2013年03月25日：退流行：陳祺勳
by Chen Qixun
有人說流行是一種陰謀，只為創造一種焦慮讓人季季添購新衣，不同的流行趨勢讓我們有機會嘗試各種不同的裝扮，未嘗不是一件好事，其實這世上有很多人是當真不在意流行而怡然自得得過的，那是種生活方式，而且相較之下比起季季追逐流行要輕鬆許多。
Some say fashion is a plot designed to create anxiety and make us constantly buy new clothes. But changing fashion trends allow us to try out different styles, and that's not a bad thing. Actually there are plenty of people in the world who truly don't care about fashion and are nonetheless quite happy and pleased with themselves. That's a lifestyle choice, and it's certainly a more relaxing one than chasing fashion trends from season to season.
不過，也有分還是在意美感，跟整組放棄的人，許多人過了一個年紀，似乎打扮就再也沒換過了，因為他們已經找到最適合自己的東西，整組放棄的人更是恣情恣意，有時候佩服他們的勇氣可以毫不在乎就這樣出門（其實那也不是勇氣，既然不在乎穿著，也想不到有人會因為你穿著而對你有所評價了）。
But some still do care about beauty. Some people have given the whole thing up. (?) It seems that many people, after they've passed a certain age, will never change their style again because they've already found what suits them best. People who've given up are especially reckless. Sometimes I admire their bravery, that they can leave the house looking like that and not care a bit (actually it's not that they're brave, but rather that, since they themselves don't care about clothes, it doesn't occur to them that other people judge them based on what they wear).
曾經非常流行的東西為什麼後來會退流行了呢？或退流行的東西，又是誰決定把它重新拿出來的呢？好比最近開始雜誌上開始吹捧穿短上衣露肚子，有些女 明星也真的穿了，讓人想起電影獨領風騷裡的造型，不過這個流行我不覺得會真的會在一般人間廣為流傳，因為首先肚子是我們很多人都想藏起來的部位，豈有還把它拿出來見客的道理，再來就是如果上衣一換，那下身搭配的東西就得通通換過，是個很麻煩的流行。
Why is it that what used to be the height of fashion becomes outdated? And those outdated things, who decides to reinstate them? It's like how lately the magazines are going on about short tops that expose the belly, and some female stars are really wearing them; it makes one think of the styles in the movie Clueless. But I don't think it's going to catch on very widely. For many of us, the belly is a part we want to keep hidden, and it's preposterous to think of showing it to people; then if you change your top you have to change the rest of your outfit, and it's really a lot of trouble.
曾經大熱門過的東西，不管是流行時尚或者音樂或者人或者口頭禪，大多都不免被人遺忘，一個東西流行起來時鋒頭越盛，將來就越有登高跌重的時候，拍賣上你可以看到當年超流行的包包現在在賤價出售，或者在很鄉下的什麼水果節慶裡面看到曾經紅極一時的藝人，都令人感慨，只有很幸運的少數可以通過時間的考驗存活下來，成為經典。
Things that used to be in style, whether fashion or music or people or figures of speech, the vast majority will be forgotten. The more something catches the spotlight, the further it will have to fall when the time comes. At auctions you can see last year's hottest bags on sale for bargain prices, and has-been stars performing at small-town fruit festivals and things. It's a bit sad. Only the very most fortunate few can pass the test of time and become classics.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
I'm scared of people asking me for directions
2013年03月22日：我害怕有人跟我問路：陳祺勳
by Chen Qixun
我非常害怕有人跟我問路，因為我常常都不知道現在是要去哪，更何況要替別人指出方向了，而且，我也沒辦法用正常人的方法替人指路，正常人替人指路的方法是某某路走到跟某某路交叉的時候第幾個紅綠燈右轉（我想舉實際的例子，但我舉不出實際的路名）。
I'm quite scared of people on the street asking me for directions. I myself often don't know where I'm going; how can I tell other people which way to go? Furthermore, I can't use the normal method of giving directions. Normal people give directions by saying go on such-and-such a street to the intersection of such-and-such street, and after some number of stoplights turn right (I wish I could use a real-life example, but I can't think of any street names).
有人跟我問路了，我通常是這樣回答的，嗯，我們現在是在這裡沒錯吧，你往前走一小段距離會看見一間賣襪子的店，然後再在賣紅豆餅的地方右轉，等等， 左轉，左邊是哪一邊（看自己手錶戴在哪一手），對了，左轉，然後再往前走你會看見兩間便利商店，你要去的地方就在兩間便利商店的中間，比較靠近全家，離 7-11遠一點。此時正常的路人都會問，所以是什麼路和什麼路嗎，我只好回答他，對不起，我不知道路的名字，你還是問別人比較快（然後路人就會露出那種遇見瘋子的謹慎微笑慢慢倒退離開）。
When people ask me for directions, I usually answer like this: "Um, right now we're here, yes. First you go a straight a little ways and then you'll see a store that sells pants, and then at the place with the red bean cakes take a right ... (pause) ... left is which way again?" (I glancing at my hands to see which one has my watch on it.) "Yes, left. Then go straight again, and then you'll see two convenience stores, and the place you're looking for is between them, a bit closer to the Family Mart, a bit farther from the 7-11." At this point, normal people will ask: So what it's at what street and what street? And all I can say is: "I'm sorry, I don't know the name of the street, you'd better ask somebody else, it'll be faster." (Then they get a look on their face like they're dealing with a crazy person, and they carefully smile and slowly back away.)
