端午節又到囉!

今天又是一年一度的端午佳節囉! 近一個星期內已經吃了五、六顆粽子，想必今明兩天至少有兩三餐是粽子~ 其實個人是不排斥粽子，但聽說粽子一顆熱量相當於兩碗飯，而昨天吃的粽子又油淋淋的，看著自己早已走樣不知多久的身材，還是克制一下比較好。

好一陣子沒出去玩囉! 玩就要花錢，「答對了」，今天又是我大肆揮霍的日子(偶爾敗個家感覺還不錯 XD) 今天一早起來就上博客來把今日特價給他買下去。今日的特價書是現任美國總統歐巴馬的回憶錄「歐巴馬的夢想之路：以父之名」。歐巴馬剛上任時就有注意到這本書，當時好像賣的還不錯，可是一直等到現在才給他買下來，一來省錢(最主要的原因)，二來最近可能也會比較有時間看吧! 歐巴馬的另一本著作"The Audacity of Hope"(暫時忘了中譯名)看起來也不錯，有機會再看一下~為了湊足免運費標準，又掏腰包買了「維梅爾的帽子：從一幅畫看十七世紀全球貿易」(Vermeer's Hat: The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World)。之所以會買這本書是因為我同學推薦，而作者Timothy Brook(卜正民)是UBC大學歷史系教授，正是本人的母校。聽了我同學對這位老師的一番讚揚後，索性就給它買來看看，一瞧究竟。

吃完早餐後便出門去鄰近的福利中心幫我個買飲料~ 買完回家路上，看到附近的跳蚤市場正熱鬧萬分，心想「搬來現居地已那麼久還沒進去逛過」，就把小綿羊停下來，進去逛逛。還真是來對了地方! 進去時提著一包零嘴和兩包飲料，出來時多帶了一包戰利品出來，總共花了NT110。搜刮到的東西可稱得上是物超所值，包括：

周杰倫 八度空間 專輯 NT10
周杰倫 同名專輯 VCD NT10
張震嶽 秘密基地 專輯 NT20
莫文蔚 I Say 專輯 NT30
杜德偉 鍾愛1998精選集 錄音帶 NT10

這輩子，你想做什麼? (書，2006出版) NT30

提著一包戰利品出來時，當時真想大喊「賺到了!」然而，跳蚤市場整個給我的感受卻是大環境不景氣的感覺。前陣子，正逢金融海嘯衝擊最嚴重之際，新聞即有報導許多人假日會固定去跳蚤市場擺攤，多賺點外快。今天看市集裡盡是一些中年的叔叔、阿姨，叫賣琳瑯滿目的東西，便宜賤賣也未必有人買的情形，感嘆這年頭真是前難賺阿! 有些賣家可能是固定的二手交易商，但其中應該不乏中年失業的賣家。想到這年頭假如中年失業，日子可能真的是過不下去了!

希望景氣能好轉，畢業後能找到好工作...

PS: 剛才找圖時找到一個有趣的網頁，跟大家分享一下：http://www.chinesealbumart.com/

New Camera! Samusung S860

哇!已經有好一陣子沒更新部落格囉~ 繼上次在網頁上揚言要每天更新一首歌後，維持了一個月，最後也是因為不敵開學後忙碌的生活步調，部落格只好給它放掉，讓它雜草叢生...... = =

除夕前夕還曾揚言要再這個寒假大肆地給它更新一下，結果也是搞到假期最後一天......生活真的是忙到不行~

好啦~ 忙忙忙，現在來把部落格豐富一下吧!終於，經過了漫長的等待，託台灣政府的福，今天終於買了期盼已久的一台個人專屬相機!XD 之前爸不知道參加啥，人家送了一台，可是已經好幾年了，相機整個還是平式設計的。剛回台灣時還說要換新電池，但電池現在都找不到了，可見年紀有多大了~ = = 經年的等待終於盼到一台新的數位相機 --- 三星S860! 810萬畫素；最高接受2G SD卡或4G SDHC卡；使用三號電池兩顆。之前想也沒想過會買像三星這樣的高檔貨~ 若有機會看看我家的電器用品就知道，我家對品牌的要求其實並不高；沒有愛用品牌，走平價路線，國產品牌還滿受歡迎的~所以會買三星的東西應該是之前連作夢都沒想過吧!其實我不是名牌的愛好者，數數看我身邊有幾件名牌物品就知道；幾乎是沒有~可能應該是舊式的關係，這台三星3000塊有找!滿划算的吧!這個價位的數位相機只有Benq較普遍，其他可能就要走雜牌路線了~不會太貴，價錢理想，品質一等一，真的有買到賺到的感覺!S860證明了一件事：平價也有好貨，時間久後，就會有所謂的平價名牌出現!就看買家有沒有耐心囉!

新數位相機：Samsung S860

其實今天買這台相機時還有個小插曲~ 本來跟店員要求銀色的機種，起之付完錢後，走出店家，看了看盒子上的標籤才知道買到黑色的。其實我個人還滿能接受黑色的，但媽卻因此大發雷霆，馬上折回店裡，找裡面的店員理論。事情最終圓滿落幕，店員換了台銀色機種給我們，但爸媽卻因此鬧得有點不愉快，回家的路上，車裡的氣氛给它低迷到一個極點。其實兩天前去那家店看相機時，也看到一家人要買某樣東西而鬧得不是很愉快。唉~ 其實回想起來，家裡好像每次遇到要作決定時，例如上館子、買東西、出外等，大家的意見都不是很合，結果都鬧得不是很愉快~ = =像今天早上要出門時，哥跟我也是小吵了一下。唉~ 事後想想，其實各退一步就沒事了，但有時候當下就是沒辦法控制，怒氣就直接湧出 = = 像買東西其實也一樣，我想一個人買的話會比較簡單、乾脆吧!但一個人逛街、買東西，好像就是少了那麼一點氣氛，歡樂的氣息；少了分享喜悅的另一個人~ 所以凡事真的無法兩面兼顧，但我真的滿希望家裡能爭吵少一點，快樂多一些!

