instead of trying

　　Finally, instead of trying hard to be happy, as if that were the sole purpose of life, I would, if I were a boy again, I would still try harder to make others happy.

When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was severely crippled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. I would inwardly squirm at the un­wanted attention. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on.

It was difficult to coordinate our steps —— his halting, mine impatient —— and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you. "

keep us going

There is sensitivity. Last week he walked through the door with that look that tells me it's been a tough day. After he spent some time with the kids, I asked him what happened. He told me about a 60-year-old woman who'd had a stroke. He wept as he recalled the woman's husband standing beside her bed, caressing her hand. How was he going to tell this husband of 40 years that his wife would probably never recover? I shed a few tears myself. Because of the medical crisis. Because there were still people who have been married 40 years. Because my husband is still moved and concerned after years of hospital rooms and dying patients.

There is faith. Last Tuesday a friend came over and confessed her fear that her husband is losing his courageous battle with cancer. On Wednesday I went to lunch with a friend who is struggling to reshape her life after divorce. On Thursday a neighbor called to talk about the frightening effects of Alzheimer's disease on her father-in-law's personality. On Friday a childhood friend called long-distance to tell me her father had died. I hung up the phone and thought, This is too much heartache for one week. Through my tears, as I went out to run some errands, I noticed the boisterous orange blossoms of the gladiolus outside my window. I heard the delighted laughter of my son and his friend as they played. I caught sight of a wedding party emerging from a neighbor's house. The bride, dressed in satin and lace, tossed her bouquet to her cheering friends. That night, I told my husband about these events. We helped each other acknowledge the cycles of life and that the joys counter the sorrows. It was enough to keep us going.

there is knowing

Finally, there is knowing. I know Scott will throw his laundry just shy of the hamper every night; he'll be late to most appointments and eat the last chocolate in the box. He knows that I sleep with a pillow over my head; I'll lock us out of the house at a regular basis, and I will also eat the last chocolate.

I guess our love lasts because it is comfortable. No, the sky is not bluer: it's just a familiar hue. We don't feel particularly young: we've experienced too much that has contributed to our growth and wisdom, taking its toll on our bodies, and created our memories.

I hope we've got what it takes to make our love last. As a bride, I had Scott's wedding band engraved with Robert Browning's line "Grow old along with me!" We're following those instructions.

If anything is real, the heart will make it plain.

choose their dreams

When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write and illustrate my own books. Half the students sneered, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be silly, only geniuses can become writers,” the English teacher said smugly, “And you are getting a D this semester.” I was so humiliated I burst into tears.

That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the Capri’s Weekly newspaper. To my astonishment, they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed. “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I tasted success. I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was fine with me.

During the next two years I sold dozens of poems, letters, jokes and recipes. By the time I graduated from high school, with a C minus average, I had scrapbooks filled with my published work. I never mentioned my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again. They were dream killers and if people must choose between their friends and their dreams, they must always choose their dreams.

about my brother

Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! “And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s really, really sick… and I want to buy a miracle.”

“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.

“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”

“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening a little.

“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”

Inner sunshine

　　Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but of all that come in contact with it. “Who shuts love out, in turn shall be shut out from love.”

　　Importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can stand erect, and decline.

　　If I were a boy again, I would school myself to say no more often. I might write pages on the doing an unworthy act because it is unworthy.

　　If I were a boy again, I would demand of myself more courtesy towards my companions and friends, and indeed towards strangers as well. The smallest courtesies along the rough roads of life are like the little birds that sing to us all winter long, and make that season of ice and snow more endurable.

embarrassingly loud

nd there are surprises. One time I came home to find a note on the front door that led me to another note, then another, until I reached the walk-in closet. I opened the door to find Scott holding a "pot of gold" (my cooking kettle) and the "treasure" of a gift package. Sometimes I leave him notes on the mirror and little presents under his pillow.

There is understanding. I understand why he must play basketball with the guys. And he understands why, once a year, I must get away from the house, the kids—and even him-to meet my sisters for a few days of nonstop talking and laughing.

There is sharing. Not only do we share household worries and parental burdens—we also share ideas. Scott came home from a convention last month and presented me with a thick historical novel. Though he prefers thrillers and science fiction, he had read the novel on the plane. He touched my heart when he explained it was because he wanted to be able to exchange ideas about the book after I'd read it.

There is forgiveness. When I'm embarrassingly loud and crazy at parties, Scott forgives me. When he confessed losing some of our savings in the stock market, I gave him a hug and said, "It's okay. It's only money."

be a writer

The worst year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. I was fifteen, remember? In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. Most years I earned between five thousand and ten thousand. No, it isn’t enough to live on, but it’s still more than I’d make working part time and it’s five thousand to ten thousand more than I’d make if I didn’t write at all. People ask what college I attended, what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I’m not gifted and I don’t write right. I’m lazy, undisciplined, and spend more time with my children and friends than I do writing. I didn’t own a thesaurus until four years ago and I use a small Webster’s dictionary that I’d bought at K-Mart for 89 cents. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I’ve never used a word processor. I do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry for a family of six and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I write everything in longhand on yellow tablets while sitting on the sofa with my four kids eating pizza and watching TV. When the book is finished, I type it and mail it to the publisher. I’ve written eight books. Four have been published and three are still out with the publishers. One stinks. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right but I’ve beaten the odds. Writing is easy, it’s fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.

doing well

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. “That surgery,” her Mom whispered. “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost…one dollar and eleven cents…plus the faith of a little child.

All she knew

Tess was a precocious eight-year-old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor’s bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, “Only a miracle can save him now.”

Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be absolutely exact. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the pharmacy with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good.

bitterness or complaint

Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and despite nasty weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. A matter of pride.

When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help. At such times my sisters or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, NY, on a child's sleigh to the sub­way entrance. Once there, he would cling to the handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice-free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn' on his way home.

When I think of it now, I marvel at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himself to such indignity and stress. And at how he did it —— without bitterness or complaint .

check and head home

I have a friend who is falling in love. She honestly claims the sky is bluer. Mozart moves her to tears. She has lost 15 pounds and looks like a cover girl.

"I'm young again!" she shouts exuberantly.

As my friend raves on about her new love, I've taken a good look at my old one. My husband of almost 20 years, Scott, has gained 15 pounds. Once a marathon runner, he now runs only down hospital halls. His hairline is receding and his body shows the signs of long working hours and too many candy bars. Yet he can still give me a certain look across a restaurant table and I want to ask for the check and head home.

When my friend asked me "What will make this love last?" I ran through all the obvious reasons: commitment, shared interests, unselfishness, physical attraction, communication. Yet there's more. We still have fun. Spontaneous good times. Yesterday, after slipping the rubber band off the rolled up newspaper, Scott flipped it playfully at me: this led to an all-out war. Last Saturday at the grocery, we split the list and raced each other to see who could make it to the checkout first. Even washing dishes can be a blast. We enjoy simply being together.

four children

I had four children at the time, and the oldest was only four. While the children napped, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months, just like a baby. I chose a publisher at random and put the manuscript in an empty Pampers diapers package, the only box I could find. I’d never heard of manuscript boxes. The letter I enclosed read, “I wrote this book myself, I hope you like it. I also do the illustrations. Chapter six and twelve are my favourites. Thank you.” I tied a string around the diaper box and mailed it without a self addressed stamped envelope and without making a copy of the manuscript.

A month later I received a contract, an advance on royalties, and a request to start working on another book. Crying Wind, the title of my book, became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and Braille and sold worldwide. I appeared on TV talk shows during the day and changed diapers at night. I traveled from New York to California and Canada on promotional tours. My first book also became required reading in native American schools in Canada.

The pharmacist’s brother

The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”

“I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up. “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”

“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely audibly. “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.”

“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents – the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.”

some things

Nobody did. But the next day people kidded him by saying it was the first time any fighter was urged to take a dive even before the bout began.

I now know he participated in some things vicariously through me, his only son. When I played ball (poorly), he "played" too. When I joined the Navy he "joined" too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that " I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, "This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different." Those words were never said aloud.

He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about trifles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart".

At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, "You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you."

Every Bush and Tree Looks Like an Enemy

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Fu Jian, king of the State of Qin, controlled northern China. In the year383, Fu Jian led 900,000 infantry and cavalry troops to assault the State of Jin which was south of the Yangtze River. Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, senior generals of the Jin army, led 80,000 troops to offer resistance. Knowing that the Jin army was short of men, Fu Jian wanted to seize this opportunity of being much more numerous in armed forces to stage a quick attack. Unexpectedly, the van of Fu Jian's army of 250,000 troops was defeated in the Shouchun area by an ingenious military move of the Jin army and suffered heavy losses. The senior general of the van of Fu Jian's army was killed, and there were heavy casualties of more than 10,000 soldiers. Fu Jian's army was dispirited and its morale was shaken. Many soldiers were in such a GREat panic that they waited for opportunities to run away. Standing on the city wall of the Shouchun City, Fu Jian and his brother Fu Rong saw that the ranks of the Jin army were in good order and that the morale of the Jin army was high. Turning to his brother, Fu Jian said, "What a powerful enemy this is! Why did people say that the Jin army was short of men?" He deeply regretted that he had taken the enemy too lightly. Overshadowed by the disastrous defeat, Fu Jian ordered his troops to be deployed in battle formation on the north side of the Feishui River, in an attempt to regain the initiative by relying on the superior geographical conditions. Then Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, the senior generals of the Jin army, suggested that Fu Jian's army retreat a little bit, leaving some space, so that the Jin army could cross the river to conduct ooperations. Fu Jian thought that his chance had come, believing that the senior generals of the Jin army did not have the elementary knowledge of warfare. It was his plan to stage a sudden attack while the troops of the Jin army was busy crossing the river, and he was sure that his plan would word. So he willingly accepted the suggestion of the Jin army. Unexpectedly, the moment the order to retreat was given, Fu Jian's troops were utterly routed and could by no means be controlled. Taking advantage of this favorable situation, the Jin army crossed the river, pursuing and attacking the enemy. The trooops of Fu Jian's army threw away everything in headlong flight, and the field was littered with the corpses of the soldiers of Fu Jian's army. Fu Rong was killed in the tangled fighting, and Fu Jian was hit by an arrow and ran away. The Jin army won a brilliant victory by defeating a big army with its limited armed forces. This story comes from "The Life of Fu Jian" in the volume "Records" of The History of the Jin Dynasty. The set phrase "every bush and tree looks like an enemy" is subsequently used to refer to a state of extreme nervousness

