No doubts on your 40s

“Give me a child until he’s seven and I’ll give you the man. ” In 1964, BBC started the first documentary film as the beginning of “Up Series”. All the ten boys and four girls were interviewed every seven years afterwards, and one episode was made each time. In the 2005 film , those boys and girls are now 49 years old men and women.

It’s like some kind of horror movies which present the triple-fast-forward video of real life. The only comparison is the classmate reunion for celebration of twenty-years-graduation which I unfortunately participated last month ---- you were suddenly confronted by all those old buddies whose young images still vividly remained in your memory.

As one of the girls in the movie, Sue expressed her feelings when she saw their childhood images: “To be honest, when you look at the seven-year-old us, it’s difficult to believe it is us. I mean, it’s like it’s someone else you’re looking at, this little cute thing. I mean, I can’t remember being so cute. ” Oh, yes, I can’t believe that either :)

In spite of the ruthless inscription and ridiculous joke made by the time machine, we can still feel the warm texture of aging and mild breeze of the life being. Like a stone, after being polished by exhausting frictions years and years, turned out to be a silky-smooth and body-temperature jade.

Our inner part grow stronger and stronger when we getting older and older--that’s maybe the only consolation I can bring out to comfort myself. Actually what I really want is, I could go back to the seven-year-old myself, cuddle with him and say: “Don’t be afraid.”

-- Wish everyone has a fruitful 2013!

Beautiful Derbyshire & Chatsworth House

Derbyshire is probably the most famous and most beautiful inland counties in England for its natural and historical scenes.
The first national park in UK – Peak District – lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, attracts 10 million visitors per year. Despite its name, the landscape is generally characterized by rounded hills and grit stone cliffs. The highest point is 636 meters on Kinder Scout.
With the majority of area being in excess of 300 meters above sea level, and being situated to the west of the country with a latitude of 53 degrees, the Peak District experiences a relatively high amount of rainfall (>1000mm each year) compared to the rest of England. There are approximately 2,700 farms in the National Park with numerous sheep wandering around valleys and pastures.  

The Peak District provides opportunities for many types of outdoor activity such as hill walking, hiking, mountain cycling, horse riding, rock climbing, caving, sailing, fishing, paragliding, etc. Other visitors are attracted by resorts and historical buildings. Among those buildings, Chatsworth House which stands on the east bank of the River Derwent has always been the favorite country house in UK.

Chatsworth House was built by Duke of Devonshire as his family’s home since 1549. The house was rebuilt and estate was expanded continuously. In 1950, when the 10th Duke transferred the assets to his son, the inheritance tax was as high as ￡7 million (￡179 million as of 2012). They had to sell more than half of its land and even some major works of art from Chatsworth to pay the tax. Today, the Chatsworth Estate is about 140 square kilometers and it costs around ￡4 million a year to run the house.
In the 2005 film of Jane Austen’s , Chatsworth House appeared as Pemberly, Mr Darcy’s home.  In the film,  Jane Bennet cant believe her younger sister Elizabeth is falling in love with Mr Darcy  : "How long have you loved him?"  Elizabeth said :"It has been coming on so gradually that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." 

Back To 1942

In western countries, cannibal only appears in horror movies or
shipwrecks, but in China, it’s sort of nightmare which bestride the
whole 20th century. 
A drought in Henan happened in the war time ended up as over 3 million death catastrophe.  “Back to 1942” tried its best to make
itself looks like a documentary film—gray hue, dialect dialogue,
full-length shoot which keep reminding you it’s a true story—
sometimes tried too hard.
Civilians torn to pieces by aircraft bombing, refugees selling
daughter for one week’s food, indifferent state leaders and
unconcerned diplomats, news censorship and corrupted officials, by all those scenes director Fen Xiaogang is actually answering
questions he asked in trailers – why could this happen in 20th
century with modern communication and transportation?
Please keep this fact in mind when you try to blame the war or the Japanese or even the Nationalist Party—only 20 years later, under the governor of Communist Party and not any war at all, there
were over 15 million people starving to death in three years.
The only bright spot in the movie is the journalist played by
Adrien Brody -- I believe it’s a metaphor of the solution to famine: FREE SPEECH. In his famous work “Poverty and Famines”,
Amartya Sen made his conclusion, famines are not caused by lack of food, but the lack of democracy and free speech.


