Michael Liew's Blog

I attended the party and win a prize (16" Table Fan)

Take a photo with my exchanged gift.

Take a photo with both my prize and gift!

This is what I get from exchange gift! :-)


Hehe~~ first ever time I get a prize from a lucky draw!


Maybe I'll become luckier in the coming year!

I decide to buy a new pc on a PC fair - at least one year ago. Due to some personal reasons, I only manage to buy on this September. I decide to buy a desktop pc instead of a laptop as I feel desktop is much better than laptop - at least for the life consuming (I'm someone who will on the PC for a long period of time).

4 GB ram with 750GB hard disk with S$1,099, quite cool, isn't it? The only part I dislike is the microprocessor. I prefer Intel instead of AMD, but in overall I believe this is the best deal I can find among all the desktops around my budget in this PC fair. I went on the last day of PC fair, which is always has the best bargain or more free gifts if we bought on that day.

So today my friend, Bong and I went down to Comex 2009 which was located at Suntec and looked for this desktop. And now is the funny and interesting part. First of all, neither of us printed and brought the brochure with us. I remembered it is under "HP"and my friend, remembered it as under "Compaq". When I went into the pc fair, I straight forward went to "HP" and my friend called me,"This way!", try to lead me to Compaq. I a bit surprise, "I thought it is under HP and both of them are combined together already?" "They are sold under different brands althought they're combined." Bong answered. Without thinking too much, I followed my friend and changed my mind that the desktop I wanted to buy is under Compaq instead of HP. (Which one is correct? Please look at the brochure above.)

You know what? At level 4, there were at least 4 different stalls selling Compaq computers (one of them is Court, selling more than one brand in its stall), but no matter which stalls we went, it said all their desktops are equipped with Intel instead of AMD, (I wondering the reason Compaq wants to occupy more stalls is to make sure they have the more sales.) and we can't find it. We started thinking that we made the mistakes but to make sure we checked properly before we gave up, I suggested we went up to level 6 to look at it again.

When we reached level 6, we found one Compaq stall at there. We talked to one of the promoters that we were looking for a desktop which comes with AMD processor. The young promoter asked us to wait and he went inside. Both of us thought, "Finally! We found it on level 6." The thing happened next is I heard (only me, Bong never hear that.) The supervisor or manager, who standed on the stage to promote this stocks, talked to the young promoter and said that, "AMD? It will be very hot (when it ran with computers), we never sell!" The young promoter came back to us and said they're not selling. I told Bong what I've heard and he claimed the manager is not professional in that manner as he'll never say that if he is promoting AMD products.

We felt exhausted and Bong called his friend to check for us. His friend provided the model and the booth number but we still can't find. To make the story short, Bong looked for his another friend who is at level 2 and I keep searching at level 4 and looked for other desktops instead of the one I tried to look. Suddenly, I saw one poster hanging quite high and stated "S$1,099"
in a handwriting way. One of the Compaq stalls was pushing its desktop, they changed the price of that model and exchanged its LCD, instead of 23 inches, they changed it to 19 inches. Its original price is S$1,499, just changed the LCD to 19 inches, the price dropped for 500 dollars. I feel is a good deal and asked Bong to come up for some opinion, at the same time I asked the promoter to save one for me as they've left 5 stocks only.

(Under $50 * TRADE-IN REBATE, the fourth computer counts from the left side. That's the computer the stall was pushing but with smaller size LCD and with price at S$1,099.)

After that, I tried to look around and thinking that maybe can find a better deal. I went to look for HP stall (this is the second HP stall I can find at level 4, not the first stall I went to when I came for PC fair and it is just beside the Compaq stall which I just went into). When I was looking around the desktops inside the stall, I saw one lady holding a brochure. Inside the brochure is the desktop which I keep looking for since I came! I asked the promoter to pass me another same brochure, before that he told me they've sold all the units and that was the last one - the one that the lady was looking at and she was considering. What a sad news. I was a litte bit frustrated for this. Both my friend and I asked the promoters at Compaq stalls(included this stall, but we've never ask this promoter), they claimed all their desktops are selling with Intel processors ONLY. The young promoter told me that all this model desktops are sold on yesterday except 2 demo units. And today's selling price is S$899 and they left only one.

