Hush, baby. I'll still here.

Oh cutesy, I’ve got you. It’s okay. Relax, I’ve got you.

There, there. It’s just me and you now, baby. Don’t look at me like that. I’ll manage. We’ll manage.

God, your eyes. Brown buttons. I can see your mom’s shadow in them. Hopefully, you’ll take after your mom. You’re still at that stage. Bright red, eyes swollen almost-shut, deep creases under them. A tight little bundle of heat, warms my heart so now that I’ve got you. Your hair shine with inky black. Just like…. your mom.

Let me just put you back down for a second, baby. Just tidy myself up. Bit of a mess lately. Right, come here. You must be hungry.

I hope this isn’t too cold. Rather that than it burn your mouth. Not one to avoid eye contact, are you? Staring me out like that. You are a curious one, aren’t you? I was never particularly observant or patient, couldn’t hold anyone’s gaze for longer than ten seconds before the awkwardness gets in the way and couldn’t hold attention through. But you, baby, you’re not going to be anything like me. You will be better, because your mom lives in you.

I’ll tell you what, all those jokes the nurses made; all that ‘She won’t let you sleep for months’, I don’t know what they were talking about. I can’t sleep as it is, but if I could…if the sound that woke me up was you crying, well…it’s the best sound in the world. That look again! You know what I mean. The silence of night almost drives me insane and you are my sanctuary.

God, the size of your hand. It’s lost in mine. Not even the size of my little finger. You’ve got a grip on you, though, haven’t you? Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I keep thinking, this is nice, you know? Me, you, here together. The whole world asleep and it’s just us two in the front room. Yet we’re not complete like this. God, looking at you reminds me so much of your mom. She was the most beautiful lady. We were supposed to be a family, blissful together. When you are older, I will tell you about all our dreams and hopes for you. You are our everything, you know? I guess you’ll never know how much this scares me. It’s new for me, being a dad and all. You get that don’t you, being new to the family. Yes, we’ll survive. We are not that fragile. All done? Here, let’s put this down.

Oh, don’t go to sleep. I wish you’d stay awake, talk to me. How long before you start talking? I can’t wait for you to be doing my head in, pulling at my shirtsleeve, begging me to take you out to the ice cream van, to the shop, to the park. I can’t wait, I swear.

After that I’ll be your own personal taxi service, won’t I? When you’re too cool to be hanging out with your dad and I’m no good for anything but a ride. Well, as long as you talk to me when we’re at home, I’ll tell you now, I can live with that. Just…don’t you ever become one of these girls that locks herself away in her room and only shows her face at mealtimes. I need the conversation, believe me.

They say long fingers mean you’re going to be creative. If there’s any truth in it, you’re going to be like me after all. Don’t you worry, we will have lots of fun with art and music. We’ll get started early. It will be our thing. We can play pieces together, finger-paint and work on our house together. Then maybe, one day, I will let you read the letters of your mom and I.

You’ll be a tomboy though, I’m afraid, whether you like it or not. No girl of mine is getting Barbies, fall prey to Disney fantasies and become a superficial airhead. You will be my princess, but I won’t treat you like one. You will learn to be strong and independent. Just like your mom. Look at you. You’ll be gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, breathtaking and all of that. It’s in the genes. Well, half of them, anyway.

Ah, enough of that. Me mascara’s running. Same look you gave me before, eh? Get used to my bad jokes, will you? Your dad is known for his unusual humour and somehow I have to learn to balance that with strictness when it comes to you. Can you imagine that? Nah, me neither.

I though I had forgotten how to smile. But you have that effect on me, loosening me up and bringing sunshine to my days. The house is so empty now, I don’t know what to do. You know, the other night, I sat and watched you sleep, couldn’t take my eyes off you. You were so peaceful, in your own little world. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to sleep like you did that other night. I wish you’d grow up so naive to the world. Pure hearted just like your mom. Kind and loving. Just like her.

I guess when you can start asking questions, you’ll ask why all the other girls and boys at nursery have mums. And I don’t know if I’ll be able to answer you by then. We’ll jump that hurdle when we come to it.

Another yawn? We'll keep it simple then. You’ll say what you think and you won’t hold prisoners. I'll try to be the best dad I know how. You will tell me when I am wrong as I the same. I’m telling you, I can’t wait. I’m counting down the days till your first words, when you first try and almost call out ‘dada’.

I am just happy and glad that I've still got you. I’ll sit with you, hand in hand. You and me. And your mom, somewhere close.

There you go. Hush, now. Sleep for both of us. I’ll be right here. She'll be right here.

Prototype

I got this highly rated game last Friday and never got the time to break it in till yesterday.

For the limited time I spent, I was quite pleased with the detailed graphics, nice flowing story line and not to mention, really cool powers. To summarize, this game is really about character empowerment. You play as Alex Mercer, you can consider yourself an immortal with all the powers you can gain every few minutes, plus there are countless people or targets you can conveniently consume for health. Imagine being able to climb on buildings, perform high jumps and air glides (something like flying) which makes travelling that much easier and more fun than having to learn how to drive a car (GTA).

The missions are bloody. You can easily account for 1000 deaths, be they soldiers, policemen and civilians. These deaths may have come from you charging headlong through a crowd like a Sherman tank, or from the peripheral blast of an actual tank. Not to mention, when your health is low, the fastest way is to just consume whoever you can find to regain your health. Since it doesn’t matter if you fall from 100 stories buildings, land onto a helicopter and discharged the pilot of his duties by squashing his skull against the window, bottom line is you can kill at will without remorse. Good times.

