Follow up to my previous post: What have they done to deserve this?
Initial stats shows that Qiang had lost close to 10% of its population. (more precisely, 20k+ / 320k = 6-9%)
1) 一场大地震羌族人死亡十分之一，
包括知名学者 中国时报中国时报其乐义白德华／羌族多聚集于四川，北川更是中国大陆唯一羌族自治县，经过一场大地震，造成二万多名羌族人死亡和失踪，占羌族总人口十分之一，灾情惨重空前绝后。“羌笛何须怨杨柳，春风不度玉门关”，对今日北川来说，羌笛也许成为绝响，于今听来格外凄凉。
历史上，羌族人骁勇善战，喜好居住在半高山地带，故称“云朵上的民族”。孰料，地震后因地形因素延迟了救灾行动，使这个少数民族濒临灭绝之苦。云朵上的民族没一个家庭完整
一位羌族学者形容，在北川，从幼儿园到高中，死亡学生过半，尤其是幼儿园，五百多个孩子，幸存廿多人。没有一个家庭是完整的，大家都麻木了，不断疯狂工作，试图遗忘痛苦。地震对羌族人民的打击，“是摧毁了整整一代人。”
据西南民族大学教授侯斌的调查，此前羌族人口约二十多万，二万多人在地震中丧生或失踪，占羌族总人口的一○％。一次灾害造成一个民族的大量伤亡，历史上并不多见。家园重建族人反对移民接著是如何重建的问题，有人提议羌族家园被毁，不如灾后移民，孤儿由外地领养，但羌族学者另有看法。侯斌说，“环境是一个民族很重要的因素，应原址原样重建，不能因环境恶劣而移民。”中央民族大学教授张海洋认为，“移民和异地领养”一说不可取，因为人和地的关系如同未出生的母子关系，“移民就是剖腹产”，羌族孤儿由当地幸存者领养乃 “天经地义”。对于灾后心理咨询的问题，张海洋也不以为然，指出反覆的心理咨询和对话，对灾民是“折腾”，当务之急是化悲痛为力量，尽快恢复灾区人民的主体地位。汶川大地震造成羌族文化严重毁损。谁也没想到北川会遭此劫难。据报导，大地震使北川羌族民俗博物馆中的八百多件馆藏文物全部被埋，无一幸免，不少研究羌族文化的知名专家也在地震中遇难。文物全毁学者耆老亡故专家指出，羌族文化这次遭遇毁灭性的打击，如果再不采取紧急抢救措施，中国羌族文化有可能绝迹。羌族是只有语言而无文字的民族，有关民族的纪录，只能通过老人的口传，而相关的口述历史并不完善。侯斌说，汶川有十几个老释比（即羌族的神职人员，从事祭祀活动），每个人都是活的历史书，很不幸，老释比在这场地震也有死亡和失踪。《新华社》称，六月三日四川省文化厅公布《羌族文化生态保护区初步重建方案》，旨在保存羌族原有的文化面貌。专家期待地震虽带来不幸，希望也能带来浴火重生的契机。达赖释放善意为川震祈福西藏人权团体表示，汶川地震转移中共镇压拉萨的焦点，这段时间当地仍发生抗议事件，超过百名僧侣被捕，一名女学生被杀。西藏当局说，为应付激进团体称六月将制造事端，武警不得不再度上街执勤。尽管如此，达赖喇嘛四日仍在全球发起诵经祈福活动。西藏自治区副主席白玛赤林引情报指出，藏青会、藏妇会等激进组织将在六月制造事端。他说，从一日起，武警加强在拉萨街头执勤，以保证奥运圣火传递和藏传佛教节日顺利进行。十八日圣火将在西藏传递，而四日在藏历中为四月十五日，是佛祖释迦牟尼的诞辰，藏人将这天定为“萨嘎达瓦节”，也是西藏最重要宗教节日之一，庆祝活动将持续到七月三日。同时，中共国新办三日再度组织十八家台港澳媒体记者前往拉萨，进行为期三天采访。据称，由于庆典，近期不少藏人将涌入拉萨，为防再度骚动，街头武警已警戒。另根据挪威最大报《事件动态》（VG）报导，多年来挪威官员已悄悄为中藏调停多次，双方官员有时在挪威当地见面，有时在其他国家。
2) 大地震后抢救保护羌族文化
地震中，汶川最大、最古老的羌寨垮塌。 地震不仅减少了羌族的人口，在灾后重建过程中也会有人从山区搬到大城市居住，这将给保护羌族文化带来新的困难。
