村上春樹在耶路撒冷演講

Always On The Side of The Egg

Good evening. I have come to Jerusalem today as a novelist, which is to say as a professional spinner of lies.

Of course, novelists are not the only ones who tell lies. Politicians do it, too, as we all know. Diplomats and generals tell their own kinds of lies on occasion, as do used car salesmen, butchers and builders. The lies of novelists differ from others, however, in that no one criticizes the novelist as immoral for telling lies. Indeed, the bigger and better his lies and the more ingeniously he creates them, the more he is likely to be praised by the public and the critics. Why should that be?

My answer would be this: namely, that by telling skillful lies--which is to say, by making up fictions that appear to be true--the novelist can bring a truth out to a new place and shine a new light on it. In most cases, it is virtually impossible to grasp a truth in its original form and depict it accurately. This is why we try to grab its tail by luring the truth from its hiding place, transferring it to a fictional location, and replacing it with a fictional form. In order to accomplish this, however, we first have to clarify where the truth-lies within us, within ourselves. This is an important qualification for making up good lies. Click to continue reading ......

全文中英對照

關於跑步，我說的其實是……

內容試閱

跑步對我來說既是一種有益的鍛鍊，同時也是有效的隱喻(metaphor)。我每天一面跑步，或累積參加比賽的次數，一面 提高達成基準的高度，藉著能夠達成目標，以提升自我。至少有立志提高，因此而每天在努力著。我當然不是什麼了不起的跑者。以跑者來說水準極其平凡－－不如 該說是平庸吧。不過這問題完全不重要。只要稍微超越一點昨天的自己，才比較重要。因為如果長距離賽跑有要戰勝的對象的話，那應該是過去的自己。

但自從過了四十五歲前後時，這種自我審查的系統卻開始逐漸產生變化了。簡單說，比賽所跑出的時間沒辦法進步了。考慮到年齡時，這某種程度也是沒辦法的事。 每個人在過了人生的某一個時間點之後，必然要迎接體能的巔峰。當然有個人的差別，然而通常的情況，游泳選手是在二十幾歲的前半，拳擊選手在二十歲代的後 半，棒球選手在三十歲代的中期，就會跨過眼睛看不見的「分水嶺」。沒辦法閃開那個就穿過去。

我有一次問過一位眼科醫師「世界上有沒有人不會老花眼？」他覺得很好笑地笑著回答說「我還沒看過那種人」。就跟那一樣（可喜的是藝術家的巔峰，因人而異。 例如杜斯妥也夫斯基在六十年人生的最後幾年才完成『惡靈』和『卡拉馬助夫的兄弟們』，這擁有最重要意義的長篇小說。義大利作曲家朱塞佩．多明尼哥．史卡拉 地Domenico Scarlatti生涯創作了五百五十五首鍵盤用的奏鳴曲，但大部分是在五十七歲到六十二歲之間寫出來的）。

以我的情況的來說，在四十歲代後半遇到跑者的巔峰期。在那以前全程馬拉松以3小時半的標準跑著。正好1公里跑5分鐘，1英里8分鐘的步調。有時候短於3小時半，有時候超過(超過的時候居多)。不過可以大約那樣的時間，相當順利地跑完。就算覺得這次有一點失敗的時候，也能在3小時40分左右跑完。幾 乎沒怎麼練習，身體狀況多少差一點，時間超過4小時都是無法想像的事情。那樣的時期就像安定的台地那樣繼續了一段期間。然而不久之後風雲的走向卻開始起了 變化。就算和以前一樣地作過練習，要保持跑3小時40分卻漸漸吃力了。1公里變成需要5分半鐘的步調，終於接近4小時的底線。這是不小的打擊。到底怎麼了 呢？我不願意把這想成是年齡的關係。因為在日常生活上，還完全沒有實際感覺到自己肉體上的衰退。然而無論如何想否定、忽視，數字卻一步又一步地後退著。

可能因為全程馬拉松的時間已經變得不如理想了也有關係吧，我開始把眼光轉向跑比全程馬拉松更長距離的可能性上。開始關心起像超級馬拉松、或回力球等別種運動。我開始想「光是跑步的話身體可能會變形。不如配合其他競技，塑造更具總合性的身體比較好」。

跟著私人教練把游泳姿勢從基本開始重新調整，可以更輕鬆地游得比以前快了。肌肉順利地接受了新的環境，體型也眼看著起了變化。然而另一方面全程馬拉松的時 間卻像退潮那樣，雖然慢卻確實地繼續退步。跑步已經不像以前那樣感覺輕鬆愉快了。在我和「跑步」之間，有那樣和緩的倦怠期來臨。其中含有努力過卻得不到相 應回報的失望感，應該是開著的門不知道什麼時候卻已經關上了似的封閉感。我把這稱為「跑者的憂鬱runner's blue」。至於是什麼樣的憂鬱，容我以後再詳細說明。