My friend came up and I told him all the situation. After comparing both models specifications and the prices. My friend convinced me to buy the desktop which was selling S$899 with the reasons of cheaper and he felt that it is more compatible to me. So we went to HP stall and told them we want to buy the desktop. The promoter told us we've to come and collect at 9pm if we bought it because they need the LCD for displaying (but the LCD is not include in the desktop I want to buy). We insisted to take it away instantly because by that time it was 4pm something only! The young promoter asked his manager and came back with the answer "No".

This give me a very good reason to buy the Compaq desktop with the price S$1,099 (I prefer this desktop actually.). We tried to bargain and asked for some free gifts but failed and at the same time, we found up we've to pay another 2 percents or 1 percent if we pay by credit card or NETS respectively. Bong's friend has found us and three of us try to take all the cash we've on hands and luckily, we've enough cash to buy.

I brought the desktop back to my home and equipped it.

And right now, in front of my new desktop, using it to write this post. Very happy to get a new computer! Writing this up on my blog, to share with my friends! Find up I'm someone who will get happy easily - just with a new pc. Haha!

-End-

Dear Lieman,

In your last mail you asked me about reading. And you quite skeptical about reading, finding a lot of books let you read do not provide any valuable information to you and you felt that you have wasted too much time on it.

Well, I would like to say - that's part of our life. Everybody will makes mistakes, this include everything, not only reading. Did Edison create the bulb just because of an experiment? No, more than 10 times, 100 times, 1000 times; if he felt that it is useless to create bulb because he failed then all the people in the world will never enjoy our time during the night.

Reading is very important, and I mean it. But you have to be careful while you read your books and you have to know what kind of knowledge and/or purpose you're looking for. For instance, if you looking for know how to draw a beautiful picture or how to draw a comic then you have to find a book teach you how to do that. You'll never find a book to teach you how to fish a fish. If you want to know how to cook you'll know you'll not find a book to teach you how to become a carpenter. If you want to study for mathematics you'll not look for a book about arts.

There are some authors in this world we have to be careful. The reason they publish their books is, purely, because of money. They have not spent too much time on their material and maybe not intended to hurt anyone because of that. We, as a reader, need to have a mindset when we read the books - a critical mindset. We have to think the points provided by the author logically? Useful? Can withstand the test of time? Or he writes that because someone asked him to do?

How to have a critical mindset? You might ask. Well, there is not exact answer but I can only provide some guidance. Firstly, read - read a lot of books. You might find quite funny as to judge a book we have to read a lot of books. But that's true! How do we able to know how to go to the destination we want? Can we able to reach just within one time? Unless there is someone guiding us, if not we definitely have to make some mistakes before we know how we able to reach there.

Secondly, life experience. We'll see a lot of people or have met a lot of situations in our whole life. That's something no one can take away from us. These will give us some sense to look the world differently; to look at the people we work/stay/play and/or others together differently; to know how to a better way differently. What have written on the book maybe, because of different cultures, different countries and/or others, it'll come out different results. We, of course, know better than those ,who live in different country, what kind of culture we've and how it affects us.

Thirdly, listen - listen to the elders/seniors/parents. These people met more people than we do, read more books than we do, have more life experience than we do. If they become our mentor, tell us a lot of experience and explain why and how. We'll, learn faster than anyone do around us.

There is not exact way to improve our critical mindset - the best way I can find is learn through others - either true or false - the most economic way to learn.

I hope I have provided some picture for you.
Good luck and happy reading!


Yours sincerely,
Michael

Today is the last day of the month, July, which I try to start my new life.

I clean a lot of my old stuff which I don't feel is necessary on both June and July.

I move to a new home on July.

I cut my hair to change a style on July.

I buy a new pair of shoes on July.

I buy a new handphone (due to the damage of the previous one) on June.

I buy a new pair of specacles on July.

I buy a new book to read on July.

I buy a new pillow on July.

... and some other little things on July.

Let the past be the past.

Tomorrow is always a better day for me!


-End-

Recently keep thinking of changing the job after Chinese New Year in the year of 2010.

I find up I'm really a nice guy - a guy who never think of "settle my own thing first before other people". I have spent so much time and effort on somewhere which I believe, if I smart enough, can do better than what I have done. I see a lot of people will only settle their thing instead of other people, am I too nice not to be selfish enough to settle my thing first?