好啦~ 今天寫不少啦~ 自從開了部落格後，每次添新東西時，總會上來紀錄一下。這一次添了一台相機，今年的第二件行頭，幫這個部落格注入點生氣吧! (這樣形容好想有點怪...算了~)希望這學期能三不五時的上來留言，紀錄一下生活的點點滴滴。

2008.8.22-8.28

2008.8.22:

年少雙人組 - 放不下你 (released 2000.11)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.23:

脫拉庫 - 飛向陽光飛向你 (released 2000.7)

2008.8.24:

范曉萱 - 藍旗袍 (released 1998.5.1)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.25:

Exile - Your Eyes Only (released 2002.3.6)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.26:

紐約客 - 惹你開心 (released 2007.7)

2008.8.27:

張靓穎 - 日落大道 (released 2007.8.2)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.28:

Kim Jo Han duet with Yoon Mi Rae (T) - Wonderful
(released 2007.8.30)

2008.8.15-8.21

2008.8.15:

袁泉 - 寶寶!睡 (released 2008.7.18)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.16:

許慧欣 - 純屬意外(released 2008.7.18)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.17:

Hirai Ken - kimi no suki na toko (君の好きなとこ)
(released 2008.3.12)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.18:

Park Hye Kyung - Yesterday (LG Shine CM song)
(released 2006.3.16)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.19:

伍思凱 - 你愛誰 (released 1996.8)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.20:

易桀齊 - 有你真好 acoustic version (released 2008.7.31)
DJ's pick

2008.8.21:

Epik High - Love Love Love (LG Chocolate cm song)
(released 2007.1.25)
Recommended! DJ's Favourite Song

2008.8.8-8.14

2008.8.8:

何欣穗 - 2:54 (天還沒亮) (released 1999.1.1)
入圍台灣第10屆金曲獎最佳新人以及最佳專輯製作人

2008.8.9:

依拜维吉 - 喜歡你 (released 2008.2.6)
DJ's pick

2008.8.10:

Joanna - Desperado (unreleased single)
DJ's Favourite Song

2008.8.11:

張震嶽 - 長大是件麻煩的事 (released 1994.6.23)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.12:

Jason Mraz - Make It Mine (released 2008.5.13)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.13:

Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls (released 2007.7.31)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!DJ's Favourite Song

2008.8.14:

Ayako Kawahara - So Nice (released 2004.5.21)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.1-8.7

2008.8.1:

Laura Fygi - La La La Love Song (os: Toshinobu Kubota)
(released 2004.3.15)

2008.8.2:

阿蘭 - 心‧戰 (電影"赤壁"主題曲)
(released 2008.7.23)

2008.8.3:

Utada Hikaru - Prisoner of Love (EP)
(released 2008.5.21)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.4:

洪俊楊 - ㄧ生絕望(孤軍作戰) (電影"小孩不笨2"主題曲)
movie intro: http://www.inotstupid.com.sg/inotstupid2/ch/index.htm
(released 2007)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.8.5:

Aerosmith - What It Takes
(released 1990.9.12)
DJ's Pick

2008.8.6:

Kylie Minogue ft Jolin - In My Arms
(released 2007.11.21)

2008.8.7:

丁噹 - 我愛上的 (released 2008.7.14)
RECOMMENDED! DJ's Favourite Song

I'm Back!

okay, this phrase ("I'm back") may sound a bit familiar~ you guessed it, right, it's MJ's words on his press conference back in '95 that he's picking up da ball and fitting on his jersey again~ 'nuff of history, I've been getting pretty bored here in Taichung with not really a whole lot of ppl to hang out with and the same basic routine everyday -- school and work, meanly work too... = = so I've decided to come back for another 'round on my page, although I'm seriously tiptoe-ing on the borderline of the law in what I'm doing~ but damn with the real world, they're not making a strong enough effort in the whole thing! instead of me going off into a whole political rant 'bout events, let's just say what I'm putting up here are SAMPLES, if you really like what you're listening to, you should support the artist by getting the authentic thing~ not making things up or anything, I seriously own a whole collection of my favourite music at home, no fake copies~ it's all a morality issue, so it's up to all u out there to do da thing u think is right :D

nayways, the new format here'll be a song a day~ genre'll be as wide as ever, from r&b to jazz, to rock, rap and ur cheesy pop tunes~ still centered on Asian music cuz I'm not really familiar with others out there~ so sit back and tune in on what'll be put on the record player~ :D

2008.7.26:

Aoi Thelma ft Souja - soba ni iru ne (そばにいるね)
(released 2008.3.26)
RECOMMENDED! BIGGEST SINGLE IN J-POP YEAR 2008!