66注：英文习作，请大家多指出问题，先谢了。

西葫芦茄子

西葫芦去皮去馕，切薄片；茄子去头尾，切薄片。

蒜一瓣捣烂，下适量油，慢火，倒入西葫芦，然后茄子，慢慢翻一下，到微焦关火。
撒少许盐，淋一点苹果醋或酒醋－－这样吃起来没那么油。
如果油少吃口太干，起锅后补一点橄榄油也不错。
放五到十分钟再吃，风味更佳。

“近平很爱我” 啧啧

三一重工的梁同学在斯巴达上说，生生死死都要做党的人，因为党员找的老婆也要漂亮些。

66一听，顿时起劲了，找了几张领袖和夫人的照片：

卓琳


王冶坪

刘永清

这看来看去，我党的第一夫人硬是不如人家共和党民主党漂亮，梁同学莫非是眼花了么？
。
。
。
。
。
。
其实，大家都没理解他的深谋远虑曲线救国提前布局其心可诛：

啧啧，66这就写申请书去。。。。。

Let's Do It 我们来做吧

Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
In Spain, the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and Latts do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Fins
Folks in Siam do it - think of Siamese twins
Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Romantic sponges, they say, do it
Oysters down in oyster bay do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish, do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - Waiter bring me
"shad roe"
In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
鸟儿会做，蜜蜂会做
甚至有教养的跳蚤都会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
在西班牙，优越的上等人会做
立陶宛人拉脱维亚人会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
在古老的阿姆斯特丹荷兰人会做
更别提芬兰人
在暹罗的人会做－－想想暹罗连体婴
有些阿根廷人想法设法会做
有人说在波士顿连豆子都会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
他们说，浪漫的海绵会做
牡蛎湾的牡蛎会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
冰冷科德角的文蛤会做，虽然它们自己不乐意
甚至懒惰的水母也会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
恐怕还得加上电鳗鱼
我知道那会被电得不轻
要是问为啥鲥鱼要做－－侍者端来了鲥鱼子酱
浅滩里的英国鳕鱼会做
隐蔽的鱼缸中金鱼会做
我们来做吧，让我们来相爱
演唱--- Ella Fitzgerald  
词曲--- Cole Porter