之前有人問我某個地址，我說，我知道！那個就在忠孝sogo的對面，BR4的旁邊，往微風廣場的方向走你就可以看 到，所以我的座標都是以百貨公司為基準點來畫的，不是我要自誇，我可以畫出微風廣場（或A4或A9和101的）裡面專櫃的平面圖喔，如果你在問我台北市有 幾間香奈兒在哪裡我可以馬上回答，但在今天之前我不知道敦化南路和敦化北路其實是同一條路（這種事沒什麼好自誇的吧）我對世界的認識是由一間一間店建築起來的，動物學家勞倫茲記載過一種水老鼠每次離巢都會依循同樣路線回巢，即使有明明近很多的路牠們也不會改變，因為牠們的頭腦沒法處理這種事，我覺得我也有那種水鼠基因。
Once somebody asked me for some address, and I said: "I know where that is! It's across from Zhongxiao SOGO, next to BR4. Go toward the Breeze shopping center and you'll see it." My coordinates are drawn using department stores as reference points. Not to boast, but I could draw you a detailed map of the layout of the of the Breeze center (or A4, or A9, or 101). If you asked me how many Chanel stores there are in Taipei, I could answer you instantly. But before today I didn't know that Dunhua South Rd and and Dunhua North Rd were in fact the same street (and that's certainly nothing to be proud of). My knowledge of the world is built entirely on stores. The zoologist Konrad Lorenz once wrote about a kind of water rat that, when venturing out its nest, would always have to return along exactly the same route. Even if there was another route that was obviously much more direct, still the rat could not change; its brain simply could not process such a thing. I think I must share some genes with this water rat.
by Chen Qixun
我非常害怕有人跟我問路，因為我常常都不知道現在是要去哪，更何況要替別人指出方向了，而且，我也沒辦法用正常人的方法替人指路，正常人替人指路的方法是某某路走到跟某某路交叉的時候第幾個紅綠燈右轉（我想舉實際的例子，但我舉不出實際的路名）。
I'm quite scared of people on the street asking me for directions. I myself often don't know where I'm going; how can I tell other people which way to go? Furthermore, I can't use the normal method of giving directions. Normal people give directions by saying go on such-and-such a street to the intersection of such-and-such street, and after some number of stoplights turn right (I wish I could use a real-life example, but I can't think of any street names).
有人跟我問路了，我通常是這樣回答的，嗯，我們現在是在這裡沒錯吧，你往前走一小段距離會看見一間賣襪子的店，然後再在賣紅豆餅的地方右轉，等等， 左轉，左邊是哪一邊（看自己手錶戴在哪一手），對了，左轉，然後再往前走你會看見兩間便利商店，你要去的地方就在兩間便利商店的中間，比較靠近全家，離 7-11遠一點。此時正常的路人都會問，所以是什麼路和什麼路嗎，我只好回答他，對不起，我不知道路的名字，你還是問別人比較快（然後路人就會露出那種遇見瘋子的謹慎微笑慢慢倒退離開）。
When people ask me for directions, I usually answer like this: "Um, right now we're here, yes. First you go a straight a little ways and then you'll see a store that sells pants, and then at the place with the red bean cakes take a right ... (pause) ... left is which way again?" (I glancing at my hands to see which one has my watch on it.) "Yes, left. Then go straight again, and then you'll see two convenience stores, and the place you're looking for is between them, a bit closer to the Family Mart, a bit farther from the 7-11." At this point, normal people will ask: So what it's at what street and what street? And all I can say is: "I'm sorry, I don't know the name of the street, you'd better ask somebody else, it'll be faster." (Then they get a look on their face like they're dealing with a crazy person, and they carefully smile and slowly back away.)
之前有人問我某個地址，我說，我知道！那個就在忠孝sogo的對面，BR4的旁邊，往微風廣場的方向走你就可以看 到，所以我的座標都是以百貨公司為基準點來畫的，不是我要自誇，我可以畫出微風廣場（或A4或A9和101的）裡面專櫃的平面圖喔，如果你在問我台北市有 幾間香奈兒在哪裡我可以馬上回答，但在今天之前我不知道敦化南路和敦化北路其實是同一條路（這種事沒什麼好自誇的吧）我對世界的認識是由一間一間店建築起來的，動物學家勞倫茲記載過一種水老鼠每次離巢都會依循同樣路線回巢，即使有明明近很多的路牠們也不會改變，因為牠們的頭腦沒法處理這種事，我覺得我也有那種水鼠基因。
Once somebody asked me for some address, and I said: "I know where that is! It's across from Zhongxiao SOGO, next to BR4. Go toward the Breeze shopping center and you'll see it." My coordinates are drawn using department stores as reference points. Not to boast, but I could draw you a detailed map of the layout of the of the Breeze center (or A4, or A9, or 101). If you asked me how many Chanel stores there are in Taipei, I could answer you instantly. But before today I didn't know that Dunhua South Rd and and Dunhua North Rd were in fact the same street (and that's certainly nothing to be proud of). My knowledge of the world is built entirely on stores. The zoologist Konrad Lorenz once wrote about a kind of water rat that, when venturing out its nest, would always have to return along exactly the same route. Even if there was another route that was obviously much more direct, still the rat could not change; its brain simply could not process such a thing. I think I must share some genes with this water rat.
