Philosophy of the Stocks Market

股票市场的大赢家到底是谁呢？

这是朋友发给我的另一则电邮，

发人深省。

Philosophy of the Stocks Market

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared who announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rm 10.

The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys in the forest, went out and started catching them.

The man bought thousands at Rm 10 and as supply started to diminish and villagers started to stop their efforts, he announced that now he would buy them at Rm 20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.

Soon, the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer rate increased to Rm 25 and the supply of monkeys became so that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it.

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at Rm 50. However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on behalf of the man.

In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers, "Look at all the monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at Rm 35 and when the man comes back, you can sell them to him for Rm 50 each."

The villagers queued up with all their savings to buy the monkeys. After that, neither the assistant nor the businessman could be found anywhere but the monkeys were everywhere!

消费 ，不浪费

“零废物”的遐想

前几天读到一篇关于环保的专稿。据说美国和欧洲的一部分城镇正在推行一项名为“零废物”的计划，并且已经吸引了好些大企业参与。

在计划下，除了原有的垃圾分级处理的概念得到全面与贯彻执行外，更鼓励商家们在产品设计与制作时，就以“零废物”为标准来生产。

这项计划的最终的目的是要使到所有物品，都能够通过再循环或其他方式达到物尽其用目的。其中最吸引我的是电子产品的设计和制造，也会因此朝着100%可回收与再循环的目标进发。

目前，像电脑终端机这类电子产品在新加坡是没有回收价值的。即便厂家愿意帮忙回收，作为消费者，我们还是得支付一笔可观的回收费。那是因为要把这些产品再循环处理，厂商必须付出一笔相当庞大的开支，对厂商而言，这显然并不符合经济效益。然而，如果厂商在设计与生产产品的同时，一并把再循环使用的目的考虑在内，产品的再循环价值一旦增加，相信最终获益的不会只是消费者而已。

专稿中“零废物“的概念其实不只是能达到物尽其用，减少废料与垃圾的目标，同时也为人类开启了另一项新的经济概念。

记得李家同有篇文章曾提到“消费经济”带来的破坏力，他指出人们如果一味以刺激消费行为的方式来刺激经济增长，那么一旦资源耗尽，最终受害的肯定是人类。

面对现在迫切的环境问题，我想人类也该是时候重新思考我们过去的经济模式。不管是“消费经济”还是现在似乎在国际间渐渐流行起来的“人口经济”（以庞大人口来争取市场竞争筹码，刺激国内经济增长），看来都不是长远的可行之计。所以，这项新的产品生产要求改革才会如此吸引人。

想像如果有那么一天，人类从产品生产的上游就已经采取零废物的概念来设计与制造商品，那么那些你用过而不想再用的东西，不但会成为厂商乐意回收的物品，甚至乐意用金钱来回报给消费者。这不但很环保，而且更加符合经济效益，达到消费者与企业的双赢局面。

用过了的物件还可以换回金钱，也许会让人们更加乐意消费。这不是比过去那种边买边丢的消费方式，更经济划算也更有意义吗？

原文刊于7月26日《我报》

诗篇23篇

诗篇23篇

耶和华是我的牧者，
我必不致缺乏。

他使我躺卧在青草地上，
领我在可安歇的水边。

他使我的灵魂苏醒，
为自己的名引导我走义路。

我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，
也不怕遭害，

因为你与我同在；
你的杖，你的竿，

都安慰我。

在我敌人面前，
你为我摆设筵席；

你用油膏了我的头，
使我的福杯满溢。

我一生一世必有恩惠慈爱随着我；
我且要住在耶和华的殿中，
直到永远。

我一直很喜欢诗篇23篇，大卫的赞美诗。也许因为它是我在学生时代学会的第一首诗歌，也许因为写曲的人，把这首诗歌配上了非常安静祥和的曲子，跟诗篇的内容非常的契合。但我却是到这两年，才了解这首大卫诗真正的内容。