中国羌族（古羌和现代羌族）历史悠久，现有人口约32万人，其中70％以上分布在四川。四川境内的羌族主要聚居在四川省阿坝藏族羌族自治州的茂县、汶川、理县、松潘，绵阳市北川羌族自治县。这几个地区中，除了松潘以外，其他都是这次5·12大地震的重灾区。虽然还没有最终的伤亡数据，目前也无法计算羌族人口及羌文化在这次地震中的损失，但按照羌族人口的分布，地震所造成的伤亡人数中，羌族所占的比例较大。地震让他们失去的不只是家园、亲人，还有这个民族的文化和文献资料的传承。羌族文化面临前所未有的灾难。
5月30日，四川地震灾区羌族文化抢救与保护座谈会在北京召开。专家呼吁，在灾区重建中，要尽力抢救遭受重创的羌族文化。 5·12地震之后，羌族民居大规模倒塌。据了解，位于汶川县雁门乡境内的萝卜寨，曾是汶川县内最大、最古老的羌寨，而在这次地震中，萝卜寨的羌族民居几乎全部垮塌。桃坪羌寨的情况相对好些，只有部分民居垮塌，3座碉楼的主体部分虽没有遭到破坏，但也分别出现裂缝和不同程度的局部垮塌。由此可见，与历次地震相比，5·12汶川大地震的破坏性极大，羌族建筑急需抢救和保护。 作为羌族文化的重要体现之一，羌族建筑以碉楼、石砌房最有特色，民居全部以垒石而筑。羌族人在修建碉楼时不绘图、吊线、柱架支撑，全凭高超的技艺与经验。建成后的碉楼往往稳固牢靠，经久不衰。过去，碉楼用于军事，具有极强的防御功能，下面几层用来驻军和堆放粮食，最高层用来观察敌情和报警，发现敌情即在顶层点燃烟火，战争的信息便可传到百里之外。碉楼之间有房子相连，在房子的底下形成了暗道，过去，整个寨子中设有很多暗道，走进寨子如同进入迷宫。1988年在四川省北川县羌族乡水安村发现的一处明代古城堡遗址“永平堡”，历经数百年风雨沧桑仍保存完好。1933年7.5级的叠溪地震，震中位于现今的四川省阿坝藏族羌族自治州的叠溪镇，与汶川县相邻，据当地老人讲，在那次地震中桃坪寨的碉楼只毁了半座，大多数房屋完好地保存下来，一些石屋上还留着当年地震造成的裂缝。 参加座谈会的中国社科院民族学与人类学研究所的黄成龙是四川茂县羌族人，据了解，5·12地震中，黄成龙的部分在川亲属也丧失了家园，但所幸无人伤亡。在会上，他以对本民族的了解，提出希望关注历史悠久的羌族建筑，要考虑这些倒了的建筑要不要重建，是要恢复原来的样子还是象征性地建成。如果重建这些建筑，就需要请教建筑、美术、文化等方面的专家和当地羌族人，既要保存羌族建筑文化，又要达到房屋居住的安全及抗震要求。 除了建筑等物质文化遗产，对于羌族非物质文化遗产的抢救与保护也显得十分紧迫，引起了有关部门、专家学者的关注。 以羌语为例。羌族有自己的语言，属汉藏语系藏缅语族羌语支。使用羌语的人口约有12万，分布在四川省内的有7万至8万，分布在阿坝藏族羌族自治州的茂县、汶川、理县、松潘、黑水，此外还有极少部分分布在绵阳市北川羌族自治县西北部和甘孜藏族自治州的丹巴县。羌族没有本民族的文字，因此，流传于人民群众中的口头文学在羌族文学中占有特殊地位。它主要是依靠人民群众世代口授和长期歌唱而传承的。据黄成龙介绍，各地的羌语也各有不同，甚至相互不通，目前会使用羌语的人越来越少了，按此推算，很可能100年后，羌族语言就会消失。 据了解，截止到2000年，共有30多名羌文专业专科生和85名中专生分别在阿坝师范高等专科学校和威州民族师范学校毕业，成为羌文教师或其他工作者。四川省羌文工作组在羌语分布的茂县、汶川、理县、松潘县的30多个乡镇200多个村、组开展了羌文扫盲教学，有近2万人参加了扫盲学习，并在羌语工作者分布的50多所中心小学和村小的130个教学班以及5所中学开展了羌汉双语教学试点。而今，无论是这些羌语传播工作者还是学习过羌语的孩子，人们都不知道他们何去何从。 黄成龙说，地震前，地方政府在旅游方面开发的力度比较大，一定程度上影响了羌族文化的自然发展；地震之后，一些羌族人从村庄跑出来，其中很多人是第一次见到“外面的世界”。地震不仅减少了羌族的人口，在灾后重建过程中也会有人从山区搬到大城市居住，这将给保护羌族文化带来巨大困难。而在灾后重建的过程中，许多当地人也许并不愿意离开居住了多年的地方，这一点希望国家在灾后重建时也能征求一些当地人的意见，并充分考虑。另外，对羌族文化的抢救和保护，也要做到政策和资金双重到位。
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Pens v Red Wings (L 2-3)
Heartbreaking.