Convenience stores are going too far
2013年03月21日：便利商店未免太貪心
by Chen Qixun
最近看到一個新聞說便利商店業者除了賣便當，今年還要開始推消費者在店內吃比如點麵配小菜之類，之前賣便當的時候曾經拍過一個廣告說外面的便當店沒有熱量標示，便利商店未免也太貪心不足了。
According to a recent news story, later this year convenience stores will start serving fresh-cooked noodle soup, vegetable sides, etc., right in the store. In the past they've run ads pointing out that independent food stalls and small restaurants do not publish the caloric content of the boxed meals they sell [boxed meals sold at convenience stores do]. The convenience stores are so greedy, it's just too much.
我覺得便利商店就像文明的燈塔，在荒郊野外看見二十四小時便利商店的燈光便感到安心，至少被殺人魔追殺時可以逃進店內（而且被殺人魔追殺發生機率也太低了 吧。），我記得有個女的遭家暴她就一路逃逃到便利商店讓監視器錄下丈夫對她施暴，用那個當證據訴請離婚獲准，臨時少了什麼都找它。便利商店越來越多，提供 服務也越來越多。
To me, convenience stores are like beacons of civilization. Seeing the bright lights of a convenience store shining in the desolate suburban wilderness makes you feel safe. When being chased by a homicidal maniac, you can always duck into a convenience store (though admittedly this doesn't happen very often). I remember once a woman who was a victim of domestic abuse fled to a convenience store so the security camera would film the evidence of her husband's violence, and then she used this evidence to secure a divorce. And if you find you're out of something at the last minute, you can always find it at the convenience store. Convenience stores are becoming ever more numerous, with an ever wider range of services.
現在幾乎已經看不到影印店了，傳統的小雜貨店更是被消滅殆盡，現在便利商店又虎視眈眈的瞄準外食市場，挾帶集團的資本，進貨的競爭優勢，和無數的店面，實在讓人覺得便利商店到底要怎樣擴張它才滿意？所幸，便利商店賣的微波食物無法跟真正的食物相比， 吃起來是距離不遠，不過就不是它自己宣稱自己是的那個東西就對了。
These days it's rare to see a print shop, old-fasioned general stores are also nearly extinct, and now the convenience stores are closing in on the take-out market. With their flexible corporate capital, their competitive advantage in stocking products, and their innumerable stores, it makes you wonder: How much will they have to expand before they're satisfied? Fortunately, the microwaved food they sell can't compare to real food, it tastes completely different, but then again they don't claim otherwise [?].
最大的連鎖便利商店裡有許多品牌是買不到的，因為他們不上架，不上架沒有被消費者看到的機會，就等於不存在，而他們不進那貨的原因是跟他們集團的產品重複衝突甚至更有競爭力。我總覺得有一天選總統可能投票也會是在便利商店投（投票還會送飲料或衛生紙買一送一折價券之類。）
There are many brands you can't buy at the largest convenience store chain [7-11] because they're not on the shelf; and if they're not on the shelf, the consumer doesn't see them, which basically means they don't exist. The reason they aren't stocked is that the corporation produces another similar product and they don't want any competition; quite possibly, the competing brand is actually more competitive. I wonder if some day we'll be casting our votes for president at the convenience stores (maybe they'll even throw in a free snack or a buy-one-get-one-free deal on toilet paper).
by Chen Qixun
最近看到一個新聞說便利商店業者除了賣便當，今年還要開始推消費者在店內吃比如點麵配小菜之類，之前賣便當的時候曾經拍過一個廣告說外面的便當店沒有熱量標示，便利商店未免也太貪心不足了。
According to a recent news story, later this year convenience stores will start serving fresh-cooked noodle soup, vegetable sides, etc., right in the store. In the past they've run ads pointing out that independent food stalls and small restaurants do not publish the caloric content of the boxed meals they sell [boxed meals sold at convenience stores do]. The convenience stores are so greedy, it's just too much.
我覺得便利商店就像文明的燈塔，在荒郊野外看見二十四小時便利商店的燈光便感到安心，至少被殺人魔追殺時可以逃進店內（而且被殺人魔追殺發生機率也太低了 吧。），我記得有個女的遭家暴她就一路逃逃到便利商店讓監視器錄下丈夫對她施暴，用那個當證據訴請離婚獲准，臨時少了什麼都找它。便利商店越來越多，提供 服務也越來越多。
To me, convenience stores are like beacons of civilization. Seeing the bright lights of a convenience store shining in the desolate suburban wilderness makes you feel safe. When being chased by a homicidal maniac, you can always duck into a convenience store (though admittedly this doesn't happen very often). I remember once a woman who was a victim of domestic abuse fled to a convenience store so the security camera would film the evidence of her husband's violence, and then she used this evidence to secure a divorce. And if you find you're out of something at the last minute, you can always find it at the convenience store. Convenience stores are becoming ever more numerous, with an ever wider range of services.
