For some reason, for the last couple of days the San Marino High football fight song has been playing in my ears. I haven’t heard the song for decades, I have no idea what triggered this, and I didn’t even go to San Marino High School.

Now I sort of know how Kafka’s guy felt when he woke up and found he had turned into a cockroach.

…and we will win tonight!

「鳳梨」，我高興的話，我叫它「苦瓜」，有甚麼不可以呢？誰規定「鳳梨」一定要叫「鳳梨」不能叫「苦瓜」？但我去買果汁，我跟老闆說要一杯苦瓜汁，他給我的是甚麼？我可以要求他了解我說「苦瓜」是指「鳳梨」嗎？

社會大眾對言語字句有共同認識，我們才能溝通；我們都認為那個黃黃有刺的叫做鳳梨，另一個綠綠長皰的叫做苦瓜，我們才好溝通。隨便用語言，一方面與它人的溝通崩潰，另一方面自己思路難通。所以孔子說，「必也正名乎。…名不正，則言不順；言不順，則事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所措手足。故君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也。君子於其言，無所苟而已矣。」道理顯淺易懂。

「我以為」，這句是臺灣目前一個大問題。太多人主觀太強，我以為怎樣就怎樣，錯的再離譜，拼命自圓其說，還理直氣壯。大家「我以為」、懶得求證、思想不嚴謹，臺灣前途堪虞。如前不久臺大、政大到中、南美洲的「青年大使」團亂穿亂跳，卻說是原住民服裝、舞蹈，被糾正還有一大堆解釋。謙虛、認錯、進步應該沒那麼難。我們不要犯同樣的毛病。

北美印地安把一種動物看做是個人或族群的祖先或守護神，他們叫做dodaem。英文沒有這個字，所以就譯音，成為totem。中文沒有這個字，清末翻譯大師嚴復依他閩北方言譯音為「圖騰」，這純粹是譯音而已，跟圖沒有關係，跟騰沒有關係。如果嚴復是北方人，他可能會譯為「投丹」或「兜丹」，也都可以，因為是譯音而已。何星亮著「中國圖騰文化」解釋：「圖騰是血緣親屬；圖騰是祖先；圖騰是保護神。」

近年來，臺灣有人望文生義，看到圖騰的圖字，主觀意識作祟，以為圖騰與圖案有關係，懶得求證、思想不嚴謹，反正講一個比較不懂的片語好像很內行，就把「圖騰」當做是有民族風格的圖案。你說沒有關係嗎？我說大有關係，人與人之間的溝通依賴我們對字句的共同認識。不然，高興的話，說「圖騰」的意思就是「鳳梨汁」，也沒有關係呀！

君子於其言，無所苟而已矣，難道我們不能效法君子嗎？

If the ancients had seen this, they would have told about a monster who lives at the bottom of the swamp who has an unquenchable thirst and eats trees whole.

Of course, once the myths passed down to us, we would sneer and congratulate ourselves on being so much more clever than the ancients. I mean really, whole trees disappearing into the bottom of a swamp? Everybody knows wood floats, it’s obviously impossible.

CLICK<<< If I were the cameraman for these videos, I would be ready to pick up my heels at any moment and sprint for solid ground, preferably in the next state. 

蒼頡篇：倄，下交切，痛聲也。

訓詁曰：倄，火故反，痛而謼也。

Yeow!!

或許我沒那麼愛權。我實扗不懂為甚麼有人想當總統。美國國父George Washington被強迫連任，就職典禮前他說心情好像要去見儈子手。

當年Jimmy Carter花兩年半競選總統，我很懷疑他的權力慾怎麼那麼多大。他雖然笑容可掬，但當總統平平，而糟糕的是，因為他的無能，接下來雷根上臺。

馬英九競選臺北市長時，已經很明顯看得出，他太「好好先生」，不夠狠，不適合從政：搞政治，一定要笑裏藏刀，卡特就是沒有那把刀，馬英九也沒有。臺灣所謂的民主，是亂罵政府、享受憤怒、一切不需要自己負責、一切都是政府的錯，即使他做得再好，也沒用。

蔡英文願意花四年競選，笑容可掬，拼命去打點民眾，大概很想要享受一下權力的滋味吧。那滋味甜嗎？當總統已經夠苦，扗臺灣當總統，苦上加苦吧。我懷疑，到時候她會不會後悔？

現在臺灣有邦交的只有二十三個國家，其中大約二十個想斷交，要跟中共建交，但北京看中華民國的面子，不接受。蔡英文當總統第二天，會有二十個國家斷交，她一定要想個對策。

最近有人喊著「拆政府」，有理：拆了，中共更好接管。

下雨啦~~ 

rain, we got rain. 

