Articles: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

煮糙米飯小秘訣

煮糙米飯變好吃的小秘訣

食用糙米的人少，主要是因為一般人為糙米的口感不好，其實糙米也可以變得好吃又營養，只要多經過一個小小的步驟。

糙米是可以發芽的，發芽的米養分更多。

由於糙米可以發芽，所以是一種「活的米」，而白米則是死的米。

糙米在煮食之前先將米泡水四至八小時，稱為「催芽動作」。而在煮的時候，於電鍋內鍋裡放一小茶匙的油及鹽巴，因為油會使得米的纖維軟化，口感會變好，而鹽巴則可增加甜度，糙米也就變得好吃了。

催芽動作催養分

糙米的浸泡過程其實很重要，因為在過程中，稻米內的養分會開始活化、轉換，通過浸泡，所有養分都會成倍數增加。經過「催芽動作」的發芽米，養分又比糙米本身多出許多，其中的「r-氨基丁酸」養分，就是白米的十一倍之多。

其實糙米像是睡著了的米，需要「被喚醒」。一旦喚醒，養分就會因為轉換而變得更高。不僅如此，經過浸泡催芽之後的糙米，吃起來也是一樣的柔軟可口。

好吃的糙米有方法

日本人在煮糙米飯時，都會在鍋中加一點蜂蜜或是備長炭，這樣也會讓風味更好。

如果預算足夠的話，不妨買一個具有「催芽動作」的電鍋，會比自己浸泡的口感更好，而且不用自己花時間浸泡。

煮糙米時，要多放半杯水。譬如說四杯的米，就放四杯半的水。

一般來說，用電子鍋煮的糙米比較好吃；如果是用大同電鍋來煮，則必須在電鍋跳起來之後，要再倒半杯水下去再煮一次。

要吃到好吃的糙米飯其實並不難。

慈悲心最可貴

文／傅佩榮

達賴喇嘛在台灣弘法期間，有一次為信眾講解「菩提心」時，想到人間的苦難，不禁掩面而泣。根據媒體報導，現場許多信眾感受到他的慈悲心，也隨之落淚。單單就這一件事來看，達賴的台灣之行就值得大家肯定了。

平常我們生活中所見、所想的是什麼？是種種不愉快的事，從工作條件、家庭親情、生命意義各方面，都會帶來困擾、壓力與痛苦。如果加上媒體、新聞令人心驚而層出不窮的資訊，我們很容易陷於迷惑與悲觀的心境，覺得自己尚且很難快樂，又怎麼會有關懷別人的慈悲心呢？

●何謂慈悲心？

慈悲心是什麼？它不是佛教所特有的觀念，而是人人內心都潛藏的一種能力，只是經常被忽略、被遺忘，以致無法發揮作用而已。譬如，希臘的悲劇作品在當時是「寓教於樂」的重要活動，那麼它的教育功能如何呢？依亞里斯多德所說，悲劇的目的在於引發觀眾的「憐憫與恐懼之情」，再予以洗滌心靈，使觀眾宛如得到類似心理治療的效果，可以重新振作其應有的生命活力。

在此所謂的憐憫，並不只是同情劇中人物的不幸遭遇，好像自己可以置身事外似的。由於悲劇的真正主角是命運，而命運代表必然的、無情的事件將會一一發生，無論你怎麼努力都無法逃過它的算計。悲劇演員如此，現場觀眾又何嘗不然？

因此，憐憫是有感於所有的人都難免於共同的命運，然後生出一種「命運共同體」的感受，覺得大家都在受苦，應該互相關懷與支援，又怎麼忍心繼續表現平日那種彼此勾心鬥角的行徑呢？觀賞悲劇之後，許多人悲從中來，淚流滿面，對於自己與別人之間的新仇舊恨都不願再計較了。

●認真面對內心情感

文學所引發的情緒是來得快，去得也快的。若是只看實際人生的過程，我們也能恢復慈悲心嗎？在此，我們可以參考儒家的觀點。《論語‧子張篇》記載了曾子的一句話，「吾聞諸夫子：『人未有自致者也，必也親喪乎！』。」他引述孔子之言，意思是：「一般人沒有自己充分顯露真情的機會，如果有，那一定是在父母過世的時候吧！」父母過世，對一個人來說有如天崩地裂，迫使他認真面對自己的內心情感。這時想到的包括：人終究會離開此世的；沒有機會報答父母的深恩厚愛了；我對別人的恩恩怨怨也該化解了；往後應該調整自己做人處世的原則，多多行善助人，以免再讓九泉之下或天國之上的父母擔心了。

儒家是一套哲學系統，要從一般人的生活經驗中找到重要的線索，由此建構起人生觀與價值觀。孔子在與弟子談到「三年之喪」時，也曾針對子女為父母守喪期間，心中所感覺的「安不安」來發揮他的哲理。這種真誠的情感只是第一步，接著還須「老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼」，推廣到天下人身上。

孟子以「惻隱之心，人皆有之」為論點，提醒我們對於別人的遭遇要有「不忍」的感受。不安與不忍，其實都來自「恕」字，就是「設身處地為別人著想」，或者「把自己當成別人來著想」。我自己不願受到某種待遇，我就不要把這種待遇加在別人身上。「己所不欲、勿施於人」這八字訣，其基礎正是慈悲心啊！

●從親疏遠近推己及人

由此看來，無論是宗教(佛教)、文學(希臘悲劇)與哲學(儒家)，對於人生的第一步啟發都是鼓勵人恢復一顆敏感易覺的心，要真誠體察人與人之間的親密關係。

一方面，從最親近疼愛我們的父母想起，另一方面要想到天下所有的人都受到相同命運的安排。由近及遠都想通了，我們的「貪、嗔、痴」的念頭不是應該消弭於無形嗎？我們看到別人的不幸際遇，不是應該感同身受嗎？

只要引發了慈悲心，我們就再也不願繼續製造惡業，不願以言語傷人，更不願以暴力侵犯別人了。達賴喇嘛為我們帶來的不只是佛法，也是我們重新覺察慈悲心的大好機會。只要大家領悟這一點，社會風氣就會走向溫柔敦厚了。

(本文轉載自泰山《真愛家庭》雜誌第9期)

Monday, May 30, 2011

36 部老電影老歌曲

用減法來過生活

也許是事情太多了

讓我開始去思考減法的人生

從出生開始不斷的用加法在自己身上

不論是別人給的或自己給的

我從來沒懷疑所擁有的有些是一種負擔、是一種多餘

大房子也許住起來舒適、但卻同時帶來難以清理、帶來了家人的疏離

小小的空間可以帶來共同的話題、共同的情緒這就是一種溫馨

張承惠

最近我去見一位老業主，過去我替他設計了多家旅館，一家比一家繁複華麗。後來他生了一場大病，到美國住了十年，現又回台北，他說他的觀念完全改變了，過去他經營的旅館，設計是用”加法”，現在是要求用”減法”，一家比一家精簡，不只成本低，回收快，且整理方便，生意更好。

"減法”的設計，我們學建築的早就知道 ”less is more” 的道理。嗯！我想不只設計，現在也可用減法來過生活，以減法來過後半生吧！

其實在世上擁有的越多，煩惱也越多。有一棟房子，有一個煩惱，擁有兩棟，煩惱加倍。財產越多，留給家族子孫的煩惱就越大。最近金融風暴，也可見證那些擁有越多的人就越不快樂。

前一陣子，我為一位建築商做家庭室內設計，兩個兒子的房子都是百餘坪，等老東家房子來委託設計時，我想那不知要多豪華，不想拿來一看，大吃一驚－總面積：二十一坪。

「這……」我才在懷疑，他打斷我的話，說：「我打拼了一輩子，蓋了不少房子，也擁有不少房子，想通了，小房子既溫馨又好整理，只剩我兩老，這就夠了，孩子們還想不通，由他們去吧！」

世上的一切，我們只能享有，不可能擁有，何必一定要佔有？因此，五十五歲之後的我，非必要的東西不再添購，去旅遊也不再買東西回來了，也不想與風景合照，只拍些使我感動的景緻、上帝創造的美、或設計上的新知。我覺得最要把握的是當下，在此時、此景、此物，親臨的那一刻，我是否真正認真的享受、體會、感恩，那一刻才是需要的。

六十歲那年，我把家中多餘的用品、裝飾品、收集的紀念品清了出來，拿去社團義賣，做社區服務經費。家中清楚多了。現在，”該是以減法過人生的時候了”。

好友Coral，是個很好的典範，她曾有過華麗的生活，但同時也曾伴著傷心的往事，而我們現在看到的她，並不會抱著過往，自哀自憐，相反的，她清理心情，拋開過去，積極地投入人群，擁抱有盼望而光明的人生。

再次提醒自己，放下對世界的慾求，放下心中的掛念，卸下對人的恩怨，過減法的生活，輕鬆的面對人生。

好浪漫 vs 好浪費

文/吳玲瑤

老天爺喜歡開玩笑，夫妻配對的時候總是急驚風碰到慢郎中，節儉的遇上大方的，愛花錢的遇上小氣鬼，但兩人都不承認自己小氣或浪費，都強調該花的時候多少都肯花，該省的一分錢也省，只買對的不買貴的，還要教育對方說大富由天小富由儉，買東西的時候要考慮的是消費時機、比價和使用率，言者諄諄聽者藐藐。