現在幾乎已經看不到影印店了，傳統的小雜貨店更是被消滅殆盡，現在便利商店又虎視眈眈的瞄準外食市場，挾帶集團的資本，進貨的競爭優勢，和無數的店面，實在讓人覺得便利商店到底要怎樣擴張它才滿意？所幸，便利商店賣的微波食物無法跟真正的食物相比， 吃起來是距離不遠，不過就不是它自己宣稱自己是的那個東西就對了。
These days it's rare to see a print shop, old-fasioned general stores are also nearly extinct, and now the convenience stores are closing in on the take-out market. With their flexible corporate capital, their competitive advantage in stocking products, and their innumerable stores, it makes you wonder: How much will they have to expand before they're satisfied? Fortunately, the microwaved food they sell can't compare to real food, it tastes completely different, but then again they don't claim otherwise [?].
最大的連鎖便利商店裡有許多品牌是買不到的，因為他們不上架，不上架沒有被消費者看到的機會，就等於不存在，而他們不進那貨的原因是跟他們集團的產品重複衝突甚至更有競爭力。我總覺得有一天選總統可能投票也會是在便利商店投（投票還會送飲料或衛生紙買一送一折價券之類。）
There are many brands you can't buy at the largest convenience store chain [7-11] because they're not on the shelf; and if they're not on the shelf, the consumer doesn't see them, which basically means they don't exist. The reason they aren't stocked is that the corporation produces another similar product and they don't want any competition; quite possibly, the competing brand is actually more competitive. I wonder if some day we'll be casting our votes for president at the convenience stores (maybe they'll even throw in a free snack or a buy-one-get-one-free deal on toilet paper).
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
PhD opens a fried chicken stand
2013年03月20日：博士生賣雞排：陳祺勳
by Chen Qixun
最近一個博士生賣起雞排，郭董認為虛耗教育資源，有人認為生涯選擇是個人的自由，所以罵起郭董，不過人也有表達意見的自由，大家對這種事情永遠不會有達成共識的一天（其實，對這種事情，我們也不需要共識，任何人都可以憑自己的能力去讀任何想讀的東西，也可以憑自己的能力去做想做的工作。）
Someone with a PhD has recently opened a fried chicken stand. Director Gou thinks this is a waste of educational resources; others think individuals should have the right to freely choose a career path, and thus have criticized out Dir. Gou. But then again, people also have freedom of expression, and there will never be a day when everyone reaches consensus on this kind of thing (in fact, we don't need to reach consensus on this kind of thing; anyone can go study anything they want on their own power, and then to go do whatever they choose with it).
譁眾取寵得一時討論為什麼大家都覺得賣雞排是一個萬不得已人人可做的工作？一天到晚聽到人家說怎樣怎樣就去賣雞排，雞排是一項需要高度專注力和技術的工作，不是拿塊雞肉抹粉炸熟就可以了事的，光是雞肉該選哪個部位，如果是不同的部位需要不同的處理方式和炸的時間，粉是什麼粉，攤子的特色是什麼，該不該兼營其他炸物還是獨有雞排一味，都是累積出來的技術，如何控制進貨成本，如何開拓客源，經營一個成功的雞排攤子絕非想像中那麼簡單（至少我身為雞排愛好者知道自己是萬萬做不來的）。
Just to fan the flames for a moment, I must bring up the question of why people think selling fried chicken is something that anyone could do, but would do only as a last resort? From morning to night you hear advice about how to open a successful fried chicken stand. Making fried chicken requires a high degree of expertise and artistry: It's not like you can just grab a piece of chicken, roll it in flour, pop it in the deep fryer and you're done. To begin with, you have to know what part of the chicken to use, and that each piece requires a different prep method and cooking time, and what kind of a flour; what your stand's special draw will be, and should you offer some other fried thing along with the chicken or just stick with chicken---all these things require a lot of accumulated knowledge. And then there's how to run the finances, and how to develop your customer base. Managing a successful fried chicken stand is not nearly so simple as some may imagine (at least from my perspective as someone who loves fried chicken, I know I could never pull it off).
還有，何必拿學歷出來招搖說自己是台大博士好像委屈了你似的，賣雞排是個辛苦而且了不起的工作，拿學歷出來說約莫是想炒話題，但在熱潮退了後，最終還是自己要面對自己的雞排攤，譁眾取寵可以得到一時討論，但最終大家注意的，還是你的雞排。
And furthermore, is it really necessary to wave your NTU PhD around and then act like you're the victim? Selling fried chicken is a difficult and important job, but flaunting your educational status seems a bit like a publicity stunt. After the storm has died down it's still you yourself that has to face that chicken stand. A media controversy will get people talking about you for a moment, but in the end the only thing they really care about is your fried chicken.
美國偶像有個參賽者天生比人矮，他每次唱歌都要報自己的身高，評審之一妮姬米娜有天煩了就說你可不可以不要再報自己的身高，若是真唱得好自然沒人在意你的身高，若是唱得不好那麼報再多次身高也沒用，若是真好吃大家會來也就是因為你的雞排，若是不好吃，就算你再去拿一個博士後研究或雙博士貼在額頭上也沒有用。
There's a contestant on American Idol who is very short, and every time he sings, he always mentions his height. One of the judges, Nicki Minaj, got fed up with it one day and said: Would you please stop talking about your height? If you sing well nobody will notice your height, and if you don't sing well, then no matter how many times you mention your height, it won't do you any good. If you make good fried chicken then people will come, and they'll be coming for the chicken. But if you make crappy chicken, even if you have a post-PhD degree, or you have two PhD's and you paste them both on your forehead, it still won't help you one bit.