Now everyday in my mind is "What should I do to make sure I can solve my problem?", "What should I do to make sure that I can achieve my target?" I find up some answers, but not good enough, not fast enough; but never mind.

Why?

Learn from the mistake and move on! That's what I tell myself.

Coming October will go back to Kuching, will spend more times with family and friends and after that when come back to Singapore, hopefully can see I near my target nearer.

Lastly, finish with a quote from Thomas Edision -

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."


-End-

Recently, I'm thinking a lot. Think that what I should do in the coming future.

Which route should I choose?

The main job I'm having right now is quite good, my income is much higher than normal people who is about my age. But, the problem is, I don't know how long can it be.

Quite sad and stress to know that I have to face the challenge by myself, no one can give me any advice or direction. Because, this is my own way.

I have 3 options:
First, stay on current job and play a different role, but it will take more risk;
Second, quit current job and change to a job which maybe have a chance to work in different country;
Third, quit current job and go to study.

To be frank, in the bottom of my heart, I want to choose the first one but it is also the most important among the three routes.

What should I do? I don't know the answer now...

Maybe I'll know in the coming few months... or next year....

Today, should be a happy day for me. But is it really happy? Please read on and you'll understand.

In the afternoon, my best friend, gave me a call to invite to have a dinner at his favourite buffett restaurant which is located in Orchard Hotel.

The Orchard Hotel (source: internet)

It's too late - a luxury sun glasses', Ray Ban (made in Itay), shape has gone, although not very serious damage. My friend was a little frustrated and sad; keep asking me why never see properly before I came in.

Ray Ban Sunglasses (source: internet)

I was thinking, my friend nicely invited me to have a delicious and enjoyable buffett; before we have anything, I spoilt his lovely branded sunglasses. What am I doing? My mood was coming down and my friend maybe saw I was feeling guilty and, although feeling sad, told me is a "gift" from his friend (later I found out he is trying to comfort me). But he was still feeling sad for this.

Without spending too much time on this, my friend brought me to the location and had our dinner. The dinner is nice: sushi, sashimi, cake, fruits, abalones, bee hoon etc. What can we ask more?

After having our buffett, we went to City Hall and looked for the shop which he bought the luxury sunglasses from. We can't find it, believing the shop should has closed.

My friend brought me to City Hall MRT and I came back to my home. Try to check "Ray Ban" from the internet, it is really a luxury brand. The sunglasses usually cost more than S$100. Looked at the website, more of them can only get the sunglasses from export. Wondering what should I do for this...

Is it a nice dinner? Yes.
Is it a special day for me because having a nice buffett? Yes.
Is it a perfect day for me? No, because of my carelessness.

Still feeling guilty. Will move on on this topic. Commit myself definitely will do something in the coming future for this.

Just move on and you'll see the result, Michael!

【 LOVE LIFE 珍愛生命‧永不放棄 】公益廣告，
由黑人執導、范范配樂、王偉忠旁白。
SOURCE -- http://www.ilovelife.com.tw/


如果你的生命只剩下一點點，
你會用什麼態度去面對？

他們的癌已經擴散到全身上下了...
但是他們對生命的愛，卻是 永 無 止 境。

在人生當中，難免遇上失敗與挫折，
但跟這些孩子所面對的狀況比起來，
你是否應該 更珍惜生命...

" 如果生命可以交換的話，你願意跟我換嗎？ "

當你覺得寂寞孤單，你的心將要破碎...
要記得這些孩子 正在為你禱告。

" 請你幫我們好好活著，好嗎？ "

早上醒来没多久,就收到家里来的电话,是母亲打来的,"Happy Birthday!"妈妈对我说.是的,今天是我的生日.准备好了下午要和朋友出去逛街,过一下对我而言特别的一天.

与家人聊完天后,就刷牙,冲凉,洗衣,打扫屋子.之后与朋友联络上了,就乘搭他的汽车来到City Hall地铁站附近.我们两个人走到了一间泰国餐厅-----Magic Wok;朋友说很好吃,就进去吃了.我们点了泰国黄梨炒饭,我觉得还行.

