Sep 26, 2005
First kiss with Automator!
Yes, it is a "Kiss", but not real!
I knew that Automator is a great app, but i really can not find anywhere to use it. Today i use it for the very first time and it completes my work beautifully! I just downloaded some TV series and i wanted to rename them, yes, a batch rename workflow. I know that some other apps can do this for me. But why looking for others while you already get Automator in your hands? No more than minutes,i get a workflow with 2 steps! the actual action takes no more than seconds.
一个与历史无关的农村孩子－－有感于《白鹿原》
离上一次读《白鹿原》已经有一年之久了，尽管书还躺在我的书架上，但是最近实在没有力气读它了。是的，读这种书是需要力气的，这并不仅仅因为它那几十万字的长度，更多的是因为这种东西真要读深下去是很伤脑袋的一件事情。所以，对待这种书，是必须小心谨慎的，要读就必需读透，读懂，读会。也正因为此，所以对于这部书，尽管已经离上次读它已经过去一年有余，我却仍然可以记起小说的主旨大意，当然，当初小说给我带来的巨大冲击也是没有逝退的。
前几天看凤凰中文台对陈忠实的采访的预告，他说他只不过是一个对文字有点敏感的农村孩子！这句话鲜活的体现在《白鹿原》这部小说上面。
在《白鹿原》里面是没有什么是非对错，黑白分明的教化信条的，这正如同农村孩子的眼睛里看到的一样，眼前所流淌过的只不过是些过往的人，过往的事，孩子不知道他们是谁，是否正义邪恶，也无需知道，因为他们对于孩子来说都是一样的。在这个偏僻的山原村落里，意识形态，政治斗争，社会变革，历史进步，都没有落脚的地方，因为这些东西都太大太沉，这里根本容不下，或者说，这里的人都压根没有希望去容纳他们。这里有的只是一个个鲜活的人，一个个身边的故事遭际，还有那几百年不变的白鹿的传说。
意识形态的黑白对立在这里完全变得模糊不可琢磨，这里没有那无限夸张化的英雄，自然也没有什么惊天地，泣鬼神的事迹，有的仅仅是鲜活的，平凡甚至平庸的人，依着普通的道理来生活，生存。不管在这一历史阶段里你扮演什么，在作者看来，你只不过是白鹿原普普通通的一个人，一个白鹿的后人，你肯定会犯错，在历史的洪流中，你无法完全自我，自然少不了犹豫彷徨，甚至摇摆不定，为了生存，你可能会始终如一，但更有可能的是没有任何概念的随声附和，苟延残喘。
没有教化信条并不意味着失去人性，恰恰相反，小说在人性内心的同情和关怀方面却是着墨颇多，颇深。自然，这种人性的关怀和同情并不出于任何政治差别，而依然是出于最原始的个人情怀。这种情况突出展现在鹿家两兄弟的身上，字里行间可以明显的感受到作者对这对兄弟的文学关怀，世故的读者或许会期待作者在两个人身上进行有意识的区别对待，然后作者让这些人失望了，你在这里看不到任何意识形态上的诋毁和奉承，有的仅仅是对两个年轻人的期待，揪心，叹息和追念。
人性关怀方面的重点，自然是小娥这个人物，我完全可以想象作者在小娥这个人物身上寄予的厚望和所要展现的内容，而且作者成功的做到了。寄予厚望并不意味着刻意去美化或者由着性子去爱憎，在这部小说里，作者是没有什么憎恶喜爱的心理的，即使有也只是在作品完成之后对文学形象的一种认同而已。作者对小娥这个人物也持有同样的心理，作者是用平常人的心态，来刻划一个平常的女人。的确，小娥是一个再平常不过的女人了，她是女人，所以有着天生的对于男女之情的向往；她是旧社会的女人，所以有着社会给她的无情的枷锁；她是一个笨女人，所以会走进男人世界无数的陷阱。但是她又是一个不太平常的女人，她敢于走出通奸的第一步，敢于大大方方的去爱，去恨，敢于去承担随后的一切。但是我又不禁要问：我们生活中不也是常见到这种女人吗？所以她还是一个普普通通的平常人呀！
