星期日, 8月 26, 2007
德國法蘭克福機場的等待
局然發現港龍經濟艙的座位也有電腦的插座可惜到香港的旅程實在短也懶得拿電腦出來
從香港到德國法蘭克福的國泰班機實在另人失望 有點老舊的A340班機 也沒有On-demand的機上娛樂系統
起飛後thurst提升高度的時候右邊約35排前後的兩三排都可聽見明顯的怪聲 不過後來飛平穩之後就不明顯了
總之這12多小時的旅程還真是難過 在半睡半醒間度過
只有叫了一杯Whisky跟一杯vodka喝之後比較沈昏了兩個小時以外 好像身體怎麼擺都不對勁
不過最後還是順利到達目的地
現在在機場的長途車站等著要轉往幕尼黑的ICE火車 因為之前先在網路上已經先訂購車票了不能隨意改時間 但是網路先預購便宜非常多 原本要一百多塊早點買只要三十塊哩
到www.bahn.de網站上買電子票自己從PDF檔印出來就可以囉
上面有個正方型的二維條碼
因為不熟悉這裡機場的效率所以留了寬裕的時間訂了九點半左右的火車 沒想到接近六點到的班機 就行李等比較久一點外 過關沒排到隊跟出境也沒檢查
所以差不多半小時就出來了
所以現在坐在車站裡等著時間過去 不過手機一搜尋居然發現車站有免費的無線網路 索性就來個及時更新囉
閒閒沒是就在車站胡亂拍
星期六, 8月 18, 2007
鼓波洋樓 & 海之冰
因為有事情耽擱,所以我這一車到"鼓波洋樓"時已經大家都到期點好菜了,但好處是一到馬上就可以有東西吃囉~

實在是一間有特色的店,據說裡面許多隔間裝潢都是保留原本舊房子的設計,只是另外加上一些裝飾而已,蠻有味道的,很古意卻有說不上到底是哪一種風情,因為許多不同的文化元素加在一起。
我們是訂了20人的包廂($8000低消),一張長長的桌子大家做得滿滿的,幾乎就像在開會一樣。我們就點了給個套餐加上一些餐點,上菜速度實在有夠快,快到算不清有多少道菜跟什麼有吃了什麼沒有,可能因為颱風天前夕店內人不多所以廚房很閒;說真的一路上到處都不是很多人,可能大家寧可呆在家裡等颱風吧~
吃得速度之快,我們居然在1個小時之內就把所以的餐點解決了~ 不過後來因為還沒有達成低消的任務,所以又加點了幾個巧克力鍋,等了很久才來,可能用tealight要等巧克力融化實在需要時間,還真是有趣,每份的水果都大異其趣,有些水果實在不是非常適合搭配巧克力鍋~ 上來的水果有:西瓜、鳳梨、芭樂、香蕉、哈密瓜、奇異果.... 可能餐廳裡有什麼水果都上來了吧~另外就搭配上長條餅乾跟marshmallow。
總之感覺混了兩種套餐,菜色實在太豐富了,吃完有種疑惑的感覺,不過很多菜都非常有特色也很好吃。
後來吃完飯出來之後,雖然已經漂起了細雨,但我們還是堅持往附近的"海之冰"前去,想要讓美國回來的表妹一睹什麼叫做用臉盆吃冰。

說真的,這種冰的份量實在不是一般人可以領會的,雖然我們有20個人,老闆建議我們點十人份的,還好有因為有些人不吃冰,遲疑了一下後來點了個7人份($450)的。七人份到底有多大?
看到那個小小的免洗湯匙嗎?它幾乎要被像山一樣的水果淹沒了....
後來呢~ 十幾個人一起用大湯匙跟小碗分著吃,結果還是吃不完。
冰的口味吃起來有點像是水果大雜燴一樣,不錯吃,可是除了水果跟薄荷的味道比較顯著之外,其他味道就比較混雜在一起囉~
這個店除了冰大"盆",還有另外一個特色就是牆上滿滿是大家到此一遊的簽名跟留言,表妹們就入境隨俗地也劃上幾筆。
下面這張實在太屌了,阿拉伯文~實在看不懂.....
整家店的牆上都佈滿了塗鴉,就連天花板都有....