圣经里不只一次提起耶和华是我们的牧者，我们是主的羊。对于不懂牧羊人和羊群关系的人来说，这样的比喻其实很抽象。

去年和姐妹们查经，读到了这首诗篇23篇，大家说起了羊，确实地说，应该是绵羊这种动物。

据说绵羊是一种非常胆小，视力不好，反应很迟钝但有时又很固执的动物。绵羊在山坡上吃草的时候，对周围的环境完全没有警觉性，以至有时候因为埋头吃草而失足跌落悬崖。有时则离了群而不自知。这种时候，牧羊人就必须去把离群的羊给找回来。为了把拼命挣扎的羊儿带回羊群里，牧羊人有时会迫不得已地把羊儿的腿打断，将它扛回来后再给接驳回去。

我没有见过绵羊，不过觉得这真是印证了圣经里头“主是牧人，我们是羊”的比喻。人的特性跟绵羊其实很像；愚昧、贪婪、容易迷失，又很固执，不肯听话。许多时候，不让吃点苦，还真的不会安静下来听听牧人的声音。不过，大家都说，以后还是得时时刻刻警醒一点，不要让牧人来“打断我们的腿”才听话，那将会是很痛的经验呢。

还据说，绵羊能够认得出牧人的声音，所以有时赶羊的牧人如果走得太远，需要外宿，他们就把所有人的羊群都集中在一个羊圈里。第二天，牧人只要到羊圈里喊一喊，羊群便会回应自己牧人的声音，跟着自己的牧人上路。

羊也是一种不耐饥饿的动物，它们在被放牧的时候，通常会不停的吃，一直到吃饱为止。像诗篇里描写，能够在青草地上躺卧，能够在水旁安歇，就表示这些羊都已经喂饱了，所以才能停下吃草喝水的动作。而因为羊儿胆小，如果不是因为牧人把它们照顾得好，使它们安心，它们是不能安静休息的。

是啊，主真的是个好牧人，而我们是不是也能够像羊儿那样，认得出自己牧人的声音，时时刻刻追随着牧人的声音向前走呢？

Reason, Season or Lifetime

前两个星期，朋友发来这篇有意思的电邮，我在忙……忙……忙……的日子中，没有时间阅读。直到昨天，接到了学生爸爸的电话简讯，说给孩子请了老师回家上课，不来了。

我有点难过，因为和这个孩子相处愉快，每次上课都是一次愉快的交流。我教他学语文，他跟我分享他喜欢的科学；有时他那个聪明的头脑会嘲笑我，说我居然不知道某些历史上重要的大日子……虽然这种时候很窘，但是也只能承认后生可畏。所以，真是有点舍不得，其实……

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will understand why and how that association was formed, and why that association is growing or waning.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need expressed - by that person or by yourself. One person needs assistance, guidance and support and sees the other person as capable of delivering it. To the recipient, the giver seems godsent, and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, one person say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that the need has been met, the desire is fulfilled, the work is done. The prayer sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Be wise and let it go ... have no regrets about the changes taking place. Simply celebrate the good times shared in the past.

Some people come into our lives for a SEASON, because our turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring an experience. They may teach something new. They may give joy or pain. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson and put what you have learned to build other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind , but friendship is clairvoyant and all-seeing.

So ask yourself ... which of your relationships and associations are a reason, a season or a lifetime?

我常常很执著，放不开一段感情，放不开一场相聚，放不开一些偶尔捡拾而来的快乐。但是，终究要放开的。对于老师来说，学生也不是永远的，所以要放开。让他从我这里毕业，然后到下个老师那里去。

两个顾客不是客？

难得带女儿出门，答应跟她在外头用晚餐。我们来到平时喜欢用餐的餐馆，因为是学校假期所以即使是周日，餐馆内几乎座无虚席。

还好餐馆门口不像周末那样大排长龙，我们之前没有别的客人，一位服务员立即过来问我用餐人数。我说，两位。她听了之后什么表示也没有就转身走开了。我往餐馆内张望，看见有两位服务员正分头收拾两张各有6个位子和4个位子的餐桌上的狼藉。心想，位子多，应该不用等太久。

