Wednesday, December 26, 2007

J - 어제처럼



You don't have to say a word. Just know that if ever you wanna come back to me, I'll be here waiting for you...
You don't have to say a word. Just know that if ever you wanna come back to me, I'll be here waiting for you...
You don't have to say a word. Just know that if ever you wanna come back to me, I'll be here waiting for you...

Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?
Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?
Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?

어제처럼 오늘도 아무 일 없는 듯이 그리고
Uh jae chuh ruhm oh neul doh ah moo eel ub neun deu shi geu ri go
Just like yesterday, everything seems fine today, too

Please don't tell me why 이렇게 돌아서지만
Please don't tell me why ee ruh gae do rah suh ji mahn
Please don't tell me why - even though you're turning your back on me

나를 떠나가는 이유를 난 묻진 않을게요 ('cause I love you)
Nah reul dduh na ga neun ee yoo reul nahn moodt jin ahn eul kkeh yo ('cause I love you)
I won't even ask why you're leaving ('cause I love you)


내게 이런 말 하기가 쉽진 않았을 거야
Neh geh ee ruhn mahl hah gi gah shib jin ahn ah sseul kkuh ya
It's not going to be easy for me to say these words

생각해봤어 얼마나 어려웠을지
Saeng gahk hae bwah ssuh uhl mah nah uh ryuh wuh sseul ji
I thought about how difficult it's going to be

다만 슬픈 내 눈물에 돌아설 수 없어
Dah mahn seul peun neh noon mool eh doh rah suhl soo ub ssuh
I can't simply just stop my tears from flowing

멈춘 사랑으로 안을까 봐 난 너무나 두려울 뿐이죠
Muhm choon sarang eu roh ahn eul kka bwah nahn nuh moo nah doo ryuh ool bboon ee jyoh
I'm afraid that the love you have for me is gone


So baby, trust the warmth inside
So baby, trust the warmth inside
So baby, trust the warmth inside

Can you feel my love alive?
Can you feel my love alive?
Can you feel my love alive?

어제처럼 오늘도 아무 일 없는 듯이 그리고
Uh jae chuh ruhm oh neul doh ah moo eel ub neun deu shi geu ri go
Just like yesterday, everything seems fine today, too

Please don't tell me why 이렇게 돌아서지만
Please don't tell me why ee ruh gae do rah suh ji mahn
Please don't tell me why - even though you're turning your back on me

나를 떠나가는 이유를 난 묻진 않을게요 (oh no)
Nah reul dduh na ga neun ee yoo reul nahn moodt jin ahn eul kkeh yo (oh no)
I won't even ask why you're leaving (oh no)


네겐 너무나 부족한 나를 알고 있기에
Neh gehn nuh moo nah bu jok han nah reul ahl goh eet gi eh
I realize that I'm just not enough for you

다짐해 왔어 언젠가 이별이 오면 그땐
Dah jim hae wah ssuh uhn jaen ga ee byul ee oh myun geu ddaen
Even if we have to part ways someday, I want this promise to be kept

떠난 네 마음이 미안하지 않게 좋은 추억으로 간직하게 널 웃으며 보내준다고
Dduh nahn neh ma eum ee mi ahn hah ji ahn gae joh eun choo uhk eu roh gan jik ha gae nuhl oo seu myu boh nae joon da goh
If we're no longer together at that point, I want you to be able to cherish the good times we had together, without feeling guilt over anything


So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free
So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free
So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free

처음처럼 이별은 아무런 얘기 없이 하지만
Chuh eum chuh ruhm ee byul eun ah moo ruhn yae gi ub shi hah ji mahn
Like before, our parting of ways holds no words, but

Love forever lives 다시는 볼 수 없어도
Love forever lives dah shi neun bohl soo ub ssuh doh
Love forever lives, even if I'm never able to see you again

나의 가슴 속엔 언제나 그대 영원하겠죠
Nah eh gah seum sok ehn uhn jae nah geu dae young won hah get jyoh
You are going to remain in my heart until the end of eternity


언젠가 내 모습 또 다시 처음처럼 그립다면
Uhn jaen gah nae moh seub ddoh dah shi chuh eum chuh ruhm geu reeb dah myun
If you ever find yourself missing me again, like you did before

그냥 돌아오면 돼 don't you know I love you?
Geu nyang doh rah oh myun dweh don't you know I love you?
All you have to do is turn around and come back to me - don't you know I love you?


Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?
Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?
Trust the warmth inside - can you feel my love alive?

어제처럼 오늘도 아무 일 없는 듯이 그리고
Uh jae chuh ruhm oh neul doh ah moo eel ub neun deu shi geu ri go
Just like yesterday, everything seems fine today, too

Please don't tell me why 이렇게 돌아서지만
Please don't tell me why ee ruh gae do rah suh ji mahn
Please don't tell me why - even though you're turning your back on me

나를 떠나가는 이유를 난 묻진 않을게요
Nah reul dduh na ga neun ee yoo reul nahn moodt jin ahn eul kkeh yo
I won't even ask why you're leaving


So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free
So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free
So baby, faith is all we need... it was love that set us free

처음처럼 이별은 아무런 얘기 없이 하지만
Chuh eum chuh ruhm ee byul eun ah moo ruhn yae gi ub shi hah ji mahn
Like before, our parting of ways holds no words, but

Love forever lives 다시는 볼 수 없어도
Love forever lives dah shi neun bohl soo ub ssuh doh
Love forever lives, even if I'm never able to see you again

나의 가슴 속엔 언제나 그대 영원하겠죠
Nah eh gah seum sok ehn uhn jae nah geu dae young won hah get jyoh
You are going to remain in my heart until the end of eternity

Friday, December 21, 2007

Humour 'comes from testosterone'

Last Updated: Friday, 21 December 2007, 00:17 GMT
Humour 'comes from testosterone'
laughter
Genetics may underlie humour
Men are naturally more comedic than women because of the male hormone testosterone, an expert claims.

Men make more gags than women and their jokes tend to be more aggressive, Professor Sam Shuster, of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, says.

The unicycling doctor observed how the genders reacted to his "amusing" hobby.

Women tended to make encouraging, praising comments, while men jeered. The most aggressive were young men, he told the British Medical Journal.

Previous findings have suggested women and men differ in how they use and appreciate humour.

Women tend to tell fewer jokes than men and male comedians outnumber female ones.

Aggressively funny

Research suggests men are more likely to use humour aggressively by making others the butt of the joke.

And aggression - generally considered to be a more masculine trait - has been linked by some to testosterone exposure in the womb.

Professor Shuster believes humour develops from aggression caused by male hormones.

He documented the reaction of over 400 individuals to his unicycling antics through the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Almost half of people responded verbally - more being men. Very few of the women made comic or snide remarks, while 75% of the men attempted comedy - mostly shouting out "Lost your wheel?", for example.

Mocking and sneering

Often the men's comments were mocking and intended as a put-down. Young men in cars were particularly aggressive - they lowered their windows and shouted abusively.

This type of behaviour decreased among older men however, who tended to offer more admiring comments, much like the women.

"The idea that unicycling is intrinsically funny does not explain the findings," said Professor Shuster.

The simplest explanation, he says, is the effect of male hormones such as testosterone.

And initial aggressive intent seems to become channelled into a more subtle and sophisticated joke, so the aggression is hidden by wit, claims Professor Shuster.

Dr Nick Neave is a psychologist at the University of Northumbria who has been studying the physical, behavioural, and psychological effects of testosterone.

He suggested men might respond aggressively because they see the other unicycling man as a threat, attracting female attention away from themselves.

"This would be particularly challenging for young males entering the breeding market and thus it does not surprise me that their responses were the more threatening."

Historic penguin sketches found


Last Updated: Friday, 21 December 2007, 00:02 GMT
Historic penguin sketches found
The signed chalk drawings are to be cleaned and restored

Penguin sketches made by Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton have been found in a basement at Cambridge University.

