Goodbye Connex Party

Melbourne Uni Post
Originally uploaded by shangyuan

Do they really think MTR is better than this one?

I love to see changes.

Last year I was a commuter from a nothern suburb (Preston). Everyday I took a train to uni and a train back. What annoyed me was that there was 20 min between to trains. I can remember the moments of seeing the gates of the train shutting with a bee-bee in front of my eyes while I was on the out side... Then I have to press the button again and agian hoping the next train is coming a little bit earlier which they never did....

And I also remember the days of track maintenance when we had to take a bus as a replacement. The bus was good when it was express to Bell station. Other than that, I don't like standing in the dark outside of Victoria Park Station with wind blowing under my pants, esp when I was alone.

But I don't think the new operator will prevent the aformentioned scenarios. Frankly, it's not connex fault. ( I am not sure to put a 's here or not)

However, if u hate connex performance and expect to 'give some colour' to the new operator. Or u simply just want to do it. Please clickk the following link for details.

www.resistance.org.au

-----------------------------------------
GOODBYE CONNEX PARTY!

Let's put public transport in public hands!

From December 1, Connex will no longer run Melbourne's trains
Here's our chance to say goodbye once and for all!
It's also an opportunity to put the new company on notice that we’re not giving up the fight for better public transport.

Theme: affordable, accessible, reliable, frequent public transport
Featuring: guest speakers, party food, bands and a giant goodbye card
Where: Flinders st station steps
When: Thursday December 3, 4pm (Connex apologises in advance for any possible delays)
BYO – public transport horror story!
RSVP: goodbyeconnex@gmail.com or call Resistance 9639 8622

(the above information is a result of Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. The arthor is not responsible for any consequences.)

Fwd: Your order has been shipped!

This is an email I received from Better World Books, a us-based
website selling seconed hand books to all over the world. I must say
when I first read this email on my N95 I was so suprised and happy.

Acturally the following email is from my second order. As I supposed,
the email didn't change except for the names of the books ( which have
been hidden by me for unknown reasons).

I'd appreciate it if the website has three or four different version
of order confirmation letter and send them randomly. (Maybe it is
exactly what they are doing and I, for some reason, just received the
same version twice.)

Anyway shopping online is not exciting except for when you think about
the gap between retail price and on-line price. What's more, a score
of book stores may offer u a better bargain.

One thing I want to complain about is the high price of Australian
books and CDs. They are so expensive, if you compare with their
'counterpart' in US.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Better World Books <help@betterworldbooks.com>
Date: 2009/11/19
Subject: Your order has been shipped!
To: ---------------

Hello Chen,

(Your book(s) asked to write you a personal note - it seemed unusual,
but who are we to say no?)

Holy canasta! It's me... it's me! I can't believe it is actually me!
You could have picked any of over 2 million books but you picked me!
I've got to get packed! How is the weather where you live? Will I need
a dust jacket? I can't believe I'm leaving Mishawaka, Indiana already
- the friendly people, the Hummer plant, the Linebacker Lounge - so
many memories. I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, but
it's time to see the world!

I can't wait to meet you! You sound like such a well read person.
Although, I have to say, it sure has taken you a while! I don't mean
to sound ungrateful, but how would you like to spend five months
sandwiched between Jane Eyre (drama queen) and Fundamentals of
Thermodynamics (pyromaniac)? At least Jane was an upgrade from that
stupid book on brewing beer. How many times did the ol' brewmaster
have one too many and topple off our shelf at 2am?

I know the trip to meet you will be long and fraught with peril, but
after the close calls I've had, I'm ready for anything (besides, some
of my best friends are suspense novels). Just five months ago, I
thought I was a goner. My owner was moving and couldn't take me with
her. I was sure I was landfill bait until I ended up in a Better World
Books book drive bin. Thanks to your socially conscious book shopping,
I've found a new home. Even better, your book buying dollars are
helping kids read from Brazil to Botswana.