不久，那两张餐桌都已经收拾干净了，却不见有人出来招呼我们。我心里正纳闷，又来了一位服务员，他问了我之前服务员问过的问题后，也跟之前的那位一样转身走开，没有再回头招呼我们。

这时，我们身后来了一个6人家庭。一位服务员出来问了他们的用餐人数后，马上把他们带到那张有6个位子的餐桌前坐下。

我忍不住有点恼火，问站在一旁看似主管的一位服务员，为什么他们把位子安排给后到的客人，却让我们等待许久？她回答说，那家人是有预约的。我说，明明听到服务员问他们几个人用餐，然后就领他们进去坐下，怎么会是预约的呢！况且已经有两个服务员来招呼过我，却不让我们进去坐下，实在不合理。这时那位主管马上说，是因为里面没有位子，除非我愿意到室外的用餐区。

我其实不介意在室外用餐区用餐，但是却非常不满这种毫无诚意，睁眼说瞎话的回答。我说，里头明明有空着的餐桌怎会没有位子？是不是他们不愿服务人数少的客人？那位主管听了，露出尴尬的表情，立刻将我们带到那张剩下的，有4个位子的餐桌前，并且连声道歉说她没有留意到原来还有空位。

其实，晚餐时间就是餐馆的黄金时间，我自然明白他们想要“物尽其用”的心态。但在不算廉价的消费场所用餐，却让客人获得廉价待遇，实在不符合服务之道。

不过话说回来，在寸土如金的新加坡，业者最大的负担其实不是来自薪资成本，而是不断上调的场地租金。政府如果希望服务业提升其服务水平，除了强调人员的专业培训之外，租金的无上限增长，似乎也有必要好好地检讨一下。否则，上述情况实在也只能说是业者的无奈了。

原文刊于7月19日《我报》

Sermon

Sermon

A HUSBAND COMES FROM CHURCH, HE GREETED HIS WIFE AND LIFTED HER UP.

HE CARRIED HER AROUND THE HOUSE.

THE WIFE WAS SO SURPRISED AND SHE ASKED "DID THE PASTOR PREACH ABOUT BEING ROMANTIC?"

THE HUSBAND SAID, "NO, HE SAID WE MUST CARRY OUR BURDENS AND SORROWS."

没有绿色效应的“绿色地球”演唱会

没有绿色效应的“绿色地球”演唱会

为了号召世界关注环境保护而举办的“绿色地球”演唱会终于圆满落幕。然而，出席者在演唱会散场之后留下了满目疮痍的垃圾，其中还包括难以再循环的废物，使到一场动机鲜明、理念完美的演唱会以难堪的局面落幕，结果和意愿似乎完全背道而驰。

尽管，所有与会国都列出他们将如何在演唱会举行的同时，用实际行动体现他们的环保决心，比如用再生纸印节目表，用面粉做餐盒等等。但结果显示，它所传达的迫切环保意识的声音还是十分微弱的。

我甚至怀疑，在一些演唱会场地所使用的聚光灯与音效，又要耗费掉多少的电力资源。如果根据所谓的蝴蝶效应理论（据说蝴蝶扇动翅膀可以造成龙卷风形成，甚至影响气候）推算，这些疯狂聚集的百万歌谜，他们所散发出来的热力不知又会溶解掉多少座冰山。

“绿色地球”活动，其实要到曲终人散才算是开始，但显然地它已经结束了。出席者似乎是抱着凑热闹，甚至是娱乐的心态来看待这场全球性的音乐盛会。而盛会的主题却早已被人们的欢歌热舞抛到九霄云外去了。

不过，在所有参与举办演唱会的国家之中，唯有日本观众能够在演唱会结束后，自动自发的清理场地的垃圾，并且还将它们分门别类的放置，再次体现了日本人一贯严谨的生活作风。

其实，日本人在平日的生活中就很注重环境与个人的清洁卫生。一旦患上伤风感冒，他们都会自发自动的戴上口罩，以防把感冒传给别人。在公共场所，如果要打喷嚏，日本人也会用纸巾捂住口鼻，这是他们的公共礼仪。同时，日本人也有勤于洗手，饭后漱口的习惯。

