Depending on which side you are, the Copenhagen Accord can be an achievement of sort, or not at all. Amidst the hullabaloo in and out of the Summit venue, nothing legally binding has come out of the Accord (of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen). It does not let the ordinary man on the street feel that they can honestly rely on independent parties to verify any claim of greenhouse gas reduction.
The Copenhagen Accord is supposed to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which will expire in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol established legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Developing nations, on the other hand, will implement national mitigation actions on voluntary basis. Unlike developed countries, which have gone through industrialization phase, many developing countries need to continue with the urgent task of development and reduce poverty. it is a question of finding the right balance between reduction and development.
From the beginning, the developed countries had wanted to implement a single tier system, binding all nations to a new single deal. This naturally was not acceptable to developing countries. The latter viewed it as an attempt by developed nations to dodge their mandatory obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and forcing the developing nations to bear more responsibilities. The latter also viewed it as completely unfair and unequal. In the end, the double track Accord was adopted.
China had offered to reduce the intensity of its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45% of 2005 level, by 2020. It has vehemently resisted any attempt by the developed nations, particularly the US, to set an independent verifying mechanism, arguing that it infringes on its sovereignty. It had set out to do its own voluntary emission cuts and self monitoring. China considered that the Copenhagen Accord had achieved its own objectives.
The EU, in the word of its Swedish chairman, Andreas Carigren, was "a disappointment and frustration." The Pacific island nations were obviously a dis-enchanted lot. They had lobbied for not more than 1.5 deg C of temperature rise that must peak in 2015. For, they will be among the first to suffer, with every rise in global temperature. Tuvalu's Summit representative said, 'at the present rate of greenhouse gas emissions, Tuvalu will be under water in 50 years' time.'
At the outset of the Summit, some of the polluting nations must have thought that they could just continue with their emission rate, or worse, by simply shifting the responsibility to others, via a carbon credit trading mechanism. In the end, the Accord adopted a standing on limiting the global temperature rise to within 2 deg C.
Australia, which had offered a 5% cut in greenhouse gas emissions, will now have to go for 5 times that amount in its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). This will be a very tall order, given that at 5% reduction under the CPRS, its coal mining output will have to be cut by 35% - according to Commonwealth Treasury of Australia's own modeling.
From the beginning, OPEC as a cartel, had blamed developed nations for the present state of climate change. They contended that it all started from the days of the Industrial Revolution. Since they created these mess, they must now pay for it. The Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said, "Let's not think that they (developed countries) are giving something to us that we are begging for. The money that will be put on the table is the payment of greenhouse gas emissions that were made over two centuries,"
African nations, which had borne the brunt of global warming in the form of wide-spread drought, considered the Summit's adoption of $100 billion a year jointly by developed nations by 2020 to help poor nations, chicken feed. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, called the summit an "essential beginning." US President, Barack Obama called it a 'break-through", even though US had offered only 17% cut in emissions.
So, what is next for the ordinary people to feel happy for our Planet's future? As a responsible citizen of this Earth, we, the ordinary people have a role to play in reducing greenhouse gases, by reducing our carbon footprint.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Do Your Best
Earlier in my blog, I mentioned that to achieve what one has in mind, one needs to 'Just Do It". However, as is always the case, there will be contradictory elements at work. These are the obstacles to overcome. That's when one has to understand his own capability, weigh his position, moral up-bringing, ethics, convictions and then determine his course of actions.
It's like steering a sailing boat across the open sea, looking out for good and bad weather, temporary change of course, perhaps even taking precautions to avoid pirates on the high sea, and to time his move, lest the boat might just end up at the bottom of the sea.
The routes taken should therefore be a wholesome approach, balancing the inherent advantages with the negative determinants of the final outcome. This appropriately sums up the occurrences of familiar scenes in the MLM business - high dropout rates. Otherwise, following a set formula, all would have succeeded.
In his book, "Be The Best Of Yourself", Lee Kai-Fu stresses the utmost importance of doing one's best in one's own endeavour, with balance of intelligence. He reckons that one needs to be intelligent enough to assess and reconcile the possibles with the highly improbables. Then and only then should one apply the courage to change what can be changed, and accept with open heart, those otherwise. The world is different because of you!
It's like steering a sailing boat across the open sea, looking out for good and bad weather, temporary change of course, perhaps even taking precautions to avoid pirates on the high sea, and to time his move, lest the boat might just end up at the bottom of the sea.
