Saturday, March 31, 2007

Let me tell you, those people in the ACLU sure get some weird ideas. Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California said, "We've always felt that a flashlight was not an instrument to beat people with.”

Well, lady, what do you think the police carry flashlights for? Especially in LA! To see in the dark, ha ha ha? Wassamatter, why you hate America? You want the terrorists to win? Sheesh.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070330/ap_on_re_us/police_flashlights

Friday, March 30, 2007



When I came back from the US, I posted acerbic comments about security at LAX (this blog, February 26 this year); at least they were supposed to be acerbic enough, and since I am a Serb, I think that will have to do, lest we melt down computer terminals.

However, in all fairness, I would like you to know that those arrogant fatheads have actually caught themselves a suspect. Fadhel Al-Maliki, a 35 year old Iraqi national living in Atlantic City, NJ, set off metal detectors as he passed through. Al-Maliki said he knew what had triggered the alarms, and “proceeded to remove items from his rectum, including a rock, chewing gum, and thin wire filament”(LA Times OC B3 2007.03.07, by Andrew Blankstein).(See? I have a source, I am not making this up.)

The article continues, “Concern that the objects might be components for an explosive device led authorities to call in the Los Angeles Police Department and FBI bomb technicians as well as a hazardous material team.” If he can make a bomb out of a rock, chewing gum, and thin wire filament while riding on an airplane, I say, more power to him, sign him up for the CIA, the country needs this guy!

Unfortunately, such was not the case. Al-Maliki explained that the objects in his rectum were used to alleviate stress, especially the rock, which came from another planet.

I suspect Al-Maliki came from another planet, but I would love to see a transcript of his questioning. It probably went like this.

FBI: “Why did you feel you have to alleviate stress?”

AM: “Wouldn’t you be stressed out if you were an Iraqi national trying to go through security to board a flight?”


Or maybe:

LAPD: “Why did you feel you have to alleviate stress?”

AM: “Wouldn’t you be stressed out if you had a rock, chewing gum, and thin wire up your rectum?


I’m just conjecturing, but do remember to visit this blog daily for important news updates and tasteful humor.

Photo by Chao, permission assumed

今天二月十二,花朝節,即百花的生日。

Thursday, March 29, 2007

年將七十老爺說

兩年前,有一天晚上我宵夜吃太油膩,早上睡醒嘴巴歪一邊。去看醫生,醫生說是輕微中風,給了藥叫我吃。我吃了兩個禮拜還沒好,我跟醫生說,不行,你多給我幾個禮拜的藥,我要回家鄉。

上飛機,大家都在看我,這個人嘴巴怎麼歪一邊?飛機上,只有我一個人嘴巴是歪的。

回到家鄉,我四弟看到,說,咦?哥哥嘴巴怎麼歪一邊?我不要他擔心,我就騙他說,因為哥哥打kiss太多,所以嘴巴歪一邊。

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

I have reached a solution for a thorny problem: gun control. My solution ~~ you may call it the Talovich Solution ~~ requires two laws be instituted simultaneously across the board. This will make everybody happy: rich gun manufacturers (they’re the only ones who really count in this debate) as well as you and me and police and legislators. Even Moses and Charlton Heston.

The first law calls for a total repeal of all gun control laws whatsoever. To purchase any gun you like, all you have to do is plunk down money on the counter, or sell yourself to the credit card people. No age limits, no background checks, no phone numbers, no ID, no nothing. Across the counter you may buy any gun you can afford, from a little pistol that will fit in my lady’s purse to an assault gun that could chip holes in the moon. Take it home to fondle and drool over.

The second law, which is to be enacted at the same time and with the same thoroughness, calls for a total ban on all ammunition. Guns don’t kill people, people don’t kill people, bullets kill people. So all the people can have all the guns they want, but possession of a single bullet requires the invariable execution of the death penalty. By your own gun and with your own bullet, if you so desire, but make an iron-clad law that possession of ammunition by anyone but an on-duty police officer or warfighter results in death by firing squad.