另一方面，日本很早就有垃圾分别处理的机制，有些社区甚至有在不同日子收取不同垃圾的规定。住户如不遵照规定处理，垃圾工人就不收取垃圾，那么丢垃圾者就会被邻居轻视和嘲笑，这对于保守又好面子的日本人来说，是非常难堪的。

听说连一年级的日本小朋友都懂得在喝完牛奶之后，把牛奶盒子洗净才丢到收循环垃圾的箱子里。还有，到日本人家里做客时，主人一定会先让客人换上一双室内拖鞋，才请客人进入室内。其实，这都有一定的卫生根据。

从日本人生活的种种习惯看来，他们早已活在先进的环保观念里，不但把环境和个人清洁当作生活的一部分，并且做到全民自发自动的认真执行，所以环保对他们来说根本不是一件需要特别费力去执行的任务。

眼看环境问题越来越严重，环保，真的不能只是说说而已。

原文刊于7月10日《我报》

后记：

“绿色地球”演唱会本来是个不错的构想，但是显然效果十分薄弱。无论如何，它再次提醒了我，有些事不能光靠形式撑腰，贯彻执行，实实在在地去做也许才是对的方向。

Saying Grace in a Restaurant

这是朋友发送给我的另一则温馨电邮。

Saying Grace in a Restaurant!

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.

My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.

"Cross my heart," the man replied.

Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman.

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."

Sometimes, we all need some ice cream. I hope God sends you some Ice Cream today!

This Is For A Good Laugh!

This is for a GOOD Laugh!

Teacher: History is a very interesting subject. It tells you about what had happened in the past.

Student: Please teacher, I don't think I want to study history.

Teacher: Why?

Student: There is no future in it.

................................................

Teacher: Ted, if your father has $10 and you ask him for $6, how much would your father still have?

Ted: $10.

Teacher: You don't know maths.

Ted: You don't know my father!

................................................

Mother: David, come here.

David: Yes, mum?

Mother: You really disappoint me. Your results are getting worse.

David: But I will only get my report book tomorrow.

Mother: I know that. But I am going to Hong Kong tomorrow, so I am scolding you now.

................................................

Father: Why did you fail your mathematics test?

Son: On Monday, teacher said 3+5=8.

Father: So?

Son: On Tuesday, she said 4+4=8, And on Wednesday, she said 6+2=8. If she can't make up her mind, how do I know the right answer?

..................................................

A mother and son were doing dishes while the father and daughter were Watching TV in the living room. Suddenly, there was a loud crash of breaking plates, Then complete silence. The daughter turned to look at her father.

Daughter: It's mummy!

Father: How do you know?

Daughter: She didn't say anything.

..................................................

Girl: Do you love me?

Boy: Yes Dear.

Girl: Would you die for me?

Boy: No, mine is undying love!

...................................................

Man: How old is your father?

Boy: As old as me.

Man: How can that be?

Boy: He became a father only when I was born!

...................................................

Waiter: I've stewed liver, boiled tongue and frog's leg.

Customer: Don't tell me your problems. Give me the menu card.

...................................................

Teacher: Simon, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did u copy his?

Simon: No, teacher, it's the same dog!

...................................................

Father: Your teacher says she finds it impossible to teach you anything!

Son: That's why I say she's no good!

...................................................

Teacher: Where were u born?

Student: Singapore , Sir.

Teacher: Which part?

Student: All of me, Sir.

....................................................

A teacher was asking her class: "What is the difference between 'unlawful' And 'illegal'?" Only one hand shot up.

"Ok, answer, Joan" said the teacher.

"'unlawful' is when u do something the law doesn't allow and 'illegal' is A sick eagle."

....................................................

Teacher: How come you do not comb your hair?

Ah Kow: No comb, Sir.

