talking point

Strait talk: Washington increasingly opts out不插手

2006-04-09T19:14:00.000-05:00

TAIPEI - It has become an article of faith among observers of US foreign policy that US preoccupations當務之急 in the Middle East and with the "war on terror" have diverted diplomatic and military activities away from Northeast Asia. Leon Sigal, a program director at the New York-based Social Science Research Council, has coined the term "hawk disengagement" to describe the Bush administration's approach to the region.

This is particularly evident in the matter of Taiwan-China relations. President George W Bush came into office as possibly the most pro-Taiwan president in years. Early in his administration, he authorized a huge weapons deal, then priced at US$18 billion, now pared down below $15 billion. Bush stated the US would do "whatever it takes" to defend Taiwan. But the tune coming out of Washington has changed in recent years.

Particularly over the past two years, there has been perceptively less willingness in Washington to engage with either Taiwan or mainland China over the details of their convoluted relationship. Since late 2003 and Bush's now-famous call for both sides to respect the status quo in cross-strait relations, US policy has been distinctly passive, if not actually hostile to Taiwan.

But this is not because Washington's attention is focused elsewhere. US disengagement is a function of changes in Taipei and Beijing that the United States is less and less able to influence. Rather than withdrawing from the Taiwan Strait, the US is being quietly ousted. The difference between a withdrawal and an ejection is not just semantic. The former implies far more energy in US policy than the latter and places responsibility for the current state of play in cross-strait relations where it should be: in Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan's part in this drama is complex, as the island is strongly dependent on the US for its security, and the two sides have a history of close relations. Nonetheless, Taiwan's democratic evolution is actually undermining US support, despite the rhetoric emanating from Washington about promoting and defending democracy.

Some of this was probably to be expected. As the former head of the American Institute in Taiwan, Nat Bellocchi, has noted, the framework of US-Taiwan relations was imposed unilaterally by the United States during the island's authoritarian past, and it is increasingly difficult to keep a democratic Taiwan in this foreign-policy straitjacket.

But there are aspects to this "democratic rejection" of the US that are specific to contemporary Taiwanese politics. On the one hand, there is the ongoing delay in the purchase of defensive weaponry from the US. The current package, worth $15 billion and including Patriot missiles, submarines and surveillance aircraft, has been struck down in the island's legislature consistently for more than two years. Last Tuesday, the procurement budget was voted down for the 50th time.

In the bad old days of martial law, the chiefs of staff set the defense budget and a compliant legislature produced the necessary funds. Now Taiwan has a civilian defense minister, and the government must ask for, not demand, appropriations.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian hails from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and its coalition partner the People's First Party control the Legislative Yuan. The legislative "pan-blue" alliance is opposed to the arms package for a variety of reasons, but primary among these is a desire to undermine Chen's authority. Recent assurances by KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou during his recent Washington trip that his party would back a "reasonable arms budget" in the most recent legislative review apparently fell through.

On the other hand, Taipei itself is slowly choosing to opt out of the status quo in cross-strait relations - that is, the implicit agreement among Taipei, Beijing and Washington to leave Taiwan's political status undecided, which Bush has made a hallmark of his administration's China policy.

Chen's DPP was defeated in local elections last December, and he suffers from record low approval ratings of about 18%, according to an independent poll conducted by Shih Hsin University in Taipei at the end of last month. Perversely, this has made Chen even more determined to advance his party's pro-independence platform. It was behind his decision in February to scrap the island's National Unification Council, an institution most observers agree is an integral part of the status quo and which Chen originally promised to keep intact.

China's part to play in the ejection of the US is certainly less subtle than its island sibling, but no less definitive. Since the mid-1990s, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has spent considerable time and money turning the cross-strait impasse, which at the start of the Deng Xiaoping era was a diplomatic tussle, into a military matter. This commenced with missile tests off the coast of Taiwan in 1995-96, and includes the current deployment of somewhere between 700 and 800 short to medium-range missiles targeted at the island.

The PRC's defense budget has seen annual double-digit increases for the past decade, and this year's expenditure is expected to hit $35 billion, nearly 15% higher than in 2005. A report published by the Washington-based Rand Corporation last year, however, suggests that the official Chinese figures could understate actual military expenditures by as much as 70%. The US rightly believes that the target of the bulk of this outlay is Taiwan.

The PRC leadership is genuinely concerned about a determined push in Taiwan to turn de facto independence into de jure separation from China, even though only about 20% of the population favors it. Increasingly, it sees a military solution as the only way to prevent the push from succeeding. The Anti-Secession Law passed by the National People's Congress in March 2005 codified this concern, and marked the end of a brief period in which the PRC sought US diplomatic help to "contain" Taiwan's national aspirations.

The increasing insecurity of China's current leadership adds immediacy to this realist calculation. The current generation of communist leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, are technocrats engaged in a Herculean task of economic transformation - but devoid of any political reforms. Opposition is building: by the government's own admission, 87,000 incidents of "social unrest" were recorded in 2005, up 66% on the previous year.

The US is disengaging from the cross-strait imbroglio, but through no choice of its own. Only a serious change of heart in Taipei and Beijing will reverse the trend.

Craig Meer is a freelance journalist based in Taipei.

由於在中東（特別是伊拉克和伊朗）和全球反恐戰爭中投入過多精力，美國分身乏術，在東北亞的外交、軍事活動也受到很大影響。美國社會科學研究會（Social Science Research Council）的東北亞合作安全項目負責人里昂•西格爾（Leon Sigal）更創造出「強勢脫離」（hawk disengagement）一詞，來形容布什政府對該地區進行的戰略調整。

在台海關係上，華盛頓的轉變顯得更加明顯。上臺之初，布什被認為是多年來和臺灣走得最近的美國總統。2001年，美國通過一項價值達180億美元的對台軍售案，其中包括出售12 架P3反潛機，6個「愛國者」三型導彈連，以及8艘柴油動力潛艇。這是美國自1979年美台斷交之後的最大對台軍售。布什甚至表示「將不惜一切代價協防臺灣」。

然而，美國近年來的立場發生轉變，逐漸走向消極；連臺灣都認為有些「失寵」。過去兩年裏，華盛頓越來越不情願插手這「剪不斷、理還亂」的台海關係。在去年訪華期間，布什強調「反對任何單方面改變現狀，要通過對話和平解決」。

實際上，美國的「強勢脫離」並非因注意力轉移所致；而是由於台海問題的不斷演變，夾在北京和臺北當局中間的美國如今實難再施展較大影響力。美國也不是主動撤出了臺灣這個「不沉的航空母艦」，而是遭到了海峽兩岸的「驅逐」，情非得已。「撤出」和「被驅逐」不僅有著語義上的差別：與後者相比，前者更意味著美國利用外交政策調整，將維持台海現狀的重任交給北京和臺北這兩個當事人。

臺灣在此中扮演的角色有些複雜，因為它完全依賴美國為其提供安全保障，數十年來一直關係密切。不過，隨著臺灣民主力量的蓬勃發展，視「推廣、捍衛民主」為己任的美國發現它對臺灣的扶持受到了阻絆。

其實，這也是意料中之事。曾任美國在台協會（American Institute in Taiwan）理事主席的白樂崎（Nat Bellocchi）說過，鑒於美台關係框架是在蔣介石獨裁統治時美國單方面制定的，在民主化的臺灣繼續舊制自然有些不合時宜。

美國在台海問題上遭到「民主邊緣化」境地，與臺北的政局有關。一方面，雖然美國2001年就批准了對台軍售案，但這項數目龐大的軍購案遲遲未在臺灣的立法院通過。4月4日，軍購案在立法院遭到第50次的否決。

在戒嚴時期（1949-1988），臺北當局制定出國防預算，毫無實權的「立法院」只能乖乖準備好必要資金；而如今，在實現民主的臺灣，政府只能「申請」，而不能「要求」它批准預算。

臺灣總統陳水扁領導著執政黨民進黨（DPP），而反對黨國民黨（KMT）和親民黨（PFP）組成的「泛藍陣營」則控制了立法院。它們否決軍購案，是出於多個原因；但其中最主要就是希望以此繼續削弱陳水扁的權威。今年3月，國民黨主席馬英九訪問華盛頓。出行之前，他曾多次表達「國民黨支持合理軍購」的立場，希望將「軍購案的通過」作為「訪美大禮」送給華盛頓；不過這次美國還是沒能得償所願。

另一方面，臺北當局鋌而走險，選擇了「改變台海現狀」這條不歸路。正如前面所提，對「維持台海現狀」這條北京、華盛頓和臺北當局三方之間的不成文協議，布什也給予了肯定和支援。當民進黨在去年12月的臺灣地方選舉中遭到嚴重挫折後，世新大學（Shih Hsin University）民意調查中心上月底公佈的一項調查顯示，陳水扁的支持率跌至前所未有的18%。

像輸了錢的賭徒一樣，陳水扁希望借推進台獨進程挽回民心。2月，他宣佈廢除國統會（National Unification Council）和國統綱領；觀察家皆認為，該機構在維持台海現狀起著必不可缺的作用，陳水扁當初也承諾將保留該機構。

美國在台海問題上遭遇「邊緣化」其中也有北京的因素。在鄧小平時代，台海問題僅處於外交爭鬥階段；到了江澤民治下，它已升級到軍事爭鬥的層面。北京1995-96年先後在臺灣海峽試射導彈，據說目前還部署有700～800枚中短程導彈瞄準著臺灣。

過去10年裏，中國的軍費一直保持著兩位數的增幅；今年的軍費開支將有望達到350億美元，較上年增長15%。美國國際戰略研究機構蘭德公司（Rand Corporation）去年稱，中國官方公佈的資料可能比實際支出少70%。華盛頓認為，北京大舉增加軍費，意在臺灣。

雖然只有20%的民眾支持「台獨」，臺北當局似乎執意將「事實獨立」推進到「法理獨立」。這種趨勢，引起了北京的異常緊張。因而，通過軍事行動來解決這場潛在危機的方案，開始佔據了上風。去年3月，中國通過了《反國家分裂法》，從而為對台動武提供了法律依據；同時，這也標誌著北京不會僅僅依靠美國來維持台海現狀。

中國國內的不穩定，也為這種現實的解決方案增添了緊迫感。這一代領導人（包括國家主席胡錦濤和總理溫家寶在內）都是經歷了經濟轉型「洗禮」的技術派官僚，卻鮮有政治改革的經驗。去年，中國總共發生了87,000起群體抗爭事件，平均每天238起。（去年8月，公安部長周永康說，涉及100人以上的「群體事件」2004年大約發生了7.4萬，超過370萬人參與其中；這個數字大大超過了1994年的1萬起和2003年的 5.8萬起。

出於無奈，美國逐減淡出臺海紛爭。看來大概只有北京和臺北當局回心轉意，認識到美國也是維持台海「和平穩定」現狀的重要力量，華盛頓才能繼續發揮作用。

How Piracy Opens Doors for Windows

2006-04-09T19:05:00.000-05:00

Bill Gates may not be entirely dismayed沮喪 by software thieves. They seed the world market and make Microsoft a standard.

Microsoft Corp. estimates it lost about $14 billion last year to software piracy — and those may prove to be the most lucrative sales never made.

Although the world's largest software maker spends millions of dollars annually to combat搏殺 illegal copying and distribution of its products, critics allege — and Microsoft acknowledges — that piracy sometimes helps the company establish itself in emerging markets and fend off threats from free open-source programs.

The gist要旨 of the beneficial piracy argument is that the retail price Microsoft charges for signature products such as Windows and Office — as much as $669, depending on the version — can rival the average annual household income in some developing countries. So the vast majority of those users opt for pirated versions.

The proliferation繁殖 of pirated copies nevertheless establishes Microsoft products — particularly Windows and Office — as the software standard. As economies mature and flourish and people and companies begin buying legitimate versions, they usually buy Microsoft because most others already use it. It's called the network effect.

"The first dose is free," said Hal Varian, a professor of information management at UC Berkeley, facetiously開玩笑 comparing Microsoft's anti-piracy policy to street-corner marketing of illicit drugs. "Once you start using a product, you keep using it."

Even as the Internet makes global piracy easier than ever, Microsoft's revenue and profit have risen steadily. It earned $12 billion on $41.4 billion in revenue in calendar '05.

That record of success has led many experts and software companies to regard piracy as less of a problem than initially assumed or even part of a comprehensive strategy, said Eric Goldman, a law professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee and the former chief counsel of a Silicon Valley Internet firm.

"Is widespread piracy simply foregone revenue, a business model by accident or a business model by design?" he asked. "Maybe all three."

Of course, Microsoft executives prefer that people buy, but theft can build market share more quickly, as company co-founder and Chairman Bill Gates acknowledged in an unguarded moment in 1998.

"Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though," Gates told an audience at the University of Washington. "And as long as they're going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."

That's exactly what has happened around the globe, according to the Business Software Alliance, a Microsoft-backed anti-piracy group. Even Vietnam, which at more than 90% has the highest piracy rate in the world, has improved from 100% in 1994. The No. 1 software firm in Vietnam: Microsoft.

Closer to the company's Redmond, Wash., headquarters, the decline of piracy in the United States has tracked Microsoft's rise. Stratospheric 25 years ago, the U.S. piracy rate dropped to 31% in 1994, then to 21% in 2004 — the lowest in the world.

Microsoft's public posture on piracy is one of zero tolerance.

"We're all working five days a week and getting paid for three," said Cori Hartje, the company's director of license compliance. "We do everything we can to stop piracy."

The company sues online auctioneers and computer makers that supply pirated products, including Windows, the operating system for more than 90% of the world's personal computers. It cooperates with law enforcement agencies to seize pirated discs and warns users around the globe that counterfeit贋品 programs may destabilize their systems.

The effort even prompted Islamic clerics in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to declare fatwas, or religious edicts, against software piracy.

Microsoft, like most other software companies, has experimented with technical tricks to prevent copying, such as discs that could be used only once and hardware "dongles" that had to be connected to the PC before a software program could run.

Legitimate users complained bitterly. Such methods caused software bugs and prevented customers from reinstalling programs when their computers malfunctioned, yet hackers quickly subverted each new attempt.

"Copy protection is a balancing act because it always reduces the value of your product," said Bruce Schneier, chief technical officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc. "State-of-the-art copy protection makes your customers hate you."

By 1986, like most other software companies, Microsoft abandoned copy protection.

Now it attacks piracy with technical and legal carrots and sticks. In 2004, it launched the Windows Genuine Advantage program, which offers special features and updates for legal users. It also requires a product activation key — a string of letters and numbers the retail buyer of Windows or applications such as Word must enter to install the product on a computer.

Experts applauded額手稱臣 the approach as thoughtful, given past problems with copy protection. But it does little to deter piracy, because thousands of activation keys — stolen or generated by software programs — can be found easily on the Web.

Microsoft's legal approach differs sharply with that of the music industry, which sues as if it were in the fight of its life, said John G. Palfrey Jr., director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School.

"They put Napster out of business and sued Grokster to the Supreme Court," he said.

Like Microsoft, the music industry sees network effects from piracy. For little-known artists who have trouble getting airtime, piracy can be crucial to create buzz. But instead of generating revenue growth, pirated music generally replaces a CD purchase. In most countries, music revenue is falling.

In a loudly public campaign, music publishers have pressed more than 15,000 suits against individual pirates worldwide. Microsoft and the Business Software Alliance have rarely sued individuals, instead making claims against dozens of distributors and institutional users of illicit products.

More commonly, according to industry observers, Microsoft has cut pragmatic deals to convert institutional piracy into standard sales. Instead of suing, it asks organizations found to use illicit copies to replace them with licensed, paid versions. Microsoft wares become entrenched without competitive bidding, via piracy, and formal forgiveness cements the commercial relationship.

Microsoft declined to comment on how often it uses this approach.

Piracy also prevents free, open-source alternatives such as Linux from chipping away at Microsoft's monopolies, especially in developing nations.

China, for instance, promotes Red Flag Linux — a local, open-source competitor to Windows. As Gates concluded in 1998, piracy may be the only way Microsoft can stay in that market, embracing the opportunity to gradually convert pirates to payers. If Microsoft launched a draconian crackdown, UC Berkeley's Varian said, it would provoke the obvious reaction: "People would just switch to open source."

In China, pirated versions of Windows are easy to find on the street for 5 yuan, or about 62 cents. Why doesn't Microsoft put the thieves out of business by giving away or deeply discounting local-language versions of its products? The strategy would offer network benefits while providing better data on users.

Consistent global pricing reduces confusion for multinational buyers, Hartje said.

Experts believe high prices encourage piracy but offer the company offsetting advantages. If Microsoft sold Windows for, say, $10, it would lose money on every copy because of manufacturing, distribution and support costs. At zero cost to Microsoft, piracy enhances network effects by getting Windows out to users who can't or won't pay, without undercutting normal prices.

"Microsoft benefits from piracy, then says, 'If you think prices are high, blame the Chinese, because they are the thieves,' " said Ariel Katz, a law professor at the University of Toronto and an expert on the economics of piracy.

"They like us to feel guilty — to think that piracy is wrong and immoral. Economically, it's not necessarily true, but it resonates共嗚 with the public."

微軟公司估計去年因盜版軟體猖獗而損失一百四十億美元（台幣四千五百廿億元），批評者卻指出，盜版猖獗有時候反能幫助微軟打入新興市場，有效化解免費共享資源程式構成的威脅，微軟也承認此說有理。

盜版有益說的主要論點是，微軟視窗、Office等產品的售價可達六百六十九美元（約台幣二萬一千六百元），有時候相當於部分開發中國家的家庭平均年收入，迫使絕大多數用戶採用盜版。

盜版盛行使微軟的產品—尤其是視窗與Office

—成為軟體的標準。隨著一個國家或地區的經濟逐漸成熟、繁榮，民眾與企業開始購買合法版本，他們通常採用微軟的產品，因為多數人已經用慣了相同產品。這是所謂的網路效應。柏克萊加州大學資訊管理學教授維里安表示：「第一次免費。一旦開始使用某種特定產品，你就會一直用下去。」

網路發達助長全球的盜版風，微軟的收入與利潤卻穩定增加。以去年為例，微軟的總營收大約四百一十四億美元（台幣一兆三千四百億元），利潤大約一百廿億美元（台幣三千八百八十億元）。密爾瓦基馬凱特大學法學教授高德曼表示，這種成功的實例使許多專家及軟體公司認為，盜版問題其實非但不如各界最初想像的嚴重，甚至可能是業者全盤經營策略的一環。他表示：「盜版普遍是否使業者蒙受損失，是意外形成的生意模式，還是有意為之的手法？也許三者皆是。」

微軟高層當然希望消費者購買合法版本，然而盜版卻使它得以更快速的提高市占率。微軟董事長比爾蓋茲不諱言確實如此。他在一次演說時指出：「在中國，消費者每年購買的電腦平均大約三百萬台，不過他們並未承擔軟體的成本。這種情況終有改變的一天。只要有人繼續盜拷，我們希望對方盜拷微軟的產品。他們已經上癮，今後十年我們總會想出如何從中獲利的有效辦法。」

「商業軟體聯盟」指出，這正是全球各地的現況，但表面上，微軟對盜版採絕不姑息的立場。

Emule History High

2006-02-07T18:55:00.000-06:00

搶救粵語大作戰

2006-01-04T16:15:00.000-06:00

Cantonese Is Losing Its Voice

Cantonese and Mandarin speakers use the same written Chinese(Kanji) but don't prounce the characterics the same way

Speakers of the spicy tongue that can make words of love sound like a fight are having to learn its linguistic kin, the mellower Mandarin.

By David Pierson, Times Staff Writer

January 3, 2006

Carson Hom's family has run a thriving fortune cookie and almond cookie company in Los Angeles County for 35 years.

And for much of that time, it was a business that required two languages: Cantonese, to communicate with employees and the Chinese restaurants that bought the cookies, and English, to deal with health inspectors, suppliers and accountants.

But when Hom, 30, decided to start his own food import company, he learned that this bilingualism wasn't enough anymore.

He checked out the competition at a recent Chinese products fair in the San Gabriel Valley and found that he couldn't get much further than "hello" in conversing with vendors.

"I can't communicate," said Hom, whose parents are from Hong Kong. "Everyone around used to speak Cantonese. Now everyone is speaking Mandarin."

Cantonese, a sharp, cackling dialect full of slang and exaggerated expressions, was never the dominant language of China. But it came to dominate the Chinatowns of North America because the first immigrants came from the Cantonese-speaking southern province of Guangdong, where China first opened its ports to foreigners centuries ago.

It is also the chief language of Hong Kong, the vital trading and financial center that became China's link to the West.

But over the last three decades, waves of Mandarin-speaking mainland Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants have diluted the influence of both the Cantonese language and the pioneering Cantonese families who ran Chinatowns for years.

The surging Chinese economy today has challenged Cantonese further. Because Mandarin is China's official language, entrepreneurs like Hom have been forced to adapt, often learning the hard way that business can't be done with Cantonese alone.

Many Cantonese speakers are racing to learn Mandarin any way they can — by watching Chinese soap operas, attending schools, paying for expensive immersion courses and even making more Mandarin-speaking friends. This is no cinch. Although Cantonese and Mandarin share the same written language, they are spoken as differently as English and French.

At the same time, few people are learning Cantonese. San Jose State University and New York University offer classes, but they are almost alone among colleges with established Cantonese communities. The language is not taught at USC, UCLA, Pasadena City College, San Francisco State or Queens College in New York, to name a few.

With the changes, some are lamenting — in ways they can do only in Cantonese — the end of an era. Mandarin is now the vernacular of choice, and they say it doesn't come close to the colorful and brash banter of Cantonese.

"You might be saying, 'I love you' to your girlfriend in Cantonese, but it will still sound like you're fighting," said Howard Lee, a talk show host on Cantonese language KMRB-AM (1430). "It's just our tone. We always sound like we're in a shouting match. Mandarin is so mellow. Cantonese is strong and edgy."

Cantonese is said to be closer than Mandarin to ancient Chinese. It is also more complicated. Mandarin has four tones, so a character can be intonated four ways with four meanings. Cantonese has nine tones.

Beginning in the 1950s, the Chinese government tried to make Mandarin the national language in an effort to bridge the myriad dialects across the country. Since then, the government has been working to simplify the language, renamed Putonghua, and give it a proletarian spin. To die-hard Cantonese, no fans of the Communist government, this is one more reason to look down on Mandarin.

Many say it is far more difficult to learn Cantonese than Mandarin because the former does not always adhere to rules and formulas. Image-rich slang litters the lexicon and can leave anyone ignorant of the vernacular out of touch.

"You have to really listen to people if you want to learn Cantonese," said Gary Tai, who teaches the language at New York University and is also a principal at a Chinese school in Staten Island. "You have to watch movies and listen to songs. You can't learn the slang from books."

Popular phrases include the slang for getting a parking ticket, which in Cantonese is "I ate beef jerky," probably because Chinese beef jerky is thin and rectangular, like a parking ticket. And teo bao (literally "too full") describes someone who is uber-trendy, so hip he or she is going to explode.

Many sayings are coined by movie stars on screen. Telling someone to chill out, comedian Stephen Chow says: "Drink a cup of tea and eat a bun."

Then there are the curse words, and what an abundance there is.

A four-syllable obscenity well known in the Cantonese community punctuates the end of many a sentence.

"I think we all agree that curse words in Cantonese just sound better," said Lee, the radio host. "It's so much more of a direct hit on the nail. In Mandarin, they sound so polite."

His colleague, news broadcaster Vivian Lee, chimed in to clarify that the curse words were not vindictive.

"It's not that Cantonese people are less educated. They're very well educated. The language is just cute and funny. It doesn't hurt anyone," said Lee, who does the news show on the station five days a week. "The Italians need body language. We don't need that at all. We have adjectives."

To stress a point or to twist a sentence into a question, Cantonese speakers need only add a dramatic ahhhhhhh or laaaaaaa at the end.

Something simple like, "Let's go" becomes "C'mon, lets get a move on!" when it's capped with laaaaa.

By comparison, with Mandarin from China, what you see is what you get. The written form has been simplified by the Chinese government so that characters require fewer strokes. It is considered calmer and more melodic.

Take the popular Cantonese expression chi-seen, which means your wires have short-circuited. It is used, often affectionately, to call someone or something crazy. The Mandarin equivalent comes off to Cantonese people sounding like "You have a brain malfunction that has rendered your behavior unusual."

The calm tones of Mandarin are heard more and more around Southern California's Chinese community.

Even quintessential Hong Kong-style restaurants, including wonton noodle shops, now have waitresses who speak Mandarin, albeit badly, so they can take orders. Elected officials in Los Angeles County, even native Cantonese, are holding news conferences in Mandarin.

Some Cantonese speakers feel besieged.

Cheryl Li, a 19-year-old Pasadena City College student whose parents are from Hong Kong, is studying to become an occupational therapist and volunteers at the Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park, where most of the patients are Chinese.

Recently, she was asking patients, in Mandarin, what they wanted to eat. When one man thought her accent was off, he said, "Stupid second-generation Chinese American doesn't speak Mandarin."

Li responded angrily, "No! I was born here. But I understand enough."

"We're in the minority," she added, reflecting on the incident. "I'm scared Cantonese is going to be a lost language."

Still, Li is studying Mandarin.

There are places where Cantonese is protected and cherished.

At a cavernous Chinese seafood restaurant in Monterey Park, members of the Hong Kong Schools Alumni Federation gathered in a back room to munch on stir-fried scallops, pork offal soup and spare ribs.

It was a regular monthly meeting of the group and a sanctuary for Hong Kong Chinese people who take comfort eating and joking with fellow Cantonese speakers.

"I just can't express myself as freely in Mandarin," said Victor Law, an accountant who left Hong Kong to attend college in the U.S. 34 years ago. "That's why we have this association. I feel like we're the last of a dying breed."

For Law, it's not just the language but many Cantonese traditions that are on the decline. He says it's now hard to find a mah-jongg game that uses Hong Kong rules instead of Taiwanese rules, a distinction concerning how many tiles are used.

"I'm not ready to be a dinosaur," said Amy Yeung, president of the alumni group.

To the trained ear, it was instantly apparent that this was a gathering of Cantonese speakers. The room was deafeningly loud with everyone talking. Even serious discussions were punctuated with wise cracks.

When Yeung announced that members could get seats and walk the red carpet at an Asian film festival, the room erupted in unison in the most common way a Cantonese person expresses astonishment.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Near the end of the night, Yeung had important news. A mother in Hong Kong called to say she was moved to tears by a scholarship the federation had given to her daughter to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"She told me to tell you all, 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn't know there were such good people in the world,' " Yeung said.

