masterwordsmith-unplugged

Does the path of true love run smoothly?

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Brian had asked Dave to help him out with cutting his rather large garden hedge after work, so Dave went straight over to Brian's home.

When they got to the front door, Brian went straight up to his wife, gave her a big hug and told her how beautiful she was and how much he had missed her at work.

When it was time for supper, he complimented his wife on her excellent cooking, kissed her and told her how much he loved her.

Once they were cutting the privet, Dave told Brian that he was surprised that he fussed so much over his wife.

Brian said that he'd started this about six months ago, it had revived their marriage, and things couldn't be better. Dave thought he'd give it a go.

When he got home, he gave his wife a massive hug, kissed her and told her that he loved her, his wife burst into tears, Dave was confused and asked why she was crying.

She said, "This is the worst day of my life, first, little Nigel fell off his bike and twisted his ankle, then the washing machine broke and flooded the basement.

And now, you come home drunk!"

-Author Unknown-

The Secret

Grandpa was celebrating his 100th birthday and everybody complimented him on how athletic and well-preserved he appeared.

"Gentlemen, I will tell you the secret of my success," he cackled. "I have been in the open air day after day for some 75 years now."

The celebrants were impressed and asked how he managed to keep up his rigorous fitness regime.

"Well, you see my wife and I were married 75 years ago, on our wedding night, we made a solemn pledge.

Whenever we had a fight, the one who was proved wrong would go outside and take a walk."

-Author Unknown-

Posted for laughs

Not Just For Women....

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:30:00 +0000

God doesn't give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED... to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.

Women have strengths that amaze men....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give..

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Please pass this along to all your women friends and relatives to remind them just how amazing they are.

To all the women out there, God bless you!!!

To all the men out there, God bless you all too!!

Do you know the Man on the Clapham Omnibus?

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0000

The man on the Clapham omnibus is a hypothetical reasonable person, used by the courts in English law where it is necessary to decide whether a party has acted in the way that a reasonable person should - for example, in a civil action for negligence.

The man on the Clapham omnibus is a reasonably educated and intelligent but non-specialist person, against whom the conduct of the defendant can be measured. This concept was used by Greer LJ in the case of Hall v. Brooklands Auto-Racing Club (1933) 1 KB 205 to define the standard of care which a defendant must live up to in order to avoid being found negligent.

The phrase was first put to legal use in a reported judgment by Sir Richard Henn Collins MR in the 1903 English Court of Appeal libel case, McQuire v. Western Morning News. He attributed it to Lord Bowen, said to have coined it as junior counsel defending the Tichborne Claimant case in 1871. Brewer's also lists this as a possible first use.

It is possibly derived from the phrase "Public opinion ... is the opinion of the bald-headed man at the back of the omnibus," coined by the 19th century journalist Walter Bagehot to describe the normal man of London. Clapham in south London at the time was a nondescript commuter suburb seen to represent "ordinary" London. Omnibus is now rather an archaic expression for a public bus, but was in common use by the judiciary at the beginning of the 20th century.

The expression has also been incorporated in Canadian patent jurisprudence, notably Beloit v. Valmet Oy (1986), C.P.R. (3d) 289[4] in its discussion regarding the test for obviousness.

In Australia, the "Clapham omnibus" expression has inspired the New South Wales and Victorian equivalents, "the man on the Bondi tram"[5] and "the man on the Bourke Street tram".

In Hong Kong, the equivalent expression is "the man on the Shaukiwan Tram."

Source: Wikipedia at this link.

What is Excellence?

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

A tourist once visted a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making, an idol of God.

Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby.

Surprised, he aked the sculptor Do you need two statues of the same idol ?

"No said the sculptor without looking up, We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage.

The gentleman examined the idol and found, no apparent damage.

Where is the damage? he asked.

"There is a scratch on the nose of the idol, said the sculptor still busy with his work.

".Where are you going to install the idol ?"

The sculptor replied that would be installed on, a pillar twenty feet high.

"If the idol is that far who is going to know, that there is a scratch on the nose"? the genleman asked....

The sculptor stopped his work, look up at the, gentleman smiled and said I will know it"

The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not.

"Excellence " is a drive from inside not outside...

Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficency...

-Author Unknown-

The Sokal Affair

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Did you know that Wikipedia contains many interesting articles? Here's one on a publishing hoax!

According to Wikipedia:

The Sokal affair, also known as the Sokal hoax, was a publishing hoax perpetrated by Alan Sokal, a physics professor at New York University. In 1996, Sokal submitted an article to Social Text, an academic journal of postmodern cultural studies. The submission was an experiment to test the publication's intellectual rigor and, specifically, to learn if such a journal would "publish an article liberally salted with nonsense if it (a) sounded good and (b) flattered the editors' ideological preconceptions."

The article "Transgressing the Boundaries: Towards a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity", published in the Social Text Spring/Summer 1996 "Science Wars" issue, proposed that quantum gravity is a social and linguistic construct. At that time, the journal did not practice academic peer review and did not submit the article for outside expert review by a physicist.

On its date of publication (May 1996), Sokal revealed in Lingua Franca that the article was a hoax, identifying it as "a pastiche of Left-wing cant, fawning references, grandiose quotations, and outright nonsense . . . structured around the silliest quotations [by postmodernist academics] he could find about mathematics and physics".

The resultant academic and public quarrels concerned the scholarly merit, or lack thereof, of humanistic commentary about the physical sciences; the influence of postmodern philosophy on social disciplines in general; academic ethics, including whether Sokal was right or wrong to deceive the editors and readers of Social Text; and whether the journal had exercised the appropriate intellectual rigor before publishing the pseudoscientific article.