I’m sure not even death penalty opponents would mind that too much, and most guys buy guns just so they can wrap their hands around that big, long, hot, masculine firearm. Shooting is not really what gets them off. They just want to run their hands up and down that big, long, hot, masculine, throbbing uhh firearm. So everybody’s happy. Heck, they’ll probably thank me for saving them a bundle on ammunition.

Quick, quick,, if you hurry you can be the first to nominate me for a Nobel Peace Price.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

聽說政府計畫將屠宰業集中在大型屠宰場;動物在中央屠宰場殺了再把肉賣到各個市場。

這樣作好嗎?我吃素,我的立場,大家都不吃肉的話,大家健康快樂,這樣比較好。現在的肉販把血淋淋的肉賣給消費者,起碼提醒消費者,那是動物的屍首。用漂亮保麗龍保鮮膜包裝,消費者可以不想無辜牲畜屍體,而且增加許多垃圾。

屠宰業集中在大型屠宰場,我看不出好處。作屠夫不容易,要學;如果集中起來,一定會將屠法簡化,以降低屠殺者的薪資;美其名是降低成本。要了解這個道理,想一想餐廳廚師領的薪水,與在速食店翻漢堡的廉價工。廚師有一技之長,所以薪水高,為了保持食物水準老闆必須讓他三分;速食店的伙計簡化,學三分鐘就會了,老闆把薪水壓的與僱員人格一樣低。說是價格比較便宜呢,該計社會成本再說。

如果屠宰各自進行,屠夫可以做小本生意,靠自己。他要找雞鴨牛豬貨源,可以找小型養殖場;甲養十隻雞,乙養五十隻。動物在小型養殖場一定比較幸福:當然都是冤枉的死刑犯,但比照之下,小型養殖場比較人道;大形養殖場簡直是人造地獄。

小型養殖,小型屠宰,各自分散,很多人可以靠自己,作自己的事業,作自的老闆。大型養殖,大型屠宰,只有財團可以問津。有錢人越有錢,小老百姓越拮据,拼經濟原來是這樣嘛。

小型養殖場還有一個好處:生物多樣性。甲養的雞,是阿公留下的種,乙的雞從南部朋友家買來的,種類、基因與甲的不同;因為屠夫一天的量有限,各別看、各別判斷買不買。大型屠宰場這樣作的話,不符成本;必須統一規格,生物多樣性便不顧了。

說來說去,政府也不會理我。可是自己想。雞、鵝、鴨、魚、牛、羊、豬、鰻,跟你有甚麼仇?何必殘害牠們?不過呢,吃了就有仇。殺牠,牠怕、痛、怨;吃牠,對自己健康有害無益。最好還是不殺,不吃。

Monday, March 26, 2007

現在票選國鳥 www.birdingintaiwan.com ; 沒有國,哪有鳥?姑不論,,我當然捧鄰居的場,投藍鵲的票。看樣子藍鵲領先,但無管如何,希望黃山雀不上。為甚麼?因為黃山雀的英文是yellow tit;臺灣這幾年鬧的笑話已經太多,不必給天下人這個笑柄。

Sunday, March 25, 2007


Continental drift provoked vehement controversy when it was first proposed, but now we have definite proof that it is correct. As evidence, I wish to present this map I photographed on 南陽 street in Taipei (某留學代辦). Notice the London has moved severely to the northwest, dumping Cambridge in the Irish Sea.

Prepare to meet your fate, Paddy. Before long, London will be muscling aside Dublin, and the English dream of overwhelming Ireland will finally come true, through inexorable geological processes.


Friday, March 23, 2007

Tayal qutux: Baq su ga, Oro 中風了.

Me: Pongan gu.

Tayal sazing: Ima Oro?

Me: Oro yutas 甜美.