The room fell silent for a moment. Sensing the awkwardness and, God forbid, self-congratulatory tone of the story, Law blurted, "Does she know how to cook?"

Everyone laughed and another successful meeting came to an end.

The alumni association can afford to lament. Many of them speak Mandarin already. But many Cantonese speakers are finding out now that they have to learn Mandarin or risk being left behind in business or even within their families.

To learn Mandarin, Joyce Fong sits in her favorite black leather massage chair in front of her living room TV and goes through Chinese soap operas on DVD. Some are about ancient Chinese dynasties. Others focus on the story of a single mother. And a few are South Korean programs dubbed into Mandarin.

The 67-year-old retiree says she has to pick up the language if she hopes to be able to communicate with her 9- and 5-year-old grandsons in China.

The boys had been living with their parents in the Bay Area, but the family decided to move to China a year ago so that Fong's son, Gregory, could take a job at a university and also raise his children immersed in Chinese culture.

Although the grandchildren will also speak English, they will primarily use Mandarin at school, Fong said.

"I want to encourage them. I tell them, 'Grandma is trying to learn Mandarin too,' " said Fong, who immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong 53 years ago and is socially involved in L.A. Chinatown through her family association.

Walnut City Councilman Joaquin Lim grew up in Hong Kong and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960s. For decades in California, he found he could get by with English and Cantonese.

But that changed when he decided to get into politics a decade ago.

Running for the school board in his suburban community, Lim quickly realized that most of his Chinese constituents in the eastern San Gabriel Valley were newcomers who didn't speak Cantonese.

So Lim had his Mandarin friends speak to him in their mother tongue. He watched movies in Mandarin and listened to Mandarin songs. By the time he ran for City Council in 1995, he felt comfortable enough with the language to campaign door-to-door and talk to Mandarin residents.

But there's always room for improvement — as Mandarin speakers are quick to remind him when he gives speeches. A few months ago, he was speaking to the Chinese language media at a news conference announcing a task force to improve health standards in Chinese restaurants.

As he spoke in Mandarin, fellow task force member Anthony Wong interrupted him in mid-sentence to correct his grammar.

The ethnic Chinese reporters chuckled, acknowledging that his Mandarin was a work in progress.

Lim recently spoke at a graduation ceremony in Cal Poly Pomona for government officials from central China who took a four-week course in American administrative practices.

Lim thought it went well. But the leader of the Chinese delegation had a slightly more reserved review: "It's much better than most Cantonese-speaking people."

藍色小精靈Smurfs

2006-01-04T00:13:00.000-06:00

http://www.smurf.comhttp://www.smurf.com

Offshoring=Outsourcing 外包

2005-12-28T13:52:00.000-06:00

Offshoring 海外外包is a well-known term for moving a business activity to another country in order to take advantage of lower costs or tax breaks—a controversial example is the way that many companies’ telephone call centres have been transferred to the Indian sub-continent. Onshore offshoring 境內外包 is almost a reverse process, in which skilled but comparatively low-paid workers are brought from overseas to work in the business’s country of operations. The term has only recently started to appear, at first in the USA, but it—and the activity—has come to public notice in the UK through the discovery by the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) that 21,000 foreign IT workers, mostly from India, have been given work permits in the past year alone. This rather clunky term has had to be created because jargoneers have already used up onshoring for a related technique that has also been been given the name homeshoring.

We must expect some businesses to explore the option of onshore offshoring in the UK, regardless of the potential social and economic impact this may have long-term—after all, it is the job of the government, not business, to regulate working opportunities and environments.

[Datamonitor CommentWire, 24 Nov. 2005]

ATSCo said its findings, based on Home Office figures, are the first evidence that multinationals recruiting workers in low-cost economies and transferring them to high-cost ones—a phenomenon known as “onshore offshoring” in the US—may have become widespread in Britain.

[Guardian, 21 Nov. 2005]

美國也泛政治化

2005-12-28T13:48:00.000-06:00

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It is holiday season again -- what is jokingly called "Christmakwanzuka" (聖誔寬札光明節)-- because Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are all celebrated in December. It is a festive time of year in the U.S., filled with decorations, including the one of the holiday's main symbols -- the Christmas tree -- as well as shopping, gift giving and parties.

But in a country where the constitution mandates the separation of church and state 政教分離, efforts have been made in recent years to make sure non-Christians are not offended by the open celebration of a Christian holiday. Now, many things associated with Christmas are often referred to as "holiday." As Amy Katz reports, there is controversy about the issue.

Capitol Hill -- the home of the U.S. Congress -- where in recent years, a tree has been called the holiday tree. But this year, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives asked that it be called the Christmas tree.

On the streets of Washington, some people agree with his decision and others don't. This man provided his thoughts on the matter, "Christmas represents Christ and this country was actually built on the religion of Christianity."

A woman countered, "I think that it's inappropriate that the name was changed to Christmas tree."

In the northwestern state of Oregon, students are rehearsing for their holiday -- not Christmas -- concert. Joel Karn, their choir director, says it was his choice.

"We haven't been told to call it that. I just like to stay safe, I guess. You know, especially in public school, like I say, I don't want anyone to be offended."

Stores have taken similar precautions -- banning any reference to Christmas. But Christian conservatives -- like Don Wildmon -- are not pleased. He says, "Tough luck. This is an overwhelmingly Christian country."

A number of national retailers have responded -- once again calling Christmas trees just that -- and instead of wishing people "Happy Holidays," they are wishing them a "Merry Christmas."

In Oregon, that's good news for James Autry, who runs a Christian radio station.

"I want to go up to everybody and say, "Hey, Merry Christmas."

One we asked one woman on the streets of Oregon, she agrees, "I think that we should all be happy with our religious heritage and not about offending people of other religions."

However, a man added, "We tend to forget that it is the birth of Christ that a lot people are trying to celebrate around Christmas and it seems that we're trying to hide the baby."

Charles Schiffman, who is with an Oregon Jewish organization, says understanding is what is important.

"I celebrate all people who want to make their religion meaningful to them, and I think that is what we should do with this holiday season. And I am not offended by the celebration of Christmas, and I would hope that my neighbors would not be offended by the fact that I celebrate other holidays."

For some that may mean singing seasonal songs, chosen not offend. And for others that may mean -- calling a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree.

又到了一年一度的聖誕佳節，或者是大家開玩笑說的“聖誕寬札光明節”，因為聖誕節，美國黑人的寬札節以及猶太教的光明節都是在12月慶祝的節日。這是美國一年當中最有節慶氣氛的時候，到處都可以看到節日裝飾，包括最主要的裝飾品聖誕樹。還有大採購、送禮和派對。但是在美國這樣一個憲法要求政教分離的國家，最近幾年來大家都在努力確保所有這些聖誕節慶祝活動不會冒犯了非基督徒。現在在美國，許多與聖誕節有關的事物都被改稱為“節日”事物。

在美國國會的所在地華盛頓國會山的聖誕樹這些年來都被稱為“節日樹”。但是今年，眾議院發言人提議恢復聖誕樹的稱呼。

在華盛頓街頭，一些民眾贊同他的提議，但也有人反對。一位男市民說：“聖誕代表耶穌基督，而美國實際上是以基督教信仰建立的國家。”一位女市民說：“我認為把它改名為聖誕樹並不恰當。”

*聖誕音樂會改稱節日音樂會*

在美國西北部的俄勒岡州，學生在排練他們的“節日”音樂會，而不是“聖誕”音樂會。合唱團的指導卡恩說，這是他的決定：“沒有人要我們這樣做，但我只是想要保險一點。你知道，特別是在公立學校裡，我可不想冒犯任何人。”

就連一些商店也採取這樣的預防措施，避免任何與聖誕有關的東西。但是基督教保守人士威爾德蒙對這樣的現象非常生氣。他說：“真不幸，美國可是一個基督教徒佔絕大多數的國家啊！”

一些全國性商店也做出回應，他們堅持使用“聖誕樹”的稱呼，而且對顧客說“聖誕快樂”，而不是“假期快樂”。對於在俄勒岡州經營基督教廣播電台的奧特利來說，這是個好消息。他說：“我想和街上每一個人說，嘿，聖誕快樂。”

其他俄勒岡人也同意這樣的看法。一位女市民說：“我認為我們應該為自己的宗教傳統感到高興，而不是擔心會冒犯了信仰其他宗教的人士。”

一位男市民說：“我們似乎忘了大家在聖誕節慶祝的是耶穌基督的誕生，我感覺大家好像要把聖嬰藏起來。”

*各宗教應該互相寬容*

俄勒岡州猶太組織的希夫曼說，重要的是大家能夠有所瞭解：“我為那些想讓他們自己宗教更有意義的人慶祝。我認為這是我們在這段節日裡應該做的。我不會被聖誕節的慶祝活動所冒犯，同樣的，我也希望我的鄰居不會因為我慶祝其他節日而不開心。”

對某些人來說，可能是選擇唱一些不會冒犯人的節日歌曲，而對其他人來說，則是堅持聖誕樹就應該要叫聖誕樹。

Kwanzaa

2005-12-28T13:34:00.000-06:00

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Kwanzaa began 38 years ago as a cultural celebration for African-Americans as well as for Africans throughout the world. It was created by an African-American to reinforce the values of African culture that focus on family and community ties. Kimberly Russell produced this report, narrated by Carol Pearson.

For many African-Americans, the holiday period between December 26 and January 1 has taken on new meaning with the celebration of Kwanzaa.

"Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday based on first fruits festivals in various African countries where there is a re-spiritualization, and a purpose of giving thanks back to the Creator for collectively being able to harvest the first fruits of the crop, and to recollect and to renew oneself for a New Year's effort," explains Reverend Willie Wilson, pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Reverend Wilson's Union Temple Baptist Church has been celebrating Kwanzaa for more than 20 years.

"As Dr. Ron Karenga established it back in 1966, there are seven principles that correspond to the seven symbols and the seven candles in the kinara, or candle holder, and each day a different principal is discussed," he explains. "The first principal isUmoja, which means unity. The second is Kujichagulia, meaning self-determination. The third, is Ujima, collective work and responsibility. The fourth is Ujamaa, which is cooperative economics. The fifth is Nia, which means purpose. The sixth is Kuumba which means creativity. And the seventh is Imani, which means faith."

On one particular night, the congregation celebrates Ujamma, Swahili for "cooperative economics," the fourth principal of Kwanzaa.

"The African-American Development Cooperation will be talking about certain of the African-American businesses in the city, and how, in a unified, collective effort, we can work together to generate funds, create jobs, in our own community," Reverend Wilson says.

"What Kwanzaa does, is it helps us establish values," says Dorothy Winbush Riley, author of The Complete Kwanzaa. "It helps us to establish rituals for our children. If we want certain values passed. If we want certain images transmitted, we must be the ones to set down our rituals, and we must be the ones to teach our children. And that's what prompted us at this time of the year we can reflect and we can decide what it is that's important. And we can help our children to focus, and we can pass on legacies, traditions, survival techniques, everything that we need to our children, and they know that at the end of the year, something is expected."

Kwanzaa gives African-Americans an opportunity to reunite with family and friends, while paying tribute to their cultural heritage.

12月26號是寬札節連續七天節日的開始，這是美國黑人慶祝他們文化與自尊的節日。寬札節起源於大約40年前，主要慶祝七大傳統：團結(unity)、自決(self-determination)、團體工作與責任(collective work and responsibility)、合作經濟(cooperative economics)、目標(purpose)、創造力(creativity)和信仰(faith)。越來越多美國黑人把這七大原則納入他們的節日紀念。

*始於黑人解放運動高潮時期*

許多創造重大節日傳統的人都已經不在這個世上了，特別是在每年這個時候能和聖誕節、光明節相提並論的重要節日。但是卡倫加做到了，他創立了為期七天的美國黑人寬札節。他在1966年美國黑人解放運動高潮時期有了這個構想：

“當時我們不只要爭取社會正義和自由，更希望回歸我們的非洲歷史和文化。我們自問，我們怎麼樣以過去作為基礎，來豐富我們現在的生活，改善我們的未來，所以我們能夠向大家介紹並確認黑人社區，哲學和價值的重要性。”

*寬札節對美國黑人的特殊意義*

在美國首都華盛頓，你可以在許多寬札節慶祝活動中輕易感受到黑人社區和文化。湯普遜是扎根活動學習中心的創辦人兼主任，她在自己主辦的派對上，看著孩子們隨著寬札節音樂起舞：

“他們為自己，為他們的愛，為他們身為非洲人以及身為一個大家庭來慶祝。”

湯普遜補充說，寬札節對歷史上被當作奴隸的美國黑人來說，有特殊的意義：“我們被迫離開家園，我們的家庭因此破碎。所以寬札節通過我們的文化把大家凝聚在一起，以及有關我們生活的精神準則。”

但是寬札節不僅僅是給那些黑奴後裔的美國黑人。越來越多移民到美國的黑人也開始慶祝這個節日。雷伊來自西非的加納。他說：“寬札節代表著將我們個人重新奉獻出來，大家一起生活，一起努力，這樣我們才能愛自己，進而去愛別人。”

*每一天代表一個非洲傳統原則*

寬札節有個儀式結構。非營利機構美國黑人節日基金會的克萊爾漢迪解釋說，在寬札節長達七天的節日裡，每一天都代表一個非洲傳統原則：

“從12月26號到1月1號，寬札節七天的節日裡，每天點亮一根蠟燭來代表一個原則，而家人會團聚起來，討論這些原則。做父母的通常會要求孩子遵守這些原則。”

卡倫加教授解釋說，第一個原則“烏摩加”，是斯瓦西裡語中“團結”的意思：

“那代表我們爭取並維護家庭、社區、國家、種族，當然還有就是全世界的團結，『庫奇加-古利亞』代表自決，為我們自己做決定，為我們自己命名，創造和發言。第三個原則『烏吉馬』，代表團體工作與責任，也就是建立並維護我們的社區，把兄弟姐妹的問題當成自己的問題來解決。第四個原則『烏竹馬』，合作經濟，那就是興建並維護我們自己的商店和生意，讓大家一起賺錢。”

卡倫加教授繼續解釋寬札節的第五個傳統『尼亞』代表目標：我們的目標是要確認我們集體的使命，就是建立和發展我們的社區，好讓我們的同胞瞭解我們的傳統有多麼偉大。第六個原則是『庫恩巴』，創造力的意思，也就是盡我們所能，用一切方法，讓我們的社區更美更好。最後第七個原則是『以馬尼』，就是信仰。我們要全心相信我們的人民、我們的父母、我們的老師、領導、以及我們的奮鬥終將會贏得正義與勝利。”

儘管寬札節的慶祝活動是以美國黑人為主而設計的，卡倫加說，許多慶祝寬札節的人士也喜歡強調寬札節活動的普遍性。

Tuna Sandwich

2005-12-16T18:08:00.000-06:00

乳酪鮪魚三明治

有一陣子常在學校自動販賣機買全麥的鮪魚三明治或火雞三明治當餐點.
不知不覺便愛上了這種簡便好吃的食物. 在家試著調配相似的口感.
通常冰箱若無奶油乳酪. 我會用原味優格+美乃滋做主調味料. 再調整黑胡椒及鹽的用量.

食用法: 1份鮪魚三明治 + 一杯香醇的咖啡 + 1小盒綜合水果 = 速簡午餐

材料:
a 油漬鮪魚罐頭 1罐
b 洋蔥切丁 1/4~1/3杯
c 青椒切丁 1/4杯 (或紅椒丁+青椒丁=1/3~1/2杯)
d 西洋芹切細丁 3大匙~1/4杯 (可省略. 但風味不同)

調味料:
e 奶油乳酪cream cheese 1/3杯 (微波或室溫軟化)
f 美乃滋 2大匙(可依口味調整)
g 原味優酪乳 1~2大匙 (若無.可用牛奶+優格代替)
h 粗顆粒黑胡椒 1/8~1/4小匙(可自行增減)

( 奶油乳酪已有鹹度. 若喜歡更鹹一些可加一小撮鹽.)

i 白土司 20~24片(全麥吐司更好)

做法:
1. 在罐子中用插子將a插碎. 讓鮪魚吸收罐內油脂(肉較不乾澀).

2. 取一碗.將a+b+c+d 攪拌混合

3. 取另一碗, 先將e用小打蛋器攪散. 加入fg混合. 加入h
(h亦可先加少許, 剩餘在全部混合後再依口味調整加入)

4. 將(3)與(2)混合均勻. (若需要濕一些可再加少許牛奶或優酪乳. 若需要稠一些可加美乃滋或增加蔬菜). 放冰箱冷藏備用.

5. 取兩片吐司麵包, 將吐司去硬邊, 抹上適量(4). 切對半. 疊合. 即為一份三明治. 中間亦可夾生菜.

KO註:
1. 將醬料放冰箱. 食用前再取出攪拌. 與吐司麵包組合.
2. 若要事先組合. 液體水份不要太多. 組合後用保鮮模包裹. 『需』冷藏.
3. 可用鹹的可麗餅代替吐司麵包. 夾上切片的白煮蛋及生菜. 乳酪醬料可多放些

鮪魚三明治

這是一個愛吃鮪魚罐頭的朋友教我的當沙拉也很可口

材料：罐裝鮪魚（剁細）

洋蔥切小丁（洋蔥沖洗後放冰箱冷藏5-10分鐘剝皮再切較不會刺激淚腺）

芹菜切末（先去掉葉子再洗淨瀝乾水分）

雞蛋切丁（用水煮熟剝殼）

調味品：美乃滋黑胡椒粉

將材料和調味品拌在一起（量可自行斟酌）塗抹在土司上即可

因為太好吃了如果再泡上一杯咖啡相信會不知不覺的一片接一片的吃個不停
小心可別吃過量喲。

dealsea.com - cheap computer deals cheap digital camera deals cheap notebook sales online computer store

2005-12-15T16:31:00.000-06:00

dealsea.com - cheap computer deals cheap digital camera deals cheap notebook sales online computer store

Herb Salad

2005-12-15T16:09:00.000-06:00

Net Weight 5 oz (142g)

INGREDIENTS: Organic Baby Lettuces (Red & Green Romaine, Red & Green Oak Leaf, Lollo Rosa, Tango), Organic Baby Spinach, Organic Red & Green Chard, Organic Mizuna, Organic Arugula, Organic Frisee, Organic Radicchio, Organic Parsley, Organic Dill, Organic Cilantro. The ingredients in each package may vary.

印度丫火大

2005-12-15T09:40:00.000-06:00

By Siddharth Srivastava NEW DELHI - It is an incident being closely watched by Indian industry observers as future corporate decisions may depend on the outcome. As has been widely reported, Neelima Tirumalasetti, an American of Indian origin, has filed a suit in a federal court in Texas against a US firm.

新德里---印度裔美國人蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂（Neelima Tirumalasetti）在德克薩斯州一聯邦法院控告一家美國公司引起了廣泛的報道，因為，這次事件的結果將會影響到許多大公司外包工作給印度時的決定。
Neelima, an information technology analyst in quality assurance, was allegedly subject to repeated racial harassment and discrimination after the company for which she worked, Caremark, decided to outsource work to India.
蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂是Caremark公司品質保證部門的資訊技術分析員。據說，在該公司決定將工作外包給印度之後，她一再遭到種族侵擾和歧視。
Her case is not only important to ensure the welfare of people of Indian origin, who are among the wealthiest, earning high salaries in the US. It is of interest to Indian outsourcing firms, which have to interact with American and European clients and customers on a regular basis.

她的訴訟案不僅對確保在美國拿高薪的印裔美國人（美國最富有的族群之一）的福利至關重要，而且還引起了需要經常與歐美客戶打交道的印度外包公司的關注。

One of the main reasons, apart from the long and odd hours of work, for the high attrition口角磨擦 rates in Indian call centers is the abusive and racist outpourings by some foreign customers angry over jobs being outsourced to low-cost countries, with India being one of the pioneers of the process.

除了工作時間長和不固定之外，造成印度呼叫中心摩擦率高的主要原因之一是，一些外國消費者不滿把工作外包給低成本國家，而印度是外包的首選國家之一，他們就採取辱駡和種族歧視的方式發洩憤怒情緒。
It is not easy sitting in a far-off land to handle queries that could range from weather, rail reservations, maps and credit card statements. According to some experts, the stress caused by abusive callers results in an annual erosion of up to 60% to 70% of the over half a million Indians working in Indian call centers.
在遠離客戶所在地的地方為他們提供天氣情況、預定火車票、查詢地圖和信用卡結算清單等服務並非易事。據一些專家透露，呼叫者的辱駡給印度呼叫中心工作的印度人（超過50萬人）造成很大的精神壓力，導致每年的人員流失比例高達60－70％。
Neelima's lawsuit alleges that after Caremark announced in December 2003 that it would be outsourcing work to IBM India, she became a target of harassment. "Caremark's investors deserve to know how it conducts itself behind closed doors," Neelima said in an interview to The Times of India. "This lawsuit is about dignity and assuring that employees are treated equally regardless of their origin, race or ethnic background."

蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂在訴狀中稱，在2003年12月Caremark公司宣佈將把工作外包給IBM印度公司之後，她就成為被騷擾對象。她在接受《印度時報》（Times of India）採訪時說，“Caremark 的投資者應該很清楚公司內部的情況。這次訴訟關乎尊嚴，確保來自不同血緣、種族或民族的員工得到公平待遇。”
Earlier this year, in a move to cut costs, IBM Corp added more than 14,000 jobs in India after slashing 13,000 positions in Europe and the US. Last year IBM bought out Daksh eServices, the third-largest outsourcing firm in India with 6,000 employees, at a value estimated at over $170 million. IBM has in recent years implemented cost cuts in the face of dwindling financial results and leveraging in a new global economy.
今年初， IBM公司採取行動削減成本：在歐美裁員1.3萬人之後，在印度增員1.4萬人。去年，IBM收購了擁有6000名員工、價值估計超過1.7億美元的印度第三大商業外包企業－Daksh eServices。鑒於公司在新的全球經濟中財務狀況不斷惡化，IBM近幾年實施了大幅削減成本的計劃。 According to the allegations by Neelima, her co-workers repeatedly called her "brown-skinned bitch" and "dirty Indian" among other abuses, saying that people such as her were taking their jobs. Neelima, who is a US citizen, told her seniors of the problem, but matters only turned for the worse as Caremark allegedly removed her from higher responsibilities, denied her pay and accused her of lying about her case, including physical symptoms that led to hospitalization.

根據蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂的指控，她的同事一再使用“棕皮膚婊子”、“骯髒的印度人”等污辱性字眼稱呼她，並指責像她這樣的人搶了他們的工作。蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂是美國合法公民，她向上司反映問題，不過情況變得更糟，因為據說Caremark公司把她降職、不給她工資並指控她在訴訟中撒謊，包括謊稱自己受到身體傷害而住院。據報道，Caremark公司最後承認她的指控屬實，但又表示“鑒於公司員工擔心工作外包給印度，出現這種情況是可以理解的”。
Finally, Caremark reportedly conceded her case, but said that it was "understandable given Caremark's employees' concerns about outsourcing to India".
The lawsuit alleges that Neelima suffered a final emotional breakdown after Caremark wanted her to report to a co-worker and a junior whom she accused. Caremark fired Neelima after she took her case to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Neelima's case is a reflection of the pent-up anger that remains within populations due to job losses.

訴狀稱，在Caremark公司要求蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂在被她控告的一名同事和下級手下工作之後，她最後在精神上崩潰了。在她向美國平等就業機會委員會 (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)提出訴訟之後，Caremark把她解雇了。蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂一案反映出一些失業的美國人仍然充滿強烈的憤怒情緒。
Earlier this year, India-born PepsiCo president Indra Nooyi, one of Fortune's most powerful businesswoman, faced a fair bit of this ire when she anointed America as the "middle finger" of the world in a speech to Columbia Business School's graduating students. Americans took to deriding Nooyi, with the most vociferous comments registered on the Internet, though Nooyi explained that her meaning was entirely different from the more obvious interpretation.

今年初，印度出生的百事公司（Pepsi Co）總裁英德拉•諾依(Indra Nooyi)在對哥倫比亞大學商學院(Columbia Business School)畢業生發表演講時把美國比喻成世界的“中指”，結果遭到猛烈抨擊。儘管她盡力解釋說她的比喻與人們普遍的理解完全不同，但仍有一些美國人在互聯網上用最惡毒的評論攻擊她，嘲諷她。A comment in an Indian paper said: "No matter how many years she has lived in the US and how much she professes her loyalty to the country, to a bigot she is a brown foreigner. And a woman to boot. How dare she criticize the United States on American soil? If you are a recent immigrant, you don't bite the hand that fed you. It is okay if you are white and your forbears got off the boat a century or two ago."

諾依是《財富》雜誌（Fortune）評選出的最具影響力的商界女性之一。但印度一份報紙發表評論說，“不管她在美國生活多少年，不管她對這個國家有多忠誠，對種族偏執狂來說，她始終還是一名棕皮膚的外國人，而且還是個女人。她怎麼敢在美國人的地盤上對美國指手劃腳？如果你是新移民，你就不要對美國說三道四；如果你是白人，而且祖先早在1或2個世紀之前就來到美國，那就沒關係。”
Indians were also miffed 火大/火滾 at the parody揶揄 this year by a US radio station that telephoned an Indian call center. In the "call", aired on Philadelphia's Power 99 FM radio, the caller placed an order for beads and then abused the person on the other end of the line. Despite the problems, though, outsourcing is here to stay. Estimates suggest that only 200,000 to 400,000 jobs have moved from the US since the outsourcing trend began in the 1990s, which is still a fraction of 138 million jobs in the US. The Information Technology Association of America says only about 2% of 10 million computer-related jobs have been sent abroad.

今年美國一廣播電臺致電一印度呼叫中心的惡作劇也令印度人大為憤怒。在費城Power 99 FM播放的那段“通話”中，呼叫者訂購珠子，然後辱駡電話另一端的人。儘管有這多麼問題存在，外包還是在進行。自從上世紀90年代外包業務開始流行起，估計只有20－40萬個工作機會從美國流失，與美國國內的1.38億個工作崗位相比，這只是“九牛一毛”。美國資訊技術協會（Information Technology Association of America）指出，1000萬個與電腦有關的工作機會中只有大約2％外包給海外。

However, jobs will move out at a higher pace. According to consultancy firm Forrester Research, 3.4 million US service-sector jobs are expected to have moved overseas by 2015. Observers say one-ninth of the world's service jobs could be done from any location.India has repeatedly urged Western nations to make a commitment not to enact legislation that prohibits the offshoring of call centers and software development.