The routes taken should therefore be a wholesome approach, balancing the inherent advantages with the negative determinants of the final outcome. This appropriately sums up the occurrences of familiar scenes in the MLM business - high dropout rates. Otherwise, following a set formula, all would have succeeded.
In his book, "Be The Best Of Yourself", Lee Kai-Fu stresses the utmost importance of doing one's best in one's own endeavour, with balance of intelligence. He reckons that one needs to be intelligent enough to assess and reconcile the possibles with the highly improbables. Then and only then should one apply the courage to change what can be changed, and accept with open heart, those otherwise. The world is different because of you!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Funny Customers 顾客无奇不有
During the more than 10 years helping my father with the wanton noodle stall, I came across a number of funny, sometimes nasty customers. Here are some of them:
i) He brought his own groundnut oil, and rice wine, to mix with his noodles.
ii) She came with a bottle of thick black soya sauce. She said our sauce was too light
iii) One of my regular customers was my Remove Class form teacher Mr Foo BC. He normally came around 7.30 to 8.00pm. His favourite is 'kon lo mi' with boiled spring onion. I had never asked him why he did not take our tasty roasted meat.
iv) If there are many customers coming at the same time, my father would usually cook 5 bundles of noodles at one go. This man said he wanted his noodle to be cooked singly, and he could not wait.
v) One customer came and asked for a small bowl, went 2 stalls away and came back with half bowl of sugar to mix with his noodle.
vi) This lady came to our stall, picked up a few bundle of raw noodle in her hand, then handed one of them to us. She picked the biggest bundle.
vii) A lady ordered 20 bundles of noodle to be nicely packed for her home party. She then coolly asked for 1 day credit. She came back only 1 week later
viii) It was raining cats and dogs. This man came in an umbrella. While taking out his wallet, he accidentally tilted his umbrella and wetted all the raw noodle in front of him
ix) We served customer a small bowl of soup. This man asked for 5 free refills.
x) This man was not funny, he was disgusting. He threw our stool away, cursed and went off, simply because he was served late by 15 min.
xi)This man was worse. He chose a table far away from us. After eating, he sneaked away without paying. It was not the practice then for customer to pay immediately when food was served.
xii)This woman brought along shredded ginger. She asked for it to be mixed into the oil and soya sauce
xiii)We placed red, cut chilly in an earthenware on each table so customers could help themselves. This chilly king would finish half of what's in the container each time he had his noodle.
xiv)This lady was a different chilly queen. She brought her own bottle of chilly plus ginger sauce. I had tasted her sauce, really hot
xv) He came just after our stall was opened for business and ordered a bowl of noodle worth 30 sen. He took out a RM100 note. We didn't have the change and asked him to pay us the next time. We never saw him again.
xvi) This young girl was more honest. She had only RM10 note and we had no change. So she went home and asked her mother to come straight away to pay us the 30 sen
xvii) This man would always tell me not to hold the soup bowl with my 5 fingers on the rim of the bowl. He said my palm will be passing electricity to his soup.
xviii) One customer said our roasted meat was cut too thin, so he cut for his own plate of noodle. And, he chose the ends, which were a bit charred but more tasty.
xix) Apart from oil and light soya sauce, we also added a watery sauce made with corn flour and green peas. This man would want his whole plate of noodle to be inundated with this sauce, and he wld clean up everything on his plate, as if the sauce was a soup.
xx) This old man would gulp down his noddle without chewing, We made it easy for him by cutting the noddle four times.
xxi) This woman tried cooking her noodle. When she threw the noodle up after getting it out of the boiling water, her scoop missed the noodle and it landed on the floor.
xxii) We keep 2 or 3 bundles of raw noodle over-night in the deep freezer as some customers asked for it. They said it's more spongy
xxiii) One guy came and ordered for his workers 20 packets of noodle as reward for overtime work. He asked for discount. We didn't give and he went to the other stall for something else. That stall owner later mentioned about the discount request to us, but the customer didn't get his wish.
xxiv) My father initially used charcoal for boiling noodle, When we switched to kerosene, a few customers grumbled that our noodle tasted different. My father thought it was just customers' perception. We did not notice anything different in taste before and after.
xxv) A group of 15 people came to order 1 1/2 plates each at around 11.40 pm. After finishing, somebody opened a box of cake and started to plant 18 candles over it. Then they all started to sing "Happy Birthday" when they heard the mid-night news over the radio. It was a girl's birthday party.