女人聚在一起總是偷偷抱怨先生小氣。有位太太把人的小氣分為三類：第一種對自己大方對別人小氣是真小氣；第二種對人家對自己都小氣叫吝嗇；第三種對自己小氣對別人大方算節儉。她的先生屬於第二類，她說一直要先生出錢讓她去隆乳，講了三年都說太貴沒答應，好不容易答應卻問說可不可以先只用一半的錢隆一個就好。

一位太太說先生老怪她持家無方，說他的錢都是被太太敗光的，例如：咳嗽藥過期了還沒吃，滅火器掛在牆邊一次也沒用上，過期的麵包捨不得丟要太太吃……另一位說先生對人無情無義，不近人情唯利是圖，是令人討厭的類型，認為全家去度假是沒有必要的行為，因為坐在路邊看汽車駛過，和坐在車上看駛過的汽車是一樣的，所以他們家從來不花錢出去玩。

還有一位說每次跟先生外出用餐都顏面盡失，菜單先看價格再決定吃什麼，專挑便宜的點，小費不肯給多；先生則怪她濫好人、亂花錢。某位太太則說小氣的先生也有好處，她不擔心他會去風月場所，因為沒法忍受另一個女人再來花他的錢。

大家七嘴八舌地討論婚前婚後的男人是不是花錢態度不一樣。有人感觸良多，說男人戀愛時總隱瞞花錢放不開的特質，一旦結婚他們寬宏的外衣就會漸漸遁形，取而代之的是天性中的刻薄小氣摳門。迷信的人建議說：小氣或大方是可以從看相中找到蹤跡，鼻孔窄小是小氣的象徵，或者對著燈光比手縫，露光多的是散財，婚前要偷偷觀察。

某位太太說她婚後才發現先生小氣，提到婚前帶她去昂貴的法國餐廳，她說好浪漫，他說好浪費；太太至今還保留著菜單，先生至今還留著帳單；女人說得到愛情真可貴，男的說得到愛情可真貴。

譚恩美的《喜福會》一書裏，有個女孩嫁了個小氣丈夫，買什麼都要和她五五分帳算得清清楚楚，日子過得格外辛苦。有些男生大概不適合結婚，因為無法忍受別人分享他辛苦賺來的錢，猶如故障的提款機，怎麼敲打，就是掉不出一個子兒，只要說到錢就關起大門拒絕溝通。

胡適說過男士們也要有三從四德，其中就有一項是太太花錢要捨得，美國俗話裏也說婚後先生們應該把嘴閉上把支票簿打開，看來有些男人還是挺有智慧，畢竟這麼一來，家中氣氛就會祥和些。

Sunday, May 29, 2011

圓融的思路

圓融的思路—山不轉路轉

★送2/3地皮給政府的精明商人

美國某城 30英里以外的山坡上有一塊不毛之地，地皮的主人見地皮擱在那裡沒用，就把它以極低的價格出售。

新主人靈機一動，跑到當地政府部門說：「我有一塊地皮，我願意無償捐獻給政府，但我是一個『教育救國論』者，因此這塊地皮只能建一所大學。」政府如獲至寶，當即就同意了。於是，他把地皮的2/3捐給了政府。

不久，一所頗具規模的大學就矗立在了這塊不毛之地上。聰明的地皮主人就在剩下的1/3的土地上修建了學生公寓、餐廳、商場、酒吧、影劇院等等，形成了大學門前的一條商業街。沒多久，地皮的損失就從商業街的營利中賺了回來。

★買我的馬戲票免費送一包花生

美國宣傳奇才哈利十五、六歲的時候，在一家馬戲團做童工，負責在馬戲場內叫賣小食品。但是每次看戲的人不多，買東西吃的人則更少，尤其是飲料，很少有人問津。

有一天，哈利突發奇想：「贈送每一位買票的觀眾一包花生」，藉以吸引觀眾。但是老闆堅決不同意他這個荒唐的想法。

哈利用自己微薄的工資做擔保，請求老闆讓他一試，並承諾說，如果賠錢就從他的工資裡面扣；如果有盈利，自己只拿一半。老闆這才勉強同意。

於是，以後每次馬戲團的演出場地外，就多了一個義務宣傳員：「來看馬戲嘍！買一張票免費贈送好吃的花生一包！」

在哈利不停的叫喊聲中，觀眾比往常多了幾倍。而觀眾進場後，哈利就開始叫賣起飲料來，而絕大多數觀眾在吃完花生之後覺得口渴，都會買上一瓶飲料，這樣一場馬戲下來，哈利的營業就增加了十幾倍。

其實，哈利在炒花生的時候加了少量的鹽，這樣花生更好吃了，而觀眾越吃越口渴，飲料的生意自然就越來越好了。

★握在女人手裡的雞蛋

摩根是美國的大富豪，他年輕時攜妻子闖蕩之際還是個窮光蛋。為了生計，他和妻子開了一個雜貨店賣雞蛋。摩根賣雞蛋時常常有顧客抱怨說他的雞蛋小。經過一段時間的觀察總結，他便讓妻子來賣雞蛋，結果顧客不僅不嫌雞蛋小，反而對摩根的印象和態度也大大改觀了；其原因就在於，摩根的手又大又粗，使得雞蛋相比之下就顯得有些小了。

同樣一個雞蛋，放在一個女人纖細的手裡和一個男人粗壯的手裡，在購買者的視覺上，雞蛋就不是同一個雞蛋了。

★一批小樹拯救旅館

有一家三流旅館，生意一直不是很景氣，老闆無計可施，只等著關門了事。後來，老闆的一位朋友指著旅館後面一塊空曠的平地給他出了個主意。

次日，旅館貼出了一張廣告：「親愛的顧客，您好！本旅館山後有一塊空地專供旅客種植紀念樹之用，如果您有興趣，不妨種下10棵樹，本店為您拍照留念，樹上可留下木牌，刻上您的大名和種植日期。當您再度光臨本店的時候，小樹一定已枝繁葉茂了。本店只收取樹苗費200美元。」

廣告打出後，立即吸引了不少人前來，旅館應接不暇。沒過多久，後山樹木蔥鬱，旅客漫步林中，十分愜意；而那些種植的人更是念念不忘自己親手所植的小樹，經常專程來看望。

一批旅客栽下了一批小樹，一批小樹又帶回一批回頭客，旅館自然也就顧客盈門了。

Saturday, May 28, 2011

憶慧如師姐

敬愛的諸位菩薩:

昨晚(五月26日)九時四十分時刻,台柏師兄與女兒姵璇親手送至愛的媽咪離開人世,我們五位師父及法親師兄姐們也親眼看著慧如師姐的呼吸由緩慢到停止,護士量不到血壓,一切就這樣戛然停止,她不再作任何努力,做到上人交待的--一切都要輕安自在。

但對這位可敬的菩薩來說,這幾天她還是做了許多功課,她聽了整整一天的上人開示:法譬如水錄音100集,全首台灣正在入經藏演繹版的三昧水懺,美玉師姐、慈遍慈姐、林執行長與慈聯媽還比人經藏手語給她看,希望她趕快學會這整套手語與大家一起入經藏大懺悔。我想她是會很認真學習的,因為她從來就是一位拼命三郎,只要是慈濟,是上人,她是什麼都好,什麼都想學的。

她會晤了許多人,還睜開眼睛熱情看著來探望她的慈大快健營同學們,這一點,倒是讓她寶貝女兒非常不服氣,俟慈大同學走後,姵璇立刻跟她媽媽算總帳,告訴她:Hi !mom!you are not fair! you are not fair!我陪您這麼久,您都沒有睜開眼睛看我一眼,為什麼他們來了,您就看他們!

聽說,當天下午二點,她媽媽就睜開豆大眼睛足足半個鐘頭,讓姵璇與媽咪撒嬌個夠,講了許多屬於母女的小秘密,總算也滿了女兒的心願了。

為了等待心肝兒子,她是非常努力的,從23日晚間進入花蓮慈院,王英偉主任就告訴我們,她的情況是隨時會走,但還是讓她撐了4天,實在太了不起了,她非常努力的一呼一吸,每次間隔至少五秒鐘,甚至更久,但她還是非常認真地維持自已最佳狀態。若不是四大假合已敗壞不堪,她已不甚折磨,我認為依她個性,她是不輕言放棄,會為兒子拼上老命的。

彌留到最後的倒數30分鐘,她用一種非常慈靄,非常專注與聚焦的眼神看著台柏師兄手上拿的上人法照,彷彿與上人訴說心語與發願,台柏師兄再一次恭讀上人信函給她聽,她的神情安祥柔和,一臉澄明始終不變,認真專注看了上人十五分鐘以後,她才慢慢閉下眼睛,二十分鐘以後(晚上9:40),她知道五位常住師父就要返回精舍安單了,如果再不把握機會,這個病體是否可以拖到明天,甚至等到兒子回到花蓮,她已沒有把握了,於是她決定毅然放下一切,把握分秒精進地再找個別家去做慈濟小菩薩了。

至於這個敗壞無用的身體,一向精幹、能幹加上苦幹,又精打細算的她,可不能讓它白白浪費掉,如今她可是已經順利升格為慈大無語教授了!一位海外志工幹部能如此平順回到台灣當起慈大老師,沒有相當福德具足,沒有家人全力支持,還真是不容易啊!難怪上人直直讚嘆台柏師兄對愛妻的謢持。

一整夜的助唸,感恩職志許多同仁與志工毅然扛起這個使命,一梯接一梯地來陪伴慧如師姐與家人,讓台柏師兄完全無後顧之慮。其實,也是在26日中午開始,我們的台柏師兄才在思維上接受這件不可逆轉的事實,下午他已能與慧如師姐及女兒用一種談笑風聲的態度閒話家常,並與大家分享慧如師姐做慈濟的點點滴滴,語意中已無悲傷的氛圍,這點是最讓人寬心安慰的,我期待濟覺菩薩因為愛慧如,更要好好照顧自已,活得更健康,就像上人的叮嚀:菩薩道上要做二份喔!