Miracles happen: link<<<

五胡亂華，故史書字句或特難解。

太元十五年 (390 AD)

吐谷渾連遣使獻見于金城乾歸乾歸拜視連州牧白蘭王

太元十六年 (391 AD)

金城王乾歸擊越質詰歸詰歸降…夏四月燕蘭汗破賀染干於牛都

太元十七年 (392 AD)
休官權千成據顯親自稱秦州牧

我最愛沒有標點的書~~

今晚在國父紀念館參加一個非常奇特的表演。不是公演，觀眾必受邀請才能入場。每一位上臺表演的人都坐警備車來。主辦單位是矯正署，十個月來在臺灣各個監獄舉行才藝比賽，選出最優秀的團體或個人，八個節目上臺。第一個是彰化監獄的鼓舞團，敲大鼓(中國戰鼓)打出各種節奏，有板有眼，有呼有應，氣勢澎湃。他們本來就由優人神鼓訓練，所以也難怪表演水平那麼高。

接下來就明陽中學的街舞；或許我偏心，但我認為當年我們孝三班的不輸他們。第三個表演也是彰化監獄，演奏印尼竹琴。這團很明顯年紀較長，穿著印尼sarong裙、頭戴羽毛，很認真搖出望春風。看這些大哥兒們，有的看起來不好惹，也會想，如果二十年前有人說，「你將來會穿裙子在國父紀念館上臺表演，頭上還插三根長羽毛，頂尖還有小白羽」，不知道他們會怎麼想…可是每一位很用心、很投入音樂。

我們等待的是第四團，因為我輔導三年的同學在裏面。這團是管弦樂，由臺北、臺中、宜縣監獄、明陽中學組團。看到他緊張、嚴肅、認真的樣子，十分高興。

臺中、屏東監獄的小團演變臉、變裝，瞬間變，像魔術一樣。臺南、臺中、屏東監獄的國樂團演兩個曲子。要想，受型人本來不容易合作、不肯服從別人，而現在不只是要練琴、音準、拍子、曲調，還要與其它人配合、看指揮的指示，很不容易，但演的非常好聽。不輸外面的專業團體。

泰源技能所與臺東監獄聯合跳原住民舞蹈，活潑、有力、變化，有聲有色。其它團大概最羨慕這個團，因為只有這團是男女合舞。

最後是臺中、嘉義監獄的合唱團，唱兩首。其中我很喜歡三百六十五里路>>click<<他們唱的感觸特別深。

總而言之，高牆裏很多人才，希望他們能夠好好把他們的才華用在正途，回社會後過平安、幸福的日子。

Tonight we went to an extraordinary concert, not open to the public. The performers all came in locked buses. The show was hosted by the Agency of Corrections. For the last ten months, competitions have been held in prisons all over Taiwan for the best performers, and the winners took the stage last night. The audience was quite a set, too: mostly family members, a lot of wardens, and some, like us, teachers and counselors. I entered the Sun Yat Sen Memorial on the heels of the Vice President, but he got a better seat. The place was packed.

The first act was a drum troupe, performing on Chinese war drums, very powerful, perfectly coordinated, endless variations. They were followed by street dancers, then a group performing on angklung (a bamboo musical instrument) from Indonesia, dressed appropriately. This group was noticeably older. I wondered what would have happened twenty years ago if someone had told one of these guys, “Some day you’ll be on the stage of the SYS Memorial, dressed in a skirt, with feathers in your hair.” Hmmm. But they threw themselves into their music, and performed excellently.

We were there for the fourth act, a wind and brass ensemble, because a student I have counseled for three years performed, and, if you don’t mind my saying so, shined brightly.

The next act was Sichuan face and costume changes, in which characters dressed in Chinese opera clothes change their faces in a flash, and change whole costumes in less than a second. Very impressive.

Then there was Chinese music, Aborigine dancing, and a chorus whose conductor stole the show.

These men have lived hard lives, bending to no-one, questioning all authority. It is hard for anyone to learn how to play an instrument and get the pitch and meter just right, but it is doubly difficult for them to harmonize with others, follow directions, and work for a common goal. They performed superbly. The drums and Chinese music were as good or better than anything you hear from professionals. They have the talent. Now I hope they can put their talent to good work, to build better lives for themselves and their families. 