The legendary explorers drew the pictures on blackboards, probably for public lectures, in 1904 and 1909.

Nobody knows how the fragile images, in need of cleaning and restoration, ended up at the University's Scott Polar Research Institute.

Staff are appealing for donations to help preserve the signed chalk drawings and put them on public display.

Chalk and charm

"People often compare Scott and Shackleton in terms of their achievements as explorers and their leadership qualities," said Dr Huw Lewis-Jones, the historian and curator of art who found the images.

"Now, albeit with a smile on our faces, we can judge their artistic abilities as well."

Because they are so special we want to make sure that they are preserved for the future
Heather Lane, librarian

He said they were still trying to trace how the pictures arrived at the institute but he was sure they were authentic.

"Some people may think they look a little crude but I think they are incredibly charming," he added.

"They were drawn at public lectures in front of an enthusiastic audience, to laughter and to cheers, and then signed with a flourish.

"It's like having the explorers' autographs, only more wonderful, because each has signed their name next to a hand-drawn penguin."

Saved from obscurity

Scott made his drawing in 1904, after returning from his voyage aboard the Discovery.

Shackleton, who also took part in the Discovery expedition, made his sketch five years later, after coming within 150km (90 miles) of the South Pole - the furthest south any group had been at the time.

"Because they are so special we want to make sure that they are preserved for the future," said Heather Lane, librarian and keeper at the Scott Polar Research Institute.

"We've managed to save these penguins from obscurity in the basement. Now we want to get them cleaned and restored so that visitors can enjoy them."

Greenhouse clue to water on Mars

Last Updated: Thursday, 20 December 2007, 23:15 GMT
Greenhouse clue to water on Mars
By Helen Briggs
BBC News science reporter

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G Neukum)
Water ice seen by Esa's Mars Express spacecraft
A new idea could explain how the climate of early Mars became warm enough to support oceans.

Scientists believe sulphur dioxide released from ancient volcanoes created a balance similar to Earth's carbon cycle, which controlled the climate.

The notion, outlined in the journal Science, could explain why Mars rovers have found sulphur minerals on the surface but no limestone like on Earth.

It may also provide clues to how life evolved on our own planet.

"Before the origin of life, our atmosphere may have looked much like early Mars," said Daniel Schrag, lead author of the Science paper. "Sulphur dioxide may have had an important role then as well."

Carbon cycle

The Earth's climate has been influenced for millions of years by the movement of carbon around the planet, and levels of carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas.

Silicate rocks remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into calcium carbonate, commonly known as limestone, in the presence of water.

The presence of even a small amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere would contribute to the warmer climate
Itay Halevy, Harvard
Spacecraft orbiting Mars and roaming the Martian surface have discovered lots of sulphur minerals in the Red Planet's soil but almost no carbonate deposits.

Scientists have been wondering why this is the case, given our current understanding of what happens on Earth.

"There is abundant evidence for a warmer climate, perhaps even a liquid water ocean, early in Martian history, between 3.5 and four billion years ago," explained Daniel Schrag, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University, US.

"However, scientists have found it difficult to reconcile this evidence with our understanding of how the climate system is regulated on Earth."

Volcanic clues

The new idea proposes that sulphur dioxide released from giant volcanoes took the place of carbon dioxide in the early Martian atmosphere.

On Earth, sulphur dioxide is quickly oxidised to sulphate and removed from the atmosphere, but on early Mars, which lacked oxygen, it would have lingered in the atmosphere for much longer, acting as a greenhouse gas and warming the planet.

It would also have prevented limestone deposits from forming in any standing water on Mars; instead sulphate minerals would have prevailed.

Mars rover (Nasa)
Mars rovers have found sulphur minerals in soil
"The sulphur dioxide would essentially pre-empt the role of carbon dioxide in surface weathering reactions," said Itay Halevy, also of Harvard.