好不容易在鐵門邊的角落找到兩個空位,擠上了兩個小小的到此一遊。
星期四, 8月 16, 2007
This is How Baseballs are Made
下面是一張棒球的剖面圖,可以讓你一探究竟平常包著兩張皮革跟紅線的棒球底下到底有什麼東西。沒想到吧~平常看起來生硬的棒球裡面還有這樣複雜的構造。
據說這樣正式比賽用球的結構就是訂出來的規範,至於你要問為什麼某個部份要用什麼顏色的橡膠或是紗,這基本上就是規定,也許可以用不同顏色的材料或是不同材質做出同樣的東西,但是比賽規定就是要照這樣製作的球才能使用,也沒有太多人願意承擔隨便更動球所造成像是美國大聯盟這種比賽輸贏變化的重大責任,所以球的結構可能大致上都不會有太大的變化,不過不同聯盟跟組織的球規格還是多少有些不同。

"Baseball." How Products are Made. Ed. Stacey L. Blachford. Gale Group, Inc., 2002. eNotes.com. 2006. 15 Aug, 2007
<http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/baseball>
Background
The baseball traces its origin to the game of the same name. Modern baseball evolved from the English game of "rounders" in the first half of the 19th century. Alexander Cartwright of New York formulated the basic rules of baseball in 1845, calling for the replacement of the soft ball used in rounders with a smaller hard ball.
Despite its uncomplicated appearance, the baseball is in fact a precision-made object, and one that has often been the subject of heated controversy throughout its history. Although baseballs have changed very little in this century, either in terms of their physical dimensions or raw materials, some observers have suggested that the balls have secretly been "juiced up" to increase the output of crowd-pleasing homeruns during periods of lagging attendance at major league baseball games. The manufacturers of baseballs and Major League Baseball have steadfastly denied such allegations, however, and no proof of any covert alterations in the ball's design or composition has ever been produced.
An official Major League baseball consists of a round cushioned cork center called a "pill," wrapped tightly in windings of wool and polyester/cotton yarn, and covered by stitched cowhide. Approximately 600,000 baseballs are used by all Major League teams combined during the course of a season. The average baseball remains in play for only five to seven pitches in a Major League game. Each ball must weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces (141.75-148.83 grams) and measure between 9 and 9.25 inches (22.86-23.49 centimeters) in circumference to conform to Major League standards.
Such uniformity was nonexistent in the early years of baseball's history, when balls were either homemade or produced on a custom-order basis as a sideline by cobblers, tanners and other small business owners. In 1872, the modern standard for the baseball's weight and size was established. The production of balls became more consistent during the remainder of the decade, thanks largely to the demands made on manufacturers by the newly formed National League, the first professional baseball league.
At the turn of the century, the baseball had a round rubber core. This gave way in 1910 to the livelier cork-centered ball, which was itself replaced two decades later by the even more resilient cushioned cork model. The baseball has undergone only one significant change since that time, when a shortage in the supply of horses in 1974 prompted a switch from horsehide to cowhide covers.
Raw Materials
A baseball has three basic parts: the round cushioned cork pill at its core, the wool and poly/cotton windings in its midsection, and the cowhide covering that makes up its exterior.
The pill consists of a sphere, measuring 13/16 of an inch (2.06 centimeters) in diameter, made of a cork and rubber composition material. This sphere is encased in two layers of rubber, a black inner layer and a red outer layer. The inner layer is made up of two hemispheric shells of black rubber that are joined by red rubber washers. The entire pill measures 4-⅛ inches (10.47 centimeters) in circumference.
There are four distinct layers of wool and poly/cotton windings that surround the cushioned cork pill in concentric circles of varying thickness. The first winding is made of four-ply gray woolen yarn, the second of three-ply white woolen yarn, the third of three-ply gray woolen yarn, and the fourth of white poly/cotton finishing yarn. The first layer of wool is by far the thickest. When wrapped tightly around the pill, it brings the circumference of the unfinished ball to 7-3/4 inches (19.68 centimeters). The circumference increases to 8-3/16 inches (20.77 centimeters) after the second winding has been applied, 8-3/4 inches (22.22 centimeters) after the third, and 8-% (22.52 centimeters) after the fourth.
Wool was selected as the primary material for the baseball's windings because its natural resiliency and "memory" allow it to compress when pressure is applied, then rapidly return to its original shape. This property makes it possible for the baseball to retain its perfect roundness despite being hit repeatedly during a game. A poly/cotton blend was selected for the outer winding to provide added strength and reduce the risk of tears when the ball's cowhide cover is applied.
The baseball's outer cover is made of Number One Grade, alum-tanned full-grained cowhide, primarily from Midwest Holstein cattle. Midwest Holsteins are preferred because their hides have a better grain and are cleaner and smoother than those of cattle in other areas of the United States. The cover of an official baseball must be white, and it must be stitched together with 88 inches (223.52 centimeters) of waxed red thread. Cowhides are tested for 17 potential deficiencies in thickness, grain strength, tensile strength and other areas before they are approved for use on official Major League baseballs.
The Manufacturing Process
The production of a baseball can be viewed as a process of placing successive layers of material (rubber, fabric and cowhide) around a rubbery sphere not much bigger than a cherry. These materials are placed around the small sphere in three distinct ways: the rubber is molded, the fabric is wound, and the cowhide is sewn. The placement of materials around the sphere is done under carefully controlled conditions to ensure that consistent size, shape and quality are maintained.
