The First Step

From this moment on, I will start to write something about investment. This is not because I have mastered it and can start giving lectures, but on the contrary, I have just made the first step and like to save my knowledge gained and observance along the future journey. I do not mind if you find my "eureka" moments are like "what-so-big-deal" or "so-what", as everyone has their own journey to explore. I would feel glad if you could grab something out of them, and even better if you could share out yours or point out my mistakes or misconceptions.

The first step has always been important, and subsequent few steps are even more important as they serve as the soil to grow. A rock solid foundation is the key to everything. I feel sorry to my partners that you may find me like to dilly-dally, talk more than walk or putting more emphasis in other aspects, but this is really my style. I always want to change, and in fact, I am the greediest one who want to change to become better in every aspects, but I believe there is a right time for every change, risen out of the need or consequences. Before I could sense that the moment has come, I preserve my determination and keep my memory well. But when I finally sense it, and I say I want to change, I do really mean it. The dilly-dallying is just the prelude for the main plot. Just like my English, like my Excel skills, like my emotional balance, like my expense management, like my exposures...(Oh...I don't mean to brag...please forgive me)

I am setting my mindset right first before stepping out. To me, investing is just a tool to set myself free financially to move on to do great things; no doubt I need to know how to excel in using this tool but I would not like to see myself get addicted into numbers and alphabets at the expense of life's balance and beauties. That is easier said than done as consequences do change people and money has the cunning power to twist even the purest soul, so I am putting a reminder here for myself, for myself in the future.

I shall now begin to walk, and talk the walk.

意阑

投石落无声 倦鸟归无处

Meaningful environmental photographs by OnAsia

These exhibition photographs are currently shown in NLB Singapore Level 7, very meaningful and full of insights. Too bad I could not disseminate them over the internet due to copyright infringement, but you could enjoy them by just clicking the link below: 

http://www.onasia.com/content/showcase.aspx?showcaseID=635&page=1

Savour every moment

Sometimes I like so much of my words, although they are not among the best, but they are best of my efforts, and it just feels good to have something created. Just call me wordaholic, because words are life.

Sometimes life is too busy til' you couldn't even catch your breath,

Sometimes life is too easy til' you could even hear your breath,

but ...

Too busy is when you could learn and grow the most,

Too easy is when you could rest and enjoy the toast,

for every moment of life is beautiful in the eyes of the wise.

生命的每一个时段，在懂得欣赏的人眼里，都是美丽的。小学生会在上课时埋怨假期迟来；在假期时盼望开学尽早。如果我们始终长不大，就会陷入无尽的抱怨和失望；抱怨生活没有给予我们想要的。其实生活没有义务给我们什么，反而是我们应该给生活赋予意义。一如单身有单身的逍遥，相伴有相伴的幸福，互不相羡。时间的每一秒、生活的每一步，都是画图里的的每一笔，只有珍惜每一秒每一步，才能画出最缤纷的人生图景。

继续前进

决定回来了……反正这里是我的家，我几时要回来就几时回来咯，不是么？呵呵。无论尝试过多少遍，始终放不下的就是放不下，就让我继续自恋自己的文章吧。之前才思有点枯竭了，现在新工作新环境新生活新体悟，有许多新鲜的题材，是时候回来了。

生命不要留白，记忆并不可靠，所以文章是缤纷生活最好的载体。之前把收藏了十多年，小学时关于朋友的日记拿出来和朋友分享，仿佛大家又回到了当年的胡闹，这一种时间酝酿出来的感觉，是多么地神奇复杂。

只是我写的，应该会与以前的有点不同，毕竟我已有了三次重大的人生体悟。是时候把眼光放诸于社会了，呵呵。

我相信生活的磨练让每个人都有深层的感触，但并非所有人能把想法化为文章，多么可惜呢。拥有过却不能回味，多么遗憾呢。

I just don't want to feel sorry for myself in the future, and hence I am back! :)

无力的咆哮

夜间流连在茶餐室收铁罐的老伯是一拐一拐的，而那些肆意挥霍的总裁们则是嬉皮笑脸的，如此赤裸的悬殊对照，真的让我这种无力的中产阶级怒从中来。对，这世界从未公平过，但不公不应每况愈下至如此让人心寒。