"The presence of even a small amount of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere would contribute to the warmer climate, and also prevent limestone deposits from forming."

The hypothesis also has implications for understanding how life evolved in water on Earth.

If confirmed, it would mean the oceans that supported early life were much more acidic than previously thought.

Other researchers are not entirely convinced by the idea, however.

"It was quite a surprise when the Mars rovers found some rocks that were 8-10% sulphur," said UK Mars expert Professor Colin Pillinger.

"I'm not 100% convinced that this is the answer but it is a good hypothesis for people to work with and prove or disprove."

Mysterious mammal caught on film

Last Updated: Monday, 10 December 2007, 00:36 GMT
Mysterious mammal caught on film
By Rebecca Morelle
Science reporter, BBC News

Long-eared jerboa


An "extraordinary" desert creature has been caught on camera for what scientists believe is the first time.

The long-eared jerboa, a tiny nocturnal mammal that is dwarfed by its enormous ears, can be found in deserts in Mongolia and China.

Zoological Society of London (ZSL) scientist Jonathan Baillie said the footage was helping researchers to learn more about the mysterious animal.

The species is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red list.

These creatures hop just like a kangaroo; it is amazing to watch
Dr Jonathan Baillie, ZSL

The unusual animals were filmed in the Gobi desert during an expedition led by Dr Baillie.

Until now, the creatures had proven extremely difficult to study, thanks to their minuscule size, nocturnal nature and the harsh desert environment that they inhabit.

Big ears

Dr Baillie told BBC News that he was "ecstatic" to have tracked down the jerboas.

"These creatures hop just like a kangaroo; it is amazing to watch. Little hairs on their feet, almost like snow shoes, allow them to jump along the sand," he explained.

Long-eared jerboa

"And in terms of mammals, they have one of the biggest ear-to-body ratios out there."

The footage revealed that the creatures spent daylight hours in underground tunnels beneath the sand, and that their diet was mostly made up of insects.

"The long-eared jerboa is a bit like the Mickey Mouse of the desert, cute and comic in equal measure," Dr Baillie said.

By setting pitfall traps, the researchers were also able to look at the rodents close-up and to begin to estimate their population.

Dr Baillie added that although there was still much to learn about the rare rodent, it was already believed to be under threat from habitat disturbance.

"We travelled to the Gobi to find out about the animal's status and learn more about it so we can develop a thorough long-term action plan."

Desert bounties

The expedition formed part of ZSL's Edge programme, which focuses its efforts on conservation plans for animals that are both endangered and evolutionarily distinctive.

The long-eared jerboa is one of 10 species that the programme is looking at this year.

Long-eared jerboas

"These amazing, remarkable creatures are on the verge of extinction and we know almost nothing about them," warned Dr Baillie.

He added that it was important not to overlook desert habitats in conservation.

"Everyone thinks the desert is a totally desolate area, void of biodiversity, and often when conservation planning is done, deserts are overlooked.

"But there are some remarkable species in the desert, so we really need to start paying attention to this environment."

An Edge scientist has now been appointed to further study the species.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