by Chen Qixun
最近一個博士生賣起雞排，郭董認為虛耗教育資源，有人認為生涯選擇是個人的自由，所以罵起郭董，不過人也有表達意見的自由，大家對這種事情永遠不會有達成共識的一天（其實，對這種事情，我們也不需要共識，任何人都可以憑自己的能力去讀任何想讀的東西，也可以憑自己的能力去做想做的工作。）
Someone with a PhD has recently opened a fried chicken stand. Director Gou thinks this is a waste of educational resources; others think individuals should have the right to freely choose a career path, and thus have criticized out Dir. Gou. But then again, people also have freedom of expression, and there will never be a day when everyone reaches consensus on this kind of thing (in fact, we don't need to reach consensus on this kind of thing; anyone can go study anything they want on their own power, and then to go do whatever they choose with it).
譁眾取寵得一時討論為什麼大家都覺得賣雞排是一個萬不得已人人可做的工作？一天到晚聽到人家說怎樣怎樣就去賣雞排，雞排是一項需要高度專注力和技術的工作，不是拿塊雞肉抹粉炸熟就可以了事的，光是雞肉該選哪個部位，如果是不同的部位需要不同的處理方式和炸的時間，粉是什麼粉，攤子的特色是什麼，該不該兼營其他炸物還是獨有雞排一味，都是累積出來的技術，如何控制進貨成本，如何開拓客源，經營一個成功的雞排攤子絕非想像中那麼簡單（至少我身為雞排愛好者知道自己是萬萬做不來的）。
Just to fan the flames for a moment, I must bring up the question of why people think selling fried chicken is something that anyone could do, but would do only as a last resort? From morning to night you hear advice about how to open a successful fried chicken stand. Making fried chicken requires a high degree of expertise and artistry: It's not like you can just grab a piece of chicken, roll it in flour, pop it in the deep fryer and you're done. To begin with, you have to know what part of the chicken to use, and that each piece requires a different prep method and cooking time, and what kind of a flour; what your stand's special draw will be, and should you offer some other fried thing along with the chicken or just stick with chicken---all these things require a lot of accumulated knowledge. And then there's how to run the finances, and how to develop your customer base. Managing a successful fried chicken stand is not nearly so simple as some may imagine (at least from my perspective as someone who loves fried chicken, I know I could never pull it off).
還有，何必拿學歷出來招搖說自己是台大博士好像委屈了你似的，賣雞排是個辛苦而且了不起的工作，拿學歷出來說約莫是想炒話題，但在熱潮退了後，最終還是自己要面對自己的雞排攤，譁眾取寵可以得到一時討論，但最終大家注意的，還是你的雞排。
And furthermore, is it really necessary to wave your NTU PhD around and then act like you're the victim? Selling fried chicken is a difficult and important job, but flaunting your educational status seems a bit like a publicity stunt. After the storm has died down it's still you yourself that has to face that chicken stand. A media controversy will get people talking about you for a moment, but in the end the only thing they really care about is your fried chicken.
美國偶像有個參賽者天生比人矮，他每次唱歌都要報自己的身高，評審之一妮姬米娜有天煩了就說你可不可以不要再報自己的身高，若是真唱得好自然沒人在意你的身高，若是唱得不好那麼報再多次身高也沒用，若是真好吃大家會來也就是因為你的雞排，若是不好吃，就算你再去拿一個博士後研究或雙博士貼在額頭上也沒有用。
There's a contestant on American Idol who is very short, and every time he sings, he always mentions his height. One of the judges, Nicki Minaj, got fed up with it one day and said: Would you please stop talking about your height? If you sing well nobody will notice your height, and if you don't sing well, then no matter how many times you mention your height, it won't do you any good. If you make good fried chicken then people will come, and they'll be coming for the chicken. But if you make crappy chicken, even if you have a post-PhD degree, or you have two PhD's and you paste them both on your forehead, it still won't help you one bit.
Images of ourselves
2013年03月19日：每個人都有形象：陳祺勳
by Chen Xichun
我最近持續在讀史蒂芬金的小說，其中最精采的一本很顯然是顫慄遊戲，作家保羅薛頓出了車禍被他的頭號書迷安妮救起，保羅薛頓最成功的系列是一系列時代背景在十九世紀末，女主角叫Misery的小說，這系列非常暢銷，但保羅薛頓在那系列的最後一本裡賜死了Misery，新寫了一本他認為更現代更有文學性的小說。
Lately I've been reading the novels of Stephen King, the most exciting of which is definitely Misery: Writer Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his "number one fan," Annie; Paul Sheldon's most successful series is set in the late 19th century and has a female protagonist called "Misery;" the series is extremely popular, but in the last volume of the series he kills off Misery so he can begin what he believes will be a more modern novel with higher literary value.