以上報告,零零總總,但心得還是頗多,對這麼一位打死不退的精進菩薩,內心只有無限敬意與愛意!

藉此機會也要非常感恩北區人醫護理美玉師姐多日來不分晝夜陪伴,她兼具心理與生理的專業輔導照顧,隨時想辦法逗趣地讓這對父女不至太沉緬悲傷中,讓整個病房歡喜如常,實乃功不可沒!

再次感恩慧如師姐與濟覺師兄全家人相信我們,相信常住。

起碼,讓我有機會向她道歉,並彌補內心對她個人的內疚。無限感恩!

德旻合十

鄭李實先情長緣深師徒緣

http://www.tzuchi.org.tw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6234%3A2011-05-28-07-38-28&catid=107%3Ataiwan&Itemid=554&lang=zh

那大的孩子

雖然這篇文章已經看過了,但還是覺得很棒,因為我們不正是那個容易因為一個不小心而動怒的父母嗎?? 值得省思喔!!

那大的孩子

昨天MOLLY要出門上學時,因弟弟ALLEN 不小心打翻了湯, 弄髒了她的衣服,差一點讓她遲到....

她有點生氣.....

晚上睡前,我與她分享了一段網路上流傳的文章,發生在911 雙子星大廈爆炸案......

我簡單的告訴她這個故事的經過與多少無辜的人葬送在這場災難中.....

我想告訴她的是,有很多人僥倖地逃過這一劫,是因為生活中一些小事的牽絆.....

有一個老闆因為兒子第一天開學所以他請假 ....

有一個人自認很倒楣因被差去買甜甜圈.......

有一個人因那一天穿了新鞋 ,要上樓時發現腳起水泡,於是他轉彎到藥局買OK繃.....

這些人 ,因生活中的牽絆而倖存活了下來........

於是我告訴MOLLY,

生活中若發生任何小事絆住我們 ,我們都不須動怒與抱怨......

我們要心存感謝.....

她點點頭說她懂 !!!

但她突然在我枕邊說起了另一場災難......

她說 : 媽咪 ,我記得上次什麼大海嘯時我聽妳和爸爸說過, 有一個媽媽抱著兩個孩子被大海嘯沖走 ,最後她選擇放棄那大的小孩, 妳跟爸爸也說,要是你們的話,你們也會一樣 ,

為什麼?

聽她這樣一問,我的心一糾,一陣難過在心底, 這不是好幾年前發生的事了嗎?

原來大人隨口聊天的話在小孩的心中是留下痕跡的, 她當時並沒有問我, 但,我想這一個她不懂的故事,在她心中必留下小小的陰影....

因為她也是那大的孩子!

我擁她入懷,我想了很久, 不知該如何告訴她這一個感人又痛心的故事....

我不知該如何讓她釋懷一個媽媽是如何的心痛放手那大的孩子?!我很認真的告訴她, 因為那個媽媽當一手各抱著一個小孩被大海嘯捲入, 當她決定放開一隻手, 是因為她知道唯有兩隻手用力抱住一個孩子才能讓小孩有活著的機會 ,

至於,她為何選擇放手那大的孩子而抱住僅兩歲的兒子?

我很認真的告訴她, 不是因為那媽媽不愛那大的孩子, 而是 ,

她知道那大的孩子必有智慧去求生,

她知道那大的孩子可能會聰明的抓住樹幹漂流,

她知道那大的孩子如果漂流到岸邊一定也會想辦法生存 ,

她知道那大的孩子如果得救一定會告訴別人他的家人是誰?

她知道那大的孩子....上帝必看顧.....
.......

MOLLY 說她聽懂了,她問我,那最後呢?那大的孩子有沒有找到媽媽?

我說:有! 那大的孩子好勇敢,他被一個澳洲人救起後在醫院找到了媽媽,一家團圓!!

MOLLY開心的笑了,說:那大的孩子好棒呦 !! 難怪妳也會選擇放棄我.......
.......

妳有沒有因為不經意又不自覺的一句話或動作而傷害過小孩呢 ?

其實,很多小孩的傷害來自父母 ,

一個傷自尊的斥責,

一個動怒的巴掌 ,

一次無心的棄離,

甚至一個沒有說明的故事 ,

有的是無心之過,

有的是刻骨之痛 ,

有的是一輩子難以抹滅的傷痕,

感謝昨晚的分享讓我修復了 MOLLY那大的孩子小小心靈的一個小小傷痕!

想要與需要

文章短短的但是好實用 !!

我們該把錢花在更實際的用途上呢 ?? 這篇文章已把重點抓出來 ~~

游乾桂-作家

經濟嚴冬，我最想教孩子需要與想要的差別，那叫價值觀。

女兒訕訕的提出要求：「鞋子壞了，要買一雙！」

我定睛望一望鞋底，的確磨損了一個大洞，應該更換了。

我問明喜歡的品牌與價錢，撥了一通電話打探，開體育用品店的朋友並未進貨這款鞋子，但保證調得到貨，言明七折，他說專賣店不打折的。我趕緊把成果向女兒報告，她卻回我：「已經約好球球的，今天就要去買。」

我算一算差價，高達一千元，就差三天，有必要花這一千元嗎？

我臉色微慍表達我的感受。事實上，這幾年來工作賺錢的確不易，我早有盤算讓孩子早點明白，家中的錢是怎麼來的？兩個方向是我的收入來源，一是演講，二是寫作，大約都是薄酬，難以致富。

尤其是出版的書，以一本定價250元計算，初版版稅是25元，我以簡單的算術讓她明白，25*10，25*100以及25*1000的答案，分別是250元、2500元、25000元。

我反問他，多嗎？說畢，我把一綑四十本的書綁好，放在她的手上讓她拎拎，並且告訴她，版稅正好一千元，如果當天想去買鞋，請順便帶去賣，得了一千元差額就可以購買了。我走進書房，繼續未完成的稿子，十分鐘後她走了進來，告訴我決定：「爸爸你幫我買好嗎？」也許她了解我的比喻了，我摸摸她的頭，希望真懂。

想要與需要，是我想提醒她的生活哲學，需要是一種必要，比方說，茶米油鹽醬醋茶，不吃會餓，不喝會渴，與健康有關的全算在列；想要的則是欲望了。

比方說，已經有了五雙鞋子，但是一經流行，再買一雙，其餘幾雙束之高閣，這就形同浪費。

我提醒兒女，「需要的」我付錢，「想要的」自己付，因為我非有錢之人。能賺到錢是福分，必須珍惜，浪費就形同沒有賺錢。

我還說，錢只是媒介，有了它之後，應該通往幸福，否則就是賺到紙，賺到數字，外加忙碌、疲倦、壓力與心煩，即使如此還是滿足不了欲望的。

人的一生，需要真的不多，但想要的老是太多。

當時小三不盡理解我的想法的她，漸漸長大，就讀大學之後便明白了。前幾天，我收到她的生日卡片，叮嚀我要注意健康，快樂一點，別太忙了，不用拚命賺錢，因為她會省吃儉用，設身處地替人著想了。

看來她已經會了數學，知道收入減去消費，得到（正數）的人，才能活得亮彩，否則庸庸碌碌，汲汲營營，最後淪為工作的奴隸。

我在想為什麼現在卡奴那麼多是不是跟現在父母供給小孩太過充足，以至於小孩已經習慣得到”超過自己所能賺取”的享受。甚至可以”不勞而獲”了呢 ??

一位長輩的小孩最近結婚了婚禮之奢華富麗，讓人好生羨慕長輩跟我們炫耀，光小孩的結婚鑽戒要價150萬，因為他們一定要是蒂芬妮的!!

可是我們發覺，他的小孩根本沒出去工作過不曾出去賺過一分錢回來…….

到現在還不確定自己該靠什麼維生的他，可知道這150萬需要付出多少才能賺得回來??

萬一他的父母離開他了，他該去哪裡找到這種不勞而獲的機會呢?? 靠信用卡??