READ MORE HERE.

Symptoms and Prognosis - Then and Now

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Remember when you were young? Life was so simple then...

Symptoms and Prognosis:

1. Skippy heartbeat when you think of him/her.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Ventricular fibrillation and Myocardial Infarction.

2. Restless trembling of hands, feet and other body parts.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Parkinson's Disease

3. Constant smiling.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Bell's Palsy

4. Absent mindedness, inability to focus on tasks at work or at home.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Early Onset of Alzheimer's Disease

5. Weakening of knees and bursts of energy when she calls or comes over.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Multiple Sclerosis

6. Inability to stop thinking about her.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

7. Bruising on neck, and other tender areas.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Leukaemia

8. Insomnia.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

9. Feeling that you can smell/hear/feel her when not in her presence.

Symptoms then: Love

Prognosis now: Schizophrenia

Indeed, times have changed!! Thanks to Angela who sent me this post. Have a nice day!

The Second Chance

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

It was 25th January 2011. Nisha was waiting for her husband Akshaye. It was their marriage anniversary. Things have got changed since their marriage. From the cute couple they turned into a fighting one. The quarrel everyday on every small thing. Nisha gave up thinking that Akshaye must have forgotten their anniversary and surely won't be back home on time.

Akshaye too didn't like how the things were going. She so loved, so caring before marriage how everything got changed so radically. Yet they still love each other.

It was 4:00 p.m . The bell rang. Nisha was surprisingly happy.. Akshaye finally remembered. She ran to open the door. Indeed Akshaye was standing outside. He was smiling and had a bunch of flowers at his hand. The two then started reliving their beautiful days,making up for their quarrels.There were champagne,light music and it was raining a little outside..Overall the weather too seemed to get romantic along with them.

But the moment came to a slight pause.. The phone in the bedroom was ringing.. Quite agitated Nisha went to pick up the phone. It was a man on the other side.."Hello madam I am calling from the police station.Is it Mr Akshaye Malhotra's number???"

"Yeah, it is"

There was an accident and a Man. died. We got your number from the man's purse.We need you to come here and identify the body.."

Nisha's heart sank. "Whhhhaaat?? B-but my husband is here with me"

"Sorry madam the accident took place at 3:00 p.m when the man was trying to board a bus".

Nisha was about to lose her senses. How could this happen? She knew this type of things. She had heard about this. The soul of the person comes to meet you before it parts..She ran to the drawing room... Akshaye was not there. It is true? Has something that bad really happened to Akshaye??? Has he left her forever?? Oh God.had she been given another chance .she would have mended all her faults. She rolled down on the floor awe struck.

Suddenly there was noise from the bathroom.. Akshaye came out." I forgot to tell u dear my purse was stolen while I was returning home."

Life might not give u a second chance...So never waste a moment when u can make up for your deeds.

-Author Unknown-

The Original Circle

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

The Original Circle is an article by Heather K. O’Hara

Would you like to do something really remarkable—something so simple and so powerful that it will make you wonder why you’ve never done it before?

Take just a moment and focus your eyes on the circle that is in the center of the page at the end of this article.

As you focused your eyes on the circle, did you notice that another circle appeared to the right of it? And did you notice that neither circle appeared to be in the center of the page?

Now for the life-changing question...

If the circle were a target and you intended to hit it dead center, would you aim at the center of one of the circles, or would you aim at the center of the page, because even though it doesn’t look like it, you know there’s only one circle and that’s where it is?

Most people, because it appears that one circle is moving to the left and one circle is moving to the right—will aim for the center of the page. Try it. Focus on the circle again and as you are staring at it, put your finger on the center of the page. Now blink your eyes and notice where your fingertip is—you missed your mark by the width of your fingertip, didn’t you?

Oddly enough, if you had trusted that the center of the target would always remain in the center of the original circle, no matter where that circle appeared to be—you would have nailed it!

When Tiger Woods is taking his best shot, he keeps his eye on the hole, not on where he assumes the hole should be. (That’s why he wins!) No matter what is going on around him, no matter what is moving to the left or to the right of him—he keeps his focus on the center of the target and every part of his being is focused on the intention of "precision now."

Now, focus on the circle again (really, really focus on it) and, out loud, say the words “precision now.” Go ahead, just say it! ...Now move your head so that it is directly in front of the circle and notice that you are moving your head to the left, away from the center of the page. Say the words “precision now” again, concentrate on the feeling of "precision now" and when you’re ready, when you know you’re “in line” with the center of that circle, put your finger on it. Bulls eye! You got it!

How many times in your life has it appeared that your dream, your goal, your ultimate desire has moved from the center of your life?

You keep aiming for the center of the page, because “logic” tells you that’s where rapture is; that’s where the big “win” is; that’s where happiness should be—and that’s where everyone is telling you “your real purpose in life” is.

Here’s a secret...

The original circle—that desire that you have felt a passionate love for and strong connection to for most of your life—is your purpose.

No, it isn’t always logical. It isn’t always in the things that you’ve been taught should make you happy. And it isn't always on the center of the page. But, it is there.

You don’t need to look for it; you need only focus on your desire to be "in line" with it—and it will line itself up with your energy. Take a moment and think about what your “original circle” is. What does it look like? What does it feel like? (If you’re smiling right now and feeling really, really good then you’re where you are supposed to be—you’re focused on, and right in front of, your target.)

Visit this place often—the original circle—the place of dreams. Drink it all up and then fill your cup to the top again! Envision "precision now." Feel how it feels to hit your mark. Use your thoughts to create the details of the celebration you’re having because you’ve aimed well and the power of your passion has driven that arrow right through the center of your target.