Well, I don’t really appreciate having to kill so much to gain experience. Maybe being able to exercise stealth should count as more skill points, using disguise skills to transform into the person you absorbed is really comical especially when evading those chasing after you.

All in all, Prototype is great fun despite shortcomings like graphics and A.I. which I choose to overlook. A 8.5 out of 10 based on what I have seen so far.

Bug and organs for dinner?

It is really amazing what people will eat nowadays. Is it any wonder that we have all these new strains of viruses and animal transmitted diseases?

GIATN WATER BUG WITH CHILLI PASTE (Above)

Green chilli and the bugs are roasted before being pounded into a chilli paste with a smoky flavour.

GOAT INTESTINES (Above)

FRIED GOAT BRAINS (Above)

Each goat brain is the size of a fist (delicious so I was told)

GOAT BRAIN SOUP (Above)

Tastes like mutton, firm and not as mushy as pig brains.

DEER PENIS WINE (above)

A slightly vinegary and medicinal taste to it,strong and the wine leaves a rather pleasant buzz in the head minutes after consumption.

SCORPIONS (Above)

Scorpions are believed to have detoxifying effects and are rich in protein. Pregnant women, however, should stay away from them.

ANTS (Above)

The ants had no distinctive flavour but were definitely crunchy.

满月的幸福

昨日是倪家新丁的满月酒席，亲朋好友纷纷赏光，为了一睹这小美女的风采。

看着Catherine 安详的躺着，小小的手指紧紧的握住我的手，倪家上下不亦乐乎。老倪终于成了外公，十三岁的小倪成了小舅，当然还有Lily 夫妻已为人父人母。全场为之而欢，而我也知道虽然我毫无酒量却避免不了要喝上几杯，在众多宾客的摧敬下，我豪爽的一杯一杯的冰酒，一杯一杯的茅台干之而尽。转眼间，一个一个红着脸脚步不稳，甚至有人要开溜，照理说，我早该醉了。可昨晚我一阵薰昏后，拼命灌茶和小解，过不久酒意渐消。最后，还是我当司机开车回家。

俗话说，“长江后浪推前浪，一代新人换旧人”。最近，真的感觉老了，可能是近三十大关，心境难免有点改变。想对Catherine 说，世事烦乱多忧，外不能省其身，内不能察其志，啾啾然无以排扰。经过一生波折，方可领悟，渔家的撒网捕捞、读书人的诗云子曰是何等幸福。而我，只是比你早了点看透罢了。

满月酒耗神耗时耗费，不办也罢。大人都感疲惫，更何况是小婴孩。真是太辛苦了。我相信大家的祝福不会因为没有这个酒席而减少。对小孩而言，睡多些，长快些，不是更为重要吗？