Tayal sazing: Nanu sa 中風?

Tayal qutux: Nipun gwaw ini tnaq la.

Translation:

Tayal A: Do you know that Oro had a stroke?

Me: I have heard that.

Tayal B: Which Oro?

Me: Tienmei’s father.

Tayal B: How did that happen?

Tayal A: He didn’t drink enough liquor.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

what some people won't do to get an upgrade....
http://www.strangedangers.com/content/item/123619.html

Wednesday, March 21, 2007


國畫擅寫意。若寫實,勉與洋畫比,略嫌不如;但飄逸玄虛,無有可與中國畫比者:深山霧煙、農夫悠然垂釣、佛道意境、高士恬淡頤神,華夏水墨之最。

其弊,白石詩道盡:

山外樓臺雲外峰

匠家千古此雷同

今居高樓大廈,西裝革履,機車捷運的畫士,筆下猶出文人騎驢過茅屋,書童抱琴隨。

國畫歹。水墨畫交通警察騎摩托車過霓虹燈五彩繽紛的檳榔攤,不類,非其長;但依例畫蓮池佚舢舨,小橋遇佳人,遠矣。或以今人心境不飄渺,雅士全被卡拉ok嚇跑。

待賢者解之。

Tuesday, March 20, 2007



夫子一定會木彫。宰予晝寢,子曰,朽木不可雕,這是行話。

木腐朽鬆垮,不收刀鑿;然木過于堅硬,亦不可琱。木必質堅理順,刀入而不崩,鑿淨而不乖,是好木:可彫。木彫如此,教書更是如此。

Monday, March 19, 2007

三隻小豬列為成語,可見在杜正勝眼中,西洋的童話可與華夏奧妙文學媲美。怎麼有這麼崇洋的政權?

陳水扁很重視這位讒諛部長,因為每次杜貽笑大方,大眾注意力移到教育部,暫忘總統的荒誕言行。寧將人民教育付之一炬,不願少釋權柄。

Saturday, March 17, 2007


You’ve got to hand it to the Irish, they sure can sing. Although I have only a smattering of Irish blood, Irish folk songs have beguiled me since I was a boy. At the drop of a hat I could sing dozens and dozens of Irish folk songs by heart, so keep a good grip on your headwear in my vicinity.

But something about Irish songs has perplexed me. They have plenty of songs celebrating their heroes, but have you noticed something about their heroes?


Roddy McCorley

Up the narrow streets he strides, smiling, proud, and young
Upon the hang-rope on his neck, his golden ringlets flung,
There was never a tear in his blue eyes, both sad and bright are they,
For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the Bridge of Toome today.


The Minstrel Boy

The minstrel fell but the yeoman’s chains
Could not pull that proud soul under


Kelly the Boy from Kilanne

Poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross
With her heart pierced by traitors and knaves


Boulavogue

At Vinegar Hill, o’er pleasant Slaney,
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
The British soldiers took Father Murphy
And burned his body upon the rack

The Dying Rebel

My only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold

Tiperrary

His comrades gathered around him
To bid him a last farewell
He was as true and as brave a lad
As ever in battle fell

The Croppy Boy

As I stood on the gallows high,
My aged father did me deny

Foggy Dew

While Britannia’s sons with their long range guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew
the bravest fell, and the mourning bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year

Kevin Barry

In Mount Joy Jail one Monday morning,
High upon the gallow’s string
Kevin Barry gave his young life
For the cause of liberty.
But a lad of 18 summers,
Yet no true man can deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head up high.

James Connolly

He went to his death like a true son of Ireland
The firing party he bravely did face.
Then the order sang out: Present arms, fire!
James Connolly fell into a newly dug grave.

God Save Ireland

High upon the gallows tree swung the noble hearted three~~

I could go on, but you should notice the trend by now: all their heroes get exterminated, many by execution rather than on the battlefield.