xxvi) We used only ceramic plates and bowls. However, they might chip a little at the edges over time. One gentleman always chose his perfect bowl. He reckoned that cracks and chips might contain germs.
xxvii) For washing plates, my father had a very cheap and effective way of removing the oily residue. He would take out a few mugs of boiling hot water to mix with the wash. Because the hot water contains starch from the noodles, the plates are easily cleaned. However, one customer was not happy seeing the slightly ember color of the water for washing and thought it was dirty. He did not see the second part of cleaning with clear tap water. I reckon my father's method was more eco-friendly than using soap powder.
xxviii) We put bamboo chopsticks on each table so customers can help themselves. Before ordering, this particular customer would take out a pair of them and placed it over the edge of fire to make it super hot. He said it was to kill any germ on it.
Malaysian Fruits
What do they think of next?
More to come
i) He brought his own groundnut oil, and rice wine, to mix with his noodles.
ii) She came with a bottle of thick black soya sauce. She said our sauce was too light
iii) One of my regular customers was my Remove Class form teacher Mr Foo BC. He normally came around 7.30 to 8.00pm. His favourite is 'kon lo mi' with boiled spring onion. I had never asked him why he did not take our tasty roasted meat.
iv) If there are many customers coming at the same time, my father would usually cook 5 bundles of noodles at one go. This man said he wanted his noodle to be cooked singly, and he could not wait.
v) One customer came and asked for a small bowl, went 2 stalls away and came back with half bowl of sugar to mix with his noodle.
vi) This lady came to our stall, picked up a few bundle of raw noodle in her hand, then handed one of them to us. She picked the biggest bundle.
vii) A lady ordered 20 bundles of noodle to be nicely packed for her home party. She then coolly asked for 1 day credit. She came back only 1 week later
viii) It was raining cats and dogs. This man came in an umbrella. While taking out his wallet, he accidentally tilted his umbrella and wetted all the raw noodle in front of him
ix) We served customer a small bowl of soup. This man asked for 5 free refills.
x) This man was not funny, he was disgusting. He threw our stool away, cursed and went off, simply because he was served late by 15 min.
xi)This man was worse. He chose a table far away from us. After eating, he sneaked away without paying. It was not the practice then for customer to pay immediately when food was served.
xii)This woman brought along shredded ginger. She asked for it to be mixed into the oil and soya sauce
xiii)We placed red, cut chilly in an earthenware on each table so customers could help themselves. This chilly king would finish half of what's in the container each time he had his noodle.
xv) He came just after our stall was opened for business and ordered a bowl of noodle worth 30 sen. He took out a RM100 note. We didn't have the change and asked him to pay us the next time. We never saw him again.
xvi) This young girl was more honest. She had only RM10 note and we had no change. So she went home and asked her mother to come straight away to pay us the 30 sen
xvii) This man would always tell me not to hold the soup bowl with my 5 fingers on the rim of the bowl. He said my palm will be passing electricity to his soup.
xviii) One customer said our roasted meat was cut too thin, so he cut for his own plate of noodle. And, he chose the ends, which were a bit charred but more tasty.
xix) Apart from oil and light soya sauce, we also added a watery sauce made with corn flour and green peas. This man would want his whole plate of noodle to be inundated with this sauce, and he wld clean up everything on his plate, as if the sauce was a soup.
xx) This old man would gulp down his noddle without chewing, We made it easy for him by cutting the noddle four times.
xxi) This woman tried cooking her noodle. When she threw the noodle up after getting it out of the boiling water, her scoop missed the noodle and it landed on the floor.
xxii) We keep 2 or 3 bundles of raw noodle over-night in the deep freezer as some customers asked for it. They said it's more spongy
xxiii) One guy came and ordered for his workers 20 packets of noodle as reward for overtime work. He asked for discount. We didn't give and he went to the other stall for something else. That stall owner later mentioned about the discount request to us, but the customer didn't get his wish.
xxiv) My father initially used charcoal for boiling noodle, When we switched to kerosene, a few customers grumbled that our noodle tasted different. My father thought it was just customers' perception. We did not notice anything different in taste before and after.
xxv) A group of 15 people came to order 1 1/2 plates each at around 11.40 pm. After finishing, somebody opened a box of cake and started to plant 18 candles over it. Then they all started to sing "Happy Birthday" when they heard the mid-night news over the radio. It was a girl's birthday party.