吃饭的时候,我们等着另一个朋友;吃完饭后,就去和他碰面.一行人没计划,不知道要干嘛,结果有人提议看电影;在没得选择的情况下,决定观赏<<七龙珠:进化>>(Dragon Ball: Evolution).

看电影的过程中,就感觉不怎么样.电影结束之前,就问说好看不好看,全票通过,不好看!一位朋友用两句话说完整部电影:坏人杀了好人的爸爸,好人就去帮爸爸报仇.确实,这两句话贯穿整部电影,朋友还说:周潤发居然会去演这样的电影.我们笑说经济不景气,他也有老婆孩子要养.<<七龙珠>>是一部经典的漫画,但是拍成电影真的不怎么样,勉强算是中品.

看完电影后,我们去Burger King吃晚餐.我请客.
吃的过程中,聊起了以前读中学的趣事.说趣事的结果,得出了两个结论:一,求学的时候,积极的态度基本上就决定了考试的成绩;二,中学时期,有一些"可爱"的老师和同学,即使毕业后我们还是会讨论他们的!哈哈!

我们聊了很久,过了九点中后,决定要走了.我们来到一个水池,我觉得很好奇,为什么水池中的水滴会"滑上滑下"的.我们走近看,朋友说是灯光的效果;但我却又找不到灯光来源,拍了几张照片.


还在研究怎么回事的时候,朋友说赶时间,没办法,就走了.我们经过一间时装店,有减价,外面摆了不同的衣服,好便宜,只有几十块钱,而且还是品牌的:有Levi's,Adidas等,就进去看看.进去后,吓了一跳;一件衣服超过两百多快!我问说是不是折扣前的价钱,朋友看了看,折扣前是五百多块.傻眼.朋友就笑问另一个朋友说:"快来看!快来看!这件衣服50%折扣,只不过是五百多件成两百多!"价钱太贵了.(=_=)"

外面和里面的价钱差太远了!看一会儿我们就离开了,这次没停下来,直奔归家之路.

简单的一天?我想是的,但是我觉得能和朋友一同出来吃饭,聊天,看电影,是幸福的.

最后以个人的全身照做一个结束. 2009年3月22日,我的生日是这么过的. :-D

今天与一位同事讨论对于处事上的看法，发现他的处事的观念/想法真的与我不同，让我有恍然大悟的感觉。

我每件事都要事先知道，才好做事；他知道了要做什么事，剩的会自己想办法去完成。

我凡事要事先准备，不知道会说不知道；他会说每天的状况不一样，我查了让你知道。

我做事情面面俱到，认为要对所有人负责；他会不拘小节，认为是对的就去做了。

我害怕/讨厌/不喜欢会得罪人/让人不高兴；他却觉得心态正确，一切都是对的。

这让我想起了奇异的前任执行长说过的一句话：“人对了，一切都对了。“

上网查一查，结果发现下面的一句话：

这里在提多一个这三年的人生经验吧。这个经验比较特别，我想我这一生可能不会有第二次同样的经验。我在新加坡遇到一个贵人，他带我看了新加坡的另一面，对于一个简朴的男孩来说，确实开拓了我的视野。他也是一个重承诺的人，他说的话他会努力的去兑现，而不是只是敷衍的带过又或者忘记了。他很聪敏，积极，上进，他选择行业带给他丰厚的收入。

我跟随着他，刚开始时他说什么我就做什么-----不会犹疑，不会迟疑，就是去执行。当时想的是有他一半的成绩就很好了，所以很努力的去做所有的事情；也不去询问究竟我的协助有没有帮助到他。原因很简单：1）要嘛不相信，相信就不要有这么多的疑问，相信他的安排。2）如果事情没有用，他是不会叫我做的。

随着日子的过去，我的工作很单调。我开始觉得自己没学到应该学到的东西。我开始有自己的想法，我提出来了，他也回答了我的问题。特别的地方来了-----我不知道他在说什么。我感觉可能是因为他没听懂我的问题，所以一开始我也不以为意，后来我发现到我们之间的问题就出在这里，我很努力的要去解决这个问题，但却一而再，再而三的失望。我想可能是因为他的想法与一般人不一样的关系吧！

