黃子華棟篤笑之「鐵達尼極限」

黃子華棟篤笑之「鐵達尼極限」黃子華「鐵達尼極限」，取自1999年8月棟篤笑之「拾下拾下」

Chinese Input 中文輸入法

I like these input methods because no software required, and they can be used anywhere. 我喜歡這些輸入法，因為它們不用軟件下載，隨時可用。

廣東話輸入法

廣東話鍵盤



i2廣東話輸入法

拼音輸入法


手寫輸入法

倉頡輸入法

中文輸入法  維基百科
倉頡輸入法  維基百科

Stevie Starr the regurgitator

Stevie Starr the regurgitator with Jay Leno


Stevie Starr the Regurgitator with Dave Letterman

Rice fields in Japan

Stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan.

But this is no alien creation - the designs have been cleverly planted.

Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye.
Instead, different colours of rice plants have been precisely
and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields.

As summer progresses and the plants shoot up,
the detailed artwork begins to emerge.

 

A Sengoku warrior on horseback has been created from hundreds of thousands of rice plants, the colours created by using different varieties,
in Inakadate in Japan.

The largest and finest work is grown in the Aomori village of Inakadate, 600 miles north of Toyko,where the tradition began in 1993. 

The village has now earned a reputation for its agricultural artistry and this yearthe enormous pictures of Napoleon and a Sengoku-period warrior, both on horseback, are visible in a pair of fields adjacent to the town hall.

More than 150,000 vistors come to Inakadate, where just 8,700 people live, every summer to see the extraordinary murals.

Each year hundreds of volunteers and villagers plant four different varieties of rice in late May across huge swathes of paddy fields.

Napolean on horseback can be seen from the skies, created by precision planting and months of planning between villagers and farmers in Inkadate

 

Fictional warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife Osen appear in fields in the town of Yonezawa, Japan

And over the past few years, other villages have joined in with the plant designs.Another famous rice paddy art venue is in the town of Yonezawa in the Yamagata prefecture.

This year's design shows the fictional 16th-century samurai warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife, Osen, whose lives feature in television series Tenchijin.

Various artwork has popped up in other rice-farming areas of Japan this year, including designs of deer dancers.

Smaller works of crop art can be seen in other rice-farming areas of Japan such as this image of Doraemon and deer dancers

The farmers create the murals by planting little purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed tsugaru roman variety to create the coloured patterns between planting and harvesting in September.

The murals in Inakadate cover 15,000 square metres of paddy fields.

From ground level, the designs are invisible, and viewers have to climb the mock castle tower of the village office to get a glimpse of the work.

Rice-paddy art was started there in 1993 as a local revitalization project, an idea that grew out of meetings of the village committee.

 

Closer to the image, the careful placement of thousands of rice plants in the paddy fields can be seen

 

The different varieties of rice plant grow alongside each other to create the masterpieces

In the first nine years, the village office workers and local farmers grew a simple design of Mount Iwaki every year.  But their ideas grew more complicated and attracted more attention.  In 2005, agreements between landowners allowed the creation of enormous rice paddy art.

A year later, organisers used computers to precisely plot planting of the four differently colored rice varieties that bring the images to life.

轉貼自: Special thanks to Lucy's email

sand drawing Noah's Ark 諾亞方舟的秘密

sand drawing Noah's Ark 諾亞方舟的秘密 沙畫完整版 The Zoo
作詞：動物爸爸 Jason Yeh
作曲：董修銘 老師

長臂猿GoGo加油聲 宣告黎明的來臨
大貓熊揉著可愛眼睛迎接美好的一天
大象昂首闊步走過必留下痕跡
長頸鹿眺望遠方天地一片祥和
獅子一聲怒吼撼動草原 威震八方

萬物都稀奇生命真可貴
這裡是諾亞方舟載著動物一起探索自然的奧秘
這裡是諾亞方舟載著所有夢想 追尋幸福的天空

蝴蝶曼妙翩翩舞出繽紛的世界
樹蛙鳴唱天籟歌頌生命的樂章
梅花鹿點子特別多創意帶來夢想
臺灣黑熊欣然抬起頭勝利就在胸口
臺灣藍鵲展翅高飛穿過山林 迎向藍天

萬物都稀奇生命真可貴
這裡是諾亞方舟載著動物一起探索自然的奧秘
這裡是諾亞方舟載著所有夢想 追尋幸福的天空

☺ special thanks to Yung-Hui for bringing this to my attention.

Lisa Wong on Ellen DeGeneres Show 艾倫秀

Lisa Wong on Ellen DeGeneres Show 艾倫秀

Sugar Intake and Breast Cancer Risk

For decades, people have been trying to determine if eating sugar causes cancer or feeds a cancer that is already there. A researcher named Dr. Michael Pollak at McGill University in Montreal summed it up well by saying, "Sugar does not directly cause cancer, but people should be careful about the amount of sugar they consume, because each person's individual body reacts differently to sugar."