Just heartbreaking.
Nonetheless, I remain proud of our Boys of Winter. They gave us a spectacular season. While the sting of this loss will likely stay with us until Spring 2009, I know that the all the great things that this group of guys accomplished during this season will be remembered, too. We watched a young captain become a great leader. We watched a goaltender erase the question marks. We watched a man exorcise his playoff demons. We watched a man who can barely speak the language say it all in points. We watched this group of guys open the new year with one hell of a show in the snow. We watched several of them sacrifice their bodies. We watched them overcome adversity time and time again. We watched them excel individually and as a team. We watched them defy the odds and plow through the Eastern Conference with only 2 losses. We watched them fight back from the brink and bring this series home for one more game.
We watched our Boys grow into Men.
Before the game even started, the "LET'S GO PENS!!!" chant was absolutely unbelievable. The Pens fans in attendance were so loud that Doc Emerick mentioned it. The first period began with Johan Franzen running over Marc-Andre Fleury behind the net. It was almost hard to believe that the refs didn't call goalie interference, since during Game 5 if a player even sneezed close to the net, he went to the box for it. Jordan Staal and Mad Max Talbot had an unreal shift. Niklas Kronwall turned the puck over in his own zone right in front of Ozzy, but Petr Sykora's shot was blocked by the Wings' goalie. Immediately afterwards, MAF stopped a shot by Franzen. Daryl Sydor was called for interference after Kirk Maltby embellished contact with Sydor's stick. Brian Rafalski scored after Rob Scuderi failed to clear the puck. [Pens 0, Wings 1]
Evgeni Malkin put a big hit on Dallas Drake, taking him out. Gino had a different hop in his step tonight. That assist on the game winner in Game 5 must have done wonders for his confidence. Doc, Eddie Olczyk, and Pierre McGuire all commented how the building was warm and how the ice was deteriorating after the arrival of the crowd. Drake then took a running charge at Ryan Whitney and was penalized for his actions. Less than 25 seconds into the Pens' power play, Kris Draper hit Sergei Gonchar from behind and brought up his hands into Sarge's head. Thankfully, Gonch was okay. The Pens ended up with 1:33 with a 2 man advantage. This 5-on-3 was 1000% better than Game 4's 5-on-3, but the Pens unfortunately couldn't get a goal from it. They didn't score on the remaining power play, either. Adam Hall was called for a high sticking infraction, but the Wings didn't add to their tally.
The Red Wings got away with two penalties. The first came when Andreas Lilja drilled Marian Hossa, sending him tumbling to the ice, before Hossa had a chance to control the puck. The second came when Franzen got his stick up into Brooks Orpik's ear. It was about this time that I took a drink, but I'm pretty sure NBC had Orpik's stats up on the screen while the camera was fixed on Scuds. 4 != 44. (If I'm wrong and I imagined this, let me know in the comments.) The period ended with the Wings ahead by a single goal.
The second period got underway with pretty evenly matched hockey. A few minutes in, Scuds fired a long toss to Gino, who made a quick pass to Ryan Malone. Bugsy didn't get a great shot off, however, because Lilja slashed him as made his attempt. On the ensuing Pens power play, Sidney made an amazing pass to himself off the wall, but he lost his edge as he came to the corner. As he passed the puck, Brad Stuart flew in and drilled the Saint into the boards. Sid got up and appeared to be rejoining the play, but then [*GASP*] he winced in pain and went to the bench. He was shown over the next few minutes hunched over and wincing. The Pens didn't score on their advantage, and THANKFULLY Sid returned to the ice after a less than 5 minute break on the bench. Orpik stepped up on Darren Helm, and the two men collided. Helm then left the ice limping heavily.
Chaos erupted in front of Flower, but somehow the puck stayed out of the net. But a little later, Mikael Samuelsson fired a shot from the near wall. MAF stopped the shot but failed to corral the rebound. Valtteri Filppula went hard to net and capitalized on this error. [Pens 0, Wings 2]
Sid was shown talking with equipment manager Dana Heinze. McGuire told us that Siddo is concerned about the blades of his skates and is worried that they were the cause of his fall prior to the Stuart hit. Sid hit the ice and did everything but score. He won the faceoff and got a wicked centering pass out front, but Detroit shut Pittsburgh down. In Doc's words, the Pens got the puck "all around the net but not in." But something beautiful was about to happen. Pavel Datsyuk drilled Staal into the boards (no, that's not the good part, LOL). Datsyuk was promptly called for interference. Coach Michel Therrien sent out Hossa, Sid, and Gino. Hossa sent the puck to Sid. Sid sent the puck to Gino. THEN GINO FIRED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHOT ALL NIGHT!!! [Pens 1, Wings 2]
Gary Roberts was mucking it up behind the net, but he eventually got nailed for high sticking. Staal was a penalty killing beast. The crowd was going nuts again. Orpik and Franzen got into a fight at the whistle. Both were given coincidental roughing penalties. The Wings didn't score on their advantage. Gino was at this point a new man - it was like he had new life. As the teams were readying for a faceoff, Bugsy and Tomas Holmstrom nearly went at it. Syko fired a shot from neutral ice as the final 2 seconds of the period ticked away. Ozzy looked like he didn't expect it. Syko's shot was just barely wide and, had it been on target, would have changed stunned the entire Mellon Arena.