我們給孩子”太富足”的生活有時不見得對他們有好處……

Thursday, May 26, 2011

老伴

一人一半才有伴

文/王偉忠

陶子重義氣，她要我做什麼，我就做什麼。她要我談一談婚姻感情，就談吧！反正我也到了開口說話會帶點道理，但年輕人聽不進去的年齡。

我跟太太戀愛八年結婚，婚後十七年，總共認識了二十五年。這麼長的時間日夜相伴，身旁偶爾沒有她，感覺很爽，倘若此後一輩子沒有她，萬萬不可。

像前一陣子看到一則意見調查，問年輕女孩，家人、父母、孩子、老公與事業，如果硬要抉擇，會先放棄哪個？

女孩選了選，先放棄了事業，然後家人、父母，剩下老公與孩子難以抉擇，最後選擇放棄孩子、留下老公，理由是家人、父母、孩子最終都會離開身邊，但老公會是終身伴侶。很殘酷、但也很真實。中國字的寓意深遠，「伴」，就是一人一半，湊在一起才完整。

現今許多人適婚卻不婚，老人家看了奇怪，過去從沒發生過類似狀況。這現象代表五、六十年來沒有戰亂、年輕人長大過程中享有家庭溫暖與親情支援，因此認為單身也能過得很好，不論敗犬或是單身貴族，不覺得非要個伴，是歷史上首度可以一個人過日子的平安歲月。衰老未至，沒有歲月的壓力，等年齡到了，開始覺得孤獨、害怕孤獨，想找個人分享，還是需要個伴。

若要進入婚姻，套一句不負責任的老生常談，要靠緣份，除了緣份以及感性的感覺，還要理性的選擇。婚姻確實需要理性，如果女兒論及婚嫁，我一定要求要看看對方家庭，什麼樣的家庭會養出什麼樣的孩子，當然，也有破碎家庭的孩子更努力維繫自己的幸福家庭，但一定要仔細觀察。

而另一個老生常談就是婚姻需要兩個人有相同的價值觀，但這不是說「我喜歡的你一定要喜歡」，而是「我不討厭你喜歡的」，就可以了，兩人可妥協，可退讓，願意試著接觸自己本來討厭的，看看是否真那麼不能接受，有這樣願意妥協的心情，比較容易維繫感情。

而婚姻與愛情最大的不同，在於願不願意改變。願意為了對方改變自己，是真愛，從頭到尾都不想改變自己，這段感情充其量只是對方愛你。

戀愛是短暫的交會後很想在一起而開始，很想閃的結束。開始時乾柴烈火，講究原汁原味，眼前的他什麼都好，是全天下最酷的、最美的，不需要改，等到愛情疲了，才發現這人酷到不近人情、美得過於臭美、連刺青的位置不對，趕緊推給個性不合閃人。因此戀愛講究的是如何好聚好散進入婚姻，當然還是會有許多衝突，學習重點是「相處的藝術」。男生該學的第一課就是上廁所必須掀馬桶蓋，一開始改變很不習慣，後來融入身體，像吃飯喝水一樣自然。

但最近老婆說不只要掀蓋子，尿完還希望我拿衛生紙擦擦馬桶周圍留下來的「遺跡」，按照過去的脾氣，一定就「老子愛….」，但現在的我會聽太太的意見，因為「愛」字裡有個心，不是光用腦想著該送什麼禮物給她，要用心。

太太也改變不少，她不喜歡戶外活動，婚前知道我愛潛水、跟著背起十幾公斤重的空氣瓶跳進海底求生，這麼愛美的她怕晒黑、塗防晒油塗滿臉，一回頭、嚇一跳，怎麼來了個歌仔戲花旦跟我一起玩。婚後我又想潛水，她就說「不必了」，理由是家裡有孩子，不宜從事太危險的活動。

以前一個人在台北發展，要自己照顧自己，還要爭名奪利，不自私很難在短時間之內成就自己。結婚之後學著喊太太的媽媽「媽！」，有食物，不能先放進自己嘴巴，要顧著妻小先吃。我開始懂得心疼與珍惜，因為太太很好，捨不得讓她不舒服、捨不得讓她傷心，這些捨不得讓我自然學會了讓、學會了愛，也自然的改變自己，從自私變成大方。

婚姻的路是每天類似的風景，同樣的過程、淡淡的，要相處得好，真得靠慧根，所以找對象不能光想找個腿長奶大的辣妹，或是像金城武的帥哥，要找個讓自己想起他來心裡甜甜的，回頭一看，那人就在燈火闌珊處，這就是最好的對象。

而所謂另一半，也不是一開始就契合，是在修正中不斷的磨合，你多一點我少一點，像拼圖一樣拼在一起，才能一起過一輩子。

當然，歲月無情，人生最終還是分離。像我媽媽十六歲嫁給爸爸，相守相愛了一輩子，爸爸十多年前過世之後，媽媽真像少了一半，常凝望遠方，像爸爸就在天的那一邊，令人感傷。但人生如果少了婚姻、少了隨之而來的酸甜苦辣生老病死，少了孩子延續家的價值與感情，真會少掉很多滋味。

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

使命/縱看慈濟45

內容好感動

一定要看

這世我們真的很有福報

到慈濟世界修行做志工

大家互勉

20110508《使命。縱看慈濟45》最美的身影

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZzOoAO9roQ&NR=1

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

微笑的力量

微笑是一種語言，是人類的特點與幸福的呈現。

微笑的表情令人愉悅，使人感覺親切。不做作，真誠的微笑待人，是給人正面的心念、正向的能量。

真誠清淨的微笑，可以產生很大很大的力量喔！

~ 大寶法王嘎瑪巴

消除瞋心

當我們生氣、有瞋心的時候，就完全沒有任何愛心。

所以要試著去了解瞋心其實是一種完全過患性、萬毒聚所的東西，視瞋心為一種我們應該要捨棄的毒物。

我們可以自己選擇不要生氣，將所有的勝利給予慈悲心或愛心，不要給瞋恨心任何機會。

人都會有脾氣、有情緒起伏，當我們正處於不好的情緒當中時，試著少說一些話；試著多想想對方的好，以愛心、慈悲心來戰勝瞋心。

同樣的藉由每一次的訓練，來斷除自己的瞋心，慢慢的就可以掌控自己的情緒，做自己情緒的主人。

~大寶法王嘎瑪巴

心善為樂

幸福不外求，自己就能給自己，只要您擁有純淨、善美的心，就能讓自己幸福。

所以，不要再浪費人生了，不要讓自己陷入痛苦的陷阱當中，我們可以逃出痛苦的陷阱，找出一個屬於自己的光明。

~ 大寶法王嘎瑪巴

南瓜是蔬菜之王

南瓜是糖尿病患者的福音

糖尿患者不宜多吃甜食，南瓜是甜的，偏偏卻對於防治糖尿大有幫助。箇中玄機值得仔細研究；在各種食物之中，南瓜（即番瓜）對於糖尿病的療效可以真是數一數二的。

近年日本和中國內地醫學研究證實：糖尿病患者長期吃南瓜或南瓜粉，病情減輕機會特別高，尤其是輕型及中型的患者大多在服內之後症狀改善，精神轉佳，減少口渴。

糖尿病一般由於人體內胰島素分泌不足，至某種程度，導致葡萄糖的正常利用受到影響，使血糖上升，終於由尿中排出體外。

而胰島素這傢伙則必須有鉻和鎳這兩種微量元素才可發揮作用，倘若人體內吸收的鉻和鎳不足，胰島素的活動即減少。

南瓜正好含有豐富的鉻和鎳，所以對於糖尿病患者是天賜良藥。

而且，南瓜含有大量植物纖維，產生延緩小腸吸收糖份的效果，這樣患者不會在飽食之後血糖急劇上升，令胰島素更加重負擔，反而可以逐步恢復正常功能。

此外，南瓜另含有蛋白質、胡蘿蔔素及多種維他命和胺基酸（胡盧巴鹼、腺嘌呤、精氨酸、瓜氨酸、天門冬素、多縮戍糖等）、多種礦物質（鉀、磷、鈣、鐵、鋅、硒等），含碳水化合物卻很少，因此健康有益。

據中國醫學的說法，南瓜性味甘、溫，入脾、胃經；功能補中益氣，化痰排膿，消炎殺蟲，止痛。

若是脾胃濕熱、胸脘脹悶者，則不宜。

南瓜原產非洲及南美洲，後來傳入印度、中國；有多個不同品種，所以形狀顏色往往不同。

美洲南瓜特別巨型，圓筒形，瓜皮有黃、白、紫、綠等色。

印度南瓜皮較柔滑，白色或奶白色，也很巨型，圓形或長圓形。

中國南瓜扁圓形，先端下凹，皮外有稜，未成熟時呈綠色，成熟之後轉橙黃或金黃色，表面有一層赤褐色的霜。

近年來，全球各地掀起了南瓜熱，因為它有減肥美容的功效，特別是日本各大城市出現了烹飪南瓜奉客的專門店，推出南瓜湯、南瓜沙律、南瓜雪糕等，中國各地流行南瓜粉，香港也買得到。

由於它有減肥及美容的效果，日本人近年掀起了南瓜狂熱，奉之為「蔬菜之王」。

南瓜的藥用價值開始為各地醫學界認識，它的美味也受到大眾欣賞。

除了防治糖尿功能之外，原來南瓜整棵植物還有很多神奇的效用，例如：

防癌: 南瓜能消除亞硝酸胺的突變作用制止癌細胞出現。

杜蟲: 南瓜籽具有很好的

殺滅血吸蟲幼蟲作用，對於蟯蟲病、蟯蟲病等患者療效顯著（方法是空腹細嚼後吞服南瓜籽）。

血壓: 多吃南瓜（尤其是生食或蒸至半熟）可降血壓。

哮喘: 蒸熟南瓜混和蜜糖吃，早晚一次，長期服用。

久咳: 南瓜藤煎去頭，插瓶中，令其汁液流入，廿四小時後取汁用開水沖服。

浮腫、腹水、小便不暢: 南瓜蒂燒存性研末，溫開水送服，每日三次，每次二克。

慣性流產: 南瓜蒂3只，薏米 120克，加水煎服，連服數日。

燒傷、燙傷: 南瓜搗爛取汁，塗敷傷口。也可以用南瓜藤汁塗傷口，每日三次。

支氣管哮喘及老年慢性支氣管炎→ 鮮南瓜 500克，紅棗20粒，適量黃糖，加水煮湯服食，每日二次。

痢疾: 用南瓜葉煎湯飲。

止痛: 瓜肉煮熟敷貼患處，可消炎止痛。

自古以來，中國人民就十分重視南瓜的食療藥用價值，早在詩經中就曾有關於南瓜食療的記載。

明本草綱目載：性味甘、寒、無毒，能補益氣；醫林纂要載能益氣歛肺。中醫認為，南瓜有消炎止痛、解毒、養心補肺等作用，而且是糖尿病的剋星。

現代的科技發展，更為南瓜這一普遍的食物增添新的「魅力」。

內分泌學家在調查糖尿病的發生情況時發現，愛吃南瓜的人罹患糖尿病的比例低於；營養學家和醫藥學家們進行分析研究，發現南瓜含有某些活性物質，有促進人體胰島素分泌的功效。