然而，工作機會將以更快的速度流失到海外。據市場研究公司Forrester Research透露，預計到2015年，美國將有340萬個服務行業的工作機會流向海外。觀察家說，全球1/9的服務工作可能被外包。印度一再促請西方國家承諾不要通過禁止把工作外包給境外呼叫中心和軟體研發機構的法律。According to a study by Global Outsourcing: "The anger in the West over job losses and fear about offshoring has made this [racist calls] a growing problem. Some people call up with deliberately difficult questions. Most just say things like, 'you are from India. You don't know anything. I don't want to speak to you'." There are reports websites have sprung up that teach Americans the choicest Hindi abuses.

根據《全球外包》(Global Outsourcing)的一項調查：“西方對失去工作機會的憤怒以及對離岸外包的恐懼使這（打種族歧視電話）成為日益嚴峻的問題。一些呼叫者故意問一些刁難問題。絕大多數人只會這樣說：‘你從印度來。你什麼也不懂。我不想跟你說話’。”有報道說，教美國人學最難聽的印地語髒話的網站如雨後春筍般湧現出來。Until matters settle down, Indian call centers have been trying to protect their employees by training them in Western-accented English and other methods, such as taking on Western names. But this has not been very successful. Many have employed foreigners to train as well as take calls; others have installed technology that blanks out abusive callers from known numbers.

在問題解決之前，印度呼叫中心一直努力採取措施保護員工，例如訓練他們講西方口音的英語以及其他方法，例如起個西方名字。不過，這樣做並不十分奏效。許多公司請外國人訓練員工的英語以及接聽電話；其他的則引進先進技術從已知電話號碼中將出言不遜的呼叫者剔除。
There is no denying, though, that there will be victims of the transition and evening-out of global economic processes. Sadly, Neelima could be one of them. Siddharth Srivastava is a New Delhi-based journalist.

但是無可否認，在全球經濟轉變和穩定過程中，仍然會有人受到傷害。遺憾的是，蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂就是其中之一。

Racial slurs that hurt India

2005-12-15T09:19:00.001-06:00

By Siddharth Srivastava

NEW DELHI - It is an incident being closely watched by Indian industry observers as future corporate decisions may depend on the outcome. As has been widely reported, Neelima Tirumalasetti, an American of Indian origin, has filed a suit in a federal court in Texas against a US firm.

Neelima, an information technology analyst in quality assurance, was allegedly subject to repeated racial harassment and discrimination after the company for which she worked, Caremark, decided to outsource work to India.

Her case is not only important to ensure the welfare of people of

Indian origin, who are among the wealthiest, earning high salaries in the US. It is of interest to Indian outsourcing firms, which have to interact with American and European clients and customers on a regular basis.

One of the main reasons, apart from the long and odd hours of work, for the high attrition rates in Indian call centers is the abusive and racist outpourings by some foreign customers angry over jobs being outsourced to low-cost countries, with India being one of the pioneers of the process.

It is not easy sitting in a far-off land to handle queries that could range from weather, rail reservations, maps and credit card statements. According to some experts, the stress caused by abusive callers results in an annual erosion of up to 60% to 70% of the over half a million Indians working in Indian call centers.

Neelima's lawsuit alleges that after Caremark announced in December 2003 that it would be outsourcing work to IBM India, she became a target of harassment. "Caremark's investors deserve to know how it conducts itself behind closed doors," Neelima said in an interview to The Times of India. "This lawsuit is about dignity and assuring that employees are treated equally regardless of their origin, race or ethnic background."

Earlier this year, in a move to cut costs, IBM Corp added more than 14,000 jobs in India after slashing 13,000 positions in Europe and the US. Last year IBM bought out Daksh eServices, the third-largest outsourcing firm in India with 6,000 employees, at a value estimated at over $170 million. IBM has in recent years implemented cost cuts in the face of dwindling financial results and leveraging in a new global economy.

According to the allegations by Neelima, her co-workers repeatedly called her "brown-skinned bitch" and "dirty Indian" among other abuses, saying that people such as her were taking their jobs. Neelima, who is a US citizen, told her seniors of the problem, but matters only turned for the worse as Caremark allegedly removed her from higher responsibilities, denied her pay and accused her of lying about her case, including physical symptoms that led to hospitalization.

Finally, Caremark reportedly conceded her case, but said that it was "understandable given Caremark's employees' concerns about outsourcing to India".

The lawsuit alleges that Neelima suffered a final emotional breakdown after Caremark wanted her to report to a co-worker and a junior whom she accused. Caremark fired Neelima after she took her case to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Neelima's case is a reflection of the pent-up anger that remains within populations due to job losses. Earlier this year, India-born PepsiCo president Indra Nooyi, one of Fortune's most powerful businesswoman, faced a fair bit of this ire when she anointed America as the "middle finger" of the world in a speech to Columbia Business School's graduating students. Americans took to deriding Nooyi, with the most vociferous comments registered on the Internet, though Nooyi explained that her meaning was entirely different from the more obvious interpretation.

A comment in an Indian paper said: "No matter how many years she has lived in the US and how much she professes her loyalty to the country, to a bigot she is a brown foreigner. And a woman to boot. How dare she criticize the United States on American soil? If you are a recent immigrant, you don't bite the hand that fed you. It is okay if you are white and your forbears got off the boat a century or two ago."

Indians were also miffed 火大/火滾 at the parody揶揄 this year by a US radio station that telephoned an Indian call center. In the "call", aired on Philadelphia's Power 99 FM radio, the caller placed an order for beads and then abused the person on the other end of the line.

Despite the problems, though, outsourcing is here to stay. Estimates suggest that only 200,000 to 400,000 jobs have moved from the US since the outsourcing trend began in the 1990s, which is still a fraction of 138 million jobs in the US. The Information Technology Association of America says only about 2% of 10 million computer-related jobs have been sent abroad.

However, jobs will move out at a higher pace. According to consultancy firm Forrester Research, 3.4 million US service-sector jobs are expected to have moved overseas by 2015. Observers say one-ninth of the world's service jobs could be done from any location.

India has repeatedly urged Western nations to make a commitment not to enact legislation that prohibits the offshoring of call centers and software development.

According to a study by Global Outsourcing: "The anger in the West over job losses and fear about offshoring has made this [racist calls] a growing problem. Some people call up with deliberately difficult questions. Most just say things like, 'you are from India. You don't know anything. I don't want to speak to you'." There are reports websites have sprung up that teach Americans the choicest Hindi abuses.

Until matters settle down, Indian call centers have been trying to protect their employees by training them in Western-accented English and other methods, such as taking on Western names. But this has not been very successful. Many have employed foreigners to train as well as take calls; others have installed technology that blanks out abusive callers from known numbers.

There is no denying, though, that there will be victims of the transition and evening-out of global economic processes. Sadly, Neelima could be one of them. Siddharth Srivastava is a New Delhi-based journalist.

新德里---印度裔美國人蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂（Neelima Tirumalasetti）在德克薩斯州一聯邦法院控告一家美國公司引起了廣泛的報道，因為，這次事件的結果將會影響到許多大公司外包工作給印度時的決定。
蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂是Caremark公司品質保證部門的資訊技術分析員。據說，在該公司決定將工作外包給印度之後，她一再遭到種族侵擾和歧視。
她的訴訟案不僅對確保在美國拿高薪的印裔美國人（美國最富有的族群之一）的福利至關重要，而且還引起了需要經常與歐美客戶打交道的印度外包公司的關注。
除了工作時間長和不固定之外，造成印度呼叫中心摩擦率高的主要原因之一是，一些外國消費者不滿把工作外包給低成本國家，而印度是外包的首選國家之一，他們就採取辱駡和種族歧視的方式發洩憤怒情緒。
在遠離客戶所在地的地方為他們提供天氣情況、預定火車票、查詢地圖和信用卡結算清單等服務並非易事。據一些專家透露，呼叫者的辱駡給印度呼叫中心工作的印度人（超過50萬人）造成很大的精神壓力，導致每年的人員流失比例高達60－70％。
蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂在訴狀中稱，在2003年12月Caremark公司宣佈將把工作外包給IBM印度公司之後，她就成為被騷擾對象。她在接受《印度時報》（Times of India）採訪時說，“Caremark 的投資者應該很清楚公司內部的情況。這次訴訟關乎尊嚴，確保來自不同血緣、種族或民族的員工得到公平待遇。”
今年初， IBM公司採取行動削減成本：在歐美裁員1.3萬人之後，在印度增員1.4萬人。去年，IBM收購了擁有6000名員工、價值估計超過1.7億美元的印度第三大商業外包企業－Daksh eServices。鑒於公司在新的全球經濟中財務狀況不斷惡化，IBM近幾年實施了大幅削減成本的計劃。
根據蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂的指控，她的同事一再使用“棕皮膚婊子”、“骯髒的印度人”等污辱性字眼稱呼她，並指責像她這樣的人搶了他們的工作。蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂是美國合法公民，她向上司反映問題，不過情況變得更糟，因為據說Caremark公司把她降職、不給她工資並指控她在訴訟中撒謊，包括謊稱自己受到身體傷害而住院。據報道，Caremark公司最後承認她的指控屬實，但又表示“鑒於公司員工擔心工作外包給印度，出現這種情況是可以理解的”。
訴狀稱，在Caremark公司要求蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂在被她控告的一名同事和下級手下工作之後，她最後在精神上崩潰了。在她向美國平等就業機會委員會 (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)提出訴訟之後，Caremark把她解雇了。
蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂一案反映出一些失業的美國人仍然充滿強烈的憤怒情緒。今年初，印度出生的百事公司（Pepsi Co）總裁英德拉•諾依(Indra Nooyi)在對哥倫比亞大學商學院(Columbia Business School)畢業生發表演講時把美國比喻成世界的“中指”，結果遭到猛烈抨擊。儘管她盡力解釋說她的比喻與人們普遍的理解完全不同，但仍有一些美國人在互聯網上用最惡毒的評論攻擊她，嘲諷她。
諾依是《財富》雜誌（Fortune）評選出的最具影響力的商界女性之一。但印度一份報紙發表評論說，“不管她在美國生活多少年，不管她對這個國家有多忠誠，對種族偏執狂來說，她始終還是一名棕皮膚的外國人，而且還是個女人。她怎麼敢在美國人的地盤上對美國指手劃腳？如果你是新移民，你就不要對美國說三道四；如果你是白人，而且祖先早在1或2個世紀之前就來到美國，那就沒關係。”
今年美國一廣播電臺致電一印度呼叫中心的惡作劇也令印度人大為憤怒。在費城Power 99 FM播放的那段“通話”中，呼叫者訂購珠子，然後辱駡電話另一端的人。
儘管有這多麼問題存在，外包還是在進行。自從上世紀90年代外包業務開始流行起，估計只有20－40萬個工作機會從美國流失，與美國國內的1.38億個工作崗位相比，這只是“九牛一毛”。美國資訊技術協會（Information Technology Association of America）指出，1000萬個與電腦有關的工作機會中只有大約2％外包給海外。
然而，工作機會將以更快的速度流失到海外。據市場研究公司Forrester Research透露，預計到2015年，美國將有340萬個服務行業的工作機會流向海外。觀察家說，全球1/9的服務工作可能被外包。印度一再促請西方國家承諾不要通過禁止把工作外包給境外呼叫中心和軟體研發機構的法律。
根據《全球外包》(Global Outsourcing)的一項調查：“西方對失去工作機會的憤怒以及對離岸外包的恐懼使這（打種族歧視電話）成為日益嚴峻的問題。一些呼叫者故意問一些刁難問題。絕大多數人只會這樣說：‘你從印度來。你什麼也不懂。我不想跟你說話’。”有報道說，教美國人學最難聽的印地語髒話的網站如雨後春筍般湧現出來。
在問題解決之前，印度呼叫中心一直努力採取措施保護員工，例如訓練他們講西方口音的英語以及其他方法，例如起個西方名字。不過，這樣做並不十分奏效。許多公司請外國人訓練員工的英語以及接聽電話；其他的則引進先進技術從已知電話號碼中將出言不遜的呼叫者剔除。
但是無可否認，在全球經濟轉變和穩定過程中，仍然會有人受到傷害。遺憾的是，蒂魯瑪拉塞蒂就是其中之一。

Customer Service Agents are Helping America from Home

2005-12-14T14:41:00.000-06:00

Report

For years now, Americans have noticed that when they call to purchase an airline ticket, or to get help with a problem they have been having with a cell phone or computer, the person they end up talking to is often not an American-even though the call they placed was to a domestic number. That is because many of the companies that run these call centers have shipped their operations overseas-often to India-in an effort to save money.
Willow customer service agent working from homeThe practice has generated criticism. But now, industry leaders think they have found a cost-effective alternative that is "domestic" in more ways than one.
The practice of routing calls to overseas help-centers has not proven to be popular with consumers. Craig Foucht, a finance manager in New York City, says he was routed to India three times when he called about a problem he was having with his computer. "I could tell from their accent, even though they used very Americanized names like 'Jennifer' or 'Rob,'" he recalls. "On the whole, the experience was unsatisfactory, because it didn't seem like the staff was trained enough to handle my problems, and (they) seemed quite distracted, and didn't really give me the service I was expecting."
The complaint is a common one. Often, American consumers say, agents in places like India and the Philippines are unfamiliar with the issues faced by American consumers, or else they have only an 'academic' understanding of these issues, with no 'hands-on' personal experience.
Angie Selden, chief executive officer of WillowCSNAngie Selden, chief executive officer of WillowCSN, which finds and hires customer-service agents for a number of large, Fortune 500 companies, understands this complaint. She says international agents are fine for some industries, but in others, there is no replacement for Americans.
"Many of the health-related questions around Medicare and Medicaid," she points out, "(Or) insurance claims processing, are much better answered by people in the United States, who are familiar with the health-care terminology and the health-care experiences here in the United States."
That may be why the model that was pioneered by WillowCSN in 1997 is becoming more and more popular. Willow supplies clients with American customer-service agents… but it does not charge those clients the expensive overhead costs-like rent and electricity, typically associated with American call-centers. That is because Willow does not actually have any call centers. Its agents do not report to a warehouse filled with phones and computers; instead, they work out of their homes -- their living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens -- wherever.
According to Angie Selden, all it takes is the right computer and telephone equipment. "There's a very rapidly growing interest in corporate America now around having certain types of customer calls serviced by agents who are working from home," she says. "It's a very cost-effective way for these companies to get access to U.S.-based people."
Angie Selden's company now has 3,000 customer service agents in 30 states working for its clients. That is four times as many people as it had just 18 months ago.
Nebraska-based West Corporation, another call-service company, has increased its number of at-home agents from 3,400 last year to 7,300 this year. Dave Pleiss, who oversees public relations for West, says the at-home model has allowed his company to bring on qualified people who would like to make a little extra money, but would not necessarily be willing or able to travel to a centralized call-center.
"So perhaps licensed nurses or real estate people," he says, "We can easily get a network of 300 or so of those together across the country, where we wouldn't be able to get 300 licensed people in a call center."
The at-home model has also allowed call-service companies to decrease their turnover rates. Annual turnover at a typical U.S. call-center generally ranges from 60-100%. That is because most workers reporting to these centers are in their 20s, and they all plan on doing something else with their lives.
But the average age of an agent at Willow CSN is 38, and that works out marvelously
John Riorden, Virgin Atlantic's Vice-President of Customer Servicefor Virgin Atlantic Airlines, one of Willow's clients. John Riorden, the airline's Vice-President of Customer Service, says the company prefers to have agents with a little 'life experience.'
"The type of calls that are handled by us in the airline business are reservations, queries about reservations, and a whole myriad of other things that require a pretty significant knowledge base on how international travel works," Mr. Riorden says. "So we do need people who have traveled, and have traveled abroad extensively, because that knowledge is a tremendous advantage in being a good airline customer service agent."
Right now, just 118,000 of the more than five million customer service agents in the United States are working from home. But Angie Selden of Willow CSN expects that number to grow considerably in the coming years-particularly as more and more Baby Boomers retire and look at the challenge of caring for their aging parents. She says the time flexibility -- and the extra income --provided by at-home customer service work will probably appeal to people in such situations.

多年以來，美國人已經注意到，當他們打電話訂購機票或者通過電話尋求幫助解決他們的手機或者電腦問題時，雖然他們撥打的電話是國內號碼，但是最終與他們通話交談的人卻經常不是美國人。這是因為很多開辦經營這些客戶話務中心的公司已經把他們的通話業務轉移到了海外，通常情況下是在印度，以此節約開支。這種做法已招致批評，但產業界領袖認為，他們找到了另外一種立足國內、成本合算的客戶服務方式。
把顧客來電轉接到設在海外的諮詢服務中心的做法已經證明並不是那麼受顧客的歡迎。
福克特是紐約市的一位財務經理。他說，他打電話解決他的電腦出現的一個問題的時候，電話有三次被轉接到了印度。
他說：“雖然他們都使用一些非常美國化的名字，比如詹妮弗或者羅伯，但是我可以從他們的口音判斷出他們不是美國人。大體上，和他們交談的經歷並不令人滿意，因為看上去那些工作人員沒有經過足夠的培訓，無法解決我的問題，而且可以感覺到他們做事相當不專心，沒有給我提供我所期待的服務。”
*外國人不熟悉美消費者需要*
這是相當常見的抱怨。美國消費者通常表示，像印度和菲律賓這些地方的話務代理商並不熟悉美國消費者所面臨的問題，或者他們對於這些問題只有理論上的一知半解，而缺乏實際動手的個人經驗。
塞爾頓是WillowCSN公司的首席執行官，她的公司為很多財富雜誌評選出的世界500強企業尋找並僱用客戶服務代理商。她說，對於某些產業來說，僱用國際代理服務人員是不錯的，但是對於其它產業則非美國人做不可。
塞爾頓說：“圍繞著聯邦醫療保險、政府醫療保險以及保險申請處理過程中很多與健康有關的問題最好由身在美國的人回答。這些人熟悉醫療術語以及美國的醫療體系的運作過程。”
這也許是WillowCSN公司1997年首創的模式越來越受歡迎的原因。WillowCSN公司向客戶提供美國的顧客服務代理機構，但是並不向這些客戶收取諸如租金、電費這些昂貴的、典型的與美國客戶話務中心相關的經常性管理費用。這是因為WillowCSN公司實際上並不擁有任何話務中心。它僱用的代理服務人員並不需要向一個到處都是電話和電腦的倉庫報到，相反，他們在自己的家中工作，無論是自己家的客廳、餐廳還是廚房，哪裏都行。而工作所需要的一切只是一套適用的電腦和電話設備而已。
*在家工作節省開支*
塞爾頓說：“現在，美國公司對由在家工作的代理服務人員提供某些顧客熱線服務的興趣正在急速增長，因為僱用在家工作的代理服務人員是節省開支的一種很好的方法。”
目前，塞爾頓的公司在美國30個州僱用了3千名顧客服務代理人員，為公司的客戶工作。這個數字是18個月以前該公司擁有服務代理人員數量的4倍。設在內布拉斯加州的另外一家話務服務公司“西部公司”已經把公司旗下在家上班的顧客服務代理人員，從去年的3千4百人增加到今年的7千3百人。
普賴斯是西部公司公共關係部門的主管。他說，在家上班的模式使他的公司得以招聘到合格稱職的僱員。這些人願意多賺一些錢，但是並不一定願意或者能夠去一個集中式的話務中心上班：“我們或許可以在全國各地輕而易舉地找到擁有執照的護士或者是房地產從業人員，建立起一個300人左右的網絡，但是我們卻不能夠找到 300個合格的工作人員在一個話務中心工作。”
住家工作模式還使話務服務公司得以降低他們的員工跳槽比率。一般來說，一家典型的美國話務中心每年的員工更新比率在60%到100%之間。這是因為絕大多數在這些中心上班的僱員都是20多歲的年輕人，他們都打算在今後的生活中能有一番作為。但是在WillowCSN公司，話務服務人員的平均年齡是38歲。這一點對於該公司的客戶之一“維珍大西洋航空公司”來說，實在是再好不過了。
*生活經驗豐富者有優勢*
“維珍大西洋航空公司”主管顧客服務的副總裁裡爾頓表示，該公司更喜歡有些生活經驗的工作人員：“我們航空業開設的電話服務項目主要包括幫助旅客預訂機票、解答旅客在訂票方面的疑問以及處理其它各種各樣的具體事務。這需要話務人員對國際旅行行業如何運作具有非常豐富翔實的知識。因此我們需要那些有旅行經驗、經常去國外旅行的人，因為要成為一名好的航空旅客服務人員，具備這些知識無疑具有巨大的優勢。”
目前，美國超過5百萬顧客服務從業人員當中，只有11萬8千人在家工作。但是WillowCSN公司的塞爾頓預計，特別是隨著越來越多嬰兒潮時期出生的人加入到退休者的行列，考慮到照料他們年邁父母的挑戰，這個數字在未來幾年裡將有很大的增長。她說，在家顧客服務在工作時間方面具有的靈活性以及這種工作所帶來的額外收入，對於這些人來說可能會很有吸引力。

White pople's Exodus

2005-12-07T16:46:00.000-06:00

Monta Vista High School's parent-teacher association家長協會, recently dissuaded a family with a young child from moving to Cupertino because there are so few young white kids left in the public schools. "This may not sound good," she confides吐露, "but their child may be the only Caucasian kid in the class."

All of Ms. Gatley's four children have attended or are currently attending Monta Vista. One son, Andrew, 17 years old, took the high-school exit exam last summer and left the school to avoid the academic pressure. He is currently working in a pet-supply store寵物食品供應店.

Ms. Gatley, who is white, says she probably wouldn't have moved to Cupertino if she had anticipated how much it would change.

In the 1960s, the term "white flight" emerged to describe the rapid exodus出走(語源出埃及記)of whites from big cities into the suburbs, a process that often resulted in the economic degradation of the remaining community. Back then, the phenomenon was mostly believed to be sparked by the growth in the population of African-Americans, and to a lesser degree Hispanics, in some major cities.

But this modern incarnation化身,表像 is different. Across the country, Asian-Americans have by and large been successful and accepted into middle- and upper-class communities. Silicon Valley has kept Cupertino's economy stable, and the town is almost indistinguishable from many of the suburbs around it. The shrinking number of white students hasn't hurt the academic standards of Cupertino's schools -- in fact the opposite is true.

This time the effect is more subtle: Some Asians believe that the resulting lack of diversity creates an atmosphere that is too sheltering for their children, leaving then unprepared for life in a country that is only 4 percent Asian overall. Moreover, many Asians share some of their white counterpart's concerns. Both groups finger newer Asian immigrants for the schools' intense competitiveness.

Some whites fear that by avoiding schools with large Asian populations parents are short-changing their own children, giving them the idea that they can't compete with Asian kids. "My parents never let me think that because I'm Caucasian, I'm not going to succeed," says Jessie Hogin, a white Monta Vista graduate.

The white exodus clearly involves race-based presumptions, not all of which are positive. One example: Asian parents are too competitive. That sounds like racism種族意識 to many of Cupertino's Asian residents, who resen憤恨t the fact that their growing numbers and success are causing many white families to boycott the town altogether.

"It's a stereotype of Asian parents," says Pei-Pei Yow, a Hewlett-Packard Co. manager and Chinese-American community leader who sent two kids to Monta Vista. It's like other familiar biases, she says: "You can't say everybody from the South is a redneck椿腳聳."

Jane Doherty, a retirement-community administrator, chose to send her two boys elsewhere. When her family moved to Cupertino from Indiana over a decade ago, Ms. Doherty says her top priority was moving into a good public-school district. She paid no heed留意 to a real-estate agent who told her of the town's burgeoning萌芽 Asian population.

She says she began to reconsider after her elder son, Matthew, entered Kennedy, the middle school that feeds Monta Vista. As he played soccer, Ms. Doherty watched a line of cars across the street deposit Asian kids for after-school study. She also attended a Monta Vista parents' night and came away worrying about the school's focus on test scores and the big-name colleges its graduates attend.

"My sense is that at Monta Vista you're competing against the child beside you," she says. Ms. Doherty says she believes the issue stems起源於 more from recent immigrants than Asians as a whole. "Obviously, the concentration集中 of Asian students is really high, and it does flavor the school," she says.

When Matthew, now a student at Notre Dame, finished middle school eight years ago, Ms. Doherty decided to send him to Bellarmine College Preparatory, a Jesuit school that she says has a culture that "values the whole child." It's also 55 percent white and 24 percent Asian. Her younger son, Kevin, followed suit.

Kevin Doherty, 17, says he's happy his mother made the switch. Many of his old friends at Kennedy aren't happy at Monta Vista, he says. "Kids at Bellarmine have a lot of pressure to do well, too, but they want to learn and do something they want to do."

While California has seen the most pronounced 明顯的 cases of suburban segregation種族分隔, some of the developments in Cupertino are also starting to surface 碳開 in other parts of the U.S. At Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Md., known flippantly 不雅 to some locals as "Won Ton,"雲吞 roughly 35 percent of students are of Asian descent. People who don't know the school tend to make assumptions about its academics, says Principal Michael Doran. "Certain stereotypes come to mind -- 'those people are good at math,' " he says.

In Tenafly, N.J., a well-to-do 小康 bedroom community near New York, the local high school says it expects Asian students to make up about 36 percent of its total in the next five years, compared with 27 percent today. The district still attracts families of all backgrounds, but Asians are particularly intent that their kids work hard and excel, says Anat Eisenberg, a local Coldwell Banker real-estate agent. "Everybody is caught into this process of driving their kids." Lawrence Mayer, Tenafly High's vice principal, says he's never heard such concerns.

Perched位于 on the western end of the Santa Clara valley, Cupertino was for many years a primarily rural area known for its many fruit orchards. The beginnings of the tech industry brought suburbanization, and Cupertino then became a very white, quintessentially典型的 middle-class town of mostly modest ranch homes, populated by engineers and their families. Apple Computer Inc. planted its headquarters there.

As the high-tech industry prospered昌隆, so did Cupertino. Today, the orchards are a memory, replaced by numerous shopping malls and subdivisions支局 that are home to Silicon Valley's prosperous upper-middle class. While the architecture in Cupertino is largely the same as in neighboring communities, the town of about 50,000 people now boasts自誇/以..著稱 Indian restaurants, tutoring centers and Asian grocers. Parents say Cupertino's top schools have become more academically intense over the past 10 years.

Asian immigrants have surged疯湧 into the town, granting it a reputation -- particularly among recent Chinese and South Asian immigrants -- as a Bay Area locale of choice. Cupertino is now 41 percent Asian, up from 24 percent in 1998.