Think like a tiger. Direct every conscious thought you have toward the accomplishment of your dreams. When the circle appears to separate and move—move with it. Move deliberately. And move silently. That's what tigers do and it's also why the females, who are lighter and faster, are the hunters. They move quickly and effortlessly with the target.

Never take your eyes off the original circle. Think of it always as the hole-in-one you’ve already made, the blazing arrow you’ve already shot, the work you are already doing; the life you are already living.

Match up your energy with the energy in the center of the target—the energy of passion; the energy of precision; the energy of NOW.

Then take a step back and watch the magnificent colors of morning EXPLODE into a brand new day!

Heather K. O'Hara is an award-winning poet and author of

AXIS, The Song in the Center of the Soul

and Living on Level 7 (Choosing a Life with a View)

Visit her website today and sign up for her free, worldwide, monthly newsletter,

"A Touch of Grace" from Heather O'Hara, AT THIS LINK.

"An Extraordinary Experience for Extraordinary People"

Life Book

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants (factories)
4. Live with the 3 Es -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy
5. Make time for prayer
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did last year
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day - and while you walk, SMILE!

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. 'You have no idea what their journey is all about'.
12. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do; keep to your limits
14. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present or future
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and Laugh more
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community:

25. Call your family often
26. Do a random act of kindness without expecting anything in return
27. Forgive everyone for everything
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day
30. What other people think of you is none of your business
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right things
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
34. GOD heals everything
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Nothing stays the same for ever.
Everything is subject to change. Change is unavoidable
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up !
37. The best is yet to come
38. When you awake up alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
39. Your Inner most self is always happy. So, be HAPPY!

Last but not the least :

40. Do forward this to everyone you care about.

What They Really Mean To Say

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

In journals or term papers, we may come across certain phrases or expressions which sound impressive but may mean something else. Here are some examples which might help you understand the mysterious language of science and medicine.

These special phrases are also applicable to anyone reading a PhD dissertation or academic paper.

"It has long been known" ... I didn't look up the original reference.
"A definite trend is evident" ... These data are practically meaningless.
"While it has not been possible to provide definite answers to the questions" ... An unsuccessful experiment but I still hope to get it published.
"Three of the samples were chosen for detailed study" ... The other results didn't make any sense.
"Typical results are shown" ... This is the prettiest graph.
"These results will be in a subsequent report" ... I might get around to this sometime, if pushed/funded.
"In my experience" ... Once.
"In case after case" ... Twice.
"In a series of cases" ... Thrice.
"It is believed that" ... I think.
"It is generally believed that" ... A couple of others think so, too.
"Correct within an order of magnitude" ... Wrong.
"According to statistical analysis" ... Rumor has it.
"A statistically-oriented projection of the significance of these findings" ... A wild guess.
"A careful analysis of obtainable data" ... Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass iced tea.
"It is clear that much additional work will be required before a complete understanding of this phenomenon occurs" ... I don't understand it.
"After additional study by my colleagues" ... They don't understand it either.
"Thanks are due to Joe Blotz for assistance with the experiment and to Cindy Adams for valuable discussions" ... Mr. Blotz did the work and Ms. Adams explained to me what it meant.
"A highly significant area for exploratory study" ... A totally useless topic selected by my committee.
"It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigation in this field" ... I quit.

-Author Unknown ..Collected from here and there-

What Do You Think?

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

This is a test

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night,
when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the
bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there
could only be one passenger in your car? Think before you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS...................

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer.

He simply answered: 'I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.

Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'

Jokes for the Older Set

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

A distraught senior citizen

phoned her doctor's office.

'Is it true,' she wanted to know,

'that the medication

you prescribed has to be taken

for the rest of my life?'

'Yes, I'm afraid so,' the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence

before the senior lady replied,

I'm wondering, then,

just how serious is my condition

because this prescription is marked

'NO REFILLS'....'

An older gentleman was

on the operating table

awaiting surgery

and he insisted that his son,

a renowned surgeon,

perform the operation.

As he was about to get the anesthesia,

he asked to speak to his son.

'Yes, Dad, what is it? '

'Don't be nervous, son;

do your best

and just remember,

if it doesn't go well,

if something happens to me,

your mother

is going to come and

live with you and your wife....'

Aging:

Eventually you will reach a point

when you stop lying about your age

and start bragging about it.

The older we get,

the fewer things

seem worth waiting in line for.

Some people

try to turn back their odometers.

Not me!

I want people to know 'why'

I look this way.

I've traveled a long way

and some of the roads weren't paved..

When you are dissatisfied

and would like to go back to youth,

think of algebra.

You know you are getting old when

everything either dries up or leaks.

One of the many things

no one tells you about aging

is that it is such a nice change

from being young.

Ah, being young is beautiful,

but being old is comfortable.

First you forget names,

then you forget faces.

then you forget to pull up your zipper.

It's worse when

you forget to pull it down....

Long ago

when men cursed

and beat the ground with sticks,

it was called witchcraft....

today, it's called golf.

Two old guys

are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart

when they collide.

The first old guy says to the second guy,

'Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife,

and I guess I wasn't paying attention

to where I was going.

The second old guy says, 'That's OK, it's a coincidence..

I'm looking for my wife, too..'

I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate'

The first old guy says, 'Well,

maybe I can help you find her..

What does she look like?'

The second old guy says,

'Well, she is 27 yrs old, tall,

with red hair, blue eyes, long legs,

and is wearing short shorts..

What does your wife look like?'

To which the first old guy says,

'Doesn't matter,

--- let's look for yours.'

