這世界上有幾首歌不但能讓你百聽不厭,並同時使你每次聽都滴下莫名的感傷淚水?
There might be songs that you feel you could listen to a hundred times without ever getting sick of it. But how many songs are there in this world, that can make your tears drop almost every single time you listen to it?
第一次聽到這首歌,是在看Farinelli的時候聽到的。電影描述十八世紀的歌劇界,因為女性還尚未有一席之地,人們必須想辦法將擔任高音的小男孩們永遠保留他們那美妙的聲音。而這個方式,就是將他們閹割。電影中,Farinelli就是這位男高音。從小就有著美妙的聲音。為了保留他的美聲,不成材的作曲家哥哥就騙他說他摔馬導致必須閹割。兩兄弟在歌劇界有了小小成就,卻惹火了對敵的Handel。但Handel的創作卻遠遠超出他那不才哥哥的作品。
It was during the viewing of the film Farinelli that I first heard this beautiful song. The film was about the casteration of young males as so they could remain in the opera house to sing as tenors. Farinelli was an example of such tenor. His incompetent brother plotted against him and used a riding accident as a pretext for the castration. They gained some fame as the audience grew insatiable for his singular tenor voice. However, this upsets their rival, Handel, whose composition exceeds that of his brother.
電影中,主角就是了解自己為何會被閹割的真相後,演唱出他從Handel那偷來尚未發表過的歌曲。
It was after having found out his brother's plot that he performed this stolen, yet unperformed piece by Handel.
上次生日,Jason送的Cecilia Bartoli CD中,第一首就是同樣這首。第一次放來聽,Jason挑戰我的聽力:看看你認不認得這首歌。
This is also the first song on the Cecilia Bartoli CD given to me on my last birthday. The first time I played the CD, Jason challenged me to see if I could recognized the song.
因為實在是太悲哀了,所以一聽就聽出來!
The song was so full of sorrow, that it was rather easy to recall.
每次聽,一閉上眼就浮現出F----得知被哥哥背叛後的悲哀。被這一輩子唯一剩下的親人、又是最信任的人背叛,那是多麼悲慘的一件事?
Every time I listen to this with my eyes closed, I see the betrayal of the most trusted friend and family and how sorrowful it must had been for Farinelli after having found out the truth.
影片中出自於電影Farinelli,主角演唱這首歌曲的一幕。歌詞於影片下方。
Scene from film:

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One of my favorite ways to spend the weekend, or any free time I have at hand is to walk into a book store with a marvelous collection of English books and see what treasure there is waiting for me to uncover. However, it has become harder and harder to find what I define as 'treasure'. I suppose this has very much to do with my growing appetite for reading, and hopefully my growing maturity in the habit as well. A good book is not easy to find. A great book is even harder. Yet they exist. And to prove that to you, I now present to you the five books that have completely changed my life.
我在週末或是任何空閒時間最喜歡做的事情就是走進書店看看有什麼寶可以挖。不過好書越來越難找。極品好書就更別說了。也許是因為累積下來我讀得書越來越多,也或者是因為我的閱讀習慣越來越成熟[希望啦],不過挖寶的歷險記是一次比一次艱難!不過呢,好書還是有的。所以接下來就是要介紹五本完全改變我生命的書籍。由於都是原文書,所以本篇文章的內文我都是先打英文,才將重點整理出來打成中文。而我比須先聲明,我從來都沒修過翻譯,對於翻譯可以說是一翹不通。所以中英都看得懂得朋友們,請別雞蛋裡挑骨頭。Typo歡迎告知,但翻譯內容就別太強求了,好嗎?
1. The Speed Reading Book by Tony Buzan
2. Yoga for you by Indra Devi
3. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

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媽咪說叫我今天一定要來跟大家公佈答案。答案就是:啤酒瓶蓋~~
Mommy said I must reveal the truth today.  So, the answer is: beer bottle cap!
你猜對了嗎?
Were you right?
我們家全家大小都愛海X根。把拔媽咪喝啤酒,我不能喝,只好勉強追啤酒蓋囉!
Our whole family loves Heineken.  I can't drink beer!  BUT I can chase after beer bottle caps!

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雖然告訴自己花了這麼久的時間,花了那麼多的精神,花了那麼一大筆的銀子為的主要是完成學業。但,坐那麼久的飛機到了世界的另一頭,如果不趁機到處看看,豈不是太浪費了嗎?
Even though I kept on telling myself, the main reason why I'm spending so much time, effort, and money is to finish my studies.  However I would also be a waste if I flew all the way to the other side of the globe and leave without seeing anything.
目前收尋到的資料還不足以讓我安排更細膩的計畫。但我已經幫自己列出一些清單,提醒自己到了英國,這些地方要是沒看到就等於沒去!
The information I have at hand at the moment is insufficient for a detailed plan.  However, I have made myself a list of things I want to see before I finish my studies and head back home.
倫敦 London

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嗨!叔叔阿姨們!想我嗎!?
Hey! Dear uncles and aunties, did you miss me?
前一陣子我的心情很亂喔!因為我搬家了。
I had been feeling quite confused lately because they moved me to a new home.