在他還躺在床上養傷時，安妮發現他把讓她最愛的女主角死了，所以瘋狂的燒了他的新作原稿，還逼迫保羅新寫一本書把Misery救活，幾乎是只有兩個人之間的你來我往卻精采萬分（書和電影都非常精采，但結局略微不同，一個是被逼寫的書終究出版大受歡迎，一個是主角成了他想成為的嚴肅作家，可以看見作者和導演不同的角度）。
While he's lying in bed recovering from his injuries, Annie discovers that he has killed her favorite heroine, so she burns the manuscript of his new novel in a psychotic rage, and then forces Paul Sheldon to write a new novel in which Misery is brought back to life. It's more or less just the two of them dickering back and forth, but it's actually quite exciting (the book and the movie are both great, but their story lines are slightly different: In one, the forcibly written novel gets published to great success; in the other, the protagonist achieves his dream of becoming a serious literary author---here you can see the two different perspectives of the author and the director).
我們每個人都有大家眼中的形象，你實際上呈現出來的形象，以及你理想中的自我形象，這三者重疊的部份越大一個人就越自足越快樂，如果大相逕庭，就會造成痛苦與衝突，因為我們從別人的眼中看到的還是自己的倒影。
Each of us has an image that appears in the eyes of others, another that you actually are, and an idealized self-image. The bigger the overlap between these three, the happier and more satisfied with ourselves we are; while a big difference between them creates suffering and conflict, because what we see in the eyes of others is still our own reflection [though reversed, like the image we see of ourselves reflected on still water].
看美國偶像也有類似情節，一個參賽者在十強淘汰賽時忽然做了很有突破的表現，以及大為不同的打扮，評審和觀眾都感到詫異失望，那個原本被熟悉而喜愛的人去了哪裡？他也因此被淘汰無緣決賽。
See, contestants on American Idol have a related problem: When there's a "top ten elimination competition" they suddenly make a big splashy change in their presentation, with a completely different look, and the critics and audience feel acutely let down by this. Where's the familiar person that was we loved so much? The star is thus pushed aside in favor of others, and loses the competition.
任何人都有證明自己不只這樣的慾望，但如果你的工作是與群眾接觸，那麼，如果你沒有誠實的呈現自己最想呈現的樣子，要不是被發現真實的樣子而被說揭穿假面，就是憋到內傷搞出一腦袋憂鬱症。
Everyone longs to prove that they are not only this one particular way, but if your work requires contact with the public, then you must honestly present the form you want most to show. Otherwise, if your true form is discovered, you'll be accused of having hidden behind a mask, so you must stifle yourself to the point of injury and depression.
真正了解自己想做什麼，能做什麼，固然很重要，但更重要的，我想是面對別人的一點點寬容，你自然可以因為某人與你想像中不同而失望，同樣的，任何人也不必為別人心中的想像負責。
Truly understanding what what you want to do, what you can do, is of course very important. But even more important is that we approach others with a tiny bit of compassionate acceptance. It's natural to be disappointed when others don't match your image of them; but, likewise, no one is responsible for the images of them that appear in the minds of others.
by Chen Xichun
我最近持續在讀史蒂芬金的小說，其中最精采的一本很顯然是顫慄遊戲，作家保羅薛頓出了車禍被他的頭號書迷安妮救起，保羅薛頓最成功的系列是一系列時代背景在十九世紀末，女主角叫Misery的小說，這系列非常暢銷，但保羅薛頓在那系列的最後一本裡賜死了Misery，新寫了一本他認為更現代更有文學性的小說。
Lately I've been reading the novels of Stephen King, the most exciting of which is definitely Misery: Writer Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his "number one fan," Annie; Paul Sheldon's most successful series is set in the late 19th century and has a female protagonist called "Misery;" the series is extremely popular, but in the last volume of the series he kills off Misery so he can begin what he believes will be a more modern novel with higher literary value.
在他還躺在床上養傷時，安妮發現他把讓她最愛的女主角死了，所以瘋狂的燒了他的新作原稿，還逼迫保羅新寫一本書把Misery救活，幾乎是只有兩個人之間的你來我往卻精采萬分（書和電影都非常精采，但結局略微不同，一個是被逼寫的書終究出版大受歡迎，一個是主角成了他想成為的嚴肅作家，可以看見作者和導演不同的角度）。
While he's lying in bed recovering from his injuries, Annie discovers that he has killed her favorite heroine, so she burns the manuscript of his new novel in a psychotic rage, and then forces Paul Sheldon to write a new novel in which Misery is brought back to life. It's more or less just the two of them dickering back and forth, but it's actually quite exciting (the book and the movie are both great, but their story lines are slightly different: In one, the forcibly written novel gets published to great success; in the other, the protagonist achieves his dream of becoming a serious literary author---here you can see the two different perspectives of the author and the director).
我們每個人都有大家眼中的形象，你實際上呈現出來的形象，以及你理想中的自我形象，這三者重疊的部份越大一個人就越自足越快樂，如果大相逕庭，就會造成痛苦與衝突，因為我們從別人的眼中看到的還是自己的倒影。
Each of us has an image that appears in the eyes of others, another that you actually are, and an idealized self-image. The bigger the overlap between these three, the happier and more satisfied with ourselves we are; while a big difference between them creates suffering and conflict, because what we see in the eyes of others is still our own reflection [though reversed, like the image we see of ourselves reflected on still water].
看美國偶像也有類似情節，一個參賽者在十強淘汰賽時忽然做了很有突破的表現，以及大為不同的打扮，評審和觀眾都感到詫異失望，那個原本被熟悉而喜愛的人去了哪裡？他也因此被淘汰無緣決賽。
See, contestants on American Idol have a related problem: When there's a "top ten elimination competition" they suddenly make a big splashy change in their presentation, with a completely different look, and the critics and audience feel acutely let down by this. Where's the familiar person that was we loved so much? The star is thus pushed aside in favor of others, and loses the competition.