xxvi) We used only ceramic plates and bowls. However, they might chip a little at the edges over time. One gentleman always chose his perfect bowl. He reckoned that cracks and chips might contain germs.
xxvii) For washing plates, my father had a very cheap and effective way of removing the oily residue. He would take out a few mugs of boiling hot water to mix with the wash. Because the hot water contains starch from the noodles, the plates are easily cleaned. However, one customer was not happy seeing the slightly ember color of the water for washing and thought it was dirty. He did not see the second part of cleaning with clear tap water. I reckon my father's method was more eco-friendly than using soap powder.
xxviii) We put bamboo chopsticks on each table so customers can help themselves. Before ordering, this particular customer would take out a pair of them and placed it over the edge of fire to make it super hot. He said it was to kill any germ on it.
Malaysian Fruits
What do they think of next?
More to come
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Boer Kut Teh
In Malaysia, especially in Klang Town of Selangor State, when one talks about stewed meat in herbal soup, one invariable thinks of Bak Kut Teh - in Hokkien dialect it literally means meat bone tea.
Then some one started using chicken meat and bones and call it Chic Kut Teh. This Chic Kut Teh however, does not seem to be as popular as Bak Kut Teh.
But Bak Kut Teh is not everybody's meal, due obviously to the fatty meat portion. Now someone has come up with a healthier alternative, and you can find it here. Food served here is halal - according to the owner.
situated at entrance of Genting View Resort, Genting Highland
Entrance from Genting Highland outbound main road
Outdoor dining annex under clear roof
Upclose at the open dining structure
The name of the restaurant Bao Yang says it all. It uses the Boer (a mountain goat) meat and bones to be the main ingredient, aside from the carefully selected Chinese herbs, and long hours of broiling, and stewing to perfection.
According to the restaurant owner, the Boer meat has much less cholesterol than pork, beef, chicken or lamb. So he says it's a healthier meal. Look at the posters below.
Spot the difference
Because your heart must go on drumming
Enough varieties to whet your appetite
I visited the place with a friend from JB just a couple of days after it was opened. I really like the cool weather, the surrounding atmosphere, and the ambiance. The place is well designed, plenty of parking spaces and very clean and tidy. Most importantly, the food was good.
There is a lot of effort and attention given to detailing. It's not surprising, as the whole structure is the brain child of one of the owners - an engineer. I particularly like the solid wood columns and the timber furniture of the dining annex. Sitting here with the cool breeze, one can sip tea for hours. One can also have very good views of Genting Highland's major attractions: viz the Hotels and Casino, The Chinese Temple, and Awana Hotel, all aligned in One Straight Line.
View of Genting Highland, from the dining annex
Another view
And another view
Real view of the restaurant - with Genting View Resort behind
Side view
Go experience it yourself
(to be continued)
Then some one started using chicken meat and bones and call it Chic Kut Teh. This Chic Kut Teh however, does not seem to be as popular as Bak Kut Teh.
But Bak Kut Teh is not everybody's meal, due obviously to the fatty meat portion. Now someone has come up with a healthier alternative, and you can find it here. Food served here is halal - according to the owner.
situated at entrance of Genting View Resort, Genting Highland
Entrance from Genting Highland outbound main road
Outdoor dining annex under clear roof
Upclose at the open dining structure
The name of the restaurant Bao Yang says it all. It uses the Boer (a mountain goat) meat and bones to be the main ingredient, aside from the carefully selected Chinese herbs, and long hours of broiling, and stewing to perfection.
According to the restaurant owner, the Boer meat has much less cholesterol than pork, beef, chicken or lamb. So he says it's a healthier meal. Look at the posters below.
Spot the difference
Because your heart must go on drumming
Enough varieties to whet your appetite
I visited the place with a friend from JB just a couple of days after it was opened. I really like the cool weather, the surrounding atmosphere, and the ambiance. The place is well designed, plenty of parking spaces and very clean and tidy. Most importantly, the food was good.
There is a lot of effort and attention given to detailing. It's not surprising, as the whole structure is the brain child of one of the owners - an engineer. I particularly like the solid wood columns and the timber furniture of the dining annex. Sitting here with the cool breeze, one can sip tea for hours. One can also have very good views of Genting Highland's major attractions: viz the Hotels and Casino, The Chinese Temple, and Awana Hotel, all aligned in One Straight Line.