人类社会发展迅猛至今，说开了，本质上和封建社会有什么不一样，有钱有势就是能使鬼推磨。除了顶层有权有势有名有利的，其他的就是高尚的贱民；而顶层的，就总是要和魔鬼定约，出卖洁净的灵魂，以求死抱名利。

这是历史的悲剧，而历史的悲剧就注定会不断重演。古代的贱民还可以起义，而我们却被多种的无形枷锁困得连哼一声的勇气都没有；古代的贵族还会发财立品，现在的却连廉耻都懒得买了，
雷曼集团的可以开庆功宴庆祝倒闭，那九洞的凤蛙收了台底的贿赂还大摇大摆地驾着豪华轿车游街，丝毫不以是过街老鼠的身份为愧。

谁说现代社会不需要荆轲的？有动物可能在四月正式上台表演呢。

别了

一周里的第二宗自杀事件，朋友打来询问时我毫不知情，后来看到简短的短讯：NTU PRC hanged himself也没联想到什么，直至晚上另一通电话……自那刻起，电话的讯波不停地来回，为的只是一个确定；自确定后，混乱的思绪不停地探索，为的只是一个答案。为什么呢？但理智的搜索并没有找到答案，只找到散落的记忆不断地回放，酝酿出哀愁和叹息。

谁说世上最遥远的距离不是生与死的隔离？逝世带走的不仅是一切的可能，也带走了时间的流动，带走了空气的生气，独剩零碎的记忆在填补破裂的空隙……

为什么呢？在别人眼中是那么开朗的周正，为什么会选择走这一条路？在照片堆里笑的那么快乐的周正，为什么会一时想不开？

或许，你笑容的背后隐藏着的不是开心，而是忧愁。或许，你能笑，是因为你不在乎那些事；而对于你在乎的事，你太在乎了。或许，你太想要找到自己的方向，以致加速过度碰到障碍一时拐不到弯。或许，你给自己设立太高的抱负，却忘了给自己喘息的空间，以致于最后选择窒息。

要不然，你怎么会因为赔偿金未确定，而对三藩市之旅犹豫那么久？要不然，你怎么会在被裁后，因为觉得自己不适合在半导体电子厂工作，而如此急速地调整方向？要不然，你为什么在一段期间内，把校内网户口关闭与世隔绝，为的只是专心修读会计课程？要不然，你怎么会在报读了这课程后，在家里没负担而生活还有一笔钱时，还烦忧着找份工赚钱？要不然，你怎么会在找到工后，却担忧要读的资料太陌生？

和你最后的通电里那五秒钟的沉默，我宁愿相信那是你我生疏的前兆，而不是你有想说的话没说。我的情绪，变得多么复杂。有时候，生气你走前没给任何一个朋友一个机会帮忙；有时候，害怕想像你临走前感受的恐惧；有时候，感激你生前曾给我的无数回忆……

但你走了，我真的再也帮不到你什么了……唯有和其他朋友整理你的照片和回忆做成一本纪念册，希望能帮助你的爸妈早日走出伤痛。如果不是大家一起做，我想我会非常意兴阑珊。

只是，若你能听到葬礼时你妈妈那撕心裂肺的哀嚎，你会否后悔呢？真的可惜了，不过是一时的想不开……

朋友，若你想自杀，去听听葬礼里丧子之母的哀哭和感受为人父母白头人送黑头人终的悲痛吧。人，无论抱负多高，都不应该只是为自己而活的。。。自杀，真的很自私。

PERAK in POLITICAL CRISIS

For fellow Perakians, if you do not know what has happened in PERAK, please get yourself quickly updated.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/

http://www.merdekareview.com/

PERAK government collapsed. BN may claim power in a shocking method that defy our democracy the most.

As a normal citizen, we couldn't really do anything, but let's not be ignorant and may one day we can recall our memory to do the right decision.

Cheers for PERAK.