任何人都有證明自己不只這樣的慾望，但如果你的工作是與群眾接觸，那麼，如果你沒有誠實的呈現自己最想呈現的樣子，要不是被發現真實的樣子而被說揭穿假面，就是憋到內傷搞出一腦袋憂鬱症。
Everyone longs to prove that they are not only this one particular way, but if your work requires contact with the public, then you must honestly present the form you want most to show. Otherwise, if your true form is discovered, you'll be accused of having hidden behind a mask, so you must stifle yourself to the point of injury and depression.
真正了解自己想做什麼，能做什麼，固然很重要，但更重要的，我想是面對別人的一點點寬容，你自然可以因為某人與你想像中不同而失望，同樣的，任何人也不必為別人心中的想像負責。
Truly understanding what what you want to do, what you can do, is of course very important. But even more important is that we approach others with a tiny bit of compassionate acceptance. It's natural to be disappointed when others don't match your image of them; but, likewise, no one is responsible for the images of them that appear in the minds of others.
Two kinds of space: 空 (kōng) and 空 (kòng)
The character 空 can be pronounced either (kōng) or (kòng). How do you know when to use which tone?
空 (kōng) emphasizes the ongoing presence of space. It has volume and consequence. It is "nothing" as opposed to "something," an emptiness that exists in its own right:
空間 space
太空 outer space
天空 the sky
空氣 air
真空 a vacuum
中空 hollow
空想 fantasy, daydreams
憑空 an argument is baseless (lit: relies on nothing)
空心菜 cooking greens with hollow stems (lit: empty center greens)
目空一切 condescending (lit: the eye sees everything as mere empty space)
空 (kòng), on the other hand, emphasizes a vacancy that is immanently fill-able:
空格 a check box; a blank to fill in
空位 an empty seat
空房 an available room for rent
有空 to have free time; to be available
一片空白 a blank slate; to draw a blank
An interesting one is 空地 ，translated in dictionaries as "open space" as in 孩子喜歡在空地玩 , "kids like to play in open spaces." At first this sounds like it could mean parks or fields or the great outdoors, but a quick search on Google Images reveals that in fact 空地 refers to empty lots in cities.
空 (kōng) emphasizes the ongoing presence of space. It has volume and consequence. It is "nothing" as opposed to "something," an emptiness that exists in its own right:
空間 space
太空 outer space
天空 the sky
空氣 air
真空 a vacuum
中空 hollow
空想 fantasy, daydreams
憑空 an argument is baseless (lit: relies on nothing)
空心菜 cooking greens with hollow stems (lit: empty center greens)
目空一切 condescending (lit: the eye sees everything as mere empty space)
空 (kòng), on the other hand, emphasizes a vacancy that is immanently fill-able:
空格 a check box; a blank to fill in
空位 an empty seat
空房 an available room for rent
有空 to have free time; to be available
一片空白 a blank slate; to draw a blank
An interesting one is 空地 ，translated in dictionaries as "open space" as in 孩子喜歡在空地玩 , "kids like to play in open spaces." At first this sounds like it could mean parks or fields or the great outdoors, but a quick search on Google Images reveals that in fact 空地 refers to empty lots in cities.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sex service
2013年03月18日：新該服務：陳祺勳
by Chen Qixun
最近有個新聞就是台大出現一個社團，是三個男生自稱從德國引進這個社團，宗旨是為了減輕女性的課業壓力，所以他們自願提供免費性服務，讓大家可以紓壓，還聲稱說無壓力的性愛可以讓課業表現更好，完全以一種做功德的說詞出現在大家的面前就對了。
According to a recent news story, Taiwan University has a new student association: Three guys, claiming that such groups originated in Germany, and in order to reduce, in women, the stress created by academic study, offer to provide sexual service free of charge, thus helping everybody feel more relaxed. They further profess that pressure-free sex can enhance academic performance. The whole thing is presented in terms of selfless volunteer work.
這事雖然沒引起軒然大波，但也引起不少人的注意，尤其這三個人還很聰明的說是從德國引進的這個想法，什麼東西只要是從日本德國引進大家都覺得似乎多重可靠感，在這件事裡面說德國大約等於在論文裡引用外國文獻吧。
While this hasn't created a maelstrom, it certainly has attracted plenty of attention, in particular the three fellows' clever assertion that the idea came from Germany. As long as something comes from Japan or Germany, everybody thinks it must be very reliable. Mentioning Germany in this context is equivalent to citing foreign sources to support an academic paper.
台大校方倒是覺得沒有違法，所以沒有處分之說，也沒有虛假的說要維護什麼校譽，因為開明的學府就該接受各種不同的事件，同時這也並沒有傷害校譽的危險（男學生願意為女同學紓壓很感人啊），但我非常好奇開張至今到底有多少女生去使用這個紓壓服務，（當然假扮成台大女學生的記者不算），依我猜測應該是一個也沒有。
The University doesn't consider it against their rules, so there's nothing they can say, and they haven't made any hypocritical remarks about protecting the school's reputation because a progressive center of learning must accept all sorts of things, and at the same time there's really no danger to the school's reputation (boys offering to help girls relieve stress, how sweet!). But I'm extremely curious as to how many women students have thus far availed themselves of this stress-reduction service (anyone falsely posing as a female NTU student doesn't count, of course). I would guess that there most likely hasn't been even a single one.