后来我们曾在电话里聊了我的工作对我们这个二人小队的帮助，意外的发现-----原来我的存在并不重要-----这是我对当下讨论的结果。我不知道我的朋友有没有注意到这件事（事后我发现他没注意到，更别提这件事多我的打击和对我所造成的恐惧了。）这件事情的发现对我而言太重要了。我也闹过情绪，不开心过，我不知道自己在干什么。当时真的无所事事，胡思乱想，只想找一些事情做，结果就和这位朋友提出说想自己做做看。

我朋友答应了。我就去做了一件从来没用脑袋想就去做的事；真可笑-----一个二十多岁的年轻人，少说也有大专文凭的人，居然连最基本的思考能力也没有，没看清楚自己的状况就往前冲了，结果，很快，非常快，我就弹尽粮绝了。幸运的是，后来在一些机遇的情况下，我居然可以生存下来。对于我所做的事情，我除了说我自己“笨“以外，我实在找不到别的形容词。

我明白到我必须去做有生产力的事，但那需要时间，至于需要多少多时间，则因人而异。我的情况来说，乐观来说，两到三年，保守来说，要五年吧！我告诉自己，慢慢来，一步一步来,可以的！

后来我选择回去继续当我朋友的助理，发现我和他之间的问题还是一样，因此在某个程度上来说，我已经死心了，虽然后来我又有燃起希望，但没多久又被扑灭了。

一个人的处事风格及态度是不会轻易改变的；也因为这样，也造成了两个人之间可以互相信任，互相珍惜对方，感谢对方，但是这两个人在一起共事还是会痛苦和不舒服的。甚至后来还会造成（至少其中）一方会想离开而去休息，沉淀，思考而后重新出发的（即使是在感谢对方，相信对方，又或者是会造成痛苦的情况下！）。

现在大环境的情况愈来愈糟，再看看自己的条件及状况：说好也行说坏也行。我应该坚持下去吗？第一个三年过去了，我并不觉得自己有多了不起，自己有多大的进步，感觉自己和三年前的自己没有太大的区别。这打击了我的自信，也觉得自己很笨，努力了三年结果没差别，这还不可悲吗？梁朝伟在《无间道》里饰演的陈永仁说过的一句话顿时浮现在我的脑里：“三年之后有三年，三年之后有三年。。。“ 三年之后，我如果和现在还是一样，是可悲？还是可笑？

我四周的人在过去三年来处事的风格和性格没有太大的改变（我相信我也是一样）：只有坏的人更坏，好人依然是好人；进步的人还是在进步，原地踏步的人依然还是原地踏步-----我看我自己是属于后者的。

这时应该怎么做呢？一个最原始最简单也是最根本的答案-----改变吧！是的，改变是必然的。这一遍文章会留着，三年之后回来读读看，到时候的我是怎么样的呢？ 想法和现在是一样的吗？还是南辕北辙呢？我的经济情况有进步吗？还是一样吗？我有办法给我的家人好一点的生活吗？






三年后就会知道答案。






现在








设定目标








制定计划








然后
























前进

为什么我会得出"一个人如果三年前所拥有的负面情绪及缺点，到了现在只会更加嚣张，目中无人，自以为是；对于那些真心与你交朋友的人，他们不会有太大的改变。"（我想是因为他们对人有始至终都是一样的，他们没在朋友面前演戏，所以才会给我感觉是一样的。）的结论呢？

且听我一一道来。两年前我有朋友来新加坡玩，我很开心他们来新加坡，甚至和老板提出早退的要求！只是为了可以和他们或带他们到新加坡游玩。当时的朋友中有因为年轻时“有话直说“，“年轻气盛“而起过冲突的朋友，但是他们的到来我是高兴甚至是兴奋的！毕竟是好几年的朋友了，不可能一直记得的事情而且“有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎“！我是冲动，但还不至于这么小器。结果呢？热脸贴人家的冷屁股。他们给我的感觉，就连基本的礼貌-----寒暄也没有！还有说话带刺的。结果是让人失望的，半途中，我们一群人就分成两组，我们这组就去其他的地方游玩。虽然当时有不满并私下有埋怨，但是我也心想说可能是以前自己不会“做人“的“因“而造成的“果“吧！我也认了。事后我才发现到这些我以为因为和我有过节才会这样对我的朋友居然几乎把所有西马和新加坡的朋友都得罪了。当时，我才恍然大悟的发现原来不是我的问题，而是他们的问题。真是 “一个人如果三年前所拥有的负面情绪及缺点，到了现在只会更加嚣张，目中无人，自以为是。“