吃晚餐，很不幸我的座位剛好對準餐廳的電視。雖然不想看，但難免會看到一些。畫面一變，出現了北韓金正恩，我肅然起敬：電視新聞報導了重要事情！

好景不長。北韓新聞報了約莫十五秒之後，就轉成日本女明星穿泳裝在職棒比賽投一球，報了三、四分鐘。

愚民。臺灣電視新聞只有一個詞可以形容：愚民。

今天熱嗎？我們到中正堂華香素食吃午餐，難得一見:沒有人。

 How hot was it today? 

The CKS Memorial, a favorite gathering spot, was deserted.

39.3C, a record high for Taipei. 

A lot of people in Taiwan live in this dream world where all we have to do is shriek Love Taiwan and everything will be peachy. Taiwan will become an independent nation, countries around the world will rush to recognize us and thrust a cornucopia of benefits into our hands, all our problems will be solved. 

Others may not agree. Taiwan, the ROC, has only a handful of allies, countries that formally recognize the government. The bright side is that you can see some really unusual flags downtown when their Leader comes to visit, flags you probably don't see often elsewhere. The other side is that Mainland China is, without much effort, isolating Taiwan even further simply through its might, as these allies seek to ditch Taiwan and ally themselves with the PRC. What can you say? "It doesn't make any sense any more economically speaking to be affiliated with Taiwan," says Margaret Myers, director of the China and Latin America program at the Interamerican Dialogue. It would be nice if some people could wake up and stop dreaming.
link

昨天早上到臺北，下午才有課，所以先到了一家咖啡店，點了咖啡、點心，就把通鑑第八冊拿出來，看看秦王堅死後，姚萇如何做。真是喪心病狂，等一下挖人家的墓，下一步供起來說神助。

我發現我四周的人，嘴巴裏只有一個話題：$。星期六早上，都穿便服，可是都扗講股票、房地產、公司營業額、這個案子可以賺多少錢、怎樣賺更多錢。天啊，沒有一個談親戚、朋友、愛情，沒有一個講理想，沒有一個談思想問題，更沒有人討論文學、繪畫、音樂，只有錢錢錢，真可憐。生活中沒有一個「美」字，要那麼多錢幹嘛？

我也愛錢，多多益善，但錢要為我服務，我不要為錢活。

素食館有這個好處：週遭聽到的話題，往往是討論佛法、面對人生、講比較營養的事。

來山上之前，我扗杭州南路住了十八年，正值「街頭運動」，要上班要過立法院，所以，甚麼示威我都見過。

民進黨早期的示威，分兩種人參加：一部分充滿忿怒、上街找東西破壞；其它都是鄉村運來的阿公阿媽，領了帽子、參加了遊行，就準備領便當坐遊覽車回家。他們上街，我們有時沒辦法上課，因為打鑼敲鼓、吶喊的聲音太大。很多補習班的學生很怕他們，因為暴力氣氛太濃，而且大學生往往強迫中獎，被拖去聽演講。示威過後，滿目瘡痍，到處都是垃圾、油漆。公園路襄陽路口那棟他們最愛，因為牆壁很平滑，所以每次活動就噴標語，第二天要擦掉。

新黨的活動就很不同，參加的人都笑容滿面。當時準留學生清一色支持新黨。黃大洲、趙少康、陳水扁競選臺北市長，有一位年紀稍大的學生投陳水扁，其餘都投趙少康，沒有人理黃大洲。可是很奇怪，新黨曇花一現，一時熾熱，下次看就不見了。

紅螞蟻上街倒扁也很特別。看起來都是上班族多，三、四十歲的最多，攜家帶眷，到了東門就歡呼嘩啦，比較像開party(and not a 政黨)。

今年春天的保衛東岸、悍衛祖靈，看得出來大家疲憊不堪，因為從臺東走路到臺北。但是大家意志堅強，氛圍和善，活動有條不紊。

今天的活動也十分特別。我沒到總統府前，只在外圍，但看到大家心情沉重，不急不燥，也沒看到布條，只看到一個人拿著牌子(上面是英文字，可是看不懂意思)。給我的感覺，好像每一個人為自己死去的某一位親人、為自己死去的某一位朋友、為自己死去的某一位愛人而來哀弔。

