The Perfect Cut
It was the Perfect Cut. For reasons we shall never know, it was cut from the Final Cut. A fantastic scene from The Last Samurai. Enjoy.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Geomancy and Superstition
This morning, a friend sent me an article describing my fortune in 2008. For those who don't know Chinese, the gist of the article is this -- 2008 is going to be a really, really, really bad year for me.
If I had not believed in God, this article could have pretty much spoiled my day. Most likely, it will cause my non-Christian, horse year compatriots a lot more harm that it would me. Not in the truth of the article, but in the harbouring of these thoughts in one's subconsciousness. The subconscious mind is a very powerful thing that could turn the events described in this article into self-fulfilling prophecies.
I am now more determined than ever to prove that Chinese Geomancy is pure superstition -- indeed, the year 2008 will be a good year for me. God is the one who will determine what would happen in our lives, not some dodgy geomancer.
We'll see what happens in 2008.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)
二○○八戊子年肖馬運程
來到鼠年，子午相沖，你陷入了本命年的運數。由於你沖犯太歲，除了易有血光事件，必須謹慎行動之外，也要防各方面的衝動現象，令你疲於應付，耗盡心神。今年你的命客凶星雲集，包括「闌干」、「大耗」、「囚獄」、「天哭」和「災煞」等，必須處處小心，以防墮入凶星所主的禍患之中。
事業方面，與去年比較，今年你的工作運顯著下滑，尤其「歲破」、「闌干」和「囚獄」等凶星，對你的事業傷害性最大。「歲破」主不安寧，代表公司裏風風雨雨，是非多多。「闌干」主事業阻滯，是今年對事業產生最大影響的凶星。「囚獄」主有官非、刑罰事件，代表今年你在工作上容易犯錯，嚴重者將會惹上官非，所以必須小心處理公文和合約，有關的細節條款更要再三閱讀，確保無誤之後，方可簽署落實。
雖然今年肖馬人士在工作上陷阱重重，但幸好仍然有一顆「月空」吉星在命宮出現。「月空」屬於中級的吉星，主消災解禍、化凶為吉，特點是先見凶而後見吉，先見災而後能解，尤其對於一些突如其來的意外，以及流血事件等更能發揮化煞能力。祂可以在你受眾凶星圍困之時，為你消除最嚴重的傷害。
財運方面，肖馬的朋友流年沖犯太歲，兼逢「大耗」星，註定要破大財。這破大財是指一些沒有回報的花費，或是被騙、有損失的破財，故此今年的錢財運恐怕要落空了。除了不易積聚財富之外，偶一不慎，更容易跌入騙徒圈套，以致破財損財。一向有投資習慣的人士，在鼠年必須要加倍留神，切勿誤信朋友之言，胡亂購入沒有實力的股票，導致辛苦積來的儲蓄全數付諸流水。
愛情方面，驕傲的馬人，今年正沖太歲，又遇「天哭」及「紅艷」星入命宮，戀愛運恐怕難見順利。「天哭」星主有流淚之事，而「紅艷」星則主風流成性。年長的馬人，今年配偶身體欠安，易患嚴重疾病，衝擊生命，處理不善的話，將有白事。今年肖馬男士喜愛流連花街柳巷，容易因女人而招惹是非，導致與伴侶關係不和；若不知改善，流年將有分手之虞。未有對象的單身男女，恐怕桃花仍然未到，真命天子仍未出現。
健康方面，由於你今年沖犯太歲，運程比較動盪，所以最好避免去探病問喪。
今年的健康甚為不穩，特別容易患上傷風、感冒等流行病，腸胃亦時常出現敏感問題。今年又見「災煞」星。「災煞」星主有意外破損，所以要份外注意出入平安，在家或公司裏使用利器時，也要謹防被刀剪所傷。此外，流年又有一顆「天哭」星，預兆家中會發生流淚事件，假如家中有長期病患者或老人家的話，就要加倍留意他們的身體狀況，以防發生傷心事。
If I had not believed in God, this article could have pretty much spoiled my day. Most likely, it will cause my non-Christian, horse year compatriots a lot more harm that it would me. Not in the truth of the article, but in the harbouring of these thoughts in one's subconsciousness. The subconscious mind is a very powerful thing that could turn the events described in this article into self-fulfilling prophecies.