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by Esther and Jerry Hicks
This is the only book you'll ever need to enrich yourself in anyway.  Learn how to make all your wildest dreams come true, and learn to appreciate what you have just so you can have more! 
Sure, by all means dismiss the idea as some rediculous money sucking scheme.  And you're more than welcome to ignore this book when you are given the opportunity to purchase it.  Please do so at your own cost.  You'll never find out how much more you could have and how much more you could have been as a result of depriving yourself of the chance to understand what this is all about. 
Once you have given yourself the opportunity to know what it is, and understand it, you'll be able to use it to better your life in each and any way you can imagine!  Let's just stop and think for a minute?  What made England possible for me?  Have I not attracted that into my life?  Because of my strong "want" to go to England, each and everything that has ever happened to me, I've attracted to help me reach my goal.  How is it possible that an average English teacher is able to save enough money to afford this?  Well, who ever said anything about "saving" enough?  I only wanted to "have" enough money. 
One can find almost any kind of salvation through the perusing of the book.  All you have to do is "ask" and the universe will "answer".  Learn from Esther and Jerry Hicks the basic teachings of Abraham.  Learn from their dialogues on how to better your own life.  Learn to view the world from a brand new vintage point, and discover a whole new land to explore. 
Within only a few weeks of my initial contact with the Law, I've already accumulated so many stories to share.  Knowing that what you want can really be yours if you really and truly want it to is not enough.  Learn the art, and become the master of your own life.  Take the wheel and lead your ship to whichever destination you desire.  You are the captain of your own fate.  You are the master of your own life. 
This is the book that will change your life forever, so don't wait too long to click on the buttons below.  Spontaneity often leads you to many very pleasant and wonderful surprises - only if you want it to.

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【前言】
這一系列的留學文章,最主要的宗旨是記錄我的經驗。但在記錄的過程中,也希望能夠為想要留學的朋友們提供一些訊息,解除一些疑惑或是在做任何選擇方面提供一些方向。
如果你是有想要留學的念頭的朋友:希望你能從我的經驗中得到一些資訊。
如果你是完全沒有想要留學的念頭的朋友:那就隨著這一篇篇的文章隨著我在這虛擬世界裡去留個學吧!
【What to study】

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謝謝你們的支持!也歡迎你們繼續支持。
上個月生活上有了一些大變動。接下來還在台灣的這幾個月,將會是又緊張、又令人興奮的時刻。有很多事情必須完成。因此對於新家的經營方向,就不多做說明。完全隨著心情更新。
我在這裡,過著與世無爭的平淡、幸福生活。
你們也跟我一起幸福吧!
永遠的女王

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by Alan Armstrong
Any book containing kids and talking animals may very well be classified as 'children's literature'.  But a truly well-written work need to charm not only the young readers, but also older adult readers as well.  Whittington certainly lured two grownups into reading chapter after chapter aloud every night before bed.
A group of unwanted animals are living in Bernie's barn.  The Lady, a duck, is in charge of all the animals.  Whittington, the cat, comes along one day and wins her approval to stay at the barn.   The cat then begins to tell the story of his ancerstor - the famous rat-killer that brought fortune to her owner, Dick Whittington.  While he tells his story, Ben, Bernie's grandson struggles with reading.  The barn animals and Abby, his sister encourages and supports Ben's progress.  They believe in him.  And so did he.
Not only is this story  of a legend, but also a story that teachers and parents can learn something from.  With positive attitudes and belief, any kid can walk out of the dark and see light just as everyone else does. 
It is a delightful reading that just about anyone could and would enjoy.

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by Umberto Eco
If you are able to find satisfaction in reading a contemporary novel, then congratulations.  Because they are of a rare kind.  But if you are able to find the satisfaction of a number of books within one, then that one book must be the diamond among books.  I dare not proclaim Baudolino as such, but it is definitely a rare gemstone.
What you can expect is a tint of the Da Vinci Code and the Historian, but more sophisticated; the legend of King Arthur, but more humor; fairy tales and folk-tales, but much more serious.
Baudolino has more luck than anything else.  The story of his amazing adventure, battle, and romance unfolds as he narrates it to his newly acquainted friend - Niketas.  The enchanting tale of Baudolino consists of love, war, loyalty, betrayal, and murder. 
A surprising ending awaits at the end, which I have chosen to omit in this review.  It is for each reader to discover at their own will.  Surely, satisfaction will be guaranteed.

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  by Elizabeth Kostova
Transylvania, garlic, the cross.  They have one thing in common - vampires.
The Historian is written in a form not unlike our other well-known best-seller The Da Vinci Code.  A mystery awaits to be solved, and ancient secrets are revealed by people seeming least related to them.  One can find action, romance, mystery, death, and of course a slight of humor.  These seem to be the essential ingredients to a successful novel today.
However, many would probably agree that The Da Vinci Code has more charisma because it was largely based on reliable resources. Many of the sources of reference do exist and the historical events mentioned in the story also did truly happen.  Nevertheless, if the reader happens to be a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula, then they might as well consider this the sequel to it.
The book is satisfying enough for a casual coffee shop reading.  Suspense is not built as strongly as in The Da Vinci Code, but once you reach the crucial point, it can be just as enthralling.  Sometimes, your fingers will unconsciously be tempted to turn to the next page even though you have half a page left to read.  Though on some occasions, you may find it a little hard to continue even to the next page. 

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2007。秋
8月26日 台北 - 台中
8月27日 台中 - 高雄
8月29日 高雄 - 台北
9月3日 台北 - 清邁[註]
9月11日 清邁 - 台北
9月14日  台北 - 曼徹斯特[註]
[註] 原本跟在旅行社的學弟問出來的票價是從台北到倫敦Heathrow,然後在曼谷停留的機票。不過後來想想,這樣我還是得出到清邁的旅費。好像沒有比較便宜。又因為到英國當地的行程也有改變。無論如何都是到Manchester比較方便。如果只飛到Heathrow,我又得想辦法自己飛到Manchester。如果直飛到Manchester,就算不參加學校的Meet and Greet[*],到時候自己做巴士什麼的也都比Heathrow方便。
台北清邁跟台北曼徹斯特的機票分開買,其實也沒有比較貴。目前才會將行程做這樣的更改。
[*]曼徹斯特是離利物浦最近的國際機場。因此學校為國際學生辦的meet and greet安排在曼徹斯特機場。

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