Sunday Serenade: stronger (what doesn't kill you)

Another song to share with you on a lazy Sunday morning..


Stronger (what doesn't kill you)
performed by Kelly Clarkson

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in colour
And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me
Think you had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong

[chorus]
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
[end of chorus]

You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on over you
You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You tried to break me, but you see

[chorus]

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking bout me
You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning
In the end...

[chorus]




Have a good week ahead! Stay safe and healthy...

Tarot readings... X

Unbelievably, I've been so busy that I've forgotten to do my routine 3-month readings.. so I am late by almost 1 month! Using the same application that I did previously to "see" my fortune for the next 3 months. Note that all pictures of tarot cards are from http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth/ and there is no intention of infringing any copyright.

没想到我会忙到忘了我每3个月必做的占卜。。 我还是利用以往相同的占卜程式为接下来的三个月的运程占卜一下了所有的塔罗图片都采自竹猫星球塔罗馆 （http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth)，本部落并无意侵犯版权。

對 學　　業 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Job-hunting:

現狀 Current Situation: 女教皇 [The Priestess]

你的念書態度很認真，而且天份也不錯，能夠輕易理解對別人來說很難的部份，常常是別人羨慕、佩服的對象，但比較少有課外活動。
You are dedicated to your studies, and you are fairly gifted in it. You can easily understand things that are difficult to others. You are often admired and respected. However, you do lack in extra-curriculum activities.


問題 Problem : 皇帝 [The Emperor]

表示你的功課雖然不錯，但是比較容易遭人眼紅，你又不擅於跟同學哈啦聊天，以致常常被人誤會你很驕傲。
Although you are doing quite well academically, you incur the jealousy of others. As you are not very good in small talks, you are often misunderstood as being proud.


建議 Suggestion: 隱者 [The Hermit]

如果你對自己的讀書習慣不滿意，補習、找家教都是不錯的方式，保持讀書場所的安靜，會讓你的念書效率提高。
If you are unhappy with your study habits, you can try to find a tutor or someone to help you. Keeping your study area quiet will help in your study.



對 健康運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Health

現狀 Current Situation: 月亮 [The Moon]

你的體質較敏感，容易有藥癮或酒癮，個性太過容易擔憂跟煩惱，很容易引發一些心理上的問題，或是身體上的慢性病，又拖延治療時機，造成身體更大的傷害跟後續問題。
Your body is sensitive and thus might easily get addicted to drugs or alcohol. You tend to worry too much and that might cause some psychological problems. Or you might have some ailments and delay from seeking treatment. This will cause major problems.


問題 Problem: 教皇 [The Hierophant]

你的生活因為一直都是同樣的型態，所以如果有點小問題，很容易被你當成是一種小毛病而不自知，累積起來就容易變成慢性病，所以還是要提高注意力。
As your lifestyle is pretty routine, you tend to ignore small problems. Slowly, these small complains will become your chronic problems. Thus it is better for you to be aware of them.


建議 Suggestion: 賢者 [The Magus]

你要隨著自己生活、工作上的變化，調整對自己健康狀況的認知，不能同一種保健方式一直用下去，要靈活的感受自己身體每一個變化，定期閱讀保健相關的報導跟新知。
You need to adjust your health consciousness according to your lifestyle and work routine. You cannot keep to the same routine all the way. You need to be aware of your body changes and keep up to date with the current health information.



對 財運 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Money Matters

現狀 Current Situation: 調整 [Adjustment]

你在金錢上很懂得量入為出，什麼時候有進帳、該花在哪些地方？都有很明確的概念，所以不太會有缺錢的狀況，只是偏財也不多。
You know how to budget and spend within your means. You have good financial knowledge, so you won't be in need of money. However, you won't have much side income.


