星期日, 十一月 02, 2008

余光中讲座

今午出席了著名诗人兼散文家余光中先生的讲座。题目是“当中文遇上英文”。

结论是,语言是有机的,它会随着与各文化语言的交融而改变。最大的改变往往是语言的词汇随着大量借用外语而增加了。所以余老师断定语言难纯。如英语就混杂了拉丁语、法语等等。

当中文碰上了新鲜的英语词汇,人们往往都给予音译,就例如五四运动时期民主并不为“民主”,而是“德谟克拉西”,从而渐渐演变了今日的“民主”。这个翻译个人认为非常好。希望有些音译的词汇将来都有个很贴切的译名。

中文受外语影响也非近代之事。其就经历了蒙化、满化、梵化的阶段。今日我们用了许许多多的外来词汇而往往不自觉,这就是这些外来词长期融合的结果。

可惜余教授忘了提日本外来词为近代中文的贡献。例子如:科学、俱乐部、社会等等。

余老师亦说到今日英语与古代英语已大大不同。在英语系国家,莎士比亚的作品并非人人皆能读懂。而中文虽历经数千年,唯变化不大,所以今日我们还看得懂古时的巨作,如三国演义等等。当然,现代人皆受白话文教育,对了解以文言文形势书写的古书是一种障碍,唯我想还能了解五六吧。那个门槛并非太高,多读就行了。无需受系统训练。

余教授还有说了好多。总之翻译非易事,要得其型并留其意是相当难的。语言背后是无数的文化精粹。这并非另一种语言所能精确表达的。所以,要做“取舍”。要“妥协”。教授说有必要时时刻刻检讨翻译作品。

余教授感慨现今人人都弃文言文而不顾。但是文言文还是与现代日常中文离不开关系。成语就是一个很好的例子。成语就是文言文!

余教授并不反对西化。他以徐志摩的诗做例子。西化得体会增加诗的意境,制造美感。唯西化过度就会毁了中文!他说,写中文有必要写得像中文!一个优雅像样的中文!

感谢今日有此良机,能闻得余教授之课,获益不浅。望余教授老而不衰,继续为中文做出贡献!

当今越来越多新外来词汇需要有相符的正确中文译名!在人们还没习惯直接用外来语来表达之前,而使相关中文译名及时普及是非常重要的!

星期一, 十月 13, 2008

Should i change job again?

Recently i was sent to a Telco company to service them. I will have to be based at there for a long time. I was very shocked on the first day that i need to take over a colleague's task that is in testing phase and he is going to fly off 3 days later! I did not expect something like this could happen. It should be well arranged in such a big corporation. They could not just get some one new in and expected the him to fix problems asap! A proper hand over must be done and the process should be given a proper timeline but not to make it like cooking instant noodle! The project could fail due to something like this! If i need work have a few late nights i do not mind but the quality will not be guaranteed! That is for sure, that's happening to everyone especially when a project has to be completed in hurry. Normally the project would end up being delayed due to lots and lots of bugs! How can you give birth to a baby in 9 months???

What most frustrated me was, last Friday 4 somthing the client's manager showed some problesm to me and expected me to fix it! I told him directly that i did not really have the idea of what he was trying to explain to me of the problem! Well, that is ok. I can liase with my colleague back in The Philipines. But, this manager kept calling and asking the status. I was frustrated. My sickness nearly came back again! He made me very tension. He should have trusted me more! If things continue this way i would consider to leave this big corporation!

I am looking forward to further my Master study and focus on research & development field. I believe that is something i want. Wish me good luck!

星期日, 十月 05, 2008

別開生面的婚宴



上个星期六晚,我见证了一场别出心裁的婚宴。

婚宴以自由餐形式来进行。老一辈可能认为这怎么行吧?因为自由餐于人有点寒酸的感觉,不好看。可是,那场自由餐婚宴盛会并不难看,反而简单又隆重。场面布置得非常典雅高贵,令客人有如处身在热带丛林内用餐。那种感觉非常的和谐,可能就是“天人合一”的境界吧?呵呵。

婚宴特别之处在于,有一个小小的婚礼见证仪式。新郎及新娘站在会场中心处,说了好多令人感动的话。由于新娘是辅导员,所以说得一口非常标准之华语,表达能力更不用多说。新郎则看得出不善发言。这我很早救知了,只因我与新郎共事了一段日子,所以对其个性我还蛮了解。新娘的同事也一个接一个上台发言,个个也是说话高手,在场的宾客获益不浅啊,呵呵。