(照片稍候上传，请耐心等候！）

有深度的话

1. 两种人无药可救：一是不服从命令的人，二是惟命是从的人。


2. 世上有三种人：一是良心被狗吃了的人，二是良心没被狗吃的人，三是良心连狗都不吃的人。


3. 给猴一棵树，给虎一座山。――用人之道


4. 成功是一种观念，致富是一种义务，快乐是一种权力。


5. 做生意的过程就是一个不断怂恿别人放松警惕，而自己保持高度警惕的过程。


6. 凡是上了年纪的人，大多是反对的太多，商议的太久，行动的太迟，后悔的太早。


7. 做生意的过程就是一个不断怂恿别人放松警惕，而自己保持高度警惕的过程。


8. 加班加点，废寝忘食有时很可能是不具备效率和工作能力的表现。


9. 不要同一个傻瓜争辩，否则别人会搞不清到底谁是傻瓜。


10. 你不理财，财不理你。


11. 魅力女人，就是有充分的意志力去抵挡男人的进攻，也有足够多的魅力阻挡男人的撤退。


12. 看一个人的心术，看他的眼神；看一个人的身价，看他的对手；看一个人的底牌，看他的朋友。


13. 你若不想做，会找一个或无数个借口；你若想做，会想一个或无数个办法。


14. 最了解你的人有时不是你的朋友，而是你的敌人。


15. 使人疲惫的不是远方的高山，而是鞋里的一粒沙子。


16. 胆怯的人在危险前被吓住了；懦弱的人在危险中被吓住了；勇敢的人在危险过后被吓住了。


17. 所谓敌人，不过是那些迫使我们自己变得强大的人。


18. 失败发生在彻底的放弃之后。


19. 幸运之神的降临，往往只是因为你多看了一眼，多想了一下，多走了一步。


20. 世上只有想不通的人，没有走不通的路。


21. 战争：用舌头解不开就用牙齿咬吧！


22. 羞耻心就像人的内衣，必要时脱掉了没什么，关键是为谁脱掉。


23. 知识是一种使求知者吃得越多越觉得饿的粮食。


24. 所谓大难不死，就是有了灾祸之后，得到的不是同情，而是莫名其妙的祝贺。


25. 乞丐就是一种向你的良心征税的人。


26. 状态是干出来的，而不是等出来的。


27. 才华其实就是把与人相同的聪明用到与众不同的地方。


28. 失败并不意味你浪费了时间和生命。失败表明你有理由重新开始。


29. 成功便是站起比倒下多。


30. 使我们不快乐的，都是一些芝麻小事，我们可以躲闪一头大象，却躲不开一只苍蝇。


31. 结论就是你懒得再想下去的地方。――路的尽头，仍然是路，只要你愿意走。


32. 绅士无非就是耐心的狼。


33. 打工者做工，小老板做事，中老板做市，大老板做势――你是哪一种？

蓦然回首

孔子云：“逝者如斯夫，不舍昼夜！”感慨，真是岁月不留人。

也许我们频频回首终难舍弃，也许我们坦然微笑释淡往昔，怎样都好，时间依旧马不停蹄的推前，有时候就在漫想着，如果时间的推移可以倒转，历史是否会改变？如果一开始就可吹散年少的迷雾而看清前面的道路，现在的我又会是怎样？

自反省后，情更难抑，疲惫委屈，溢于言表。。想要改进已成模式的生活，调配一下已成茫然的步骤，却已经找不到以往那份冒险的冲劲和幻想的勇气。可能，我真的老了。

几片叶子，随凄风的夹带下，在身旁悠然飘零，它辉映着悲伤徘徊了许久，飘去。。。。凉意更浓了，我颤抖着揪紧了单薄的衣服，竟发现周围一片死寂，静的如一池秋水，瞬间撕裂了我的心弦。那陈年的伤痕，突涌心间，泛起一片涟漪，顿时令我怅然心碎。。。。

真可笑，我疯了吗？我竟然拼尽全身力气放纵的呐喊，呼声弥漫着回荡在沧寂无人的街头....不久回声渐渐消失，只留下那个孤独的背影，好难过，好沉闷，闷的令人窒息。生命何尝不是如此，美好的开始，城市再怎么繁华，景色再怎么春意盎然，最后留下的又有什么？待到看透时，是否已经太晚？

柔柔轻风，勾起对往事的怀念。淡淡月色，诱起人心中的情感。昨日，乱我心者，转瞬成过往。蓦然回首处，找不到早已失去的旧事踪迹，徒留怅惘，无奈。漫漫红尘，谁又是谁的永远？

我们就像两条不同方向的相交线，相交之时也是相离之时。一向右走，一向左走，越走距离越远。。。。发誓不再回头，不再轻念你的名字，不再想念你的娇笑，不再。。。。

思之不已，求不可得，虽欲不伤亦不得也。翩翩倩影，悠悠我思，如皎皎月。

爱，转脚就是陌路。我常问自己，为何仍然在乎你，在乎你的浅笑，在乎你的蹙眉，尽管你和我多了那永远无法拉近的距离？是傻，还是痴？

看着镜子里的我，抱着心里的那一份温柔，淡淡的触摸着无常的世界，细细的融化着深藏的悸动，默默的感慨。

手里举起了月光宝盒，想着五百年前。。。。

Octopus Garden

OCTOPUS GARDEN

It has been quite some time since I last had Japanese cuisine. Yesterday, by recommendation, we chose the pricey but very authentic Japanese restaurant Octopus Garden on Cornwall for dinner.

The food was delicious though I am doubtful that they are worth the price on the menu or off for that matter. There are barely 5 tables with a few seats on the counter but judging by the speed the dishes are prepared, there can only be one round per night. This should not come as a surprise since the owner is very conscientious about his food quality and every dish needs to go through him, in fact, the restaurant is closed whenever he is not around. As such, it does not feel like a business but a long and slow appreciation of fine dining.

The lighting was dim, though the ambience was not romantic but rather cozy. The service was friendly though rare. It just keeps coming back to how long the whole dinner took even though the engaging conversations helped pass the time. It was a LONG 3 and a-half hours for what added to 5 small and 1 large courses.

There are few restaurants that offer Omakase, even fewer that offer with great quality. For that, Octopus Garden really shows pride in their work and stands out. If you are hungry, pick some place else. If you have a tight wallet, pick some place else. If you are impatient, PLEASE pick some place else. Otherwise, this can be quite a rewarding experience.