I am now more determined than ever to prove that Chinese Geomancy is pure superstition -- indeed, the year 2008 will be a good year for me. God is the one who will determine what would happen in our lives, not some dodgy geomancer.
We'll see what happens in 2008.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)
二○○八戊子年肖馬運程
來到鼠年，子午相沖，你陷入了本命年的運數。由於你沖犯太歲，除了易有血光事件，必須謹慎行動之外，也要防各方面的衝動現象，令你疲於應付，耗盡心神。今年你的命客凶星雲集，包括「闌干」、「大耗」、「囚獄」、「天哭」和「災煞」等，必須處處小心，以防墮入凶星所主的禍患之中。
事業方面，與去年比較，今年你的工作運顯著下滑，尤其「歲破」、「闌干」和「囚獄」等凶星，對你的事業傷害性最大。「歲破」主不安寧，代表公司裏風風雨雨，是非多多。「闌干」主事業阻滯，是今年對事業產生最大影響的凶星。「囚獄」主有官非、刑罰事件，代表今年你在工作上容易犯錯，嚴重者將會惹上官非，所以必須小心處理公文和合約，有關的細節條款更要再三閱讀，確保無誤之後，方可簽署落實。
雖然今年肖馬人士在工作上陷阱重重，但幸好仍然有一顆「月空」吉星在命宮出現。「月空」屬於中級的吉星，主消災解禍、化凶為吉，特點是先見凶而後見吉，先見災而後能解，尤其對於一些突如其來的意外，以及流血事件等更能發揮化煞能力。祂可以在你受眾凶星圍困之時，為你消除最嚴重的傷害。
財運方面，肖馬的朋友流年沖犯太歲，兼逢「大耗」星，註定要破大財。這破大財是指一些沒有回報的花費，或是被騙、有損失的破財，故此今年的錢財運恐怕要落空了。除了不易積聚財富之外，偶一不慎，更容易跌入騙徒圈套，以致破財損財。一向有投資習慣的人士，在鼠年必須要加倍留神，切勿誤信朋友之言，胡亂購入沒有實力的股票，導致辛苦積來的儲蓄全數付諸流水。
愛情方面，驕傲的馬人，今年正沖太歲，又遇「天哭」及「紅艷」星入命宮，戀愛運恐怕難見順利。「天哭」星主有流淚之事，而「紅艷」星則主風流成性。年長的馬人，今年配偶身體欠安，易患嚴重疾病，衝擊生命，處理不善的話，將有白事。今年肖馬男士喜愛流連花街柳巷，容易因女人而招惹是非，導致與伴侶關係不和；若不知改善，流年將有分手之虞。未有對象的單身男女，恐怕桃花仍然未到，真命天子仍未出現。
健康方面，由於你今年沖犯太歲，運程比較動盪，所以最好避免去探病問喪。
今年的健康甚為不穩，特別容易患上傷風、感冒等流行病，腸胃亦時常出現敏感問題。今年又見「災煞」星。「災煞」星主有意外破損，所以要份外注意出入平安，在家或公司裏使用利器時，也要謹防被刀剪所傷。此外，流年又有一顆「天哭」星，預兆家中會發生流淚事件，假如家中有長期病患者或老人家的話，就要加倍留意他們的身體狀況，以防發生傷心事。
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Full Metal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師) Music Videos
Full Metal Alchemist Festival 2005 - Anastasia and Veronika Golovina - Bratja
What a surprise! I would never have known the singers of Bratja were two Russian girls until I saw this video (all the while I had thought it was sung by a boy's choir, e.g. the Viennese Boy's Choir). And who would have known that Edward and Alphonse Elric were voiced by two .... ladies? This song is a recurring theme in the anime especially during poignant moments, and one of my favourites in the anime.