不是說我覺得性愛不重要，良好性愛的確可以讓人生更美好（但不會考試考一百分啦），也可能的確有很多人需要性愛來好好的提振一下精神，但找上這三個人我怎麼想都覺得不可能，不是針對他們個人，而是這件事追根究柢實在很愚蠢。
I'm not saying I don't think sex is important; good sex can certainly enhance one's life (though it won't get you an A on a test), and it's entirely likely that lots of people need sex to brighten their spirits, but going to these three guys for it---I just don't think it's going to happen. It's not about them personally, it's just that the whole idea is completely idiotic.
其實就是這三個男的非常想上床但苦無機會，所以不知從哪裡聽來有這種事，因此覺得不妨一試，這就是好萊塢青少年喜劇裡想盡辦法要上床的劇情（美國派用到爛的老梗），古往今來的男人為了上床做過多少事，從改運雙修到威勢脅迫，就可以理解他們三人的企圖，而說什麼是為妳紓壓，只是一個新鮮的切入點罷了。
The truth is that these three males just really, really want to get laid, and they're sorely lacking in opportunities, so they picked up this idea from who-knows-where, and they thought why not give it a try. It's the "trying to get laid" story from Hollywood romantic comedy (worn rotten from overuse in American movies). Men have been trying all sorts of thing to get laid since time began, from tantric religious practice to coercion and intimidation, so we can understand these three men's ploy. But no matter how much they say it's all for the ladies' benefit, it's really just a new angle on an old game and nothing more.
by Chen Qixun
最近有個新聞就是台大出現一個社團，是三個男生自稱從德國引進這個社團，宗旨是為了減輕女性的課業壓力，所以他們自願提供免費性服務，讓大家可以紓壓，還聲稱說無壓力的性愛可以讓課業表現更好，完全以一種做功德的說詞出現在大家的面前就對了。
According to a recent news story, Taiwan University has a new student association: Three guys, claiming that such groups originated in Germany, and in order to reduce, in women, the stress created by academic study, offer to provide sexual service free of charge, thus helping everybody feel more relaxed. They further profess that pressure-free sex can enhance academic performance. The whole thing is presented in terms of selfless volunteer work.
這事雖然沒引起軒然大波，但也引起不少人的注意，尤其這三個人還很聰明的說是從德國引進的這個想法，什麼東西只要是從日本德國引進大家都覺得似乎多重可靠感，在這件事裡面說德國大約等於在論文裡引用外國文獻吧。
While this hasn't created a maelstrom, it certainly has attracted plenty of attention, in particular the three fellows' clever assertion that the idea came from Germany. As long as something comes from Japan or Germany, everybody thinks it must be very reliable. Mentioning Germany in this context is equivalent to citing foreign sources to support an academic paper.
台大校方倒是覺得沒有違法，所以沒有處分之說，也沒有虛假的說要維護什麼校譽，因為開明的學府就該接受各種不同的事件，同時這也並沒有傷害校譽的危險（男學生願意為女同學紓壓很感人啊），但我非常好奇開張至今到底有多少女生去使用這個紓壓服務，（當然假扮成台大女學生的記者不算），依我猜測應該是一個也沒有。
The University doesn't consider it against their rules, so there's nothing they can say, and they haven't made any hypocritical remarks about protecting the school's reputation because a progressive center of learning must accept all sorts of things, and at the same time there's really no danger to the school's reputation (boys offering to help girls relieve stress, how sweet!). But I'm extremely curious as to how many women students have thus far availed themselves of this stress-reduction service (anyone falsely posing as a female NTU student doesn't count, of course). I would guess that there most likely hasn't been even a single one.
不是說我覺得性愛不重要，良好性愛的確可以讓人生更美好（但不會考試考一百分啦），也可能的確有很多人需要性愛來好好的提振一下精神，但找上這三個人我怎麼想都覺得不可能，不是針對他們個人，而是這件事追根究柢實在很愚蠢。
I'm not saying I don't think sex is important; good sex can certainly enhance one's life (though it won't get you an A on a test), and it's entirely likely that lots of people need sex to brighten their spirits, but going to these three guys for it---I just don't think it's going to happen. It's not about them personally, it's just that the whole idea is completely idiotic.
其實就是這三個男的非常想上床但苦無機會，所以不知從哪裡聽來有這種事，因此覺得不妨一試，這就是好萊塢青少年喜劇裡想盡辦法要上床的劇情（美國派用到爛的老梗），古往今來的男人為了上床做過多少事，從改運雙修到威勢脅迫，就可以理解他們三人的企圖，而說什麼是為妳紓壓，只是一個新鮮的切入點罷了。
The truth is that these three males just really, really want to get laid, and they're sorely lacking in opportunities, so they picked up this idea from who-knows-where, and they thought why not give it a try. It's the "trying to get laid" story from Hollywood romantic comedy (worn rotten from overuse in American movies). Men have been trying all sorts of thing to get laid since time began, from tantric religious practice to coercion and intimidation, so we can understand these three men's ploy. But no matter how much they say it's all for the ladies' benefit, it's really just a new angle on an old game and nothing more.
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