For a long time I have wondered why it is that Irish folk songs always go on and on about how bravely their heroes met their deaths. Can't they think more positively?

The answer occurred to me: the Irish have never won a war. I am no authority on Irish history, but I think that throughout their history, they have lost every war they fought, or rather, if they did win any wars, those wars were fought against other Irish.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but off the top of my head, I cannot think of a single war the Irish won.

Now I’ve said that, the IRA will probably bomb my blog.

The luck of the Irish! But happy Saint Patrick’s Day anyway. God save Ireland, just so they can keep singing.

Friday, March 16, 2007

About ten days ago, I bought a bunch of plantains from MM’s truck and hung them up to ripen. An hour earlier, Lacya had done the same. She lives a few minute’s walk away, at the roadside; her elevation is about 50 meters below mine.

Her plantains have been ripe for days, already turning brown, and half have been eaten already. Mine are just now turning yellow, but are mostly green. I expect to start eating them in a few more days.

Talk about microclimate! If I shouted loud enough, she could hear me, but conditions APBRP* are clearly different. I conjecture the road is the deciding factor, with the heat from the asphalt and passing cars. Now multiply that by the number of paved roads and motor vehicles in your vicinity. Is it any wonder we are faced with global warming?

====

*APBRP is a scientific term for measuring meteorological variation; it stands for As Proved By Ripening Plantains, and was invented by GB Talovich in March 2007. Application is, for some reason, still not widespread; suspect a conspiracy of silence. Or silliness.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

李漁 閒情偶寄:

養生之訣,當以善睡屬先。睡能還精,睡能養氣,睡能健脾益胃,睡能堅骨壯筋。

Good night.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

「三四十年前,醫院一進去就有藥味,只有耕莘醫院沒有,因為他們天天清潔。那個時候,所有醫院,只有耕莘最乾淨。有一次我到桃園看朋友,他住省立醫院,Yugan,桃園醫院真髒!一進去就聞到藥味、病人的味道、很多味道,真臭!很臭!比我們泰雅山上打獵的工寮還髒!沒看過那麼髒的醫院,臺灣最髒的。

「有人跟我說,『不要去耕莘醫院,因為你是基督徒,他們是天主教醫院,你是基督徒,所以你應該到馬偕。』Yugan,醫生不在乎你是甚麼教,只要是病人,醫生就醫。回教徒生病,醫生照樣醫。所以我是基督徒,可是我還是要去耕莘。」

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

All those who labor under the fantasy that the United States was founded as a Christian nation would do well to note that at the very beginning, John Winthrop argued heatedly against making the Massachusetts Bay Colony more democratic, because he observed that would go against the scriptures.

As I recall, there is an Old Testament book called Kings, but no book called Presidents or Senators. For senators, you have to look to pagan Rome. Democracy sprang from heathen Greece, not monarchic Israel.

Monday, March 12, 2007

論衡率性篇:「不患性惡,患其不服聖教。」斯語似是,卻有病。聖教能服人,以其合人性;倘聖者教人飛樹築巢,雖欲勉為之,亦不可行也。是以聖人教天下,化民風,順其本然者而為教。

不思善不思惡,因為善惡是人為假合;無客觀善,無客觀惡,因于人之需要,而善惡生焉。何以言「人為假合」?若人立崖觀狂瀾,推而墜之,惡也;但魚乘狂瀾置身崖上,推而墜之,善也。推而墜之,一也,于人于魚異,人魚不同性,故其善惡亦不同。

人性若惡,無以服聖教;若不能服人,非聖教也矣。

Sunday, March 11, 2007

From www.overheardinnewyork.com
Man to child in stroller: ... Then we push her over the edge of the cliff. That's called getting even!--
President & 5th Ave, BrooklynOverheard by: George

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
A movie about the British hangman Albert Pierrepoint showed on the flight from LA to HK. In his autobiography, Executioner: Pierrepoint, he stated, "I have come to the conclusion that executions solve nothing, and are only an antiquated relic of a primitive desire for revenge which takes the easy way and hands over the responsibility for revenge to other people. "

There has been quite a bit of discussion recently about the death penalty. If the death penalty is used as an instrument of the law, and does not discriminate against certain races, classes, or castes, it does have the advantage that it does a good job of assuring that the offender does not offend again.