由於南瓜不僅含有豐富的糖類（葡萄糖、蔗糖、多縮戊糖等）、澱粉、脂肪和蛋白質，還含有人體造血必需的微量元素鈷和鋅，這兩種元素在人體細胞生理活動中起著重要的作用。其中鈷是構成血液中紅細胞的重要成分之一，而鋅直接影響成熟紅細胞的功能。

南瓜含有豐富的糖類、澱粉，所以老南瓜吃起來既鬆軟又甘甜。

它含有蛋白質、脂肪、維他命Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ和鈣、磷等礦物質，還含有人體造血必需的微量元素鈷和鋅等，現代營養學家研究發現，南瓜還含有瓜氨酸、精氨酸、麥門冬素、腺嘌呤及甘露醇等。對糖尿病、高血壓以及肝臟、腎臟的某些疾病有一定的防止作用。

南瓜性味甘、溫，功用補中益氣、消炎止痛、解毒殺蟲。

南瓜子性味甘、平，主治絛蟲、蛔蟲、產後手術浮腫、百日咳、痔瘡。現代醫學研究認為，男性中年以後常吃南瓜子可預防攝護腺肥大症。南瓜葉有治痢疾、疳積和創傷之效。南瓜花清濕熱，消腫毒，治黃疸、痢疾、咳嗽、癰疽腫毒。

南瓜根性平，味淡、無毒，有利濕熱、通乳汁、治淋病、黃疸、痢疾、乳汁不通等功效。

南瓜蒂有治癰傷、疔瘡、燙傷之功能。南瓜藤味甘苦，性微寒，無毒，功用清肺、和胃、通絡，用於治療肺結核低熱、胃痛、月經不調和燙傷等。南瓜瓤則主治燙傷、創傷等。

南瓜是便宜瓜蔬，不妨經常食用，有滋陰、補胃、健脾、防浮腫等作用，是很好的保健食品。

Monday, May 23, 2011

憶鄭媽媽

鄭媽媽的往生，另人震驚而不捨，老人家和藹的面容與諄諄教誨的話仍然記憶猶新。

記得在2008年會所整修期間，鄭媽媽一再叮嚀「成就眾人的事，一定要用心」。會所落成後，在大佛堂前有幸與鄭媽媽並肩而坐，鄭媽媽談到購買會所的經過，一直等到獲得上人的祝福後，終於才鬆了一口氣。飲水思源，要不是鄭媽媽契而不捨地爭取，大家那會有如此寬敞的會所可以使用。

談到慈濟因緣，鄭媽媽總是神采亦亦，從早期上人行腳到台北住所到精舍的第一支電話安裝，她對上人的那份尊敬與感恩，對慈濟事的那份執著，令人動容。

鄭媽媽雖然走了，但是典範常在，希望如同鄭媽媽生前的期盼 --- 師兄、師姊們要好好珍惜得來不易共同的家，一起成長慧命。

http://www.tzuchi.org.tw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6234%3A2011-05-28-07-38-28&catid=107%3Ataiwan&Itemid=554&lang=zh

Sunday, May 22, 2011

聚心匯愛到南非

各位校長與學校聯絡人：

謝謝您的支持！感恩您與貴校的學生、家長共同參加為南非學童募集圖書與學用品活動。

南非雖然已經取消種族隔離政策，但是目前貧富懸殊仍然很大。對許多當地的愛滋孤兒而言，每天是否有餐食都已經很不容易，購買課外書籍與學用品實在更是困難。因此，您的愛心猶如及時雨，為愛滋孤兒們增添學習資源，也讓南非下一代有機會與國際接軌。

十年樹木，百年樹人，教育乃國家百年大計。美國慈濟基金會以感恩的心，承接您的大愛，自2009年起以接力的方式，將這份愛傳遞到南非。期待數十年之後，看到南非的孩子們知識更豐富，英語更流利，為自己、為國家、為人類，創造出更美好的未來！

這次活動將在今年九月再次進行，感恩貴校能繼續支持這項活動。

慈濟基金會華府分會慈青慈少團隊敬上

0.5 秒

This picture was found in a camera during cleanup.

This is a fantastic photo!! Amazing that the film was still good - or memory stick. Either one, this really tells the story.

Look at how high that wall of water is!!

½ a second before tsunami

This picture was taken on the banks of Sumatra Island (the height of waves was of approx. 32 m = 105 ft).

It was found saved in a digital camera, after the disaster.

We cannot know for sure, but very likely the one who took the picture is not alive any more (it was just a matter of seconds).

Today we can see the last image he/she saw before ending life

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Academy Aaward From President Loh

Dear Joanna,

Congrats to your achievement. Your effort in the college is paid off.

There will be more maintains to climb afterwards, but I have confidence in your unlimited potential.

Please take time and enjoy the beautiful life. : )

Dad

Friday, May 20, 2011

淨葉不沉

有一位年輕人覺得生活過的非常不順，聽到朋友介紹在遠方有一間燃燈寺，寺中有位名叫釋濟的得道高僧可以為他解除疑惑。

年輕人千里迢迢找到燃燈寺，一見到釋濟大師就向其訴苦說：「我只是讀書耕作，從來不傳不聞流言蜚語，不招惹是非，但不知為什麼，總是有人用惡言誹謗我，用蜚語詆毀我。如今，我實在有些經受不住了，想遁入空門削髮為僧以避紅塵，請大師您千萬收留我！」

釋濟大師靜靜聽他說完，微然一笑說：「施主何必心急，同老衲到院中撿一片淨葉你就可知自己的未來了。」

釋濟帶年輕人走到禪寺中殿旁一條穿寺而過的小溪邊，順手從菩提樹上摘下一枚菩提葉，又吩咐一個小和尚說：「去取一桶一瓢來。」

小和尚很快就提來了一個木桶一個葫蘆瓢交給了釋濟大師。

大師手拈樹葉對年輕人說：「施主不惹是非，遠離紅塵，就像我手中的這一片淨葉。」

說著將那一枚葉子丟進桶中，又指著那桶說：「可如今施主慘遭誹謗、詆毀深陷塵世苦井，是否就如這枚淨葉深陷桶底呢？」

年輕人歎口氣，點點頭說：「我就是桶底的這枚樹葉呀。」

釋濟大師將水桶放到溪邊的一塊岩石上，彎腰從溪裡舀起一瓢水說：「這是對施主的一句誹謗，企圖是打沉你。」

說著就嘩地一聲將那瓢水兜頭澆在桶中的樹葉上，樹葉激烈地在桶中蕩了又蕩，便靜靜漂在了水面上。

釋濟大師又彎腰舀起一瓢水說：「這是庸人對你的一句惡語誹謗，企圖還是要打沉你，但施主請看這又會怎樣呢？」

說著又嘩地倒下一瓢水兜頭澆在桶中的樹葉上，但樹葉晃了晃，還是漂在了桶中的水面上。

年輕人看了看桶裡的水，又看了看水面上浮著的那枚樹葉，說：「樹葉秋毫無損，只是桶裡的水深了，而樹葉隨水位離桶口越來越近了。」

釋濟大師聽了，微笑著點點頭，又舀起一瓢瓢的水澆到樹葉上，說：「流言是無法擊沉一枚淨葉的，淨葉抖掉澆在它身上的一句句蜚語、一句句誹謗，淨葉不僅未沉入水底，卻反而隨著誹謗和蜚語的增多而使自己漸漸漂升，一步一步遠離了淵底了。」