Property Woes Slam Cities Across Continent, But Not Vancouver

WSJ: Property Woes Slam Cities Across Continent, But Not Vancouver In most cities in the U.S. and Canada, sales activity has frozen to a standstill. Would-be sellers are unwilling to accept the steep drops in value of office buildings, shopping centers and other commercial property. Even if they were, buyers can't get financing. But then there's Vancouver, a city of about 578,000 people with views of the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain range. Its office market has logged seven building transactions this year capped off by Germany-based Deka Immobilien's recent $263 million purchase of Bentall V, a 33-story tower in the heart of the city's district. Just as impressive, prices have held up well. By contrast, only five office properties valued at $5 million or more have sold in Manhattan in the first two quarters of this year, and average prices paid are off 32%, according to Real Capital Analytics, a New York-based real-estate research firm. So what gives? First of all, Vancouver's office market hasn't suffered the sharp increase in vacancies seen in most other cities. Vacancies are ticking up and putting pressure on rents. But the diversified economy, driven by a mix of companies that include mining, lumber and port-related businesses, and a lack of significant new construction leave it better positioned to weather the stormy global economy, brokers say. The first-quarter office vacancy in downtown Vancouver was 4.2%, below downtown Toronto's 5.7% and downtown Calgary's 6.9%, according to CB Richard Ellis. "It's quite incredible compared to the rest of the country," says David Eger, senior director with the Toronto-based Altus Group. Such a high volume of sales is unusual for Vancouver, a city where small investors and pension funds are known for buying and holding properties. The seven office transactions that took place this year through May in downtown Vancouver, a city with a total of about 21 million square feet of office space, compared with two transactions in the year-earlier period, according to CB Richard Ellis. But amid the global financial crisis, institutions have looked first at properties that have retained value as a less painful means of unlocking equity in their portfolios. The seller of Bentall V was SITQ Vancouver Inc., a real-estate subsidiary of Canadian pension fund Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. SITQ says it wasn't under pressure to sell the building and only did so after getting an unsolicited bid. "We made a profit. That's why we sold it," says Amelie Plante, an SITQ spokeswoman. "It was very satisfying." Buyers in Vancouver have included Canadian pension funds and private investors, CB Richard Ellis says. Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH is a real-estate asset manager and a subsidiary of the DekaBank Group. The seven deals this year have had a total value of C$502 million (US$449 million). By contrast, Manhattan, with some 1.6 million residents and about 366 million square feet of office space, saw the number of large office transactions this year through May slip to just five deals valued at a total of $984 million, from 45 sales in the year-earlier period, according to Real Capital Analytics. The average price paid per square foot in Vancouver this year fell just 2% to C$355 from the year-earlier period, compared with a 32% drop in Manhattan to $451. The Bentall property sale price also has given hope to area sellers worried by deep discounting seen elsewhere. The nearly 100%-occupied building sold for a price that equates to a capitalization rate in the 6% range, just slightly higher than the 5.5% range it might have traded at during the height of the market a year or so ago, according to Jim Szabo, executive vice president with CB Richard Ellis, which represented Deka Immobilien in the transaction. Cap rates are closely watched valuation metrics in the commercial real-estate industry derived by dividing a building's net operating income by the price paid.

Meanwhile, CGA study finds Canadian foolish with money, which leads me to question whether Vancourites are actually smarter than the other Canadians as a result of lifestyle.

生辰快乐

汝乃人间凤凰，天仙下凡，其名远播，引来之人络绎不绝，或垂髫小儿，或翩翩君子，或才子雅客，或英雄侠士，或痴心蛤蟆，或白马王子，吾真为汝而烦厌，为汝而担忧该如何抉择。为此，吾夜秉孤灯，血饷蚊蝇，殚精竭虑，劳神伤思，汝又可知？

今日乃汝之生辰，更扰轰动，祝贺纷纷不断，礼品源源不绝。吾不自量，想为汝分忧，虽手无分文身无亮，却已有成事之把握，故提笔拜文以献之。

桃觞之上，寿城当前，诚恳至敬，送上沉甸甸的祝福。祝福里带着无数的感激，汝之母在多年前的今日诞下，汝之父在多年前的今朝命名，点醒了吾前世的牵挂，注定吾此生之归属。

送上一壶清茶，装着吾之深情蜜意，清中怀着舒透的一腔淡泊，淡淡的茶香怀着蠢蠢欲动的宁静。两杯“姻缘”在烟尘中蒸发，“汝浓吾浓”飘入云霄，意味着百年无悔的不离不弃，如此决定了一生一世，再约定了三生三世。

今日，汝之生辰，送上对汝之爱，用承诺护守，苍蝇蛤蟆吾都不惧，汝决可放心回敬于吾，钟情于吾。祝汝享以百年如今朝，吾之承诺乃无限之期。（送上藏头诗一首。）

六趣有轮回，

月聚一家人。

寿元本无量，

星拱福临门。

生养各有异，

辰巳骨肉亲。

快心接遂意，

乐极忘归返。

XBOX Project "Natal"

Holy Crap!!

I think if I played a RPG or MMORPG, I won't last a week. But hey, this will be great for sports and some fighting games.

More news that Facebook and Twitter will be coming to XBOX Live this fall. I hope Al appreciates that I am giving him my XBOX 360 in a month or so.

Official Project Natal Site

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News From OBSESSABLE

Project Natal is a new technology under development at Microsoft's Xbox division. It's an accessory that connects to the Xbox 360 video game console, made up of cameras, motion sensors, and a microphone. Natal lets you interact with your games without a controller in your hand. You (along with your friends or family members if you're playing a multiplayer game) can stand in front of the TV and move your body to control what happens on screen. The system recognizes who you are as soon as you step up thanks to facial recognition technology, and you can give voice commands in addition to using movements. According to Microsoft, Natal is precise enough to recognize facial expressions and emotion, so it can be used for more than just simple arcade-like games. For example, that facial expression recognition was used in tandem with the voice recognition to interact with a fictional boy on screen in a demonstration at Microsoft's E3 press conference. Microsoft hasn't said how much Natal will cost or when it will be available, but it has confirmed that the tech will work with all existing Xbox 360 consoles. Check out the Project Natal concept video from the E3 keynote on the Product Details page.

Underestimating the Pool

Whether it is the surreal strengthening of the Canadian Dollar, the sharp rebound of BC's real estate sales or the liquidity-driven stock rally, there seems to be this apparent contradiction between the gloom in the real economy and the exuberance being experienced in the market to know when to jump in.