Lord,

please keep Your arm around my shoulder,

and, Your hand over my mouth!

-Author Unknown-

Chinese New Year Humour

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Never Judge a Man By His Appearance

At a New Year celebration meal an American to the Chinese man sitting next to him, pointed to the soup and asked somewhat condescendingly, 'Likee soupee?'
The Chinese gentlemen nodded eagerly.

A little later, it was 'Likee fishee?' and 'Likee meatee?' and 'Likee fruitee?' and always the response was an affable nod.

At the end of the dinner the chairman of the Yuan-Xiao festival introduced the guest speaker of the evening: none other than the Chinese gentleman who delivered a penetrating, witty discourse in impeccable English, much to the astonishment of his American neighbour.

When the speech was over, the speaker turned to his neighbour and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and asked, 'Likee speechee?'

The Story of Chen and The Cakes

Chen was extremely hungry, so he left work and went to a local snack bar where he bought a cake. When Chen had eaten the cake, he found that he was still famished, and so he ate a second one.

Even then he was not full up and promptly ate six cakes in succession, but he hadn't satisfied his hunger. Not until Chen had eaten the seventh cake did he feel satisfied.

Then, suddenly, he had a feeling of regret. 'Ah, if I had known this before, I would have eaten the seventh cake first and that would have been enough and there would not have been any need to eat those six others.'

Huang Fu and the Bottle of Wine Parable

Huang Fu was a very rich man who was deliberately tough on his farmhand, Hop. Huang Fu gave Hop a bottle and said, 'Buy me a bottle of wine.'

Hop, the poor farmhand enquired, 'How can I buy you wine with no money at all?' Huang Fu replied disdainfully, 'Anyone can buy wine with money. It takes real skill to buy wine without money.'

Time elapsed and Hop eventually returned farmhand returned with the empty bottle. He handed the bottle to Huang Fu and murmured, 'Enjoy the wine, please.'

Staring at the empty bottle with some dismay, Huang asked, 'There is no wine, how can I enjoy this?'
Hop replied to Huang Fu, with a straight face, 'Anyone can enjoy wine if there is some. It takes real skill to enjoy wine when there is none.'

Huang Fu made a choking sound but was unable to utter a word.

Shanyuan and the Lie. Or Always Tell the Truth

Park was a rogue, a charlatan and a rascal, but he a hard life and barely managed to keep body and soul together. He often was close to starving. So one day Park happened to pass a household that was holding the funeral of one of its family members.

Quickly, Park slipped into the house and cried bitterly in front of the memorial tablet of the dead. Nobody knew him, so, surprised, people asked him why he cried.

'I was best friends with the dead. We hadn't seen each other for months. Now he has passed away, how could I not feel sad? Since I just happened to be passing, I wasn't prepared for this. All I can do now is to cry for my best friend, which is an expression of our friendship.'

The family was deeply moved by Park's comments and promptly asked him to stay to dinner. On his way home Park met an old friend, Shanyuan, whose life was equally precarious. 'Where did you manage to eat and drink today?' Shanyuan asked the roguish Park, who told him the story from beginning to end.

The next day Shanyuan also found a family that was holding a funeral and cried likewise. When they asked him the reason, he replied that he was a best friend of the dead. Before he had finished, however, Shanyuan received a storm of punches and kicks.

It transpired that the deceased of the family was a young housewife.

-Author Unknown-

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!

The Moon In the Well

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

One evening, the clever man, Huojia went to fetch some water from the well. To his surprise, when he looked into the well, he found the moon sunk in the well shining.

"Oh, good Heavens, what a pity! The beautiful moon has dropped into the well!" so he dashed home for a hook, and tied it with the rope for his bucket, then put it into the well to fish for the moon.

After some time of hunting for the moon, Haojia was pleased to find that something was caught by the hook.. He must have thought it was the moon. He pulled hard by the rope. Due to the excessive pulling, the rope broke into apart and Haojia fell flat on his back. Taking the advantage of that post, Haojia saw the moon again high in the sky.

He sighed with emotion, "Aha, it finally came back to its place! What a good job!"

He felt very happy and told whomever he met with about the wonderment proudly without knowing what he did was something impractical.

-Author Unknown-

I am posting this story because it is reminiscent of what we see so often - a reminder of how some may be spewing lies so often that over time, even they themselves believe these to be facts and not fiction!

Do leave a comment to share your views! Thanks!

Never Stop Halfway!

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

In the Warring States Period, in the state of Wei lived a man called Leyangtsi. His wife was very angelic and virtuous, who was loved and respected dearly by the husband.

One day, Leyangtsi found a piece of gold on his way home, and he was so delighted that he ran home as fast as he could to tell his wife. Looking at the gold, his wife said calmly and gently, "As you know, it is usually said that a true man never drink the stolen water. How can you take such a piece of gold home which is not yours?" Leyangtsi was greatly moved by the words, and he immediately replaced it where it was.

The next year, Leyangtsi went to a distant place to study classics with a talent teacher, leaving his wife home alone. One day, his wife was weaving on the loom, when Leyangtsi entered. At his coming, the wife seemed to be worried, and she at once asked the reason why he came back so soon. The husband explained how he missed her. The wife got angry with what the husband did. Advising his husband to be fortitude and not too indulged in the love, the wife took up a pair of scissors and cut down what she had woven on the loom, which made Leyangtsi very puzzled. His wife declared, "If something is stopped halfway, it is just like the cut cloth on the loom. The cloth will only be useful if finished. But now, it has been nothing but a mess, and so it is with your study."