釋濟大師邊說邊往桶中倒水，桶裡的水不知不覺就滿了，那枚菩提樹葉也終於浮到了桶面上，翠綠的葉子，像一葉小舟，在水面上輕輕地蕩漾著、晃動著。

釋濟大師望著樹葉感歎說：「再有一些蜚語和誹謗就更妙了。」

年輕人聽了，不解地望著釋濟大師說：「大師為何如此說呢？」

釋濟笑了笑又舀起兩瓢水嘩嘩澆到桶中的樹葉上，桶水四溢，把那片樹葉也溢了出來，漂到桶下的溪流裡，然後就隨著溪水悠悠地漂走了。

釋濟大師說：「太多的流言蜚語終於幫這枚淨葉跳出了陷阱，並讓這枚樹葉漂向遠方的大河、大江、大海，使它擁有更廣闊的世界了。」

年輕人驀然明白了，高興地對釋濟大師說：「大師，我明白了，一枚淨葉是永遠不會沉入水底的。流言蜚語、誹謗和詆毀，只能把純淨的心靈淘洗得更加純淨。」

釋濟大師欣慰地笑了。

淨葉不沉，純淨的心靈又有什麼能把它擊沉呢？

即使把它埋入污泥深掩的塘底，它也會綻出一朵更美更潔的蓮花。

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

春天的呢喃

蜘蛛：能坐享其成，靠的就是那張關係網

蝦：大紅之日，便是大悲之時。

天平：誰多給一點，就偏向誰。

瀑布：因居高臨下，才口若懸河。

鋸子：伶牙俐齒，專做離間行為。

球：只要被人一吹，便飄飄然了。

鐘錶：可以回到起點，卻已不是昨天。

核桃：沒有華麗的外表，卻有充實的大腦。

花瓶：外表再漂亮，也掩不住內心的空虛。

樹葉：得勢時趾高氣揚，失意時威風掃地。

飯桌上批評孩子：大人傷神，孩子傷胃，全家傷心。

一個人當他：

牛皮越吹越大，本事越來越小；

脾氣越來越大，才氣越來越小；

膽量越來越大，肚量越來越小；

玩勁越來越大，幹勁越來越小；

權力越來越大，威信越來越小；

架子越來越大，人格越來越小。

男人的年齡由自己來感覺；

女人的年齡由別人來感覺。

一個人：

揮不去的是記憶；

留不住的是年華；

拎不起的是失落；

放不下的是情感；

輸不起的是尊嚴。

說話的三條底線：

一、力圖說真話；

二、不能說真話，則保持沉默；

三、無權保持沉默而不得不說假話時，不應傷害他人。

權力是暫時的；

財產是後人的；

健康是自己的；

關係是重要的；

友情是珍貴的。

凡是小事都要大聲說；

凡是大事都要小聲說。

讓人聽，容易；

叫人服，困難。

這社會：

教授越來越多，教書的越來越少；

博士越來越多，博學的越來越少；

戀愛的越來越多，戀學的越來越少；

鑽營的越來越多，鑽研的越來越少。

連空氣都渾濁了，兩袖還能有清風嗎？

理解可溝通心靈；信任则連接心靈。

偏愛難免，偏見不可。

謬論不足以解惑，真言卻可以解憂。

超過別人一點點，別人就會嫉妒你；

超過別人一大截，別人就會羡慕你。

可以命令士兵的行動，但不能命令士兵的忠誠。

安詳方能靜觀，靜觀方能明斷，明斷方能行動。

大公無私為聖人，公而忘私為賢人，先公後私為善人，

先人後己為良人，公私兼顧為常人，損公肥私為罪人。

過錯是短暫的遗憾，錯過是永遠的遗憾。

鐵杵能磨成針，但木杵只能磨成牙籤，材料不對，再努力也没用。

高職不如高薪，高薪不如高壽，高壽不如高興。

心態决定狀態，心胸决定格局，眼界决定境界！

記住該記住的，忘記該忘記的。改變能改變的，接受不能改變的！

魚對水說你看不到我的眼淚，因為我在水裡，

水說我能感覺到你的眼淚，因為你在我心裡。

男人在及結婚前覺得適合自己的女人很少，結婚後覺得適合自己的女人很多！

每個人都有潜在的能量，只是很容易被習慣所掩蓋，被時間所迷離,被惰性所消磨！

相遇是缘，相識是份，相愛是約定，相守才是真愛。

光之塔

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQzldrC870s

導演:紀柏舟
http://mangoning.blogspot.com/

配樂:黃乾育
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/brianmusic

製片:楊道寧

這部影片是給我父母的禮物。"光之塔"是一個有關父母的故事。講述遊子追求夢想，父母就像燈塔一樣支持、看望與守護，也是自己這幾年生命經驗的寫照。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UCLA台灣留學生的作品,入圍美國學生奧斯卡,

沒有言語,只有純淨的配樂和簡單的線條,

卻勾勒出讓人一分鐘內就掉淚的畫面,

很值得看看喔!

我是光之塔的作者,非常謝謝各位的回應,真的相當感動。其實一開始時,只是想做一支作品表達我對父母的感謝,很意外得到這麼多的迴響,真的很開心。這次的創作訴求並不在華麗的畫面或是出人意料的劇情,而只是想很誠懇的,很單純的說一個都-會發生在你我身上的故事。

這兩天一直在看網友們的回應,好像又重新溫習了一次創作時的心情,非常謝謝網友們的鼓勵,讓我有繼續往前的動力,也相當感謝某些網友的批評和指教,讓我能更虛心和客觀的看待自己的作品!真的相當感謝-。

影展獎項只是形式上的肯定,但是能繼續創作,並且被看見,進而得到觀眾的共鳴和迴響,真的是一個創作者最幸福的事情。:) 這幾年感觸很多,我也從兒子變成了一位父親。人生的傳承總是美麗而感傷,希望各位也能感受到我想傳達的, 生命中那一股暖暖的溫度。謝謝大家,我會繼續努力。

柏舟, 2011.4.24, Los Angeles

慈濟華府人文學校浴佛典禮

華府慈濟人文學校 2011 浴佛節 & 母親節

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnJXJGhj4oo

慈濟華府人文學校於五月十四日下午在馬里蘭州Whitman高中舉行舉行了一場別開生面的「佛誕節、母親節、全球慈濟日」三節合一報三恩活動，共有一百五十多位的親師生參加。當天的浴佛典禮在學校行政團隊用心的策劃下，整個典禮既肅穆又莊嚴。全體親師生在獻燈燭、獻香湯的師兄、師姊與捧花香高班的大姊姊們引導下，有機會沉澱內心，在供花香、禮佛足的過程中沾聞佛陀的德香、法香，感受佛陀的慈悲與智慧。

第二堂下課後，各班小朋友在老師陪伴下，恭敬合掌的進入會場，此時獻燈燭、獻香湯、供花香的人員早已在走廊靜心等待典禮的開始。在「大地和風」的音樂聲中，主持人竇壁玉師姊和緩而穩重的為典禮道出：「各位老師，家長，同學：大家好！非常感恩您來參加莊嚴又殊勝的浴佛典禮，五月的第二個星期日是佛誕節、母親節也是全球慈濟日，三節合一的好日子，引導我們要知恩、感恩、報恩，做個手心向下、付出的人；更提醒我們要感念佛恩、父母恩、和眾生恩，這就是五月─感恩月。」

典禮正式開場，由分會執行長俞琇珍師姊帶領的獻燈、湯、花人員隨著「靜寂清澄」的音樂緩緩入場，站定位後依照主持人的引導，向上行三問訊禮、獻上燈燭、香湯、禮佛足、祝福吉祥。主持人也解釋燈、湯、花的意義，分別代表以光明消除黑暗、以法水洗滌內心的無明煩惱，並以花香感念佛陀的德香。然後，全體合掌恭迎宇宙大覺者，一起唱頌「讚佛偈」。各班老師也帶領小朋友接花香虔誠，浴佛。最後，全體親師生唱頌「誠心許三願」與「浴佛偈」，以恭敬心衷心禮讚諸佛。

學前班許賓尹小朋友第一次浴佛，覺得浴佛新鮮又有趣，小手在佛桌前翻來翻去，捨不得離開，他告訴媽媽明年還要再來。在這難得的機會教育中，希望浴佛典禮能在他幼小的心靈裡，種下佛陀助緣的同等心與歡喜心。

緊接著浴佛典禮，小朋友們以實際行動現給媽媽一朵康乃馨，表達對母親的感恩。一年一度的浴佛典禮在歡喜中功德圓滿。感恩總召張秀玲師姊，為這次人文學校浴佛典禮竭盡心力的設計和付出，帶給大家一個回歸清淨自性的機會。期待大家都能將佛陀的德香、法香帶到日常生活中，全家和樂融融，也祈求佛陀的智慧與慈悲永遠照亮世間，讓人人心地光明而清淨，社會祥和，世間無災、無難。

陳月卿的飲食對策

文/陳月卿

我，五十五歲，不拉皮。

以前我是個藥罐子，現在，大家叫我「永備電池」，我長保不老、精力充沛的來源是吃對食物。

「要健康，絕不能吃太多動物性蛋白質；日常飲食中，植物性蛋白質與動物性蛋白質的比例應為八比二。」十六年來透過正確飲食，擺脫藥罐子的陳月卿說。她表示，食物是治病與健康最好的良藥。

十六年前，因蘇起罹患肝癌，開始投入飲食研究的她發現，原來很多疾病，都因吃錯食物引起；「在蘇起沒生病前，我就很注重均衡飲食，但身體還是很多小毛病，胃痛、腸胃炎不定期報到，蘇起甚至說他虧大了，竟然娶一個藥罐子回來。」蘇起生病後，陳月卿以神農嘗百草的精神，調整全家飲食，最後她採用「全食物」概念，讓十六年來，兩夫妻健康都在最佳狀態。

「我最近去做腸胃鏡檢查，醫師告訴我，我的食道像baby一樣乾淨。」

陳月卿說，人難免有口腹之欲，很難餐餐吃生機飲食，而且凡生機食物都很貴，她也是依情況吃；但每天早上她一定會用當令生機食材（如高麗菜、菠菜、蘋果等）打精力湯喝，多花一點錢也沒關係；多吃蔬果、五穀雜糧，就可改變身體機能。