2008.7.27:

Park Jung Hyun - 3 30am (released 2001.5.6)

2008.07.28:

潘瑋柏 - 轉機 (released 2008.7.18)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.07.29:

羅美玲 - 生日領悟 (released 2007.10.8)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.7.30

Elliot Yamin - Wait For You (released 2007.3.20)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.7.31:

So Nyo Shi Dae (Girl's Generation) - Into the new world
(다시 만난 세계) (released 2008.5.14)
DJ's Favourite Pick

2008.05.03 蕭萬長：發展經濟 勿忘社會公義

新政府再兩周將走馬上任，副總統當選人蕭萬長三日表示，台灣做為逐漸成熟的經濟體，不可能再以經濟成長為唯一目標，社會公義與永續發展不能被忽略；台灣經濟若要突破成長困境，就須持續加強競爭力。他表示，新政府將以經濟成長、社會公義及永續發展作為台灣總體經濟三大目標。

蕭萬長昨日出席由時報文教基金會舉辦的「面對公與義：台灣經濟新局與發展」研討會，以貴賓身分致詞。

建立更公平的市場機制

蕭萬長指出，今年以來，美國次級房貸風暴擴及全球，加上石油、貴金屬及糧食價格飆漲，全球面臨高通膨的大考驗，而中國這個全球經濟成長最快的引擎也在改變，這些新的變數都在考驗台灣，現在國家正處在新的發展轉捩點。

面對全球經濟新局，蕭萬長指出，首先要先確立現階段台灣總體經濟目標是什麼？蕭萬長強調，台灣是一個經濟逐漸成熟的經濟體，不可能再以經濟成長為唯一目標，但若經濟沒有成長，也不能實現社會公義與永續，因此經濟要持續成長，就要加強競爭力，並進行創新。

鬆綁兩岸經貿改善稅制

在加強競爭力方面，蕭萬長指出，一方面新政府要改善制度面，建立更公平及更有效率的市場機制，例如目前提出的鬆綁兩岸經貿，改善財稅制度等，都是在追求更完善的自由及有效率的市場機制，讓台灣與全球建立良性而緊密的連結。

除了完善市場機制外，還需要創新。蕭萬長指出，經濟成長動力有三個包括要素、效率及創新的驅動，台灣目前正從自效率轉型至創新驅動，觀察鄰近國家，韓國及香港及新加坡都已成功轉型。

租稅公平落實社福政策

蕭萬長引用世界經濟論壇(WEF)數據指出，二○○七年台灣創新指標排名為球第九名。

蕭萬長表示，台灣創新表現不差，但近年國內人均國民所得停滯不前，主要是因為台灣研發附加價值偏低，必須依賴技術輸入，加上台灣產業以代工為主，缺乏創造新市場能力。

他進一步透露，未來新政府會成立合作平台，協助企業打造國際品牌，分攤研發風險，並培育創新人才。

至於在實現社會公義方面，蕭萬長指出，要有完善的社會福利政策，也要讓租稅公平，像已經提出的「勞動所得稅抵減」制度就是一項有效政策，但社會公義能不能只靠社會政策來保障，未來新政府制定經濟政策時，也要考慮到對所得分配，外部成本分攤是否公平等影響。

低價油電不符公平正義

蕭萬長強調，目前國內的油電價格，被行政手段壓制，以致無法實現使用者付費的原則，表面上，大家享受到低價油電，其實用電用油最多的人占最大便宜，其他人被迫分攤成本，這是不符合公平正義的做法。

另在實現永續發展方面，蕭萬長指出，全球現已面臨暖化等生態危機，環保不再是道德訴求，而應化為實際政策，政府與民間都要體認永續發展的意義，新政府一定會以實際政策實踐。

中國時報 2008.05.04

2008.05.03 兩岸產業合作 開創台灣經濟新局

新政府在五二○上任後，兩岸將邁向和解與對話的新時代，各界期盼未來兩岸以合作取代對抗，在經濟上共創雙贏。香港中文大學校長劉遵義指出，台灣機會來了，台灣產業需要很大的市場來發展知識經濟，中國與台灣可以發揮互補功能。北京大學教授吳敬璉則建議，兩岸產業聯合起來，走到世界的前頭。我們認為，只要兩岸有合作的意願，踏出成功的第一步，將可共創雙贏。

時報文教基金會昨日舉辦「台灣經濟：新局與發展」研討會，邀請重量級產官學三方代表就世界經濟變局下，亞洲與中國經濟的前瞻與挑戰、台灣的出路等議題提出建言。

在美國次級房貸風暴衝擊下，今年國際環境出現很大的變化，美國經濟陷入衰退，信用緊縮問題嚴重，同時國際原油價格居高不下且全球發生三十年來最嚴重的糧荒，亞洲各國均面臨通貨膨脹壓力。所幸，亞洲各國區域內的貿易穩定成長，逐漸與美國「脫鉤」，美國的經濟衰退對亞洲各國的影響不會太大。劉遵義期許台灣抓住機會，加強與金磚四國發展經貿與投資，因為這些國家受到衝擊都不大。

向來持樂觀態度的劉遵義指出，未來亞洲各國經濟占全球的比重會持續增加，東協加三（中國、南韓與日本）自由貿易區的角色會越來越重要，台灣當然不能被排除在外，完全被邊緣化，他相信在兩岸進行自由貿易往來之後，台灣積極爭取加入東協加三，有許多變通的辦法可以進行。

近年來積極鼓吹建立「法治市場經濟」，中國最有影響力的經濟學家吳敬璉指出，兩岸隔離這麼久，應求同存異，在九二共識的基礎上，趕快恢復談判，搭建正規的合作平台，可以創造許多商機。台灣產業不能一直替外國企業做代工，這樣附加價值太小，未來兩岸產業如果聯合起來，可以在國際市場上進行更高層次的競爭，例如，兩岸在爭取制訂國際電信標準技術規格方面，機會很大。

準經建會主委陳添枝更具體提出，台灣未來要高舉「品牌」的旗，走「服務」的路。他一針見血指出，台灣有許多優勢，但也有一項缺點，即市場太小，任何一個企業要變成全球性的企業，不能只靠台灣的市場。亞洲有二塊很大的市場，中國與東南亞，未來，台灣要走向服務經濟，不僅製造業要加上服務，本地的服務業也要有全球視野，才能邁向海外。

坦白說，兩岸在不同的政經制度下，雙方隔離這麼久，在各個層面都缺乏了解，官方更缺乏正常溝通管道，難免產生誤解與異見，未來要打破這些隔閡，雙方都需要以最大的誠意出發，共同解決問題。例如台灣一直希望參與國際組織的空間，大陸方面應予以尊重與適度支持，否則一味地壓縮台灣在國際上的地位，將使好不容易開啟和平契機的兩岸關係，再度走回頭路，甚至回到原點。