Here's how scientists think this sugar-cancer relationship might work. When sugar or empty calories are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, blood sugar levels rise suddenly and the body responds by increasing its insulin production. Insulin regulates the amount of sugar in the blood by metabolizing it for use as energy or by storing it as fat.

If the body is overrun with sugar, it has trouble getting the glucose (blood sugar) into the cells where it can be transformed into energy. When the body is constantly dumping insulin into the bloodstream, but the sugar is not being removed from the blood stream, this process is called insulin resistance.

Research has now shown that when insulin levels are harmfully high at the time of a cancer diagnosis, the cancer is associated with a worse prognosis. This process, however, isn't as straightforward as it might sound because insulin also promotes the storage of fat, and we know that obesity itself can induce insulin resistance.

But we do know that people with a history of cancer have a greater incidence of borderline diabetes or overt diabetes than do those without such a history.

The bottom line is: Try to avoid eating processed sugar. Simple sugars aren't the best source of energy anyway. If you need to satisfy a craving for sweets, consider replacing a sugary dessert with a sweet fruit. This doesn't mean that you can never again have a dessert; just be selective. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.

Source: Yahoo! Health

LDN: A Lifesaving Drug

LDN - Low Dose Naltrexone
FDA-approved naltrexone, in a low dose, can boost the immune system — helping those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders.

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a safe, inexpensive, yet underused drug that is extremely beneficial for patients with any condition marked by immune system dysfunction. Naltrexone has been used in 50 mg doses for decades to help patients recover from addiction to alcohol, heroin, and other opiate drugs. However, in the 1980s, New York City physician Bernard Bihari, MD, discovered that very low doses of naltrexone had profound effects on the immune system.

He began giving patients with AIDS 1.5 to 4.5 mg of LDN at bedtime, and they had remarkable improvements. He then tried it with patients suffering with cancer and autoimmune disorders, with equally good results. Today, LDN is recognized as a highly effective therapy for conditions ranging from cancer to autoimmune disorders to autism.

more info:
LDN: A Lifesaving Drug by Julian Whitaker, MD
What is LDN?

source: Whitaker Wellness Institue
☺ special thanks to Bessie for bringing LDN to my attention.

88水災關愛行動 - Bridge Over Troubled Water

88水災關愛行動 - Bridge Over Troubled Water - 溫拿樂隊
also Have You Ever Seen the Rain & Who'll Stop the Rain

HK88水災關愛行動(開場大合唱滔滔千里心)

HK88水災關愛行動(開場大合唱滔滔千里心)

Connie Talbot in Hong Kong

Connie Talbot in Hong Kong
I Have a Dream & Somewhere Over the Rainbow

20 Lazy Ways to Save Money

1. Schedule automatic payments. Have (at least) your fixed monthly bills paid automatically to avoid missing a payment and having to fork over extra money for late fees and/or interest. You can set up auto pay features through your bank's online bill paying service or by arranging it directly with the company or service provider.

2. Eat your groceries. Did you know that Americans regularly throw away nearly 15% of the food they buy at the grocery store each year? That can add up to hundreds or, depending on your supermarket budget, thousands of dollars each year. Save money by actually eating what you buy. Not sure how? Bypass the bookstore and borrow a cookbook from the library!

3. Bundle services. If you're paying different vendors for similar services you may be overpaying. Call your communications providers to see what price you'll be quoted if you switch and bundle your internet, phone and cable TV services.

4. Pay off credit card. If you're not paying off your credit card balance each month you're paying interest and, for most Americans, it's a pretty steep rate. Pay it off and you could save a tidy sum by eliminating your interest charges.

5. Mark your calendar. Whenever you rent something - library books, videos, etc. – mark it on your calendar and save money by avoiding those quickly mounting late fees. Many stores and libraries also now offer email reminders to help the constantly harried so sign up for the extra help!

6. File your taxes on time. Or if you need to file an extension at least pay what you owe on the due date. You'll avoid annoying notices from the IRS and, more importantly, save on penalties, fees and interest.

7. Roll it over. If you're switching jobs and you can't leave your 401(k) invested with your current company, roll your 401(k) into either your new employer's 401(k) or an IRA within the 60-day window instead of withdrawing the money. By doing so you'll keep the money invested - and earning interest - and avoid those nasty taxes as well as the additional 10% penalty.

8. Switch credit cards. If you're carrying a balance on a high interest rate credit card check out other card issuers to see if you could transfer your balance to one with a lower interest rate and fewer fees. Use sites like Creditcard.com or Bankrate.com to compare card rates, and pay careful attention to how long those terms last so you don't wind up paying a higher rate and erasing any potential savings.

9. Use your privileges. Are you an AAA member? Do you belong to the AARP? What about your local credit union? Check organizations you have memberships with to see if they offer buying privileges or discounts.