老祖宗說：「藥食同源。」只要吃對食物，也可達到預防、治病效果。陳月卿強調，現代人常熬、工作壓力大、缺乏運動，加上大吃大喝，身體處於亞健康狀態（介於生病與不生病間），易出現頭痛、失眠、疲倦等症狀，這是因為身體所需的酵素、礦物質無法正常吸收運轉所致。

別輕忽身體警訊

陳月卿語重心長地提醒大家：「人體很奧妙，身體缺乏某種營養成分時，身體會以疲累、頭痛等各種警訊提醒，表示你該補充微量元素或礦物質；但一般人並不去補充這些東西，而以大魚大肉來補償身體。長期下來，身體沒有獲得應有的營養素，持續處於發炎狀態，不斷發出警訊。」

補充營養素不難，每天喝一杯精力湯，就能更健康。「很多人以為精力湯就一定是冰冷的，其實多花點心思，它也可以是溫熱的。」陳月卿說。像是到了冬天，她就會用黃豆加紅番薯、桑椹乾，跟溫水一起打成汁，營養豐富、口感好，就像喝杯熱粥一樣。

不少人懷疑，每天喝一杯精力湯就能變健康？陳月卿強調，調養身體至少要花七、八年時間，她也是十六年來奉行不悖，才有如此好的效果；她一直苦口婆心提倡全食物觀念，就是希望讓真正健康的飲食，成為更多人的生活方式，而這也是一種愛地球的表現。

陳月卿的飲食對策

★對策1：只吃食物，不吃食品

10幾年來，陳月卿全家只吃大地生產出來的食物，如各種新鮮的青

菜、水果、五穀類、海藻類、菇菌類、生的堅果類、豆類；不吃任何加工食品，包括煙熏、冷凍、罐頭食品，以及合成飲料。

★對策2：多鹼性食物、少酸性食物 (碳酸飲料如 coke, cider, cordial..etc 都是酸性的)

酸性體質易生病，所以在飲食上應以鹼性食物為主；而且為了好消化，每餐最好只吃一種蛋白質，因為肝臟不能同時處理兩種蛋白質。新鮮蔬果及五穀雜糧，是排毒、去酸、補充營養最好的食物。為求營養均衡，每餐最好可以吃不同顏色的蔬菜，同時輪流吃植物的不同部分，如根、莖（菜梗）、葉、花、果實等。

★對策3：盡量清淡，決不煎炸

飲食很清淡，盡量吃食物的原味，少油少鹽少糖、根本不用味精。烹調上，也避免高溫油炸、炒、煎，以蒸、煮、涼拌居多。

★對策4：每天最少一餐生機飲食

生機飲食就是生吃新鮮、有機種植的蔬果，由各種含不同營養蔬果組成，可提供富生機、含酵素、高能量的營養。而酵素怕熱，所以生機飲食可以保留最多的酵素和維生素。

★對策5：吃全食物

大自然非常奇妙，它在完整的食物中提供了豐富的營養。以蘋果為例，它最營養部位就是皮跟果核，但大多數人都把最營養部分丟棄，相當可惜。

★對策6：早餐吃得好、午餐吃得飽、晚餐吃得少

早餐是最重要的一餐，早上七點到九點是小腸最活躍的時候，這時吃早餐最易消化吸收。

早餐也影響一天的情緒和精力。晚上如果晚回家，陳月卿不會吃太多增加腸胃負擔，通常只會喝碗湯。

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

惆悵的空巢期

好看耶~~可是後來跟鳥媽媽一樣，感覺惆悵...

Robins and their nest

Very Interesting................. Someone was close enough to take these photos or had a superb camera, and he did a great job. If you have young children, or grandchildren, they will surely enjoy viewing this too. Enjoy, it's absolutely fascinating to watch!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9479342&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1

Monday, May 16, 2011

「性相空寂」~ 師徒之間

何謂「性相空寂」呢？

性相空寂，就是平衡、調和、中道，因為平衡，所以自心空寂予人的觀感也是空寂。

空寂的外相，就是寧靜、祥和、從容。

修行，不過就是修養出空寂的境界罷了。

只因人世間，佛性未顯露，所以有種種凡夫心與凡夫相。

凡夫心，就是偏於一方，所以心在生滅變異中；

凡夫相，既是心境無常，所以臉有喜怒不定相。

凡夫心偏於一方，執於一方，這是世間真相，世間本就是相對存在。

所謂粗細、大小、動靜、進退、伸屈、快慢.....等等相對存在，

有人偏於粗，做事不思考容易粗心；

有人偏於細，思慮過多缺乏執行力；

有人偏於大，志氣高而自尊心太強；

有人偏於小，獨來獨往少與人往來；

有人偏於動，一味前衝而不顧大局；

有人偏於靜，安守本分不願多承擔；

有人偏於進，包攬本分以外多雜事；

有人偏於退，容易起退心封閉自己.....................

修行，若是能粗能細，能大智若愚也能細膩周全；

能大能小，能有恢宏器量也能按步就班做事；

能動能靜，能有行動力也能有智謀；

能進能退，能顧全大局也能善盡本分......

粗細一如、大小一如、動靜一如、進退一如，一如即平衡，平衡就是智慧。

因為有智慧，所以看來空寂。

心境有所偏有所執，這是凡夫個性也就是習氣，修行就是轉凡夫心為佛心，轉凡夫個性為佛性。

個性轉為佛性，所以看來空寂。

性相空寂，其理深奧，上人化深奧佛理為易懂易行的話語；結集這些性相空寂的智慧話語，成為今年年末靜思人文編輯組獻給全球慈濟人的心意-----無量義經偈頌。

《無量義經偈頌》，內容取自2008年至2009年上人晨語開示，釋義王端正副總所撰述的〈無量義經偈頌〉。

封面設計已敬呈上人並獲慈允，為淺咖啡色系，上繪宇宙大覺者淡筆線條勾勒圖。

敬請期待...........

中國在走向低智商社會嗎？

中國人一向重視教育，又有很多人自視聰明。但是，美國的《華爾街日報》最近發表一篇文章，題目卻是《中國在走向低智商社會嗎？》，引起輿論的注意。日本的大前研一是全球著名管理大師之一。他2009年出版《低智商社會》，主要觀點是現代日本人閱讀量下降，不愛思考，不愛向政府提意見，集體智商下降，導致社會上出現種種「笨蛋現象」。

美國《華爾街日報》這篇有關中國人集體智商的文章透露，大前研一在中國旅行時發現，中國人愛去的地方似乎是按摩店，而不是書店。中國人平均每人每天花在讀書上的時間不到15分鐘，還不到日本人的幾十分之一。大前研一得出的結論是，中國是典型的「低智商社會」，今後成為發達國家的希望渺茫。

據自由亞洲電台的報導，原山東大學經濟信息管理系主任孫文廣先生認為，中國人現在不愛讀書，一個關鍵原因可能跟中國的書不好看有關：「大家對書沒有興趣。中國的出版是在中共嚴格的掌控之下，出版要有一個審批的制度，出版的書稍微有一些新思想，不同見解的書籍就被禁止出版。」

孫文廣先生曾在香港出版《百年禍國》等四本書，但都因內容敏感遭到大陸的封禁。孫文廣先生說，他以前每年去有言論出版自由的香港或台灣，一個主要活動是在那裡看書、買書，他的一些朋友也是如此：「現在中國的書沒有什麼可買的，沒有什麼可看的。全是共產黨選出來的那一套。很多書不讓出，他對圖書不感興趣。看書少智商就可能會下降，或者製造一個低智商的社會。」

孫文廣先生注意到，中國雖然封禁一些政府不喜歡的言論和書籍，但並不敢公佈禁書的名單，導致一些中國人到境外買書時，也不知道買什麼書好：「海關檢查的時候，他認為是禁書就給你扣掉。你有沒有膽量把外面的禁書你劃一個名單出來，寫在香港的書店裡面說中國禁止進口這些書，它不敢。」

《華爾街日報》這篇文章表示，高智商社會應該有思想獨立、成熟的規模化個體群，有強烈的公共意識，有創新的想法，對知識和真理的追求大於對信息的需要。但是在中國民間，現在流行的是山寨和造假，沒有名副其實的創新。

美國德州理工大學教育心理與管理系主任藍雲教授表示，談一個社會的集體智商是個很大的課題：「這個話題很大，牽涉到很多概念，很多命題。所以如果不先把這些概念和命題搞清楚的話，我覺得無法討論。比方講對智商本身就有好多定義。」

但是，藍雲教授同時提到，具體到中國人的讀書習慣來講，確實是實用主義大於對知識本身的追求：「中國人讀書很可能不是出於一個求知的目的，而是非常實用主義的目的。所以，中國人可以很用心的讀對他很有用的書。但一般來說不是真出於一個求知、求真、求善的目的來讀書。所以在讀書的動機上中國人是可以反思一下是不是我們的教育尤其是社會對成功的定義把讀書作為一個敲門磚。那樣我們的讀書確實是沒有很高層次的追求。」

從全世界來看，讀書最多的是以色列人，他們平均每人每年讀64本書。俄羅斯人每人讀55本，美國人大概是50本，中國人平均不到5本。

前一陣中國發生的搶鹽風潮，也顯示很多中國人對基本科學知識缺乏瞭解。據專家分析，現在中國人讀書少，除了出版自由受限制、好書少、考試壓力大以外，還有網絡媒體更加流行、人們生存壓力大、公共圖書館數量少、藏書少等原因。

