Wednesday, November 29, 2006

高人一等

某家庭一家四口可以说白手兴家,有自己小型公司。也不属于富裕,但在这小镇还过得去。女主人的态度可真的不可一世,目中无人,对人说话总是笑里藏刀。家中掌握大权,夫慈子孝衍生於铁腕政策。可能效仿慈禧垂帘听政吧?

不晓得这一类人何以觉得自己高人一等。察觉到身旁确实有不少人有此‘暴发户心态’的潜意识。小小的财富已经这么骄傲,憎人富贵厌人穷,如果腰缠万贯的话就更加为所欲为了。

要知道比上不足比下有余,做人还是低调随和比较好。

Monday, November 27, 2006

辐射 / Radiation

日新月异的工艺快速发展,体积日趋细小及包含无线功能是新产品的导向。

我们的生活环境持续的暴露在辐射之下,如手机、蓝芽以及其他来源。没有确实的证据证明过份的暴露于各种辐射会对身体或脑子造成任何生理影响。这虽未对生命构成威胁,但是长期会引发不适。如果可以看得见无线电波的话,这应该是一张厚密不可透视的网。

研究报告说长期暴露在高压输电线路所产生的电磁场辐射下会至癌,所以住所应该距离远一些。

想象微波炉的运作原理。任何物体吸收辐射后都会产生热能,这是物理学的理论。长时间的通话当心手机慢慢地把你的脑袋烤熟,虽然生产商声称辐射的危险微不足道。


The technology is progressing exponentially that we could hardly walk abreast with, every new inventory has a tendency to be smaller and wireless for convenience sake.

We are consistently exposed to the radiations in our living environment, for instance mobile phone, Bluetooth and thousands of unknown sources. There is no concrete study proving that excessive exposure of various radiations would have any physiological effects on the human brain or human body. These are not life-threatening problems but could cause a lot of discomfort in long run. Imagine if all radio waves are visible, the net must be so thick and vision impenetrable.

Research advised that constant exposure to the electro-magnetic field inducted by the high voltage transmission line is cancerogenic, therefore the living area should be distanced away.

Think about microwave oven operation principle. The object that absorbs radiation would be heated up, as stated in physics energy transformation theory. Beware of the mobile phone is cooking your brain for long tele-conversation, though the manufacturers claim the radiation risk is negligible.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

翻译 / Translation

在一个没有共同语言的地方工作很不方便,我依赖同事给于翻译。不恰当的用词很可能扭曲原来的意思,这一点翻译员的语言水平很重要。

口头翻译不是件轻松的事,尤其牵涉到技术词汇。原本的意思必须迅速完整地表达,不能添加个人的想法,还要剔除无须要的情绪。

翻译员的表情有助于了解第三者的当时情绪。我最近留心到了一些翻译已经融合了个人观点,这对原有的故事描绘了不同的画面。我必须谨慎地做出判断。


It is inconveinient to work in the environment without lingua franca, I rely on my colleagues to help translating. Improper use of words might distort the idea of the topic, therefore the language ability of the translator is essential.

Oral translation is no easy task especially involving technical terms. Exact meaning must be translated promptly without imposing personal opinion, while filtering out the unnecessary emotions.

The expression of the translator helps us to define the emotion of the 3rd party. I have noticed recently some translations have been infused with personal opinion, a different image of the original story is depicted. I have to be prudent to judge accordingly.

语言 / Language

大部份受过教育的马来西亚人民都能掌握二至三种语言,是因为多元种族结构的社会和选择学校源流的自由,这政策在印尼是被禁止的。

我们的日常会话混淆着不同的语言。表面上似乎是一件有趣的文化异变,那其实是一件可悲的学术灾难。人们不再应用正统的语言,却罗致其他语言或方言弥补贫乏的词汇。

我对自己的语文能力有自知之明,不奢望达到native speakers 的水平。我在尝试提升自身的能力尤其是中文,毕竟这一方面我只受过六年小学教育。


Most of the educated people in Malaysia could handle 2 to 3 languages, due to the multi racial structure society and freedom to pursue knowledge from schools of different media, such policy is banned in Indonesia.

Our daily communication has turned out to be a hodgepodge of languages. It seems to be an interesting culture mutation, it is literacy disaster instead. People no longer speak genuine language but to adopt words from other languages or dialects to compensate the poor vocabularies.