Leyangtsi was greatly moved by his wife. He left home resolutely and went on with his study. He didn't return home to see his beloved wife until gaining great achievements.

Afterwards, the story was often used as a model to inspire those who would back out in competitions.

-Author Unknown-

May this story inspire us to persevere and never give up in hoping for a better land for us all!

George Orwell's "Politics of the English Language"

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:15:00 +0000

According to Wikipedia:

Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language and a belief in democratic socialism....

Modern readers are more often introduced to Orwell as a novelist, particularly through his enormously successful titles Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. The former is often thought to reflect degeneration in the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism; the latter, life under totalitarian rule. Nineteen Eighty-Four is often compared to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; both are powerful dystopian novels warning of a future world where the state machine exerts complete control over social life. In 1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 were honoured with the Prometheus Award for their contributions to dystopian literature. In 2011 he received it again for Animal Farm.

In his essay Politics and the English Language (1946), Orwell wrote about the importance of precise and clear language, arguing that vague writing can be used as a powerful tool of political manipulation because it shapes the way we think. In that essay, Orwell provides six rules for writers:

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

Never use the passive where you can use the active.

Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. READ MORE HERE.

This evening, I wish to share with you Orwell's essay on "Politics and the English Language". If you are not into books, I would encourage you to visit Project Gutenberg HERE where you can enjoy reading Fifty Orwell Essays.

Politics and the English Language by George Orwell

Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent, and our language–so the argument runs–must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.

Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer. Meanwhile, here are five specimens of the English language as it is now habitually written.

These five passages have not been picked out because they are especially bad–I could have quoted far worse if I had chosen–but because they illustrate various of the mental vices from which we now suffer. They are a little below the average, but are fairly representative samples. I number them so that I can refer back to them when necessary:

(1) I am not, indeed, sure whether it is not true to say that the Milton who once seemed not unlike a seventeenth-century Shelley had not become, out of an experience ever more bitter in each year, more alien (sic) to the founder of that Jesuit sect which nothing could induce him to tolerate.

--PROFESSOR HAROLD LASKI (Essay in FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION)

(2) Above all, we cannot play ducks and drakes with a native battery of idioms which prescribes such egregious collocations of vocables as the Basic PUT UP WITH for TOLERATE or PUT AT A LOSS for BEWILDER.

--PROFESSOR LANCELOT HOGBEN (INTERGLOSSA)

(3) On the one side we have the free personality; by definition it is not neurotic, for it has neither conflict nor dream. Its desires, such as they are, are transparent, for they are just what institutional approval keeps in the forefront of consciousness; another institutional pattern would alter their number and intensity; there is little in them that is natural, irreducible, or culturally dangerous. But ON THE OTHER SIDE, the social bond itself is nothing but the mutual reflection of these self-secure integrities. Recall the definition of love. Is not this the very picture of a small academic? Where is there a place in this hall of mirrors for either personality or fraternity?

--Essay on psychology in POLITICS (New York)

(4) All the "best people" from the gentlemen's clubs, and all the frantic fascist captains, united in common hatred of Socialism and bestial horror of the rising tide of the mass revolutionary movement, have turned to acts of provocation, to foul incendiarism, to medieval legends of poisoned wells, to legalize their own destruction of proletarian organizations, and rouse the agitated petty-bourgeoisie to chauvinistic fervor on behalf of the fight against the revolutionary way out of the crisis.

--Communist pamphlet

(5) If a new spirit is to be infused into this old country, there is one thorny and contentious reform which must be tackled, and that is the humanization and galvanization of the B.B.C. Timidity here will bespeak canker and atrophy of the soul. The heart of Britain may lee sound and of strong beat, for instance, but the British lion's roar at present is like that of Bottom in Shakespeare's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM–as gentle as any sucking dove. A virile new Britain cannot continue indefinitely to be traduced in the eyes, or rather ears, of the world by the effete languors of Langham Place, brazenly masquerading as "standard English." When the Voice of Britain is heard at nine o'clock, better far and infinitely less ludicrous to hear aitches honestly dropped than the present priggish, inflated, inhibited, school-ma'am-ish arch braying of blameless bashful mewing maidens.

--Letter in TRIBUNE

Each of these passages has faults of its own, but quite apart from avoidable ugliness, two qualities are common to all of them. The first is staleness of imagery; the other is lack of precision. The writer either has a meaning and cannot express it, or he inadvertently says something else, or he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not. This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose, and especially of any kind of political writing. As soon as certain topics are raised, the concrete melts into the abstract and no one seems able to think of turns of speech that are not hackneyed: prose consists less and less of WORDS chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of PHRASES tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house. I list below, with notes and examples, various of the tricks by means of which the work of prose-construction is habitually dodged:

DYING METAPHORS. A newly-invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visual image, while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically "dead" (e.g., IRON RESOLUTION) has in effect reverted to being an ordinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness. But in between these two classes there is a huge dump of worn-out metaphors which have lost all evocative power and are merely used because they save people the trouble of inventing phrases for themselves. Examples are: RING THE CHANGES ON, TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR, TOE THE LINE, RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER, STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH, PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF, AN AXE TO GRIND, GRIST TO THE MILL, FISHING IN TROUBLED WATERS, ON THE ORDER OF THE DAY, ACHILLES' HEEL, SWAN SONG, HOTBED. Many of these are used without knowledge of their meaning (what is a "rift," for instance?), and incompatible metaphors are frequently mixed, a sure sign that the writer is not interested in what he is saying. Some metaphors now current have been twisted out of their original meaning without those who use them even being aware of the fact. For example, TOE THE LINE is sometimes written TOW THE LINE. Another example is THE HAMMER AND THE ANVIL, now always used with the implication that the anvil gets the worst of it. In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer, never the other way about: a writer who stopped to think what he was saying would be aware of this, and would avoid perverting the original phrase.