Some students struggle in Cupertino's high schools who might not elsewhere. Monta Vista's Academic Performance Index, which compares the academic performance of California's schools, reached an all-time空前的 high of 924 out of 1,000 this year, making it one of the highest-scoring high schools in Northern California. Grades are so high that a 'B' average puts a student in the bottom third of a class.

"We have great students, which has a lot of upsides," says April Scott, Monta Vista's principal. "The downside is what the kids with a 3.0 GPA think of themselves."

Ms. Scott and her counterpart at Lynbrook know what's said about their schools being too competitive and dominated by Asians. "It's easy to buy into those kinds of comments because they're loaded and powerful," says Ms. Scott, who adds that they paint an inaccurate picture of Monta Vista. Ms. Scott says many athletic programs are thriving and points to the school's many extracurricular activities. She also points out that white students represented 20 percent of the school's 29 National Merit Semifinalists this year.

Judy Hogin, Jessie's mother and a Cupertino real-estate agent, believes the school was good for her daughter, who is now a freshman at the University of California at San Diego. "I know it's frustrating to some people who have moved away," says Ms. Hogin, who is white. Jessie, she says, "rose to the challenge."

On a recent autumn day at Lynbrook, crowds of students spilled out of classrooms for midmorning break. Against a sea of Asian faces, the few white students were easy to pick out. One boy sat on a wall, his lighter hair and skin making him stand out 易於分辨 from dozens of others around him. In another corner, four white male students lounged at a picnic table.

At Cupertino's top schools, administrators, parents and students say white students end up in the stereotyped role often applied to other minority groups: the underachievers. In one 9th-grade algebra class, Lynbrook's lowest-level math class, the students are an eclectic mix of whites, Asians and other racial and ethnic groups.

"Take a good look," whispered Steve Rowley, superintendent of the Fremont Union High School District, which covers the city of Cupertino as well as portions of other neighboring cities. "This doesn't look like the other classes we're going to."

On the second floor, in advanced-placement chemistry, only a couple of the 32 students are white and the rest are Asian. Some white parents, and even some students, say they suspect teachers don't take white kids as seriously as Asians.

"Many of my Asian friends were convinced that if you were Asian, you had to confirm you were smart. If you were white, you had to prove it," says Arar Han, a Monta Vista graduate who recently co-edited "Asian American X," a book of coming-of-age essays by young Asian-Americans.

Ms. Gatley, the Monta Vista PTA president, is more blunt: "White kids are thought of as the dumb kids," she says.

Cupertino's administrators and faculty, the majority of whom are white, adamantly強硬的 say there's no discrimination against whites. The administrators say students of all races get along well. In fact, there's little evidence of any overt racial tension between students or between their parents.

Mr. Rowley, the school superintendent, however, concedes that a perception exists that's sometimes called "the white-boy syndrome." He describes it as: "Kids who are white feel themselves a distinct minority against a majority culture."

Mr. Rowley, who is white, enrolled his only son, Eddie, at Lynbrook. When Eddie started freshman geometry几何學, the boy was frustrated to learn that many of the Asian students in his class had already taken the course in summer school, Mr. Rowley recalls. That gave them a big leg up大優勢.

To many of Cupertino's Asians, some of the assumptions made by white parents -- that Asians are excessively competitive and single-minded一生懸命 -- play into stereotypes. Top schools in nearby, whiter Palo Alto, which also have very high test scores, also feature heavy course loads, long hours of homework and overly stressed students, says Denise Pope, director of Stressed Out Students, a Stanford University program that has worked with schools in both Palo Alto and Cupertino. But whites don't seem to be avoiding those institutions, or making the same negative generalizations, Asian families note, suggesting that it's not academic competition that makes white parents uncomfortable but academic competition with Asian-Americans.

Some of Cupertino's Asian residents say they don't blame white families for leaving. After all, many of the town's Asians are fretting擔心 about the same issues. While acknowledging that the term Asian embraces a wide diversity of countries, cultures and languages, they say there's some truth to the criticisms levied征收 against new immigrant parents, particularly those from countries such as China and India, who often put a lot of academic pressure on their children.

Some parents and students say these various forces are creating an unhealthy cultural isolation in the schools. Monta Vista graduate Mark Seto says he wouldn't send his kids to his alma mater. "It was a sheltered little world that didn't bear a whole lot of resemblance to what the rest of the country is like," says Mr. Seto, a Chinese-American who recently graduated from Yale University. As a result, he says, "college wasn't an academic adjustment. It was a cultural adjustment."

Hung Wei, a Chinese-American living in Cupertino, has become an active campaigner in the community, encouraging Asian parents to be more aware of their children's emotional development. Ms. Wei, who is co-president of Monta Vista's PTA with Ms. Gatley, says her activism stems from the suicide of her daughter, Diana. Ms. Wei says life in Cupertino and at Monta Vista didn't prepare the young woman for life at New York University. Diana moved there in 2004 and jumped to her death from a Manhattan building two months later.

"We emphasize關注 academics so much and protect our kids, I feel there's something lacking in our education," Ms. Wei says.

Cupertino schools are trying to address some of these issues. Monta Vista recently completed a series of seminars focused on such issues as helping parents communicate better with their kids, and Lynbrook last year revised its homework guidelines with the goal of eliminating excessive and unproductive assignments.

The moves haven't stemmed the flow of whites out of the schools. Four years ago, Lynn Rosener, a software consultant, transferred her elder son from Monta Vista to Homestead High, a Cupertino school with slightly lower test scores. At the new school, the white student body is declining at a slower rate than at Monta Vista and currently stands at 52 percent of the total. Friday-night football is a tradition, with big half-time shows and usually 1,000 people packing the stands. The school offers boys' volleyball, a sport at which Ms. Rosener's son was particularly talented. Monta Vista doesn't.

"It does help to have a lower Asian population," says Homestead PTA President Mary Anne Norling. "I don't think our parents are as uptight焦慮的 as if my kids went to Monta Vista."

華爾街日報最近以「白人出走」為題，指出有許多亞裔學生就讀的矽谷兩所高中，因為亞裔學生大幅增加，升學競爭太厲害，導致白人學生出走。這篇報導在出版後，立刻引起亞裔家長反彈，指其挑動種族衝突。

矽谷的庫比提諾市，一向是台灣移民的最愛。該市內的蒙他維斯塔高中和林布魯克高中，擁有許多台灣移民子弟和其他亞洲學生，其高中升學成績更在加州名列前茅。

在十一月十九日出版的華爾街日報，以「白人出走」為題，指出在亞裔居民快速搬入此區，也帶來了亞洲式的激烈競爭壓力，迫使不習慣這種壓力的白人學生因此搬離此地。

在一九九八年，庫比提諾市的亞洲移民才佔百分之二十四，但目前已經高達百分之四十一，白人幾乎成了少數民族。文中指出，在這些學術競爭激烈的高中裡，在數學後段班可以見到不少白人和亞洲學生，但到了前段班，幾乎清一色是亞洲學生。在這裡，也瀰漫著嚴重的「刻板印象」，那就是亞洲學生是優秀的，白人學生成績較為差勁。

白人家庭因為不喜歡亞洲式的壓力或是程度跟不上，而讓孩子離開這些學校。也有白人認為，求學的目的不應該一味追求學業表現，而是要重視全面發展，所以讓孩子轉學。

文章中也提到，一名華裔學生因為在這所高中除了唸書，完全缺乏面對現實大環境的訓練，以至於到了紐約念大學時，自殺身亡。

目前華爾街日報「白人出走」的文章已經被美國多家報紙轉載，但也在庫比提諾市引起發酵作用。有人認為此文只是陳述事實，但也有學區總監和華人家長認為這篇文章挑撥族裔關係，甚至批評撰文的華裔記者扭曲事實。

但不管如何，該市因為亞裔人口快速湧入所引起的問題是存在的，或許這篇文章也能夠引起只重視學術成績的家長，對整個大問題的思考。

Swap your book

2005-12-07T15:44:00.000-06:00

Report

在美國教育人士感歎美國人不愛看書、擔心大家會變得只看錄影帶或電腦的時候，網路上越來越多的書籍交換網站卻讓人感到欣慰。

*PaperBackSwap.com (平裝書交換網)*

在皮克林為軟件公司的業務四處奔波旅行時，他一個星期可以看兩，三本書。皮克林說：“每次我經過機場，我就要買本新書，等我回到家，書也看完了。只有放到書架上，然後就這麼放著。所以我家裏累積了好多這種看過的平裝書。”

皮克林在ebay和亞馬遜網站上賣掉一些自己的舊書，但是他很快瞭解到如果他想到那些網站上買其他的書，每本書光是包裝和運費就要3塊5美金，甚至比書本身的價錢還貴。皮克林說：“我不認為這樣很公平，所以我就有了這個以書換書的構想。”

一年前，他創立了PaperBackSwap.com (平裝書交換網)這個網站。在這裡，像傑拉爾丁這樣的會員可以彼此交換舊書。

*平裝書交換網換書過程簡單*

78歲的傑拉爾丁是個愛書人。她在辛辛那提的老人公寓只有一間臥室，在衣櫃門上掛著書架，還有一台老舊的電腦。自從她在平裝書交換網上發現一本好萊塢八卦雜誌，她就決定從易趣網和亞馬遜網站轉到平裝書交換網。

傑拉爾丁說，她只花了很短時間就搞清楚怎麼使用這個網站，而且迷上了這個網站。傑拉爾丁說：“我有大約60多本書列在網站上，如果有人想要我的書，這個網站就會通知我。然後我把書寄給他們，我只要花1塊4毛2美元，當這些人收到我的書後，這個網站就會給我買一本書的信用額。然後等我想要一本書，我也可以這樣做。我到網站上找到我要的書，不花一毛錢就可以得到那本書，不必付郵資或任何費用。”

平裝書交換網讓大家換書的過程非常簡單。他們估計寄送一本平裝書的郵資大約需要1塊4毛2。他們做好印有地址的標籤讓寄書人可以打印出來。寄書人只要把書放到信封裡、貼上標籤和郵資、丟進郵筒裡就行了。

*Bookins.com換書過程自動化*

另一個新的書籍交換網站Bookins.com的設計更時髦。網站老闆西爾弗曼解釋說，他的網站設計的標籤讓整個換書的過程自動化。西爾弗曼解釋說：“我們的系統直接和郵局連線。我們可以追蹤寄送過程。只要你寄出的書運到了，我們的系統會自動開始向你想要的那本書的主人聯繫，讓你很快可以從別人那兒得到一本和你的舊書同等價值的書。”

*Bookins每一筆交易賺取1美元*

不像平裝書交換網那樣只能一本書換一本書，Bookins網站的書籍交易更為複雜。西爾弗曼解釋說：“這些書都是依照規則系統訂出公平的市場價格。”

換句話說，這個電腦系統可以依據書的價格、銷售排行榜、知名電視主持人對書的評價來計算出這本書的價值。舉例來說，最新的哈利波特小說要15個 Bookins點數，而一本叫《夜火》的浪漫言情小說只要兩個點數。在Bookins網站，會員在收到書的時候才付錢，不過是用他們帳戶裡的點數，加上3 塊9毛9的信用卡費。不像平裝書交換網基本上是個不收費的網站，Bookins在每一筆交易中賺取1美元，希望將來能變成一個利潤豐厚的商業網站。

*Bookcrossing(圖書漂流網站)*

另外一個更稀奇古怪的網站是Bookcrossing(圖書漂流網站)。這是三個網站中最老的一個，成立於2001年。去年這個網站得到文字愛好者的最高榮耀，被編排入術語彙編。最新的《牛津簡明英語詞典》把圖書漂流定義為把一本書留在公共場所裡，讓別人拿去看，然後這個人也這麼做。

創辦人佩德森說：“你把書放在公園的長凳子上....”佩德森說：“你把書放在山頂上，放在超級市場的冷凍食品櫃裡，放在彎曲的樹幹上。任何人們想要找到書的地方都行。這種有點像小偷的相反做法，是種出於善意，臨時起意的做法。”

*網站三個任務*

圖書漂流網站的任務包括三個方面。閱讀這些書，把這些書放在網上註冊，然後把這些書留在公開場所。這些放在公開場所的書籍都貼有標籤，鼓勵找到這本書的人上網去看看，在這本書的旅行日記上留言。

包括圖書漂流和平裝書交換網都有讓會員討論和交流的論壇。根據佩德森的說法，圖書漂流網站是互動性極高的網站。佩德森說：“有幾位在網上認識的人後來結婚了。”

*圖書飄流網只有30%的書被人找到*

當然，在因特網上有其他的網站是專門為人介紹男女朋友的。而這些網站是專門為愛書人設計的。所以這些網站到底經營的如何？皮克林說平裝書交換網現在一天可以交換6千到1萬本書。在剛成立幾個月的Bookins網站，大約有3千8百本書在這裡進行交換。

而圖書漂流網的佩德森表示，有240萬本書在公開場所流通。到目前為止，只有30%的書被人找到，但是她說她並不擔心另外的70%。佩德森說：“噢，他們不會丟的，只不過是在等待有人找到他們。”

At the Forefront of the Wireless Revolution

2005-12-07T00:43:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not, the cutting edge of the global wireless broadband revolution lies in a sparsely populated rural section of northeast Oregon. Here, in a geographical area six times larger than the city of Seattle, a 600-square-mile Wi-Fi “cloud” provides free, high-speed internet access to residents in four counties, spanning two states, and covering fourteen towns—at speeds up to 10 times faster than a normal T1 or DSL connection.

The man behind the knowledge and implementation of this breakthrough network is Fred Ziari, an Iranian immigrant and CEO of EZ Wireless, a Portland, Oregon-based technology firm that contracted with local authorities to provide the wireless service.

According to Ziari, the idea of introducing broadband wireless service to the region was triggered by the presence of US Army's Umatilla Chemical Depot, 11 miles west of Hermiston, Oregon, and the need to connect emergency personnel such as police, firefighters, and medical workers in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.

Through a unique joint public-private partnership between EZ Wireless and Morrow County Office of Emergency Management, the residents of a region previously without a single DSL connection now receive free wireless internet connections, and its emergency personnel are now the most prepared of any in the country to respond effectively to emergencies.

Sponsors of the network, which made the investment and business model possible, include the region’s police, fire, and sheriff’s departments, emergency management organizations, state health departments, the Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and regional hospitals.

The new wireless network also exceeds national security standards with 256-bit double-rolling key encryption, delivered by 66 telephone pole-like towers ranging from 75 to 150 feet tall.

Now, cyber-cowboys in Oregon are able to download movies and send pictures of their crops while working in the fields. Local police and emergency personnel gained instant remote access to street maps, floor plans, and paperless reports. Medical personnel can quickly access medical records and X-ray diagrams to help patients from anywhere in the region.

The system also made possible fast, secure messaging among emergency responders, while allowing the preparedness program to track the status of more than two hundred people wearing chemical protection suits.

Ziari is reportedly seeking a commitment from state officials to provide wireless broadband access to the whole state of Oregon.

“This kind of unique opportunity for our rural communities to be the first in the nation to have universal high-speed wireless access to the internet is analogous to the first city to get telephones or electricity or even running water,” said Hermiston Chamber of Commerce manager Rod Davis.

Taiwan Aims to Become Wireless Leader

Last week, Taiwanese government officials announced a pact with Intel Corporation to make the island nation a testing ground for WiMax, the next-generation wireless internet broadband technology, also known as 802.16.

Officials intend to build a WiMax network covering all of the island’s 23 million residents with more than $200 million in infrastructure investments and technology help from Intel. The system is scheduled for completion in 2007.

According to Ho Mei-yueh, Taiwan’s economics minister, the island seeks to become a leader in developing products for WiMax, such as PC cards and notebook computers, as well as broadband services, by being a first mover in the technology.

Intel already has WiMax products available and is among the staunchest proponents of wireless internet technology innovation.

Municipal Wireless Proposals Unsettles Telecom Industry

Elsewhere in the US, a growing number of cities view broadband internet access as a basic amenity and are seeking to implement municipality-wide networks.

Philadelphia, for example, stepped onto the wireless frontier by announcing its plans to install the largest municipal system in the country, to be built and managed by Earthlink, Inc. The 135-square-mile network intends to offer low-income residents service for roughly $10 per month.

In San Francisco, responding to Mayor Gavin Newsom’s wish to lower the financial barriers to internet access in his city, a dozen companies, including Google, have placed bids to provide free or low-cost city-wide wireless broadband access.

However, telecommunication companies who invested billions of dollars in cable or fiber optic networks have begun a political and public relations offensive. The hot issue is lost revenues for the big cable companies. Where traditional wired broadband networks require massive investments, new wireless technologies can provide similar or better levels of service at a fraction of a cost.

A bill sponsored by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) aiming to ban cities from building municipal broadband networks under most circumstances is circulating in Congress. Also making its way around Congress is an opposing bill backed by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), which supports such projects.

信不信由你！全球無線寬頻變革的最前線位於奧勒岡州（Oregon）東北一個人口稀少的聚集村落。這裡比西雅圖市大六倍，遍及600平方英里的無線網路給四縣、兩州、十四個城鎮的居民提供了免費的高速網際網路（Wi-Fi），它的速度比正常的T1或DSL連結快10倍。

實行這樣計劃的主導人是吉埃利（Fred Ziari），他是一位伊朗移民，同時也是波特蘭奧勒岡州EZ無線科技公司的首席執行長，是他與地方當局簽約提供無線服務的。

吉埃利把寬頻無線服務引進該區的想法，主要來自美國軍隊尤馬蒂拉化學倉庫（US Army's Umatilla Chemical Depot）。這座倉庫位於奧勒岡州西邊的荷靡斯頓（Hermiston）11英里處，如有意外事故或恐怖攻擊，就需要網路緊急聯絡警察、消防隊員和醫療人員等。

通過EZ無線和茂若縣緊急事務管理辦公室（Morrow County Office of Emergency Management）之間的公私合營，以前沒有DSL的該區居民，現今得到了免費無線網際網路，而且隨時待命的救援人員比國內其它任何地方都更能有效的應變緊急事件。服務系統的成員包括警察局、消防局、郡長、政府部門、緊急處理組織、州健康部門、紅十字會、聯邦緊急事務管理局(FEMA)，以及地區醫院等。

新無線網路超越了國家安全標準所使用256位元的雙滾鎖匙加密，而是採用66支約75到150英尺高像電線桿般的塔傳送。如今，在田野工作時，奧勒岡州的電子牛仔可以下載電影並傳送農作物照片。當地警察和緊急救援人員獲得即時遙控街道地圖、平面圖、電子報告。醫療人員能迅速從該地的任何地方得到病例資料和X光片以幫助病患。此外，這套系統也可以做到在緊急事件中讓應答機之間迅速安全地發送訊息，也可以追蹤多達200名以上穿著化學保護衣的應急人員的狀態。

報導說吉埃利正尋求與州府官員洽談，向整個奧勒岡州提供無線寬頻服務。荷靡斯頓商會（Hermiston Chamber of Commerce manager）經理戴維斯（Rod Davis）說：「這種獨有的機會讓我們這個鄉下成了第一個普遍通高速無線網際網路的地方，就像第一個有電話、電或自來水的城市一樣。」

台灣也希望跟上無線網路的潮流，台灣政府官員與英特爾公司宣佈，將促使這個島國成為下一代無線網際網路寬頻技術，也就是 802.16－WiMax的測試地。官方打算在全島建造WiMax網路，讓2300萬居民可以享有由英特爾提供技術協助且價值超過20億美元的基礎設施投資，這套系統預計在2007年完成。據台灣經濟部長何美玥稱，台灣藉著在無線技術上領先跨出一步，試圖成為WiMax週邊產品，例如PC卡、筆記型電腦和寬頻服務的領導者。

在美國其它地方，日益增多的城市把寬頻網路通路視為基本娛樂設施，而想辦法實現遍及全市的網路。如費城宣佈了在州内安裝最大的市政系統計劃，這項計劃由鏈接地球（Earthlink）股份有限公司建造並管理，遍及135平方英里的網際網路將向低收入居民提供無線上網服務，月費約10美元。另外在舊金山，應市長紐瑟姆（Gavin Newsom）緩解該市財政困難的要求，好幾家公司包括Google都給舊金山提供了免費或市內低價無線寬頻的使用權。

不過，在有線及光纖網路上投資幾十億美元的電信公司們已經展開了政治上和公關上的攻勢，熱門的議題是有線網路公司的收入銳減，因爲有線公司需要在傳統的寬頻網路上大量投資，而新興的無線技術只要少許的費用就能提供相似或者更高水準的服務。

目前國會議員皮特-賽遜斯（Pete Sessions）的R-TX提案禁止各城市推動市政寬頻網路的法令，然而參議員約翰-麥凱恩（Sen. John McCain）R-AZ法案和法蘭克-勞滕伯格（Frank Lautenberg）D新澤西法案則支持這樣的計劃。

我的Skype經驗

2005-12-06T23:51:00.000-06:00

By MATT MOORE
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Original Publication: April 20, 2005)

I'm a foreign correspondent. Last month I was in Stockholm, Sweden. Now I'm in Frankfurt, Germany. Next month, who knows?

You certainly won't if I call you from my laptop computer, which I'm doing more often these days using something called Skype.

It's become my preferred phone service as I'm forever calling across countries and oceans — trying, meanwhile, to keep costs down.

There's a rather savory irony to all this.

The countries I've been working in have among the world's highest densities of mobile phones, yet I use the Internet for most all my phone calls, business and personal.

Skype lets me call any phone number anywhere in the world for about 2 cents a minute, slightly more to some places, such as the Middle East and Asia. My computer does the dialing, and the processing of incoming and outgoing voices.

All you need to use Skype and products like it — FreeWorld Dialup is another popular one — is a solid broadband connection (fixed or Wi-Fi).

With the basic version of Skype, all anyone needs to make or receive a call is to install the program on their computer (and that includes personal digital assistants). All calls are free.

You don't even need a headset, though earphones can be a good idea if you wish to be discreet. I use my laptop's built-in microphone and onboard speakers for voice in/out.

The paid service for calling regular telephones is called SkypeOut and is fairly simple. I buy time in chunks of euro10 euros, or about $13. Skype works on Windows, Mac, Linux, even PocketPCs.

When my wife was in Florida it cost me about $8 to speak to her for about 30 minutes on a landline市話 from Sweden. Had I used the mobile the same call would have cost about six times as much. The price with Skype: less a dollar.

The quality is crystal clear水晶般的清晰, provided there's not too much traffic on the Internet. If there's an echo: hang up and try again, it usually gets better.

One warning though: On some computers, especially those running older versions of Windows, it doesn't always work, or can sound like a garbled conversation carried out under water with a giant whale slapping its tail nearby. You don't hear a thing.

Until he got Skype, a Brazil-based colleague同事 of mine, Al Clendenning, was spending between $166 to $185 a month to keep in touch with family in Spain, New Hampshire and elsewhere. No longer. He and his wife do experience occasional glitches短路, though that may be related to the quality of the broadband connection. Another colleague's wife, a Peruvian living in New York, gave up on using Skype's free version to chat with a friend in Lima after the friend's broadband connection proved unreliable.

Skype was invented by many of the same people who created the Kazaa file-swapping program: chiefly a Swede named Niklas Zennstrom and a bunch of programmers in Estonia. Like Kazaa, peer-to-peer networking is at its core.

These guys are into disruptive technologies. So am I.

I'm relishing turning my friends on to the joys of Internet dialing. I called a college pal who's living in Hoboken, N.J., on a weekend afternoon and we chatted for nearly an hour.

"It's clear," he said, and was surprised when I told him it was a Voice over Internet connection.

He's installed it on his Mac and is getting his friends to start using it, too.

Even Dear Old Mom in Colorado uses Skype, but only at home. Her company doesn't allow it at work, citing security concerns my mother attributes to overzealous techies.

Skype does have one big drawback缺點.

Unlike other more feature-rich Voice over Internet services, it doesn't give me a phone number of my own unless I want to pay an extra euro30 a year (for a service called SkypeIn that's still in testing).

And of course Internet access is not always available. Which is why I still carry my trusty cell phone.

Sometimes, the mobile phone company actually wins.

美聯社記者Matt Moore報導，我(指美聯社記者)是一名駐外的記者，沒有人知道我下一刻會在哪個地方工作？因此費用低廉的Skype成為我最近打跨國或跨洋電話的最愛。

用Skype打電話每分鐘只要2分錢，即使打到中東和亞洲這些地方，費用也只是稍微貴一點。我用筆記型電腦撥號及接聽，這對於擁有最新電話通訊科技且成為我工作地點的國家似乎是個有趣的諷刺。

使用Skype還有一種與之相似的網際電話－FreeWorld Dialup，所需要的是固定的頻寬連接。Skype要求每一個使用者都要在其電腦中安裝一個執行程式（其中包括個人撥號助理），這都可以免費下載。在通話過程中甚至不必用耳機，直接用手提電腦裡內建是的話筒和喇叭就可以，當然對謹慎的人用耳機比較合適。

打一般電話的通訊服務叫 SkypeOut，付費方式很簡單。只要一次買10歐元（相當與13美元)的預付時間，Skype就可以在Windows、Mac、Linux甚至掌中電腦 PocketPCs運行。如果我用有線電話從瑞典打給我佛州的妻子，我講30分鐘需要付8美元，如果用手機則要花費48美元（6倍於有線電話），但是用 Skype只需要不到1美元。如果網路不是太擁擠的話，通話音質會非常的清晰；如果有回音也會在掛斷重撥一次後變得清楚。

但有一個要注意的是If the operating system is too old，Skype將無法運作。你的通話將除了噪音之外什麼也聽不見，感覺就好像是在水下通話一般。我一位在巴西的同事艾爾-克蘭德鄰(Al Clendenning)在使用Skype之前，他每個月花166美元到185美元（129~144歐元）打電話給家人。現在他可以和妻子經常通話，雖然有時網路會有一些連接問題。但是我另一位同事的妻子卻沒這麼幸運，這位妻子是個秘魯人，生活在紐約，當她同秘魯首都利馬的朋友在網上通話時，網路總是不穩定，最後不得不放棄。

Skype是由許多當初創造Kazaa檔案交換程式的原班人馬所設計的，主要包括了瑞典人尼克拉司-詹思壯(Niklas Zennstrom)和一些在愛沙尼亞的程式師，這些程式的核心就是網路點對點的傳輸。

我們正進入不斷擴展的科技世界，這幫研製者將他們的技術傳開來，我也是。我在一個週末的午後打給住在新澤西的大學老友，那天我們聊了快一個小時，他很驚訝我使用的是網路電話。隨後他也在他的Mac機上裝了Skype，他的朋友也開始使用這種電話。就連我在科羅拉多的親愛的老媽也用上了Skype，還好她們公司上班時間禁止使用，對我那位過度狂熱的媽媽來說也是件好事。

然而Skype有一個最大的缺陷。它不像其他富有特色的網路語音服務，使用者沒有自己的電話號碼，除非每年交付39美元（30歐元），Skype有個叫做SkypeIn 的服務，可以給予使用者一個號碼，但是這功能還在測試之中，另外也不是隨時隨地就能上網講電話。就這些方面來看，手機還是稍勝一籌的。

Skype: http://www.skype.com
FreeWorld Dialup: http://www.pulver.com/fwd

Seattle reaches literacy peak

2005-12-05T17:03:00.000-06:00

By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY

Seattle is the nation's most literate city, in large part because its residents have access to and use Internet resources, a new survey says. Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and San Francisco round out the top five.