The market has so quickly stabilized or so it seems, as a result of the following factors:

1) The irresponsible financial entities around the world have been pulled out of near collapse by the infusion of US and European tax-payers money. You do not need to print money to be deep in debt.

2) Interest rates around the world have been slashed to near zero to stimulate spending and free up credit lending.

3) Commodities (especially oil, gold and copper) has gotten a boost(inflationary pressure), and that has helped mining and oil producers. However natural gas for which provide the Province a huge % of it's revenue has continued to drop.

4) The normal seasonal bounce in housing sales that occurs in spring.

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There are really quite a few indications that we are still in midst of a bear market.

My sources tell me that foreclosure numbers have jumped considerably in BC, and the reason why these numbers have not been publicized is because there is a 6 months redemption period in which companies or individuals in debt can try to find a way to repay their liabilities. To spell it out, sometime in September or October, the redemption period will be up, foreclosure news will explode and it is not hard to imagine a market correction once again.

While I marvel at some of the nearly completed RAV lines, I remember that soon there will be an overload of workers without new projects. Since most workers are renters, the rental market will most likely take a hit. If you need to renew a lease, you need to pick your timing well.

Employment is likely going to be weak for some time. The job-buying program of both the US and Canadian governments is yet to have any appreciable affect. Deficits are growing which warrants attention. Murphy's law suggests that there will be a correction coming, if so, then this is nothing more than the calm before the next storm.

Now, the doomsday philosophy is really based on the assumption that the supply of morons or suckers or gamblers will eventually run dry. Yesterday on the Vancouver Suns, Vancouver's landmark Bentall 5 building sells for $300 million. Well...... the pool may be deeper than I expected. Or perhaps, I did overestimate humans.

有一个人，有一种情感，有一种缘分

夜深，星月皎洁，明河在天。夜澜人静，我对灯独坐。帘外，月在云中穿梭月光与树影抱合着，跳跃着，忽闪忽闪，黑白相间，纵横交错。夜晚领空中画过的一颗流星，带着希望，伤感，即瞬而失。直面内心处，疲惫一涌而至。

不眠的夜尤其寂静，忙碌的昼无暇感叹，在两者之间的缝隙里，我渗在思念里，醉了。

是雷峰塔下孤灯的温馨？还是十八路上曲折的心事？地老天荒是遥不可及的, 红尘一转能有一个牵挂自己和让自己相思的人已是不易。牵挂是美，相思是福, 人生美福兼得, 又夫复何求？

有一个人：让你没昼没夜无时无刻的想着念着；让你坐卧不宁，心跳超速的等待；让你可以在刹间品尽百感千绪的滋味。

有一种情感：会每晚临睡前，温柔的嘱咐第二天起床别迟到；会在你彷徨无助时，紧紧地抱着，柔情的安慰，守其左右。

有一种缘分，会在你不经意间，悄然而至。

"著意闻时不肯香，香在无心处"。

现在，我心下在轻喟： 我的那份牵挂能否减轻你一天的疲累？我隐忍的相思能否消去你心头的不愉？ 因为，你的一切我都能感应。现在，你正想着我。

“似此星辰非昨夜, 为谁风露立中宵”

霎时，心海澎湃。一滴泪，悄然从眼角溢出，顺着脸颊，流落在孤单的枕头上。

平凡是福

我自负才高八斗，号为天才。想古人之传世，皆因与众不同之故。初，人皆不明其理，也不知其值，如视天才为不可理喻，疯者也。似我等之辈，皆乃世人目中怪物，故天才者，知音难觅，一生孤独。

天赋越高越不乐观，越运塞时低。天才是殉难者，为了人类的进步不得不付出自己唯一的生命；苏格拉底、布鲁诺、伽利略、凡高、尼古拉·瓦维洛夫等，如此乃天才的宿命。除了同代的迫害与摧残之外，天才还受着严重的精神高度紧张和精神抑郁的折磨 。而天才的本质就是孤独的承受这一切。

孤独，生于闲暇之余，长于空虚之时。孤独，因有苦无处诉，有乐独享。

好寂寞。好凄凉。

近年自觉，随着年龄的成长，符其“逆水行舟，不进则退”之理，天才的本质渐减。曾经梦想的雄图大业早已淡忘；旧日，好奇与奋斗之心也已衰老。别人称其为成熟，我觉非然。昔日的天才只不过越长越平凡，学会了融入于社会，放弃那无畏的孤独。

想来，孤独是自私的象征。人的自私乃本性所致。那想要占有的欲望，自娘胎始，既能给于冲劲，也可引其入魔。有人不择手段，抛妻弃子，灭绝人性，最终，又得到了些什么？这一切到底所为何来，值不值，是对是错？

做人三十载，方才体悟，只有倾注于爱，灌输于情，才能升逸人与人之间微妙的关系。多少人能成为知己劲敌，多少人能变得至亲至密？世事无常，人心更为难测，难以信任，难以交心。有时，太过聪明，看得太清，未必是福。

凡天才者，必先学习谦虚，明那平凡之福，放下自尊和固执，体验那百味人生。欲做精金美玉的人品，定从烈火锻来，思立揭天掀地的来功，顺向薄冰履过。 总有一天，天才不再是天才，而懂得一个道理 - “平凡是福也”。

The Fall of GM

Check out Wallstats and many other great posters. (Click to Enlarge)

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So it should not come as a surprise that GM has gone under, in fact, it is really quite a smart move.