faraway village

Long ago in a small, faraway village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he hounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his GREat surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and firendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."
In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."
　 All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

young Prince of Denmark

He told his plan to Horatio, his best friend in the castle, and also asked him to watch the king' s face with the GREatest care.Hamlet went to the king and queen to tell them that he would like to invite them to a play the next evening. They aGREed to see the play. They hoped that Hamlet was at last getting better and would come to accept them as his father and mother. He said good night to Claudius and Gertrude, pretending that he was happy that night.On his way back to his own room, he met Ophelia, who looked so sad and unhappy in the hall. The king and Polonius were hiding behind the curtains of the hall, trying to listen to their conversation.Hamlet said to Ophelia, "I don' t love you anymore. We are all dirty animals on this earth. Ophelia, you are one of these dirty ones, too. Go to a nunnery. Go away right now, you dirty woman!"Ophelia was too surprised at his words to say anything to him. It was such a strange and mad thing to say. Polonius thought his guess was right. But the king still doubted Hamlet' s madness.The king, the queen and Polonius entered a large room where the play was to be shown to the whole court. The king sat with the queen. Hamlet sat by the side of Ophelia. Horatio sat facing the king in order to watch him carefully.


The play began. In the play the king and queen were talking on the bench in the beautiful garden. The queen said to the king, "I will love you forever. I will never marry another man if you should die before me. Only women that kill their husbands marry again. " The king in the play was very glad to hear this. As the king fell asleep, the queen left him alone. Just after she left, the king's brother came near the sleeping king and poured a deadly poison into his ear. He was soon killed by this cunning brother who had long wanted to become king and marry the queen.Seeing this scene, Claudius turned pale and became very angry. He shouted, "Stop the play at once. " He stood up and went out of the room with the queen.Horatio and Hamlet saw the king show every sign of fear and anger. Hamlet was now quite sure that the ghost had told him the truth. He himself became excited and firmly decided to revenge his father as soon as he could. When the queen came back into her room, she was very worried about her son, who had made the king furious. She wanted to know why Hamlet asked the group of players to show such a disgraceful play before the king. She sent for Hamlet.


Hamlet hurriedly walked to her room where she was uneasily waiting for him. On the way to his mother' s room, Hamlet saw Claudius kneeling down to pray in his room. He thought he could kill him right then. But he did not do it. He said to himself, "If I kill him when he is praying to God, he will not go to hell. I had better kill him when he is angry or doing something bad. Then he is sure to go to hell. " So he stopped thinking of killing Claudius for the moment.Hamlet did not know that the doubting king had commanded Polonius to hide behind the curtains in the queen' s room so that he could see what might happen there. As soon as Hamlet came into her room, his mother began to scold him for what he had done to the king. She said angrily, "You have made your father very angry. You must beg his pardon."Hamlet would not listen to her, but answered back. He said, "It is you who are to blame. You married that unkind and unkingly uncle of mine so soon after my father' s death.You should be ashamed of your deed. I will never accept him as my father. He does not deserve to be King of Denmark. I will tell you again. It is not I but you and that dirty Claudius that should repent."

young Prince of Denmark -1

Hamlet' s friends were anxious about him and came to look for him. They found Hamlet kneeling down and looking up at the dark sky praying to God. Hamlet noticed them coming to him. He stood up and sincerely asked them not to tell anyone what had happened that night. They all aGREed and made a firm promise not to tell anyone about it, swearing on Hamlet' s sword.That very night Hamlet decided to pretend that he had gone mad in order to have a better chance to kill Claudius. He decided not to tell his plan to any of his friends except Horatio .Since Hamlet saw the ghost, he had often thought of his dead father and of his promise to the ghost. He became sadder each day. He was not a young, merry prince as he used to be. Before his father' s death, he was interested in many things, such as books, art, music and plays. But now he gave them all up. To everyone, he seemed to act very strangely. He became rude to everyone in the castle and behaved like a mad man.He hardly ever spoke to Ophelia , a beautiful lady whom he had deeply loved. Before, they would talk happily and take walks in the woods near the castle. He would talk to her so sweetly and gently that Ophelia was deeply in love with him. But now he was quite different. Therefore, Polonius, Ophelia' s father, did not want his daughter to love Hamlet anymore because of his strange behavior.


One day Hamlet came to Ophelia, who was knitting in her room, and spoke wildly to her. He appeared half-naked, wearing a dirty shirt with no hat on his head. She gave back all the letters and valuable rings that she had received from Hamlet."I will not meet you anymore," she said to him. Hamlet left her, feeling even more miserable.She told her father everything that had occurred in her room. When Polonius heard this from his daughter, he believed he knew what had made Hamlet go mad. He thought that Hamlet had gone mad because of his love for Ophelia . Polonius went to Claudius and Gertrude to let them know what caused Hamlet's madness. He told them that the love affair between Hamlet and Ophelia was the true cause of his madness.Claudius always doubted what he heard from his men. He commanded two men who used to be Hamlet' s friends when they were children to find out the true reason why he had been acting so strangely recently. He also asked Polonius to arrange an unexpected meeting of the two lovers so that they could carefully observe Hamlet' s behavior.


Hamlet' s two old friends met him when he was saying some strange things to himself alone in the hall of the castle. They begged him to tell them the true cause of his madness. But he would not tell them anything, and instead made fools of them.One day when Hamlet was unhappy and worried by the memory of the ghost and the promise he had made, a group of actors came to visit him. They were the same players that Hamlet used to enjoy seeing. He welcomed them. Then they acted a short play for him.It was a sad story about a good king who was poisoned to death by his brother. And this man became king and married the queen. They played it so well, with tears in their eyes, that the scene seemed real. While Hamlet was watching them, he felt very angry with himself. He said to himself, "Those players can cry for the sad king whom they have never met. But in my case I have done nothing at all for my poor father who was killed by my uncle Claudius. What a coward I am!"When the play was over, he thought of a good plan. He decided to have them play it once again in front of the king and queen the next day. He also asked them to add a few lines of his own to the play so that he could make the play more like what had happened to his father. Hamlet said to himself, "If Claudius is really guilty, his face will turn pale while he is watching the play. Then I will know that what the ghost told me is true. I will watch his face very carefully."

young Prince of Denmark

This is the sad story of Hamlet, young Prince of Denmark, whose father died two months before the story begins. Hamlet' s father was King of Denmark and Hamlet was his only son. The king died a strange death while he was sleeping in the garden of his castle. It was believed that he had been bitten to death by a poisonous snake. He was such a wise and kind king that he was loved by all the people in the nation. His son, Hamlet, of course, loved him far more than anyone else in the world.Hamlet was so sad and sorrowful that he never stopped wearing black clothes. There was something else which made Hamlet even sadder. His mother, Gertrude, married Hamlet' s uncle, Claudius, who was a brother of the late king. After Hamlet' s father died, Claudius became King of Denmark and married Gertrude. Young Hamlet did not like him because he was not as wise and kind as his father. He was a man of unkindly character. Hamlet did not in the least want his mother to marry such a man. He became angry with both of them and came to despise his mother as well as his uncle.


The bell of the castle was ringing. It was exactly midnight. Suddenly a ghost in the form of the late king appeared in the darkness. It looked pale and sad. Looking at the ghost, the two guards of the castle and Horatio, Hamlet' s best friend, were surprised and terrified. They wondered if something bad was going to happen in Denmark. They decided to tell their prince what they had seen .The next day they went to Hamlet and told him that they had seen the ghost of King Hamlet. Hamlet doubted it at first, but wanted to make sure himself. He asked them to take him to see the ghost that night. They aGREed.Late at night Hamlet, Horatio and one of the guards went to the top of the walls. It was very cold and dark there. Some time after they got there, the ghost in armor suddenly appeared out of the darkness. As his friends had told him, Hamlet saw that the ghost was exactly like his dead father.He called out, "King, Father! Why did you come here out of the grave?"The ghost did not answer him, but looked at him sadly and made a sign for him to follow. His friends did not want to let Hamlet follow the ghost because they thought it might be an evil spirit and do something badto him. But he did follow the ghost. While Hamlet and the ghost walked away into the darkness, his friends had to wait anxiously there worrying about his safe return .At the end of the walls of the castle the ghost stopped and began to talk to Hamlet, "I am the ghost of your father. I wanted to rule Denmark peacefully until you GREw up and became king after me. But two months ago, while I was sleeping in the beautiful garden of the castle, my brother Claudius came and put poison into my ear. I was instantly killed. Hamlet! Be brave and kill him for me. But never kill or hurt my wife, for she is your mother. Let her repent for what she has done. That is enough for her. What I have told you is true. I tell you again. I was not killed by a poisonous snake, but by my brother Claudius. Never forget what I have told you, my dear son. Good-bye, Hamlet!"Then the ghost disappeared into the mist of the dark sky. Upon hearing this, Hamlet became excited and was even more furious with Claudius and his mother. He made up his mind to kill his uncle and let his mother repent for her sins.

The penguins

For instance, there are several scenes in the film when a parent seems to grieve over a
broken egg doomed never to hatch, or appears to mourn over the body of its frozen chick.