Baseball," wrote Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens), "is the very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive and push and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century." Baseball initially evolved into a favorite American sport because it was faster paced and more physical than its English predecessors, cricket, town-ball, and rounders. Though cricket was played wherever English immigrants congregated in the United States, Americans seemed to prefer the more aggressive character of baseball. Initially played by gentlemen in fashionable clothing, the game and its equipment—and its popularity—began to change once rules were written down in the 1840s. In particular, the game gained tremendous popularity after the Civil War. The ball itself was changed at least twice in that century: the first ball was too lively (scores sometimes exceeded 100 runs); the second was too dead (a scoreless 24-inning game convinced many that hitters were disadvantaged).
A. G. Spalding made headline news in 1888-89 when he led a widely popular tour of American baseball players that played demonstration games in countries around the world. By the turn of the century, Spalding was marketing four baseballs in boy's size and eight in regulation size, each costing from four cents to one dollar.
William S. Pretzer
Molding rubber
- 1 Two hemispheric shells of black rubber, each approximately 5/3 of an inch (.39 centimeter) thick, are molded to a sphere of rubberized cork measuring %, of an inch (2.06 centimeters) in diameter. The two small openings that separate these shells are sealed with red rubber gaskets.
- 2 Next, a layer of red rubber roughly 3/32 of an inch (.24 centimeter) thick is molded to the black rubber encasement. The entire "pill" is then molded into a perfect circle weighing approximately ⅞ of an ounce (24.80 grams) with a circumference of roughly 4-⅛ inches (10.48 centimeters). Once the pill has been molded, a thin layer of cement is applied to its surface. This layer keeps the wool yarn in place on the pill at the start of the first winding operation.
Winding fabric
- 3 Wool yarn, stored under controlled fabric temperature and humidity conditions, is wound around the pill. This is done by computerized winding machines that maintain a constant level of very high tension to eliminate "soft spots," and create a uniform surface. After each step in the winding process, the ball is weighed and measured by computer to assure that official size requirements have been met. The wool yarn is wound so tightly that it has the appearance of thread when a baseball is dissected. Three layers of wool are wound around the baseball: the first, 121 yards (110.6 meters) of four-ply gray yarn; the second, 45 yards (41.13 meters) of three-ply white; and the third, 53 yards (48.44 meters) of three-ply gray.
- 4 A layer of 150 yards (137.1 meters) of fine poly/cotton finishing yarn is wrapped around the ball to protect the wool yarn and hold it in place. The wound ball is then trimmed of any excess fabric and prepared for the application of the external cowhide covering by being dipped in an adhesive solution.
Sewing hide
- 5 The cowhide covering is cut into two figure-8 patterns. Each pattern covers half the wound ball. Before they are stitched to the wound ball, the cowhide coverings are dampened to increase their pliability. The insides of the coverings also receive a coating of the same adhesive that was applied to the wound ball.
- 6 The two figure-8 coverings are stapled to the wound ball, then they are hand-sewn together using 88 inches (223.52 centimeters) of waxed red thread. There are 108 stitches in the sewing process, with the first and last completely hidden. An average of 13 to 14 minutes is required to hand-sew a baseball.
- 7 After the covers have been stitched together, the staples are removed and the ball is inspected. The ball is then placed in a rolling machine for 15 seconds to level any raised stitches. The baseballs are then measured, weighed and graded for appearance. Acceptable baseballs are stamped with the manufacturer's trademark and league designation.
Quality Control
A statistically representative sample of each shipment of baseballs is tested to measure Co-Efficient Of Restitution (COR), using Major League Baseball's officially sanctioned testing procedures. Essentially, the COR is an indication of the resiliency of a baseball.
The COR test involves shooting a baseball from an air cannon at a velocity of 85-feet-a-second (25.90-meters-a-second) at a wooden wall from a distance of eight feet (2.43 meters), and measuring the speed with which the ball rebounds off the wall. Major League COR specifications stipulate that a baseball must rebound at 54.6 percent of the initial velocity, plus or minus 3.2 percent.
A baseball must also retain its round shape after being hit 200 times by a 65-pound (29.51 kilograms) force. As proof of its strength, a baseball must distort less than 0.08 of an inch (.20 centimeter) after being compressed between two anvils.
The Future
The size of baseballs and the raw materials used to make them are likely to remain unchanged in the foreseeable future. Also, few, if any, changes are expected in the process by which baseballs are manufactured.Attempts have been made to automate the process of sewing cowhide covers on baseballs, but none has been successful. Automated machines that have been experimented with have exhibited two serious problems: first, they have been unable to start or stop the stitching process without manual assistance; and second, they have been unable to vary the tension of their stitches, something that is essential if the two figure-8 coverings are to fit securely on the wound ball without tearing.
It is also probable that the controversy about juiced-up balls will continue as long as the game of baseball is played and fans seek an explanation for fluctuations in the homerun output of favorite teams and players.