GM enters the process with billions of dollars in federal funding as well as agreements to lay off labour, and will get $30 billion after the process to top the $20 billion it already has had, which will give the US government 60 percent in the auto giant, while the governments of Canada and Ontario will put up $9.5 billion for a 12 percent stake.

GM's European Opel and Vauxhall subsidiaries are already leaving the GM empire, under a separate rescue scheme, bond holders are being offered a debt-equity swap involving $27.1 billion in exchange for a 10 percent share and an option on another 15 percent.

By filing for bankrupty, GM actually achieves protection from its myriad creditors and will get a chance to clean up its books among other changes. At the very least, it is a step forward.

文言文搞笑对白

在网上看到了这个相当好笑的文言文爱情对白，与大家分享一下。

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婚前
　　女：你原先有过女朋友?
　　男：十年生死两茫茫，不思量，自难忘。
　　女：死了?怎么死的?
　　男：山天陵，江水为竭，冬雷阵阵夏雨雪。
　　女：喔，是天灾。那这些年你怎么过来的?
　　男：满面尘灰烟火色，两手苍苍十指黑。
　　女；唉，不容易。那么你看见我的第一感觉是什么?
　　男：忽如-夜春风来，千树万树梨花开。
　　女：(红着脸)有那么好?
　　男：糟粕所传非粹美，丹青难写是精神。
　　女：马屁精--你有理想吗?
　　男：他年若遂凌云志，敢笑黄巢不丈夫。
　　女：你……对爱情的看法呢?
　　男：只在此山中，云深不知处。
　　女：那你喜欢读书吗?
　　男：军书十二卷，卷卷有爷名!
　　女：这牛吹大了吧?你那么大才华，怎么还独身?
　　男：小姑未嫁身如寄，莲子心多苦自知。
　　女：(笑)假如，我是说假如，我答应嫁给你，你打算怎样待我?
　　男：一片冰心在玉壶!
　　女：你保证不会对别的女人动心?
　　男：波澜誓不起，妾心古井水。
　　女：暂且信你一回，不过，我正打算去美国念书，你能等我吗?
　　男：此去经年，应是良辰美景虚设。
　　女：不过……
　　男：独自凭栏，无限江山，别时容易见时难!
　　女：但是……
　　男：望夫处，江悠悠，化为石，不回头!
　　女；好了好了，怕了你………

婚后
　　女：结婚那么久，你还在想你原先的女朋友?
　　男：曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云。
　　女：那为什么当年还和我结婚?
　　男：梦里不知身是客，一晌贪欢。
　　女：太过分了吧。我们好歹是夫妻。
　　男：夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞。
　　女：那我们这段婚姻，你怎么看?
　　男：醒来几向楚巾看，梦觉尚心寒!
　　女：有那么惨吗?你不是说对我的第一印象……
　　男：美女如花满春殿，身边惟有鹧鸪飞。
　　女：不是这么说的吧，难道，你竟然……
　　男：昔日龌龊不足夸，今朝放荡思无涯。
　　女：一直以来朋友写信告诉我我都不相信，没想到竟是真的!
　　男：纸上得来终觉浅，绝知此事要躬行。
　　女：你原先的理想都到哪儿去了?
　　男：且把浮名，换了斟低唱。
　　女：(泪眼朦胧)你，你不是答应一片冰心的吗?
　　男：不忍见此物，焚之已成灰。
　　女：你就不怕亲朋耻笑，后世唾骂?
　　男：宁可抱香枝头死，何曾吹落北风中。
　　女：我要不同意分手呢?
　　男：分手尚且为兄弟，何必非做骨肉亲。
　　女：好，够绝
　　
续：男女互换先

婚前：
　　男：你好靓丽哟？
　　女：晚妆初了明肌雪，春殿嫔娥鱼贯列（李煜《春楼春》）
　　男：你还待字闺中吗？
　　女：独立花前，更听笙歌满画船
　　男：你这么漂亮怎么会没有男朋友呢？
　　女：春风一等少年心，闲情恨不禁（昭宗皇帝《巫山一段云》）
　　男：你不会骗我吧，不是说你有过男朋友了吗？
　　女：绮罗无复当时事，露花点滴香泪
　　男：喔，吹了。你很伤心吗？
　　女：往事已成空，还如一梦中（李煜《子夜》）
　　男：痴情女子无情汉。你还爱他吗？
　　女：空持罗带，回首恨依依（李煜《临江仙》）
　　男：（面露喜色）你现在一人寂寞吗？
　　女：暝色入高楼，有人楼上愁（李白《菩萨蛮》）
　　男：（急不可耐）我们能交个朋友吗？
　　女：（面露羞色）洛阳春色待君来，莫到落花飞似霰（欧阳修《玉楼春》）
　　男：（笑）喔，这样就好。你想我吗？
　　女：近来心更切，为思君（温庭筠《南歌子》）
　　男：那我们喝杯交心酒，喜结同心好吗？
　　女：舞徐裙带绿双垂，酒入香腮红一抹（欧阳修《玉楼春》）
　　男：你我能长相守吗？
　　女：凭仗东风吹梦，与郎终日东西
　　男：真的吗？
　　女：为君憔悴尽，百花时（温庭筠《潇泪神》）
　　男：……
　　女：忆君肠欲断，恨春宵（温庭筠《更漏子》）
　　男：好，好。非你莫娶。