OPERATORS, or VERBAL FALSE LIMBS. These save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns, and at the same time pad each sentence with extra syllables which give it an appearance of symmetry. Characteristic phrases are: RENDER INOPERATIVE, MILITATE AGAINST, PROVE UNACCEPTABLE, MAKE CONTACT WITH, BE SUBJECTED TO, GIVE RISE TO, GIVE GROUNDS FOR, HAVING THE EFFECT OF, PLAY A LEADING PART (RÔLE) IN, MAKE ITSELF FELT, TAKE EFFECT, EXHIBIT A TENDENCY TO, SERVE THE PURPOSE OF, etc., etc. The keynote is the elimination of simple verbs. Instead of being a single word, such as BREAK, STOP, SPOIL, MEND, KILL, a verb becomes a PHRASE, made up of a noun or adjective tacked on to some general-purposes verb as PROVE, SERVE, FORM, PLAY, RENDER. In addition, the passive voice is wherever possible used in preference to the active, and noun constructions are used instead of gerunds (BY EXAMINATION OF instead of BY EXAMINING). The range of verbs is further cut down by means of the '-IZE' AND 'DE-' formations, and banal statements are given an appearance of profundity by means of the NOT 'UN-' formation. Simple conjunctions and prepositions are replaced by such phrases as WITH RESPECT TO, HAVING REGARD TO, THE FACT THAT, BY DINT OF, IN VIEW OF, IN THE INTERESTS OF, ON THE HYPOTHESIS THAT; and the ends of sentences are saved from anti-climax by such resounding commonplaces as GREATLY TO BE DESIRED, CANNOT BE LEFT OUT OF ACCOUNT, A DEVELOPMENT TO BE EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, DESERVING OF SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, BROUGHT TO A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION, and so on and so forth.

PRETENTIOUS DICTION. Words like PHENOMENON, ELEMENT, INDIVIDUAL (as noun), OBJECTIVE, CATEGORICAL, EFFECTIVE, VIRTUAL, BASIS, PRIMARY, PROMOTE, CONSTITUTE, EXHIBIT, EXPLOIT, UTILIZE, ELIMINATE, LIQUIDATE, are used to dress up simple statements and give an air of scientific impartiality to biased judgments. Adjectives like EPOCH-MAKING, EPIC, HISTORIC, UNFORGETTABLE, TRIUMPHANT, AGE-OLD, INEVITABLE, INEXORABLE, VERITABLE, are used to dignify the sordid processes of international politics, while writing that aims at glorifying war usually takes on an archaic color, its characteristic words being: REALM, THRONE, CHARIOT, MAILED FIST, TRIDENT, SWORD, SHIELD, BUCKLER, BANNER, JACKBOOT, CLARION. Foreign words and expressions such as CUL DE SAC, ANCIEN RÉGIME, DEUS EX MACHINA, MUTATIS MUTANDIS, STATUS QUO, GLEICHSCHALTUNG, WELTANSCHAUUNG, are used to give an air of culture and elegance. Except for the useful abbreviations I.E., E.G., and ETC., there is no real need for any of the hundreds of foreign phrases now current in English. Bad writers, and especially scientific, political and sociological writers, are nearly always haunted by the notion that Latin or Greek words are grander than Saxon ones, and unnecessary words like EXPEDITE, AMELIORATE, PREDICT, EXTRANEOUS, DERACINATED, CLANDESTINE, SUB-AQUEOUS and hundreds of others constantly gain ground from their Anglo-Saxon opposite numbers. [Note 1, below] The jargon peculiar to Marxist writing (HYENA, HANGMAN, CANNIBAL, PETTY BOURGEOIS, THESE GENTRY, LACKEY, FLUNKEY, MAD DOG, WHITE GUARD, etc.) consists largely of words and phrases translated from Russian, German or French; but the normal way of coining a new word is to use a Latin or Greek root with the appropriate affix and, where necessary, the '-ize' formation. It is often easier to make up words of this kind (DE-REGIONALIZE, IMPERMISSIBLE, EXTRAMARITAL, NON-FRAGMENTARY and so forth) than to think up the English words that will cover one's meaning. The result, in general, is an increase in slovenliness and vagueness.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY. This site leads you to 50 of Orwell's essay.You will need to scroll down to Part 42.

Alternatively, you can VISIT THIS LINK.

If you prefer an audio-visual version, CLICK THIS LINK.

This is one essay that as many people must read! :-) Have a great time immersing yourself in his writings!

A

Chinese Proverbs

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:31:00 +0000

During Chinese New Year people hang small messages or wishes called Hui Chun in and around their homes and offices, hoping for good fortune during the year. There are many different Hui Chun depending upon the occasion and circumstance. There are Hui Chun asking for sufficient food, domestic harmony, special wishes for the elderly and some wishing students good luck in their studies. Here's one specially for my blog readers and friends.

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year! As we usher in the Year of the Dragon, may these Chinese proverbs to give you wisdom and guidance. Enjoy.

Wishing all my Chinese friends and relatives Xīnnián kuàilè wànshì rúyì! 新年快乐万事如意!

One kind word can warm three winter months.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Keep a green tree alive in your heart and a songbird may come to sing there.

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me, and I’ll understand.

The Year of the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

With the new year, many are seeing reasons for optimism. From the Chinese zodiac calendar standpoint, the Year of the Water Dragon which begins January 23, 2012, and ends on February 9, 2013, brings many possibilities for good fortune. For the Chinese, dragons are the divine mythical creatures that bring with them intense power, ultimate abundance, and good fortune.