不過離開十年之後再回到劍橋這個城市來（上次住在這裡是從1993年到95年的兩年間。當時是柯林頓總統就職期間），當眼前看到查爾斯河的時候，卻沒來由 地升起了「好想跑步」的心情。說到河流這種東西，除非有重大改變否則看起來都一樣，查爾斯河看來尤其還和以前一樣。歲月流逝了，學生的臉也換過了，我多了 十歲，名副其實地已經有許多水從橋下流過。然而雖然如此，河流本身卻幾乎絲毫也沒有改變，依舊保留著以前的樣子。滔滔流水，正朝波士頓灣無聲地流去。那水 浸透河岸，讓岸上綠色的夏草旺盛成長，養活許多水鳥，穿過石砌古橋下方，河面映出夏日的浮雲（冬天水上還有浮冰），河水不急，也不停地，像通過許多檢驗依 然不動搖的觀念那樣，只是默默地朝海流去。

作者　　：村上春樹
譯者　　：賴明珠
出版社　：時報出版
出版日期：2008年11月06日
語言　　：繁體中文
ISBN   　：9789571349367

我聽著英文版的電子書，然後就決定買了。有意思的一本書，或者說，我認同他說的。

http://www.readingtimes.com.tw/.../關於跑步，我說的其實是……
http://www.readingtimes.com.tw/timeshtml/ad/AI0950/

H1N1

No Rationale for Travel Restrictions – WHO, ICAO
AirAsia wishes to advise guests that the health authorities have started screening passengers from countries affected by the Influenza A (H1N1). We appreciate your cooperation and patience as you might be experiencing delays due to the screening and/or disinfecting procedure.
AirAsia would like to assure guests that we are committed to all regulations and advice from the authorities in countries where we operate to ensure your safety.
To address any concern that you may have, we would like to share the statement below which was issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO):
“Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community. … Scientific research based on mathematical modelling indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, have validated this point.” – WHO (Read the full statement here)
In addition, you may also refer to another statement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) here.
We will keep you updated with the latest information from time to time, so please do visit this page again to check it out.

最近過了12點就睡不著，實在不知道要幹嘛，傍晚要去跑步又遇到下雨，幾無奈一下，害我什麼都不想做，整個想放空。生活沒有了重心，她覺得我沒有話跟她說，對啊，靜很多。過兩個禮拜，我和她要去玩台灣，從台北玩到花蓮，再去新加坡，所以最近一直在看旅遊資訊，定民宿和火車票等等的。然後最近又跑出來一個H1N1流感，害她很擔心，要我買口罩個她，結果最後發現她要買美美的口罩，是那種騎機車戴的那種 XD 那個不能過濾病毒啦。

然後我也很緊張流感啊，畢竟那麼多人中招，所以就去查查看是不是有規定上飛機要戴口罩，口罩要自己準備嗎？我很不甘願花那種錢 XD 結果發現WHO的聲明，大意是說限制出入境或是管制對疫情的抑制是毫無作用且會帶來嚴重的不方便的，也就是延遲班機，或是如防範SARS/恐怖份子時，一直檢查一直檢查一直檢查一直檢查一直檢查，對乘客而言是很困擾/不自由的。

那麼，雖然有這樣的聲明了，她和大眾一樣還是會心驚驚的啊，怎麼辦呢？從心理學的角度要怎麼解決這樣大家心驚驚的問題呢？答案就留到等我飛去新加坡和馬來西亞的時候想。 聰明的你也可以想想啊 :D

夜景

生病了　昨天是母親節　打回家裡的電話另一端是媽媽的聲音　擔心我的狀況　已經不是第一次了　媽媽一直說　要我把工作辭掉　不要我那麼辛苦　說爸爸可以供我

啊　原本要跟媽媽說母親節快樂的　這次病得真不是時候　還要媽媽擔心　我和朋友XK到林口泰山山上去看夜景　看到的就是這幅景　照片是別人拍的　想不到這地方還真出名

昨夜放煙火的人特別多　可以看見車子在趕路　XK說像在看螞蟻活動　不了解他們在幹甚麼　是啊　站在高處的風景果然是不樣　但是風也很冷啊　真是　高處不勝寒啊

風吹到我的臉上　心情是複雜卻說不出　啊　最近我在學習甚麼啊　同學們常說我都問大哉問　難道就不用回答了嗎　也不是　或許我就是比別人愛問吧

待續 ... ... （blogger要進入維修狀態了）

照片來源
更漂亮的照片

Garbage Enzyme

My mom have been using this thing for a while, I wonder what makes it so amazing. Pseudoscience? Perhaps not at all. Anyone has further explanation for this rather than what I found on The Star? The Most Natural.com.my has a full coverage on how to DIY your own garbage enzyme and teach you how to use it too.

Tuesday April 21, 2009
Enzyme pseudoscience
SPEAKING UP

I WISH to point out that a lot of the facts championed by the garbage enzyme movement is largely inaccurate and falls perilously into the category of pseudoscience. I feel compelled to correct some of the myths and misrepresentations.