Where To Learn More
Books
Cleary, David Powers. Great American Brands. Fairchild Applications, 1981.
Danzig, Allison and Joe Reichler. The History of Baseball. Prentice Hall, 1959.
James, Bill. The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Villard Books, 1986.
Seymour, Harold. Baseball: The People's Game. Oxford University Press, 1990.
Thorn, John and Bob Carroll, eds. The Whole Baseball Catalog. Fireside Books, 1990.
Periodicals
"Batter Up for a Baseball Factory Tour," Southern Living. November, 1989, p. 34.
—Suzy Fucini
星期六, 8月 11, 2007
星期一, 8月 06, 2007
沙士加鹽真的可以治感冒嗎?
總之,聽人家說可以喝沙士加鹽治感冒,所以當然也就姑且試試,不過想了想還是想要找找資料看看到底是否真的是沙士裡面的黃樟素的作用,沒想到,看到了下面這篇文章,說黃樟素會致癌所以早被禁用,所以呢~ 看來沙士本身應該是沒有什麼功效,可能是鹽巴稍微貢獻了一些減緩症狀的功效吧~
轉載自:
沙士加鹽真的可以治感冒嗎?
很多人小時候都有類似的經驗:發燒感冒的時候,媽媽就會去買一瓶不冰的沙士,在裡面加上鹽巴後叫小孩子喝,據說可以退燒、潤喉、降火氣、治感冒,功能多多,不一而足。不過這到底是不是真的有效?怎麼會加了鹽巴就變成那麼神奇?難不成鹽巴和沙士會起什麼化學作用嗎?
很多人都知道,可樂原本是咳嗽藥水(不知道?好吧,明天再說說這個故事),其實「沙士」的名稱也是從藥材「黃樟」(Sassafras)的英文發音而來的,從前黃樟素是沙士的主要香味原料,由於黃樟是一種中西醫都會採用的止痛藥,所以當時喝沙士真的是有減緩感冒症狀的效果的。但是黃樟的成分有毒,服用過量會造成嘔吐與瞳孔放大、昏迷等副作用,自從三十多年前發現黃樟素能讓小白鼠得癌症之後,美國的食品藥物管理局(FDA)就明令禁止在飲料中添加黃樟素,台灣亦然。所以現在的沙士,其實是治不了病的。
那又為什麼要加鹽吧呢?因為鹽巴可以補充電解質,而水分和電解質正是許多感冒、脫水、中暑等症狀的病患亟需的,但是畢竟不能拿來代替真正的藥物。而且飲料中的高糖份也不適合有糖尿病以及有腹瀉症狀的人飲用,不但會導致血糖急速升高,太高的滲透壓也會加遽腹瀉的情況,不可不慎。
天有不測風雲,"蝶"有旦夕禍福

[網子右邊破掉的大洞就是蝴蝶一開始栽進去的位置,很快的它就被拖到中央"善後"]

[真是一頓美味的大餐]
今天到朋友家去,在外面庭院中閒晃聊天時,沒想到忽然發現有隻蝴蝶誤入歧途,栽到一大片蜘蛛設下的天羅地網中,剛剛還看到兩隻蝴蝶在飛著,轉眼間其中一隻可憐蟲卻已經當場成為別人的網上佳餚,即使身為一隻蝴蝶,也逃不過宿命阿~ 說時遲那時快,原本還晴朗的天空,天邊已經飄來片片烏雲,似乎就要變天了~ 真是再次提醒了大家:「天有不測風雲,"蝶"有旦夕禍福」
在大大吸了幾口美味湯汁之後,大概已經吃飽今天的份量了,所以蜘蛛開始吐絲打包今天的美食,應該還夠吃個幾天吧~
這時才見識到蜘蛛絲的韌性,當蜘蛛把蝴蝶懸掛著,自己就跳到蝴蝶的身上開始捆綁,應該是因為這樣子比較不會暫空間,而僅透過一兩條絲就有辦法把這隻蝴蝶加上蜘蛛自己懸掛在半空中,雖然因為在纏繞的時候會晃來晃去,但是似乎還是很牢固的吊著。
大家可以注意到蜘蛛網的中央有四道顏色較重的白色線條往四個方向延伸出去,不知道這是否是這種蜘蛛特有的標記,不過看起來倒蠻像一個"X"字型的標記,印象中蜘蛛人跟X-Men不搭嘎才對~
星期五, 8月 03, 2007
敗入Nikon Coolpix P5500
其實之前就在網路上做了些功課以一萬左右的價位,這款功能比較齊全的入門級相機,感覺算是比較經濟實惠的,對差不多功能跟規格的相機來說,尺寸算比較輕巧的。
同時也有看了Olympus SP-550UZ (因為有18x的zoom真的體積蠻大的), Panasonic Lumix LX-2(鏡頭在中間突起蠻多的) & Canon G7(雖然沒有550UZ那麼厚,但還是蠻笨重的),比較了一下,基於價格跟尺寸,還是選擇了Nikon Coolpix P5500。有些手動的功能可以稍微玩玩,也還沒有到單眼相機的笨重,畫質算是可以接受的程度,算已經滿足我的需求囉~
這次也順道買了4GB的記憶卡、還算輕便的鋁合金腳架跟備用電池,雖然相較之下柯達的價格不見得是可以找到最便宜的,但是寧可稍微多付一點前是為了之後的維修服務等。
之後有機會再來多試試相機囉~
星期四, 8月 02, 2007
星期三, 8月 01, 2007
4km, Breakthrough?