婚后：
　　男：（电话）亲爱的你想我吗？
　　女：斑竹枝，斑竹技，泪痕点点寄相相思（刘禹锡《潇泪神》）
　　男：（电话）真的吗？没骗我吧？
　　女：红烛背，绣帘垂，梦长君不知（温庭筠《更漏子》）
　　男：（电话）是吗？我也想你。
　　女：只愿君心似我心，定不负相思意（李之仪〈卜算子〉）
　　男：（电话）亲爱的，对不起，我马上就要回来了。
　　女：月照纱窗，恨依依（毛文锡〈纱窗恨〉）
　　（出差回来，发现蛛丝）
　　男：结婚没多久，你怎么能和别人好上呢？
　　女：人不在，燕空归，负佳期（欧阳炯《三字令》）
　　男：你当我愿意出门在外吗？我还不是为这个家死命扒食吗？
　　女：月分明，花淡薄，惹相思（欧阳炯《三字令》）
　　男：不要说得这么好听，你们是怎样好上的？
　　女：风乍起，吹皱一池春水（成幼文《谒金门》）
　　男：（强忍怒气）你和谁好上了？
　　女：两朵隔墙花，早晚连成理（牛希济《生查子》）
　　男：好啊，好啊，你居然和邻居这样丑的男人钩上！怎么钩上的？
　　女：且上高楼望，相共凭栏看月生（冯延已《抛球乐》）
　　男：哼，还挺有诗意。这样丑的男人你怎能看得上？
　　女：记得绿罗裙，处处怜芳草（牛希济《生查子》）
　　男：靠，我对你不也很好吗？我不是经常给你打电话吗？
　　女：终日望君君不至，举头闻鹊喜（成幼文《谒金门》）
　　男：你就不能守守妇道，耐耐寂寞吗？
　　女：年少，年少，行乐直须及早（冯延已《三台令》）
　　男：（气得说不出话来）你，你……
　　女：便总有千种风情，更与何人说？（柳永《雨霖铃》
　　男：这样说你是后悔跟我结婚了哟？
　　女：罗带悔结同心，独凭朱栏思深（韦庄《清平乐》
　　男：你一点也不怀念我们以前的岁月吗？
　　女：剪不断，理还乱，别有一股滋味在心头（李煜〈相见欢〉）
　　男：哪你还这样？
　　女：红杏枝头春意闹
　　男：是你主动的？
　　女：一枝红杏出墙来
　　男：（吐血，晕到……）
　　女：莫莫莫，错错错。

REBGV May Statistics

June 2, 2009

Increased demand steadies housing market in Greater Vancouver

A continued increase in buyer activity over the last four months has resulted in increased home sales and lessened the downward pressure on housing prices in Greater Vancouver.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that the number of residential property sales in Greater Vancouver totalled 3,524 in May 2009, an increase of 17.4 per cent from the 3,002 sales recorded in May 2008, and an increase of 18.9 per cent compared to last month.

Since the beginning of the year, the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price for all residential properties in Greater Vancouver has increased 4.5 per cent to $506,201 from $484,211. However, home prices compared to May 2008 levels are down 10.9 per cent.

“The increased level of buyer activity over the last few months has had a stabilizing effect on home prices across our region,” Scott Russell, REBGV president said. “MLS® data continues to show a trend toward a balanced market in the region.”

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties declined in Greater Vancouver, down 36 per cent to 4,733 in May 2009 compared to May 2008, when 7,390 new units were listed. At 13,641, the total number of property listings on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) declined 4.7 per cent compared to last month and 16 per cent compared to May 2008.

Sales of detached properties increased 16.5 per cent to 1,402 from the 1,203 detached sales recorded during the same period in 2008. The HPI benchmark price for detached properties declined 11.8 per cent from May 2008 to $680,320.

Sales of apartment properties in May 2009 increased 17.2 per cent to 1,458, compared to 1,244 sales in May 2008. The benchmark price of an apartment property declined 10.2 per cent from May 2008 to $349,987.

Attached property sales in May 2009 are up 19.6 per cent to 664, compared with the 555 sales in May 2008. The benchmark price of an attached unit decreased 9 per cent between May 2008 and 2009 to $435,848.

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Bright spots in Greater Vancouver in May 2009 compared to May 2008:

Detached:

Burnaby up 48.9 per cent (140 units sold from 94)

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows up 13.4 per cent (144 units sold from 127)

North Vancouver up 31.4 per cent (134 units sold from 102)

Port Moody/Belcarra up 52.6 per cent (29 units sold from 19)

Richmond up 14.0 per cent (170 units sold from 142)

Vancouver East up 11.1 per cent (180 units sold from 162)

Vancouver West up 59.5 per cent (193 units sold from 121)

Attached:

Burnaby up 31.5 per cent (96 units sold from 73)

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows up 43.8 per cent (46 units sold from 32)

North Vancouver up 31.8 per cent (58 units sold from 44)

Vancouver West up 54.5 per cent (102 units sold from 66)

Apartments:

Burnaby up 32.6 per cent (187 units sold from 141)

North Vancouver up 22.6 per cent (103 units sold from 84)

Richmond up 27.4 per cent (200 units sold from 157)

Vancouver East up 28.7 per cent (139 units sold from 108)

Vancouver West up 25.4 per cent (529 units sold from 422)

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Download complete stats package here.