If a fair trial can be assured, that seems reasonable. The objection to the death penalty has been made that it is a form of revenge. First, what's wrong with revenge?

Second, if justice is not to be vengeful, what is to be said about jails? If jails are not revenge, what are they?

I agree with the principle of removing evildoers from society so society may function freely and safely without harm. The crux of all my arguments is fair police and fair trials; for example, in America, police and courts which do not discriminate against people with black skin or Spanish accents. (In this respect, the US might learn something from Taiwan; I have never heard any complaints about police or judicial prejudice against aborigines.)

If prisoners learned some sort of lessons in jails, I would not call jails vengeful. Constructive lessons, I mean. It would be nice if prisoners learned better citizenship, a trade, self respect, better behavior. I have never been in prison, but I understand that American prisoners learn humiliation, rape, hate, and how to be a more effective criminal. The only motive for shutting people up in modern prisons, especially American prisons, seems to be to make them suffer. That's revenge. So if that is ok, what's wrong with the death penalty as revenge?

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Too often they tell me to answer my doubts with prayer, which seems very much like addressing one's hunger by thinking of food.
-- Valentino Achek Deng, in What is the What
A great difference between Christianity and Buddhism. Christianity does not allow doubt; Buddhism encourages doubt. 小疑小悟,大疑大悟.

Friday, March 09, 2007

We live in an age that tells us, Be Yourself, then in the next breath tells us, straighten your teeth! get a nose job! have a face lift! lose those wrinkles! dye your hair! In other words, be yourself, just so you are just like everybody else.

Mark my words, the next big thing will be plastic surgery for pets. I'm not talking about simple tail docking or ear chopping. Think of nose jobs, eye redoes, fur transplants, coat dyes, breast implants, nail jobs, and tail lengthening! Yes, size does matter! Aren't you aware that your dog feels inferior when all the other pooches wag their studly, masculine tails, and your dog's tail JUST DOESN'T MEASURE UP? Now proven surgical techniques will lengthen your dog's tail, providing greater satisfaction ("She barked all night long when I wagged my new tail!" an authentic quote from a satisfied customer, Rover O. of Altoona, PA). Cats will flee in terror at the sight of your dog's mighty new tail! Your neighbors' dogs will cringe in envy! Don't wait, bring your dog NOW to Barnum's Pet Plastic Surgery Clinic; easy financing, low interest!

Tell me this isn't going to be the biggest craze since hula hoops! If you're smart, you'll invest now, ahead of the curve.

I don't know about other places, but in Taipei you can drop your dog off on your way to work at a dog spa, where your dog will have a sauna and shampoo; after a hard day of work, you pick up your dog, perfumed and combed, with ribbons in its hair and painted toenails. You know that a dog's favorite perfume is dead fish, the kind that has been on the beach for four days under a strong sun, but you also know the dog spa isn't spraying your pet with anything like that. It's a wonder more people don't get bitten by their dogs!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

In the Boston subway, the History Channel advertises its latest program with a photo of a rockclimber making his way across a stone face that looks like a Buddha in Angkor Wat. The climber is protected by a chock placed in a crack in the Buddha's forehead.

This image is highly offensive on many counts. Angkor Wat is a fragile site of great age; I am appalled that the History Channel feels that sending a climber to grind his feet into the rock is the proper way to display and protect this precious sculpture. If he fell, how much damage would the chock do to the sculpture? Does the History Channel seriously believe that this is a good example of how we are to act in an ancient archeological site of great cultural and religious significance?