书籍分享 - 恐怖的食品添加物

不久前的中国毒奶风暴搞得大家对食品忧心重重，一个三聚氰胺（Melamine）就足以令人哗然-原来吃进肚子的东西这么“化学”！打铁要趁热，既然如此，且就顺势还原饮食世界里丑陋的一面。诚如此书作者安部司所言，没有人知道“食品”是如何做出来的。“要是你知道了，你就吃不下了。”这句话听起来是不是很熟悉呢？从事食品工业的员工都是这样说的吧。自己工厂的食品，相信没几个员工会吃。

眼不见为净、耳不听为妙，如果你还想享受现代高科技精细化学调制加工的精美速成食物，眼珠可别向下滑了，后果自负。但如果你还想让自己的身体少受一点来历不明的外来者侵略，别放弃对健康的执着，快往下看！

作为“食品添加物之神”，作者对食品的内幕及食品添加物的真相知至甚详，以此为主题的演讲在日本场场爆满，而2005年出版的这本书更造成非常大的回响。（因而才有幸被青睐翻译而让我们开开眼界）凡事皆有利弊，在崇拜速食所带给我们的方便、快速和似模似样的美味的同时，我们对其害处却似懂非懂，仿佛“没被证明不安全的”就等于安全。正因如此，作者著书揭发食品制成的“内幕”。

这本书流畅易读而引人深思，特意摘录以下几点供分享：

- 健康饮料是由虫子磨碎以后染色而成的。
- 黏懒的肉屑藉由三十种添加物而复活，成为肉丸子。
- 化腐朽为神奇的漂白剂让低档的咸鳕鱼子瞬间成为闪亮的高档货。
- 食品里的色素不过是添加物里的冰山一角，无色素的食品不过是五十步。
- 低盐食品比高盐食品反而多了几种控制咸度的“甜味料”。
- 一分钱，两分货。买廉价酱油、米酒、盐，多送你几种添加物。
- 合并标示到底混了N个添加物？
- 没有果子的果汁。
- 千篇一律的黄金三重奏：盐、化学调味剂及蛋白质水解物，能组成万种风味。

面对如此烦琐的细节，抱持“单纯的怀疑”是一起的开始。为什么鲜艳得那么恐怖？为什么新鲜可维持那么久？为什么。。。要做一个精明的消费者，还真是不容易呢。现代社会，无忧无虑的人恐怕早晚被无知所误。

可惜的是，随着社会发展步伐越来越快，即使再精明的人，是否能悠哉闲哉地“慢活”？当调味料成为主味料，当鲜菜蔬变成罐装品，当钢铁锅换成微波炉，谁有空闲去浸洗削切炖煮炒焖，谁有兴趣去了解搭配火候调味？如果要起步学习烹饪已是难事，那要去品味各种肉蔬的天然鲜甜和细尝之间的微妙差别就更是神话了。现代社会里没有神话，只有化学魔法，“民以速食为天”，失去的不止是自己煮食的满足、为人煮食的幸福，还有天赋的味觉。

【附】

http://ug99.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_28.html

http://www.huf.org.tw/pu/pu21712.htm

- 1999年6月，比利时120人和法国802人在饮用可口可乐之后发生呕吐、头昏眼花及头痛，公司回收1千7百万瓶汽水。

- 2004年3月，可口可乐在英国销售的Dasani瓶装水的溴酸盐(bromate)含量远超过英国规定的饮用水标准。

- 2005年，辣椒粉中发现致癌染色剂“苏丹一号”，引发英国史上规模最大的食品紧急召回行动。

- 2007年，GSK 饮料在新西兰的利宾纳广告虚报维生素C含量。

- 2009年6月，Red Bull饮料在德国、台湾和香港被检出含有可卡因。

Au revoir

I haven't blogged in a long time, and I will only update occasionally. Things change. Life changes. And so do I.

Believe it or not, whatever things I do, I do it for multiple reasons but not single reason. I blogs because

- I talk to understand. I need to talk with my alter ego to understand my emotions. And now I'm satisfied with my current level of understanding. Repetition worths much less.

- I write to excel. As an impulsive writer, I just like the moment of expressing ideas out of inner need and the feeling of playing with words. But I feel I should read more now.

- I like to share. But now photos, simple notes...are much easier to be shared through FB.

- I blog to think. At this stage of life, everyone thinks uniquely. You just shouldn't be overloaded with another people's thoughts.

I still thinks a lot but I gotta spend more time on reading and doing something else more important in life. Being retrenched at 24 certainly bring changes in life.