View of Genting Highland, from the dining annex
Another view
And another view
Real view of the restaurant - with Genting View Resort behind
Side view
Go experience it yourself
(to be continued)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Beat It - In 90 Days
What can be achieved in 90 days?
A lot, so say experts. You can
"JUST DO IT"
寻春须是先春早，看花莫待花枝老。
【子夜歌】 - 唐.李煜
(to be continued)
Blooming Orchid
A lot, so say experts. You can
- Give up your current job, exit your comfort zone to help people save for their future needs, and still be able to earn more than what you did 3 months ago.
- Learn to speak and converse in a foreign language
- Bring your golf handicap down by 9
- Mend fences with your boy friend or girl friend, after the last big quarrel, all because of a petty issue
- Lose 9 kg, if your BMI is over 39, and cut another 3 kg in another 90 days
- Finish reading all 7 series of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter
- Get married, if both of you have been contemplating it for the last 9 months
- Take driving lessons and past the test this time, if your driving instructor has almost given up on you
- Accompany your aged parents on holiday tour, even if you find time a rare commodity.
- Bring in 50% more sales, so you can tell your boss you deserve a raise and a fat year end bonus
- Start saving for your future financial goal, by setting aside at least 10% of your pay every month, in a mutual fund account
- Start brisk walking every evening, and be amazed by its benefits to your heart.
- If your 2009 resolution is still a pipe dream, then it's time you blow the dust off it and make it happen, in a quarter of the original time frame.
"JUST DO IT"
寻春须是先春早，看花莫待花枝老。
【子夜歌】 - 唐.李煜
(to be continued)
Blooming Orchid
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Imagination Has No Borders
Imagination is a wonderful product of the mind. Just like space, it is fluid and intangible, limitless in its scope, and are only enveloped by man-made borders, such as the 5 P's:
i) Personal Religious Upbringing, and Convictions
ii) Parental Advice and Restrictions
iii) Peer Pressure and Social Norms
iv) Present Living Conditions and Perceived Future Utopia
v) Past Experience
When given form, it energies the body. It can also be the cause of self destruction; At the point of creation, it has no emotions, until one attaches his/her own. It can't be seen, neither be touched, nor be owned, but can be harnessed to manifest one's work or goal. It remains a secret in the heart of it's own creator, until he lets it out. How wonderful?
Since it is a product of the mind, the latter can be influenced to specifically aim at creation of a desired pattern of imagination. Properly harnessed, imagination provides the direction, conjures up the energy and unleashes its power - the Power Of Thoughts
Over the ages, visionary leaders have risen in many fields to enable and ensure human prowess. Great works have appeared in many fields, whether tangible or intangible. Works of art, architecture, music, literature and many more, are simply the end-products of imagination. Napoleon Hill said, "If you can imagine it, you can create it". But before you think that every imagination can be realized, let's be clear that daydreaming is not always encouraged.
(to be continued)
i) Personal Religious Upbringing, and Convictions
ii) Parental Advice and Restrictions
iii) Peer Pressure and Social Norms
iv) Present Living Conditions and Perceived Future Utopia
v) Past Experience
When given form, it energies the body. It can also be the cause of self destruction; At the point of creation, it has no emotions, until one attaches his/her own. It can't be seen, neither be touched, nor be owned, but can be harnessed to manifest one's work or goal. It remains a secret in the heart of it's own creator, until he lets it out. How wonderful?
Since it is a product of the mind, the latter can be influenced to specifically aim at creation of a desired pattern of imagination. Properly harnessed, imagination provides the direction, conjures up the energy and unleashes its power - the Power Of Thoughts
Over the ages, visionary leaders have risen in many fields to enable and ensure human prowess. Great works have appeared in many fields, whether tangible or intangible. Works of art, architecture, music, literature and many more, are simply the end-products of imagination. Napoleon Hill said, "If you can imagine it, you can create it". But before you think that every imagination can be realized, let's be clear that daydreaming is not always encouraged.
(to be continued)
Friday, September 11, 2009
树欲静而风不停，子欲养而亲不待
《孔子. 家语 - 致思篇》
工作繁忙?
感觉他们反应迟钝? 不耐烦?
问一问，您小时也是否曾经如此?
想一想, 他们还有多少时间在这个世界?
迟来的问候, 可能会使您永远心痛!
晚而自觉，悔之何及?
天若有情天亦老，月如无恨月长圆
《宋 . 石延年 - 赠友联》
工作繁忙?