The act of climbing across the face of a Buddha is shocking, and expresses extreme contempt for all Buddhists everywhere. Placing shoes on this ancient monument demonstrates great disrespect for the cultural treasures of the people of Cambodia. How would the American public feel if a Cambodian climbed into the Lincoln Memorial to urinate on Lincoln's head? What would Christians do if the History Channel advertised its latest programs with photos of a Buddhist trampling across DaVinci's Last Supper in mountain boots, or climbing the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel with carefully placed chocks?

This photograph is a sad example of American arrogance and the contempt with which the History Channel holds other cultures and religions.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007



我這生聽過演講技術最爛的,毫無疑問是Zopa仁波切。”….. yes… it is….. yes…. yes…. it is ….. no ….. it is …. yellow …. no, it is yellow, yes ….. no ….. yellow …. it ….. yellow, no ….. and so!.... yes …. it is ….. it …. no ……it …. yellow …. and so!….. yes ….. yes, yellow, therefore ….. you see, yellow, therefore …. and so! but …. yes…. it is ….. no ….. it is …. yellow …. no, it is yes yellow, no ….. and so! … yellow ….. 講這麼一段,至少三分鐘。聽過他演講的話,知道我這是實錄,一點也不誇張。他的忠實弟子雷久南博士非常厲害,上師台上不知所云五六分鐘,她不只聽懂藏腔英語,還能把上師要講的重點很清楚地譯成國語。

演講技術那麼爛,為甚麼要聽呢?不要聽,可是要知道,他那樣講,是因為他上台入定。不要理他講的,他放的氣絕妙無比;他講的時候,專心浸淫他的氣場中,然後等雷博士講解。

不僅吸了很多好氣,很多重要修行法門,也是跟他學的;說不定是雷久南自己的心得報告,借上師的場發表的;不得而知,因為上師講甚麼,我真的不知道。

聽說他有一次在印度演講,在台上「演講」三個小時,等他睜開眼睛結束的時候,演講廳空無一人。大家不耐煩,全走光了。

Monday, March 05, 2007

We take so much pride in progress, but how much real progress have we made? Our farming ancestors spent their working days trudging with a plow following (depending on the culture) a horse's rear end, a mule's rear end, or a water buffalo's rear end.

When you think of President Dubya or President Bean (陳水扁 of the ROC), you have to ask, What's the difference? We're still following a dumb mammal's rear end.

Keep your eye on your leader and you STILL get the same thing.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

The Catholic church could very easily make a strong comeback. All they would have to do is resurrect the almost forgotten cult of St Wilgefortis. Who? The saint for getting rid of detested husbands.

They could gild the dome of St Peter's with the revenue for one year from the Wilgefortis cult in the US alone
.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

從香港飛回臺灣的飛機上有一位先生讀一本「企業策略」;我覺得很恐怖,這種書怎會有人想看?可是他看得彷彿津津有味。坐捷運看人把報紙先翻開財經板;更甚者,書店裏商業書類擺出那麼多書目,不止有人花錢買,還有人花時間花心血寫,于我,簡直是無法理喻。

話又說回來,文化、藝術工作者或鄙視、仇視那種企業策略讀者,實也不妥:沒有他們怎麼有我們?我畢生志氣,希望成為社會的寄生蟲。可是我看清楚,要寄生嘛,要有可寄生之處。

楊哥小時很想拉小提琴,爺奶罵、父母不准:吃都吃不飽,拉甚麼琴?那時臺灣太窮。聽過很多人說年少時愛好文化藝術,只因臺灣太窮,父母不准,朋友譏笑,師長不許,同學反對,只好作罷。

現在臺灣富裕,可以養活我這種閒雜人口,對于企業策略讀者,我感恩。休叫我看就是了。

說不定我的甲骨金文論語禮記,他們不愛看。哈哈哈說笑,像「古籀彙編」如此精彩的書,怎麼可能有人不愛看?