雖然跟真正常在慢跑的人跑個十幾二十公里可能只是小意思,不過對我這樣肉腳,前陣子缺乏運動,最近幾次跑個1.5km就感覺吃力的情況,看到比較明顯一點的進步還真的有種欣喜的感覺~ 總算離5km的第一階段目標又靠近了一點,不過當然是要看看接下來是否有辦法維持跟繼續進步囉~
唯一我能想到跟以往比較不一樣的地方是步伐的調整,昨天是儘量試著避免過多能量浪費在上下的振動上面,雖然這樣子代表著前後的頻率可能比較快,不過感覺上應該是比較輕鬆的,也許是因為更善加利用了現有的momentum吧~ who knows~
Training Log from www.nikerunning.com
我通常只是簡單在上面記錄了跑步跟鞋子的里程數,因為有圖表顯示,其實蠻容易看出每個禮拜自己夠不夠努力,還是太過懶散了~
這個網站上其實還有蠻多跟跑步相關的人物介紹等資訊,也可以用預設的訓練排程來規劃自己的訓練計畫,來針對將來可能要參加的賽事作準備。
這樣一個可以讓跑步愛好者交流跟固定上去登錄自己資料的網站應該是很能夠維持與這個族群聯繫的很好工具,對行銷來說,我覺得構想很不錯,畢竟有了這樣一個與客戶保持聯繫跟溝通的管道,與客戶之間的互動就不僅僅是產品的銷售而已,品牌形象能夠更深入的植入人心,也藉著每一次使用者上來登錄資料的時候多一次曝光機會。
Running away from or towards something?
說真的我還真是跑步的超級肉腳,要跑快或跑長途似乎都是強人所難啊! 所以呢~ 一開始當然只是從最簡單的走路開始。其實開始決定要開始跑步的時候,對這方面可以說一無所知,總之就是穿著雙Converse All Star運動鞋就去隔壁的公園走路了~ 平時公園裡一到下午比較有陰涼感覺之後,就會有蠻多人在走路的,爾偶才有零星幾個跑步的。
我自己從Google Map上面,用Path工具量了公園裡面道路的距離,找了個接近500m的路徑作為我的基本路線,讓我比較容易拿捏自己跑了多遠。
剛開始的第一天,連跑步都不敢想太多,因為稍稍還可以感覺到之前腳扭到的地方還沒完全好,所以只是走了大概4km左右,走路算是很輕鬆,不過那時候到最後就感覺到膝蓋有點痛的感覺,所以也沒有硬撐下去,怕傷到。
第二天呢~ 終於忍不住要嘗試跑一下,走了一圈之後,就開始慢慢跑了兩圈,不過這時也稍微感覺到膝蓋疼痛的感覺又出來了,所以就停下來用走的,可是用走的也是會感覺到膝蓋上所承受的壓力,所以就此打住囉。
後來經過這兩天腳痛的經驗之後,我意識到也許我需要比較合適的慢跑鞋,因為之前看過文章提到跑步時膝蓋所承受的壓力很可觀,需要合適的慢跑鞋幫助吸收能量跟避震保護腳、膝蓋跟腿。所以隔天剛好有機會去鳳山的時候就去逛了逛鞋店買了雙打了對折的Nike慢跑鞋Nike Air Max Rival II,因為只是慢跑的時候要穿,所以就找了個比較便宜稍微舊一點的款式,沒想到還剛好就剩下最後一雙,試了鞋,感到稍微有點緊,不過找同型的穿了大半號的卻又太鬆,所以就直接買下來囉~
買鞋隔天當然就迫不及待出去試試有沒有什麼差異,雖然當天因為後來下雨只各跑跟走了1km,不過那種腳跟地面接觸的感覺還真是不一樣耶~ 因為才剛從平底硬底的鞋子換上這個有"Air"的慢跑鞋,可以很明顯感覺到那避震的效用,而膝蓋也沒有向之前那樣有疼痛的感覺,這時才更深深感覺到有正確工具的重要。
後來如果有出去跑步,大多就跑個1.5~2.5km之間,配上0.5~1.5km的走路,雖然感覺還是很肉腳,跟比較基本長跑比賽5km的距離還是差很多,不過我有到過www.nikerunning.com跟幾個其他網站上看到建議的訓練排程,其實如果是針對跑步白痴或Couch Potato也都是建議逐步漸進式的訓練,兩三個月也是必要的過程,操之過急也容易造成運動傷害。
到現在,中間有差不多兩個禮拜的時間因為出差大陸跟去漂鳥築巢營沒有維持運動,後來就感覺到體力又有比較減弱,所以還真的是要保持固定運動的習慣。
總之,加油中~希望自己個可以早日達到一次連續跑個5km的目標。
星期一, 7月 30, 2007
情緒韌性 Emotional Fortitude
何謂「情緒韌性」?