此外，由於兩岸的經濟規模先天上存在極大的差異，未來經貿進一步合作後，在涉及國家安全方面仍有現實面的考量，例如台灣如何在科技產業上保持既有的技術層面的優勢？一旦台灣的高科技流向大陸，未受到智財權的保護，可能影響國家安全或產業的優勢，這都是未來要面對的問題。也有學者未雨綢繆指出，未來大陸國有企業可能併購台灣重要的高科技公司或銀行，例如先前大陸的聯想買下美國ＩＢＭ電腦部門，同樣情況如果發生在台灣，新政府要如何面對社會的觀感呢？

五二○之後，兩岸經貿開啟新紀元，和平的橄欖枝帶來許多新希望，台灣的經濟動能有賴內需的提振。民間企盼已久的直航、陸客來台觀光與人民幣在台自由兌換，兩岸經貿的進一步開放，的確為兩岸企業帶來許多商機，在一片開放樂觀氣氛下，未來開放的腳步一定要走穩，才能真正讓台灣經濟開創新局。

中國時報 2008.05.04

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賴岳謙：北韓試射飛彈 顯示對南韓新政府不滿

北韓繼28日向黃海發射3枚短程飛彈之後，引發國際強烈關注，這也是南韓強硬派總統李明博上個月就任以來，南北韓關係惡化的最新跡象。由於李明博上任後明確要求北韓撤除核武，同時南韓新任聯合參謀部議長金泰榮更在上星期表明，若北韓企圖以核武攻擊南韓，南韓將鎖定北韓可能藏有核武的地方予以攻擊。因此外界質疑北韓這次試射飛彈，與南韓的新北韓政策有關。

台灣政治大學外交研究所教授賴岳謙，31日接受中央廣播電台新聞部專訪時表示，北韓試射飛彈的舉動顯然是對南韓的新北韓政策做出回應，同時也表達出對南韓軍方提出的「新發制人」策略的不滿。

賴岳謙同時認為，北韓藉發射飛彈還希望達到三種意圖，第一是為北韓自身的利益；第二為影響南韓即將舉行的國會大選；第三則為轉移美國去核化的焦點。

賴岳謙說：『我想這有三種用意，第一個用意當然顧及到北韓自己本身的利益，第二個很明顯的就是北韓意圖改變、影響在4月9號左右，南韓在國會的選舉。第三個就是要轉移美國對於北韓的完全去核化的第二階段的一個焦點，也就是說，美國現在要求北韓要遞交在第二階段履行的，所有濃縮鈾的、特別是鈽的分佈跟流向的，這個完全透明化的要求。北韓同時也在指責美國沒有兌現承諾，要給它100萬噸的原油，只給了25萬噸，那麼北韓跟美國現在也在為了這個部份有一些爭執，這個期限也快到了，所以北韓也想轉移美國的注意力。』

至於北韓的這項舉動，是否會為朝鮮半島未來情勢帶來不利影響，賴岳謙認為，從李明博的新北韓政策與北韓試射飛彈的情形來看，兩韓將可能進入新冷戰時代；同時美日兩國可能將更需要仰賴中國來處理朝鮮半島的問題。

台灣的研究所究竟是啥？─── 返台僑生的ㄧ封信

時逢每年台灣大學院校碩博士班海外招生之際，亦碰巧與新年和學期末同時，筆者認為有必要借機回顧開學迄今的個人經驗，以供考慮是否返台升學的家長與莘莘學子參考。回顧過往，一年前，筆者與當下盯著螢幕上的申請書的家長與準畢業生有相同的疑惑：台灣的大學是什麼？研究所如何？師資與內部資源如何？對眾家長與學子更重要的問題可能是：我的中文能力夠嗎？能應付課程嗎？老師難嗎？台灣學歷有價值嗎？─── 我能畢業嗎？上述皆非易答之題，且許多牽涉到教育制度、社會環境等大問題，但筆者希望僅以至今自身體驗為鑒，簡單地探討上述問題，提供淺見。

筆者與現正考慮返台升學的學生們有大致上相同的背景，自幼於他國成長，長期居住他國。筆者大學時就讀卑詩大學(UBC)，主修國際關係，於四年畢業。由於卑詩大學無國關研究所，且家人有意返鄉，台灣亦正提倡對外招生，台灣的研究所自然被筆者納入考量內。與今年相較，去年政治相關學系開放的名額較少，國關領域的名額更屈指可數，因此筆者填寫申請表時，心裡並無太大掙扎，以國立大學相關科系填起。筆者曾考慮轉換科系，但基於北美研究所大多優先考慮本科學生的考量，故保守性地針對政治系申請。三月申請，六月放榜，筆者被國立中興大學錄取。筆者於七月中返台，準備入學相關事宜，探視學校環境，九月入學。

由於長期居住國外，初入學時，筆者與初入大學時的生澀之姿相似，全副武裝，戰戰兢兢地面對所有的人、事、物。或許久居加拿大，習慣了當地較冷淡與各保其身的社會型態，對於返鄉後，陣陣窩心的人情味，實倍感不知所措的溫馨。班上同學相處和樂融融，其並未因筆者的特殊身份而排斥筆者，反而邀之與其同樂、共遊、談天等，建立了良好的友誼。關於所上的前輩，皆以「學長姐」稱呼，已示對其的尊重；所上前輩亦與後輩建立良好的互動關係。然而，身為系上唯一的僑生，筆者認為之所以自己能無太大衝擊地融入其中，全賴中文的溝通能力與自身的謙卑。當然，若與台灣當地學生的中文程度相比，不足稱奇，但中文的運用與低調的作風有助於拉近與同學和老師間的距離，更容易適應當地文化與學生生活。反觀外籍生，所上本屆來了四名，但由於不諳中文，使他們與當地生存有距離感；加上文化背景的不同，容易造成誤解，融入台灣的生活型態更是難上加難。雖然僑生也可能會被另眼看待，偶爾被蜚語中傷，但筆者深信實際的行動與努力會為他人所肯定的。簡而言之，中文是必要條件，於文科和社會科學更僅為基本條件。