在《白鹿原》里，没有历史这个概念，也没有任何“概念”的历史。无论你是惊鸿一现，还是贯穿始终，大家都是平等的，都是鲜活的，都是在生活，在过自己的生活，同时影响着彼此的生活，在白鹿出现的这片土地上，耕耘着，哭泣着，欢笑着，仇恨着，喜爱着。。。
Sep 25, 2005
还我汉家服，归我汉家魄
还我汉家服，归我汉家魄
壮哉汉服。于泱泱五千年，长袖当舞，傲视群侪。
壮哉汉服，“有服章之美，谓之华”。华族之存，在于衣裳。衣冠华族，所以别于禽兽。
故汉服洒脱，在于汉之魂魄。汉服之美，或于风中屹立，或于行揖作别之态，或于柳树婀娜，美酒狂放，骏马奔腾，一举一动间竟得天地间灵气所在。汉人行止之美，得汉服才冠伦于人世之间。
悲哉汉服，甲申之变，**侵我中原。
**以野人进文明不可速得，绝文明于蛮荒不过杀戮而足，是故以残暴易我之服装，绝我文化，杀我人民，有明一代，生死分际，不过忠贞与顺降而已。忠贞者，死着华服，顺降者，胡衣胡冠。至此，华夏衣冠为绝。每每思之，情败神伤，痛彻发肤，不能自已。然此役成就汉服之名，其浸染汉族之血泪，复以牺牲者之魄，汉服亦因之为汉魂所附，我族不屈强暴之魂魄，俱聚之百年不散，唯寄望生而降者背负含屈忍辱复兴之责。非如此，生者之存，道德之意不能昭彰；死者之恨，不得以雪。
悲哉汉服，时至今日，以汉族人口之众，绝祀汉服于今。牺牲者英灵当哀鸣不绝于天地之间。于斯，我辈所负之责何存？我辈有负汉魂矣。
勾践不过百越之君，尚闻：“十年生聚，十年教训”。大概恢复之志，人皆有之，唯我汉族，不思故汉，徒留垢笑于世人。不忘根本，本为古训，今之图之，始觉前途艰难。汉服之兴，其意之重，不在衣冠，汉家魂魄，终可重归中原。
汉族一日不死，汉服当兴于庙堂之间矣。招我汉魂，时不待我，其为职所在，责之归。
凡我汉族，当心与神归，复我衣裳，明华族为堂皇贵胄，与日月同归，不以小我而废大节。汉装所在，汉魂所系，诋之者，不过心有戚戚，畏汉魂重返，中华重现强汉之魄。
汉装得复，先贤礼之得存，或祭于天，或告于地，汉家子孙，必为世人敬，世人畏。堂堂中国，亦收四方咸慑之功。吾辈不负华夏之名于此矣。
于此呼吁同胞，或奔走相告，或考寻溯源，或正其服式，凡尽薄力于兴复汉服之业，必能告慰：先烈之于汉服之死难者。死者于斯亦可瞑目矣。
还我汉服，彼为暗香盈袖，闻歌起舞之服。
还我汉服，彼为金戈铁马，英雄泪襟之服。
还我汉服，此我汉家魂魄所依矣。
03年8月22日悲怒作此文
文章转载自汉网 链接
纬度点评：
汉服这个话题我已经关注很久了，做为一个汉人，看到这类的文章是很能够让我热血沸腾的。恢复汉服运动的兴起，明显的与中国国力的逐渐增强有关。清朝入关的确是开启了中国人奴才性格的大门，这一开就是三百年！，中国人的自信心几乎已经完全丧失，紧紧剩下了苟延残喘，即便有些热血人士登高一呼，民众的参与也大都是奴才的跟随和附和。
之前我曾经不止一次的和人讨论过中华民族文化的巨大包容性，似乎每一次外族的入侵和文化洗涤都是以一种结果收场，那就是入侵的文化反而被包容和融入进中原文化。但是我不得不说，对于清朝入关这一问题，似乎中原文化是一个彻头彻尾的失败者。
我们暂且不谈这一股恢复汉服运动的结果如何，或者说我根本就没有期望它在可预见的时间内会有什么成果。我倒是对这一运动背后所反应出来的思想和文化的反思和寻根更加感兴趣。
Sep 24, 2005
Sep 23, 2005
eBay to Acquire Skype
eBay to Acquire Skype
London, September 12, 2005 – eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY; www.ebay.com) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will strengthen eBay’s global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant new monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.