看了“午夜巴黎”，喜欢这首歌

《中国好声音》

一、火了
《中国好声音》开播二周的时候，有几个人都向我推荐，说这节目不错。放第三期的时候，就看了。果然赞。又下载第一期第二期来看，更赞。
  到上周末第四期的时候，节目刚放完，谷歌最热搜索的前三名，都是和这节目相关的词条，奥运都暂时靠边。你不信也可以试一下，在百度搜索栏，输入“中”或“中国”，自动联想的第一条都是“中国好声音”。
  这节目火爆的程度，几乎赶上了05年的超女。不但有其它电视频道整体转播，连很多电台频率也转播节目的很多片段，尤其是好听的片段。到第三期，央视索福瑞的数据显示收视率超过3％（新闻联播的平均收视率也就7％），接近05年超女十强赛的水平。从插播广告的价格看，从开播时的15秒15万，飚升到15秒36万。要知道05年超女总决赛时15秒广告才只有11万（通货膨胀太厉害）！
二、为啥
  这节目好在哪里呢？ 有人说是感动，有人说是诚意，有人说是认真；有归功于制作团队对引进节目的本土化，有意见是前期网罗的选手足够优秀，有归因评委们是流行音乐界的顶级大腕，还有认为市场推广做得深入细致和到位。当然，这些都是很重要的。可也许最重要的是，这个节目展现了公正和机会，也展现了在公正的机会面前，选手们对自己所热爱的歌唱的那份投入和执着。
  歌唱，是一种不分男女老幼阶层高低都能参与和品评的活动。选手唱的好不好，评委是否公正，比较容易看出来。而背对选手凭声音判断转不转椅子这样的赛制，也最大限度的剔除了其它非演唱因素的干扰。从已经播出四期后各方的反应看，一些负面的评论主要集中在选手的身份质疑上，完全没有对评委的公正度有任何疑问。说明这个赛制的设计是合理的，制作方也没有什么操作的痕迹。四个评委每期都有3－4次全部转过来的，那几个也的确是众望所归，唱的着实不错。
  选手们对歌唱的热爱，也是打动观众的关键。节目中选手的年龄集中在19岁－26岁，四期共有41位选手出场，23人是这个年龄段的。年轻人的爱非常纯真，比如同为学生的黄鹤、徐海星、赵露、郑虹。而超过这个年龄的其他人呢，以美甲店老板黄勇、台北盲艺人张玉霞、女声乐老师金池、音乐制作人关喆、专业歌手男女组合孙佳欢唐宁这些选手为代表，都是对演艺事业的甘苦体会颇深，却始终坚持歌唱的；也有伴唱歌手倪雅丰、知青子女平安、全职妈妈戴月这样纯粹为了自己爱好来圆梦的（特别喜欢戴月，评委选与不选都这么高兴，有一份难得的赤子之心）。在评委和选手的对话之中，有太多打动人的故事。正如微博的热评所言，这个节目是正向能量的积极传递。
  还有一个看点就是评委的表演，不但是偶而上场和选手的对唱好看，四个评委之间的互动和对白也特别出彩，成功带动了整场的气氛。

－－－－－－－不关心政治的同学，请不用往下阅读－－－－－－－－－－

三、乱谈
  为什么说，公正和机会才是击中了观众软肋，引发共鸣的爆点呢？ 因为，做草根当屌丝不可怕，可怕的是这个社会不给草根屌丝上升的空间和机会。孙立平在《中国社会正在加速走向溃败》一文中，已经总结了“权力失控－－潜规则盛行－－社会认同和向心力急剧流失”这样的现状和路径。一个国家，动荡、贫困、被侵略、被殖民，都不可怕，甚至国民们都不认同当下的现状也不用绝望；最恐怖的是，上上下下都失去了对未来的信心和希望，那才真是到了最危险的时刻－－而我们其实已经到了这个最危险的时刻。最有资源的上层，已经把自己换了身份；有一点资源的中层，正努力把子女换了身份；剩下没有啥资源的下层，除了没心没肺还歌功颂德的五毛，都傻眼了。
  这时候，突然有个节目，很公正，很亲民，还特娱乐。里面都是和你一样的草根平民，靠着一首歌，就获得业界大腕的青睐和指导，有可能一夜成名一飞冲天，从此命运出现了拐点。你说，能不火么？

纯属巧合

上周听BBC的节目，是关于北爱的私刑组织RAAD，这个暴力组织的宗旨是反对毒品交易，采用的手段是警告毒贩停止交易，如果不从，组织会通知毒贩的家庭（通常是父母）带着贩毒的儿子去指定地点，并在那里枪击毒贩的腿部或手臂以示警告。如果毒贩不赴约，则可能招致组织上门射击，今年初，曾经发生过上门时，毒贩拒不开门而导致被乱枪打死。这是RAAD所有行动中唯一的一次致人死亡案件。 因为RAAD有着北爱共和军的背景，也多次和警方发生过冲突，并实施过数次不导致人员伤亡的炸弹事件。