But hey, enough about me, I've been asked to brief you on a few
things:

We sent your order to the following address:

hidden for security reason

Order #: -----------
Item Titles:

We provide quick shipping service to all our customers. You chose
International Mail shipping, your book should arrive within 10 - 21
business days. Some shipments may take slightly longer to arrive.

At this time, we are not able to offer tracking on our International
Mail shipments.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email my friends in
Customer Care at help@betterworldbooks.com. If you could please
include your order number (---------) that would be very helpful.

Eagerly awaiting our meeting,

Addicted to the Stars|沉溺于星

终于发现我是如此的闷骚。

黑框眼镜后面，棕色的眼球早已无法没有神采。

闷热的夏天就要开始，白天一天天的被拉长。

这个题目和内容，其实一点关系都没有。

回来的飞机上，广播里放着A Whole New World

最后一周

一

搬到现在这个地方已经快两个月了。

第一天住进来的时候，是半夜十一点，李孟同学专程从Burwood开车过来帮我搬家。之后我就一个人留在这个陌生的地方。给每个室友留了一张字条说我来了，顺便附上Facebook的地址，希望他们加我。

然后就是神奇的九月。

九月的许多天，家里没有网络，我每天在学校Honours Room学习到半夜再走回家。Assignment被我拖拖拉拉的做得很久，正如现在。

墨尔本的夜晚平淡无奇，City里屈指可数的几座大楼灯火也是毫无生气的，不过从Victoria St上走过的时候，看着延伸到远处的电车轨道空空如也，想起这条路会通到很远的地方，东面，穿过许许多多的街区，遇到形形色色的人。

九月。

相比起这个学期，我好像更喜欢上个学期。

我已经多久没有讲笑话了。

我已经多久没有写过欢快跳动的文字了。

二

前两个星期，我把自己关了起来，作业是我的借口。

Facebook上的所有邀请，一概都没有参加。

我说我要做作业了。

可是作业进展十分的缓慢。

我现在写的毫无意义的文字，好像能让自己快乐一点。

可是为什么越写就越悲伤。

三

本来想把这篇文字发到校内上，可是写到这里断了这个念头。

校内不是垃圾桶，Facebook才是，Blogger才是。

这就是为什么GFW把这两个网站封掉了。

四

我想讲笑话给你听。

我想逗你笑。

因为你不笑的时候，你悲伤的时候，我比你更难过。

我的食物，是别人的笑容。

五

我说，我的一生都在逃避。逃避什么，我不知道。

六

我希望我小的时候，曾经相信过圣诞老人。

我希望，我相信那些美好的故事。

我知道没什么人会在这里读这篇文字，这里不是校内，很多人也不懂中文。懂得也不会来看。

这些负面情绪，本不该拿出来影响大家的，只是写出来，会让我以后记得，还曾经有过这段故事。

因为有的时候，写下来的文字，就舍不得删掉了。

请不要留言，请不要留言。因为看到这篇文字，我就感到恶心。

色戒观后感

本来想用英文写作的，可是功力实在太低，所以写了两行只好作罢。

先向李安道个歉，第一我没能进影院看，因为中国上映的色戒是被阉割了，第二我没能买正版，因为一张正版够我吃几顿饭了，第三我没能早点看，因为我想等尘埃落定之后再去定酌。