感觉他们反应迟钝? 不耐烦?
问一问，您小时也是否曾经如此?
想一想, 他们还有多少时间在这个世界?
迟来的问候, 可能会使您永远心痛!
晚而自觉，悔之何及?
天若有情天亦老，月如无恨月长圆
《宋 . 石延年 - 赠友联》
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Don't Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Edgar A. Guest, Poet
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Edgar A. Guest, Poet
Life Is Simply ............
Life Is What You Put In It,
For Better Or Worse,
The Effect Of What You Do Today,
Or Did Not Do,
Will Mirror In Your Life,
Tomorrow
- Lasting Gift House
For Better Or Worse,
The Effect Of What You Do Today,
Or Did Not Do,
Will Mirror In Your Life,
Tomorrow
- Lasting Gift House
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Mind And Not Mind
Frankly, I don’t mind not being president. I just mind that someone else is
- Senator Edward Moore Kennedy
- Senator Edward Moore Kennedy
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Chinese To English Translation Service
As a community service, free limited translation service is provided for individuals on short, generally technical passages. This service is provided on the expressed condition that it is not used as any legal documents. Translations for such matters are best done by more competent authorities. You also agree to indemnify this author from any suit brought by any parties as a result of use of the translation service. The author also reserves the right to discontinue this service at any time, without giving prior notice, and without offering any reason.
The author has been providing freelance translation work from Chinese to English for years. In doing so, the important thing that's observed is accuracy. Many online translations are inaccurate when it comes to translating a whole phrase. The software fails to distinguish the general and specific definition of each individual word used in different context, and the differences in grammars of the two languages.
I do not use any software but adopt a hands on approach. So you may find that your request to translate a certain article may take more than the time you would anticipate. But do bear with me as I will try my level best to give you a reply within a certain reasonable time frame. If I feel that I could not entertain your requested translation service, I will inform you accordingly. No offence is intended.
When a translation is completed, it will be forwarded to your e-mail. It will not be published in this blog so as to protect your privacy.
The author has been providing freelance translation work from Chinese to English for years. In doing so, the important thing that's observed is accuracy. Many online translations are inaccurate when it comes to translating a whole phrase. The software fails to distinguish the general and specific definition of each individual word used in different context, and the differences in grammars of the two languages.
I do not use any software but adopt a hands on approach. So you may find that your request to translate a certain article may take more than the time you would anticipate. But do bear with me as I will try my level best to give you a reply within a certain reasonable time frame. If I feel that I could not entertain your requested translation service, I will inform you accordingly. No offence is intended.
When a translation is completed, it will be forwarded to your e-mail. It will not be published in this blog so as to protect your privacy.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Can You Stop A Great Idea?
"No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come".
- Victor Hugo, French Poet, Novelist and Statesman.
He authored the original French version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
- Victor Hugo, French Poet, Novelist and Statesman.
He authored the original French version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
Thursday, April 30, 2009
All Men Are Equal
With malice toward none, with charity for all.
- President Abraham Lincoln, in his inauguration speech
- President Abraham Lincoln, in his inauguration speech
The Greatness of A Nation
Greatness is never a given. It must be earned.
- President Barack Omaba, in his inauguration speech
- President Barack Omaba, in his inauguration speech
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
You Have A Choice
We live in a world that's in dynamic equilibrium. The forces that shape our daily lives are played out in the collective embrace of our choices.
The Chinese believe that the universe is made up of Yin and Yang Elements. Whatever happen at any particular time is the result of forces of Yin interacting with Yang. Yin refers to elements that are essentially feminine or exhibit the female characteristics. Yang is the opposite, and exhibit masculine traits.
Now that begs the big question? Is there a perfect Yin or a perfect Yang element? It all depends on the situation the person is in. One may show all the masculine sides this time, but may react every bit like a shy woman other times. It is this contradictory trait in the same person in different situations that makes it hard to believe that there exists a wholesome Yin, or a Yang character. The contradiction is not the result of psychopath gone haywire. Rather, it simply is not possible to find traits of either extreme.
Now that's exactly what brings about conflicts in this world. Because each is enveloped in different situation, each exhibits varying degree of either traits of Yin or Yang. The needs of each individual, vs his/her wants are manifestations of his upbringing and his environment. There is no limit to human wants, but there is a real limit to his needs. Everyday we are bombarded with media persuasion to get certain gadgets, or eat certain food that we do not really need for maintenance of our body metabolism and health.