Instinct, hormones, and the drive to reproduce influence a lot of the penguin behavior,
Kooyman said.

"What gives the impression sometimes of sorrow is that they fool around with the [broken or
frozen] egg, or other birds try to take an egg away," Kooyman said. "There's just a drive to
incubate, to participate in breeding behavior at that time of year for these birds."

The film also shows multiple shots of two adult penguins cuddling side by side, their beaks
touching and forming almost a heart shape. It looks like love, but is it?

Despite the beautiful imagery, it's not certain that each posturing pair is actually a mated
pair.
"If it's in August or September, the two are probably mates," Kooyman said. "In April it
could easily be two birds that get together and then decide that they wouldn't make good
partners.

"You also see such posturing at the ice's edge. There's a lot of social behavior between
adults," he added.
Unlike nesting birds, penguin parents actually spend very little time together.

The penguins make the grueling journey across some 70 miles (110 kilometers) of Antarctic
ice each April to return to the breeding grounds where they were born. After the courtship
period, the couple forms a strong bond until the egg is laid in May or early June.

However, as soon as the egg is transferred to the father, the mother takes off to return to
her feeding grounds. She returns some two months later. The starving male, who hasn't had a
meal in months, immediately leaves.
The two trade off rearing their fish and returning to the sea to feed for about five months,
until the chick is old enough to be left on its own. After that point the parents will
probably never see each other—or their offspring— again.

"In a way, the film anthropomorphized the lives of the penguins, but I think it's OK,"
Kooyman said. "Simplifying some aspects of the penguins' life story makes it more accessible
to the general public."

Disney immortalized

Ever since Walt Disney immortalized interspecies friendships and talking teapots,
anthropomorphim (attributing human traits and emotions to animals or objects) has been a
movie staple.

Now some scientists are criticizing the movie March of the Penguins for portraying the
Antarctic seabirds almost as tiny, two-tone humans.

The poster for the surprise hit film reads, "In the harshest place on Earth love finds a
way." And the movie describes the annual journey of emperor penguins to their breeding
grounds as a "quest to find the perfect mate and start a family" against impossible odds.

The penguins are the only animals that make a home above the ice in the subzero temperatures
and blistering winds of the Antarctic winter. They overcome incredible odds just to survive,
never mind breed and nurture new life.But is it love?

Talking Animals
The filmmakers behind the English-language version of March of the Penguins—which is
distributed by Warner Independent Pictures and National Geographic Feature Films—toned down
the anthropomorphism of the original, French release.
In the original documentary the penguins "spoke" their own dialogue, like Bambi or Babe the
pig. The version released in the United States uses a narrator, actor Morgan Freeman, to
tell the story.
Still, the film describes the emperor penguins as "not that different from us" in their
pouting, bellowing, and strutting.
The bond between the star penguin parents is called a "love story." And the penguins seem to
have emotions— grieving over the loss of an egg or a chick, rejoicing at the return of a
mate, loving their families.

"In a few places it's a little over the top," said Alison Power, director of communications
for New York City's Bronx Zoo and the affiliated Wildlife Conservation Society. "But I
thought the filmmakers did an excellent job in not anthropomorphizing the animals."
Marine biologist Gerald Kooyman studies penguins at Antarctica's "Penguin Ranch," and he
begs to differ. He said the portrayal of the penguins' mating rituals as a love story is a
"major" case of anthropomorphism.

So do the birds experience emotions at all? "Zoologists would say, Probably not," saidKooyman, who works for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "A lot of what looks to us
like love or grief is probably hormonally driven more than some kind of attachment" to the
egg, chick, or partner, he said.

Aladdin And The Wonderful Lamp

Aladdin and his mother lived in China.They were very poor:They lived in a hut and often had not enough food to eat.
One day Aladdin's mother said,"Go out into the field and get some flowers;we will sell the flowers and get money to buy food,"So Aladdin went into a field to get flowers.
Now the place where the lamp was hidden was in a hole in that field.
There was a heavy door on the top of the hole.The door was almost covered with grass so that no one would know that it was there.But the magician know where to look,and he found the door.He opened the door and looked down into the hole:it was very small.It was so small that he could not go down it.
Then he saw Aladdin.He called him.
"Boy!"he said."Come here...What is your name?"
"Aladdin,sir."
"I want you to do something for me,Aladdin."
"Yes,sir."
"There is a lamp at the bottom of that hole;but the hole is too small that I cannot go down it.Go down into the hole and bring me the lamp."
Then he gave Aladdin a ring.He said,"There is danger in that hole.There may be a genie who will try to kill you.Take this ring:it will keep you safe."
Aladdin went down the hole.At the bottom he saw a small room.He saw the lamp on a table in the room;he took it and went back.He climbed up to the top.
　
The door was shut.He called and the magician opened it a little.He said,"Give me the lamp,Aladdin."
Aladdin thought,"I do not like this man.When he has got the lamp he will shut the door and leave me here to die."So he said,"Open the door and I will come out.Then I will give you the lamp."
"No!"said the magician."Give me the lamp now.Then I will open the door and help you to come out."
Aladdin said,"No!open the door,then I will give it to you."
The magician thought,"I will leave him there for a night,and tomorrow he will do as I say."So he shut the door.Aladdin was shun in,in the hole.
He went back to the little room.He was afraid:"The magician has left me here to die.How can I get out?My mother will not know where I am:she will think that I am dead.If I can get out I will give her the beautiful ring.We can sell it and get food.and we can get some money for this old lamp."
He rubbed the ring.
There was a GREat noise,and a Genie stood in front of him,"I am the Genie of the ring,"he said."You rubber the ring and I have come.What do you want?"
"I want to get out of this place,"said Aladdin."Take me out of here.Take me home to my mother."
The Genie took Aladdin and put him down at the door of his mother's house.
"Where have you been?"said his mother,"Why have you brought no flowers?...What shall we eat?I have no food in the house and we have no money to buy any food."
Aladdin shoed the lamp."We can sell this,"he said,"and buy food with money."
She looked at the lamp."We shall not get much money for that dirty old lamp.But I will clean it,and the we may get more."So she rubber the lamp.
A Genie stood in front of her.
"Oh!"cried Aladdin's mother."Who are you?"
"I am the Genie of the lamp."he said."You rubbed this lamp and I have come.What do you want?"
"We want food."said Aladdin.
The Genie set a wonderful meal down on the table-enough food for two or three day.They ate;then Aladdin's mother said,"We will put this food away and eat the rest of it tomorrow."
One day when Aladdin was walking in the street,Princess Badrul passed by.She was very beautiful.Aladdin had never seen anyone so beautiful.
Each day at the same time he went out to see the Princess go by.Then he went home;he took the lamp and rubbed it.The Genie stood in front of him:"You rubbed the lamp and I have come.What do you want?"
"I want to marry the Princess Badrul.I want a fine house,fine clothes,jewels and money.Make me the richest man in this country."
The Genie did this.
The Aladdin went to the King and said,"I am the richest man in this country.I want to marry your daughter,Princess Badrul."
When the Princess Badrul saw Aladdin and talked with him,she liked him.And,as she saw more of him,she liked him more.Then she went to her father,the King,and said,"I will marry Aladdin.I think we shall be very happy."
So Aladdin and the Princess were married,and they lived in the GREat house-the biggest and most beautiful house in the city.
　
The magician had gone back to Africa.A man came to him from China.
"Well,"said the magician,"tell me what has been happening in China."
"A young man called Aladdin has married the Princess Badrul.They live in the finest house in the city.He is very rich."
"Aladdin?"said the magician."Aladdin!On the next day when I went back to that hole in the field,I called,but he did not answer.So I thought that he was dead.But he did not die!He got out of the hole and he has the lamp!The Genie of the lamp has done all this for him.I must go back to China and get the lamp from him."
　
So the magician went to China.He got some new lamps which looked like the lamp which Aladdin had got.He waited till Aladdin went out of the home.Then he came to the house.He saw the Princess and said,"I will give new lamps for old ones.Give me your old lamps and I will give you new lamps."
The Princess said,"We have no old lamps:the house is new and all the lamps are new."
"Is there any old lamp in the house?"
"Aladdin has a old lamp,"said the Princess."I will go and get it."
The magician took the lamp.He rubbed it and the Genie stood in front of him."You rubbed the lamp,and I have come.What do you want?"
"Take the house and everything and everyone in it to Africa."
　
Aladdin came back to his house.But there was no house.There was only a field where the house had been.The house and the Princess Badrul had gone.
"What can I do?"said Aladdin.Then he thought of the ring."Perhaps the Genie of the ring can help me."
So he rubbed the ring,and the Genie stood in front of him.
"You rubbed the ring,and I have come.What do you want?"
"Someone has taken the lamp and has told the Genie of the lamp to take away my house--and the Princess Badrul.Where he put it?Where is Princess Badrul?"
"The house is somewhere in Africa,"said the Genie,"and the Princess is in it."
"Bring it back again!"said Aladdin."Bring her back"
"I cannot do that,"said the Genie."The Genie of the lamp is a very GREat Genie.He is stronger than I am."
"Then take me to the house."said Aladdin.
The Genie took Aladdin to Africa.There he saw the house.He waited until the magician went out of the house.Then he went in.
"Oh,"cried the Princess,"I know that you would find me and save me.What shall we do?"
"Where is the lamp?"aid Aladdin."We must get it."
"The magician always carries it with him.It is with him day and night."
"Take this powder,"said Aladdin."Put it in the magician's food.When he eat it he will fall into a deep sleep."
　
Aladdin hid.The magician came back and the Princess brought him the food.He ate it and fall into a deep sleep.
The Aladdin came back and took the lamp.He rubbed it,and the Genie stood in front of him.
"You rubbed the lamp,"said the Genie,"and I have come.What do you want?"
"Take the magician and put him in the hole where I found the lamp and shut the door so that he cannot get out."
"What more do you want?"said the Genie.
"Take the house back to China."
So the Genie brought the house back to China.The King was glad when he saw Aladdin and the Princess.
When the King died,Aladdin became the King.