Teacher: Use your dad's then.

Ah Kow: No hair, Sir.

.....................................................

A boy came home from school with his exam results.

"What did u get?" asked his father.

"My marks are under water," said the boy.

"What do u mean 'under water'?"

"They are all below 'C' level" (sea level)

The End

固执？还是坚持？

固执？还是坚持？

有个非常能干的朋友，平日凡事亲力亲为；一家人的饮食起居、家务、接送老公孩子、溜狗、定时参加私人聚会、教补习、在理工学院兼教职……她的生活十分忙碌、她想做的事情却总是很多，尽管时间相对不宽裕，但是却无法让她降低对每一件事的“完美”要求与坚持，她几乎总是在自己执意坚守的理念里过完每一天忙碌的生活。

本来，我很欣赏她，因为我从她身上学到了许多可贵的东西。但是最近我却开始怀疑，到底她是在“坚持”着某些完美的理念，还是在“固执”于骄傲的自我而已。

有次，这位朋友邀请我们到她的家聚会，为的是那阵子她得到另一位朋友传授的养花心得，家里的盆栽养得极茂盛。她乐极了，特意邀我们到她家去赏花。

我向来害怕猫狗之类的宠物，虽然知道她家里养了小狗，但以为她会像其他人那样，在客人到访时把家里的小狗暂时拴住。谁知她并没有这样做，反而严肃地告诫我千万不可以在小狗面前显露害怕的神色。并且说这狗儿极聪明，善于观颜察色，我越是显露惧色，它越会刻意接近我。她还说，有一次家里来了一个小客人，就因为害怕而发出惊叫，结果狗儿竟然咬人。

本来是个欢愉的聚会，却因为她坚持不栓狗，害得我半天下来犹坐针毡，动也不敢一动。虽然其他人都尽可能围坐在我的旁边帮我挡狗，但是那种被迫面对“威胁”的心理压力，也许只有和我一样害怕狗儿的人才能体会。

其实，许多朋友家中也养小狗，主人家一般都会在客人到访时把宠物另外安置或栓起来，以免惊扰客人，这算不上有虐待动物之嫌。但这个朋友却坚持不把狗儿拴起来，理由是这狗儿不喜欢被约束，如果栓起来，它便会叫个不停。

说真的，我实在无法理解朋友为什么坚持要客人去适应她的小狗，尤其她也知道那狗儿并不是很“乖”。就为了别人都弄不清楚是怎么一回事的“坚持”，让客人担惊受怕实在不是合宜的待客之道。朋友也许爱狗惜狗不想委屈小狗，但是当她如此“体恤”小狗被拴的“心情”时，却忘了客人也有拒绝面对“威胁”的权利。当然，我并不愿意跟狗儿斤斤计较，但是我却无法接受“人不比狗儿”的待遇。这位朋友“爱狗胜于人”的坚持，对我来说简直啼笑皆非，不可思议。

至于下回的邀请，我的答案自然就很清楚了。

原文刊于7月3日《我报》

后记：

这篇稿投寄出去以后，我其实有点后悔，虽然这班朋友都看不懂中文，但是在报刊发表文章说朋友的不是，好像很不应该。

不过，稿子被老编压箱许久（个把月了吧）才刊出，我也整理了自己的心情。终究觉得做朋友真的不是有缘相聚就可以的，写完这篇稿，我又因为别的事和这个朋友有一些个人接触，还是觉得我和她没有办法契合。她的优点，对我来说只可远观。就是这样的感觉。

再后记：

有个爱狗的读者跑到我的新浪部落格去教训了我一顿，说我只用自己的角度看事物，应该体谅爱狗人的心情。

我还是一句话，现代人的行为看法光怪陆离，人人都有自己的道理。我认为问题不是对错，是分寸。处理事情总有个分寸，待人接物总有个分寸。我对别人爱狗绝对毫无意见，但是人要懂得伦常与分寸。爱狗爱得跑到别人家去吵架，也真的是令人啼笑皆非。我的见解仅此而已。