問題 Problem: 戀人 [The Lovers]

你對金錢一直是沒有什麼概念的，賺多花多，賺少花少，怎麼來怎麼去的都不知道，太過隨性的態度，倒致不管賺多少錢，都很難存下來。
You don't really have much concept about money. You spend as you earn and you don't really notice where it went. This type of attitude has resulted in you not being able to have any saving, no matter how much you earn.


建議 Suggestion: 死亡 [Death]

既然你現在已經看不到新的可能性，就不要為了安全感，屈就在舊的賺錢方式中，有捨才有得，要趕快去丟下熟悉的環境，找出新的財源，不要怕付出心力。
Since you are running out of new options, you must forsake the old ways in order to create new ones. You should not hide behind your sense of security. You need to step out of your comfort zone to be able to find new sources of income.




對 人際運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Human Relationships

現狀 Current Situation: 教皇 [The Hierophant]

朋友們都很信賴你，覺得你凡事既冷靜又有條理，給人一種很安心的感覺，你也很習慣當大家的顧問，社交圈很穩定。
Friends trust you and think that you are calm and methodical. You gives people a peace of mind. You are accustomed being the "consultant" among friends. You have a stable group of friends.


問題 Problem: 女教皇 [The Priestess]

在朋友群中，你比較不是愛跟一堆人玩鬧瞎攪和的那種人，喜歡看書、做自己的事，但因此會有些朋友覺得妳冷淡或無趣。
Among friends, you are one who dislike mindless ramblings and time wasting with a whole bunch of people. You like to read book or do your own thing which might cause some friends to perceive you as being cold or uninteresting.


建議 Suggestion: 戰車 [The Chariot]

衝動的時候，就盡量不要開口，免得造成不可彌補的傷害；這張牌告訴你，現在的關係僵持、停滯是暫時的，撐過這段時間後，情況就會明朗化。
When you are impatient, try not to speak so as not to damage things beyond repair. This card tells you that the current stalemate is temporary and things will clear-up in a while.

sleeping on air..

Okay.. my room didn't come with a mattress, just a bed frame when I moved in more than 8 months ago.. so I bought a 2cm "portable" mattress.. well, it was supposed to be temporary.. I was supposed to find a nearby furniture store and buy a proper mattress.. yet, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months..

I wanted to get a spring/coiled mattress.. yet I have to consider the "chore" of moving.. I'm staying on the 5th floor that doesn't have a lift.. I will have to pay more to get it delivered to my doorstep.. and when I move house I will need to pay movers, which I don't really need since my stuff are all small and "portable"..

Then I had an idea.. why don't I get a air mattress?!? It is light and very portable!! It will give my back the support it needs... And I found a real good deal on the Net! :)The 99cm x 188 cm x 23 cm mattress from Bestway cost me NT$630. It is one that doesn't come with build-in pump, so I had to get one.. Not willing to buy an electric one, I bought a hand pump for NT$130.

You can see clearly from the picture below the difference in thickness of the 2 mattresses.. Yes, the one on the bottom was what I've been sleeping on.. it is not even 3cm thick! I took about 15 minutes to pump enough air into the air mattress.. I had to pump in more the next day, since it felt too soft.. :p

Anyway, I am still getting used the air mattress.. Having slept on an almost-hard mattress, I think it will take me a while to allow my body to fully relish the bounciness.. :) :)

Sweet dreams to me!

Sunday Serenade: you haven't seen the last of me

Heard this song in the movie "Burlesque"by Cher.. and it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 2011.. so enjoy the powerful performance by a very talented and multiple awards winner..