I’m well aware of my weakness in language, never expect to be as good as native speakers. Am trying to improve in this aspect especially Chinese, after all I had only studied it during the primary 6 years.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

兑换率 / Exchange rate

苏丹蓬勃的经济大部份由石油工业支撑着。在2001年,1美元兑换255苏丹第纳,这个汇率直到2005年5月我离开时相对上稳定。

前几天一位苏丹旧同事说美元兑换率已经涨到204第纳,难以想象在短短的18个月里头苏丹币值劲升20%!这对外国投资业者影响重大,本土劳工与开销支出相应提高。

有谣言散布说短期内币值将会继续被推高到150第纳。我不是经济学家,但是我可以预测许多经济问题接踵而来。极有可能这是另一幕政治手段。


The booming economy of Sudan is largely supported by petroleum industry. In year 2001, the exchange rate was USD1 = SDD255 (Sudanese Dinar). It remained relatively stable till I left Sudan in May-2005,

A few days ago, a Sudanese ex-colleague informed that the exchange rate recently has appreciated to SDD204, an incredible 20% hike within 18 months! This would create problems to foreign investors on the increasing local costs (labour, facilities etc).

Rumours said this exchange rate is going to be pushed up to SDD150 within short. I’m not an economist, but I could foresee lots of economy chaos will follow subsequently. Very likely this is another political ploy.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

海洋生物圈 / Marine Community

想象生活在复杂的海洋社会里。

在新的海洋政策保护之下,占优势的大白鲨越来越贪婪、霸道和强壮,而弱势的一群只分配到剩余的残渣。

一片肉块被切割成几份,大白鲨挑了所有最大的块头还理直气壮要以数量而非重量来分配。

小鱼询问新政策的公正力,大白鲨扬言不惜一切代价捍卫它的特权。

别无选择,小鱼们唯有离开领土找寻机会。我幸运地找到了一片珊瑚礁,不晓得会待多久。


Imagine living in a complex marine society.

The dominant big white shark is getting greedier, bullish and stronger under the protective new marine policy, while the minors are only fed with dregs.

The meat chunk is cut into several pieces, the big white shark picks the largest pieces but claiming it should be distributed by quantity not by weight.

The smaller fishes question the justification of the policy, the big white shark swears to defend its privilege by all means.

No choice, the smaller fishes have to swim away from their territory to seek other opportunities. I’m lucky to find a coral reef, but for how long I would stay, I couldn’t tell.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

太空人(二) / Astronaut (2)

国家太空署声称此计划是免费的,是次与俄罗斯九亿美元军火采购的抵消项目的其中一部份。天下没有免费的午餐,费用已经包含在配套里头。此份特殊礼物肯定满足某些人的虚荣心。

民众除了接受这事实之外别无选择。正当我们期待政府费尽心思构思在太空站进行富创意的科学实验之际,提议竟然包括在无引力范围之下玩传统游戏,染布以及煮茶。这非常主意仅仅是为了发扬马来西亚文化。

我哑口无言!


National Space Agency said the program was provided free of charge as part of an offset program for the purchase of defense deal from Russia worth US$900 million. There is no free lunch in this world, the cost for sure has been part of the package. This special gift definitely enlightens someone’s vanity.

The public has no choice but to accept the fact. Just when we expect the government would brainstorm creative scientific experiments to be conducted in the space station, among the unexpected proposals are playing traditional board games, traditional fabric printing and performing tea making under micro gravity environment. The very idea of these experiments is said to advertise Malaysian culture to the world.

I’m speechless!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

太空人(一) / Astronaut (1)

马来西亚将在明年随同俄罗斯研究队伍送第一位太空人到国际太空站做六至八天的短暂科学之旅。计划花费二千五百万美元。

政府为这个项目感到极度自豪,但对不起,我没感觉到丝毫的兴奋。整个只能提供给一人的奢侈探险之旅不会带来明显的技术效益。事实在于政府任意挥霍纳税人的金钱。他们愚昧的幻想埋没了理智和现实。他们成功猎取国际的注意力,不过却是嘲笑。同一笔的预算可以用在更重要及更迫切的医疗设施与教育用途。

失望!


Malaysia will send its first astronaut into the space aboard a Russian rocket next year, as part of a six to eight day scientific mission on board the International Space Station. This space program is estimated to cost around US$25 million.