In Sung dynasty manuscripts, the dragon is described as having the “head of an ox or donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and a feet of a phoenix,” and it usually clutches a pearl symbolic of its supernatural powers.

To the Chinese, the dragon is born in the most desirable year and is the mightiest of the signs. The Oriental dragon is regarded as a divine beast, the reverse of the monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. Free spirits of the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Dragon are extroverts who have a deep love for nature and are innovative, passionate, enterprising, brave, self-assured, colorful, and flamboyant. Gifted and irrepressible, they are fearless of any challenges that may come their way, able to see clear the paths and take a radical approach to any harsh conditions.

Of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the most special and is sometimes called a karmic sign. Bigger than life is very much a dragon thing and in this context we can expect grand things to happen this year. There may be flames and failures, but there will also be spectacular achievements. For those born in the Year of the Dragon, this year is the time to pursue and act on the impossible dream, change the world or at least your life. And for the other signs, it is the best chance to make your dreams come true.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Just to Say

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

We have just entered the Year of the Dragon! I just want to wish all my blog readers, friends and relatives a very Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year! Take care and drive safely wherever you may be!

The Fall of a State

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:23:00 +0000

The powerful emperor, Liu Che, of Han Dynasty was a successful sovereign, who was not only a politician but also a talent poet. He started the famous official conservatory for collecting and composing folk songs and ballads.

A bandmaster in the conservatory called Liyannian was very good at songs and ballads and also did well in composition. One day, he showed the emperor a new piece: "In the north is a beauty, unique among her contemporaries. One look from her will cause the fall of a city; another, the fall of the state. Who knows to what degree her charm can reach? And she is the best." The emperor was very fond of the song. The song brought him not only great aesthetic feeling but also a bit affliction. The emperor sighed with regret, "How terrific it would be if there was a beauty like her in the world?"

A careless word may be important information to an attentive listener. The emperor's sister decided to search for such a girl from the country for the emperor as the empress. In the end they found that the sister of the bandmaster was just the one they were looking for. She was well educated, uniquely charming, and perfectly gorgeous. She danced before the emperor delicately and charmingly, which made the emperor completely excited. He watched the dance attentively and finally said, "Well, my sweet beauty, the country has certainly fallen by you!"

Since then, the expression, THE FALL OF A STATE, has been used to describe the most beautiful and charming woman.

-Author Unknown-

Living in Harmony

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0000

On a rainy night of New Year’s eve, a lonely little girl was saddened by the disagreements that brought upon her family members.

Litte girl sadly said, "It's Chinese New Year's Eve, but it's been raining all day long. New Year is coming but everyone is not in a good mood. Brother insists on buying a new motorcyle. Dad, Mom, and Brother are quarelling about it again."

Dad told to Brother, "Can't you use the old motorcycle ? You just know how to spend money !"

Mom also said to Brother,"The economy is bad, why don't you just use the old one ?"

Brother angrily said, "The old motorcycle breaks down all the time, you can use it ! I won't !"

"It's your fault. You have spoiled him !", Dad said to Mom.

Little girl asked herself, "It’s New Year, but why is everyone unhappy ?".

"Kitty, can you tell me how to make everyone happy for the New Year?", asked the little girl to her cat.

Then, outside the window, the little girl looked four old men were coming, "Dad, Mom, look ! Brother, come and see, quick !"

Mom said to the old men, "Ah, it’s raining so heavily, Sirs, please come in for shelter !"

Old man #1 said, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, Madam. But we have a rule, only one of the four of us can come in. Who do you wish to invite in ?"

The four old men then introduced themselves one by one.

Old man #2 : "I am Wealth."

Old man #3 : "I am Success."

Old man #4 : "I am Well-being."

Old man #1 said with a laugh, "Haha, everyone call me Harmony."

Dad said to the four old men, "Surely we should invite in Wealth, then we can have a comfortable life !"

Brother said, "No, no, choose Success ! I want my family to be proud of me !"

Mom said, "Wait a moment ! I think Well-being is the most important !"

Dad exclaimed, "Wealth !"

Brother exclaimed, "Success !"

Mom exclaimed, "Well-being !"

Little girl asked to her mother, "Mom, Mom, What is harmony ? Why don’t you invite in Harmony ?"

Dad said, "Yes, you’re right ! Why don’t we invite in Harmony ? New Year is here, we should be harmonious. Let’s invite Mr. Harmony in, then !"

Seeing that all of the four old men came in together, little girl’s father said, "Eh ? I thought you said only one of you can come in ? Why did all of you come in ?"

Old men #1 replied,"Haha, we have another rule. If Harmony enters, Well-being, Success and Wealth will follow."

Little girl happily said, "Now I understand. To be happy is to be in harmony."

You can watch this full inspirational story in animation Youtube 《和諧》He Xie Animation

Story written by Ven. Master Xin Yun (Master Hsing Yun)

It All Began This Way....

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000

The most important holiday for Chinese around the world is undoubtedly Chinese New Year -- and it all started out of fear.

The centuries-old legend on the origins of the New Year celebration varies from teller to teller, but they all include a story of a terrible mythical monster who preyed on villagers. The lion-like monster’s name was Nian (年) which is also the Chinese word for “year."

The stories also all include a wise old man who counsels the villagers to ward off the evil Nian by making loud noises with drums and firecrackers and hanging red paper cutouts and scrolls on their doors because for some reason, the Nian is scared of the color red.