不过这个电影真的很吸人眼球，开始之后，我连暂停都没有。

汤唯真的很漂亮，说话声音也很动人。

然后看到了上海，繁华的旧梦。俄罗斯的贵族，白俄，沦落在街头，还是衣冠楚楚的。法国梧桐（貌似是法租界的吧？），叮叮作响的电车，各种肤色的行人，美丽的如此不真实。

听说当时很多南洋华侨在改革开放之后回到上海，感慨流涕，当时的东方巴黎，竟落得如此田地。

我对上海的记忆，模模糊糊的，没有清晰的脉络。应该说，我脑海中上海这座城市的形象，大多是文学作品中浮现的，我亲身体会的，并不太多。

而且我也没有立场感叹十里洋场的沉浮，毕竟我是个北方人，依傍在太行山脚下，如火如荼的工业革命。

那我们说说王佳芝。

她去上日语课的时候，眼神的那种空洞茫然，倒是给我些许感触。

想起了晴雯，"心比天高，命比纸薄"。虽然眼前的荣华如此的不真实，但是一旦染上就戒不掉了。

下面一些话，很多人可能不爱听，但我想想说出来无妨，毕竟是一些人的看法。

影片里面提到了陈璧君，提到了汪精卫，汪伪政府的。其中易太太有一句话，说你们汪政府为百姓做再多的事他们都不会领情，因为你们连一场好戏都摆不出来，名角都跑香港去了。

汪政府做过什么好事？我不是很清楚。

然后WIKI一下这对夫妇，发现他们两个是很传奇的。

比如说，陈璧君被捕的时候是在广州，还是诱捕，军统搞的。然后关起来，等到共产党接收之后，宋庆龄和何香凝都为她向毛泽东求过情。而且毛也答应了，不过陈就是不悔过，不出来，要把牢底坐穿。

比如说，陈璧君在苏州受审的时候，曾经说过，"若说汪先生卖国，重庆统治下的地区，由不得汪先生去卖，东北三省、华北、华东大片土地早已被日军占领，还不都是蒋委员长拱手让给日本人的？汪先生没有断送一寸土地，相反只有从敌人手里夺回权利。就拿广东来说，日军进攻时，省府高级长官闻风而逃，何曾尽过守土之责？这是蒋委员长的责任，还是汪先生的责任？"

比如说，蒋介石炸汪精卫在梅花山的陵墓时候，是派人偷偷炸得。

比如说，汪精卫初期是主张抗日的，不过指挥军队指挥不动，逃到西南之后才变成主和派的。

比如说，汪精卫投日之前，日本近卫首相发表声明，说你们出来个人跟我们谈，我们可以不要赔款，不要割地，还可以撤军。

比如说，有人认为蒋介石和汪精卫在唱双簧，一个投靠轴心国，一个投靠同盟国，战争孰盛孰败都没有"损失"。

比如说，越来越多的人认为，汪精卫是"曲线救国"。

是非公道，恐怕没有那么容易说清的。易先生，王佳芝，谁对谁错都模糊了，弯到一个"回形针"里面，孕育到"鸽子蛋"钻戒里夕阳下闪闪发亮。

另外我还顺便查了查一些关于白俄（也就是反对共产主义的俄国人）的历史。当时说十月革命之后，一等的俄国贵族逃到欧美，二等的逃到上海，三等的逃到东北。

这里说说上海的。

说当时十月革命之前，住在上海的俄国人和其他白人一样，都是上流社会非富即贵，首脑是一个俄国驻上海的外交官，虽然后来不被新俄国认可，但是还是德高望重的。

后来1921年的时候，大批俄国人坐船涌到上海，因为上海不需要护照签证，只需要一张落地签就好。不过这个外交官怕新来的俄国人扰乱整个俄裔社区的秩序，于是出面干涉当局，限制落地签数量。再加上当局本身对这批难民也敬而远之，于是当时坐船抵沪的很多俄国难民，到了吴淞口的时候上不了岸，最惨的一批在船上等了数十个月。

后来日本侵占东北，流落在东北的白俄也通过陆路来到上海。还有一些其他渠道的，比如说有一家子是从俄国边境到了新疆，然后步行到上海的。这个距离比较惊人，可以看出"苛政猛于虎"。

这批俄国人到了上海之后，把上海整个的种族调调弄了个底朝天，原来白人在上海是作威作福的，从"三毛流浪记"可窥一斑。这些白俄来了之后，很多人钱财散尽有没有一技之长，能干活的就从事体力工作，不能干活的女孩子有的就只能投身烟花柳巷了。霎时间上海人发现，原来白人也可以沦落到这个天地！

战争的时候更是如此，这就出现了影片开头外国人排队领救济的一幕。不过那些俄国人，就算领救济，穿的也是衣冠楚楚的。

至于香港，就不再说了，只是说当时汪精卫逃到河内之后，貌似在香港躲过一段时间，有待考证。还有一点，就是我真的很喜欢尖沙咀。墨尔本Chinatown有一间饭店名唤尖东，想想应该是尖沙咀东的意思，不过英文名字翻译成了上海什么什么。不知道老板是个什么背景，玩这种文字游戏。

写到最后影评没写多少，倒是唏嘘了些历史。想看影评的可以上豆瓣上看，里面有完整的剧情人物分析，相信会对各位有所启迪。

Do they NEED a job?