最近忙，沒機會用電腦，但我要很謙虛地宣佈，托旮亙樂團的少多宜團長與周家平師兄的福，我已成為第一個吹鼻笛的西洋人。我們的鼻孔套不上去(悲慘的故事扗link<<<)，但經過周師兄不斷努力，終于製造了一組適合洋鼻的鼻笛！鼻笛要塞進鼻子，音色馬馬虎虎，但有聲音！好感動！無盡感恩！I have been too busy to have much time for the computer, but I would like to modestly announce that, with the assistance of Sawtoy of the Kakeng Ensemble and Mr Chou, I have become the first Westerner to play the ngusut tipolo, or aborigine nose flute. Western nostrils just don’t fit (for an account of my struggles, please click here:::), but after months of relentless endeavor, Mr Chou succeeded in creating a ngusut tipolo that I can actually play! I have to cram the tipolo halfway up my ngusut, but I can produce a sound. My endless appreciation and gratitude! 

戰國學術昌盛，百家爭鳴，但書寫多用竹簡，所以書籍少，教學多依口傳背誦。

宋國書呆子，名子鈍，雖誦書幾百卷，但家貧無書。

子鈍捉襟見肘，親戚憐之，贈雄雌雞四對，以營生養家。子鈍見雞歡喜，感謝親人厚意，退而思誦養雞古訓。

親人再來，只見子鈍忙拿針線油布，親人不解亦不敢問。數日後，下雨，小姑過子鈍宅，發現雞均著雨衣，四處覓食，彷若饑困。小姑難忍，問子鈍，「子餵雞何飼？」子鈍居然回，「不餵食，以免其逃逸。」小姑訝異，進問，「何以著雨衣？」子鈍踧爾曰，「嗚呼，姑不學無術！豈未聞古聖賢之言乎？」小姑曰，「謹問其詳。」子鈍正立曰，「雞不可濕，食不再來。」

承認，這篇犯規，因為典故後出，戰國時未聞：舊五代史·晉書·安重榮傳：仰認睿智，深惟匿瑕，其如天道人心，難以違拒，須知機不可失，時不再來。

甘露元年己丑，吳大司馬呂岱卒，年九十六。始岱親近吳郡徐原，慷慨有才志，岱知其可成，賜巾韝，與共言論，後遂薦拔，官至侍御史。原性忠壯，好直言。岱時有得失，原輒諫爭，又公論之。人或以告岱，岱歎曰：「是我所以貴德淵者也！」及原死，岱哭之甚哀，曰：「徐德淵，呂岱之益友，今不幸，岱復於何聞過！」談者美之。       通鑑七十七
In 256 AD, Minister Lu Dai died at the age of 96. He had a close relative, Hsu Yuan, who was talented and determined to make his mark. Dai knew that Yuan was a talent worth advancing, so Dai gave Yuan scarves and archer’s sleeves, had discussions with him, and found an office for him. Yuan eventually rose to a very high rank; he was honest, brave, and never beat around the bush. Dai made a mistake, and Yuan publicly criticized him. Somebody told Dai. Dai said, “This is why I value him so highly.” When Yuan died, Dai cried mournfully, and said, “Yuan is my true friend. Now this misfortune has befallen me, who is going to point out my mistakes from now on?” 

現代家長為了證明自己的能力，犧牲兒女的能力。
Parents nowadays work so hard to prove their ability that they rob their children of the chance to develop their own ability. 

Great opening from a spam letter offering me untold riches:

Hello,

Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise and may offend your personality for contacting you without your prior consent and writing through this channel…..  

I am an American Army my name is Captain Michael Brinkley.

I am overwhelmed to get a letter from an American Army, but wonder why the letter was composed on a Chinese language version of Word? Do you think I should be suspicious of the whole matter? 

改編唐朝故事 an old story retold

遙遠山村扗一處斷崖下。崖，像國畫裏的那種，矗立凸天，崴崴峨峨。崖壁上長一種很特殊的靈果，下品為藥，可治百病，上品入貢為皇上專享。

三個外地青年想撿果致富，到山村來。他們第一眼看到崖壁，儍眼，從沒看過那麼高、那麼陡的山。第一個年輕人把裲襠往旁邊丟，抖抖肩、跺跺腳，說，「嘿，這難不倒我也！」二話不說，衝過去撲上巖壁，沒幾下子爬了四個人高。他往下看，跟同鄉青年說，「好啦，你們愣扗那裏沒關係，我先發財哈哈！」再往上爬，十個人高，他停住，說，「咦？再來怎麼爬？」他手往上伸，就一聲