America's Most Literate Cities 2005, a ranking based on the culture and resources for reading in the 69 largest U.S. cities, aims to rate cities not on whether their citizens can read, but whether they do.

The data present a "nuanced portrait of our nation's cultural vitality," says author and education researcher John Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

Now in its third year, the survey examines a variety of sources to rank six factors: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment and, new this year, Internet resources.

Reshuffling rankins

That category is based on number of library connections, commercial and public wireless access points per capita, online book orders and percentage of adults who have read a newspaper online. Seattle, Boston and Austin were the top three, respectively, in the category, helping catapult Seattle into the top overall spot. Seattle was second to Minneapolis last year.

Despite some reshuffling, the rankings have remained relatively stable. Besides Minneapolis and Seattle, six other cities — Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Washington, Cincinnati, Denver and Boston — are top-10 repeats.

Also different this year: The population threshold was raised to 250,000 from 200,000. Among the 17 cities dropped for that reason is Madison, Wis., fourth last year overall. Among the seven cities added because their populations had increased was Stockton, Calif., which landed in last place. El Paso, which was at rock-bottom last year, came in second-to-last this year.

But Miller says the survey's value "lies less in the absolute accuracy of the rank orders and far more in what communities do with the information." For example, he said, it was "heartening" that El Paso launched a citywide literacy campaign last year after the survey was released. One initiative, Read El Paso Read, distributed about 95,000 books.

The study is posted online at www.ccsu.edu/AMLC.

Skype 2.0

2005-12-05T16:58:00.000-06:00

Skype is upgrading its popular Internet telephone service to add video calling and a toolbar for Microsoft Outlook to find and dial contacts with a click.

The long-promised "2.0" edition was launched Thursday by Skype, which was acquired last month by Internet auctioneer eBay Inc. for an eye-popping $2.6 billion.

While the Windows download is available to any user, the application is actually a Beta version, meaning the company is still tweaking the software into a final edition. Skype did not provide a timetable for the final edition or the planned release of a version for the Macintosh operating system from Apple Computer Inc.

The video feature will not cost extra, so Skype's trademark computer-to-computer calls will remain free (Fees apply to calls to traditional and cell phones).

Users would need to attach a digital camera to their computers, though some laptops hitting the market have built-in cameras. To that end, Skype also announced partnerships to sell webcams made by Logitech International SA and Creative Labs Inc.

The new edition of Skype also features a new search box to type in names or numbers and pull up matching entries in the user's address book, as well as an installable toobar to perform the same function within the Outlook e-mail program from Microsoft Corp.

The upgrade also includes more features and personalization options such as ringtones and special icons to let others see a user's mood on their buddy lists.

Skype has been demonstrating the new video calling capability since earlier this year.

The launch comes two weeks after Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). announced a Skype-like free Internet phone service with an emphasis on video conferencing.

Internet portals such as Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) and Time Warner Inc.'s AOL have long offered a video option with their instant-messaging services, though usage is not widespread.

The new services mark the latest attempts at delivering a "picture phone" for the consumer market.

The concept, first introduced by AT&T Corp. at the 1964 World's Fair and unsuccessfully marketed in the seventies, reappeared during the dot-com era as high-speed Internet connections made live video connections accessible to a wide audience.

History high download speed

2005-12-04T12:04:00.000-06:00

小幫手

2005-11-27T20:14:00.000-06:00

除了百貨公司的專櫃及藥妝店的開架以外，還有哪些超好用的彩妝品妳沒發現？
來來來！今天經驗豐富的網友們就來七嘴八舌報給你知！

遮瑕粉底一絕
品名：娜拉兒（Naturactor）粉底蓋斑膏
售價：130~180元
哪裡買：美妝材料行
網友滿意度：★★★★★

　「喔~原來它叫『娜拉兒』啊！」看到許多網友在討論一盒據說　「超遮瑕」的蓋斑膏，一些網友也紛紛以一種恍然大悟的口吻說自己曾在拍藝術照時，化妝師就是用這盒貌不驚人的蓋斑膏當粉底用。
　什麼？用蓋斑膏當粉底？係金A？這個驚人的新發現在婚紗店員工的回文中得到證實，這盒「很眼熟」的蓋斑膏在拍攝沙龍照時，因為遮瑕力一級棒，直接拿來打底全臉，不管是痘疤、雀斑、黑眼圈，統統看不見，無怪乎每個人拍起照來，皮膚都這麼完美無瑕！
不僅如此，也有網友表示，遮瑕力再強的粉底液也抵不過遮瑕膏輕輕一抹，她在外面上的化妝課程，老師教學用的正是這盒娜拉兒粉底蓋斑膏，遮得很自然，大家用了都嘖嘖稱奇。有人還說，是自己買過十幾種遮瑕產品後，發現最好用的一盒。
　網友們說，只要輕輕沾一點，再均勻地推開，有黑眼圈的更是立刻就感到眼眶明顯亮了起來。但是也有網友認為這盒蓋斑膏的缺點就是太乾啦！要遮眼周最好還是先搽一層眼霜，否則一旦遇到極乾性的皮膚可能就會發生像在「塗泥巴」的窘態了。
　此外，網友們也表示，主訴遮瑕的娜拉兒粉底蓋斑膏拿來遮遮臉上一些小缺點就很好用啦！如果搽得太過盡興，日常生活每天把整盒當成粉底搽全臉，不用多久，小心變成豆花妹，到時可就哭訴無門啦！

工具也要洗乾淨
品名：粉撲海綿清洗液
售價：50元
哪裡買：DAISO大創50元百貨（http://www.daiso.com.tw/P3.htm）
網友滿意度：★★★
　「洗完粉撲真的跟新的一樣耶！」一瓶只要50元的大創粉撲海綿清洗液，被網友以「實驗精神」買回去洗後，竟發現出奇地好用，粉撲洗過之後彷彿新的一樣。
　怎麼洗最乾淨？網友們也各有看法。有人說直接將清洗液擠在髒的粉撲上搓洗，不必先沾水弄濕，若搓不太出泡泡再加些水或洗劑即可；也有人認為先將粉撲沾濕，加入清洗液，搓到乾淨後再用水沖乾淨，這樣粉撲們就乾乾淨淨了。
　不過也有網友認為，這瓶粉撲海綿清洗液似乎對材質較軟的粉撲比較有用，其他材質好像沒輒。且多數網友在認同它的洗淨力之餘，也都表示味道不大好聞。而且超優的洗淨力也把手洗得很乾，洗完要記得搽護手霜。
　除了粉撲海綿清洗液外，大創的其他產品也為網友津津樂道，像是「金屬眉睫刷」就時常在各大BBS被網友所推薦。此外，大創的睫毛膏還曾在日本美妝大賞中獲得第一名，網友們說，濃密捲翹款的刷起來不會有蟑螂腳，且根根分明，真的還會微微的捲翹，以50元的價格而言，算是超值品，不過濃密效果就普普了。

原來是卸妝用的
品名：模特兒（MODEL）水溶性按摩霜
售價：80~100元
哪裡買：美妝材料行
網友滿意度：★★★
　「這個東西會好用嗎？」許多曾經去拍攝藝術照、婚紗照的網友，在拍完照後都有同樣的經驗，化妝師拿出的卸妝品實在令人存疑，因為外觀看起來頗為陽春，看看說明，名稱是「模特兒專業全新水溶性按摩霜」。
　「真的是俗擱有力！」網友這樣形容它的包裝。有的網友認為大概是因為照相館為了節省成本，才會買這種俗擱大碗、一罐可以用很多次的卸妝產品，許多網友說，當時只是要先卸掉臉上的大濃妝，「用一次而已應該不會怎麼樣吧！」懷著狐疑的心態，網友們大多還是使用看看。
　出乎意料的，這瓶不起眼的卸妝凝膠，竟然讓大濃妝兩三下就清潔溜溜。網友們說，為了求拍照的效果，妝都化得很濃，「簡直是一層層的裹粉上去」，這瓶透明的卸妝凝膠，用起來涼涼的，無油、不黏膩，連眼妝也可以卸得很乾淨。
　除了拍照遇到的經驗外，還有網友說自己用這罐產品已行之有年，只是從來不知道它可以拿來卸妝，因為品名上標的是按摩霜，有網友真的拿它來按摩全身，據說效果也很好，其他網友則說，用太便宜的東西「心裡會毛毛的」，拿來當身體按摩霜使用應該是不錯的選擇。

你也來愛用國貨
品名：丸竹蜜粉
售價：150元
哪裡買：新竹市竹蓮街197號，(03)522-4041
網友滿意度：★★★★
　
　「哇！粉好細好細好細！！」這是使用過丸竹蜜粉的網友對它的讚嘆。網友們說丸竹的蜜粉搽起來氣色變好，又看不出來有搽粉，許多年輕的網友還表示，單搽這盒蜜粉，出去都被稱讚皮膚粉嫩嫩的，紛紛推薦給其他人，希望大家也來多多支持台灣本土好用又便宜的產品。
　多數的網友都認為這盒蜜粉雖然很細，卻也很貼妝，「多擦一點也不會覺得厚重！」，還有人說自己都把它當爽身粉，大把大把地搽在脖子，調整脖子與臉蛋的色差，一說完紛紛有許多網友回文說，它的味道也頗像爽身粉哩！
　不過，仍然有人認為，沒有防曬功能，搽起來「總是沒有安全感」。但也有網友持不同意見，認為蜜粉主要的功能應該是用來定妝及增加透明感，如果要防曬還是應該經由防曬乳液或防曬粉底液比較不會增加皮膚的負擔。
　此外，網友們一致認為，沒有粉撲是這盒蜜粉最大缺點，如果要再額外去買分裝的粉盒，就快跟產品主體差不多價格，總是覺得不便。也有網友表示，丸竹蜜粉沒有遮瑕的功能，而且只有三種較淺的顏色可選，黑美眉搽起來恐怕是太白啦！

忍不住多帶幾枝
品名：英凱（en Coleur）眼線筆
售價：50~90元
哪裡買：美妝材料行
網友滿意度：★★★★★
　「就算是新手，也很容易上手！」畫眼線是許多化妝新手不敢輕易嘗試的技巧，而這枝英凱眼線筆卻被網友喻為可以輕鬆上手的眼線筆「入門款」。網友們說，畫眼線之前，先用眼線筆在手背上畫幾下，這個「順筆」的動作是能讓眼線更順手的小撇步。
　而且這枝筆要價不到100元，多畫幾下也不心疼！
　網友們說，它的筆芯夠軟，黑色的超黑，畫出來的眼線自然且深邃，真的是「瘋狂好用」。再者，標榜亞熱帶適用的英凱眼線筆，最被網友大力讚賞之處是防暈效果超好，有網友甚至說，自己不小心淋了個大雨竟然沒暈開，堪稱一絕。還有網友形容，儘管要價不到專櫃的十分之一，但是防暈效果竟然比她當初買的專櫃筆還要讚，發現之後只能用「錯愕」來形容當時的心情。
　不過網友們也感嘆說，英凱眼線筆的色系種類較少，選擇性不大，且出的顏色也大多是中規中矩的顏色，想要有些不一樣的眼線色彩恐怕不是這個品牌辦得到的。
　實地走訪台北後車站購買，跑了多家後發現黑色的基本款竟然早已被搶購一空，呈現缺貨狀態，店員表示，一上架很快就被買光，因為好畫、便宜，顧客大多不假思索5枝、10枝的帶，毫不手軟，看來真的如網友形容的，只要在美材行看到英凱眼線筆的蹤跡，就要立刻下手了！

喔！超神奇！
品名：OH！color collection睫毛膏（Naris出品）
售價：150元
哪裡買：藥妝店
網友滿意度：★★★★★
　「睫毛棒一拉出來，天啊！滿滿的纖維耶～」一開始因為可愛、迷你的包裝吸引少女網友的購買，想不到纖維多到令人稱奇，網友們形容「一打開，真的是會被它又滿又長的纖維給嚇到！」，刷上去很像真睫毛的超長纖維也讓網友們趨之若鶩，有網友還說，這是自己用過十來隻睫毛膏後，纖長效果最棒的一隻，也有本身睫毛就比較長的網友驚奇地發現自己一刷上就像戴了假睫毛一樣媚。
　有趣的是，還有網友使用過幾次後就轉賣了，原因是因為拿這隻睫毛膏刷下睫毛，沾到纖維的下睫毛頓時變得超長，網友說「有人看過2公分的下睫毛嗎…」。一體兩面地，它的缺點正是使用之後纖維會不時掉到臉上，臉上會有地方黑黑的。
　再者，網友們也七嘴八舌地討論起自己是用哪一個牌子的卸妝油來卸掉這款「OH！睫毛膏」，網友們一致認為，「OH！睫毛膏」不太會暈開，也不會熏眼，而且不管用哪一牌的卸妝油都很好卸掉，有人甚至說，洗臉的時候順便用水洗一洗就掉了，根本不需要再特別卸！
　此外，基於愛屋及屋的心態，不少網友也買了「OH！」同系列的唇蜜，評價一樣不賴。

Don't dump cats

2005-11-20T00:17:00.000-06:00

Judge makes ruling to show suspect what it was like for the kittens she abandoned

1.
Michelle Murray will now have the opportunity to experience what the dozens of kittens felt the night she abandoned them at two Lake Metroparks in September.Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael A. Cicconetti on Thursday sentenced Murray, 25, of Painesville Township, to jail time.But he added a stipulation to ensure that Murray "suffer the same consequences as those kittens.""You can listen to the coyotes, hear the raccoons in the dark of night," said Cicconetti, who grew increasingly annoyed at Murray's apology attempts in court.On the night before Thanksgiving, when Murray reports to the Lake County Jail in Painesville, she will be forced to spend a night alone in a remote area of a Lake County Metropark, according to Cicconetti sentence.Being allowed only water, she will not be provided with food, beverage or shelter. Murray must remain in that location until "the light of dawn on Nov. 24," according to the sentence.Ranger Chief Mike Burko said he has not yet chosen the Metropark, but will provide her with a walkie-talkie in case of emergency.Cicconetti, known for his unusual sentences, gave Murray the maximum sentence of 90 days in jail. But the judge suspended 60 days and allowed 15 days to be served under house arrest. After returning from the wild on Thanksgiving, she will serve 14 days in the Lake County Jail.The suspended jail time hinges on two conditions:n Murray may not own or care for any animals in the next three years.n She must pay $3,200 to the Lake County Humane Society and $500 to the Metropark rangers for costs they incurred due to her actions."I'm sorry. I truly am sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen," Murray told the judge before the sentence.She said she tried to contact the Lake County Humane Society, but eventually panicked after three cages of cats were dropped off at her home."It doesn't make any difference," the judge said. "People panic and commit crimes, they use drugs, they commit domestic violence. But this wasn't one incident. You did it again the next day."Murray admitted to using another alias on a Web site to try to adopt out another stray cat since she pleaded guilty to abandoning domestic animals on Oct. 13. She said she used the fake name because nobody would take a cat from her if she used her own name. That cat was eventually adopted by the Humane Society, but was so ill, it was euthanized the day it came in.Candace Hertzel, executive director of the Lake County Humane Society, said 15 of the kittens that were rescued had been adopted; 12 still remain without homes."We're very pleasantly surprised by the sentence. It's a small piece of justice suffered for some of these already deceased kittens," Hertzel said outside the courtroom following the sentence.Prosecutor Russ Meraglio said he was pleased as well. He had recommended jail time for the second-degree misdemeanor.Sharon Moten, who gave a mother cat and four kittens to Murray 10 days prior to her abandoning the animals, still felt the guilt of not knowing the fate of all of her cats."I told her to call me if she couldn't handle them," Moten said.She hoped the sentence would prompt donations to the Humane Society."It's one of the only ways I can feel better about what happened," she said.

2.
Former animal rescuer Michelle Murray admitted to abandoning as many as 40 kittens and cats at two Lake Metroparks when she pleaded guilty to a second-degree misdemeanor on Thursday.In Painesville Municipal Court, Murray, of 490 Nelmar Drive, Painesville Township, said she was sorry for her actions, but had a lot going on in her life at the time.As Murray, 25, exited the courthouse after her appearance, she was asked again to explain the reasons she had abandoned the cats.After repeating she was experiencing family problems, she added, "You guys are blowing this whole thing out of proportion."Earlier, in her tear-filled plea, she told Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti: "My husband was going to lose his job. People asked me to take in more cats, and I told them I couldn't. Then a couple of boxes with more were left outside of my home."But Cicconetti said there was no excuse for her actions, and it was a serious offense."These animals couldn't take care of themselves," he said. "Some of them even died."In a packed courtroom, Cicconetti read the police report aloud. Then he said he would not sentence Murray until he could look at all the attached documents in the case.He referred the case to the probation department, where Murray's background would be investigated further before she is sentenced Nov. 17.Probation department investigations typically involve a look at criminal history and the emotional and mental status of the defendant. They also look at potential restitution, and compensation parties may be entitled to.Nobody from Lake Metroparks was present at the arraignment, and Prosecutor Russ Meraglio had not made any recommendations on a sentence.There is no definitive figure of the number cats that Murray actually dropped off, but rangers originally recovered 33 at Indian Point in Perry Township and Masons Landing in Leroy Township.Outside the courtroom, people were upset that Murray had not yet received any punishment.One unidentified animal rescuer said she had gone to Masons Landing and found a gray cat after seeing the story on television."There was an infection in one of its eyes - it could hardly breathe," she said.All the cats were taken to the Lake County Humane Society, which was forced to quarantine its entire population for 14 days because of the fear of disease.Candace Hertzel, the society's executive director, said her group has resumed adopting out and taking in cats, but those found in the Metroparks will still be quarantined for several weeks.Hertzel said many of the cats found had upper respiratory infections. Two have died in the last seven days from illness.She still awaits results from a necropsy performed on one of the kittens at Ohio State University to see if they had the more serious disease, feline panleukopenia, a form of the parvovirus that affects dogs.Murray faces a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.

美國俄亥俄州女子蜜雪兒‧穆瑞今年9月間把35隻流浪貓丟棄在兩個湖濱公園，犯下遺棄家畜的二級輕罪，法官決定以其人之道還治其人之身，罰她必須在公園的偏僻地點過夜，而且不准帶食物、不准帶手電筒、也不准住帳篷，體會一下貓兒被棄的孤苦。
穆瑞收容流浪貓，受不了貓口愈來愈多，決定一丟了事。結果許多貓咪呼吸道感染，有九隻死亡。25歲的穆瑞吃上官司，在庭上拚命道歉，解釋說她是因為家裡出了許多問題，才出此下策。但她愈辯解，法官席柯納提愈生氣。
席柯納提法官說：「如果深夜把妳丟在公園，整夜土狼嚎嘯，準備吃你，浣熊在妳四周活動。妳一個人又冷，又不知道下一頓飯在那裡，不知道誰會來救妳。妳會有什麼感覺？現在妳就要嘗嘗箇中滋味了。」
席柯納提判她坐15天牢，但第一晚得在到公園人跡罕至的偏僻地點度過，而且選在感恩節前夕執刑。公園警察將在23日傍晚送她到位，讓她獨處荒郊，直到感恩節當天日出為止。穆瑞隨身只能攜帶飲水，但警察提供她對講機，以防遭遇危險或凍死。氣象預報顯示，當晚可能下雪，氣溫攝氏零下五度。
這位法官以「創意」著稱，曾有一名男子辱罵警察是豬，柯席納提判他牽著一隻160公斤的豬站在馬路邊兩小時，旁邊還掛塊「這不是警察」牌子。

Microwavable tools

2005-11-14T23:58:00.000-06:00

http://www.kidsmartliving.com/noname11.html

How to remove stain

2005-11-12T21:15:00.000-06:00

Journey

2005-11-12T20:49:00.000-06:00

德州州花:Bluebonnet(羽扇豆)

參加婚禮並不是很奇怪，但是參加我前男友的婚禮，真的是個特別的經驗。
我，也是他的前男友。
他是我在大學時的男友，當我離開之後，我們就分手了。

之後，我到處流浪，最後到了紐約。他則是一直待在德州，畢竟，那是他的故鄉，事業朋友都在那裡。

我知道他之後一直沒交別的男友，當他來紐約出差時，我們才有機會再見面，不過，那是另外一個故事了。他最後還是跟其他他的朋友一樣，決定結婚。他特別通知我，希望我能去參加他的婚禮。

我的心裡是很複雜的，雖然現在我也有個很愛我的男友，但是我對他的情愫，還是一直沒放下的。
幾番心裡交戰，我答應了他。

德州的天氣一如我所記憶的，乾燥炎熱，跟紐約近來的溼冷完全不同。

但他卻跟我記憶中的不大一樣，該怎麼說呢，是更有男人味了吧。

他長得還是那麼迷人，棕色微捲的頭髮,藍色透徹的隻眼,我都跟別人說他如果不當律師可以進運演藝界。

身材呢，更是健美，我6"2', 188lbs, 他是6"3', 192lbs,這得歸功他喜歡運動的習慣，即使再忙，每天他都會到健身房鍛鍊身體。
以前我們常會一起健身房運動,當然也少了許多在健身房的激情。不過那是年少輕狂的往事了。

我住在他們家一棟平常當作別墅的小木屋，因為德州地大人稀，這木屋周圍是空曠的平原，目視可見的範圍裡根本沒有其他人。

他來接機之後，就直接送我到這小木屋，在路上我們外帶了披薩和啤酒，放下行李之後，我們就拿到戶外坐在躺椅上吃喝。

德州的天空很清澈，星星月亮非常明亮，四周漆黑得沒有一點燈火，但是木屋裡透射出來的光線，讓這個已經炎熱的夜晚更加溫暖。

喝著一向我們最喜歡Stella Artois啤酒(http://www.stella-artois.com/index.jsp)，談著以前的回憶，和現在的無聊八卦，真的很快樂。

忽然，他不知道是喝醉了還是沒注意，啤酒罐沒有對準嘴，一仰頭，整罐啤酒溢流了出來，從他嘴巴旁邊流滿了全身。
我急忙站起來，幫他把溼掉的上衣脫掉，拿著衣服還算乾的部份幫他擦拭身體。我弄了好一陣子，才發現他不懷好意的眼光，和嘴角詭異的微笑。

這才想起，他是半裸著身體，而我正在摸遍他的裸體部位。
這時我想我應該是羞紅了臉，就把衣服整團丟給他，說：「褲子的部份你自己擦，我進去拿毛巾。我就進了房子，找了條大毛巾，出門要拿給他。

然後，我幾乎不敢相信我所看到的景象。

他居然把褲子的拉鍊拉開，解開皮帶，連內褲一起褪到了大腿的地方。他的男根堅挺地撐了起來，而他的右手，正在上下地套弄著那怒張的肉棒。

我這下子肯定我的臉整個從脖子都紅了起來，因為我感覺到整個頭發著熱，也發著昏暈。

他看見了我，笑著說：「怎麼，站在那裡幹嘛？不是要拿毛巾幫我擦嗎？」

我羞嗔地說：「擦什麼啦，你怎麼這個樣子？」順手就把毛巾丟到他身上。他用空著的那隻手拿開了毛巾，詭異地微笑說：「哪樣子啊？」

我這才注意到他的上半身，那44吋胸肌簡直是雄壯得美極了，配上結實的小腹，簡直是寫真集裡模特兒都比不上的完美。
只有一句話：太美了。我不知羞恥地嚥下一口貪婪的口水。

他見我看得呆了，就故做慵懶地躺回躺椅，說：「來幫我？」然後把雙手枕在頭後，讓他的男根在我視線裡一柱擎天地挺著。

這雖然是句問句，但是在我聽來，比命令句更有著無比的威嚴，讓我不自主地走上前跪在他面前。

或著，是我心裡就想要這麼做呢？

我看著那個漲滿的香菇狀龜頭，好像隨時都會爆發出來一樣。心裡詫異地想著，這是我記憶中的他所有的嗎？怎麼好像變大許多？

我伸出顫抖的左手，輕輕地握住根部，右手掌慢慢地撫上他的腹部。
我的身體也在發抖，當我把頭慢慢地向前朝著他的男根移動時，我覺得我的心臟快停了。

我嘴裡好像突然分泌蠻多唾液的似的，不由得又再次吞了些口水。

一開始只是用舌尖慢慢地按摩龜頭，因為他有割包皮，所以龜頭的顏色看起來很有光澤，嘗起來腥味也比較沒有那麼重。(那不代表我喜歡腥味,哈!)