行孝以敬

行孝以敬
版头: 言论
作者: 王永炳
出版物: 联合早报 03/12/2007
页: 11
字数: 1716


 由于社会急剧变迁,家庭结构也随之发生了变化,过去四代同堂的大家庭结构已瓦解,连当时总理李光耀的恳切呼吁"我们绝不能让三代同堂的家庭分裂"(1982年),也似乎维持为艰了。
现代核心家庭越来越多,夫妻为双薪而工作忙,一切家务事交给女佣处理,对子女的管教不但无暇顾及,连子女的日常生活规范以及对长辈的基本礼貌也无从及时教导与操练。孝道对于子孙辈来说是个 很不清楚的概念。
现代医疗医药的先进与发达,使急速老化的新加坡人的寿命也获得延长,这本是好事一桩。但受到以上所提客观环境因素的局限,行孝的主观努力与愿望实不易实现,长寿反而成为有些老人家的怨叹!这就是为什么最近以来,家庭伦理孝道成为报章的热门话题的缘由了 。
小康社会行孝并不难
孟子曾指出五种不孝行为:好吃懒做,不顾父母的奉养;好赌酗酒,影响父母的生活;爱钱如命,偏信妻子,忽视父母的存在;纵情声色犬马,给父母带来羞辱;好勇斗狠,危害父母的安全。
现代社会生活日益复杂多样,除了对这五种不孝行为照单全收外,还更变本加厉:如巧取豪夺父母资产;声色俱厉辱骂父母如寇仇;遗弃父母如草芥等。
这些孝道问题实在不能等闲视之,因为这将造成陈陈相因的恶性循环,不但直接破坏家庭间的亲情关系,也进而影响社会的和谐构建。惟有积极地面对问题并寻出有益的应对方案,才是上策。
孝文化是中华传统文化的一种范型。但古今社会不同,孝道的内容形式均大有变革,过去对于人子行孝规定了许多责任与繁琐仪式。
如《礼记》记载的父子不能同席,在父亲面前,"寒不敢袭,痒不敢骚","父命呼,唯而不诺,手执业则投之,食在口则吐之,走 而不趋"……
还有使子女饱受身心摧残的孝行,如父母死后"水浆不入口,三日不举火","哭泣无数"等,都早就留在典籍里而在现实生活中派 不上用场。
当前的新加坡已走入中产阶级的小康社会,又是个政经与教育发达的国家,国人的基本生活条件都已得到照顾,子女行孝应该不是大 难事。
实际上,我们不应把孝道标准定得太高,把孝行准则求之过难。 总括而言,行孝的关键语只在一个"敬"字。换句话说,子女对待父母的先决条件就是心中怀有"敬"意。 心中有敬不会口出恶言
孔子在《论语》中对孝敬父母早就有明确的解释。他说侍奉父母如果不敬,这与饲养狗马没两样。
平心而论,为人父母者在生活起居方面并没有什么特别要求,怀有敬意的粗茶淡饭比之没有敬意的山珍海味更能入口,有时旁人对"嗟来之食"是不吃的,何况是父母?
真挚贴心的问候比之把父母冷藏在舒适的豪宅内更令父母感到温 馨与欢愉。
孔子认为侍奉父母"色难"(保持和颜悦色最难),真是一语中的。但是,只要由敬出发,子女对父母的心情与思维就不同。
他们会感受到父母的忧心多虑,对父母的絮絮叨叨,不但不会无名火高三丈,更不会连喊带骂:"安静!别管我的事!你们懂得什么 ?"他们会柔言以进:"爸妈不必担心,我们会处理的!没事没事。 "
子女心中有敬,出远门时,他们会感知父母的挂虑,所以无论如何总会想到"游必有方",告诉父母他们的所在与情况。身为人子女者,不但不为父母分忧,反而让父母忧心忡忡,寝食难安,这种行为 应当反省。
人生于世,谁能无错?父母有错失也平常。子女当然不能视而不见,但也不能反应过激,应该"事父母几谏"(对父母的缺点要委婉 地劝说)。
如果父母还没能改善,子女对父母的态度依然要"敬",以后伺机再婉言相劝,"劳而不怨"。如果子女把父母当成老顽固,恶言相向,结果大家都恼羞成怒,关系闹僵,万一动起手脚,反而陷父母于不义,予人以笑柄。
子女心中有敬,必然确知"父母之年"。父母的年华老去,心理身体的状况每况愈下,他们都了然于心,尽量不让父母在晚年之际感 到不安与遗憾。
这些思想虽是孔子所倡导古代道德文明的体现,但它的意蕴却是跨越时代的。我们应把这些孝敬的智慧语录加以诠释,配合现代社会里的故事与案例以及可行的行为,在小学里施教与操练实践,让儿童从小具备平实可行的孝敬理念与行为。这肯定是国家之福!
  •作者是本地资深教育工作者