The third period began with the Red Wings bringing out their best defensive game. Orpik and Franzen went at it again after Orpik sent Franzen into the crossbar. Staal forced a turnover at center ice, which led to Bugsy getting a good chance, but his shot was just wide. Gino was playing like a beast. Robs drilled Rafalski. Dan Cleary made a diving play to clear the puck, but he dove into the path of Hal Gill, who was trying to keep the puck in. Cleary ended up getting kicked in the face by Gill, but Cleary soldiered through and stayed on the ice until his shift was over.
Then the unluckiest thing that ever could have happened to the Pens happened: Datsyuk fired a shot at MAF. He made the save, but the puck trickled through his 5 hole. Strangely, the puck came to a stop in the blue paint. Since Flower didn't have it frozen, the refs didn't blow their whistles. MAF fell backwards to cover the puck but instead accidentally forced the puck over the goal line. [Pens 1, Wings 3]
Sid immediately went to work trying to get it back. He made a sweet pass between his own legs behind the net to Hossa out in front, but Ozzy stopped his shot. I know there was a lot of action, but suddenly there were only 4:00 minutes left in the game. The announcers told us that the Pens had only one shot on goal during the third period. This, of course, was because of the tight defensive style Detroit brought out. With only 1:47 left in the game, Jiri Hudler took a penalty for hooking Staal. Therrien wasted no time and pulled Flower in favor of the extra attacker before the power play even started. Sid won the faceoff cleanly. Bugsy stripped Lilja of his stick. It took only 20 seconds for Sarge to fire a shot that Hossa deflected to score. [Pens 2, Wings 3]
The Pens still had 1:27 to tie the game and force overtime. Flower was pulled again. With 45.8 seconds left, the Pens got a faceoff in the Wings' zone. They fought all the way to the end. Sid fired a shot that just barely missed, and Hossa was thisclose to putting it over the line. (← On the replay, it was revealed that even if Hossa's shot would have crossed the line, it wouldn't have counted because the time was 0.00.) The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.
The fans in attendance showed their allegiance as they chanted "LET'S GO PENS!!!!" as the Red Wings celebrated their win. Henrik Zetterberg was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy, to which the fans responded with a "FLEUR-Y!!!!! FLEUR-Y!!!!! FLEUR-Y!!!!!" chant.
I want to thank all of you so much for joining me this season. I had so much fun riding this wave with all of you. I really hope you all keep coming back to The Show during the summer. I don't take time off - I didn't last summer and I have no plans to take a break this summer, either - and I've got a lot of things planned that I think you'll all like. Besides, we can all be bored and count down the days until the first puck drops this fall together! :)
And now join me one last time this season in saying
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS FOR AN AMAZING SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!
Just heartbreaking.
Nonetheless, I remain proud of our Boys of Winter. They gave us a spectacular season. While the sting of this loss will likely stay with us until Spring 2009, I know that the all the great things that this group of guys accomplished during this season will be remembered, too. We watched a young captain become a great leader. We watched a goaltender erase the question marks. We watched a man exorcise his playoff demons. We watched a man who can barely speak the language say it all in points. We watched this group of guys open the new year with one hell of a show in the snow. We watched several of them sacrifice their bodies. We watched them overcome adversity time and time again. We watched them excel individually and as a team. We watched them defy the odds and plow through the Eastern Conference with only 2 losses. We watched them fight back from the brink and bring this series home for one more game.
We watched our Boys grow into Men.