不受限於個人好惡,能接納不同意見,也能直視自己弱點的能力;在懲戒失職員工時態度堅定,在複雜且快速變動的環境中胸有定見、日理萬機的能力。
情緒韌性的四項核心特質:
1. 真誠
以真實、表裡一致的態度取得員工的信任。
2. 自我了解
唯有認清自我,方能從容地運用自身長處,並避免為自己弱點所限。
3. 自我掌控
收斂以自我為中心的想法,為自己的行為負責。時時保持求知慾,鼓勵員工提出相反地觀點,創造相互學習的工作氣氛,喜歡任用比自己聰明的人。
4. 謙虛
了解自己並非無所不能,學習傾聽並以他人為師。不獨占功勞,與他人分享榮耀。
國中同學聚餐 2007.07.27 Friday

[在哩啦哩啦爵士餐廳的國中同學聚餐(左至右):阿行、PJ、道茂、阿鳥、嘉哥]
週四的時候看到阿行出現在線上MSN,想到之前他說暑假要從美國回來,前幾天看到才想著很久沒看到在線上說是回來了,所以問了他:「什麼時候要回來台灣?」沒想到預感還真準,他已經在台灣了。
所以當然就開始約些同學出來聚聚囉~ 第一個想到的當然是阿鳥,我們的總召集人~ 很快的就決定好地點跟時間。在高雄文化中心附近的哩啦哩啦爵士餐廳。
今年年初還有看到其他人~ 不過上次看到阿行已經是高一出國之前的時候了~ 算一算那已經是將近12年前的事情了~
說來今年之前兩次跟國中同學的聚會,有些也是超久不見了,可是那種熟悉的感覺卻似乎不受時空阻隔,大多看起來也沒有變太多。
不過隨著大家都進入社會開始工作,住在不同國家、城市,也有各自不同的生活圈子,實在還越來越難約大家都剛好有空的時間,不過偶爾有機會聚聚也還是很棒的~
時間線
兩個月了吧
不知為何總是不經意想著
到底多少日子過了
好像傻傻期待著 如果日子變多了
就可以解釋為何思惆填滿心房
倒數一分鐘
希望時間不要再走下去
讓擁抱永遠凍結
倒數三十秒
想盡辦法把腦子填滿你影像
眼看著那道鎖住所有不捨的鎖
就再也抵擋不住了
倒數一秒
讓人感覺枉然而無奈的現實
隨著你一步步往關口走去而重重落下
第一秒
回過身來
假裝堅強的接受我也該離去的事實
沒想到那難捨心情才稍稍平撫
油然而生的想念
卻已經像剛剛被顛倒的沙漏般不斷累積
第一分鐘
到底下一步該向哪裡走去
頓時迷失了方向
就像陷入了沒有出口的迴路中
第一小時
還沒上機吧?