關於學校本身，筆者相信許多讀者對台灣的大學比筆者了解更甚，今網路資訊也頗為充裕，於此便不多談。就筆者個人觀感而言，學校名聲固然重要，其名聲背後必有其因，但學費、興趣、生活便利等因素皆需納入考量，使最後的選擇更能符合個人需求。筆者去年獲取錄取通知時，僅被中興大學錄取；聯招會採由前至後的錄取方式，僅分發一名額，因此填寫申請表時需格外慎重。另一方面，關於上課情形，上課方式皆採討論班形式進行，老師皆以中文授課。許多大學雖提供英語課程，但此項作法似乎剛實行，制度尚未建立，英語課程不多，故仍以中文課程居多。然而，以國關為例，許多課程採用英文的原文講義，報告也可以英文撰寫，因此中文程度稍差的學生不必過於憂心。課程難易依個人的適應能力而定，學生僅能全力以赴。

最後，筆者認為返台升學最需考慮的重要問題為：台灣學歷的價值在哪裡？或許對於許多習慣西方文化，追求名校學歷的學生而言，不僅台灣，他國學歷的相對價值均有限，但筆者認為台灣學歷還是有一定的價值存在。固然台灣當下學歷氾濫，社會的學歷需求亦驟升，但對於僑生而言，入讀台灣的研究所有助於對台灣文化，甚至中華與東方文化，有進一步的認識。對於滯立於東西文化的分界線與人生的交叉口的華裔準畢業生，台灣的研究所提供的是一種久被遺忘的東方思維，能與西方思想匹敵的另一種思考方式。於東西文化正求互相了解、合作與發展之際，僑生的最大優勢在於其對東西文化深刻的體認為單一文化學生所無法理解的。面對國界敞開的世界，對不同文化的了解為基本條件；一昧地浸身於單一文化中可能不自覺地使祖國或異國文化的精隨成為盲點，縮限自己的視野，枉費僑生的特殊地位與優勢。

另一方面，對有心繼續深造的學生而言，台灣的研究所無疑提供與他國大學，尤其是亞洲學校，接軌的一個跳板。逞地利之便，透過台灣的大學與韓國、日本、美國、英國、德國等地學校進行交換學生的途徑多不勝數，走訪台灣各大學的機會也隨之遽增，與諸多北美學校相較，有過之而無不極。再者，許多學校皆提供獎助學金、工讀機會、語言學習管道等資源，與北美大學的校內生態大不相同，僑生可善加利用。僑生於校內可加強自身的中文能力，並透過工讀機會賺取生活費與學費，於校外可感受台灣人情味濃厚的社會氣息，以及踏訪各旅遊勝地，感受台灣文化，學習與休閒兼得，何樂而不為。僑生與赴他國留學的台灣本地生和赴台就讀的外籍學生最大的差異即為其所須扮演的中間人角色：雙方之間的溝通管道，連結東西文化的橋樑。倘若具備若干條件，豈不為一項罕見的競爭優勢？橋頭相接利之於人，惟恐無木擔此大任。

(筆者現為國立中興大學國際政治研究所碩一生。)

2007.12.30 Patriots finish season perfect

The New England Patriots took one final shot from an NFL foe, but in the end they finished the regular season perfect on Saturday night. While records fell at a feverish pace, it was the Patriots ability to go 16-0 that was most impressive.

Quarterback Tom Brady threw a record 50th touchdown pass and receiver Randy Moss surpassed Jerry Rice in touchdown receptions to guide the Patriots to a 38-35
come-from-behind victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Patriots become only the second team in the 88-year history of the NFL to finish the regular season undefeated. In 1972, the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 during their Super Bowl season, but played a 14-game regular season.

"Going undefeated during the regular season is a remarkable achievement," 1972 Dolphins coach Don Shula said. "I know first-hand how difficult it is to win every game, and just as we did in 1972, the Patriots have done a great job concentrating on each week's opponent and not letting any other distractions interrupt that focus.

"If they go on to complete an undefeated season, I will be the first to congratulate coach [Bill] Belichick and the Patriot organization."

With the Patriots trailing 28-23, Brady found Moss wide open streaking down the right side for a 65-yard touchdown 3:45 into the fourth quarter. Running back Laurence Maroney then ran in a two-point conversion for a 31-28 lead.

"I think it's a lot of hard work," Brady said. "I'm proud of the way this team responded. We're losing there in the second half and came out and played some of our better football."

On the touchdown, Brady broke Peyton Manning's record of 49 TD passes, while Moss passed Rice with his 23rd touchdown reception of the year.

The Patriots also broke the Minnesota Vikings's 1998 record (556) for most points in a regular season with 589, and with 75 touchdowns on the season, easily eclipsed the mark of 70 set by the 1984 Dolphins.

"The Giants came out with great intensity to start the game," Moss told reporters. "It took us a while to match their intensity."

Following an interception, Maroney finished off the Giants on a five-yard touchdown run with less than five minutes remaining to go up by 10.

Receiver Plaxico Burress's three-yard touchdown catch brought New York to within three points with more than a minute remaining, but the Giants failed to recover the onside kick.

The victory, New England's record-breaking 19th straight spanning the last two regular seasons, was anything but easy.