Before the game even started, the "LET'S GO PENS!!!" chant was absolutely unbelievable. The Pens fans in attendance were so loud that Doc Emerick mentioned it. The first period began with Johan Franzen running over Marc-Andre Fleury behind the net. It was almost hard to believe that the refs didn't call goalie interference, since during Game 5 if a player even sneezed close to the net, he went to the box for it. Jordan Staal and Mad Max Talbot had an unreal shift. Niklas Kronwall turned the puck over in his own zone right in front of Ozzy, but Petr Sykora's shot was blocked by the Wings' goalie. Immediately afterwards, MAF stopped a shot by Franzen. Daryl Sydor was called for interference after Kirk Maltby embellished contact with Sydor's stick. Brian Rafalski scored after Rob Scuderi failed to clear the puck. [Pens 0, Wings 1]
Evgeni Malkin put a big hit on Dallas Drake, taking him out. Gino had a different hop in his step tonight. That assist on the game winner in Game 5 must have done wonders for his confidence. Doc, Eddie Olczyk, and Pierre McGuire all commented how the building was warm and how the ice was deteriorating after the arrival of the crowd. Drake then took a running charge at Ryan Whitney and was penalized for his actions. Less than 25 seconds into the Pens' power play, Kris Draper hit Sergei Gonchar from behind and brought up his hands into Sarge's head. Thankfully, Gonch was okay. The Pens ended up with 1:33 with a 2 man advantage. This 5-on-3 was 1000% better than Game 4's 5-on-3, but the Pens unfortunately couldn't get a goal from it. They didn't score on the remaining power play, either. Adam Hall was called for a high sticking infraction, but the Wings didn't add to their tally.
The Red Wings got away with two penalties. The first came when Andreas Lilja drilled Marian Hossa, sending him tumbling to the ice, before Hossa had a chance to control the puck. The second came when Franzen got his stick up into Brooks Orpik's ear. It was about this time that I took a drink, but I'm pretty sure NBC had Orpik's stats up on the screen while the camera was fixed on Scuds. 4 != 44. (If I'm wrong and I imagined this, let me know in the comments.) The period ended with the Wings ahead by a single goal.
The second period got underway with pretty evenly matched hockey. A few minutes in, Scuds fired a long toss to Gino, who made a quick pass to Ryan Malone. Bugsy didn't get a great shot off, however, because Lilja slashed him as made his attempt. On the ensuing Pens power play, Sidney made an amazing pass to himself off the wall, but he lost his edge as he came to the corner. As he passed the puck, Brad Stuart flew in and drilled the Saint into the boards. Sid got up and appeared to be rejoining the play, but then [*GASP*] he winced in pain and went to the bench. He was shown over the next few minutes hunched over and wincing. The Pens didn't score on their advantage, and THANKFULLY Sid returned to the ice after a less than 5 minute break on the bench. Orpik stepped up on Darren Helm, and the two men collided. Helm then left the ice limping heavily.
Chaos erupted in front of Flower, but somehow the puck stayed out of the net. But a little later, Mikael Samuelsson fired a shot from the near wall. MAF stopped the shot but failed to corral the rebound. Valtteri Filppula went hard to net and capitalized on this error. [Pens 0, Wings 2]
Sid was shown talking with equipment manager Dana Heinze. McGuire told us that Siddo is concerned about the blades of his skates and is worried that they were the cause of his fall prior to the Stuart hit. Sid hit the ice and did everything but score. He won the faceoff and got a wicked centering pass out front, but Detroit shut Pittsburgh down. In Doc's words, the Pens got the puck "all around the net but not in." But something beautiful was about to happen. Pavel Datsyuk drilled Staal into the boards (no, that's not the good part, LOL). Datsyuk was promptly called for interference. Coach Michel Therrien sent out Hossa, Sid, and Gino. Hossa sent the puck to Sid. Sid sent the puck to Gino. THEN GINO FIRED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SHOT ALL NIGHT!!! [Pens 1, Wings 2]
Welcome back, Gino!!!
Gary Roberts was mucking it up behind the net, but he eventually got nailed for high sticking. Staal was a penalty killing beast. The crowd was going nuts again. Orpik and Franzen got into a fight at the whistle. Both were given coincidental roughing penalties. The Wings didn't score on their advantage. Gino was at this point a new man - it was like he had new life. As the teams were readying for a faceoff, Bugsy and Tomas Holmstrom nearly went at it. Syko fired a shot from neutral ice as the final 2 seconds of the period ticked away. Ozzy looked like he didn't expect it. Syko's shot was just barely wide and, had it been on target, would have changed stunned the entire Mellon Arena.
The third period began with the Red Wings bringing out their best defensive game. Orpik and Franzen went at it again after Orpik sent Franzen into the crossbar. Staal forced a turnover at center ice, which led to Bugsy getting a good chance, but his shot was just wide. Gino was playing like a beast. Robs drilled Rafalski. Dan Cleary made a diving play to clear the puck, but he dove into the path of Hal Gill, who was trying to keep the puck in. Cleary ended up getting kicked in the face by Gill, but Cleary soldiered through and stayed on the ice until his shift was over.