Xiang Ling in Grass Game

On baoyu's birthday the young ladies held a drinking party in which they composed poems and much fun. Their service maids started a game of their own. Xiang Ling, Xue Fan's concubine, collected some flower and grass and began a grass game with the other. "This one is bodhisattva willow," one said. And another one would say, "I have arhat pine." Suddenly, Dou Guan said she had a sisters flower. Xiang Ling said, "I have a husband and-wife flower." "Never heard of that," the previous girl protested. "why," Xiang Ling explained. "One flower on a stem is called lan, and several flower on a stem make hui. Two on one stem, one up and one down, is a brother flower, and two flowers side is certainly a spouses one." The other girl, however, did not easily give up. Laughing, she challenged, "Well, then if one flower is big and the other one small, then it's a father and son flower; and if two flowers face different ways it's probably an enemies flower. Is that rather? Xue Fan is gone for over half a year. I guess because you miss him you made up that husband and wife flower." Blushed, Xiang Ling rushed up meaning to pinch the sharp-tongued girl, who laughed and begged for the other's help. At the sight of the girls' laughing, poking and punching each other in a friendly manner, Baoyu came to join their excitement with grass in hand.

The Tale of the Sun

A long, long time ago, the earth was in complete darkness. There was no sun, only the moon and some stars. This was before people, when giant animals roamed the earth. They were much bigger than animals today. Dinewan the Emu and Bralagah the Brolga were two such animals.

One day, they were arguing and fighting over some silly little thing. Bralagah got angry and grabbed one of Dinewan's large eggs and hurled it into the sky. It landed on a pile of firewood where the yellow yolk burst into flames. The flames were so bright, that the world was lit up.

One of the good spirits who lived in the sky was watching this and saw how bright and beautiful the world looked. Maybe if a fire was lit everyday, there would always be light.

So the good spirit collected wood every night. When the pile was big enough, his friend, the morning star, would come out to let everyone know that the fire was about to start. But what about anyone sleeping? How would they know that the fire was lit? The good spirit thought about this. Then, somewhere in the distance, came a loud laugh.

Gugurrgaagaa, gugurrgaagaa

The sound of the cackling kookaburra rang out across the earth.

'That's it, that's the noise I want,' The good spirit was jumping up and down with excitement. At last he had found a way to wake the world.

So now, every morning, just as the dawn is breaking, the laugh of Gugurrgaagaa the Kookaburra can be heard all across Australia, bringing in the new day.

chang cheng 2

Upon her arrival, she was eager to ask about her husband. Bad news came to her, however, that Fan Qiliang had already died of exhaustion and was buried into the GREat Wall! Meng Jiangnu could not help crying. She sat on the ground and cried and cried. Suddenly with a tremendous noise, a 400 kilometer-long (248-mile-long) section of the Great Wall collapsed over her bitter wail. The workmen and supervisors were astonished. Emperor Qin Shihuang happened to be touring the wall at that exact time, and he was enraged and ready to punish the woman.
However, at the first sight of Meng Jiangnu Emperor Qin Shihuang was attracted by her beauty. Instead of killing her, the Emperor asked Meng Jiangnu to marry him. Suppressing her feeling of anger, Meng Jiangnu aGREed on the basis of three terms. The first was to find the body of Fan Qiliang, the second was to hold a state funeral for him, and the last one was to have Emperor Qin Shihuang wear black mourning for Fan Qiliang and attend the funeral in person. Emperor Qin Shihuang thought for a while and reluctantly agreed. After all the terms were met, Emperor Qin Shihuang was ready to take her to his palace. When the guarders were not watching, she suddenly turned around and jumped into the nearby Bohai Sea.
This story tells of the hard work of Chinese commoners, as well as exposes the cruel system of hard labor during the reign of Emperor Qing Shihuang. The Ten-Thousand-Li GREat Wall embodied the power and wisdom of the Chinese nation. In memory of Meng Jiangnu, later generations built a temple, called the Jiangnu Temple, at the foot of the Great Wall in which a statue of Meng Jiangnu is located. Meng Jiangnu's story has been passed down from generation to generation.

chang cheng

This story happened during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC). There was once an old man named Meng who lived in the southern part of the country with his wife. One spring, Meng sowed a seed of bottle gourd in his yard. The bottle gourd GREw up bit by bit and its vines climbed over the wall and entered his neighbor Jiang's yard. Like Meng, Jiang had no children and so he became very fond of the plant. He watered and took care of the plant. With tender care of both men, the plant grew bigger and bigger and gave a beautiful bottle gourd in autumn. Jiang plucked it off the vine, and the two old men decided to cut the gourd and divide it by half. To their surprise when they cut the gourd a pretty and lovely girl was lying inside! They felt happy to have a child and both loved her very much, so they decided to bring the child up together. They named the girl Meng Jiangnu, which means Meng and Jiang's daughter. As time went by, Meng Jiangnu GREw up and became a beautiful young woman. She was very smart and industrious. She took care of old Meng and Jiang's families, washing the clothes and doing the house work. People knew that Meng Jiangnu was a good girl and liked her very much. One day while playing in the yard, Meng Jiangnu saw a young man hiding in the garden. She called out to her parents, and the young man came out.
At that time, Emperor Qin Shihuang (the first emperor of Qin) announced to build the GREat Wall. So lots of men were caught by the federal officials. Fan Qiliang was an intellectual man and very afraid of being caught, so he went to Meng's house to hide from the officials. Meng and Jiang liked this good-looking, honest, and good-mannered young man. They decided to wed their daughter to him. Both Fan Qiliang and Meng Jiangnu accepted happily, and the couple was married several days later. However, three days after their marriage, officials suddenly broke in and took Fan Qiliang away to build the Great Wall in the north of China.
It was a hard time for Meng Jiangnu after her husband was taken away - she missed her husband and cried nearly every day. She sewed warm clothes for her husband and decided to set off to look for him. Saying farewell to her parents, she packed her luggage and started her long journey. She climbed over mountains and went through the rivers. She walked day and night, slipping and falling many times, but finally she reached the foot of the GREat Wall at the present Shanhaiguan Pass.

The Frog Prince-1

But the king was displeased at her tears, and he said, "Don’t despise the frog. He helped you when you were in trouble."Then she took up the frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs and placed him in a comer of her room.In the evening, however, when the princess was in bed, the frog crept out of his corner and said to her, "1 am very tired. Lift me up and let me sleep in your bed, or I will tell your father."When the princess heard this, she got very angry. She seized the frog in her hand and threw him against the wall. She said, "You will be quiet now, 1 hope, you ugly frog."But as he fell, how surprised she was to see the frog! Because the frog had changed into a handsome young prince with beautiful eyes. Afterwards the prince became her constant companion, and at last her father gave his consent to their marriage.The prince said to her, "I was changed into a frog by a wicked witch, so 1 had to live in the fountain. Only you could release me. No one else in the world had the power to do so.”

The young prince told her that when they were married, he would take her to his own kingdom. So on the wedding day, a splendid carriage drove up to the door. It was drawn by eight white horses. They had white feathers on their heads and golden harnesses, and by the side of the carriage stood the prince's faithful steward, Harry.This faithful Harry had been very unhappy when his master was changed into a frog. His hear almost burst with sorrow. So he fastened three iron bands round his heart.The carriage with the prince and his bride quickly drove away with Harry behind. Harry was full of joy because the spell on his master had been broken. Soon they heard a loud crack.Now the prince knew nothing of the iron bands round his servant's heart, so he cried out, "Harry, is the carriage breaking?""No, sir," he replied. "Only the iron bands round my heart are breaking because 1 am so happy to see my master traveling back to our kingdom with a beautiful bride."The prince and the princess never forgot faithful Harry. （The End）

The Frog Prince

Many, many years ago, there lived a king. He had many beautiful daughters. And the youngest one was very lovely, and even the sun was surprised to see her when he shone on her face.
Near the king's castle lay a dark, gloomy forest. In the middle of the forest there was a fountain.One day, the king' s daughter went into the forest when it was very hot. She sat down on the side of the cool fountain. Then she began to toss a golden ball in the air, and catch it. It was a most interesting game to her.Once, however, the king' s daughter failed to catch the golden ball. It fell on the ground, and rolled into the water.The princess followed it with her eyes, but soon it disappeared. The water was very deep and she could not see the bottom.Then she cried aloud, and began to weep. Soon she heard a voice. It said, "Why are you weeping, princess? Your tears can melt even the stones!"She looked around and saw a frog. He was stretching his thick ugly head out of the water."Oh, there you are, old waterpaddler," she said. "I am crying for the loss of my golden ball. It has fallen into into the fountain."

"Then weep no more," said the frog. "I can get it for you. But what will you give me if I fetch your plaything?""Oh, I will give you anything, dear frog," she replied. "What will you want----my dresses, my pearls and jewels, or my golden crown?""I don't want any of them," answered the frog. "Your clothes, your pearls and your jewels, or even your golden crown, are nothing to me. I want you to love me, and let me be your companion. I'd like to sit at your table, eat from your golden plate, and drink out of your cup, and sleep in your nice bed. If you promise me all this, I will dive down into the water and bring up your pretty golden ball."“Oh, yes," she replied. "I will promise you anything if only you bring back my ball."But she thought to herself that a silly frog like him could not be fit to associate with mankind.

The frog believed the king' s daughter. He dipped his head under the water and dived to the bottom. After a while he carried the ball to the surface, and threw it onto the grass.When the king' s daughter saw the beautiful ball, she was full of joy. She took it and ran away as fast as she could."Wait, wait," cried the frog. "Take me with you! I can't run as fast as you. " But the young princess would not listen to the frog's croaking. She ran to the palace as fast as she could, and soon forgot the poor frog. So the frog returned to the fountain and remained there.The next day, however, when the princess was sitting with the king and eating out of her own little golden plate, she heard a strange noise on the marble steps outside. Then came a knock on the door, and a voice cried, "Lovely princess, open the door for me. " So she rose and went to the door.