新郎新娘还请来了一支乐队为宾客们献唱,他们的素质都很好,大家吃饭时也不会闷,有悦耳的歌声陪伴。

食物方面当然及不上普通婚宴酒席的菜式。可是我很满意,因为我吃得刚刚好,不会有太胀的感觉。我对普通婚宴酒席的铺张与浪费早就不认同了,所以自由餐正和我意。

有机会跟新郎说说几句,他说,“你就参考参考吧!”。呵呵。

特别感谢新郎这次邀请我去他的这场婚宴,我得以大开眼界。我认为,这场婚宴偏重于西式。这很好,值得鼓励,我们该不时融合中西的优点,来创造出新文化,为我们的原有文化锦上添花,增添活力。

星期六, 九月 27, 2008

异人

在网上看到了这段,不知可信吗?

迪安阿布峇卡一口氣將整碗牛肉熱湯喝完。
現年61歲的迪安阿布峇卡,原來還有華人血統,他的父親,名叫莫哈末“廣東”。

根據他所言,在800年前他信奉回教(中國稱為清真教)的祖先,從中國到來印尼爪哇傳播回教,也把當時中國的少林武藝帶過來,揉合了爪哇武藝而演變成爪哇的“Selendang Merah”武術。

據說當時有位公主甘妊羅羅基魯曾患上皮膚病久醫不愈,后來他的祖先通過神明指示要她在爪哇海邊浸浴,結果真的有效,幾天后不藥而癒。

迪安阿布巴加深信,他的浮水異能,便是由當時守護公主的祖先神靈所賜給他的

星期一, 九月 22, 2008

中国沦丧了!

毒奶粉事件,大大的打击了中国产品在国际上的声誉。

如果我身为中国国民,我会感到羞愧。丑陋的商人为了利益,竟可不顾下一代的健康,损人利己。如此短视,中国还有未来吗?如我公公仍然在世(中国福建永春出生),必为此深感痛心!他们那一代,对中国是抱着多么大的期望啊!奥运办得轰轰烈烈又怎样,国际声誉此时已破坏殆尽!层出不穷的毒产品事件传出已久,一宗又一宗不时发生,当局反应迟钝极了,难道现任政府已不能有效的治理国家了吗?

今年中国发生的任何一件大事,除了四川地震的拯救工作值得称赞外,对其他事件的表现简直让人失望,在在显示了现任领导层办事能力的不足。

我非中国国民,我只是代表我祖父说说话。我觉得当局该痛下决心“变法”了。虽然看得出当局已在改革政治体制当中,但进展缓慢,只怕赶不上快速的经济进展。一个十三亿人的大国,就由七个人决定政策,这当真可行吗?就不能让“国会”(人民代表大会)来讨论并通过政策?是时候下放权力了!

地方势力似乎很大,说到底还是跟体制有关,当局有必要削弱地方势力以确保中央决策能贯彻全国,始终保持宗旨。我所知不多,希望当局已有相关答案。

官商勾结,亦是体制问题,官联公司能去多少是多少,目的是让官员好好做官,商人好好经商。任何商业决策、程序都需透明化,然后给予媒体更多的权力去追踪、报道,形成一种监督力,政府也不用这么头疼了。

全民教育更须强化!每个人都需学习儒家经商精神。当局能拿一些二十世纪南洋华侨的经商故事为教材,列为典范。这些先贤都是经典的儒商,个个强调诚信,个个始终贯彻儒家精神!例子就有陈嘉庚、李光前等人。这些人当年都是先从中国走出去成功经商的一批!他们以儒家精神经商的经验对目前商业至上的中国是难能可贵的!商业之上已让人伦尽失,每个人往“钱”看,致富成了人生最大目标,颠倒了是非!儒家精神将恢复中华文明根本,唤醒这些迷失的人们的儒家根本,让社会健康发展。须知,社会是会因道德堕落而失序的。社会不稳,共产党也别想长久执政。

幸好共产党当局不掩盖事实,让媒体据实报道,这令人欣慰。海外媒体也会因此而尊重共产党,而非一面抨击。

中国大陆的宝贵传统文化、书籍等皆于文革时惨遭蹂躏、毁于一旦、地位跌至不值一文。人民丧失了精神依靠,行事没指导。共产党犯了如此滔天大错,就有责任把错误纠正过来。事事以民为主是永不会错的,历史已证实之!如此政权才会长久!领导人也会流芳百世!个个官员、商人以民为主将会形成健康的利益圈,而国家实力才会百尺竿头、更进一步!