Today a guest speaker gave out a speech over the issues related to how government would deal with unemployment. He made comments about how the current policies and programs work and what improvements there would be. As usual, he started with why government needs to take unemployment seriously. He said unemployed people are more likely to suffer from un-well-being.

This is true perhaps. And for me, who have experienced a phase of jobless and desperately job hunting, I understand the feeling of being abandoned.

But as the speech went on, when he talked about the economical benefits and costs of government by implementing such programs, like when they were talking about health insurance, obesity, smoking and other policies, I suddenly wondered, why are you pushing people to have a job?

I read a book yesterday which has a very interesting statement. It said in modern society, working class are people who have boring jobs in order to pay their debts, and middle class are people who have boring jobs in order to pay their bigger debts. This is so true.

He said the basic concept of capitalism is to induce materialism, to encourage people consume the goods they do no really need. So people work hard just to buy the products being most advertised and overpriced. The sad thing is THINGS are born imperfect. This imperfect attracts people to consume more.

So if we wouldn’t have such desires toward THINGS, we could live happier and work less.

While I have to confess I am already becoming a victim of the massive capitalism brainwashing. I have to give up my favourite courses because they are ‘less profitable’ and have less possibility to afford my bills of my ‘dreamed life’. I am doing a job to get money to buy things which I don’t really need or which have cheaper substitutions.

And I am not likely to go back.

But some people can stay where they are and we should respect them.

I remembered a scene from Trainspotting in which the angry young lad was so annoyed of intensive mandatory job interviews that he ended up with attacking the interviewer. I would never do this. But I can feel his anger, in some way.

I know it seems childish to publish a blog like this but this is really what I think. Help people but respect their choices.

Phantom of the Faculty

Almost 3:00 am, about 12 hours till the due time of my assignment, and I'm making progresses, slowly, towards finish line.

It is not easy to reject distractions when I am doing my assignment. Yes, it is probably a habit which I had from primary school, when I used to read a riddle book in my mum's office while I was supposed to do my homework. And when I finished my homework it was already dark and too late to play with kids from neighbourhood, so I have to stay at home and watch TV. I have a feeling that's why I am so bad at sports and love books and movies all the time. In high school, my riddle books were CD covers and magazines everywhere in my study room. I could spend half an hour studying the graphic design and the record labels of a CD without doing anything on my homework.

So now, Internet is my new riddle book. Every time I do my assignment in front of a computer would result in web surfing and information hunting, which could be good, but certainly not for assignment.

Today my assignment is about the cost and benefit analysis on Australian immigrants, from a subject called Economics Analysis and Policies. I wanted to do something in policies at the beginning of this semester and eventually I found this one. Quite interesting one and I THINK I understand, which obviously is not true.

Compared to another assignment I submitted on Monday, while I'd rather say 5.00 am on Tuesday, which I totally had no interest in, this assignment is more attractive. However there is something common between the two, which is I don't understand how to do them.

Thus I become the phantom of the faculty, staying up till early in the morning and return my bed to get some sleep and then come here to do the bloody assignment again. This routine has been repeated since maybe week 5 or 6. The distance between my place and uni is not that great so generally I can finish in about 15 mins. Riot on an empty street.

It feels so good that I can write such crap without worrying about work limit and grammar and proper way of writing, which I suffer a lot on my assignment. Write freely.

As free as a phantom of the faculty.

Suddenly I miss Sarah Brightman and her gorgeous voice which sounds like a hen being trapped in a cage…….. Anyway, the phantom of opera sounds good.

My brain begins to hurt a little so I have to stop. I would worry of dying in front of computer someday. But I have to finish my essay today. OOPS.