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me
performed by Cher

Feeling broken
Barely holding on
But there's just something so strong
Somewhere inside me
And I am down but I'll get up again
Don't count me out just yet

[chorus]
I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed way past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
You haven't seen the last of me
[end of chorus]
You haven't seen the last of me

They can say that
I won't stay around
But I'm gonna stand my ground
You're not gonna stop me
You don't know me
You don't know who I am
Don't count me out so fast

[chorus]
There will be no fade out
This is not the end
I'm down now
But I'll be standing tall again
Times are hard but
I was built tough
I'm gonna show you all what I'm made of

I've been brought down to my knees
And I've been pushed right past the point of breaking
But I can take it
I'll be back
Back on my feet
This is far from over
I am far from over
You haven't seen the last of me

No no
I'm not going nowhere
I'm staying right here
Oh no
You won't see me fade out
I'm not taking my bow
Can't stop me
It's not the end
You haven't seen the last of me
Oh no
You haven't seen the last of me
You haven't seen the last of me





Have a great week ahead! Stay safe and healthy!!

Poetry Solace: Of welcome home and think..

2 poems for this week are from an English poet, Thomas Hardy..

Welcome Home
To my native place
Bent upon returning,
Bosom all day burning
To be where my race
Well were known, 'twas much with me
There to dwell in amity.

Folk had sought their beds,
But I hailed: to view me
Under the moon, out to me
Several pushed their heads,
And to each I told my name,
Plans, and that therefrom I came.

'Did you? . . . Ah, 'tis true
I once heard, back a long time,
Here had spent his young time,
Some such man as you . . .
Good-night.' The casement closed again,
And I was left in the frosty lane.

I Sometimes Think
I sometimes think as here I sit
Of things I have done,
Which seemed in doing not unfit
To face the sun:
Yet never a soul has paused a whit
On such-not one.

There was that eager strenuous press
To sow good seed;
There was that saving from distress
In the nick of need;
There were those words in the wilderness:
Who cared to heed?

Yet can this be full true, or no?
For one did care,
And, spiriting into my house, to, fro,
Like wind on the stair,
Cares still, heeds all, and will, even though
I may despair.


Have a great weekend!!

moving... earth..

Earthquakes seemed to be happening "fairly frequently" these past few weeks... the latest being a 6.7 earthquake off the shore of Valparaiso, Chile yesterday.. :x :x

Having stayed in Japan for almost 30 months, I've experienced my share of ground shaking..  Although Taiwan does not have earthquake as often as Japan, it does have its fair share of shaking and moving..

That said, I was kinda shocked when I saw "MALAY PENINSULA" among cities/areas that had experienced  an earthquake when I was browsing the US Geological Survey website as shown here..

Malaysia never had any earthquake before.. ask any secondary school students here, and they will tell you that Malaysia lies on top of a very stable rock bed and is tectonically inactive.. although there has been reports of tremors felt when earthquakes shook Sumatra, it is fraking scary to have an entry that states "MALAY PENINSULA" as the epicenter of an earthquake...


One thing is for sure, don't buy or stay in high-rise buildings in Malaysia.. with lands aplenty, there's no reason to subject yourself to the danger of collapsing building, especially with the "infamous" reputation of developers in the country..

With so many seismic activities going on under our feet, all we can do is to be prepared for any possible disaster and get on with our daily lives.. no point worrying about the unforeseeable.. just live life as fully as possible, and not have regrets when our time comes to an end..

Stay safe, everyone...

finally... spring!

Spring is finally here! :) :) Weather is getting better.. getting warmer, in the range of twenties.. although the daily temperature variation is still kinda big, around 4 - 6 degrees, it is more bearable...

Also, this week is mid-term exam week.. yes, it is the middle of the school already.. very fast, right?? anyway, I have "only" 1 report due for this mid-term.. so not as stressed out as I were last semester.. :p


Still kinda busy with translation projects.. but they are now more "bearable", maybe cos I've gotten used to the "busy-ness".. so I can really say that I am to earn a living (and as much as possible) while studying for my PhD.. :) :) :)

Sunday Serenade: no one makes it on her own

A nice song from Roxette.. not one of the old ones but a fairly recent song.. I like the MV a lot..