打了電話只希望聽到你的聲音
至少有些暫時的緩衝
直到你在綿長旅途的另一端再出現
第一夜
記憶中的畫面在腦裡翻騰著
再黑的夜也掩蓋不住懸著的茫然
第一個早晨
張開眼
可笑地感到慶幸天已經亮了
卻不經意想著你是否能安穩地在機上入睡
第一天
一次又一次的望著時鐘
算著時差也想著是否已經安全抵達
終於再也按耐不住那掛念
傳了簡訊希望第一時間就可以收到
想著你一身沈重的行李
面對著陌生的語言跟城市
無奈只能在這掛心著
第一週
不知是否幾個迷失的白天跟黑夜
插隊到這已經夠擁擠的一週
望著衛星地圖想找到你的蛛絲馬跡
看著周遭的建築跟道路
至少稍稍可以想像一下你的生活
第一個月
四個禮拜卻像四個月般漫長
像是個里程碑一般
雖然慶幸熬了過來
但還是無奈著還有更多日子在前方等著
第二個月
期待著一個一個平淡無奇的文字
可以幫我回收已經堆積如山的思念
但往往只是落得字窮詞盡
長嘆之後
只能閉起眼
任由回憶將我層層滲透
PJ
星期三, 7月 25, 2007
轉載:〈 思 夜 〉
對你的愛
已經超乎我所曾經知道的一切
在無止境的時空中籠罩著那深刻
倘若時間就此停止
我是幸福的
可以感覺到
只要深深地呼吸就可以聞到你的氣息
瀰漫我心
而這深情
久久久久不會褪去
不管你有多遠
永遠都只在我的心裡
天色暗得太快
雨落得太急
但痴痴地等候之後
終究是盼得到黎明與天晴
PJ - 2006/6/2 上午 01:43
轉載:〈來不及想的夢 還是有人在追〉
不確定要闡述的是否一直相同
只覺得已經久久少了點
那樣的靈感跟那些天外飛來的筆劃
也許是之前已經說了太多
把蘊藏的用了差不多
心裡依然是深刻的
雖然沒有換化為文字
也許是某種型態的昇華
文字以不足以表現淋漓
每每找到的只是零星的字句
湊成小句卻不成詩
許多的想法和話語
只是在那半睡半醒間浮現
來不及寫下就已經被更多的想念掩蓋
雖然寫不成動人的詩篇
至少我知道我沉醉在那片想念之中
PJ - 2006/5/2 上午 12:31
星期二, 7月 24, 2007
星期二, 7月 17, 2007
台中改良場 - 漂鳥築巢營「設施蔬菜經營管理班」(7/16~20) - Day 1
一出彰化車站就看到林秋全先生拿著築巢營的牌子在等著學員們,總共有7個人要到彰化站集合,大約到8:45左右大家才到齊,當時外面正飄著一陣小雨,所以大家就撐著傘拖著行李走到車站外的大馬路邊上巴士,一路也晃了20幾分鐘才到台中改良場,一下車就看到鍾維榮老師撐著傘接待大家上二樓的教室。
由於到達的時候已經比預定的9:10開始時間晚了,所以在快速的報到領了房間鑰匙跟「實習裝備」(據說其他築巢營沒有提供額外的裝備,這裡有背包、帽子、水壺、霹靂包、大購物包Tote、背心)之後,就馬上開始了前兩堂的課程。
這次我排在21號,總共應該有25個學員,不過第一天有1個請假沒來。雖然跟漂鳥營一樣有發名牌,不過都沒有人在配戴。
首先開始上的課是戴振洋老師的「認識設施蔬菜」及「蔬菜種苗培育技術」,「認識設施蔬菜」課成主要在讓知道什麼事設施蔬菜、設施的種類、蔬菜的種類...等等,而「蔬菜種苗培育技術」主要跟穴盤的育苗有關,從如何選壯苗、自動化育苗系統、穴格種類規格、介質、種子處理到發育階段...等主題。
因為一到就開始上課了,中間有個空檔才有機會把行李拿上三樓的宿舍,我被安排在303房,一進去發現台中場宿舍真是設想週到,大大小小的設備或是日常生活用品非常周全,雖然這裡房間有電視,不過那倒不讓我感到那麼驚奇,反而是浴室內連一般旅館裡常見的旅行用牙刷、牙膏、肥皂、洗髮精、漱口杯、毛巾...等都準備的非常周全,可能因為上次在高雄改良場的宿舍這類盥洗用品是需要自備的所以感覺小細節台中場比較有照顧到。還有無線網路喔!
[這就是介質栽培的蘆筍耶~印象中之前在紐西蘭看到的蘆筍是蓋著矮矮的隧道,不知道會長這麼高。]
前兩堂課上到11am左右,而接下來則是到場區內參觀水耕栽培及介質栽培的實際範例。場區內有各種溫網室的結構,從較傳統的四分管結構到不怕颱風的固定式結構都可以找到。實在沒有愧對「設施」之名,中部設施栽種的發展台中改良場的貢獻絕對沒話可說。
後來十二點左右就到餐廳用餐,一共為築巢營的學員跟指導人員開了三桌。七菜一湯加水果,伙食還不賴。
下午吃完午飯之後,1點就集合上車進行下午的觀摩教學,下午安排了四家場的參觀,台盛有機農場、富田蔬菜育苗場、「珍奶」水耕栽培場、芯圓水耕休閒教育農場。
台盛有機農場
台盛經營設施蔬菜的規模非常大,第一場就有兩甲左右的面積,而總共據說有十甲左右,他們有取得「台灣省有機農業生產協會/TOPA」的有機認證,他們的規模更大到建立的自己的配銷中心,聯合一些其他農場所生產的其他農產品一起配銷,主要是直接銷往各大超市,因此自己也有專門的低溫配送車隊。其中比較有趣的設施就是急冷庫,大家都進去感受了一下寒冬的感覺,在最近這種炎炎夏日可真是清涼的高級享受啊!