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia. In 2008, 24,626 homes changed hands in the Board's area generating $1.03 billion in spin-offs. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver is an association representing more than 9,400 REALTORS®. The Real Estate Board provides a variety of membership services, including the Multiple Listing Service®. For more information on real estate, statistics, and buying or selling a home, contact a local REALTOR® or visit www.rebgv.org.

The Canadian $ Rally

While many trading businesses are joyous over the Canadian Dollar's recent strength, it does not bode good news for the barely revitalized local BC real estate market which as previous analysis has suggested has been supported mainly by foreign investors. So as Canadian $ goes for par, it will be increasingly expensive for the foreign investors even if the real estate price still remains steady.

It is not difficult to predict that housing starts will continue falling as developers wait for the market to stabilize but more importantly, credit lendings are almost a lockdown for banks, leaving developers no choice but to accept exuberant rates from private lenders thus cutting sharply into whatever little profit margin they have left. Here are CMHC released April housing data for Vancouver and Abbotsford.

Highlights are as follow:

Year to Date Starts 2008 - 6691
Year to Date Starts 2009 - 2302

Year to Date Completions 2008 - 5540
Year to Date Completions 2009 - 5377

Under Construction April 2008 - 26253
Under Construction April 2009 - 22494

Completed but Unabsorbed 2008 - 1445
Completed but Unabsorbed 2009 - 2368

Hotels and tourism are also heavily affected. Last I heard, Shangri-La Hotel was giving away free valet parking and a $100 credit towards the mini-bar and restaurants for a night's stay.

修养之道

自制力优越一般品格，是一种高贵的修养。要知虚荣心乃人之常情，娘胎而始，随着因人而异的修养而有所改变。

何谓修养？从自制到自然，既来之，则安之，知足常乐，参透一切，笑看一切，大谬也。理不通，智不够，材不足，教之也，训之也，让时间陪着成长，让虚荣慢慢的死去。诚如此，随着成长，人会学会谦虚，懂得放开胸怀，尊敬他人更尊敬自己。脱下了虚荣的面具，不需伪装，你会看到以往未曾看到的世界之美。

伪裝，只是一种姿态。 就男欢女爱而言，男人伪装坚强，只是害怕被女人发现他软弱， 女人伪装幸福，只是害怕被男人发现她伤心。换句话说，缺乏修养的爱是伪装而成，平衡着占有和避免失去的欲望。一说：夫妻本是同林鸟，大难临头各自飞。又说：执子之手，与子偕老；死生契阔，与子相悦。一说：娶了媳妇，忘了娘。又说：世上只有妈妈好。 世事矛盾是因为变化来的太快，想要平衡却措手不及。太多的时间精力都花费在猜人心思，解读背后含义，或打造一个形象。这又何苦？

反之，有修养的爱是神圣和无私，无条件的付出和衷心的祝福。因为少了那份执著，爱才能冰洁玉清。古人云“十年修得同船渡，百年修得共枕眠” ，有如此心境方可修得旷世情缘，觅到真爱。

修养之道何其之深，大家都要好好努力。

Archie picks Veronica

So after 67 years, Archie will finally make a choice between the rich, unattainable prize and the girl-next-door. Poor Betty, she must be heart-broken but let's face it, Veronica is almost every man's dream by current standards. Sure, Veron is spoiled but with good reasons to be so; she is rich, famous, glamourous and sexy.

For the longest time, Archie seemed to have the best of both worlds and I have to question whether Archie can remain faithful and committed. Time will tell or perhaps, this will mark the end of the Archie comics as the writers leave things to the imagination.

If you were Archie, who would you have picked?

Canadian Home Prices Continue Decline

I just checked out the House Price Index May Report which indicates that Canadian home prices are still heading downhill:

More deflation, Montreal holding up best Canadian home prices in March were down 5.8% from a year earlier, according to the Teranet-National Bank National Composite House Price Index™. It was the fourth consecutive 12-month decline. March was also the seventh straight month in which the composite index was down from the month before - the longest run of monthly declines since the beginning of index coverage in February 2000. The composite is now down 8.5% from its peak of last August. Teranet – National Bank National Composite House Price Index™

Of the six constituent city indices, four were down from a year earlier: Vancouver (−9.6%), Calgary (−8.4%), Toronto (−6.7%) and Halifax (−0.8%). While prices were still up from a year earlier in Montreal (3.2%) and Ottawa (2.8%), the 12-month increase in those two cities has decelerated markedly in recent months. In Calgary, prices have been correcting for well over a year now - since August 2007 - and are now down 12.7% from the peak of that month. Calgary has shown monthly declines in 16 of the 19 months posted since then, including every month from last July through March. Vancouver prices have also shown nine consecutive monthly declines, and are down 11.7% from peak. Toronto prices have declined seven months in a row and are down 10.8% from peak. Ottawa prices have declined five months in a row and are down 4.3% from peak. A run of three monthly declines in Halifax was interrupted in March, but prices there are 3.0% below their November peak. Montreal prices have held up better. In March they were flat from the month before, down 1.6% from the peak of last September after monthly declines in four of the six intervening months. Teranet – National Bank House Price Index™ The historical data of the Teranet – National Bank House Price Index™ is available at http://www.housepriceindex.ca/