But when she caught sight of the frog, she closed the door and seated herself again at the table. She looked quite pale. When the king saw that his daughter was frightened, he asked, "My child, what is at the door? Has a giant come to carry you away?"“Oh, no, Father," she replied, "it is no giant, only a very ugly frog."“A frog! What can he want with you, my daughter?""Ah, my dear father, I will tell you all about it. Yesterday when I was playing with my golden ball by the fountain in the forest, it rolled into the water, and because I cried, the frog fetched it for me, and 1 promised him that he could come to the castle and be my companion. I thought he could not get out of the water to come to me, and now here he is."Just then came a second knock on the door, and a voice cried, "King's daughter, king's daughter, open the door for me. You promised that I could be your companion when you sat in the shade and 1 fetched your ball from the bottom of the fountain."

"Then, my daughter," said the king, "you must keep your promise. Go and let him in at once." So she had to go and open the door, and the frog hopped in after her.When she sat down, he cried, "Take me up by you." She didn't want to take him up at first, but her father told her to lift the frog onto the chair by her side.When he was placed on the chair, he jumped upon the table and said, "Now, push your little golden plate nearer, and we will eat together." The princess did as he told her, but everyone could see that she disliked it.At last he said, "I have eaten and drunk quite enough, and 1 feel very tired, so now carry me upstairs into your little bedroom. Let' s sleep together."When the princess heard this, she began to weep. She was really of the cold frog. She could not even touch him, and now he wanted to sleep in her neat, beautiful little bed.

Chicken Delight

She came, she clucked, she conquered our New York City backyard By William Grimes From New York Times
One day in the dead of winter, I looked out my back window and saw a chicken. It was jet-black with a crimson wattle, and it seemed unaware that it was in New York City. In classic barnyard fashion, it was scratching, pecking and clucking.
How it came to a small backyard in Astoria, Queens, remains a matter of conjecture. The chicken made its first appearance next door, at the home of a multitude of cabdrivers from Bangladesh. My wife, Nancy, and I figured they had bought the chicken and were fattening it for a feast. That hypothesis fell into doubt when the chicken hopped the fence and began pacing the perimeter of our yard with a proprietary air.
Eating it was out of the question. As a restaurant critic and an animal lover, I subscribe to a policy of complete hypocrisy. Serve fish or fowl to me, but don’t ask me to watch the killing. Once I meet it, I don’t want to eat it.
Nancy and I next theorized that the chicken had escaped from a live-poultry market about four blocks away and was on the run. Our hearts went out to the brave little refugee. We had to save it.
Chickens were beginning to sound like the ideal pet. The chicken took to its new surroundings easily. Its main social task was to integrate into the cat society—a group of about five strays we feed.
How would the two species deal with each other?
One morning I looked out the window and saw four cats lined up at their food bowls, and, right in the middle, eating cat food with gusto, was the chicken. Occasionally it would push a cat aside to get a better position. The cats, for their part, regarded the chicken warily. To the extent that it was a bird, it was prey. But big prey. From time to time they would stalk, press their bodies to the ground, swish their tails and give every sign of going for the kill. Then they would register the chicken’s size and become gripped by second thoughts. A face-saving, halfhearted lunge would follow.
The two sides soon achieved parity. Sometimes, I’d look out back and see a cat chasing the chicken. Ten minutes later I’d see the chicken chasing a cat. I like to think they reached the plane of mutual respect. Perhaps affection.
Although it was nice to know the chicken could eat anything, cat food didn’t seem right. I called my mother. Mom drove to the local feed store in La Porte, Texas, and picked up a 25-pound bag of scratch grains, a blend of milo, corn and oats. She began shipping the grain in installments. The chicken seemed to appreciate the feed.
Our care paid off. One morning, Nancy spied an egg on the patio. At the base of the pine tree, where the chicken slept, was a nest containing four more eggs. They were small, somewhere between ecru and beige, but this was it. The blessed event. After I wrote about the chicken in the New York Times, my mail-bag was bursting with letters offering advice on the proper care and feeding of chickens. Disturbed that she did not have a name, fans wrote with suggestions.
Vivian had a certain sultry appeal; Henrietta seemed cute. But Henny Penny? The media jumped in. National Public Radio quizzed me about the chicken for one of its weekend programs. “My producer wants to know, could you hold the telephone up to the chicken so we can hear it?” the interviewer asked. Unfortunately, I don’t have a 100-foot cord on my telephone. The Associated Press sent a photographer to capture the chicken’s many moods. (She had two.)
Then one morning I looked out my kitchen window, and my heart stopped. No chicken—not in my pine tree or the tree next door. Nor was she pecking and scratching in any of the nearby yards. There were no signs of violence, only a single black feather near the back door. She was definitely missing. But why?
Spring was in the air. Could she be looking for love? Or perhaps she was reacting badly to the burdens of celebrity? Or maybe she was simply looking for a place to lay her eggs in peace.

The road of life

The lives of most men are determined by their enviroment.They accept the circumstances amid which fate has thrown them not only resignation but even with good will.They are like streetcars running contendedly on their rails and they despise the sprightly flitter that dashes in and out of the traffic and speeds so jauntily across the open country .I respct them; they are good citizens,good husbands,and good fathers ,and of course somebody has to pay the taxes; but I do not find them exciting. I am fasinated by the men, few enough in all conscience , who take life in their own hands and seem to mould it in to their own liking. It may be that we have no such thing as free will, but at all events, we have the illusion of it. At a cross-road it does seem to us that we might go either to the right or to the left and ,the choice once made, it is difficult to see that the whole course of the world's history obliged us to take the turning we did.

An Amazing Way to Deal With Change

An Amazing Way to Deal With Change In Your Work & In Your LifeDR SPENCER JOHNSON
“Cheese” – a metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or even an activity like jogging or golf.
Each of us has our own idea of what Cheese is, and we pursue it because we believe it makes us happy. If we get it, we often become attached to it. And if we lose it, or it’s taken away, it can be traumatic.ONCE, long ago, there lived 4 little characters who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish them & make them happy.Two were mice named “Sniff” & “Scurry” and two were little people named “Hem” & “Haw”.Every morning, the mice & the little people dressed in their running gear & headed over to Cheese Station C where they found their own kind of cheese. It was a large store of Cheese that Hem & Haw eventually moved their homes to be closer to it & built a social life around it.To make themselves feel more at home, Hem & Haw decorated the walls with sayings. One read: "Having Cheese Makes you Happy".Having Cheese Makes You HappyOne morning, Sniff & Scurry arrived at Cheese Station C & discovered there was no cheese.
They weren’t surprised. Since they had noticed the supply of cheese had been getting smaller every day, they were prepared for the inevitable & knew instinctively what to do. They were quickly off in search of New Cheese.Later that same day, Hem & Haw arrived. “What! No Cheese? Who moved my Cheese? It’s not fair!”, Hem yelled. They went home that night hungry & discouraged. But before they left, Haw wrote on the wall:The More Important Your Cheese is To You, The More You Want To Hold Onto It.The next day Hem & Haw left their homes, & returned to Cheese Station C. But situation hadn’t changed. Haw asked, “Where are Sniff & Scurry? Do you think they know something we don’t?” Hem scoffed, “What would they know? They’re just simple mice. They just respond to what happens. We’re little people. We’re smarter.”
Haw suggested, “Maybe we should stop analyzing the situation so much and just get going & find some New Cheese.Haw decided to leave Cheese Station C while Hem was more comfortable staying in the cheeseless Station C. Haw announced, “It’s MAZE time!” and wrote:If You Do Not Change,
You Can Become ExtinctWho Moved My Cheese?
Meanwhile, Sniff & Scurry went farther into the maze until they found Cheese Station N. They found what they had been looking for: a GREat supply of New Cheese. It was the biggest store of cheese the mice had ever seen.
Haw on the other hand become more anxious & wondered if he really wanted to go out into the Maze. He wrote a saying on the wall ahead of him & stared at it for some time:What Would You DoIf You Weren’t Afraid?

Haw now realized that the change probably would not have taken him by surprise if he had been watching what was happening all along and if he had anticipated change. He stopped for a rest & wrote on the wall of the Maze:
Smell The Cheese OftenSo You Know
When It Is Getting Old.

Haw wondered if Hem had moved on, or if he was still paralyzed by his own fears. Then, Haw remembered the times when he had felt his best in the Maze. It was when he was moving along. He wrote:
Movement In A New Direction Helps You FindNew Cheese.

As Haw started running down the dark corridor, he began to smile. Haw didn’t realize it yet, but he was discovering what nourished his soul. He was letting go & trusting what lay ahead for him, even though he did not know exactly what it was.
To his surprise, Haw started to enjoy himself more & more. He stopped to write again on the wall:When You Move Beyond Your Fear,
You Feel Free.
Who Moved My Cheese?
To make things even better, Haw started to paint a picture in his mind again. He saw himself in GREat realistic detail, sitting in the middle of a pile of all his favorite cheeses-from Cheddar to Brie! He saw himself eating the many cheeses he liked, & he enjoyed what he saw.
The more clearly he saw the image of himself enjoying New Cheese, the more real & believable it became. He wrote:Imagining MyselfEnjoying New Cheese,
Even Before I Find It,
Leads Me To It.
Haw wondered why he had always thought that a change would lead to something worse. Now he realized that change could lead to something better.
Then he raced through the Maze with GREater strength & agility. Until he found bits of New Cheese. He entered the Cheese Station but it was empty. Someone had already been there.He stopped & wrote on the wall:The Quicker YouLet Go Of Old Cheese,
The Sooner
you Find New Cheese.
Haw made his way back to Cheese Station C to offer Hem bits of New Cheese but was turned down. Hem wanted his own Cheese back. Haw just shook his head in disappointment but this does not stop him from finding New Cheese. He smiled as he realized:
It Is SaferTo Search In The Maze
Than Remain
In The Cheeseless Situation.
Haw realized again, that what you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.
He realizes it was natural for change to continually occur, whether you expect it or not. Change could surprise you only if you didn’t expect it & weren’t looking for it.When he realized he had changed his beliefs, he paused to write on the wall:Old BeliefsDo Not Lead You To
New Cheese.
Who Moved My Cheese?