望全体中国人民加油。为了爷爷!拼吧!

human can migrate to South Pole?

The world's largest lake lies beneath the South Pole mainland. Not only one, but many others. Also, you can find streams or rivers there too!

Based on all these facts, people start to wonder if there are other civilizations or other creatures?

In the 16th century, a Turkey general drew a map. Nobody knew what land he drew about. After some time scientists discovered that it was actually a bird-eye's view map of the South Pole mainland! Why was he able to draw the map? Some more it is a bird-eye's view map! It is beyond our imagination. Does it mean this general flew over the South Pole mainland? If so, how did he do that?

In additional, there are a lot of enormous creatures living at the South Pole sea! A plesiosaur body was found on 11th October 2006 near one of the South Pole islands! This creature is very much like the frequent spotted Nice water creature.

Below are some interesting stuff:

In year 1962, a Soviet submarine found a strange man-fish creature boy in pacific near Cuba. The boy told them there are creatures like him living below the pacific ocean.

The Sumerian worshiped a half man fish creature.

On 1930, a bird mouth man was found in Estonia.

On 1825 & 1972, during a military exercise, the army suddenly noticed a USO(unidentified sea object) bursting out from the thick iceberg at 7 degree! At that moment every machine & electronic devices stopped operating for sometime! It appeared that that phenomenon had caused a blackout to the surrounding area!

In Africa, green skin tribe were found! Yes you are right, they have green skin! They claimed that their ancestors are from Uranus. They worshiped a triphibian creature! It can live in water, on land and it can fly!

There are so many things out there for us to find out! My respect to all scientists and archeologists! I wish one day i may contribute as well. I want to join you guys.

Pyramid In Eygpt

Wow! I just discovered some interesting facts about the 3 pyramids at Giza.

They are actually corresponding to The Orion and Nel River is actually corresponding to The Orion Galaxy.

The distance among the 3 pyramids are according to the golden proportional rule: 1 to 1.168!!

The pyramid is also a small model that simulates our solar system and earth!

The pyramid is built at an angle of 52 degree. It means, if you are standing on the peak of the Pyramid, you would not know there is strong wind at below.

Bear in mind that The Pyramid in Egypt is located at the north attitude at 30 degree, which is where a lot of great discovering of ancient civilization were found!

Also, on the Mars, there is a human face very much similar to The Sphinx and there are 5 things very much like the Pyramid. There are more mathematical facts about that. I can not list them one by one here now due to time constraints. You can find out yourselves.

More to find out!

林相如先生談八字

今天林相如先生在南洋商报的专栏文章没那么废了。他平常的文章对我来说简直是欺骗大众,鬼话连篇,说了等于没说,恕我时间有限,不能一一举例,但我非口说无凭,乱乱放炮。

今天他谈了命理学的作用。他举了个很好的例子,我在这里大概的简短说明。 他说命理学就像气象学,气象学提供有用的资讯如刮风、打雷等等于渔夫们,但此学并不能告诉渔夫今天能有多少鱼获及等等。命理学亦如是。它能告诉人们高潮及低潮期,至于人们能不能于高潮期顺流而上则看他们的造化了。同样的,如没必要,就别在低潮期尝试逆流而上,以防得不偿失。

换句话说,高潮期勇往直前,低潮期韬光养晦,能让我们有个较顺利的人生。

他也大概透露了八字计算法,皮毛而已。就是从八字中看五行。从五行的相生相克论,再配合个人每个八字的五行属性来作出这个人的一生命途大概如何。他举了一个“衰”人为例以进一步解说。

我非第一次听到此说法,而我一向来都是非常认同此说法的。

我希望林先生日后能继续写些诸如此类的好文章,而不是些废话,否则则有损名声矣。

Japanese Invansion to Malaya during WW2

Just read an article interviewing an old man who managed to survive during Japanese Occupation in Malay during World War 2.

There is a part where he said there were a lot of Japanese businessmen back then. They turned into some major or sergeant after Japanese army conquered Malaya. That is their real identity.

This reminds me one story that my English tuition teacher told us before: When he was still a kid, there was this Japanese old businessman neighbor who always gave him & his fellow playmates sweets. To them, he was just another kind old man. The kids were joyful. They liked this old guy very much. In the end, only they found out his real identity is spy. He did not say or he was not sure of what did the guy do as a spy tough. The memory that he got was the old guy was good. Like any grandpa that me and you can see anywhere on each day.