[在台盛看到他們自己設計找人做出來的播種機器,不過實在看不出個所以然他是怎麼樣操作的~]
富田蔬菜育苗場
後來到富田蔬菜育苗場參觀了,可是老闆老闆娘不在家,我們只簡單看了溫室跟台灣自行開發的「科洋牌」自動育苗機器,是利用真空的原理把種子吸起來播種到穴盤上。只可惜當場沒機會看那機器實際運作。
「珍奶」水耕栽培場
後來到一位鍾先生所經營的水耕栽培場,還沒到就聽之前的老鳥說去那老闆都會請大家喝珍奶,所以姑且就叫它「珍奶」水耕栽培場囉~ 鍾先生之前是從事鋁門窗的行業,後來因緣際會開始做起水耕也經營出一套心得,據他自己說水耕算是涼涼的做,每天的流程都差不多,就他自己、老婆跟老爸三個人一起經營,看起來算是不錯的退休生活,有運動到也有閒可以打打麻將。
[大家跟珍奶水耕農場的鐘老闆合照,人實在太多了,地方又窄,景不太好取~]
芯圓水耕休閒教育農場
這裡的老闆是沈先生,以往是專門從事水耕,但近年來逐漸轉型成休閒農場的型態,剛踏進門的時候就有那麼點感覺這裡似乎是之前在電視上看到介紹說有一大堆南瓜的地方,不過進去都沒看到南瓜,所以有點狐疑到底電視上看到的是不是這裡。
我覺得在這裡最有收穫的倒不是看到新奇的東西,而是聽老闆講述他從生產模式轉型到休閒模式的心路歷程。他表示一開始的時候,總是覺得自己有著身後的水耕栽培技術背景,只想著自己要展現的部份,卻忽略了經營休閒農場所要重視的是消費者的體驗跟需求,是在一次次嘗試跟失敗之後才逐漸找到正確的經營方向。好比說,休閒農業基本上除了門票收入(也可能沒有入場費用)之外,通常不是靠「吃」就是「住宿」才是真正能夠帶來較大收益的項目,銷售些產品也許也是其一但不一定是主要經濟來源,假如沒有供應飲食跟住宿的執照的時候,就可能非常難以經營了。
在園子裡參觀的時候,老闆說明經營的重點如何是放在提供新奇而且可以留下深刻記憶的東西或體驗。好比說園子內種植了一種可以長到快180公分長的絲瓜,平常市面上沒有機會看到,因為運輸不便,但是非常特別而具有觀賞價值。
[這就是長長的絲瓜,夠長了吧?]
裡面更別出心裁的把冬瓜種在瓜棚上,一顆顆大冬瓜掛在棚子上確實蠻特別的,而餐廳裡也同時提供現採冬瓜湯,甚至有顧客吃了還想再吃所以當場又買回去,不過因為物以稀為貴,好像說一斤可要賣個$60左右。一顆秤起來可是好幾百塊呢~
有一區更是種了許多廚房常會用到的料理食材,用意在於假如提到了跟廚房相關的事情,婆婆媽媽們肯定會特別有興趣而產生討論及互動。另外也看到了幾個畸形的瓜,通常如果在生產模式中肯定是要除掉的,但是在休閒農場中卻變成了有趣的參觀項目之一。
總之,觀光產業確實跟生產的模式有著很大差異,經營目標跟導向是非常不一樣的,在看了主要都是以生產模式在經營的各個農場之後,參觀了芯圓確實在心中注入了另一種思維。
[我們的晚餐,夠豐盛了吧?去了五天感覺確實有變比較肉~]
吃完了豐盛的晚餐之後,休息了一會又開始了晚上的課程,第一天晚上是高德錚課長教我們育苗跟培育芽菜。芽菜部份我們嘗試了苜蓿、碗豆跟蕎麥,除了苜蓿沒有鋪上介質土之外,其他都是在盆子鋪上介質土然後鋪上豆子在蓋上介質土然後噴濕。
另外也有在水耕的介質海綿上練習將白菜種子放入到一格格中間的十字裡面,用竹筷子沾水把種子吸起然後輕輕壓進去,一格一格的放還真是費時費工,難怪在「珍奶」水耕場他們是用比較懶的「人海戰術」,直接把種子都撒到介質海綿上,呵呵~確實簡單多了
而在穴盤中則是分別播了甘藍菜跟花胡瓜的種子,實際操作的感想是:發明機器的人可真是偉大阿~
[PJ跟第五組的組員們合照,由左至右:林正格、許方旗、陳家寶、PJ、陳世堯]
[第1組的組員們,由左至右:蘇建州、莊茗凱、蔡孟哲、王詠萱、岳勳]
[第2組的組員們,由左至右:黃建隆、許宏賓、王凱平、周佩蓉、(詹永興?)]
[第3組的組員們,由左至右:陳國松、張瑟芬、林子良、許昔靜、李登龍(不在位子上)]
[第4組的組員們,由左至右:洪兆儒、丁明仁、林子為、卓建興、林恆如]
晚上的課一直上到差不多十點才結束,實在是非常的緊湊的行程~但經驗非常寶貴。