Haw now realized that his new beliefs were encouraging him to behave in a new way. He was behaving differently from the way he had when he had kept returning to the same cheeseless station.
It all depends on what you choose to believe. He wrote on the wall:When You See That You Can Find And Enjoy New Cheese, You Change Course.
Haw just hoped he was heading in the right direction. He thought about the possibility that Hem would read The Handwriting On The Wall & find his way.
He wrote on the wall what he had been thinking about for some time:Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To The Bigger Changes That Are To Come.

He continued on through the Maze with GREater strength & speed. He proceeded along a corridor that was new to him, rounded a corner, & found New Cheese at Cheese Station N where he saw the greatest supply of Cheese he had ever seen.Sniff & Scurry welcomed him.
“Hooray for Change!”Haw wrote down a summary of what he had learned on the largest wall of Cheese Station N & smiled as he looked at what he had learned:THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL?Change Happens?Anticipate Change?Monitor Change?Adapt To Change QuicklyChange?Enjoy Change !?Be Ready To Change Quickly & Enjoy It Again.

Move With The Cheese &Enjoy It !

Grow, Little Rosemary

It is March.And it is almost spring.The dirt is still cold.Today,we will grow herbs.We put dirt in square trays.We push seeds in the dirt and cover them.I whisper to my tray every day."Grow,Little Rosemary,grow!"I say.Every morning,I run to my tray.But,I only see dirt."Grow,Little Rosemary,grow!"I say.I give her tiny drops of water.She grows inside the dirt.I wait and wait.Then,I see something GREen!Little Rosemary peeks out at me!I put her by the window.She feels the sun.Soon,Little Rosemary grows a stemand some leaves.Little Rosemary is GREen and furry,now.She smells good!Little Rosemary is not little any more.Now,I can take her home.I am glad Little Rosemary is here.I GREw her by myself.

The Scroll Marked

I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
For this is the GREatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the market place. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.
My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.
********************1**************************
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I speak? I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends; I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers. Always will I dig for reasons to applaud; never will I scratch for excuses to gossip. When I am tempted to criticize I will bite on my tongue; when I am moved to praise I will shout from the roofs.
Is it not so that birds, the wind, the sea and all nature speaks with the music of praise for their creator? Cannot I speak with the same music to his children? Henceforth will I remember this secret and it will change my life.
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
*********2*******************************
And how will I act? I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall fo suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.
I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me! I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
But how will I react to the actions of others? With love. For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger. Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains. My shield will protect me in the market place and sustain me when I am alone. It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation. It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say I Love You. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and hisheart will be opened. And who is there who will say nay to my goods when his heart feels my love?
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
And most of all I will love myself. For when I do I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.
I will GREet this day with love in my heart.
Henceforth will I love all mankind. From this moment all hate is let from my veins for I have no time to hate, only time to love. From this moment I take the first step required to become a man among men. With love I will increase my sales a hundredfold and become a GREat salesman. If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone. Without it I will fail though I possess all the knowledge and skills of the world.
I will GREet this day with love, and I will succeed.

a small price

Today I begin a new life.
Today I shed my old skin, which has too long suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity.
Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard where there is fruit for all.
Today I will pluck grapes of wisdom from the tallest and fullest vines in the vineyard, for these were planted by the wisest of my profession who have come before me, generation upon generation.
Today I will savor the taste of grapes from these vines and verily I will swallow the seed of success buried in each and new life will sprout within me.
The career I have chosen is laden with opportunity yet it is fraught with heartbreak and despair and the bodies of those who have failed, were they piled one atop another, would cast a shadow down upon all the pyramids of the earth.
Yet I will not fail, as the others, for in my hands I now hold the charts, which will guide through perilous waters to shores, which only yesterday seemed but a dream.
Failure no longer will be my payment for struggle. Just as nature made no provision for my body to tolerate pain neither has it made any provision for my life to suffer failure. Failure, like pain, is alien to my life. In the past I accepted it as I accepted pain. Now I reject it and I am prepared for wisdom and principles which will guide me out of the shadows into the sunlight of wealth, position, and happiness far beyond my most extravagant dreams until even the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides will seem no more than my just reward.
Time teaches all things to him who lives forever but I have not the luxury of eternity. Yet within my allotted time I must practice the art of patience for nature acts never in haste. To create the olive, king of all trees, a hundred years is required. An onion plant is old in nine weeks. I have lived as an onion plant. It has not pleased me. Now I wouldst become the latest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesman.
And how will this be accomplished? For I have neither the knowledge nor the experience to achieve the atness and already I have stumbled in ignorance and fallen into pools of self-pity. The answer is simple. I will commence my journey unencumbered with either the weight of unnecessary knowledge or the handicap of meaningless experience. Nature already has supplied me with knowledge and instinct far greater than any beast in the forest and the value of experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly.
In truth, experience teaches thoroughly yet her course of instruction devours men's years so the value of her lessons diminishes with the time necessary to acquire her special wisdom. The end finds it wasted on dead men. Furthermore, experience is comparable to fashion; an action that proved successful today will be unworkable and impractical tomorrow.
Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to latness are contained in the words of these scrolls. What they will teach me is more to prevent failure than to gain success, for what is success other than a state of mind? Which two, among a thou　and wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way. Failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be.
In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeed lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey, which precede all the others is --I will form good habits and become their slave.
As a child I was slave to my impulses; now I am slave to my habits, as are all grown men. I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future. My actions are ruled by appetite, passion, prejudice, greed, love, fear, environment, habit, and the worst of these tyrants is habit. Therefore, if I must be a slave to habit let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed.
I will form good habits and become their slave.
And how will I accomplish this difficult feat? Through these scrolls, it will be done, for each scroll contains a principle which will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which will bring me closer to success. For it is another of nature's laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. So, in order for these written words to perform their chosen task, I must discipline myself with the first of my new habits which is as follows:
I will read each scroll for thirty days in this prescribed manner, before I proceed to the next scroll.
First, I will read the words in silence when I arise. Then, I will read the words in silence after I have partaken of my midday meal. Last, I will read the words again just before I retire at day's end, and most important, on this occasion I will read the words aloud.
On the next day I will repeat this procedure, and I will continue in like manner for thirty days. Then, I will turn to the next scroll and repeat this procedure for another thirty days. I will continue in this manner until I have lived with each scroll for thirty days and my reading has become habit.
And what will be accomplished with this habit? Herein lies the hidden secret of all man's accomplishments. As I repeat the words daily they will soon become a part of my active mind, but more important, they will also seep into my other mind, that mysterious source which never sleeps, which creates my dreams, and often makes me act in ways I do not comprehend.
As the words of these scrolls are consumed by my mysterious mind I will begin to awake, each morning, with a vitality I have never known before. My vigor will increase, my enthusiasm will rise, my desire to meet the world will overcome every fear I once knew at sunrise, and I will be happier than I ever believed it possible to be in this world of strife and sorrow.
Eventually I will find myself reacting to all situations which confront me as I was commanded in the scrolls to react, and soon these actions and reactions will become easy to perform, for any act with practice becomes easy.
Thus a new and good habit is born, for when an act becomes easy through constant repetition it becomes a pleasure to perform and if it is a pleasure to perform it is man's nature to perform it often. When I perform it often it becomes a habit and I become its slave and since it is a good habit this is my will.
Today I begin a new life.

And I make a solemn oath to myself that nothing will retard my new life's growth. I will lose not a day from these readings for that day cannot be retrieved nor can I substitute another for it. I must not, I will not, break this habit of daily reading from these scrolls and, in truth, the few moments spent each day on this new habit are but a small price to pay for the happiness and success that will be mine.
As I read and re-read the words in the scrolls to follow, never will I allow the brevity of each scroll nor the simplicity of its words to cause me to treat the scroll's message lightly. Thousands of grapes are pressed to fill one jar with wine, and the grape skin and pulp are tossed to the birds. So it is with these grapes of wisdom from the ages. Much has been filtered and tossed to the wind. Only the pure truth lies distilled in the words to come. I will drink as instructed and spill not a drop. And the seed of success I will swallow.
Today my old skin has become as dust. I will walk tall among men and they will know me not , for today I am a new man, with a new life.

the hottest artists

At just 22, Usher is easily becoming one of the hottest artists in the US. His album, My Way sold seven million copies. All the while Usher found the time to act in four major movies. 8701 shows Usher at his best with producing, singing and song writing, proving he is a knowledgeable and skilled singer!

Usher delivers with plenty of heartfelt soul in the track “Can U Help Me”. By far the most powerful track is “U Got It Bad”. No wonder it’s a huge hit. The hip-hop rhythm(节奏)of “I Don’t Know” is exciting. “Pop Ya Collar” stands out in particular and just seems to catch you, and won’ t let go. Listen carefully because you will be made to believe that Usher is singing only to an audience(听众) of one and that one is you! If it is true passion(热情) that you want in your music, then this one is just for you!