Then the unluckiest thing that ever could have happened to the Pens happened: Datsyuk fired a shot at MAF. He made the save, but the puck trickled through his 5 hole. Strangely, the puck came to a stop in the blue paint. Since Flower didn't have it frozen, the refs didn't blow their whistles. MAF fell backwards to cover the puck but instead accidentally forced the puck over the goal line. [Pens 1, Wings 3]
Flower and all of Pens Nation = S-T-U-N-N-E-D
Sid immediately went to work trying to get it back. He made a sweet pass between his own legs behind the net to Hossa out in front, but Ozzy stopped his shot. I know there was a lot of action, but suddenly there were only 4:00 minutes left in the game. The announcers told us that the Pens had only one shot on goal during the third period. This, of course, was because of the tight defensive style Detroit brought out. With only 1:47 left in the game, Jiri Hudler took a penalty for hooking Staal. Therrien wasted no time and pulled Flower in favor of the extra attacker before the power play even started. Sid won the faceoff cleanly. Bugsy stripped Lilja of his stick. It took only 20 seconds for Sarge to fire a shot that Hossa deflected to score. [Pens 2, Wings 3]
The Pens still had 1:27 to tie the game and force overtime. Flower was pulled again. With 45.8 seconds left, the Pens got a faceoff in the Wings' zone. They fought all the way to the end. Sid fired a shot that just barely missed, and Hossa was thisclose to putting it over the line. (← On the replay, it was revealed that even if Hossa's shot would have crossed the line, it wouldn't have counted because the time was 0.00.) The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.
The fans in attendance showed their allegiance as they chanted "LET'S GO PENS!!!!" as the Red Wings celebrated their win. Henrik Zetterberg was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy, to which the fans responded with a "FLEUR-Y!!!!! FLEUR-Y!!!!! FLEUR-Y!!!!!" chant.
I want to thank all of you so much for joining me this season. I had so much fun riding this wave with all of you. I really hope you all keep coming back to The Show during the summer. I don't take time off - I didn't last summer and I have no plans to take a break this summer, either - and I've got a lot of things planned that I think you'll all like. Besides, we can all be bored and count down the days until the first puck drops this fall together! :)
And now join me one last time this season in saying
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANKS FOR AN AMAZING SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!
Thankful Thursday
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26
I have missed Thankful Thursday last week due to poor health. Thank God for strengthening me and as I continue to wait upon Him for restoration, I hope to recount God's goodness and mercies to me in this difficult time.
♥ Thank God for sustaining me and giving me strength for each day as I wait upon Him.
♥ Thank God that though at times my flesh and my heart fails, He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
♥ Thank God for the assurance of His love and mercies especially in very difficult times. I am clinging on to His precious promises that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9) and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).
♥ Thank God for many friends' prayers and encouragements. Thanks to all of you for stopping by, for your prayers and encouragements.
♥ Thank God for the privilege of partaking in the Lord's Supper last Lord's day in my church. I am reminded afresh of our Lord Jesus Christ's love for us in laying down His life on the cross to redeem us and His care and blessings upon us daily.
♥ Thank God that we can cling on to God's love and faithfulness irrespective of our outward circumstances or inner struggles. He is with us always.
♥ Thank God for bringing an oversea friend here. She is a dear sister-in-Christ and God has delivered her from a difficult trial. I look forward to fellowship with her.
♥ Thank God for His mercies to His people wherever they are. Let us continue to pray for the people in China and Myanmar who have experienced great loss and calamities in these recent day. May they find comfort and grace in God to rebuild their lives and homes.
♥ Thank God for the privileges of prayers and the assurance that God hears and answers our prayers according to His will and time. And He knows what is best for us.
♥ Thank God that though our outward man perishes each day, our inward man is renewed in the Lord daily as we seek Him in prayers and reading of His Words. May God draw us nearer to Himself and make us useful in His kingdom to share His love and Truths with others.
How about you? How has the Lord blessed you through the past week?
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a blessed and thankful day!
Looks Like We've Got Ourselves A Cowboy
After more than 24 hours, I'm still bowled over by Petr Sykora's stunning announcement to Pierre McGuire that it would be he that scored the game winning goal - and then actually doing it. Here's what Syko said about his prophecy (from the Pens' website):
Friend of The Show Bobby T. sent in this picture he took yesterday. Now, I'm no psychic, but do you think the hockey gods might be sending us a sign? Take a look at the street name, then follow the One Way arrow to the sign in the background:
Regardless of what happens tonight, this is the last home game until autumn. If you're going to be there, MAKE IT COUNT. I don't want to be able to hear Doc and Edzo all night!!!
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sykora's teammates said he told them he was going to end the game.Oh, and did you notice how author Phil Coffey spelled Malkin's nickname? Since this article is from the Pens' website, that's almost as good as getting him to write it himself, so GINO it is from now on.