The government is very proud of this project, but sorry, I don’t feel single bit of excitement at all. There is no obvious technical benefit out of this luxurious flashy adventure for just 1 man. The truth is our government is squandering money of taxpayers. Their ignorant fantasy eclipsed the sense and reality. It does attract the attention from the world, but scornful. The same budget could have been allocated on more crucial and desperate aspects like medical infrastructure and education.

Disappointing!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

贪腐指数 / Corruption Perceptions Index

"透明国际"组织公布了对163个国家所做的"2006年贪腐指数"调查,与政治、经济和社会环境息息相关。民众由此对某个国家做各自评论。

马来西亚政府对于排名从去年的39位滑落至今年的44位耿耿于怀。不出所料,某些政治人物质疑调查的确实性,提出许多理论与借口平息大众情绪。

其实这一份调查并不能衡量国家发展。为何这么在乎排名如小学生般比较学术成绩?无聊!排名的滑落不代表国家的贪污风气恶化,有可能其他国家在这方面已经迎头赶上。我们该反省如何改善自家的不足。可惜一味的狂吠而欠缺实际行动是许多政治人物的强项,推卸责任是他们的生存技能。

无可否认,最贪腐的国家都归于贫穷和政治动荡的国家。这并不意味最清廉的国家没有贪污行为,那只是因为他们做得更隐秘化、专业化、先进化、有时候合法化。



The
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of year 2006 released by the Transparency International indicating the general corruption level of the 163 surveyed countries, generally linked to the politics, economy and social atmosphere respectively. The public would be induced to judge particular country accordingly.

Malaysian government is upset over the ranking has slid to 44th place from 39th last year. As expected, some politicians defy the credibility of the statistic, presenting numerous excuses to try pacifying the public emotion.

In fact, this survey is not an absolute measure of a country development. Why paying so much concern on the position like students comparing their academic results? Senseless! The ranking slide does not justify one country’s corruption is worsening, likely other countries have improved wisely in this respect. We should question how to improve ourselves instead. Unfortunately barking without practical effort is the strong point of many politicians, avoiding responsibility is their surviving skill.

No doubt, the lowest rank countries are among the well known poorest and political unstable countries. This does not imply the cleanest country has no corruption cases, but it was carried out more secretly, professionally, advance technically, and sometimes legally.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

例行公事 / Routine

一位菲律宾的同事说最近的一次台风把他家的庄稼都给摧毁了,损失了一笔金钱。

曾在菲律宾体验过它的威力,仍然历历在目。台风迫近的哪天,狂风暴雨切断了电源。我独自守着那座落在渔村里的半砖半木板房子里,感觉有点儿地动山摇。晚上八时许,台风达到了极速(180公里时速)。雨点夹着雷霆万钧之势从每个隙缝渗透入屋内,当时可真担心屋子会被吹垮。折腾了一个晚上,索性倒在被雨水溅湿的床上和衣就睡。

醒来之时雨已经停了。自家前后院都给水淹了,最令人难受的是邻家猪舍的排泄物也漂流到我家后院,真恶心!街上满目疮痍,电杆、尼巴叶编织的棚屋、树木花草被吹得东歪西倒,淹死的家禽散落各地。

可怜农民的血汗都白费了。生活只够糊口的穷人家不得不四处张罗重建房子,奈何无能力建一座更坚固的房子。台风年年光临,棚屋年年重建似乎已成了例行公事。


One of the recent typhoons destroyed the crops of my colleague in Philippines, he lost some money.

I experienced the mighty typhoon in Philippines, unforgettable. On the day typhoon was approaching, the thunderous storm cut off power supply. I was guarding alone in the semi-brick house in the fishing village, felt the house quaking with fear. By 8pm, the typhoon roared with its maximum speed (180km/h). The raindrops coupled with tremendous force permeated through any tiny gap into the house, was worrying badly it would collapse. Was exhausted after struggling over the night, I laid asleep on the wet mattress.

The rain had ceased the next morning. The front and backyard were flooded, but the faeces from the neighbouring piggery were drifted to my backyard, disgusting! The whole village was a mess - electricity poles, nipa huts, trees and plants were destroyed, collapsed. The dead poultries scattered around.

Felt deeply sorry to the farmers for losing the crops, all efforts were in vain. The poor families who could barely feed themselves had to search around for materials to rebuild their huts, but unable to construct a sturdier shade. The typhoons visit yearly, it has become their yearly routine works.