再举一个例子吧。我大专的一位同学-----同时也是因为这个同学的帮助我才能毕业的-----要结婚了。我很开心，同时要与大专老同学见面了。我是真的很开心，也想到时和他们打成一片，同时我记得大专时的问题再加上社会上的经验。我注意了-----自己的言行举止，声量，说话的内容，少说话；但是就像 我之前说的那样-----太迟了。虽然彼此之间还有寒暄，但是却很明显的看得出来，其他同学之间的感情与我之间是有差别的。他们会彼此开玩笑而且大笑但是与我的互动却很少（我说很少吗？还是几乎没有？)。婚礼结束之后，有几位同学还要去喝酒，我也跟去了。当时有一位女同学也跟着去，我知道她讨厌我（至今日我依然不知道我什么时候得罪她，求学时期，我们之间的互动少的可怜，更不可能起过冲突！）

到了酒吧后，她选了一个位置坐下来，而我选了与她的位置产生直角的位置坐下，心想她应该不会怎么样吧？结果呢？在我坐下的当儿，他一看是我，她就要求和她旁边的朋友更换位置，我假装什么都没看见。活动结束后，我们几位男同学坐了的士回家，到我家附近时，我下车之前，就和他们道别（这一别不知几时才会再见！）结果他们也只是敷衍的道别吧了。虽然我的一位好朋友结婚了，我很开心，但我也在同一天学了人生的宝贵经验-----一个人如果三年前讨厌你，三年后他依然还是讨厌你。

　　現在的你或剛進校園，或仍等待一關又一關的學測，好進夢想中的校園。然而，金融海嘯讓你開始迷惘未來。四年後人生什麼樣？十年後世界又是何種風貌？
　　原本你打算丟離了從小背膩的書包制服，好好享受人生。如今全世界的國罵加起來都不足以緩解心中的徬徨。

　　這封信寫給不知名的你或妳。

　　現在的你或剛進校園，或仍等待一關又一關的學測，好進夢想中的校園。然而，2008年9月源自華爾街的金融海嘯，讓台北或高雄的你，開始迷惘未來。四年後人生什麼樣？十年後世界又是何種風貌？

　　十八歲，剛冒了青春痘沒多久，你本打算丟離了從小背膩的書包制服，好好享受人生。如今金融海嘯一來，全世界的國罵加起來都不足以緩解心中的徬徨。四年後有工作嗎？台灣還是那個台灣嗎？你做錯了什麼？為何被迫承擔這一切？

　 　十八歲，有些人已走了很長的路。十八歲，林語堂也剛離開福建鼓浪嶼，前往上海聖約翰大學就讀。林語堂本是福建漳洲旁小村落龍溪的「土孩子」，改變他一生 的，是父親從小給他的國際視野。破落的龍溪鄉下，有位長老教會的牧師，自小以中英文自學教導他的兒子，並噂告「長大定要唸世界一流大學。」自幼起林語堂即 離鄉寄讀鼓浪嶼中小學，一個動亂的中國，一個看起來毫無希望的鄉下孩子。他忍受了童年的孤獨，藉由一塊偶然開放的鋼琴之島（鼓浪嶼別名），與世界悄悄連 結。他的同學裡有英、法、葡、西…各國領事小孩，林語堂沒為他的孩提時期留下太多記錄，惟一惦記在心的是父親的話，大海的另一邊是另一個世界，「要讀世界 一流大學」。林語堂後來實踐了父親的夢想，先留美於哈佛，再留德。他是世界上第一位華人紐約時報暢銷書排行榜作家，其作「生活的藝 術」（Importance of Living）連續登「紐時」榜首五十二週，文字行雲流水，語帶幽默。嚴苛地說，他的文學造詣比不上同一時代的沈從文、魯迅、張愛玲甚至辜鴻銘，但他在世 界文壇地位遠遠超越同輩，只因他擁有的世界觀，尤其以英文書寫的能力。