"And about the shot, just between the periods, something stupid I said, just 'Guys, I'm just going to get one. So just don't worry about the game. I'm going to get a goal,'" Sykora said. "And luckily, I got a great pass from 'Gino.' I missed it one time before, probably by 20 feet. And it was kind of a lucky play. It hit the ref and went behind the net and 'Gino' got it, made a beautiful pass. I tried to put it upstairs, and the puck went in."
"Gino," the struggling Evgeni Malkin, was desperately looking for something to go right in this series, and got his wish, making the pass out from behind the Detroit net to Sykora as he skated into the right circle. Sykora's rising shot went over the glove of Chris Osgood to send the Penguins to not only an improbable victory, but another home game, Wednesday night at Mellon Arena.
Friend of The Show Bobby T. sent in this picture he took yesterday. Now, I'm no psychic, but do you think the hockey gods might be sending us a sign? Take a look at the street name, then follow the One Way arrow to the sign in the background:
(Click to enlarge)
Regardless of what happens tonight, this is the last home game until autumn. If you're going to be there, MAKE IT COUNT. I don't want to be able to hear Doc and Edzo all night!!!
DO IT.
GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Word-Filled Wednesday : Waiting upon the Lord Who renews our strength
As I wait upon our Lord to restore my health, I thank God that He renews my strength in Him daily.
May you find encouragements too as you wait upon the Lord in your particular situations that He will renew your strength for He has promised:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Thank you for stopping by. Thanks for your prayers and encouragements. Hope you have a blessed day!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Competitive disadvantage
When you have certain distraction which drains a significant portion of your resources, you have a major competitive disadvantage. This is China's competitive disadvanage (fortunately it could be largely reduced, if not resolved during the next 4 years, i.e. provided that the PRC government is not making stupid mistakes it did in the previous 3 decades) -- hat tip, cominganarchy.com
- Here’s an interesting review by Ken Kamoche on African-Asian relations, and the problem of aid. The goals of the three big Asian nations can essentially be summed up as follows:
- CHINA Goal: Resources; Containing Taiwan
- China has hosted the world leaders of just about all African party nations, primarily because of China’s thirst for resources continues unabated, but also because to contain the political recognition of Taiwan. Although both China and many African countries have come away with benefits, they have been skewed in favour of China, and the relationship has been dogged by controversy.
- INDIA Goal: Business Ties; Political support
- Dehli has long eyed Africa’s for business opportunities, but the approach is ad hoc and piecemeal, and often all rhetoric with little substance, except in terms of exporting labour to Africa. Part of this is hindered by the fact that in many ways, India remains a developing region like Africa (so is China, but in a different way). Then there is UNSC membersip, an exclusive tier of nations that India dreams to join to solidify its status as a world power. The political equation of gaining a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, or in the case of Taiwan, simply being allowed to join the UN, requires block support, which is where Africa comes in.
- JAPAN Goal: Political Support; New Markets
- Japan has the vaguest goals in Africa. Like India, Japan wants a seat on the UNSC. It also wants support on international treaties regarding everything from global warming to whaling. But Japan may hold the greatest hope for Africa if it can help growth in the same way it helped Thailand, where the largest Japanese manufacturers, anxious to escape the high costs of labour and production in Japan, built not just roads and dams, but also industrial parks. One interesting fact not noted in the article is that Africa is increasingly becoming a market for Japanese goods, such as the growth in exports of automobiles from Japan to Africa, while exports to other markets have stagnated or dropped.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Overcoming Discouragements
Whenever I go through an episode of clinical depression, I feel as if I am wearing dark-glasses. Everything around me looks gloomy. The sun seems to have eclipsed behind the dark cloud. It is too easy to forget that behind those dark cloud the sun is still shining. And after darkness, will be the light. After the night, morning will come.
When I realized recently that I have once again slipped into clinical depression despite medications and efforts to cope, I was quite discouraged. I realized afresh that my battle with bipolar disorder is still an ongoing one. My hypomanic episodes will alternates with my clinical depression. I realized afresh the importance of managing hypomanic and stress better so that I minimize the tendency to overstrain myself and from burn out and clinical depression.
That morning when I was most discouraged, I poured out my heart to God in prayers. I asked God to strengthen my heart and give me the strength and grace to cope, and to live for Him.
God in His mercies spoke Words of comfort and uplifted my soul to Himself. I read the following encouraging devotional by CH Spurgeon.
God reminded me afresh that in life, we will face various ups and downs. After the morning, evening will come. And after evening, morning will come. Both mornings and evenings have their usefulness. God is with me through the mornings and evenings of my life.
I realized that my experiences with clinical depression is once again being used of God to draw me closer to Himself. I am cast entirely upon God. I know that unless God gives me the strength and grace to cope, I shall plunged deeper into depression when negative thoughts and doubts overwhelmed me.