No One Makes It on Her Own
performed by Roxette

Have you ever had the feeling
You take it all for granted
You wake up every morning
And expect to rise
Have you ever had a moment
To look into the mirror
To find a person
Who won't open her eyes
Have you ever felt a presence
(or is it all in the past, dear?)
So mesmerizing
It chills you to the bone
Have you ever been in love
And overcome that first fear
Well, then you know
No one makes it on her own

Did you ever catch a sunset
Right across the ocean
The universe revealed
And it didn't make sense at all
When you came into my world

Causing quite a commotion
I could have sworn I've met you
Many times before
Cos there's something in your eyes
That links us together
Something 'bout your face your lips
Your smile looks so alone
Have you ever been in love
And thought it'd last forever
Well, then you know
No one makes it on her own

Hey, there's something in your eyes
That links us together
Something 'bout your face your lips
Your smile looks so alone
Have you ever been in love
And thought it'd last forever
Then you know
No one makes it on her own





Have a great week ahead!! Stay safe and happy!

word play

As someone who works with languages, words and phrases hold a unique fascination for me.. thus a fondness for poems, shown clearly in my bi-weekly Poetry Solace entries.. :)

Anyway, I was curious as to the words my name will form as I've read somewhere that these words may shed some light to my personality, obvious or otherwise.. so here are some of the more interesting 4-letter (or more) words..

aegis, ages, agile, ales, egos, gals, goalie, halo, heals, hoaxes, holes, isle, legs, lies, ogles, sage, sail, sale, silo, shoe, sigh, slag, sleigh, slog, soil, sole...

And just for fun, I tried 'Malaysia' and 'Singapore'.. As 'Malaysia' has only 2 different vowels, while 'Singapore' contains 4, more words can be formed from the latter.

Malaysia -> ails, aims, alas, alias, alma, alms, lays, mails, mislay, sail, slam, slay, slim, slimy, yams

Singapore -> aegis, ages, agonise, angers, aprons, arisen, arse, aspire, earns, ears, egos, gains, gasp, goners, grains, grasp, grips, gripes, groans, ignores, nags, opera, oranges, organise, persona, pigeons, poise, praise, regions, reign, resign, sage, senior, soaring, spare, sponge, sprain, spring

Also, I can't help but notice that there are a couple of common words formed between Singapore and me.. while there is very few between Malaysia and me.. I've underline them for comparison.. maybe that explains why I have a bias towards the Lion City... :p

Then there is anagrams.. rearranging the alphabets in a word/phrase/name to form new word/phrase/name.. and here are a few from my name that make (some kind of) sense..

a sleigh ox
a log is hex

his log axe
his lax ego
ox hag isle

leg is hoax

Fun isn't it?

For those who wants to find out the words or the anagrams their names can form, check out these sites:
http://www.wordplays.com/words-in-a-word
http://wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html
http://rinkworks.com/words/palindromes.shtml

translation frenzy..

Things have been pretty crazy recently.. been getting lots of translation projects these past few weeks.. from English to Chinese, from English to Malay, from Chinese to English.. my mind is turning and churning more than 12 hours a day.. and I sometimes develop a minor headache by the end of the day.. :x

From past experiences, the months of February to July bring very few translation jobs. These are the "off-peak season" so to speak, so it is not uncommon to get less than 3 jobs in a month. This year however, things are different as I am getting jobs weekly, sometimes more than 1 per week. :) That being said, it is not as if I am earning big bucks from these frequent jobs. I need to juggle my studies/research at the same time so I can't devote all my time to it, although I am trying to earn as much as possible when the time is good. Also, there is only so much I can translate in a day without my brain "freezing up" or "melting down".. But all in all, my days have been pretty productive, either in terms of my academic progress or financial earning.. :)

Sunday Serenade: everybody hurts

Indeed, everybody hurts.. whether they show it or not.. whether they know it or not.. so take comfort in your family and friends.. just hang on..


Everybody Hurts
performed by R.E.M.

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone








Have a good week ahead! Stay healthy and safe!

Poetry Solace: Of dreams, rain and silence

Continuing from my last Poetry Solace entry, a couple more poems from Langston Hughes..