Trailing by five points to start the third quarter, the Patriots faced their biggest deficit of the season after Giants QB Eli Manning hit Burress with a 19-yard TD hookup, giving New York a 28-16 lead at 9:12.

But Maroney, who finished the game with 46 yards rushing and two scores, began New England on its comeback trail on a six-yard TD run less than five minutes later, setting the stage for Brady and Moss's heroics.

Moss actually dropped a long pass the previous play, but wouldn't be denied again.

Brady spotted Moss one-on-one with free safety James Butler, who was taking the place of injured cornerback Sam Madison, and fired a strike into the waiting hands of his go-to receiver.

"We're down 10 or 11 [actually 12] in the third quarter, the crowd was into it, and we found a way to win," Brady said. "That's the way it's going to be down the stretch ... just hope we can continue to play this kind of football."

Brady finished the night throwing for 356 yards and two touchdowns, while Moss grabbed six catches for 100 yards and a pair of TDs.

Brady and Moss first connected in the second quarter to tie their respective records and put the Patriots ahead 10-7.

Despite the loss, Manning had a strong game, throwing for 251 yards and four touchdowns.

"There is nothing but positives," Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said after the loss. "I told the players in playing this game everything would be positives, there would be no negatives and that is how I feel.

"I don't know any better way to be prepared for the playoffs than to go against a team that was 15-0."

With files from the Associated Press

2007.11.10 卓文萱簽唱會

當天我有在觀眾群ㄛ!XD

2007.11.16 5th Annual Global Strategy and Taiwan Strait Security Conference at National Chung Hsing University Part II

aite, after much rest, more than a day actually, here's the second part of my day last Friday~

moving on to the panelists now, I guess I won't bore everyone by going into the details of each panelist's paper and comments but just elaborate on the highlights, cuz I fell asleep in between the presentations from time to time as well~ for the conference, it was basically divided into 4 panels as follows:

panel 1: Strategic Environment and Conceptual Change Under Globalization

• paper 1: Discussion of The Development of National Terretorial Security From The Perspective of Non-Traditional Security Threats
• paper 2: State, Sovereignty and Security: The New Trend of International Security Theory
• paper 3: Comparative Analysis of The Implementation Results of Taiwan's Taiwanese Investment and Trades Policy Before and After Party Turnover
  

panel 2: Development of Regional Arms Race in East Asia

• paper 1: East Asian Aircraft Carrier Competition and Its Regional Security Meaning
• paper 2: The Role of Nuclear Weapons in East Asian Strategic Framework: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Stable Deterrance
• paper 3: Research on Submarine Fighting Capacity of Surronding States of Asia Pacific Under The Background of Chinese Maritime Power Emergence
  

panel 3: Re-evaluation of Taiwan's External Relations in the New Century

• paper 1: Challenge to The US Military Advantage in East Asia: The Struggle of China's "Anti-Intervention" Strategy and US "Anti-Anti Intervention" Counterstrategy
• paper 2: Asian Pacific Regional Architecture and Taiwan in the New Century
• paper 3: Taiwanese-US Relations Under The DPP Government's Internal Political Considerations and Manipulations
  

panel 4: Communist China's New Taiwanese Policy Direction and Its Meaning

• paper 1: The Meaning and Strategic Structure of China's "Three War" Strategy
  
• paper 2: China's "Propaganda War": Theoretical Development and Manipulative Model
• paper 3: Evaluation of China's Legal War Against Taiwan
• paper 4: Psychological Attack to Control Taiwan: Taiwan's State Construction and China's Psychological Warfare Against Taiwan

Without further boring whoever may be reading this note right now, I won't go into the details~ if you happen to be interested in any of the above articles, all in Chinese of course, I could get hold of a copy somewhere and send it out~

after listening to the first 3 panels and slipping out of the last one cuz I am thoroughly exhausted from all the quacking and yapping, overall, I'd have to say the most impressive presentations were those done by the profs at National Chung Hsing University, my school~ not being biased or anything, as I am at the school for only a lil' more than 2 months right now, I guess if one wants to put it in more neutral words, one could say that I understood more from what the profs at my school were talking about~ it's not that I didn't understand what the other's were saying (but seriously, I didn't for some of them) but a lot of the presentations were either too detailed so everyone needs to read the papers in advance to getting what the presenter is talking about, or they were too long that everyone fell asleep~ Zzz~~~ Overall, I best understood what Professor Tsai Ming-Yan, my prof on Foreign Policy, talked about while the other profs at my department such as Professor Yuan and Ju did a good job hammering away or lambasting some of the speakers~

2007.11.16 5th Annual Global Strategy and Taiwan Strait Security Conference at National Chung Hsing University Part I

Before I head off to sleep after a very long day today, perhaps the longest day of my life in Taiwan yet, I thought I should quickly jot some notes down~ hopefully, this wont take no more than 10 min cuz I have work tomorrow morning as well (sigh~) anyways, so here's how the day started~

as the heading suggests the 5th annual strategic conference of NCHU was held today after much preparation in advance~ filling in for the other guy whom I don't recall ever seeing and who never shows up in any of the classes I am in, I had to arrive at 8 o'clock sharp this morning to help with the setup~ although most of the setup was done yesterday, there were still some lil' things here and there that needs to be taken care of eg moving stuff around, showing ppl the way etc~ of course, the process always includes some chatting as everyone gradually flows in and gets ready for a busy day~ so at 9 o'clock sharp, the event was underway and everyone dressed in their finest attire drifted into the spacey air conditioned International Conference Hall on the 13th floor~ according to a task division schedule distributed to nearly everyone, I was responsible for tasks in the afternoon, therefore I glided into the conference room with everyone else to listen to the speakers~ Atena, a Romanian girl in my law class (the only Romanian girl in the department actually~) sat next to me, as I was "partly" responsible for being her personal translator (entertainer) today, for total boredom would probably set in after awhile as facial expressions and gestures of the speakers would serve as her only means of entertainment (and the occasional diagrams)~