“Communications is at the heart of ecommerce and community,” said Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay. “By combining the two leading ecommerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in Internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the Net.”
Founded in 2002 by Niklas Zennstr?m and Janus Friis, Skype offers high-quality voice communications to anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world. The Skype software is easy to download and install, and enables free calls between Skype users online. Skype’s premium services provide low-cost connectivity to traditional fixed and mobile telephones. Skype’s software also offers a robust set of features, including voicemail, instant messaging, call forwarding and conference calling. Upcoming product innovations include Skype video, expressive content such as avatars, and customized toolbars for Outlook and Internet Explorer.
One of the fastest growing companies on the Internet, Skype already has 54 million members in 225 countries and territories. Skype is currently adding approximately 150,000 users a day and has created a thriving ecosystem of products, services, developers, and affiliates. Skype is considered the market leader in virtually all countries in which it does business. In North America alone, Skype has more users and serves more voice minutes than any other Internet voice communications provider.
“Our vision for Skype has always been to build the world’s largest communications business and revolutionize the ease with which people can communicate through the Internet,” said Niklas Zennstr?m, Skype CEO and co-founder. “We can’t think of any better platform to fulfill this vision to become the voice of the Internet than with eBay and PayPal.”
“We’re great admirers of how eBay and PayPal have simplified global ecommerce and payments,” said Janus Friis, Skype co-founder and senior vice president, strategy. “Together we feel we can really change the way that people communicate, shop and do business online.”
Zennstr?m and Friis will remain in their current positions. Zennstr?m will report to eBay CEO Whitman and join eBay’s senior executive team.
A Powerful Ecommerce and Communications Engine
Online shopping depends on a number of factors to function well. Communications, like payments and shipping, is a critical part of this process. Skype will streamline and improve communications between buyers and sellers as it is integrated into the eBay marketplace. Buyers will gain an easy way to talk to sellers quickly and get the information they need to buy, and sellers can more easily build relationships with customers and close sales. As a result, Skype can increase the velocity of trade on eBay, especially in categories that require more involved communications such as used cars, business and industrial equipment, and high-end collectibles.
The acquisition also enables eBay and Skype to pursue entirely new lines of business. For example, in addition to eBay’s current transaction-based fees, ecommerce communications could be monetized on a pay-per-call basis through Skype. Pay-per-call communications opens up new categories of ecommerce, especially for those sectors that depend on a lead-generation model such as personal and business services, travel, new cars, and real estate. eBay’s other shopping websites — Shopping.com, Rent.com, Marktplaats.nl and Kijiji – can also benefit from the integration of Skype.
PayPal and Skype also make a powerful combination. For example, a PayPal wallet associated with each Skype account could make it much easier for users to pay for Skype fee-based services, adding to the number of PayPal accounts and increasing payment volume.
In addition, Skype can help expand the eBay and PayPal global footprint by providing buyers and sellers in emerging ecommerce markets, such as China, India, and Russia, with a more personal way to communicate online. And consumers in markets where eBay currently has a limited presence, such as Japan and Scandinavia, can learn about eBay and PayPal through Skype. Skype can also help streamline cross-border trading and communications.