April Rain Song

Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain. 

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Silence

I catch the pattern

Of your silence

Before you speak

I do not need

To hear a word.

In your silence

Every tone I seek

Is heard.

Have a great weekend!

Dunhuang Mural Exhibition

Early last month I went to the Dunhuang (敦煌) Art Exhibition at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park which is more than 45 min train ride away..

History has always been my favorite subject in school.. I just love museums and art exhibitions, so I won't miss a chance to visit, especially now that I am eligible for student-priced tickets! :p

Anyway, I visited this exhibition on a weekday, thus I did not encounter much of a crowd..  in fact, there were hardly anyone at the exhibition, which was exactly what I wanted!

This exhibition had no prohibition against taking photographs, so my camera had a good "work-out" after being locked inside the drawers for months.. :)

And here are some of them..

nice-looking billboards along the way to the exhibition hall

replicas of art restoration tools

more restoration replicas

coloring used for restorations

one of the murals..

e same mural as above, but animated..

This is just a portion of the entire animation... the dance sequences, the music and all the other expressions and movements were pretty cool..

lots of information to digest..

Ever wonder what those hand gestures depicted by the Buddha and Bodhisattva meant? Some of them are actually prayer signs and here are 6 of them..

for Health

for Popularity/People Relationship

for Academic Achievement

for Wealth

for Love

for Career

Anyway, the exhibition was not very big and since I didn't have to fight to view all the exhibits, I was done in less than 2 hours.. Frankly I was hoping to see more, and with the exception of a couple of really memorable items, the rest was kinda disappointing..

spring "break"

There won't be any school this week as it is "spring vacation" (春假) week. Not too sure about the history or background about this, but no complaints from me.. :p

Seriously, I could use a short reprieve.. been swamped with translation projects these past few weeks.. neglecting my school work as a result.. also I have a few assignments due in a couple of weeks, so this week-long "holiday" shall be put to good use..

And hopefully I will have time to write more for this blog.. haven't been writing much these past weeks too..

Sunday Serenade: the best thing about me is you..

First heard about Ricky Martin during the 1998 World Cup where he sang "The Cup of Life".. and this song that I'm gonna share today is very much different from those that he is famous for.. so enjoy! :)

The Best Thing About Me is You
performed by Ricky Martin featuring Joss Stone

Love, Equality, Justice, Innocence, Malice, Refuge, Oppression, Freedom
You, me
We're equal

(Ricky Martin)
I'm as happy as I can be
'Cause I’m allergic to tragedy
The doctor says something’s wrong with me
The smile on my face has no remedy

So baby, don’t say no
Come on and just say yes
You know it’s time to keep it simple
Let’s take a chance and hope for the best.


[chorus]
Life is short, so make it what you wanna
Make it good, don’t wait until manana
I think I’m cool cause your name’s on this heart shaped tattoo.
Now the best thing about me is you
[end of chorus]
Oooooh

(Joss Stone)
My crying days are now history (history)
I had a change of philosophy (philosophy)
I take each day as it comes to me
And I won’t take myself all that seriously

So Babe, don’t say no
Come on and just say yes
You know it’s time to keep it simple
Let’s take a chance and hope for the best

[chorus]

It’s you (whoa oh)
Now the best thing, the best thing
It’s true. (whoa oh)

(Ricky Martin and Joss Stone)
Kick off your shoes, lay back, and take a load off
Give me your blues, let me love it away
Nothing to lose, so don’t act like such a grownup
Stay out all night in the moonlight with me

Don’t say no.
No, no. don’t say no.
Just say yes.
Come on and just say yes.
You know it’s time to keep it simple
Let’s take a chance and hope for the best

[chorus]

It’s you
Now the best thing, the best thing, the best thing
About me is you
Now the best thing about me is you.
The best thing about me is you.
The best thing about me is you.





Have a great week ahead! Stay healthy and happy!