At the end of the article, Mr Wu, the interviewer, criticized the militarism mindset that is still haunting the Japanese. They never really feel "they are wrong" about the occupation. This kind of thought is scary. My personal opinion, those who were involved in those evil deed should sincerely apologize to their victims and start treasure the harmony from today onwards. After all, it is a value of what the Japanese Buddhism Group Sokko Kadai have been promoting.

Japan will win more respect from its surrounding neighbours if they really sincerely apologize.

星期六, 九月 20, 2008

Back to old tech? Oh no...

So today, i met Lim KY. He is a project manager. He is currently handling a bank system project team. I am not sure what system is that but i was told it is already a phase 2 project. I may take part in the UAT session of phase 2, and phase 3 too.

After bidding farewell to him, i asked one of the team members what technology they use. Unfortunately they are using those obsolete technologies such as Java 1.4, EJB2, Struts 1.2 and so on. Oh no, not even using Object Relational Framework or Dependency Injection Framework. I need to dig deeper in those areas. I want to try out JBoss Seam, more Spring, EJB3, more Hibernate and so on. I need to sharpen those. Now my dream will likely break. I know it is normal for a client like bank to use those technology they are comfortable with because they are proved to be stable. So i can not blame. I am wondering if i shall talk to my manager to avoid working on something i do not like.

I do not know how long will the phase 3 last. I just know that working in this project will not offer me a chance to travel to oversea. That is what i am looking forward to: to communicate with oversea colleagus or clients, i want to improve on that part. Furthermore now i am going to use the obsolete technologies. It is a double blow to me. I do not want to waste my time doing things i do not like. I want to achive my goal as soon as possible before i get married. As you guys out there know, normally man will lose lots of freedom after getting married. Sorry, i should say this phenomenon is common in Asia.

Wish me good luck.

Are we from Mars?

The human face on Mars. The pyramid on Mars. The water on Mars.

Is there any life on Mars?

Can human move to Mars?

Are we actually from Mars? As there are so many ancient legends telling us the 'spaceship' story?

If we are from Mars, then what had actually happened to Mars back then? Why our Mars ancestors chose to move to Earth? Where did water on Earth come from?

Is there really an ocean beneath the Mars land surface? Will we discover life in there?

Those Mars machines were washed by rains? Why they look so clean all the time? What has caused this? The rain?

bomber & cowboy on the moon?

Neil Armstrong saw many footsteps on the moon when he made his first step on the it. this particular part was removed by NASA from the video because it was too shocking! Who made those footprints? Years later those moon astronauts claimed that they saw all kinds of weird things outside the spaceship while on their way to moon. What are those weird things? They claimed that they were being trailed by some unidentified flying object. What was that? Fortunately they managed to make it to the moon. Nevertheless, there is something shocking, a Soviet satellite saw an American WW2 bomber on the moon before! Sometimes it was there and sometimes it disappeared suddenly! Besides that, at a different time, a dead cowboy was also seen on the moon! Did all these 'earth' things travel through some special 'tunnel' ???

In spite of that, a Soviet spaceship was reported vanish before during the space competition between Soviet and the U.S period. Before the spaceship was gone, the crew said the spaceship was surrounded by some kind of 'light'. Interesting isn't it?

When can we know all the truth? Are we really being supervised by some unidentified being? If so, why did they allow The U.S spaceship to land on the moon? Does NASA ever land on the moon? or it was just a show so that the news can be seen as a victory over Soviet?

Please let us know the truth. It something that every human has to know.

星期五, 九月 19, 2008

Great conversation with friends

I had a gathering with my university mates at 1U on 17 September 2008, which is a holiday in Selangor. We had a great conversation.

We talked about religions. One of my friend, who is a Methodist, said his Christian fellow will get angry every time he questions on the logic of certain Christian teachings. For example, if there are only heaven and hell for human to go to after death, then the number of being in hell is surely greater than the number of being in heaven as the rule to the heaven is so strict. Then the power of devil who governs the hell is surely greater than 'god' who governs the heaven. That is only one of many relevant topics that we discussed. Of course we did not only talk about Christian, but other religions as well.

We concluded that religion is a system. A system will surely have logical flaws. Of course we do not know if there is something that is beyond the logical flaw but for certain if based on the current knowledge we have, nothing can really explain the logical flaw of every religion or every system. It is a universal law.