anyways, so the conference was officially under way with much of the ppl seated~ after brief opening speeches by Professors Ju, Tsai and Sheng aka the current "Big Three"/"3C" (Chairman of Profession Class, Department Chair, Arts Faculty Chair), the keynote speaker, Professor Lee Zi Yi, an 82 yrs old retired veteran/professor of strategic studies, was up~ Professor Lee was quite frail looking with think dark rimmed glasses and tufts of white on his scalp~ however, he seemed like a smart and wise looking man~ so Professor Lee went on with his speech, quite slowly and with a voice so low that some of the ppl in the class think the guy might get a sudden heart attack or cough so hard that he'll collapse on the stage~ = = luckily, that didn't happen:P Professor Lee made some real interesting points on both parts of the conference subject today: global strategy and Taiwan Strait security~ here are the key points I grasped from the speech:

Global Strategy

the future of global strategy shall be guided by 3 considerations:

1) devaluation of the US dollar leading to strong economic impact for the world
2) energy crisis caused by the shortage of oil; the problem of distribution should be another more significant concern than simply the soaring of price of oil
3) upcoming US presidential election

Professor Lee offers the above 3 points as factors that should be considered when thinking about the current world~ he calls it another "new angle for thinking about world order"~

Taiwan Strait Security or Cross Strait Issue

Professor Lee thinks that a reflection on the historical issue between the CCP and the KMT is needed as a basis for potential solution of cross strait tensions~ Professor Lee elaborates on a story about his days working as a reporter when China was amidst a brewing civil war~ Professor Lee was a reporter at the 1946 legislative meeting of the parliament where Zhou En Lai (I forgot what post he held at the time but anyways,) was present as a speaker~ the CCP did not attend the meeting and nearly all the rest of the members were KMT, therefore, in a sense, as noted by the prof, the KMT was in total control of the meeting~ at the meeting, Zhou criticized the KMT for destroying previous political agreements with the CCP through manipulating the parliament and selling out China in order to justify its part in the progressing civil war and its separatist movement~ with that said, Zhou held the KMT responsible for a separated China and left the conference angrily after the statement~ If I recall correctly, Professor Lee said that many of his colleagues at the time, who were KMT supporters, were shocked and nearly all cried when hearing such comment~ according to the prof, the key point to draw from the brief anecdote is that the cross strait issue is not unlike the cases of Korea, Vietnam and Germany, where superpower intervention is the critical cause; the cross strait issue is a historical (interior) problem that should be dealt with from a historical approach~ the prof then points out that from Zhou En Lai's remarks, one may see that great tension exists between the CCP and the KMT, a historical problem that is the root of the existing cross strait issue~ regarding the 17th CCP Congress held recently, Professor Lee points out that CCP Chairman Hu Jin Tao's wisdom is that he is suggesting a potential historical solution for a historical problem~ according to the prof, in the past, the CCP undertook a less clarified approach to the cross strait issue, thus leading to unnecessary tensions and instability~ Professor Lee makes the suggestion that the Taiwanese leadership should carefully consider China's peace agreement proposal through historical reflections~

after Professor Lee makes his first point regarding Taiwan Strait security, he loudly exclaims with probably more than 80 % of his energy and spirit from within the following statement:

"In 1949, IF THERE WAS NO TAIWAN THEN THERE IS NO REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC); NOW, IF THERE IS NO R.O.C THEN THERE IS NO TAIWAN!!! x 10~~~"

at that point, more than half of the audience who were sleeping or dozing off bounced right awake and focused on the speech 'til the end~ I was a bit baffled myself and even Atena, who didn't understand the language, seemed to be struck with a sudden shock and concentrated on the man with bulged eyes~ yes, such is the impact of a frail old man: the ability to surprise the audience...

anyways, the key point to note here is that the current Taiwan, under whatever name the international community recognizes the state (the CCP denies the existence of Taiwan as a state), needs to retain its identity/title of ROC in order to negotiate with China on an equal status or status on par with CCP between governments (對等身份)~ such is the case when Chiang Kai Shek first negotiated with Chairman Mao bak in the days of the civil war~ the reason behind the strong advocacy for Taiwan to keep its name "ROC' is to maintain Taiwan's stake, perhaps the only stake, for entering negotiations with China eventually~ from China's point of view, according to the peace initiative recently proposed by Hu, China wants to negotiate under the status quo~ what's the status quo? the status quo is the division of China and the ROC across the Taiwan Strait~ therefore, if Taiwan really forgoes the title ROC, a policy direction of the current DPP government, Taiwan will give up its "only" stake or basis for entering into negotiations with China, with the implication that even if China is willing to condescend to make friendly gestures towards Taiwan and bring both ruling governments back on the negotiation table, China has no way in realizing its initiative as Taiwan has unilaterally altered the status quo~ the only possible solution when the peace initiative is lost is war~ Professor Lee also makes the point that due to its economic advantage, as recently as 20 years ago, the Taiwanese government could buy off the CPP government with 50 billion NT~ however, due to China's gradual rise as a dominant economic power in recent years, the Taiwanese government could no longer buy off the CPP government even if it metes out 100 billion NT towards China~ this point reinforces the prof's main point that Taiwan needs to maintain its title and identity as "ROC"~

the speech ends with Professor exclaiming the phrase,"VETERANS NEVER DIE!" I actually got laughed a little when I jotted down the phrase in my notes~ Atena just gave a puzzled look~ well, the reason for the laugh is that the prof said the words as if he's willing to die with his words... some pretty strong words showing A LOT OF determination, too much perhaps, to carry out a task for a fragile looking 80 years old...=)

anyways, it seems that after an hour of hammering away on my keyboard, I've been only able to get through only the keynote speaker...I haven't even talked about the panels yet! anyways, I guess I'll leave that 'til tomorrow some time, when I have more time on hand~ extreme exhaustion setting in right now... Chow!

