starting NOW!
From now on, when I see passive aggressiveness, I will take is as a real personal attack, it is! I will see it as an act of stealing.... yes, passive aggressiveness = stealing.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Another sleepless night
It is 3:20AM and I am wide awake.... ok, let me rephrase that, my brain is wide awake and my eyes are screaming: "let us rest!" This is the second night that I can't sleep... I wonder why? Last night was a concert night, so, that was understandable, but tonight..... What's is wrong with me? Why is it that I can't stop hearing bits and pieces of music in my head? The fights between them are driving me INSANE!!!! These phrases come and go as they please. They combined & mutated themselves into new lines. They even turned into fugue subjects and started developing into some weird fugue. If the end product of all these insanity turns out to be good, perhaps I won't be so troubled by it, unfortunately, that was not the case. On second thought, why didn't Archuduke or the Brahms Quintet lines win the battle and silence the others? Is it really that the great masterworks of the past are loosing their battle? Make them STOP!!!!
On random notes, while sitting in the audience of HSO concert last weekend, these are the words I heard:
"I wonder whether they have some sort of Parking arrangement for all the performers... There are so many of them... If not, they must of picked them all up by buses!"
"How is the conductor going to get through? Is he going to land from the sky?"
"I got the gossips!"
"Are they good? I heard they are good."
"ZZZZ...."
"I normally don't like Opera, but this is not bad!" (The program was Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pace and Beethoven 9th Sym.)
"Did you see X sitting over there?" "I wondered why M is not here today, I saw M earlier today..."
"Oh, this concert is sold out, they must be good! "
Tomorrow, no, today is my big cooking day. I need to make sure that lunch & dinner are ready in time for Peter to eat quickly with his limited amount of time in between his things. Also, cranberry bread for next 2 breakfasts as well as 3 meals for the next two days. What to make besides the cranberry bread???
Finally, I can put the Goldmark Trios aside and move on to other more desirable repertoire:
Brahms Piano Quintet
Beethoven Archduke
Rachmaninoff Elegiaque
P. Schoefield Cafe Music
Ok, it is time to try again.
May all the wonderful music, not so wonderful music and definitely the horrible ones stay away from me when I attempt to go to sleep...
On random notes, while sitting in the audience of HSO concert last weekend, these are the words I heard:
"I wonder whether they have some sort of Parking arrangement for all the performers... There are so many of them... If not, they must of picked them all up by buses!"
"How is the conductor going to get through? Is he going to land from the sky?"
"I got the gossips!"
"Are they good? I heard they are good."
"ZZZZ...."
"I normally don't like Opera, but this is not bad!" (The program was Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pace and Beethoven 9th Sym.)
"Did you see X sitting over there?" "I wondered why M is not here today, I saw M earlier today..."
"Oh, this concert is sold out, they must be good! "
Tomorrow, no, today is my big cooking day. I need to make sure that lunch & dinner are ready in time for Peter to eat quickly with his limited amount of time in between his things. Also, cranberry bread for next 2 breakfasts as well as 3 meals for the next two days. What to make besides the cranberry bread???
Finally, I can put the Goldmark Trios aside and move on to other more desirable repertoire:
Brahms Piano Quintet
Beethoven Archduke
Rachmaninoff Elegiaque
P. Schoefield Cafe Music
Ok, it is time to try again.
May all the wonderful music, not so wonderful music and definitely the horrible ones stay away from me when I attempt to go to sleep...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
@(#*&$#@&^%!@)#(*
After receiving a disturbing email on one's horrible experience with a totally insensitive character, and the aftermath of it, these are my thoughts:
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION does not help character building.
Te be a teacher, one should not let his/her own insecurity play any part in any teaching process whether the teaching is done with one on one or in a classroom setting. If one cannot control that, one should not be a teacher. This is especially true for education in performing art field. The damage done to any students (especially the more talented ones) can be long lasting.
Being a teacher does not mean you automatically know everything there is to teach. Being a teacher does not automatically make you better or more talented than students. To teach any form of performing art, you need to be able to recognize talent, nurture talent, guide talent rather than pressing them down to serve your own insecurity. There are always going to be more talented people out there than yourself.... and that is a wonderful thing..... so face it!!!!! and use it for your own benefit!!!!! Being a real teacher is also about being a great student... the learning process should NEVER stop.
A teacher/professor can be and need to be an inspiration for the students. A student however can also be an inspiration for a teacher. Teaching & learning is a process of both exploring and experiencing.
Ok... now I feel better!
CHARACTER ASSASSINATION does not help character building.
Te be a teacher, one should not let his/her own insecurity play any part in any teaching process whether the teaching is done with one on one or in a classroom setting. If one cannot control that, one should not be a teacher. This is especially true for education in performing art field. The damage done to any students (especially the more talented ones) can be long lasting.
Being a teacher does not mean you automatically know everything there is to teach. Being a teacher does not automatically make you better or more talented than students. To teach any form of performing art, you need to be able to recognize talent, nurture talent, guide talent rather than pressing them down to serve your own insecurity. There are always going to be more talented people out there than yourself.... and that is a wonderful thing..... so face it!!!!! and use it for your own benefit!!!!! Being a real teacher is also about being a great student... the learning process should NEVER stop.
A teacher/professor can be and need to be an inspiration for the students. A student however can also be an inspiration for a teacher. Teaching & learning is a process of both exploring and experiencing.
Ok... now I feel better!
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