The villagers took the old man’s advice and the Nian was conquered. On the anniversary of the date, the Chinese recognize the “passing of the Nian” known in Chinese as guo nian (过年), which is also synonymous with celebrating the new year.

Based on the Lunar Calendar

The date of Chinese New Year changes each year as it is based on the lunar calendar. While the western Gregorian calendar is based on the earth’s orbit around the sun, China and most Asian countries use the lunar calendar that is based on the moon’s orbit around the earth. Chinese New Year always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Other Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and Vietnam also celebrate new year using the lunar calendar.

While both Buddhism and Daoism has unique customs during the New Year, Chinese New Year is far older than both religions. Like many agrarian societies, Chinese New Year is rooted in much a celebration of spring just like Easter or Passover.

Depending on where rice is grown in China, the rice season lasts from roughly May to September (north China), April to October (Yangtze River Valley), or March to November (Southeast China). The New Year was likely the start of preparations for a new growing season.

Spring cleaning is a common theme during this time, as many Chinese will clean out their homes during the holiday. The New Year celebration could even have been a way to break up the boredom of the long winter months.

READ MORE AT THIS LINK.

The Chinese New Year Story

Long ago, the world was not a safe place; monsters dominated the world. There was one horrifying monster that came out on the same day each year to eat people. This monster was named Nian, and the people marked the end of a year by his visits to the human civilization. That is where the Chinese word for year came from.

This monster was the most feared by the people because every time it came out, whole villages would be destroyed at a time. So, every time the monster came, people would huddle together in their homes and stay up all night, wanting not to be eaten. This happened for many years until a wise man thought up a plan to scare the monster away.

This man proposed that the people should light bamboo. The bamboo would crack and make a lot of noise, possibly scaring the monster away. The villagers thought this was a very good idea and started to light the bamboo. The noise was tremendous. The monster was scared by the loud noise and ran back to its cave without not eating any people.

The next morning, everyone was present. They were all elated. The people congratulated each other for executing the plan effectively. So, from then on, people stayed up late, lit firecrackers (to simulate the lighting of the bamboo), and congratulated each other when the new year came.

And that is why some say Chinese New Year is celebrated....

Wishing all my Chinese readers Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Do You Eat White Bread? Think Again...

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Thanks to Angela who sent me the following article. I googled for it and discovered that it was first posted HERE but I cannot link back as the site is currently unavailable. I found it reposted AT THIS SITE.

The Startling Facts And Health Risks of Eating White Bread

Health Matters Minutes Article

Mar. 7, 2003

The Swiss government has been aware of the dangers of eating white bread for decades and in order to get its populace to stop eating it, Switzerland has placed a tax on the purchase of white bread.

The tax money is given to bakers to reduce the price of whole wheat bread to encourage people to switch.

The Canadian government passed a law prohibiting the “enrichment” of white bread with synthetic vitamins. Bread must contain the original vitamins found in the grain, not imitations.

Essentially, white bread is “dead” bread. Frequently, consumers are not told the truth about this and so called “enriched” flour.

Why is the color of white bread so white when the flour taken from wheat is not? It’s because the flour used to make white bread is chemically bleached, just like you bleach your clothes. When you are eating white bread, you are also eating residual chemical bleach.

Flour mills use different chemical bleaches, all of which are pretty bad.

Here are a few of them: oxide of nitrogen, chlorine, chloride, nitrosyl and benzoyl peroxide mixed with various chemical salts.

One bleaching agent, chloride oxide, combined with whatever proteins are still left in the flour, produces alloxan. Alloxon is a poison and has been used to produce diabetes in laboratory animals. Chlorine oxide destroys the vital wheat germ oil. It will also shorten the flour’s shelf life.

Good Nutrition: You Won’t Find It In White Bread

In the process of making flour white, half of the good unsaturated fatty acids, that are high in food value, are lost in the milling process alone, and virtually all the vitamin E is lost with the removal of wheat germ and

bran.

As a result, the remaining flour in the white bread you buy, contains only poor quality proteins and fattening starch.

But that is not the whole story as to the loss of nutrients. About 50% of all calcium, 70% of phosphorus, 80% iron, 98% magnesium, 75% manganese, 50% potassium, and 65% of copper is destroyed. If that is not bad enough, about 80% thiamin, 60% of riboflavin, 75% of niacin, 50% of pantothenic acid, and about 50% of Pyridoxine is also lost.

Scientific Study Has Confirmed What The Swiss Have Known For Years

These horrific numbers are the results of a study run by the University of California , College of Agriculture .

It is obvious, from what we have learned, that white bread should be avoided. Whole wheat, rye, and grain breads made with whole wheat flour is a better way.

It is a good idea to always read the labels and never buy foods that contain artificial flavors, colors, bleached flour, preservatives, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.

Wanna Lose Weight? Use a Red Plate!!

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:19:00 +0000

According to an article in Daily Mail Online AT THIS LINK:

Eating from a red plate could help dieters lose weight, scientists claim.

Serving up meals on red plates or drinking from red cups cuts consumption by about 40 per cent, according to one study carried out by German and Swiss academics.

Researchers say the colour red may encourage diners to avoid snacking because it is commonly associated with the idea of ‘danger, prohibition and stop'.

READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY AT THIS LINK.

Club 99

noreply@blogger.com (masterwordsmith) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.

One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while

A lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, "Why are you so happy?"

The man replied, "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies."

The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club."

"The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired.

The advisor replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep."

When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins!

He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, "What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!"

He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.

From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club."

He continued, "The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and striving for that extra 1 telling to themselves: "Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life."

We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires. That's what joining The 99 Club is all about."

-Author Unknown-