Garbage enzyme is nothing more than vinegar produced from organic wastes. It is essentially homebrew vinegar except that starch-rich food like rice is replaced with kitchen waste. The key ingredient is the sugar that is metabolised by bacteria into alcohol which subsequently is reduced to acetic acid (vinegar). Jaggery is used as impurities in it to ensure a supply of bacteria. The breaking down of sugar into alcohol releases carbon dioxide (CO2). This is why one has to open the container daily to release the gas and to ensure a supply of oxygen to promote aerobic fermentation. If there is insufficient oxygen in the mix, anaerobic process will take place, releasing methane. Methane and CO2 are poisonous to humans and therefore an airy place is a must to avoid inhaling excessive amounts of the gases. Both are also greenhouse gases.

It is not surprising that garbage enzyme works “wonders” in cleaning stuff as it is essentially vinegar. The weak acid is effective in dissolving oil. Acetic acid is also a good descaling agent that removes limescale. However, it is not advisable to use vinegar on metal surfaces as corrosion may occur in long term use. This is why it is recommended to use garbage enzyme in diluted form. Long term handling of the enzyme with care should also be advocated due to its corrosive effect on human tissues.

The insect-repelling effect of garbage enzyme is from the pungent smell of vinegar that is disliked by insects. The seemingly greening of plant leaves is probably due to the drying of acetic acid that forms a crystallised surface on the plant. Vinegar in diluted form has been used as fertiliser for ages.

The myths

Ozone is produced from garbage enzyme in fairly minute amounts compared to ozone of industrial origin. Besides being a very strong oxidising agent which is corrosive and an irritant, ozone is also a greenhouse gas at near ground level. The ozone that protects Earth from damaging radioactive sunrays is produced from interactions between high altitude oxygen and sunrays. If ground level ozone is beneficial and capable of repairing the ozone hole, the tonnes of ozone produced by industrial activity and automobiles would have done the trick. Sadly, the reverse is true.

It is claimed that ozone produced from garbage enzyme will reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. The contrary is true. The fermentation produces CO2 and ozone, if produced, will actually react with carbon to produce CO2 due to ozone’s strong oxidising properties. Hence there is a net increase of CO2 instead, but the fact that this CO2 comes from plants results in a near neutral carbon cycle.

Ozone is an unstable molecule and will react quickly with other substances. If ozone produced by garbage enzyme escapes from the container before reacting with the container contents, the interaction of ozone with heavy metals in the atmosphere will only transform the substances into acids that result in smog and acid rain.

It is claimed that garbage enzyme converts ammonia to nitrate, which is labelled as a natural hormone and nutrient for plants. Nitrate is inorganic and so is not a hormone. Although a nutrient to terrestrial plants, nitrate in sufficiently high concentration in waterways and in oceans causes algae booms and depletion of oxygen in water. Hence nitrate is considered a marine toxin.

It is also claimed that garbage enzyme converts carbonate and this is beneficial to sea plants and marine life. On the contrary, acetic acid attacks carbonates such as calcium carbonate – a compound found in rocks and shelled marine animals – and converts them to acetate salts plus CO2 and water. Acetate salts are hygroscopic and disintegrate easily, in turn causing the thinning of the shells of marine animals. Therefore it is not advisable to indiscriminately release acetic acid into waterways as it will end up in oceans. Acetic acid attacks on shelled marine animals may lead to the collapse of the marine ecosystem, already a phenomenon observable due to raising acidity of seawater.

The plus sides

Having said all of the above, there are advantages in making garbage enzyme. The benefits are: reduction in chemical cleaning agent; use of local materials and reduction in waste materials going to landfills; and less burden on the environment since organic cleaning agents are usually more biodegradable than petrochemical-based ones.

But one should introduce more oxygen to the fermenting solution (by stirring) to promote an aerobic process; place the enzyme-making container in airy places to prevent buildup of gases especially if you are producing the enzyme in large quantities; and handle the enzyme with care as if handling chlorine bleach.

Don’t pour garbage enzyme directly into drains as they connect directly to waterways and ultimately lead to the ocean. Only use garbage enzyme for cleaning within the bathrooms and kitchens as the waste pipes connect to treatment facilities (either a septic tank or sewer treatment plant), enabling the enzyme to further break down before reaching waterways. Don’t use garbage enzyme in concentrated form. – YSG (The Star)

http://www.themostnatural.com.my/.../WhatisGarbageenzyme.html
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/.../3700953&sec=lifefocus

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama film written by Justin Zackham, directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, and Rob Morrow. The story follows two terminally ill men (Nicholson and Freeman) on a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket."

The movie so awesome, so touching till it makes me cry! Really.

You can add a bucket list to your Facebook too. Check it out at their promotion website below.

http://thebucketlist.warnerbros.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bucket_List