美國男人尺寸經常驚人，而且通常無法一嘴掌握。我登頂到喉嚨了，還有一截出來，吞不進整根。

他似乎很喜歡頂到喉嚨的感覺，發狂似地用手固定住我的後腦勺猛幹我的喉嚨,他能這麼威猛而還不射出能,可能是因為他們的龜頭比較不敏感的關係吧。我愉快地享受這種當深喉嚨(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068468/)的快感,可是不能一直頂，一直頂會很想吐。因為我每他為服務三分鐘,必需要有五秒的休息,而他就這樣使用了我三十分鐘。

他欣賞我幫他服務時很認真的看著他的樣子，他也會很認真的看著我，感覺似乎兩個人的頻率是相通的。

我把蛋蛋整粒放在嘴巴裏，他的蛋也是很驚人的尺寸。

我用舌尖慢慢很溫柔地把蛋蛋送進嘴巴，其間用嘴唇稍微按摩一下，讓嘴唇和舌頭一起攪動著嘴裡的蛋，他似乎感覺很舒服。
不過因為容量限制，一次只能服務一顆，呵呵。

那個中間那條線似乎也是很敏感的地方，不過我是已經忙不過來了。要照顧他的棒棒和蛋蛋，還要分心去愛撫他的上半身，只得手口並用。因為他的男根夠長，所以可以邊吹邊幫著套弄。

在我玩弄他的蛋蛋時，他仰起上半身，居高臨下地吐了一團口水在他的巨屌之上，我居然不知羞恥地，狼吐虎嚥地全部吃下去了。

我閉著眼，享受著臉龐被衝擊的感覺。有一些流濺到了我的脖子和胸口，我就伸手輕輕地碰觸那些精華，慢慢地揉散它們，像是抹乳液一樣塗在我的皮膚。

但是他可不依我，湊身過來，居然開始舔著我臉上身上的他的精液，邊舔邊親吻。等到全部舔乾淨了，(呵呵，有些已經被我當保養品給塗在身上了)就用著那充滿他精液味道的嘴用力地吻著我的嘴，還想把舌頭伸進我的喉嚨。

這時興奮的我，並不排斥那種腥味，就任由他狂野地佔有我的嘴。
當然，禮尚往來，接下來換他表演了。
他開始解開我的褲帶，我自己把上衣拉上來脫掉。
我站直身子，閉上眼睛，他邊把我褲子退到我腿部，邊蹲下去。
感覺怎樣？後來如何？
呵呵，祕密，以後再告訴你。

Perfect back

2005-11-12T16:09:00.001-06:00

薏仁Barley/ Job's tears

2005-11-06T00:11:00.001-06:00

薏仁美容法飲食加敷臉

薏仁俱有美容瘦身的功效，它是治療皮膚潰爛的首選藥物，有抑菌、抗病毒的功用，很適合有痘痘的人敷。薏仁同時兼具美白效果，常用於食膳中，是養生良方。薏仁的利尿作用，可減輕水腫現象，說是瘦身食物並不為過。薏仁有美白、抑菌、利尿、補肺、健脾、去濕、抗病毒。最重要的是，除了「孕婦」與「便秘者」不能吃薏仁外，薏仁是多吃無害的食物，甚至可以當飯吃都沒關係。薏仁不但可以內服還可以外敷，在昂貴的保養品外，薏仁應該是一個經濟而且有效的選擇。

　　若是皮膚長癬也可多吃薏仁，它確對於肌膚有很多好處，但是也不要忽略故事中另外一個重點喔，那就是得有恆心地長期服用。就像天心、郁芳她們提供的豐胸食補，重點是要長期吃，而所謂的長期可能是三、五年，甚至十年喔。

至於薏仁該怎麼吃哩？
　　1. 綠豆薏仁湯：綠豆洗淨泡一個小時，薏仁洗淨泡兩、三個小時，然後用小火煮到可以綠豆薏仁都熟了為止。建議用悶燒鍋煮，這樣薏仁才不會煮太久，破壞其成份。綠豆薏仁湯對於長痘痘的肌膚非常有效果，可以試試看。對了！可以加點冰糖，口味更佳。至於薏仁和綠豆的比例，憑感覺囉，不用太執著。

　　2. 薏仁、紅豆、紅棗湯：煮得方法和綠豆薏仁湯差不多，但是紅豆要泡久一點，約三個小時吧。紅棗最好先用刀子劃開，因為如果紅棗沒有裂開，其功效根本無法跑到湯裡。這個湯方可治療身體浮腫、增加肌肉彈力，如果有皮膚病更具治療效果。一樣可以放冰糖，比例自配。

　　3. 薏仁飯：薏仁和糙米泡水一兩個小時，然後丟到大同電鍋裡，水多一點就是稀飯，乾點就是乾飯，反正都可以當飯吃。

　　4. 冬瓜薏仁瘦肉湯：冬瓜 3斤（煮時要連皮一起煮）、薏仁 2兩、瘦肉半斤（不能有肥的純瘦肉）、陳皮一小片。先將薏仁，瘦肉、陳皮用水下去煮20分鐘（大火），再用小火煮2小時然後再把冬瓜加入煮20分鐘，加入調味料即可。

　　5. 四神湯：請參考中醫網站！

　　6. 薏仁綠茶：客家人有一種擂茶，好像是用炒過的薏仁粉拌綠茶，我們這種愛美人士當然不能吃那種炒過的東西囉，更何況高溫炒過的薏仁很多養分都被破壞嚕，可以買市面上的薏仁粉和綠茶粉，加熱水沖泡喝起來也別具風味。綠茶的功效大家應該也聽說過吧？薏仁綠茶光聽名字，就知道是美容養顏聖品了。對了！泡薏仁綠茶時，不要放太多綠茶粉囉，只要一點點就夠了，否則味道會很怪。薏仁粉要到哪裡買啊？百貨公司、超商或是有的中藥店、西藥店有賣。綠茶粉應該也在同樣的地方可以找到。當然也可以只吃薏仁茶嚕

　　原則上，薏仁不易煮爛，可以透過泡水解決，不要煮太久，多利用悶燒鍋不錯。

　　薏仁又要怎麼外敷呢？找一隻報廢的絲襪，把薏仁丟進去，用鐵鎚敲一敲碎，然後用中藥店的砵磨一磨，雖然無法磨得很細，但也沒什麼關係，就當是自然纖維囉。或是市面上也有賣薏仁粉，記得要買不含糖分的喔。薏仁粉可以加冷開水調勻敷在臉上（有痘痘也可以敷喔）或是加點綠豆粉敷也很好。我上次突發奇想加了綠茶粉，顏色蠻恐怖的，但是覺得好像也不錯。皮膚乾或是長斑的人可以用牛奶調薏仁粉，油性肌膚就不要用。

　　如果您有不含酒精的化妝水，當然是用化妝水調理薏仁粉的效果又比冷開水好囉。原則上每次敷臉一小時即可。

材料：薏仁粉(市面上有在賣)、鮮奶
作法：1.先將鮮奶煮沸→2.加入薏仁粉大約1~10克，攪拌一下即可
效果：每天早上喝一杯加有薏仁粉的牛奶，具有潤澤皮膚的作用。

買車

2005-11-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

前言﹕
美國賣東西一般都是不二價﹐但房地產和車子就例外了。東方人就地還錢的本事只針對小物品好使﹐碰到佬美式的仲介或代理商的漫天開價﹐我們就沒輒了。而且根據統計﹐在美國汽車推銷員的誠實度最難獲得人家的信任。

最近有必要換車﹐由於年青朋友的建議﹐內人與我改變了幾十年來買新車的方法﹐結果買賣雙方都滿意﹐堪稱為Win-Win 雙贏﹐既省時省事又省錢而公道。因之在此將經歷妙招寫出來﹐把撇步公開與大紀元讀者分享。

步驟﹕
1. 知己 --- 買之前必需確定要什麼車﹐預算上限在哪。

2. 知彼 --- 上網查行情﹐最好付約$37美金給 Consumer Reports 的網站﹐獲准30 天內得查詢任何新車的資料﹐包括標示價、售價、成本、最低成本等等。

3. 地利與人和 --- 問問在地人那一家代理商 (Dealer) 比較好講價﹐或者寫電子信
(e-mail) 給本地區各家車商的“網路經理”(Internet Manager)﹐請大家來平和競標。

4. 天時 ---選在月底去看車及去要“網路價”(Internet Price)來講價﹐因為拼每月業績﹐Dealer 在月底時比較願意少賺多賣。

5. 價格公道化 --- 新車開回家的總價 (Drive-Out Price) 應該稍為低於車窗紙上的標示價 (術語為 MSRP也叫做Sticker Price) 。車代理商通常可賺到最低成本的 4% 到 8% 甚或以上的利潤。

實例﹕
(1) 我們確定要買 V4 Honda Accord 四缸的比較省油﹐為了高檔和舒適選了EXL 級的轎車(Sedan)﹐預算在$26,000左右。

(2) 上網查到了標示價為$25,500 (已包括$550的Destination Fee 運費)﹐代理商成本$23,106﹐最低成本(廠商打折後)變成 $22,357﹐加上 4% - 8% 的利潤﹐售價範圍該是在$23,251 - $24,145 左右。

(3) 朋友推薦本地某一家代理商﹐他們的價格合理而且算是最低的。地利人和都有譜了。

(4) 週末在月底﹐去看車﹐“網路經理”剛好有車合我們喜歡的顏色﹐試開了一下﹐她要價$23,595 還好不算太貪心。我們說本來只是先來看看﹐沒算好價格細節﹐待回家後考慮一下再聯絡。

(5) 電話來回了二次﹐她的上司也出馬討價還價﹐最後他問願不願意再加添 $50 元﹖我們說大家互相包容﹐行﹗終於以 $23,350 成交。後來拿車時﹐他們說那 $50 免了﹐所以加上 6.25% 稅及車牌和手續費﹐開回家總價是 $25,000。這車又有一些額外Options 附加物件﹐原來的標示價是 $26,100﹐月底時代理商真的較廉價賣出了。

結論﹕
這次買新車前後只用了約二個小時﹐雙方皆大歡喜。車代理商雖少賺但有一定的利潤﹐而買者沒像以前一樣當冤大頭。節省下來的款項移做慈善公益﹐例如贊助大紀元﹐何樂而不為呢﹖

金龜婿不會天上掉下

2005-11-01T16:22:00.000-06:00

文／李月霞圖／黃怡姿
同事凱西剛剛滿30歲，條件不差－－國立大學畢、外貌清秀、工作穩定，可是卻一直碰不到理想對象，家中二老近日來一直逼婚，雖然工作的外商公司內男士眾多，但實在是一個也看不上眼，她說：「我也不是要求很嚴苛，只是不想委曲求全、草草將就，請問我應該如何做，才可以找到心目中的理想對象呢？」

其實身邊跟凱西有一樣困擾的女同事，還真不少，許多美麗的單身貴族不想委屈下嫁，時光就如此磋跎下去。是不是一定要結婚才會找到幸福？這是個人的選擇，沒有絕對的答案。

但是，想要找到理想對象一定要有策略性的思考、並規劃執行，每天守株待兔，「理想對象」是不會從天上掉下來，即使撞見了，就怕妳也不知道如何收網，才可將之變成「金龜婿」。

STEP 1
先確定擇偶標準

很誠實的面對自己的內心，清楚寫下妳的每一項標準，一次有位女同事寫下：「老實、忠厚、可靠、固定職業、有房子跟車子。」我笑說：「坐妳隔壁那個阿明完全符合，為什麼不考慮他呢？」同事馬上發出怪聲，並做出驚恐的表情，低聲說：「很土。」雖然她列出來標準清單裡完全沒提起外表，其實心裡頭在意的可多著呢－－學歷、家世、職位、是否有錢……。

所以，第一關先練習誠實的將內心標準寫下來，面對心魔、自行檢視。如果寫不出自己想要什麼，妳可以先寫下「不要」哪些條件或標準，寫下來之後對照，內心就會清明許多，而不只是一個模糊影像，清清楚楚寫下來，當理想對象真的出現，妳才會看得到！

STEP 2
為自己製造機會

有一位女同事拿了她寫的「理想對象標準」給我看，並問我是否認識她心目中的「金龜婿」？看完她洋洋灑灑的要求，我回答說：「中外都有，台灣有連勝文、英國有威廉王子。要認識連勝文，現在可以考慮參加黨務活動，要認識威廉王子，進外交部，或參加世界活動組織，妳就有可能認識他。」

最有名的一個實例：世界傳媒大亨認識現任中國籍太太，竟然是在澳洲飛上海的飛機上，據說這位上海小姐臨離開澳洲時，將全部家當換了一張單程頭等艙機票，幾個鐘頭內的航程，百分百把握機會，令傳媒大亨臣服於她的魅力之下，造就今日的榮華富貴，這是「釣金龜」策略完全成功的案例。
　
喜歡有內涵的男士－－讀書會、座談會、甚至補習班……都是不錯的考量，以上的場所，讓妳有足夠的時間觀察對方的思維理念，想要認識健康好男人－－健身房絕對可以達到目的。幾年前，美國矽谷流行到優質的超級市場（不是大賣場）找對象，原因是觀察這個人買的東西，就可以猜到他是否一個人住、是否注意健康、個人品味好壞，如一方有心想認識對方，可以很自然的順便請教，他購買某樣產品的用後心得，這種邂逅方式比較自然，如果對方也有意思，就可以接續下去對話，如果談了兩句，發現不搭調，也可以馬上謝謝再聯絡。

勸勸各位姐妹，如果一心想嫁，卻每天固定路線上下班、不參加其他活動，連中飯都在公司吃便當、逛街跟老媽上大賣場，或週末和姐妹淘到夜店裡去流連，然後抱怨遇不到好男人，這都是得怪自己，怨不得人！還有，假如妳的擇偶條件「財富」並不是擺在第一位，就不需要包裝出「拜金女」的姿態，全身名牌加起來上百萬，好的男士可能被妳嚇都嚇跑了！

STEP 3
懂得培養實力

前面提及超市搭訕方法，是標準卸下對方防備機制的好步驟，過程越自然越好，製造機會請教對方問題，是不錯的招式，不過注意自己也應該要有些內涵，做好功課準備，才可以將談話內容延續下去。

在讀書會或座談會內，男士表現他的看法，妳也可適時表達自已的意見，不要悶聲不響，壁花一樣的等著人家來發現妳的存在，主動進取讓對方也想進一步了解妳，才算是策略初步成功。

機會永遠是留給準備好的人，如果明天安排妳與「理想對象」相識，妳認為他會想進一步了解認識妳嗎？妳認為自己本身的條件也會符合對方的「標準」嗎？

親愛的女性同胞除了要求男性同胞外，也應該誠實檢視自身，是否自己訂下的標準太過「不食人間煙火」？或是一直以來妳的價值都是太「物質」導向呢？妳有沒有想過：現實生活中環繞在傳媒大亨身邊的鶯鶯燕燕絕對不會少？憑什麼上海小姐可以脫穎而出？除了她本身外在的條件，相信她的智慧也不會差到哪裡去吧？

鼓勵目前仍單身的姐姐妹妹好好培養自己的修為內涵，想找到理想對象，一定要先改變一成不變的生活模式，調整本身的擇偶條件，用策略性的思考去參加不同的活動，增加曝光率，即使是參加未婚聯誼活動、或請朋友同事安排相親都是不錯的選擇喔。

〈姊妹好榜樣〉
自己打造金龜婿

每次聽到姐妹說：「人生最大的希望是－－嫁個金龜婿！」我都會反問：「然後呢？」好姻緣是沒有捷徑的，它是需要雙方長期共同付出與經營的。

我常常分享的一個案例：陳怡蓁，趨勢科技創始人兼全球行銷總監，她和她的丈夫，趨勢科技董事長張明正，一個主外、一個主內，把公司變成全球數一數二的防毒品牌，員工遍布三十多國。

在一次的演講中，一位女學生問陳怡蓁：「如何找到金龜婿？」陳怡蓁說：「張明正不是金龜婿，是我把他變成金龜婿的！」當一個自信的現代女性，找不到金龜婿，就自己去創造一個！

上網效率?

2005-10-26T17:47:00.000-05:00

正當我們在熱烈談論網路社會時，我們是否注意到了另外一個問題，那就是“我們的上網效率如何？”其實，對於我們這些經常走在網上的人來說，肯定會有以下這些境遇。

場景一。本來想好一個上網的目的，然後在搜索引擎輸入關鍵字。但結果出來以後，前面的幾項結果比較有針對性，後面關聯係數越來越小。可在瀏覽過程中，通過超級連接不斷看到其他自己感興趣的內容，如關於某人的新聞報導，於是就在那裡瀏覽此人的資訊，離自己的關鍵字越來越遠！

場景二。本來在網路中專心尋找自己所要的東西，突然掛著的QQ提醒你，一個你久未聯繫的朋友上線了！於是，你馬上停下手中的活，和他攀談起來。不知不覺，時間就過去了一大半，一轉眼又到了下班時間！

場景三。本來穩定的網路突然不能上網了，於是，坐在電腦面前一時不知道幹什麼是好。在“我的電腦”中轉來轉去，不久才發現有一大堆事情等著自己處理。因為不能上網，所以自己就只能“安心”做原來早就該完成的任務了！

看到這裡，我想，大多數人都會贊成這樣的說法:上網讓自己“迷失”了方向，在網路環境中工作效率低下！除非是老闆逼著你說：再不完成，你這個月的獎金就泡湯拉！

本來擁有豐富資源的網路，該是我們獲取資訊的無窮寶藏，但往往由於“牛頭不對馬嘴”，“顧此失彼”，導致網路的優勢變成了我們自己的“劣勢”。也就是當我們處在網路中，面對大量出現的資訊而產生的類似於在大海中航行時迷失方向而不知所措的現象，這被稱為網路中的資訊迷航。

資訊迷航現象的產生

主要包括客觀和主觀兩個方面的原因。客觀原因中，海量資訊是基礎。不可否認，在互聯網產生的幾十年中，人類資訊的共用速度得到空前提高。網路中的資訊幾乎包括了人類社會發展的所有資訊，完全可以用海量來形容。這就使得每個人完全能夠從網路中得到自己所需要的資訊。而與之相應的另外一個原因就是資訊的隨意性。網路中所特有的超鏈結技術，一下子從技術手段上打破了過去個人傳播資訊的高成本和大眾傳媒的高度壟斷。它使得人們能夠從一個資訊點連接到另外一個完全不相關的資訊點。於是，這種演變的另一個後果是造成傳播資訊的無序性。可以說，存在大量而無序的資訊是資訊迷航賴以生存的必要條件。

主觀原因有三個方面。首先是人的注意力有限。注意廣度也就是注意的範圍，是指人在同一時間內所能清楚地把握的對像的數量。相對於網路的海量資訊，人的注意力是有限的也是相對不足的，也就是說人對資訊的選擇、轉移、加工能力是有限的，面對大量的資訊，如果人不能及時有效地處理這些資訊，就會出現資訊超載。另外，人的注意不能長時間地保持不變，總是有間歇性地加強和減弱，這叫做注意起伏現象，它受到許多條件的影響，包括刺激強度和持續時間，刺激物在時間和空間上的確定性，活動內容和活動方式的多樣化，以及個體本身的情緒、態度。在網路中，隨著時間的延長，面對各種意想不到的資訊，人的注意力會發生一定的轉移，有時可能從學習轉移到其他與學習無關的資訊上並產生迷航。

其次是缺乏過程性引導和有效的資訊組織方式。在上網過程中，用戶在多數時間和情況下處於自主使用網路的過程中，自己制訂工作計劃，收集資料，進行自我評價。而在實際操作中對工作進展和取得的成果，是很難進行正確地自我評估的。階段性不明顯，用戶對工作進程沒有客觀的把握，成就感不明顯，注意力就受到影響。另外，由於網路資訊本身的無序性，導致人們對資訊的處理方法不當。如有些人不能及時分辨有效資訊，對獲取的資訊不能進行科學分類等。

第三個就是心理依賴。對網路的依賴表現為網路依賴症（有時我們稱之為網路成隱），它是一種數位媒體的強迫行為，具體表現是:每天的上網時間不能自主控制，睡覺時還做著網路的夢，休息的時候手指會不自覺地顫動。嚴重者除了上網以外，喪失了正常工作和處理日常事務的能力。在隨時能夠上網的工作環境中，隨著用戶使用網路時間的增加，患有不同程度網路依賴症的患者也在不斷增加，這已經成為一個備受關注的社會現象。

如何提高上網效率

從目前來看，我們對於網路中的資訊組織方式無法改變，因此，只能從自身出發，來提高上網效率。

首先要在主觀上，樹立提高上網效率的觀念。思想是行動的指導，我們要時刻提醒自己，不要在網路中“迷失”方向。提高自身的辨別能力，不要被無關的資訊所干擾。要明確什麼樣的資訊是有用的，將有限的注意力資源分配好。

其次是我們要更加注重資訊和學習的價值。我們不能把自己融入到資訊裡面，而應該著重於資訊能為我們提供的價值。哥倫比亞大學的傑韋爾說: “我們需要從資訊時代走向思考時代，”他建議:花60%的時間創造和決策，只用15%的時間收集資訊，剩下的25%作數據分析。網路上有大量的有用資訊，但由於資訊迷航，真正能發揮作用的並不多。“因為我們被科技引入歧途，在釋放資訊價值方面讓技術牽著我們的鼻子走。我們過分利用硬碟，沒有有充分利用自己的腦子。資訊時代著重（研究）更好的答案。”他說，“思考時代將著重於更好的問題。”我們應當認識到:不是一味追求更強大的電腦和更快的調製調解器，而是要使學習的品質更高和更有效率;不是為了搜集更多的資訊，而是為了創造更多的價值。

第三是掌握快速閱讀的學習方法，努力形成自我組織的工作方式。略讀、速讀和精讀，分別反映了學習的廣度和深度，在網路環境下這種閱讀技巧的重要性再度突顯出來。所不同的是，傳統閱讀主要精力都放在精讀上，而面對網路上不計其數的資訊資源，更需要略讀和速讀的本領，在網路環境下學習內容是很豐富的，但人的注意力和時間卻是相對有限，如果每一篇都細看必將導致資訊超載，所以必須提高速讀和略讀的能力，在瀏覽的同時要能迅速捕捉自己所需要的資訊，並快速進行鑒別、歸納，只有通過不斷地實踐，才能逐步掌握整體閱讀、瀏覽閱讀、選擇閱讀等各種快速閱讀的方法，從而提高獲取資訊的能力。

自我組織的學習方式要求我們能夠緊扣目標，在大量的資訊資源中進行檢索，並對數量龐大的檢索結果，逐一篩選，找出相關的材料，並將這些相關資料中沒有價值的去掉，把有用資訊按照自己的邏輯思路整合起來，形成對這一問題的認識。這種自主式探索活動完全不同於傳統的學習方法，它對我們的檢索、篩選、過濾和整合的能力提出了更高的要求。

儘管網路無限精彩，但只有我們切實提高上網效率，才能讓自己通過網路更加精彩！

An Identity Crisis for Supermarkets

2005-10-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

美國超市競爭激烈求新求變刻不容緩

當前美國超級市場業者最大的噩夢是：越來越多的消費者不再喜歡到超市購物了，面對大量的選擇，他們寧願到沃爾瑪（Wal-Mart），好事多（ Costco）等倉儲零售店或其它折扣店享受低價位服務，或選擇天然有機食品和主張環保的超市Whole Foods 及 Wild Oats等。

紐約時報報導，傳統的超市在困境中掙扎。他們面臨的壓力也越來越大：沃爾瑪和Whole Foods雄心勃勃地計劃拓展，而Target也將插足。

現在，傳統超市想盡了一切辦法來扭轉劣勢，以挽回顧客。在Whole Foods受顧客歡迎的前題下，傳統超市正在增加有機食品和天然食品的種類。並增加速成食品。同時降低了價格。

當然，美國全國的56，000家超市在食品銷售上仍佔主導地位，但他們的銷售量直線下降。顧客造訪超市的次數越來越少。據投資銀行UBS的調查，1996 年，一個美國家庭平均每年到超市購物95次﹔2004年下降至70次。在這八年中，消費者平均每年去沃爾瑪的次數從13 次上升至26次，去好事多的次數從每年8次上升至11次。

超市零售業正面臨著前所未有的壓力。今年二月，雜貨店運營商Winn-Dixie Stores正式申請破產。上個月，埃伯森（Albertsons）宣布他們將雇佣投資銀行家來研究未來可行的方案，包括可能出售埃伯森超級市場企業。

其它的連鎖店也情況不妙。在過去五年中，美國最大的三家超市連鎖店克羅格（Kroger）, 埃伯森（Albertsons ）和安路（Safeway）的銷售直線下滑。

Whole Foods目前在全國有177家連鎖店，僅佔不到1%的市場，還未對其它對手構成威脅，但分析家說其他的執行董事們正在密切關注這家全國發展最迅速的連鎖機構，因為它的成功促使競爭對手們增加商品供給。

克羅格正在建立三套可選擇方案。一是新鮮食材店（Fresh Fare stores），提供更高檔的服務以及提出像Whole Foods的天然高檔食品，如有機食品，壽司，各種乳酪及2，000種酒類。

二是克羅格百貨店（Kroger‘s Marketplace），其店面是原有雜貨店的兩倍，出售各類百貨，有些類似沃爾瑪，但價格並不是那麼便宜。

三是克羅格廉價食品店（Food 4 Less stores），試圖與沃爾瑪在價格上爭奪顧客。

連鎖超市經營商Food Lion也採取了應變措施。三年前他們就著手建立一種名為Bloom的新概念商店。現在五家全部在北卡羅萊納州。他們在商店的入口處設置了快速購物區以方便那些隻想要牛奶，雞蛋或晚餐必需品的顧客。通常超市會把這些常用品放在商場的後面，以吸引顧客在穿過貨架時順便購買其它商品。

新的商店擁有更寬的走道，更低的貨架，在結賬處不再放置糖果。冰淇淋也被放在最前端以防止融化。

克羅格和安域也推出了更多的方便食品來滿足顧客的需要;這在Whole Foods已經取得了巨大的成功，並佔全店銷售的１０％。

安域重新改造的生活型態店（Lifestyle stores）擁有擴大的熟食部，成排的湯類，一個切肉部及“速成批薩”。店裡的一些地方同時安裝了柔和的燈光和仿木地板使店面感覺更為高雅。

但是無論超市業者如何努力，很多分析家仍認為他們將輸給對手。貝恩管理顧問公司（Bain & Company, Inc.）負責全球零售實務的雷格比（美國超市競爭激烈求新求變刻不容緩

An Identity Crisis for Supermarkets

By Melanie Warner

Georgiana Gardiner has no use for conventional supermarkets. When Gardiner, who lives in a Denver suburb, wants fresh fish, meat, produce or other perishables, she drives 25 minutes to the nearest Whole Foods Market. When she needs products like canned beans, pasta and paper towels, she goes to a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

It has been at least a year, she said, since she entered a Safeway or Kroger, the two national supermarket chains that operate in the Denver area. "Once you go to start eating organic foods, you can't go back," said Gardiner, 61. Whole Foods may be "more expensive, but it's worth it," she added. "Anyway, I make up some of the difference at Wal-Mart."

Gardiner and a growing number of shoppers like her are the supermarket industry's worst nightmare. Faced with a seemingly endless array of food shopping choices, consumers are increasingly shunning the neighborhood supermarket and going to Wal-Mart, Costco or other discount retailers for rock-bottom prices, or to places like Whole Foods and Wild Oats for specialized quality and service.

Traditional supermarkets, caught in the middle, are struggling to survive, and the pressures on them may only intensify: Wal-Mart and Whole Foods have ambitious expansion plans, and Target says it wants to become a big player, too.