世間人》母債900萬 25歲孤女認命扛

25歲孤女謝任坪，出社會領到的第一分薪水遭查扣，才知道她「繼承」母親留下的龐大債務。自小和她相依為命的90高齡祖母謝劉完妹，也於不久前辭世。命運百般作弄，謝任坪沒怨天尤人，只希望大家對她說「加油」。

家住苗栗縣公館鄉下的謝任坪，對父母親的印象很模糊，靠著謝劉完妹打零工拉拔長大。雖然家境清貧，她卻堅持升學，「因為我認為讀書是唯一可以改善處境的機會。」謝任坪說。

她知道祖母供不起她念書，因此一天只睡4、5個小時，清早到學校打掃、中午幫老師打文書資料、晚上在牛排店打工，加上姑姑等親友接濟，她不需貸款，就自力完成桃園縣私立清雲科技大學企管系的學業。

連打三分工並未影響課業，謝任坪每學期成績都在前三名；前年畢業，系主任還幫她找到兩分不錯的工作機會，但為了就近照顧祖母，選擇回鄉工作。「沒有祖母就沒有我。」謝任坪說。

沒想到她出社會領到第一分薪水，就被查扣1/3，連郵局的500多元存款也不保。銀行人員在電話中告訴她，謝任坪的母親、父親先後於民國85年、92年過世，母親生前的債務由她繼承。謝任坪原以為是詐騙集團，後來才確認是真的。

第一筆債務30多萬元，謝任坪與銀行協商，同意降到10多萬元，她分期付款兩年多，終於在今年初償清。但緊接的債務一筆筆來，她算一算繼承母親的債務高達900多萬元。

「我根本還不起，但還是要過生活。」謝任坪說，從小到大，她的淚已流乾，但人間處處有溫暖：「我的同學、老師、教官、系主任及親友、長輩都是我的爸爸媽媽；關心的人都是我的兄弟姊妹，我不是一個人。」

雪上加霜的是，謝劉完妹今年9月住進苗栗的護理之家，謝任坪擔心祖母牙齒不好，吃得不夠營養，費時熬魚肉稀飯，哄阿嬤張口，一匙一匙餵食，但祖母還是不敵老邁，10月初與世長辭。

苗栗縣「大溫暖」計畫提供急難救助金兩萬元，協助謝任坪辦理祖母的後事。社工員林俐儂很感慨：「任坪不向命運低頭，她是我看過最樂觀的人。」

「很多人都說我堅強、樂觀，其實我只能這樣做了。」謝任坪說，大家對她說「加油」，就是給她最大的支持了。

11.12.2007自雅虎奇摩轉貼

Kim Tae Hee LG Cyon Banana Phone CM

New Kim Tae Hee cm! even though the phone wouldnt really make one fall (who would want to step on a phone like that?) but I guess the creativity is there~ however, isn't the banana phone kinda going retro? I mean, the handle of cable phones are shaped like a banana....

anyways, check this new cm out!

近期簡報

哇~又是好一陣子沒來留言了~差不多一個月有了吧~ 最近開始正式在學校的辦公室兼差~從最基本的泡茶、裝單槍、裝報紙等開始做起~今天也有去上班，雖然有點突發狀況，但基本上還好~凡事起頭難，希望以後能駕驅就熟囉~ 薪水還是沒入帳，希望星期一能看到帳戶多個5000元出來~ ^^

好了，其實工作與學校以外還是有其他活動啦~像剛剛才剛去中友百貨看卓文萱!^^ 看到後覺得本人和照片有差，有點照片比本人好看的感覺~雖然如此，卓文萱還是超可愛的啦~^^我發現卓文萱其實不高，算普通身高吧~160左右~可以用嬌小可愛來形容~說到嬌小可愛就不能不提到韓國的寶兒了~其實大家注意看可能會發現卓文萱和寶兒其實還有幾分神似呢!尤其是卓文萱笑時隆起的雙頰，我個人是覺得像極了寶兒幾年前略帶嬰兒肥的時候，超可愛的!^^

卓文萱身著黑色大夾克唱了三首歌:幸福氧氣、手心和甜甜圈~雖然有點小感冒但唱得還是不錯啦~"手心"有給它飆上去~^^卓文萱的"甜甜圈"有點蘇慧倫差不多十年前和酷龍和唱"圈圈"的味道，夾帶著一點電子的曲風~卓文萱繼續加油囉!希望她能成為第二個寶兒!XD

兩個星期前和我哥逛到新光三越的時候，有看到名模白歆惠為某保養飲料站台~白歆惠不愧是名模，真的是超高的~應該不只一百七吧!但那天有那位女主持人反而讓我覺得她比白歆惠正~白歆惠的臉部比例可能讓我覺得怪怪的吧~=S

同天晚上和我哥晃到了逢甲夜市，在那兒吃了炸蝦~並沒有特好吃，可是比日本料理店便宜很多，還算可以接受吧~夜市外圍開了30年的唱片行學生之音要結束營業了!可能是因為唱片業真的太不景氣了，大家荷包又緊縮，唱片越賣越少~唉~雖然如此大家聽到好唱片還是要支持正版喔，唱片業才能長長久久!

可是也因為快關了，全部唱片大出清，讓我這個職業樂迷可以藉機大肆搜刮~我花了差不多700左右買了差不多二十幾張專輯吧!有些是市面上買不到的試聽片，具有蒐藏價值喔!有空我再把這些戰利品一一傳上來囉~我計劃明天再去逢甲搜括一番，趁還有機會時...