Usher is a man who can show off his stuff and do it so well. There can be no doubt that he will reach very high for the stars, and when we wish upon our star at night we will most likely see Usher right up there among them.

left or right

　　Now as a best-selling author of picture books, Jimmy continues to assert control over his life. He works only on projects that inspire him and refuses to let fame limit his freedom. However, as sure as Jimmy is of his own path, he is sensitive that for others, freedom presents its own problems. In a world of infinite possibilities, choice can seem overwhelming. 　　
　　This idea is represented in Jimmy‘s books,somewhere the small scale of his characters expresses the powerlessness they feel when facing choices. The message contained in the brief explanations that accompany Jimmy‘s drawings, however, is hopeful: Though the world may make us feel small, we must be brave. Everything will be all right for us—as it is for the"small people"in Jimmy‘s books—if we make appropriate choices. 　　　　　　Despite his newfound fame and wealth, Jimmy prefers working quietly at home with his wife and daughter. He spends his mornings drawing, and his afternoons doing chi-gong. To Jimmy, the freedom to live his life as he chooses means much more than money and attention ever could.

DIY tours more popular

　More tourists are shunning crowded tourist spots during the National Day holidays and seeking a different sort of holiday experience-- tranquility and freedom-- by organizing their own trips.
　　A survey by the Guangzhou Tourism Administration's holiday office found that 3.67 million residents planned to travel during the week-long holiday, which starts Friday.
　　But travel agencies have yet to feel the benefit of the holiday business. Liang Zhiyi, a manager fro Guangdong Nanhu International Travel Service, said only 4,000 people had signed up for its "golden week" packages, a drop from last year's 7,000.
　　Bookings for popular routes to Yunnan, Zhangjiajie and the Yangtze River were faring the worst, he said.
　　"This is a bit unexpected, though business in the previous May Day "golden week" and Lunar New Year holidays wasn't any better, Liang was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying.
　　The company slashed prices for its "golden week" packages in last-ditch effort to attract customers, he added.
　　Fed up with crowds at popular tourist destinations and the hectic itinerary of package tours, many experienced travelers were planning journeys and exploring new destinations by themselves.
　　"Travel used to be an eye-opening activity for most people. Now that they have traveled quite a lot, they just want to relax. They want to be their own bosses rather than listening to a tour guide during the holidays," Liang said.
　　Li Yin, a resident, said the week-long holiday is a chance for relaxation and family reunions rather than a date with hordes of tourists.
　　On a friend's recommendation, Li plans to spend three days in Pinghai, a small, remote harbor town in eastern Guangdong known for its tranquility.
　　"I am really upset by crowds cramming tourist spots during "golden week. We can settle everything from planning the itinerary to booking hotel rooms via the Internet before setting off," Li said.
　　"It is more time consuming and a bit more expensive to arrange everything by yourself, but this makes the trip more fun and enjoyable," Li added.

Chinese pull off upset wins

Chinese go chess players shook their Japanese and South Korean counterparts at the pre-quarterfinals of 10th LG Cup in Seoul yesterday, booking six seats in the last eight.
　　Teenager Chen Yaoye upset world No. 1 Lee Chang-ho of South Korea, highlighting the reserve strength of China and sparking hopes of regain its dominance of the sport which has a solid following in China, Japan and South Korea.
　　Go chess is known as "weiqi" in Chinese. The main rule of the game is to capture the opponent's stones by completely surrounding them.
　　The all-conquering Chinese players won six games with Chen, a 16-year-old Beijing-based player, offering a brilliant display of chess by capturing Lee's long line of stones on his international debut.
　　China's No. 1 Gu Li ousted Japanese veteran Kobayashi Koichi yesterday and steamed ahead in the race for his first world title. Gu last month also beat Lee Chang-ho in the Fujitsu Cup for a berth in the quarterfinals.
　　Yesterday, only Luo Xihe of China lost while other four players - Qiu Jun, Wang Yuhui, Piao Wenyao and Zhou Heyang - also stormed into the top eight.
　　China will have two berths in the semifinals with two all-Chinese quarterfinals.
　　However, the Chinese players will still have to overcome Lee Se-dol of South Korea, who won the Toyota and Samsung cups by beating Chinese opponents Chang Hao and Wang Xi in the finals.

US public pay higher prices

　Prices paid by US consumers rose 0.5 percent in April, led by the biggest increase in energy costs in more than two years, and unexpectedly held steady when food and energy are excluded, a government report showed.
　　Last month's rise in the consumer price index followed a gain of 0.6 percent in March, the Labor Department said yesterday in Washington. Core prices, less likely to fluctuate because they leave out food and energy, failed to rise for the first time since November 2003. The median forecast called for a 0.2 percent increase in core prices.
　　Treasury securities rose, pushing down yields, after the report on core prices bolstered the view of Federal Reserve policy makers that inflation is under control. That will let the central bank keep raising the target interest rate in quarter-percentage-point steps, economists said.
　　The report is "a relief, but the data don't get the Fed off the hook," said Ian Shepherdson, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics Ltd in Valhalla, New York. "Rates are being raised to combat future inflation."
　　Prices for hotel stays and clothing fell after a March surge, yesterday's report showed. Airline tickets and food cost more than a month earlier.
　　Compared with a year earlier, core prices rose 2.2 percent, down from the 2.3 percent rise in March.
　　The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 78 economists called for a 0.4 percent increase in the consumer price index.
　　All consumer prices were up 3.5 percent for the 12 months that ended in April, compared with a year-over-year gain of 3.1 percent the previous month.
　　So far this year, consumer prices are rising at a 4.8 percent annual rate compared with a 4.4 percent rate of increase at the same time last year. Core prices are rising at a 2.6 percent annual pace, same as this point last year.
　　Energy prices rose 4.5 percent in April, the biggest monthly gain since March 2003, after rising 4 percent a month earlier. Gasoline cost 6.4 percent more than in March, and natural gas cost 5.6 percent more.
　　Crude oil and gasoline are becoming less expensive this month amid signs that stockpiles are large enough to meet demand. The average pump price for a gallon of gasoline dropped to US$2.21 in the past week, the fifth straight decline from a record US$2.32 in mid-April.
　　"Pipeline price pressures are becoming less intense," Bruce Kasman, head of economic research at JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York, said before the report. "This should help temper retail goods inflation."

Seoul’s Brunch Bunch

In the view of many, the major American contribution to dining out is the fast food restaurant. Those familiar outlets dispensing over-the-counter or drive-by fare—such as hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza—are a fixture not only on the U.S. landscape but also all over the globe.
Yet a more elegant American tradition established years ago in fine hotels has also taken hold. It’s the Sunday brunch, described by one critic as “the ultimate all-American dining ritual.”
The term “brunch” was coined by combining the words “breakfast” and “lunch.” Brunch was first introduced as a meal that hotels began serving buffet style from late morning through the early afternoon. Convenient hours and expansive fare accommodated diners such as families coming in after church, golfers after completing an early morning round or locals meeting friends for a substantial meal.
Settling into Seoul
One hotel’s general manager considers his lavish brunch to be “an unforgettable gastronomic celebration, an event in and of itself. It’s not just a meal; it’s an adventure.” And it’s one that has hit Seoul, South Korea.
About 10 years ago, brunch was introduced at one or two luxury hotels in Seoul, where it quickly found responsive patrons. Before long, other places introduced the Sunday brunch to their dining rooms. As a result, today, American-style Sunday brunch can be enjoyed at almost every top Seoul hotel.
Most of the basic elements that originated in the United States have been carried over to Seoul. For one thing, the brunch is served buffet style with guests invited to partake of the wide range of dishes arrayed on long tables and at specialty “stations.” Those with hearty appetites appreciate the freedom to go back for “seconds” or even “thirds” under the “all you can eat” policy.
Food, food and more food
A quick swing around metropolitan Seoul starting late morning on any Sunday is a mouth-watering experience in dining out—brunch style.
At the Shilla Seoul, Sunday brunch is grandly presented in its posh European-styled Continental restaurant. Awaiting those with hearty appetites is a selection that includes a dozen appetizers and salads, sushi, a choice of soups, eight hot dishes, plus a carving station offering roast beef, duck breast and rack of lamb. In the breakfast area are cereals, juices, and omelets to order; six different cheeses and 10 desserts top things off.
Things are equally elaborate at the nearby Grand Hilton Hotel. To accommodate the large turnout on Sunday, its brunch is served in the atrium lobby where the buffet restaurant and the atrium cafe are combined seamlessly into one venue.
Let’s say you visit the Grand Hyatt Seoul anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Awaiting you at the Paris Grill are the Breakfast Station, the Eggs and Pancake Station, a Hot Station for main courses, a Pasta Station and the Dessert Station with no fewer than 13 choices.
More than just food
The super-deluxe JW Marriott Hotel offers further proof that the Sunday brunch is now part of Seoul’s dining scene. Among the newest luxury properties in the capital, it was just opened five years ago in Kangnam, the capital’s center for international finance and commerce. Opening day boasted, you guessed it, a lavish Sunday brunch buffet. Served in the Grill restaurant from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the repast included champagne and live background music performed by a jazz trio.
Truly, Sunday brunch has become an established feature in Seoul