The trend is not unique to the United States. The two largest retailers in Europe, Carrefour and Tesco, have been lifting market share by cutting prices and expanding floor space, while smaller discount companies like Lidl, Aldi and Real have also grown in recent years, leaving traditional players, like J. Sainsbury in Britain, squeezed in between. Wal-Mart has said it wants to step up its expansion in both Central and Eastern Europe, where Tesco is the leader, and in Asia, which Carrefour entered in 1989. Wal-Mart also announced on Sept. 30 that it would take control of the Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu.

Now, traditional supermarkets in the United States are trying to turn things around and win back customers. In a nod to Whole Foods, they are adding more organic and natural food items and selling more prepared foods for quick lunches and dinners. And they are cutting prices.

The 56,000 supermarkets in the United States remain the dominant venues for food shopping, but their share of the business has been steadily declining. The average U.S. household made 95 trips a year to the supermarket in 1996; in 2004 it was 70, a study by UBS said. In that eight-year span, annual trips to stores like Wal-Mart jumped to 26 from 13, and trips to membership stores like Costco increased to 11 from eight. "Supermarkets are facing an identity crisis," said Harvey Hartman, chief executive of the Hartman Group, a consulting firm in Seattle.

In the past five years, Wal-Mart has emerged as a dominant force in the U.S. grocery business, selling almost twice the amount of food and grocery items as Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the United States.

Wal-Mart undercuts supermarket prices by as much as 20 percent but is still able to generate considerable profit because of its enormous volume and huge buying power. Wal-Mart's labor costs also are lower because, unlike those at most supermarkets, its employees are not unionized.

"Wal-Mart just keeps growing," said David Dillon, chief executive of Kroger, which regularly compares the performance of its stores against Wal-Mart Supercenters. "And I don't see any signs of a slowdown in the number of stores."

Wal-Mart, with 1,866 supercenters in the United States, all with grocery stores, does not break out food sales, but Retail Forward, a research firm in Columbus, Ohio, estimates that in 2004 the company sold $109 billion in groceries, taking a 19 percent share of the market. Retail Forward projected that the number of Wal-Mart Supercenters may triple by 2010 and that its share of the grocery business may rise to 35 percent.

U.S. supermarkets are feeling the squeeze. In February, Winn- Dixie Stores, which has 92 percent of its stores within a radius of 20 miles, or 32 kilometers, of a Wal-Mart Supercenter, filed for bankruptcy protection. Last month, Albertsons, whose U.S. market share has declined in Wal-Mart strongholds like Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, announced that it had hired investment bankers to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.

Other chains are faring only slightly better. Over the last five years, sales at Kroger, Albertsons and Safeway, the three-largest supermarket chains in the United States, have stagnated and profits have been dismal.

With 177 stores and less than 1 percent of the U.S. market, Whole Foods is not yet much of a financial threat. But analysts say that supermarket executives are anxiously watching the company, which is the fastest-growing grocery chain in the United States. "Whole Foods has redefined the landscape of what a grocery store is," said Hartman, of the Hartman consulting group. "That means more fresh items, bigger produce sections, more selection for natural and organic foods and more prepared foods."

The situation for supermarkets is dire, said Neil Currie, an analyst at UBS. For years, he said, supermarkets failed to respond to consumers' migration toward restaurants and their increased desire for natural foods. Today, 46.9 percent of all food dollars in the United States are spent at restaurants and similar establishments, compared with 41.3 percent in 1985, according to the Agriculture Department of Agriculture. "If nothing changes," Currie said in a report last year, "the format could die a slow death as Wal-Mart and other nontraditional formats continue to take market share."

Is It Better to Buy or Rent?

2005-10-15T00:13:00.000-05:00

買房還是租房卡好？

近年來，由於低利率和一系列新的抵押貸款方式的產生，許多租房者轉而購買房產，導致房價飆升，相應地削弱了租房市場，房東們被迫減租，至少也不敢大幅度增加租金了。在過去5年裡，紐約，華盛頓，洛杉磯等地的房產價格長了一倍，而租金卻幾乎沒有變動。其結果是，在美國最熱絡的房市上，房價和租金之間的關係脫節了。

傳統上，人們常常把租房看作是把錢白白扔掉；現在也許值得重新對租房做個評價了。因此，紐約時報上月底以「是租好還是買好」為題做了分析。

克利斯汀森女士今年以105萬的價格賣掉了她坐落於美國加州拉爾克斯普鎮的擁有百年歷史的維多利亞式別墅。然後，她搬入了斯汀森沙灘的一棟兩層樓房，每月付租金2400元。現在，她可以坐在她的起居室，一邊品茶，一邊觀賞著太平洋的波濤。

買房的好處

擁有自己的屋居，除理財方面的收益外，顯然還有其它好處，比如內心的穩定感和歸宿感。房主們可以安心地長期居住下來，而不用擔心合同結束後房東是否願意續租的問題；也可以憑著自己的喜好任意改變起居室牆壁的顏色，而不必擔心別人干涉。

克利斯汀森女士曾在她的拉爾克斯普別墅周圍建了一個花園，裡面不但種了梨樹和無花果樹，還種著迷迭香，熏衣草花並插上了黃楊木籬。而在斯汀森沙灘，她沒進行任何這類勞動。

憑長期經驗來看，購房者要保留一棟新居所5至7年，方可抵銷房地產買賣手續費及其它相關費用（當然，目前這個時間長度已經縮短，部分原因是房屋價格激劇上升）。

以此看來，對多數已經擁有自己的住宅並已安定下來的人們來說，租房可能並不合算。

目前租房的優勢

但是，對於那些正在考慮搬家或者尚未擁有房產的人們，就要用不同的角度去看問題了，至少他們不應該悲慼自己的租房行為是把錢扔進大海了。

據紐約時報的分析，在加州灣區(舊金山)，一個典型的家庭購買一棟100萬的房子（這在一些市鎮是房產平均價格）每個月要花銷5000元。這個家庭卻可以用2500元租一棟同樣的房子。在(紐約)曼哈頓上東區，1000平方英尺的兩睡房公寓現在每月租3700元，而購買一套同樣的公寓則需要110萬元左右，折合成每月租金，就是6000元左右。

據房地產紀錄顯示，如果這個家庭選擇租房而不是買房，那麼他可以把原本用於房屋首期付款的那部分資金用來投資，所獲得的利息又可償付部分房租。儘管房地產經紀人不願承認這一點，但事實上擁有房產是在以交付財產稅和抵押貸款利息等特有的方式把錢扔掉。

租金比率

在任何房地產市場上，如果一棟典型房屋的價格超過年租金的20倍，購房的月成本就比租房的月成本要貴。

在紐約時報的分析中，租房的成本包括每月租金加上租客的保險；而擁有房產的月成本則包括典型的屋居保險，重大維修，財產稅和房屋的分期付款，再扣去稅項減免額。

在灣區，這個「租金比率」超過了33。在紐約，波士頓，洛杉磯和邁阿密，恰好超過25。華盛頓的比率是20，正好接近分界線。

在邁阿密任信貸員的奧文先生和他的女朋友每月付1700元租金，住在公寓最高層，既可以觀賞該城市的地平線，又可以俯瞰大西洋。在和經紀人談過之後，他說他認為這套公寓可以賣將近65萬元，那麼租金比率超過了30。他因此認為租房要合算得多。

買房動機中的一個最大誤解

紐約時報分析說，這個誤解是圍繞著減稅方面的。許多人似乎認為購房可以給他們省錢，因為抵押貸款的利息可得到稅項減免。

但是，該稅項減免只能是減去因借錢而產生的費用，也就是說如果一個家庭不購買房子，這筆花費根本就不存在。美國家庭平均在一棟房子裡居住六年，而據大型貸款公司」國立城市公司」說，在此期間，即使如今的利息率很低，即使得到稅項減免，一項60萬元的抵押貸款要付的利息合計也達12萬元。

況且，很多房主並沒有逐條列記他們所得到的減稅，如果這樣做了，就會發現他們的減稅額總和只不過比一般納稅人（包括租房者）的標準減稅額多一點點而已。

買房好還是租房好？

由於租房者可以把原本要付的首期付款和房地產買賣的手續費投資於證券或股票上，所以時報在這篇分析中給與他們大約4％的稅後利潤；而買房者的已付清的房屋分期付款部分則被記入貸方。

當供養一棟房產的淨花費比租房的淨花費低，那麼支持買房的論點就佔了絕對上風，比如在芝加哥，達拉斯，聖路易以及美國中部的大部分地區，只要房屋價格未來不激劇下跌，在這些地區買房就會比租房要有利的多。

如今在美國東北大部分地區(包括紐約)，佛羅里達州，加利福尼亞州等地，買房比租房要貴（稅收優惠也被計入）。只有當現已十分昂貴的房價再有極大幅度的增長時，房主才可能處於有利地位。

對於新的購房者來說，紐約的房價在未來五年裡需要再升高大約13％才能使買房比一般租房划算。在北加州，房價和租金之間的差距是最大的，房屋價值在2010年之前上升19％才划算。

在未來十年裡，紐約房價要增長25％才可均衡，而在加州則需要增長40％。

問題是，未來的房價能否達到這樣的增長呢。事實上，甚至那些不認為房地產市場正處於泡沫之中的經濟學家們也預計價格增長將會放緩。還有人預言，房屋價值將會像90年代初東西海岸城市的屋價那樣下降；或者在未來許多年裡價格會停滯不前。

據紐約時報10月4日報道，美國全國房地產市場的確已經開始降溫。隨著賣房者越來越多，房屋出售速度開始放慢，價格已經不再像早前那樣持續增長了。

當然，對許多人來說，買房對人的心理影響也是不容忽視的。擁有房產讓人們感到他們已經實現了美國夢，或者說給與了他們安全感，他們有了可以在夜間安然入寢的有形資產。

這的確是好感覺。問題是它們在你心中的價值值多少。

(紐約時報)

Is It Better to Buy or Rent?

By DAVID LEONHARDT

THE thought has occurred to just about everybody who owns a home in a hot housing market: maybe it's time to cash out.

The hard part is figuring out how to do so. Only a few families can actually pick up their life in, say, California and move it to Nebraska. The other option - renting - has long been derided as the equivalent of throwing money away.

But renting might deserve another look right now. After five years in which rents have barely budged while house prices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and elsewhere have doubled, renting has become a surprisingly smart option for many people who never would have considered it before.

Owning a home often ties up hundreds of thousands of dollars that might be invested more safely and more lucratively elsewhere over the next decade. And while real estate brokers may hate to acknowledge it, home ownership involves its own versions of throwing money away, like property taxes and the costs of borrowing.

Add it all up - which The New York Times did, in an analysis of the major costs and benefits of owning and renting, including tax breaks - and owning a home today is more expensive than renting in much of the Northeast, Florida and California. Only if prices rise well above their already lofty levels will home ownership turn out to be the good deal that it is widely assumed to be.

In the Bay Area of California, a typical family that buys a $1 million house - which is average in some towns - will spend about $5,000 a month to live there, according to the Times analysis. The family could rent a similar house for about $2,500, real estate records show, and could pay part of that bill with the interest earned by the money that was not used for a down payment.

This gaping difference helped persuade Eloise Christensen to sell her century-old Victorian cottage in downtown Larkspur, Calif., for $1.05 million this year. Now she rents a two-story house in Stinson Beach for $2,400 a month. From her living room, she can sip tea and watch the waves from the Pacific Ocean.

"It just seems out of control," said Ms. Christensen, 43, a massage therapist and graphic designer. "It didn't seem to me that the market was going to be able to sustain these high prices."

There are obviously benefits to home ownership beyond the financial, like peace of mind and a feeling of stability. Owners cannot have their home yanked away by a landlord who has decided to move back in. Owners can also change the color of their living room walls or fix a draft seeping through their windows without asking permission.

Surrounding her Larkspur cottage, Ms. Christensen had built a garden with rosemary, lavender and boxwood hedges to complement the pear and fig trees already there. She is not doing anything like that in Stinson Beach.

Combine these benefits with the transaction costs of a house sale, and renting probably does not make sense for most people who already own their home and feel settled in it.

But the calculation can look quite different for those who are considering a move anyway or who do not yet own a home. At the very least, renters in boom markets, who often lament that they are wasting money, should know that their choice has as powerful an economic rationale as buying does right now.

"I am a proponent of buying," said Tchaka Owen, 37, a loan officer and licensed real-estate agent in Miami who is renting a two-bedroom apartment overlooking the bay there. "But you can get so much more for your money, renting instead of buying. We're paying half the amount we would be paying if we owned this place."

In Manhattan, 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom apartments on the Upper East Side now rent for about $3,700 a month. Buying a similar apartment costs around $1.1 million, which can translate into monthly payments of $6,000 or so.

To determine the cost of renting, the Times analysis added monthly rent and renters' insurance. For owning, the analysis included typical costs for home insurance, major repairs, property taxes and mortgage payments, as well as the tax deductions they create.

Renters were given credit for a small return - about 4 percent, after taxes - on the money they could have invested in bonds or stocks instead of spending it on a down payment and closing costs. Buyers received credit for the portion of the mortgage they were paying off, as opposed to the interest costs.

When the net costs of owning are less than those of renting, as is the case in Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis and much of the middle of the country, the argument for buying becomes overwhelming. So long as home prices do not fall sharply, home buyers in these places will do much better than renters.

But when owning is more expensive every month, buyers are betting entirely on price appreciation.

For new home buyers, prices in New York would need to rise roughly another 13 percent over the next five years for the average buyer to do better than the average renter over that span. In Northern California, where the gap between house prices and rents is largest, home values would need to go up about 19 percent by 2010.

Over the next decade, the break-even increase is about 25 percent in New York and 40 percent in California.

Such increases have been easily achieved in the recent past. But even economists who do not consider the real estate market to be in a bubble predict that price gains will slow. Other forecasters argue that values will fall, as they did on the coasts in the early 1990's, or be stuck near their current levels for years to come. No matter who is right, the buy-versus-rent debate is a closer call than it has been in years.

"If you believe you'll be moving in the next four or five years, I'd rent," said Thomas Z. Lys, an accounting professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University . "If you're a long-termer, I still would buy."

The single biggest misconception about home ownership, some brokers and economists say, might revolve around tax deductions. Many people seem to believe that buying a home can actually save them money because the interest on their mortgage is tax deductible.

But all that deduction does is reduce the cost of borrowing the money - a cost that would not exist if the family were not buying the home. Families spend about six years in a house, on average, according to the National Association of Realtors. In that time, the interest on a $600,000 mortgage would add up to about $120,000, even at today's low rates and even after the tax deduction, according to National City Corporation, a large lender.

"Don't be buying a house because you think you're saving on the taxes," said Frank Borges LLosa, owner of FranklyRealty.com, a brokerage in Arlington, Va. "You'll save even more by not buying and renting."

Mr. LLosa added: "I'm not saying not to buy. I'm saying don't buy just for the tax reasons."

Many homeowners also do not receive the full deductions from home ownership. In the Northeast and California, homeowners now have so many deductions that some must pay the alternative minimum tax. This tax effectively wipes out part of their property-tax deduction, further cutting into the benefits of home ownership.

Other homeowners do not itemize their deductions or, if they do so, end up with total deductions only a little larger than the standard deduction that the government offers to all taxpayers, even renters.

"A lot of people hugely overvalue the mortgage deduction," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a liberal group in Washington, "because they compare it to no deduction instead of comparing it to the standard deduction."

Mr. Baker is one of the avant garde renters. He and his wife sold their condominium in Washington last year for $445,000 and now rent a similar one nearby for $2,200 a month.

The Times analysis made a number of assumptions favorable to buyers, like giving them full credit for the deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes, noted Mark Zandi, chief economist of Economy .com, a research company. Still, the monthly costs of buying were more expensive than those for renting in any market where the price of a typical house was more than 20 times larger than the annual rent to live in it.

In the Bay Area, this "rent ratio" exceeds 33. In New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Miami, it is just above 25. A typical four-bedroom house in Brookline, Mass., for example, costs about $1.2 million to buy and $4,500 a month to rent, according to Chobee Hoy Associates Real Estate, a brokerage there.

At 20, Washington is right near the cutoff. But renters who live in apartment buildings, like Mr. Baker, often get an extra benefit: some portion of their utilities bill is typically covered by the building's owner.

Mr. Owen, the loan officer in Miami, and his girlfriend, Polly Thompson, pay $1,700 a month for a top-floor apartment that has views of both the city's skyline and the Atlantic Ocean. After talking to brokers, he said he thought that the apartment would sell for close to $650,000, giving it a rent ratio of more than 30.

"It's obvious," he said, "that renting is such a better deal."

But to many people, the psychological benefits of buying are almost impossible to overcome. Owning makes them feel that they have achieved the American dream, or it gives them the secure sense that, if nothing else, they have a tangible asset where they can sleep at night.

Those are nice feelings, indeed. The question is how much they are worth to you.

Love will keep us together

2005-10-13T01:35:00.000-05:00

Love, love will keep us together
Think of me babe whenever
Some sweet talkin' girl comes along, singin' a song
Don't mess around, you just gotta be strong

Just stop, 'cause I really love you
Stop, I been thinkin' of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together

You (you, do do do) you belong to me now (do, do do do)
Ain't gonna set ya free now (do do do)
When those girls start hangin' around, talkin' me down
Hear with your heart and ya won't hear a sound

Just stop (stop, stop) cause I really love you (really love you)
Stop (stop, stop) I been thinkin' of you (been thinkin' of you)
Look in my heart and let love keep us together, whatever

Young and beautiful, but someday your looks'll be gone
When the others turn you off, who'll be turnin' you on
I will, I will, I will, I will be there to share forever
Love will keep us together
I said it before and I'll say it again
While others pretend
I need ya now and I need ya then

Just stop (stop) cause I really love you (really love you)
Stop (stop) I been thinkin' of you (been thinkin' of you)
Look in my heart and let love keep us together
Whatever (a-ba-da whatever)
I will (ever), I will (ever), I will (ever), I will (ahh)

Synthesizer solo (Da da da da, da da da da, da da da da)

You better stop (stop) cause I really love you (really love you)
Stop (stop) I been thinkin' of you (been thinkin' of you)
Look in my heart and let love keep us together
Whatever (a-ba-da whatever)
I will (ever), I will (ever), I will (ever), I will (ahh)

Clapping and whistling

(Da da da da, da da da da, da da da da)
(Da da da da, da da da da, da da da da)

Job's tear drinking

2005-10-12T11:41:00.000-05:00

Korean style sea food pancake

2005-10-11T22:44:00.000-05:00

材料：蝦仁150克、透抽100克、牡犡100克、魷魚100克、胡蘿蔔末55克、高麗菜末55克、韭菜末25克、蔥花20克、玉米粒適量、中筋麵粉 300克、冷水700㏄、蛋2個，鹽、酒各15克，白胡椒、香油各5克、辣椒3克、白芝麻約5克、沙拉油適量

1 瀝乾
煮小鍋滾水依序燙熟蝦仁、透抽、牡犡、魷魚瀝乾；蔬菜切末備用。

2 拌糊
中筋麵粉、冷水、蛋、鹽、酒、白胡椒、香油、辣椒拌成麵糊，與蔬菜拌勻鬆弛30分鐘。

3 香煎
蔬菜麵糊與海鮮拌勻，平底鍋熱油後以半煎炸煎至兩面金黃，撒白芝麻即可。

Rib Eye Roast

2005-10-11T21:58:00.000-05:00

Rib Eye Roast

From Diana Rattray,Your Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine.

This flavorful rib eye roast is coated with seasonings then topped with a mustard and horseradish sauce mixture. Serve with baked potatoes and tossed salad.

Prep Time :
Cook Time :
Type of Prep : Bake, Roast
Cuisine : U.S. Regional
Occasion : Christmas, Family Dinner

INGREDIENTS:

1 beef rib eye roast, about 4 pounds
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme 百里香

1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish辣根

PREPARATION:

Combine salt, pepper, and thyme; rub over all sides of roast. Place the roast, fat side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. If using a meat thermometer, insert in center of roast. Roast at 350° for about 1 hour. Combine Dijon mustard and horseradish; spread over the beef. Roast for 25 minutes longer, or until roast is about 145° (on instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer) for medium rare. Roast to about 160° for medium.
Serves 8.

Beef Rib Eye Roast With Red Wine Mushroom Sauce

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients

3 lb. boneless beef rib eye roast

3/4

Salt, divided

1/2

Pepper, divided

1/2

Chopped onion

1/2

Dry red wine

Cornstarch

(13 3/4 oz) single strength bBeef broth

(4 oz) mushroom pieces and stems, drained

Chopped parsley

Instructions

About 1 1/2 hours before serving:Sprinkle roast烘肉 with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Place boneless beef rib eye roast, fat side up, on rack in open roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so bulb is centered in thickest part, but not resting in fat. Do not add water. Do not cover. Roast in 350 degree oven to desired degree of doneness. Allow 18 to 20 minutes for rare; 20 to 22 minutes for medium. About 15 minutes before serving, remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135 degrees for rare; 155 degrees for medium. Tent with aluminum foil; allow roast to "stand" 15 minutes in warm place before carving. Roast should continue to rise about 5 degrees in temperature to 140 degrees for rare, 160 degrees for medium. While roast is standing, remove rack from roasting pan; skim fat. Add onions to pan drippings; place roasting pan over medium high heat on top of range. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 minutes. Add wine; bring to boil; cook about 3 minutes or until thickened. Combine cornstarch and remaining, salt and pepper. Gradually, add beef broth to cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly; add to wine mixture in roasting pan. Continue cooking. Stir in mushrooms and parsley. Pour into serving container. Carve rib eye roast into thin slices. Serve with Red Wine and Mushroom Sauce.

Sexy CIA

2005-10-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

Sexy Cup

2005-10-11T21:34:00.000-05:00

Liquid foundation and pressed powder

2005-10-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

露華濃修復再顏粉底液
550元 37ml
劑型：油包水
滋潤度：4.5
延展性：3.5
保養配方：含維他命C磷酸鈉等美白成分；六多肽、類肉毒桿菌、人參等抗老化成分；葡萄籽、銀杏及綠茶等抗氧化成分。
推薦理由：含美白、抗老化及抗氧化等保養成分，服貼度佳。
彩妝師評析：遮蓋力 2 服貼度 4 質地透不油膩，油性肌膚適用。

露華濃修復再顏粉餅 495元
劑型：油包水
滋潤度：4.5
延展性：4
保養配方：含黑醋粟等美白成分；六多肽、類肉毒桿菌、人參等抗老化成分；矢車菊等消炎成分。
推薦理由：添加美白、抗老化及消炎等多種不錯的保養配方。
彩妝師評析：遮蓋力 2 服貼度 3 粉質略粗，塗多層會使妝感厚重，只需塗1層即可。

Bialetti Espresso Coffer maker

2005-10-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

Espresso coffee — Espresso

	Buy ground espresso coffee in your supermarket with an Italian brand name. Nowadays it can easily be found in vacuum packs, possibly 100% "Arabica" but also blends can be very good. The most renowned Italian brands are Illy and Lavazza. I suggest Bialetti moka espresso coffee maker, the only one to bear the unique mark of the "little fellow with the moustache". Let's start! Put cold water in the lower part of the pot not exceeding the height of the valve; set the coffee filter over the water in the lower chamber and fill it with the ground coffee without pressing; screw on very tight the upper chamber and place the coffee maker on a low flame. Wait till the coffee bubbles up, with the cover half open. Avoid boiling. Then pour it directly in the coffee cups and add sugar to your taste. Once the pack has been opened, store the coffee in an hermetically sealed jar so that the coffee keeps all its aroma. Never use detergents to clean the Moka Espresso coffee maker. Rinse it only with water.