Cool Joke - UNDO - MTV
My favourite song of the entire Full Metal Alchemist series. This song is sung by a group known as "Cool Joke" (where do the Japanese get these names?).
Related links for Cool Joke - UNDO:
Original Clip in the Anime - Personally, I prefer this clip to the MTV. Short and sweet.
FMA Festival 2005 - Did the lead singer have a sore throat? The festival was a chance to sell themselves, and they blew it!
English Fan Sub - Watch it only if the only item on your tasks list is to count sheep.
Spanish Fan Sub - Somehow this Spanish Fan Sub didn't quite do it for me. I guess it has something to do with the lack of professional training a la William Hung.
Yet Another Spanish Fan Sub - Did the Spanish translate every single FMA song into Spanish ?!?!
L'Arc en Ciel - Ready Steady Go - MTV
Very catchy song. Thank goodness there are no English or Spanish (or any language other than Japanese, for that matter) fan subs for this song. Many Asian artistes would have given an arm and a leg to make it in the US, and these guys actually performed over there to what looked like a full concert! Do Americans actualy listen to Japanese songs?
Related links for L'Arc en Ciel - Ready Steady Go
L'Arc en Ciel in Maryland, USA
Original Clip in the Anime - Once again, I like it short and sweet.
Yellow Generation - Tobira no mukou he (扉の向こうへ) - MTV
Catchy music that caught my ears. Parts of the song was played during the 2006 Church Camp (did anyone notice that?).
Related links for Yellow Generation - 扉の向こうへ
Full Metal Alchemist Festival 2005 - Same festival. Same equipment. Same audience. However, they were far better prepared than the guys from Cool Joke.
Original Clip in the Anime
Spanish Fan Sub of the MTV - This is just one of many Spanish Fan Subs. I think the Spanish are big fans of this anime. Watch it (or hear it?) and enjoy (or have a good laugh).
What a surprise! I would never have known the singers of Bratja were two Russian girls until I saw this video (all the while I had thought it was sung by a boy's choir, e.g. the Viennese Boy's Choir). And who would have known that Edward and Alphonse Elric were voiced by two .... ladies? This song is a recurring theme in the anime especially during poignant moments, and one of my favourites in the anime.
Cool Joke - UNDO - MTV
My favourite song of the entire Full Metal Alchemist series. This song is sung by a group known as "Cool Joke" (where do the Japanese get these names?).
Related links for Cool Joke - UNDO:
Original Clip in the Anime - Personally, I prefer this clip to the MTV. Short and sweet.
FMA Festival 2005 - Did the lead singer have a sore throat? The festival was a chance to sell themselves, and they blew it!
English Fan Sub - Watch it only if the only item on your tasks list is to count sheep.
Spanish Fan Sub - Somehow this Spanish Fan Sub didn't quite do it for me. I guess it has something to do with the lack of professional training a la William Hung.
Yet Another Spanish Fan Sub - Did the Spanish translate every single FMA song into Spanish ?!?!
L'Arc en Ciel - Ready Steady Go - MTV
Very catchy song. Thank goodness there are no English or Spanish (or any language other than Japanese, for that matter) fan subs for this song. Many Asian artistes would have given an arm and a leg to make it in the US, and these guys actually performed over there to what looked like a full concert! Do Americans actualy listen to Japanese songs?
Related links for L'Arc en Ciel - Ready Steady Go
L'Arc en Ciel in Maryland, USA
Original Clip in the Anime - Once again, I like it short and sweet.
Yellow Generation - Tobira no mukou he (扉の向こうへ) - MTV
Catchy music that caught my ears. Parts of the song was played during the 2006 Church Camp (did anyone notice that?).
Related links for Yellow Generation - 扉の向こうへ
Full Metal Alchemist Festival 2005 - Same festival. Same equipment. Same audience. However, they were far better prepared than the guys from Cool Joke.
Original Clip in the Anime
Spanish Fan Sub of the MTV - This is just one of many Spanish Fan Subs. I think the Spanish are big fans of this anime. Watch it (or hear it?) and enjoy (or have a good laugh).