　 　十八歲，霍金還在足球場上奔馳；他沒料到數年後，自己即將罹患肌肉萎縮症。就讀英國牛津大學博士班時，他的腦神經已開始明顯受損，一天比一天不會說話， 一日比一日手腳萎縮，直至我們今天看到的「怪物」。踡曲於特殊設計的輪椅，霍金二十五歲後只能透過合成器發音，與世界甚至宇宙溝通。十八歲時的他，即時抓 緊了青春，滿街追跑「女生」、踢足球；他一生相信，這世界最大的謎就是「宇宙」與「女人」。往往閱讀完愛因斯坦的物理著作，左手一擱，右手就拿起王爾德的 「敗德」文學，探勘那女人究竟怎麼回事。

　　十八歲，巴菲特已賣過口香糖、二手高爾夫 球、爆米花…買進股票，賺了一筆又賠光…並且當過送報生。他不喜歡桿弟類的勞力工作，但熱愛送報生的生涯。他擁有一條送「華盛頓郵報」的路線和兩條「時代 先鋒報」的路線，兩報立場一左一右。每天送報前，他總是同時閱讀支持羅斯福與反對羅斯福的新聞論點，然後沿途「一個人工作，自己想通某些事」，除非那個路 段「有隻惡犬」。巴菲特出生於1930年8月，算起來他娘懷胎時正巧1929年10月大股災前後；更倒楣的還在後頭，他十一歲某個星期天，一家人剛做完禮 拜開車返家，廣播突然插播「日本襲擊珍珠港」，車上一陣騷動。從收音機巴菲特得知二次大戰就此開啟，更大的災難要來了。巴菲特的父親是他心目中的「大人 物」，為了反羅斯福，還曾絕望地投入一場必輸的眾議員選戰。母親會彈管風琴，但平時只要一開口，對孩子盡是負面攻擊語言。巴菲特傳記作者發現他常大談自己 的父親，或「父母親」，但絕不單獨提到「媽媽」。他的友人則回憶，巴菲特自小蒙受母親的語言羞辱，這是他長大後既需他人安慰，也冷靜無情的動力。一個沒有 太多愛的孩子，對世界擁有很多夢想，但沒有不切實際的幻想。對巴菲特而言，如果母愛都不可信賴，長大後誰能輕易信賴？冷靜看「財報」，一切「眼見為憑」。 這是股神的童年故事，時代與家庭讓一個十八歲的孩子過份早熟，但也學得五十歲的人都學不到的人生智慧。

　 　十八歲的你是健康的，而世界的經濟是生病的；十八歲的你是青春的，而台灣的政治是衰老的。十八歲，學學林語堂，愛你生長的地方，瞭解你受教的文化，但別 被故鄉拴住一切，勇敢地往前走，往更大的世界探索。十八歲的你，學學巴菲特，把童年的遺憾當作人生歷練，愈嘮叨的媽愈能歷練冷靜抗壓的投資之神。十八歲的 你，學學霍金，即時享受青春的美好，人生有太多不測，別儘苦惱華爾街發生什麼事，抓住青春的尾巴，熱愛你的生命。

　 　十八歲的我，發生中壢做票事件，世界正歷經第一次石油危機。衛生紙遭囤積，沙拉油也被廠商炒作，漲了十倍。上廁所擦屁股都是番奢侈，今天想來，還真覺有 趣。我最遺憾的是十八歲前沒把英文學好，無能以英文書寫；沒環遊世界，趁年輕闖蕩天涯。最高興的是大一唸民法親屬篇，知道女人一嫁，什麼都沒，並預知法律 不適合我，畢業後早早轉行。

　　欣羨年僅十八歲的妳。（2009.1.14）

編按：本篇文章引自陳文茜《亂世佳人》四刷。

Economy recession... inflation rate keep increasing... Money is always not enough... What should we do?

The answer is...

Find a part time job.

Recently, doing a part time job, which is recommend by my friend. Well, the pay is quite ok, at least is able to cover my daily expenses. Haha...

Look at how serious I am when I was working. Have to let the boss see this photo!

Who was I talking to?

Laughing when I was working... Hehe!

I'm feel fortunate to get this part time job, looking forward to work harder for this year, maybe in this job or others.

Happy New Year!