With commercialization, we are sort of bought over to the ideas of merchants whose main objective is to increase sales of his goods and services. Here is one place where choices are plenty and the sanest and most educated may not make the correct choice for himself. What is right is often left to impulse.
Take the case of the new singing sensation, Susan Boyle. All these years, she did not partake in any contest with mass audience, until recently, when she picked up the idea to give it a go at the “Britains Got Talent 2009” audition. Guess what, she became an instant star. Nobody gave her any chance at the beginning. The audience, and the judges, chose to prejudge her negatively. How wrong they were. At the end of her song, it was a standing ovation from the crowd. What a stunning reversal, just a few moments before she sang her heart out.
What does that mean? Did she consciously choose that song “I Dreamed A Dream” to help condition her mind? Could be, but then again, if she had done that, she made the right choice.
Susan could have been cowed by those not so friendly remarks, those looks of disapproval. But she chose to ignore all these negative comments, and gave her all to silence her doubters. It was her choice, and she did it in grand style.
We meet a lot of such instances in our everyday lives. We can choose to look ahead at the positive outcome, or we can consign ourselves to defeat from the start. Choosing the latter would be really strange to me. There is no greater mental block than one's own.
To be contd......
The Chinese believe that the universe is made up of Yin and Yang Elements. Whatever happen at any particular time is the result of forces of Yin interacting with Yang. Yin refers to elements that are essentially feminine or exhibit the female characteristics. Yang is the opposite, and exhibit masculine traits.
Now that begs the big question? Is there a perfect Yin or a perfect Yang element? It all depends on the situation the person is in. One may show all the masculine sides this time, but may react every bit like a shy woman other times. It is this contradictory trait in the same person in different situations that makes it hard to believe that there exists a wholesome Yin, or a Yang character. The contradiction is not the result of psychopath gone haywire. Rather, it simply is not possible to find traits of either extreme.
Now that's exactly what brings about conflicts in this world. Because each is enveloped in different situation, each exhibits varying degree of either traits of Yin or Yang. The needs of each individual, vs his/her wants are manifestations of his upbringing and his environment. There is no limit to human wants, but there is a real limit to his needs. Everyday we are bombarded with media persuasion to get certain gadgets, or eat certain food that we do not really need for maintenance of our body metabolism and health.
With commercialization, we are sort of bought over to the ideas of merchants whose main objective is to increase sales of his goods and services. Here is one place where choices are plenty and the sanest and most educated may not make the correct choice for himself. What is right is often left to impulse.
Take the case of the new singing sensation, Susan Boyle. All these years, she did not partake in any contest with mass audience, until recently, when she picked up the idea to give it a go at the “Britains Got Talent 2009” audition. Guess what, she became an instant star. Nobody gave her any chance at the beginning. The audience, and the judges, chose to prejudge her negatively. How wrong they were. At the end of her song, it was a standing ovation from the crowd. What a stunning reversal, just a few moments before she sang her heart out.
What does that mean? Did she consciously choose that song “I Dreamed A Dream” to help condition her mind? Could be, but then again, if she had done that, she made the right choice.
Susan could have been cowed by those not so friendly remarks, those looks of disapproval. But she chose to ignore all these negative comments, and gave her all to silence her doubters. It was her choice, and she did it in grand style.
We meet a lot of such instances in our everyday lives. We can choose to look ahead at the positive outcome, or we can consign ourselves to defeat from the start. Choosing the latter would be really strange to me. There is no greater mental block than one's own.
To be contd......
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A Star Is Born
What an instant fame. 47 year old Susan Boyle came to "Britains Got Talent 2009" audition hoping to give it a try. Instead she wowed the audience and judges. She got three emphatic "YESes" from all three judges, viz Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan, and Amanda Holden. It was a rare feat indeed, given that before she began, nobody seemed to give her any chance. She dreamed, and she made it.
That night, she sang "I Dreamed a Dream". As she progressed, the audience and judges were awe struck by her superb voices. At the end of it, they gave her standing ovation. One could sense the joy on her faces, the ecstasy and her own way of celebration on the stage. Susan Boyle must have been in cloud nine at that moment. Watching her sing on the YouTube is really heart warming. Imagine, from relative obscurity, she was transported to instant recognition. A new star is born. As she was going backstage, Piers said "what a voice!", and Amanda noted "incredible!". What's her dream? She aspires to be a successful professional singer, like Elaine Page.