10. Rent instead of buy. You might be excited to expand your driveway but don't let your enthusiasm overtake good sense. Hold off on buying that jackhammer and think before you spend on big-ticket items or items that you'll use once or infrequently (like movies and books).

11. Buy instead of rent. Don't pay the exorbitantly high prices charged by rent-a-center type stores for items you'll use regularly and keep long-term like computers, furniture and appliances.

12. Ask. That's right, just ask. You can't be paying any more than you currently are, so why not ask if you can get the interest rate lowered on your credit cards or loans? Also, ask for a discount on services like your wireless phone, trash removal or pet care instead of switching to another vendor, and of course ask "is that the best you can do" on any big ticket purchases like cars, appliances and furniture.

In a tight economy it might be worth the seller's while to cut the price instead of losing the sale, and you'll both benefit in the end!

13. Just say no. To the extended warranty that is. They hardly ever make financial sense. Weigh the repair or replacement cost (and if you would even need or want to repair or replace it down the road) against the cost of the warranty and graciously pass when offered.

14. Have the awkward conversation. Americans average more than $750 yearly on holiday gifts and that's probably much more than most would like to spend. If your gift-giving is costing you more than you can realistically afford there's a good chance it’s more than your relatives can afford (or would like to spend) as well. Take the plunge and broach the subject. Offer a more reasonable alternative (say, limit giving to children or put a dollar amount on gifts per person). More than likely your relatives will be grateful SOMEONE finally raised the subject and you’ll save money in the process.

15. Eat at home. If the idea of cooking for yourself seems like too much work at least opt for take-out instead of dining out - you'll save on the tip, the alcohol and most likely the cost for appetizers or dessert.

16. Balance your checkbook. It might take a few minutes but it's something you should be doing anyway and it can pay off huge dividends by helping you avoid bouncing a check and incurring steep overdraft fees (not to mention a little embarrassment)!

17. Stick with your bank. When withdrawing cash drive or walk the extra minute it takes to use your bank's ATM and avoid the fee that could come with another bank's machine. Better yet - switch to a bank that doesn't charge fees!

18. Use your TV. If you're paying for cable why not use all of it - and save some money in the process? Cancel the video membership and watch movies through cable movie packages you're already paying for or check out your free "on demand" shows. Drop the gym membership and work out at home to channels like FitTV, and bag the magazine subscriptions and watch the same shows (like Martha Stewart) on TV instead.

19. Quit those bad habits. Smoking, overeating and drinking are costly habits to maintain. Okay - this is the "lazy" way to save, not necessarily the easy way. But you can save boatloads of money in two ways by saying sayonara to your favorite vices: (1) You'll save money by cutting out on the regular spending it's costing you, and (2) you'll probably save on insurance premiums and long-term health costs. It's the ultimate win-win.

20. Forget the pet. Sure it sounds heartless but did you realize that welcoming home a little Fido can cost you an average of more than $1,500 a year - or $15,000 over 10 years? Feline fluffies are pricey too - just under $1,000 a year or approximately $9,000 for 10 years of care. Looking at the long-term picture, that's a new car or the down payment on a home! Keep walking right past that pet store and keep the money in your pocket instead.

source: Yahoo Finance

Awesome Rock 母子拜觀音

I received an email from Cariann today, as follows:

This picture shows a rock on a sea in Birmania,
這麼圖片呈現出的是在Birmania海上的一個大岩石。
it is only possible to see this once a year with a special angle
of the sun and special light conditions.
一年只有這麼一次，當太陽位於一個特別的角度並且在特別的光線條件下，
才有可能看得到這一景象。
Bend your head to the left and see how spectacular it is.
將你的頭向左傾，看看它有多麼奇妙。

after searching on the internet,
I found out that this image originated from
a South Korean Children's Story Book "Children of the East River".
see detailed info on Snopes.

黃西 Joe Wong at the Boston Comedy Festival

黃西 Joe Wong
shines at the Boston Comedy Festival

Lombard Street, San Francisco, California 加州三藩市朗伯德街

Lombard Street Turned Into Life-Size 'Candy Land'

HK88水災關愛行動 (開場大合唱滔滔千里心)

HK88水災關愛行動 (開場大合唱滔滔千里心)

White Flower Oil / Embrocation 和興白花油

White Flower Oil / Embrocation
和興白花油八十年回顧

Friendship 友誼

Happy Friendship Day 快樂友誼日

Source: special thanks to Yung-Hui's email

Cantonese Boy 廣東仔

Cantonese Boy 廣東仔

Elvis Impersonator 貓王模仿者

Elvis Impersonator 貓王模仿者

Raymond Michael
photos were taken in Temple City on August 5, 2009

My Favorite Philosophy 我特別喜愛的哲學

My Favorite Philosophy 我特別喜愛的哲學

source: special thanks to Donna's email