Spotlight on Chengdu

Once isolated from the outside world by mountains, Sichuan (四川) is now one of China’s wealthiest provinces. It is also the country’s most heavily populated, with some 110 million people. At the center is Sichuan’s capital city, Chengdu (成都). About 9 million people live in its metropolitan area.
The city bustles with activity. Soaring skyscrapers rise above its beautiful tree-lined streets. Glitzy department stores sell everything from DVD players to the latest in fashion. Chengdu has quickly become a business and transportation center for central China.
Despite its rapid development, the city still preserves much of “old China.” Many old neighborhoods remain. Mazes of small streets and shops seem to go in all directions. Restaurants offer Sichuan-style dishes famous for their “numb-spicy flavor.”
Throughout the city, many outdoor teahouses bring locals together. People play Chinese games like mahjong as they sit on bamboo chairs. Others just read the newspaper, relax and sip tea. These “old-style” teahouses offer visitors an excellent view of traditional Chinese social life.
A walk through history
Chengdu offers rich Chinese culture and history. Just west of the city center lies its most famous cultural relic, Du Fu’s cottage (杜甫草堂). The poet Du Fu lived during the Tang Dynasty (唐朝). He lived in this cottage and composed about 240 poems.
Many of the places mentioned in his poems still remain on the beautiful grounds surrounding his cottage. His poetry reflects a lifetime of suffering. But it also includes a deep sense of appreciation for life and people. Many consider him to be China’s most famous poet.
South of the People’s Park lies the Wuhou Temple (武侯祠). It honors beloved personalities of the Three Kingdoms period. The most famous is the King of Shu Han, Liu Bei. The site also honors his GREat counselor and military advisor, Zhuge Liang. More than 40 sculptures represent them and other historical figures. Numerous memorial stones and scrolls also remind visitors of China’s long and rich history. It’s a must-see destination for history buffs, especially those familiar with Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Nearby natural wonders
Chengdu also provides a GREat starting point for seeing some of China’s natural wonders. About six miles north of downtown lies the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Scientists at the research base are working to ensure the survival of China’s beloved panda. Here, more than a dozen pandas live in a controlled area of bamboo forest. Visitors can catch a glimpse of them from forest pathways.
The research base also houses a museum. Visitors to the museum can learn more about pandas and their protection.
Much of Sichuan’s beautiful mountain scenery is easily accessible from Chengdu. To the north lies Jiuzhaigou Nature Preserve, with its mountains, lakes and waterfalls. To the south lies Mount Emei. Here, visitors can look down on a sea of clouds. Sometimes they can see their shadows on the clouds below, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. This natural phenomenon occurs in only a few other places on Earth.
In Chengdu, travelers will find GREat food, culture, history and natural beauty. And they will discover the heart of China.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Once upon a time there were a king and a queen. They lived happily together and had twelve children, all boys. One day the king said to his wife, "If our thirteenth child, which you are soon going to bring into the world, is a girl, then the twelve others shall die, so that her wealth, and so that she alone may inherit the kingdom."
　　Indeed, he had twelve coffins made. They were filled with wood shavings and each was fitted with a coffin pillow. He had them put in a locked room, and gave the key to the queen, ordering her to tell no one about them.
　　The mother sat and mourned the entire day, until the youngest son —— who was always with her, and who was named Benjamin after the Bible —— said to her, "Dear mother, why are you so sad?"
　　"Dearest child," she answered, "I cannot tell you."
　　However, he would not leave her in peace, until she unlocked the room and showed him the coffins, already filled with wood shavings.
　　Then she said, "My dearest Benjamin, your father had these coffins made for you and your eleven brothers. If I bring a girl into the world, you are all to be killed and buried in them."
　　As she spoke and cried, her son comforted her, saying, "Don't cry, dear mother. We will take care of ourselves and run away."
　　Then she said, "Go out into the woods with your eleven brothers. One of you should climb the highest tree that you can find. Keep watch there and look toward the castle tower. If I give birth to a little son, I will raise a white flag. If I give birth to a little daughter, I will raise a red flag, and then you should escape as fast as you can, and may God protect you. I will get up every night and pray for you, in the winter that you may warm yourselves near a fire, and in the summer that you may not suffer from the heat."
　　After she had blessed her children, they went out into the woods. One after the other of them kept watch, sitting atop the highest oak tree and looking toward the tower. After eleven days had passed, and it was Benjamin's turn, he saw that a flag had been raised. It was not the white one, but instead the red blood-flag, decreeing that they all were to die.
　　When the boys heard this they became angry and cried out, "Are we to suffer death for the sake of a girl! We swear that we will take revenge. Wherever we find a girl, her red blood shall flow."
　　Then they went deeper into the woods, and in its middle, where it was darkest, they found a little bewitched house that was empty.
　　They said, "We will live here. You, Benjamin, you are the youngest and weakest. You shall stay at home and keep house. We others will go and get things to eat."
　　Thus they went into the woods and shot rabbits, wild deer, birds, and doves, and whatever they could eat. These they brought to Benjamin, and he had to prepare them to satisfy their hunger. They lived together in this little house for ten years, but the time passed quickly for them.
　　The little daughter that their mother, the queen, had given birth to was now grown up. She had a good heart, a beautiful face, and a golden star on her forehead.
　　Once on a large washday she saw twelve men's shirts in the laundry and asked her mother, "Whose are these twelve shirts? They are much too small for father."
　　The queen answered with a heavy heart, "Dear child, they belong to your twelve brothers."
　　The girl said, "Where are my twelve brothers? I have never even heard of them."
　　She answered, "Only God knows where they are. They are wandering about in the world."
　　Then she took the girl, unlocked the room for her, and showed her the twelve coffins with the wood shavings and the coffin pillows.
　　"These coffins," she said, "were intended for your brothers, but they secretly ran away before you were born," and she told her how everything had happened.
　　Then the girl said, "Dear mother, don't cry. I will go and look for my brothers."
　　Then she took the twelve shirts and went forth at woods. She walked the entire day, in the evening coming to the bewitched little house.
　　She went inside and found a young lad, who asked, "Where do you come from, and where are you going?"
　　He was astounded that she was so beautiful, that she was wearing royal clothing, and that she had a star on her forehead.
　　"I am a princess and am looking for my twelve brothers. I will walk on as long as the sky is blue, until I find them." She also showed him the twelve shirts that belonged to them.
　　Benjamin saw that it was his sister, and said, "I am Benjamin, your youngest brother."
　　She began to cry for joy, and Benjamin did so as well. They kissed and embraced one another with at love.
　　Then he said, "Dear sister, I must warn you that we have that every girl whom we meet must die."
　　She said, "I will gladly die, if I can thus redeem my twelve brothers."
　　"No," he answered, "you shall not die. Sit under this tub until our eleven brothers come, and I will make it right with them."
　　She did this, and when night fell they came home from the hunt. As they sat at the table eating, they asked, "What is new?"
　　Benjamin said, "Don't you know anything?"
　　"No," they answered.
　　He continued speaking, "You have been in the woods while I stayed at home, but I know more than you do."
　　"Then tell us," they shouted.
　　He answered, "If you will promise me that the next girl we meet shall not be killed."
　　"Yes," they all shouted. "We will show her mercy. Just tell us."
　　Then he said, "Our sister is here," and lifted up the tub. The princess came forth in her royal clothing and with the golden star on her forehead, so beautiful, delicate, and fine.
　　They all rejoiced, falling around her neck and kissing her, and they loved her with all their hearts.
　　Now she stayed at home with Benjamin and helped him with the work. The eleven went into the woods and captured wild game, deer, birds, and doves, so they would have something to eat. Their sister and Benjamin prepared it all. They gathered wood for cooking, herbs for the stew, and put the pot onto the fire so a meal was always ready when the eleven came home. She also kept the house in order, and made up the beds white and clean. The brothers were always satisfied, and they lived happily with her.
　　One time the two of them had prepared a good meal at home, and so they sat together and ate and drank and were ever so happy. Now there was a little garden next to the bewitched house, and in it there were twelve lilies, the kind that are called "students." Wanting to bring some pleasure to her brothers, she picked the twelve flowers, intending to give one to each of them when they were eating. But in the same instant that she picked the flowers, the twelve brothers were transformed into twelve ravens, and they flew away above the woods. The house and the garden disappeared as well.
　　Now the poor girl was alone in the wild woods. Looking around, she saw an old women standing next to her.
　　The old woman said, "My child, what have you done?" Why did you not leave the twelve white flowers standing? Those were your brothers, and now they have been transformed into ravens forever."
　　The girl said, crying, "Is there no way to redeem them?"
　　"No," said the old woman, "There is only one way in the world, and it is so difficult that you will never redeem them. You must remain silent for twelve whole years, neither speaking nor laughing. If you speak a single word, even if all but one hour of the seven years has passed, then it will all be for nothing, and your brothers will be killed by that one word."
　　Then the girl said in her heart, "I know for sure that I will redeem my brothers."
　　She went and found a tall tree and climbed to its top, where she sat and span, without speaking and without laughing.
　　Now it came to pass that a king was hunting in these woods. He had a large that ran to the tree where the girl was sitting. It jumped about, yelping and barking up the tree. The king came, saw the beautiful princess with the golden star on her forehead, and was so enchanted by her beauty that he shouted up to her, asking her to become his wife. She gave him no answer, but nodded with her head. Then he himself climbed the tree, carried her down, set her on his horse, and took her home with him.
　　Their wedding was celebrated with at pomp and joy, but the bride neither spoke nor laughed.
　　After they had lived a few years happily together, the king's mother, who was a wicked woman, began to slander the young queen, saying to the king, "You have brought home a common beggar woman for yourself. Who knows what kind of godless things she is secretly doing. Even if she is a mute and cannot speak, she could at least laugh. Anyone who does not laugh has an evil conscience."
　　At first the king did not want to believe this, but the old woman kept it up so long, accusing her of so many wicked things, that the king finally let himself be convinced, and he sentenced her to death.
　　A at fire was lit in the courtyard, where she was to be burned to death. The king stood upstairs at his window, looking on with crying eyes, for he still loved her dearly. She had already been bound to the stake, and the fire was licking at her clothing with its red tongues, when the last moment of the seven years passed.
　　A whirring sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens approached, landing together. As they touched the earth, it was her twelve brothers, whom she had redeemed. They ripped the fire apart, put out the flames, and freed their sister, kissing and embracing her.
　　Now that she could open her mouth and speak, she told the king why she had remained silent and had never laughed.
　　The king rejoiced to hear that she was innocent, and they all lived happily together until they died. The wicked stepmother was brought before the court and placed in a barrel filled with boiling oil and poisonous snakes, and she died an evil death.