I am learning to challenge my negative and faulty thoughts, recognizing that they are the effect of chemical imbalance in my brain. While waiting for the chemical in my brain to be restored, I am looking to God and actively seeking to identify faulty thoughts and reverse these thoughts and do that which is right in the sight of God. I read the Bible and speak to my own soul, counselling myself with God's Words to think aright and not believe my faulty thoughts.
If you are struggling with depression, everything will look very gloomy and negative. Know that it is not true. It is the chemical imbalance in your brain that takes away your ability to think and feel aright. Learn to identify these negative and faulty thoughts and to challenge them with more rational and biblical view. These will help you to see things in a more balance view and it can prevent further spiral down into deeper depression. Do read Dr David P Murray's message on Depression - The Condition and The Cure.
I realized that experiencing clinical depression once again is helping me to understand afresh the pain, agonies and discouragement that those who are going through clinical depression will experience every day. I sincerely believe that God is using this experience to enable me once again to be able to feel for others in their sufferings. When I am well, I will be able to be more effective in supporting and helping others who undergoes discouragements due to clinical depression.
So it is my prayers that this experience will not be wasted but that God will draw me nearer to Himself to depend upon His love and sufficiency, and God will make me more useful in His kingdom in helping others who struggles with clinical depression or other discouragements and sufferings.
Thanks once again for all of you, my dear friends, for stopping by and for praying for me and encouraging me. Thank God for all of you!
Thank God for His mercies and faithfulness in strengthening me day by day. I will continue to look to God and seek to serve Him in small ways during this time, and wait for Him for restoration.
Thanks again for stopping by! Hope the devotional from Spurgeon will bring some encouragements to you too.
When I realized recently that I have once again slipped into clinical depression despite medications and efforts to cope, I was quite discouraged. I realized afresh that my battle with bipolar disorder is still an ongoing one. My hypomanic episodes will alternates with my clinical depression. I realized afresh the importance of managing hypomanic and stress better so that I minimize the tendency to overstrain myself and from burn out and clinical depression.
That morning when I was most discouraged, I poured out my heart to God in prayers. I asked God to strengthen my heart and give me the strength and grace to cope, and to live for Him.
God in His mercies spoke Words of comfort and uplifted my soul to Himself. I read the following encouraging devotional by CH Spurgeon.
God reminded me afresh that in life, we will face various ups and downs. After the morning, evening will come. And after evening, morning will come. Both mornings and evenings have their usefulness. God is with me through the mornings and evenings of my life.
I realized that my experiences with clinical depression is once again being used of God to draw me closer to Himself. I am cast entirely upon God. I know that unless God gives me the strength and grace to cope, I shall plunged deeper into depression when negative thoughts and doubts overwhelmed me.
I am learning to challenge my negative and faulty thoughts, recognizing that they are the effect of chemical imbalance in my brain. While waiting for the chemical in my brain to be restored, I am looking to God and actively seeking to identify faulty thoughts and reverse these thoughts and do that which is right in the sight of God. I read the Bible and speak to my own soul, counselling myself with God's Words to think aright and not believe my faulty thoughts.
If you are struggling with depression, everything will look very gloomy and negative. Know that it is not true. It is the chemical imbalance in your brain that takes away your ability to think and feel aright. Learn to identify these negative and faulty thoughts and to challenge them with more rational and biblical view. These will help you to see things in a more balance view and it can prevent further spiral down into deeper depression. Do read Dr David P Murray's message on Depression - The Condition and The Cure.
I realized that experiencing clinical depression once again is helping me to understand afresh the pain, agonies and discouragement that those who are going through clinical depression will experience every day. I sincerely believe that God is using this experience to enable me once again to be able to feel for others in their sufferings. When I am well, I will be able to be more effective in supporting and helping others who undergoes discouragements due to clinical depression.
So it is my prayers that this experience will not be wasted but that God will draw me nearer to Himself to depend upon His love and sufficiency, and God will make me more useful in His kingdom in helping others who struggles with clinical depression or other discouragements and sufferings.
Thanks once again for all of you, my dear friends, for stopping by and for praying for me and encouraging me. Thank God for all of you!
Thank God for His mercies and faithfulness in strengthening me day by day. I will continue to look to God and seek to serve Him in small ways during this time, and wait for Him for restoration.
Thanks again for stopping by! Hope the devotional from Spurgeon will bring some encouragements to you too.
“The evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5
Was it so even in the beginning?
Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day?
Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity.
It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my Beloved in the night.
Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord’s beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight.
It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation till we reach the land of which it is written, “there is no night there.” What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.
What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do?
Learn first to be content with this divine order, and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good.
Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours.
Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief.
Continue thy service under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be labour, at night exchange it for watch.
Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord’s servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory.
My soul, thine evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, “I will cover him all the day long.”
(Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 1 June, Morning)
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