聯合報的祖國夢:青藏鐡路

2005-10-09T00:28:00.001-05:00

Tibet rail line is a marvel偉大, but China is mum沈默

Chinese reticence節制 has much to do with aspirations志業 for Tibetan independence

HOWARD W. FRENCH

GOLMUD, SEPTEMBER 12 By the time the great railroad reaches this town from the east, it will already have traversed more than half of China, past the high desert of Qinghai, around one of the world’s great salt lakes, through the arid fastness of Gansu and over and around mountain ranges arrayed like endless sets of waves all the way to Beijing. The biggest challenges, however, lie when the line heads to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, over what is often called the roof of the world. For long stretches the railway, which is fast nearing completion, will operate at altitudes higher than many small planes can fly. Indeed, the train, whose engines will need turbochargers just to get enough oxygen to run, will often soar above the clouds. One might expect a country that is pulling off one of the world’s great engineering feats功績 to be eager to show off its handiwork. If so, no one has told the Railway Ministry, which for a full year refused to answer requests to visit the new line. What could explain such a reluctance to show off this marvel of railway building? As was underscored by events in Lhasa—where Beijing was celebrating the 40th anniversary of what it calls the Tibet Autonomous Region—it had much to do with Tibetan aspirations for independence. By some estimates, the new train will carry as many as 900,000 people to Tibet each year, with the newcomers overwhelmingly consisting of members of China’s Han majority, many of whom will opt to stay. ‘‘The Han population is rising and the Tibetan language, our mother language, is losing its position among our people,’’ said a Tibetan teacher who fled to India in January after being arrested several times for his views. ‘‘The road building jobs and the construction jobs are not open to Tibetans, and young Tibetan girls are turning to prostitution.’’ If the Chinese wish to help Tibet, said the teacher, who asked not to be identified, ‘‘They should stop the immigration and give the opportunities to local people so they can improve their lives, and we can protect our culture’’. —NYT

世界最高青藏鐵路18日貫通

記者陳東旭／專題報導

再過十天左右，眾所矚目的青藏鐵路就要全線貫通。這條鐵路集政治、經濟、旅遊功能於一身，可媲美早年美國西部的鐵路開發；其工程之艱鉅、複雜和危險程度，堪稱舉世無雙，並將大幅改善西藏長期以來對外交通封閉的命運。

力抗高山症
徵調十萬人邊吸氧邊施工

青藏鐵路從青海的格爾木通往西藏首府拉薩，全長一千一百四十二公里。以血和汗來形容這條鐵路的建成一點都不為過。十萬工人組成的工程大軍，經歷氧氣只有平地一半、氣溫在攝氏五度至零下卅度的惡劣環境，往往工作一段時間，便要使用特殊設備吸氧以恢復體力。

四年來，從工地指揮官到工人，紛紛罹患高山症，頭痛欲裂，惡心，肺水腫，以及無數的凍傷，有的甚至因此死亡。

日夜施工趕進度有如作戰，使原訂五年的工期，縮短將近一年。目前鐵路已經鋪進拉薩，距火車站只剩最後不到一公里路段，所有的器具和材料都已運抵現場，務必在十月十八日全線貫通。許多聞訊趕來的藏人和遊客跑到施工現場，撫摸火車頭、枕木、鐵軌，留影紀念。

青藏鐵路創下數個世界紀錄，它是全世界海拔最高的鐵路，平均達到四千公尺，相當於在台灣最高峰的玉山山頂上行駛。比祕魯安地斯山的三千公尺高山鐵路還要再高一千多公尺。

穿破苦寒地
奔馳凍土區跌破老外眼鏡

除了高度，青藏鐵路工程還要克服高寒土地特有的「凍土」（長期處於攝氏零度以下、含冰的各種岩石和土壤，土質極不穩定，影響路基）。要穿越五百五十公里的凍土地區，被國外專家視為幾乎不可能。更有國外媒體預言，青藏鐵路越不過凍土厚達一百五十公尺的風火山隧道。

當風火山隧道開工時，的確讓施工人員嚇到了，因為土地爆破炸出的「棄碴」，幾乎全是晶瑩剔透的冰塊，含土量僅百分之廿。施工單位調來大型空調機，把隧道施工溫度控制在攝氏五度左右，防止地下冰融化滑塌。最後再以防水隔熱等廿多種高原凍土施工法貫通隧道。

海拔五千零一十公尺的風火山隧道只是一例。施工單位為了保持多年凍土的熱穩定，以熱棒、片石層通風路基、片石通風護道、通風管路基、鋪設保溫板等多項先進技術，穩定凍土路基。對施工品質有把握，通車後時速，將從一般世界凍土區的五十公里，增至一百公里。

越可可西里
保護藏羚羊建特大高架橋

青藏高原沿線有脆弱的生態資源和珍稀物種，鐵路為穿越青海的可可西里保護區，投入廿億元人民幣興建全長近十二公里的特大高架橋，留給藏羚羊一條回家的路。在藏羚羊交配期，配合藏羚羊的生育，還曾一度停工。

青藏鐵路論證四十年，早年中共國力不強，施工技術水平不高，沿線地質資料不全，加上擔心破壞生態，一直不敢嘗試，寧願謹慎，但工程人員一直沒有放棄努力，探索可行的辦法。上世紀八○年代先行動工完成較無爭議的青海省境內、西寧至格爾木的八百一十四公里路段，稱為青藏一期。五年前，當時的中共領導人江澤民、朱鎔基在戰略布局和「西部大開發」等前提下，青藏鐵路全線拍板定案並動工。

青藏鐵路位於海拔四千公尺以上的地段，占總長百分之八十四。全線共設置十一個有人值守車站、五個景觀站和十八個無人值守車站。建設經費約為三百卅億元人民幣（約合台幣一千三百二十億）。

觀光效應》旅遊黃金線青藏鐵路處處美景

【記者陳東旭／綜合報導】

青藏鐵路從西寧到拉薩近二千公里路段，沿途景色壯麗無比。青藏鐵路貫通後還須接受一連串測試，預計從明年七月一日起試營運，旅遊界已經預期，青藏鐵路可能會超越絲路，成為首屈一指的黃金路線。

青海首府西寧市往西走便到格爾木，青藏鐵路從格爾木至拉薩，沿線共有卅四個車站，鐵路當局已在玉珠峰、長江源、唐古拉、錯那湖、當雄五處設置景觀站。遊客每到一處勝地美景，可下車逗留，一站一站地玩進西藏。

第一個站點「玉珠峰」海拔四千公尺，距格爾木一百一十公里處，就在道教重鎮崑崙山的山口東側。在武俠小說裡，崑崙山是冰雪的世界，武林高手的天堂。連綿數千里的巍巍山脈和雪山冰川，贏得「千江之母、萬山之父」的美譽。玉珠峰站依傍在六千一百七十八公尺的玉珠峰山腳下，望著皚皚白雪的玉珠峰顯得雄偉又蒼茫。

第二個站點是「長江源」，海拔四千五百多公尺，有「長江源」石碑。儘管距海拔真正的長江源頭還有一大段路程，但在這裡已可看到著名的可可西里、三江源自然保護區。運氣好的話，還能看到上千頭藏羚羊走過清水湖特大橋的景象。

第三站是「唐古拉」，此站是青藏鐵路的最高點，海拔達五千零六十八公尺，由於海拔實在太高，被形容為「一天四季，十里不同」，從車站可以看到終年積雪的唐古拉山峰頂，及數十條遠古冰川形成的連綿雪景。

第四站已進入西藏，位在安多站附近的「錯那湖」，是熱振活佛著名的神湖，可以看到成群的雁、鴨及成雙成對的黑頸鶴。

第五站是「當雄」，距離拉薩只剩一百六十公里，但海拔仍有四千三百公尺。當雄是拉薩的北大門，遊客從這裡開始，便沉浸在西藏的美景、和悠久的宗教文化藝術裡。

青藏鐵路公司已決定，明年將開通從北京、上海、廣州、成都、蘭州、西寧至拉薩的客車。列車分為普通客車和豪華旅遊專列兩種，前者是運輸乘客的純粹交通工具，而豪華專列則以旅遊為主，車廂將有增壓、增氧等功能。

【2005/10/09 聯合報】

政治影響》青藏鐵路加速漢化藏獨更難

本報記者陳東旭

達賴喇嘛數月前曾一度肯定青藏鐵路對西藏的開發將是有目共睹，但最近又改稱，青藏鐵路不利於西藏。青藏鐵路究竟是一把從北京直插西藏心臟的利刃，還是一條改善西藏人民生活的「幸福線」，就如同達賴前後兩種看法般眾說紛云。

青藏鐵路背後蘊含的政治意義，與可觀的經濟利益一樣複雜又多樣。它的經濟利益不僅引起旅遊業關注，就連做生意的、跑單幫的、賣小吃的，全盯著它；科學家也在探索它的人文和自然科學意義；但更重要的是政治面，政治家、國際觀察家正在評估青藏鐵路帶給西藏，甚至整個南亞的影響力。

青藏鐵路確有可能成為一條「幸福線」。五十年前，只能靠駱駝向西藏長途運輸貨物，但每行進一公里，就倒下十二隻駱駝。一九五二年護送十世班禪大師返回西藏時，二千多公里的行程，共死了三萬多頭牲畜。

「出國易、進藏難」，是公認的事實，早年要向西藏輸送貨物，從上海走水運到印度再北上，都比從青海進藏容易。

這樣的地理格局，讓西藏一直保有純淨的自然環境和人文風俗，甚至是一個獨立的政治實體。清政府沒駐軍、國民政府沒力量派軍，直到中共解放軍才入藏，駐軍意味對西藏的主權宣示。

只不過中共實際控制西藏的能力仍不足，而青藏鐵路的政治目的即在此，其影響並將進一步擴大到民族、經濟、社會文化各個層面。中共部隊在西藏的軍事部署、後勤補給及機動能力，也會大大提高。

在宏觀經濟來看，青藏鐵路通車後，西藏與各省市間的交通運輸能力大增，運輸成本和時間銳減，源源不斷的人員和貨物從外省市流入西藏，將來青藏鐵路第三期再從拉薩往東、西、南延伸，整個西藏將與各省市緊密結合，形成休戚與共的共同體，讓中國走向一個所謂「完全或完整的國家」。

青藏高原俯瞰整個南亞大陸，北京這把利刃掌握了西藏，西藏要再談獨立已是天方夜譚，青藏鐵路也對南方的印度形成戰略壓力，影響到今後「中」印雙方有關爭議領土邊界的解決走向。

夜晚青藏高原上的月亮、星星是那麼的皎潔與璀璨，一年後青藏列車就要奔馳在這片高原上。青藏鐵路背負大西部開發的重要任務，它在帶給少數民族經濟發展、加速西藏脫貧之餘，也使西藏加速漢化、內地化，帶來汙染。

藏人擔心的就在此，火車通了，一些惡習也將源源不斷進來，欠缺公德心的遊客、隨手亂丟垃圾的民眾，只想撈一票就走的商賈、乃至販夫走卒，都將進入這處世外桃源。西藏能否免除嘈雜、髒亂、色情、犯罪，能否再保有純粹、美麗的山川雪嶽，都會是大家關注的焦點。

有別於當年解放軍進藏後的政治洗禮，漢人將來搭乘火車大舉進藏，除了必須保護好西藏的山明水淨，維護西藏文化、尊重藏人宗教習俗，將是刻不容緩的課題。

【2005/10/09 聯合報】

華府單車道沿河賞盡地標

2005-08-07T13:29:00.000-05:00

華府單車道沿河賞盡地標



	華府市郊有幾條景色優美的自行車專用道，長度從十數英里到近兩百英里。華盛頓特派員張宗智／攝影



	後視鏡酷行頭騎單車不能只想往前衝！講究一點的自行車騎士，還會選用配有後視鏡的頭盔。華盛頓特派員張宗智／攝影

【華盛頓特派員張宗智】

夏日的華府下班時間，華氏九十二度的夕陽炙人。羅伯森戴著裝有後視鏡的鏤空透氣專用頭盔、黑色露趾手套，足蹬專用鞋，揮汗在華府雷根機場附近平坦的維農山長徑呼嘯而過。

「我騎它通勤上班（for work），順便娛樂（for fun）健身」。被攔下來的羅伯森短衫濕透，鏡面太陽眼鏡周緣不斷泛出晶亮的汗珠，跨在椅座的黑色七分短褲部分，有一大片顏色更黑的水漬部分，隨時提醒外人，他的風馳電掣，靠的是力與汗水。

維農山長徑是大華府地區一條兩線柏油路面自行車專用道。從美國首任總統華盛頓在維吉尼亞州維農山的故居為起點，往北一直到接近華府喬治城對面波多馬克河上的老羅斯福島，全長約十九點六公里。整條路線順著鄰近華府的波多馬克河岸蜿蜒，一次看盡美國首府幾個著名地標。

美國自行車人口不少，但真正把自行車當成通勤工具的仍少之又少。

因此，以華府為例，市區不僅可以看到自行車在人行道上和行人呼嘯爭道，更常見全套裝備的自行車騎士在快車道上，和一般車輛爭道，其中尤以快遞公司雇用的自行車投遞員冒進不怕死，最讓開車族恐懼。

撇開騎車的與開車的口水戰，華府自行車騎士對大華府地區的自行車使用環境，倒是譽多於謗。華府市區主要道路人行道上，多設有方便自行車上鎖的鐵欄杆，除了維農山長徑，從市區到鄰近的維吉尼亞州與馬里蘭州，也有數條景色怡人的自行車專用道，長度從十多英里到一百八十四英里（約一九五公里）不等，提供大華府地區單車族相當豐富的資源。

【2005/08/07 聯合報

Beef Tripe Stew(en inglés)

2005-07-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

Beef Tripe Stew (en inglés)

1kg fresh tripe, well cleanedd and parboiled in abundant water, seasoned with salt and bay leaf, cut up in 5 cm long strips.
1/2 cup of oil.
1 large onion ,sliced in very thin rounds.
1 large tomatoe,peeled, seeded,chopped.
1teaspoon of dry oregano,or better a fresh sprig.
2 rounded tablespoons tomatoe paste.
2 cups of rice.
3 cups boiling water,or beef stock,tripe broth may also be used.
1/2 cup peas,or more,to tastse. white boiled potatoes,in rounds.

parboil tripe in a lot of water,season with a little salt and a bay leaf, drain and cut in rather thin stripes, no more than 5cm long.tripe may also be cut in small squares,of about 2 cm to each side. prepare a sauce with oil,onion,tomatoe,oregano and tomatoe paste,frying all ingredients for about 5minutes.add then tripe stripes 1 cup broth or boiling water and cook until tender and almost done. watch pot all the while so that it does not dry up.
Finally add rice,cover with more boiling water and simmer 15 more minutes or until rice is done.
Add peas, heat through and remove from fire. this stew may also be finished in the oven in a covered dish. always let stand a few minutes before serving. must be a little moist ,never dry ,with a thin and runny sauce. the usual accompaniment is some white boiled potatoes.

牛內食譜剪貼

2005-07-19T13:07:00.000-05:00

1.
材料：

主餐部份(紅酒烤雞腿奶油焗明蝦餐):
　　◎去骨大雞腿……… 2隻
　　◎大明蝦…………… 8隻
　　◎綠色花椰菜……… 10小朵
　　◎洋菇……………… 適量
　　◎紅蘿蔔,檸檬片…… 數片
　　　(裝飾用)

　蕃茄牛肉湯:
　　◎牛腱肉…………… 500克
　　◎蕃茄……………… 2個
　　◎紅蘿蔔…………… 1個
　　◎洋蔥……………… 半個

調味料（醃豬肉片用的）：
　主餐部份(紅酒烤雞腿奶油焗明蝦餐):
　　雞
　　◎薑汁磨碎，醬油適量，紅酒適量，糖適量(醃雞腿用)
　　◎迷迭香少許
　　蝦
　　◎米酒少許，檸檬汁半顆(醃明蝦用)
　　◎奶油拌蒜泥……… 適量
　　◎焗烤用Chees……… 適量

　蕃茄牛肉湯:
　　◎米酒,糖少許…… (醃牛肉)
　　◎義大利香料……… 少許
　　◎鹽………………… 適量

作法：
　主餐部份(紅酒烤雞腿奶油焗明蝦餐):
　　◎雞腿用醃料醃約4小時入味
　　◎將雞腿用平底鍋煎到半熟，外表金黃色即可備用
　　◎將醃好的明蝦對半剖，但不要切斷，將肉撐開成兩半
　　◎在蝦肉上塗上奶油醬後，鋪上焗烤用Cheese
　　◎烤箱預熱10分鐘，將雞腿跟明蝦分層放置，
　　　一起烤約20分鐘ok！

　　◎洋菇用奶油炒熟，加少許黑胡椒，綠色花椰菜燙熟備用

　蕃茄牛肉湯:
　　◎牛肉切小丁先熱水川燙，除去血水
　　◎將洋蔥炒香加入牛肉一起炒數分鐘，加水至鍋子7分滿
　　◎水開後用小火煮約半小時，加入切丁的紅蘿蔔跟蕃茄，
　　　義大利香料及鹽，一起燉煮約1.5小時

天才小撇步：
湯可先行燉煮，麵包是買現成的，然後將雞肉跟明蝦跟麵包(用鋁箔紙包好)，一併送入烤箱，真的很方便，20分鐘後一起取出上桌，非常快速簡便！！

3大匙蔬菜油, 一個大洋蔥切丁, 2根胡蘿蔔切1公分見方,

1根西洋芹菜切丁, 2大匙麵粉, 3大匙paprika,

1公斤牛腩或牛腱切吋半見方, 2大匙蕃茄糊,

1杯紅酒, 2杯牛肉高湯(罐頭即可), 1小匙百里香,

1片月桂葉, 3個中型洋竽切半吋見方用油略炸過定型,

1杯洋菇, 鹽與胡椒

2.
做法

1. 鍋中燒熱油, 炒香洋蔥, 胡蘿蔔, 與芹菜 (約五分鐘), 取出一旁備用, 鍋中留少許油, 若不夠再酌加.

2. 將麵粉與paprika置於塑膠袋中混合, 再加入牛肉塊, 搖晃均勻使牛肉都能沾上麵粉.

3. 燒熱鍋中的油, 將牛肉入鍋 (我建議拍去多餘的麵粉,這樣湯汁不或過於濃濁), 煎至四面略呈金黃色.

4. 蔬菜回鍋, 加入蕃茄糊, 紅酒, 高湯與兩種香料, 再加上少許鹽與胡椒, 大火燒開.

5. 將所有材料置於燉鍋或砂鍋中, 加洋竽, 洋菇, 小火燉煮2小時或至牛肉爛即可, 盛盤前取出月桂葉.

3.

Muscle index

2005-07-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

	Neck
	Traps (trapezius)
	Shoulders (deltoids)
	Chest (pectoralis)
	Triceps (triceps brachii)
	Biceps (biceps brachii)
	Forearm (brachioradialis)
	Abs (rectus abdominis)

	Quads (quadriceps)

Back Side:

	Forearm (brachioradialis)
	Biceps (biceps brachii)
	Shoulders (deltoids)
	Triceps (triceps brachii)
	Traps (trapezius)
	Lats (latissimus dorsi)
	Middle Back (rhomboids)
	Lower Back
	Glutes (gluteus maximus and medius)
	Hamstrings (biceps femoris)
	Calves (gastrocnemius)

Luisa's easy Lunch

2005-07-18T21:17:00.000-05:00

[予告]Brokeback Mountain斷背山

2005-07-18T20:26:00.000-05:00

「斷背山」Brokback Moutain原著大膽的性愛場面，李安「點到為止」，不過公司內部試片每一場都讓工作人員頻頻拭淚，將是一部「愛」勝過於「性」的感人愛情故事﹗

普立茲得主安妮普魯茲在「斷背山」的短篇小說中，對兩位男主角的性愛場面有大膽直接的描繪。根據原著，是傑克吉倫霍飾演的「傑克」先「勾引」希斯萊傑飾演的「艾尼斯」，書中文字描繪：「傑克抓住艾尼斯的左手去撫摸他勃起的陰莖，艾尼斯隨即解開腰帶、褪下褲子，從傑克的後面進入。」依照兩人的做愛模式，希斯萊傑似乎扮演「1」號，而傑克吉倫霍扮演「0」號。

安妮普魯茲的文辭優美而大膽，毫不遮掩，根據她的故事，希斯萊傑和傑克吉倫霍因一起在「斷背山」下的牧場工作而相識，偌大的原野中，只有帳棚、營火、羊群和一望無際的山巒，兩個都出身貧窮、中學沒畢業就工作的牛仔，很快便墜入愛河，儘管希斯萊傑當時已有了未婚妻蜜雪兒威廉斯。

書中對性愛描繪大膽，李安的電影版會如何詮釋？李安助理李良山說：「李安還是李安，點到為止而已。」李良山不願多透露尺度，讓這句「點到為止」充滿遐思。

不過可以肯定的是，「斷背山」一定會是部令人感動落淚的影片，李良山表示，日前公司內部試片，每一場放映都傳來工作人員的哽咽聲。根據原著，兩個主角最後有一人會因意外而過世，活著的一人甚至懷疑對方是因同性戀才被人暗殺，讓這段本來就不見容於六○年代保守懷俄明州的戀情，更令人不勝唏噓。

李安目前正在為影片做最後的調光後製工作，配樂找來「摩托車日記」阿根廷配樂大師Gustavo Santaolalla操刀，Gustavo曾為「愛是一條狗」、「靈魂的重量」等影片配樂，相信必能為影片更添光環。

Impressive experience due to low expectations

2005-07-17T23:39:00.000-05:00

LHR-BKK-TPE, TPE-SYD. Super business class. LHR-TPE 747 seated upper deck. Must be some of oldest business class seats around. However comfortable enough to sleep in, and crew attentiveness / service compensated. Inflight entertainment adequate, food very good and plentiful. TPE/SYD on Airbus very good sleeper seats - again crew attentive food good and service consistent. Agree that crew's English is limited, but more than adequate差強人意 to understand what "a little ice" means and to retrieve spectacle case from departure lounge for me. Overall impressive experience possibly due to low expectations.

對馬英九的期待

2005-07-17T20:54:00.000-05:00

馬英九勝出黨主席選舉，代表兩大意義：一、基層黨員出現理想性格，希望黨不再主動與黑金、買票、黨產相互糾纏，徹底變成正常的民主政黨。二、整個泛藍總換代，60歲以上的人將淡出政治舞台，連、宋那一代將退出實質權力場域，只剩下形式的影響力。國民黨的年輕化，將與民進黨成為同一年齡層的競逐者。台灣政治也因此出現新的氣氛與運作方式。

勝選主因是人品
但是馬英九能否變成英國保守黨的柴契爾夫人和美國共和黨的雷根，分別在上世紀80年代拯救他們的黨，奪回政權並開始長期執政？目前還看不出來，除非馬展現出高超的政治手腕和理念，帶給人民真實的希望並洞悉時代的需要。
無論如何總的來說，馬當選對國民黨和台灣都是好事，至少個人的素質和道德水準高了，也將帶動對手的程度和台灣總體政治風格往上提升。
很多人說，馬雖人格高尚，清廉正派，但能力平庸，性格孤高不群。研究美國總統的學者專家最後都得出一項共同的結論，在總統許多美德中，如領導力、幹練、機智、博學、自信、果斷、長於管理、體恤民心、勇氣與穩定、策動別人的能力、調適力、說服力強等等，都不如人品來得貴重。
前參議員艾倫．辛普森在哈佛大學演講領導時說過一句名言：「如果你為人正直，其他都不重要；如果你人格不正，其他也不重要」。台灣政壇風氣極壞，政客競相以權變不誠為榮，貪婪庸俗而毫無理想，更談不上罪惡感和羞恥心。
此時馬以人品高尚當選黨主席，應有光武中興、尊重氣節的移風易俗之效應，就算他能力平平，也好過能力高強但人品污濁的政客，何況台灣政客能力高強者極少，而人品下賤者極多。

為公眾克服弱點
馬英九無疑相當自戀。自戀式領導才有「奇勒斯馬」的魅力型領導特質。自戀能使人著迷並為他打拼。自戀者打破現狀，帶來變革，很清楚什麼是理想境界，喜歡開創並自己創造意義，是那種自己提出願景的人，善於獨處，經常與自我對話。但他們的缺點是：不肯聆聽，太在意批評，疑神疑鬼，過度控制，孤立、缺乏自覺、講究排場。馬英九就有上述部分缺點以致優柔寡斷。
此外，在領導能力上則幕僚群太狹窄閉鎖，無法廣納百川；太被過去國民黨的老傳統和習性所綑綁，沒有大破大立的開創勇氣；只傳承老願景，沒有建立「新典範」的視野。
傑佛遜說過：「當一個人獲得公共信任，他應該把自己當作公共財產」。馬英九三次選舉都獲勝，無疑是公共財產，必須克服自己的弱點與缺點，為將來更上層樓做準備。因為那已不是他個人的事，而是為了公共的利益。最重要的是，必須保持嬰兒般的純潔內心與正直的人品。

新聞典範台灣的淫賤新聞

2005-07-10T23:39:00.000-05:00

求真求實英媒體熱新聞冷處理

【江靜玲／倫敦九日特稿】
　　過去七十二小時，對英國媒體而言是莫大的挑戰。倫敦在七日上午發生連環爆炸恐怖攻擊前夕，英國媒體的焦點先是二○一二奧運，接著重點部署莫不放在六日起於蘇格蘭召開的八國高峰會，因此七日恐怖攻擊爆發，不僅考驗各個媒體的緊急調度和採訪職業能力，更深入探視了英國媒體的集體道德和良心。
　　七日上午首椿爆炸發生不到一小時，英國廣電新聞已陸續展開報導。英國國家廣播電台的ＢＢＣ電視一台和二十四小時新聞台，以及英國獨立電視台和天空新聞台均推出現場新聞，以期讓大眾了解，倫敦到底發生了什麼事。
　　沒有煽情對答、誇張傷亡報導
　　然而，至少有二個小時以上，訊息是不明的，消息是不完整的。可是，不論是英國的公共電視如ＢＢＣ，或者商業的獨立電視台螢幕前，觀眾都看不到揣測或不負責的危險言論，聽不到誇張的傷亡數字報導。新聞傳遞出來的，是直接與現場目擊者影音訪問，以及幾個爆炸現場，包括雙層巴士炸毀的畫面。
　　不論是坐在棚內的主播或者站立在第一線場的記者，每個人的表現都專業節制，沒有煽情的畫面、提問和對答，不論是記者、主播、受訪者──包括目擊和受到驚嚇、才剛逃離災難現場的人，大家講求的只有一個事情：試著清楚確切的把所見所聞陳述出來。
　　直到七日中午十二點，英國首相布萊爾證實倫敦遭到恐怖攻擊前，雖然英國媒體都急著想要證實這個事實。但除了詢問負責倫敦市安全的大倫敦區警察總長伊恩布萊爾和內政大臣克拉克這個問題外，在此之前，沒有任何英國媒體把這麼一個嚴肅的問題扔給其他受訪者，更沒有任何「可能」的言詞出現。
　　刪選播放影像以尊重死傷者
　　英國媒體在如此重大新聞事件發生的第一線上，表現高度審慎，充滿「熱」新聞「冷」處理的調子。由於爆炸多發生在地鐵內，所以在地面上看不見像是紐約或馬德里那麼駭人的景象。英國媒體在這個時候，只有使用大眾提供現場照相手機拍到的照片或錄影帶。然而，即使如此，媒體此時，依然主動刪選播放的影像。所以觀眾和讀者迄今看不到任何死傷者不堪的慘狀，以尊重死傷者和其家屬。
　　獨立電視台的主播湯普森，是一位傳統的英國新聞人，便對自己在七日晚間新聞中播出的一個畫面懊悔不已。那個畫面上播出的是一個臉部受傷躺在醫院生還者的近照，傷者焦慮的家屬看到電視後，必然更加難過。湯普森事後坦承，他不應該讓這樣的畫面播出的，他說，他希望自己沒有做過這件事。
　　許多人迄今仍急切尋找失蹤的家屬親友，電視和電台過去四十八小時，不斷傳出這樣的畫面和聲音。二十歲的理查到倫敦上一天的特別訓練課程，在王十字車站轉車失蹤。他的父親在接受訪問時，一本英國人冷靜自持的風格，只是無奈地說，「這是讓人很不好受的感覺。」他的笑容，令人有股說不出的難過。
　　回教團體中也不是沒受害者，一個年輕回教女孩在利物浦車站附近上班，七日上午出門後，就再也沒有任何訊息。她父親和爺爺，二個回教大男人當著鏡頭前忍不住拭淚，他們的淚水，傳出英國社會中不同的族群文化，一樣令人感傷。
　　沈靜處理留下無限反思空間
　　不僅電子媒體沈冷處理這個重大的熱點新聞，英國平面媒體也循著這個原則發展。許多真實人性但不誇張的報導慢慢傳遞出來。例如衛報刊登出一位下到地面救援交通警察的故事，他不停地告訴自己，這是他見過最慘的情況，他也陳述一些情景，可是他說，「實況是他無法形容的」。小報如「太陽報」則轉述另一位參與消防人員的話說，「如果我不知道天堂是什麼，那麼，這一定是地獄。」
　　英國媒體對倫敦遭到恐怖攻擊的新聞呈現，處理沈冷，卻令人留下無限的想像和反思空間。一直到今天，英國輿論在這個災難上對政府的批評聲不多，多的是支持鼓勵，彼此打氣的聲音。當然，這並不表示，媒體未來不會就這次倫敦連環爆炸進行檢討和評判，只是在這個時候，刀口不在於此，而英國媒體在這一環的辨識上，也的確有獨到之處。


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