啊

噫

阿

噫

阿

阿

噫

阿

◎

◎

。

。

‧

‧

咚

摔死了。

第二個青年看，坐下開始計畫怎麼爬，天天很認真想，「我看他們村人如何爬，我也研究他們的路線，可是這個山很高，我沒辦法，我很想發財，我再看他們怎麼爬，哇！很難！我辦不到，我不夠好，我再看他們怎麼爬，呀，真難，我沒辦法！我想，應該會有一些果實掉落，我就可以撿起來，對！一定會有果實掉落，我扗這裏等就好了。」古宋人守株待兔，此青年守崖待果，天天扗那裏等，鬢鬚慢慢白了，牙齒一一鬆了，就是不見靈果掉落。臨終時，他嘆一口氣說，「我很可憐，我就是沒有發財命，別人都發財，只有我沒有。我真可憐。」

第三個青年看，走來走去，換角度看斷崖，扗不同時辰觀察，了解巖石的狀況。他也觀察村人如何攀爬，在崖腳練習動作。村民背著滿滿的籃子下來，他幫他們接，很客氣的幫他們把籃子送回家；不久，大家認識這個青年，也說他人不錯。大家熟了，青年請教攀崖的訣竅，村人都侃侃說明，還帶他到崖腳傳授技藝，也教他怎麼選摘靈果。不到兩個月，第三個年輕人有把握，他跟村民一起爬上那個巨高的崖壁，帶了半籃靈果下來。再過一個月，他堆了很多上好的靈果。他分一半給村民，以示謝意。他們選了一簍上上品的靈果饋贈青年。他牽著五頭驢，馱著靈果到京師，將那簍上上靈果送進皇宮貢獻給皇上，名噪一時。很快，他開了一家藥材店，貨真價實，不到二十五歲已成為京師鼎鼎大名的藥劑大師，娶了宰相的女兒，幸福美滿，活到很老才壽終正寢，阿彌陀佛。

Once upon a time, in mountains far, far away, a village sat at the foot of a huge cliff, the kind of cliff you see in Chinese paintings. On the cliff grew a wondrous fruit. The poorest could be used as medicine to treat all ills, and the finest were fit only for the Emperor.

Three young men traveled to the village, hoping to pluck some fruit and win their fortune. When they saw the size of the cliff, they stopped in their tracks. They had never seen a cliff like that before.

The first young man tossed his pack on the ground, shook his shoulders and stamped his feet, saying, “I can handle this!” He threw himself at the cliff, and in moments was up the cliff to a height of four people. He looked down and said, “What are you waiting for? I’m not going to wait for you, I’m going to get rich!” When he was about the height of ten people, they heard him say, “Uh-oh, this is tricky!” He grabbed with his hand, and fell

down

down

down    

splat.

He died.

The second young man studied the cliff very carefully every day. He said, “I’ll watch how the villagers climb, and study their routes. But this cliff is really big, I can’t do it. I want to get rich. I’ll watch how they do it. Wow, that’s difficult! I can’t do it, I’m not good enough. I know! Some of these fruit must fall, so all I have to do is wait here, and some will fall in my lap.” He waited and waited, but unlike Newton, nothing ever fell down to him. His hair grew white, and one by one, his teeth bade him farewell. On his deathbed, he lamented, “Poor me, I’m so unlucky! Everybody but me gets rich, but not me! Poor me!”

The third young man examined the cliff from different angles, watching as the sunlight showed features of the rock. He studied how the villagers climbed, and tried some of their moves at the bottom of the cliff. At the end of the day, when they came down with baskets laden, he was there to take the baskets for them and deliver the baskets to their homes for them. Before long, everybody knew this young man, and had good words to say about him. When they all got to know each other, the young man asked for advice in climbing. The villagers told him all they knew, and even took him to the rock face to show him the techniques and teach him how to pluck the fruit. After two months, the young man was ready to climb, and he followed the villagers up the gigantic cliff. He came down with only half a basket that first day, but when another month had passed, he had amassed a pile of fruit. He gave half to the villagers as thanks. They selected a basket of their very finest fruit in return. The young man left the village leading five donkeys packed to staggering with fruit, and made his way to the capital. He took the select basket to the palace and presented it as a gift to the emperor, which created a sensation. Soon he opened a medicine store. His fruit was high quality and his prices were reasonable. By the time he was 25, he was already an eminent apothecary. He married the Prime Ministers daughter, had a happy life, and lived to a ripe old age, and then he died in his bed. Amitabha.