With its rapidly expanding network of users, the Skype business complements the eBay and PayPal platforms. Each business is self-reinforcing, organically bringing greater returns with each new user or transaction. The three services can also reinforce and accelerate the growth of one another, thereby increasing the value of the combined businesses. Working together, they can create an unparalleled engine for ecommerce and communications around the world.
Transaction and Financial Information
eBay will acquire all of the outstanding shares of privately-held Skype for a total up-front consideration of approximately 2.1 billion, or approximately $2.6 billion, which is comprised of $1.3 billion in cash and the value of 32.4 million shares of eBay stock, which are subject to certain restrictions on resale.
The maximum amount potentially payable under the performance-based earn-out is approximately 1.2 billion, or approximately $1.5 billion, and would be payable in cash or eBay stock, at eBay’s discretion, with an expected payment date in 2008 or 2009. Skype shareholders were offered the choice between several consideration options for their shares. Shareholders representing approximately 40% of the Skype shares chose to receive a single payment in cash and eBay stock at the close of the transaction. Shareholders representing the remaining 60% of the Skype shares chose to receive a reduced up-front payment in cash and eBay stock at the close plus potential future earn-out payments which are based on performance-based goals for active users, gross profit and revenue.
The above-mentioned dollar and eBay share amounts are approximate, based on the Euro-Dollar exchange rate and eBay’s stock price as of September 9, 2005. The final value of the stock component of the consideration may vary significantly from this estimate based on the value of eBay stock at closing.
Skype generated approximately $7 million in revenues in 2004, and the company anticipates that it will generate an estimated $60 million in revenues in 2005 and more than $200 million in 2006. For Q4-05, eBay expects the acquisition to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.01 and $0.04 respectively. For the full year 2006, eBay expects the transaction to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.04 and $0.12 respectively, with breakeven on a pro forma basis expected in the fourth quarter of 2006. On a long-term basis, eBay expects Skype operating margins could be in the range of 20% to 25%.
The acquisition is subject to various closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2005.
About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of websites – including the eBay Marketplace, PayPal, Kijiji, Rent.com and Shopping.com – that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.
About Skype Technologies SA
Skype, the Global Internet Communications Company(TM), allows people everywhere to make free, unlimited, superior quality voice calls via its award-winning innovative peer-to-peer software for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Pocket PC platforms. Skype is available in 27 languages and is the fastest growing voice communications offering worldwide. Since its launch in August 2003, Skype has been downloaded more than 163 million times in 225 countries and territories. Fifty-four million people are registered to use Skype’s free services, with over 3 million simultaneous users on the network at any one time. Skype Technologies SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and is growing its offices in London and Estonia.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding Skype and the expected impact of the acquisition of Skype on eBay’s financial results. Those statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the timing of the closing of the transaction, the possibility that the transaction may not close, the reaction of the users of Skype’s services, the future growth of Skype’s user base and public acceptance of Internet voice communication services, rapid technological changes in the Internet voice communications sector, the reaction of competitors to the transaction, global developments in the regulation of Internet voice communication services including those provided by Skype, the possibility that integration of Skype’s offerings following the transaction may be more difficult than expected, and the possibility that entry by Skype and eBay into potential new lines of business will not be successful. More information about potential factors which could affect eBay’s business and financial results is included in eBay’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to eBay on the date hereof, and eBay assumes no obligation to update such statements.
UPDATE:Webcast with Meg Whitman, President & CEO eBay, and Niklas
Zennstrom, CEO & Co-Founder of Skype (Monday September 12, 2005 - 8:00 AM
ET).
Sun Outage
Well, I was not expecting that i can get this kind of knowledge by watching cable TV!
This transmission is interrupted by a sun outage.
This natural phenomenon occurs twice a year when a satellite and a receiving earth station come directly in line with the sun. The energy from the sun interferes with the signal of the satellite and causes the lose of the transmission..
Twice a year? I am just feeling so lucky to be able to see this!
btw, this phenomenon is called"日凌" in Chinese!
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