在节目中，主持人Jenni Murray（在BBC工作了40年的资深主持，因为卓越贡献被授予Dame女爵士封号）对受害人父母应邀赴约表示不解：难道作为母亲的第一反应不是“over my dead body”？

我们也有这么有勇气的母亲，她们已经奔走呼喊了23年。

Details in the fabric - Jason Mraz

Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed instead
Of running around
And pulling all your threads saying
Breaking yourself up
If it's a broken part, replace it
But, if it's a broken arm then brace it
If it's a broken heart then face it
And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And everything will be fine
Everything will be fine
Hmm
Hang on
Help is on the way
Stay strong
I'm doing everything
And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
And everything, everything will be fine
Everything
Are the details in the fabric
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling?
Are the things that make you blow
Hell, no reason, go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.
Yeah everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Everything
[Chorus]
Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling? (Go your own way)
Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic (Go your own way)
Is it Mother Nature's sewing machine?
Are the things that make you blow (Hold your own, know your name)
Hell no reason go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault (Go your own way)
Of faulty manufacturing
Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Hearts will hold

安静下来
深呼吸
把自己打扮起来，不再狼奔豕突
编织命运的丝线去表达自己
把自己拆散
换掉已经破碎的零件
可是，如果破碎的是心呢，就拥抱吧
如果破碎的是心呢，就面对吧
把握住自己
认识自己的名
走自己的路
把握住自己
认识自己的名
走自己的路
一切都会好起来
都会好起来
mmmhmm

坚持一下
救援马上就到
挺住
我正在全力以赴
把握住自己
认识自己的名
走自己的路
一切都会好起来
一切
那些在织物中的细节
那些会让你恐慌的事情
你的想法是来自静电感应么？
那些会让你发狂的事情
去他的，不要理由，继续尖叫
要是你被吓住了那就是
错误构造的一个错误
一切都会好起来
一切如雾亦如电

－－－送给66深爱的人，并为她祈祷：“一切都会好起来。”

这一周

从周日26号开始算，到3月3号的这个星期，见到了很多人，也发生了很多事情。
小概率事件一：美国定居的同学J君，回上海办事逗留一周，竟然在某办公楼的电梯中遇到了也来此办事的L君，因此而组织了一次小规模聚会，我也得以见到了两位近二十年没见的老同学。
小概率事件二：周三29号，上午没有去公司上班，下午去找不到放在机房的笔记本电脑，却原来是被新进公司同一部门的工程师小Z拿去格式化重装过系统了！这是我从业二十年来从未发生过的丢失数据事件。
小概率事件三：吃了很多家没吃过的饭店。计有：上海湾的蓝堡啤酒屋（很淡的黑啤），来福士的亚阁（烤拼盘不错），复兴中路的PHO（牛肉粉汤很鲜），影城对面的Wagas（色拉里的腌菜根赞的），巨鹿路的浙里（推荐砂锅河虾），富民路的阿毛面餐馆（一桶鲜好吃的咸鲜），汇川路的盛贺美（荞面），南浦大桥下面的苏先生渔庄。

上海的阴雨已经一个多月了，这样下去，人都要霉掉了。可是下周的预报仍然是雨天，仍然是雨天！！仍然是这不知时节的歹雨！看来要做好直接从冬雨进入黄梅的打算啦。。。。。
最后，推荐一本刚看完的书：《小星星通信》，是奈良美智的自传。看完了才知道这么女性化名字的拥有者竟然是大叔！

冬游西班牙

年底出发，一月中回来。 从巴塞罗那一路南行，经过塔拉戈纳、巴伦西亚、阿利坎特、San Jose、马拉加，然后往内陆到塞维里亚、格拉纳达。
地中海清澈碧蓝，建筑色彩斑斓，食物丰盛而美味，加上万里无云的天气和热爱生活的西班牙人，一定要再去！
生活在西班牙的同学真是幸福，看看人家的物价：

纪念下，租的自动档柴油车C4：