Now, It really strikes me that to get noticed, one has to have the courage to stand in front of the world to prove his/her talent. I supposed she came to the right forum to make a try. Prior to that she had been singing at churches and karaokes, and nobody really thought she would have the material to wow the audience and judges, much less the world. She became an instant sensation. I believe from now on, with the media attention, her life will not be the same again. Her future is sure to shine, brightly. In the hours of glory, Susan Boyle said she remained a humble person. I salute her.
Watch her sing on the YouTube. As of now, over 37,800,000 people worldwide have viewed it on the YouTube
Here's the lyrics of the song:
I Dreamed a Dream
Composer: Claude-Michel Schönberg
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time and it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in days gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that god would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dreamed he'd come to me
That we would live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
The dream, the dream I dreamed
That night, she sang "I Dreamed a Dream". As she progressed, the audience and judges were awe struck by her superb voices. At the end of it, they gave her standing ovation. One could sense the joy on her faces, the ecstasy and her own way of celebration on the stage. Susan Boyle must have been in cloud nine at that moment. Watching her sing on the YouTube is really heart warming. Imagine, from relative obscurity, she was transported to instant recognition. A new star is born. As she was going backstage, Piers said "what a voice!", and Amanda noted "incredible!". What's her dream? She aspires to be a successful professional singer, like Elaine Page.
Now, It really strikes me that to get noticed, one has to have the courage to stand in front of the world to prove his/her talent. I supposed she came to the right forum to make a try. Prior to that she had been singing at churches and karaokes, and nobody really thought she would have the material to wow the audience and judges, much less the world. She became an instant sensation. I believe from now on, with the media attention, her life will not be the same again. Her future is sure to shine, brightly. In the hours of glory, Susan Boyle said she remained a humble person. I salute her.
Watch her sing on the YouTube. As of now, over 37,800,000 people worldwide have viewed it on the YouTube
Here's the lyrics of the song:
I Dreamed a Dream
Composer: Claude-Michel Schönberg
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time and it all went wrong
I dreamed a dream in days gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that god would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dreamed he'd come to me
That we would live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
The dream, the dream I dreamed
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Aqua World 水族世界
At a recent visit to Kuala Lumpur's most famous Aquaria at the KLCC, the sight of these colorful fishes is simply breathe taking. Some of these are large size varieties of what we folks eat everyday. Others are for aquarium display, many of which are of exotic colors, shapes and sizes.
One can sit there or go round and round for hours admiring the beauties of these creatures. It's a must see if you have not been there before. Admission charges are very reasonable, considering the expenses incurred by the owner to keep these fishes in good shape.
Silver Arowana 金龙鱼
Moorish Idol
Long Horn Cowfish 牛鱼
Porcupinefish
Arapaima
Rabbit Fish
Piranha
Arapaima
Watch Arapaima Swim
Red Devil Fish (Osphronemus goramy)
Giant Grouper 石斑
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Diver feeding the fishes
Feeding The Fishes Video
Sea Horse 海马
Fimbriated Moray Eel 鳗鱼
Coral 珊瑚
Powder Blue Tang
Crown Tail Betta 斗鱼
Coral 珊瑚
Red Bellied Piranha 食人鱼
Arapaima
Turtle 海龟(水鱼)
A School of Fish Video
Arapaima
Matamata Turtle
Shark
Green Sea Turtle
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
One can sit there or go round and round for hours admiring the beauties of these creatures. It's a must see if you have not been there before. Admission charges are very reasonable, considering the expenses incurred by the owner to keep these fishes in good shape.
Silver Arowana 金龙鱼
Moorish Idol
Long Horn Cowfish 牛鱼
Porcupinefish
Arapaima
Rabbit Fish
Piranha
Arapaima
Watch Arapaima Swim
Red Devil Fish (Osphronemus goramy)
Giant Grouper 石斑
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Diver feeding the fishes
Feeding The Fishes Video
Sea Horse 海马
Fimbriated Moray Eel 鳗鱼
Coral 珊瑚
Powder Blue Tang
Crown Tail Betta 斗鱼
Coral 珊瑚
Red Bellied Piranha 食人鱼
Arapaima
Turtle 海龟(水鱼)
A School of Fish Video
Arapaima
Matamata Turtle
Shark
Green Sea Turtle
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Coral 珊瑚
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