人老腿先知

"腿”有勁才能壽命長

活著不賴，一晃就幾十年過去了，想長壽吧，那是從古至今每個帝王將相的夢想，歷史書上說，他們仙丹、神丸沒少試，可往往都比一般人還死的早。一個個鐵的事實讓人醒悟，還是保重自己是上策，工作別累著，壓力別大了，器官常保養……靠誰都不如靠自己！

如果把身體比做一台機器，“腿”就是提供動力的馬達。

馬達不靈了，機器便會老化、運轉不良。人老後，不怕頭髮變白、皮膚鬆弛，怕的就是腿腳不靈便。在美國《預防》雜誌總結的長壽跡象中，“腿部肌肉有力”赫然在列。生活中也不難發現，長壽老人幾乎都步履穩健、行走如風。因此，只要養好雙腿，活過百歲的可能性便大大提高。

運動使人長壽——可是全身壓力都在“腿”

雙腿就像人體的承重牆。很少有人知道一個人50%的骨骼和50%的肌肉都在兩條腿上；人一生中70%的活動和能量消耗都要由它完成；人體最大、最結實的關節和骨頭也在其中。人年輕時，大腿骨可以支撐起一輛小轎車；膝蓋則承受著9倍於體重的壓力；腿部肌肉也要經常與大地的引力進行搏鬥，保持緊張狀態。“所以說，堅實的骨骼、強壯的肌肉、? `活的關節形成了一個‘鐵三角’，承受人體最主要的重量。”衛生部老年醫學研究所原所長高芳堃教授解釋說。

雙腿還是身體的交通樞紐。高芳堃說，兩條腿有人體50%的神經、50%的血管，流淌著50%的血液，是連接身體的大循環組織。中醫科主任劉德泉教授認為：“只有雙腿健康，經絡傳導才暢通，氣血才能順利送往各個器官，特別是心臟和消化系統。”可以說，腿部肌肉強勁的人必然有一顆強有力的心臟。

由此，美國科學家認為，從走路便可判斷人的健康狀況。如果一個70歲—79歲的老人，一次可步行約 400米，就說明其健康情況至少能讓他多活6年。老人每次走的距離越長，速度越快，走得越輕鬆，那麼他的壽命就越長。

衰老從腿開始！

俗話說：樹老根先枯，人老腿先衰。人老後，腿部和大腦間指令的準確性和傳導速度都有所下降，不像年輕時那麼默契。中醫科學院研究所裴卉博士解釋說，從出生到離世，腿每時每刻都在工作，如果不注意保護，自然就“年久失修”了。

美國政府老年問題專家夏克醫師表示，從20歲開始，如果不積極運動，每10年可能喪失5%的肌肉組織。同時，骨骼中有“鋼筋”之稱的鈣也會逐漸流失，人的骨關節，特別是髖關節和膝關節會出問題，比如容易摔倒骨折。高芳堃表示，老人骨折容易導致股骨頭壞死，長期臥床，繼而引起褥瘡、尿路結石等並發症，甚至誘發腦血栓。有 15%的病人甚至會在骨折一年內死亡。

“人老腿先知” 必知！腿部衰老的報警信號：　　

報警信號：腿腳沒有原先靈便了。這是衰老的最早特徵。40歲後，很多人感到腿腳不靈活，稍微多走點路，就像腿上灌滿鉛，發酸發脹，上樓梯也越來越費勁，沒爬幾層就氣喘吁吁。

報警信號：做點事就腰酸腿疼。特別是中年女性，只要站的時間一長，就會覺得腰酸腿痛。咳嗽時，腿還會出現放射性疼痛。如果小腿肚出現壓痛更要注意，說明腸胃已經開始“罷工”了。

報警信號：走路變慢。不知不覺中，步速越來越慢。偶爾走快點，會覺得腿腳不聽使喚，過後會連續酸痛好多天，甚至出現肌肉萎縮的情況。

報警信號：雙腿一側發涼。即使夏天也總感到小腿肚涼颼颼的，有時還覺得從臀部開始，到腳後跟，中間一條線都涼涼的。這可能是血液循環不暢造成的，也可能和腰椎間盤病變有關。

報警信號：抽筋次數增多。如果不是在運動後或因為受涼而抽筋，那就要注意了，這可能是骨質疏鬆的表現。有些人還會出現足跟疼痛，也必須引起注意。

報警信號：腫脹。血液循環不好會導致腿脹，同時這也是心腦血管病或腎臟疾病患者常有的症狀。

報警信號：靜脈曲張。女性更容易出現這種情況，20歲後就有可能發生。一旦腿上的血管突然非常清晰，彎彎曲曲像蛇一樣，說明腿部血管出現了勞損。

報警信號：髖膝關節疼痛。幾乎所有關節都會隨著年紀增大而變得脆弱，特別是髖、膝這兩處關節。如果你發現在下樓梯、蹲下或跳躍時出現不適，甚至腿部有摩擦磨損、卡住動不了的感覺，說明關節已經急需保護了。

必學！這樣做能阻止衰老提前來！

雖然人到中年後，腿會慢慢衰老，但養腿是一輩子的事，從20多歲開始，就要注意保護。特別是現在的開車一族，以車代步慣了，腿部力量通常比常人差，只有養好腿，才能阻止衰老提前到來。

首先，注意保暖，穿寬鬆的褲子，促進血液循環。

劉德泉說，千萬別讓腿部受涼，平時常用熱水泡泡腳，使氣血能順利到達人的上身，維持機體平衡。

同時，老年人要穿寬鬆的褲子和鞋，鞋跟2— 3公分比較合適。

此外，臨睡前拿個小枕頭墊墊腿，也能促進血液暢通。

其次，多曬太陽。不僅有利於保暖，還可以促進體內維生素D的形成，避免雙腿鈣流失，有效預防骨質疏鬆。

最後，就是要多運動。幾位專家教給大家一套從上到下的養腿保健操。

髖部：每天堅持背部靠牆站立，腳慢慢往前走，然後再退回，保持一個平穩狀態。此時背的下部要始終緊貼牆壁。

膝蓋：雙膝並攏，屈膝微微下蹲，雙手置於膝蓋上，先順時針方向旋轉30次，再逆時針旋轉30次，扭完雙膝後，再隨意活動一下肢體。

腿：老年人可選擇慢跑、游泳、打太極等有氧運動，最好每天能堅持健走45分鐘。中醫醫院老年病中心劉征堂教授建議，常揉腿肚：彎腰或是坐著讓雙腿下垂，用雙手同時輕輕拍打雙腿，由上至下反覆拍打數遍，再用雙手握拳置於雙大腿和腿肚處，旋轉揉動數十次。

腳踝：多踮踮腳後跟，建議抬起腳後跟再繃緊腿，每次保持5—10秒。

腳趾：兩腿伸直，低頭，身體向前彎，以兩手扳足趾關節各20—30次，能鍛鍊腳力，防止腿足軟弱無力。

Friday, May 13, 2011

少吃肉羹麵、酸辣湯

肉羹麵、酸辣湯少吃為妙 ~!!!

肉羹麵、蚵仔麵線、酸辣湯 …勾芡的東西容易引起痛風及糖尿病之慢性病。

喜歡吃燴飯肉羹湯的人請注意！

我的烹飪老師是西餐工會理事長雷良溪老先生，他也一再說太白粉連蟑螂都不碰，是很毒的東西，寧以蕃薯粉代替。

請注意！肉羹麵、蚵仔麵線、酸辣湯 …告訴你一件事，請轉告大家︰我昨天上了一整天的衛生講習（為了考試），其中一堂是衛生局的一位長官上的課，他是營養學科班出身的，他告訴我們 : 勾芡的東西儘可能少吃，因為容易引起痛風及糖尿病之慢性病。

請勿常吃廉價牛排與燒仙草!!

請注意一下自己是否吃的健康喔！

尤其住在外面的人要更加小心 ~~ 以後不能常吃燒仙草了說 .

燒仙草和牛排別吃太多！要注意喔！

喜愛吃牛排的人要注意了，吃太多的牛排容易致癌！本人於中原大學旁的某大牛排館服務快十年了，如何製造出美味的牛排是一門學問，但是消費者吃了之後健康情形是如何，我們可說是從不聞不問。

在製造牛排的過成中，有一項手續（我們俗稱「泡肉」，就是將切好的一片片牛肉丟進攪好的原料桶中泡，泡上十二小時後，就可以拿出來使用了，煎出來的牛排保證汁多肉嫩，原因就出在那桶「原料」，它的成份有米酒、沙茶粉、肉桂、嫩精（木瓜粉）等等，其中嫩精就是嚴重的致癌物，吃多了只有壞處沒有好處，因為大多數的店家都是以賺錢為目的，根本不管消費者的健康著想，只一昧的要牛肉嫩、軟，大量加入嫩精，讓消費者覺得這家牛排館的牛肉跟別家不同比較嫩，但是您知道嗎？您的健康已慢慢被您吃掉了。

二來是在煎牛排時的時候，如果仔細看過我們煎菲力、鱈魚時，會加一種東西，那個裡面也是含有嫩精，作用為讓物體軟化，但也讓身體健康退化，您不能不知啊！我有些驚訝，因為素食發展協會的理事長也曾告訴我們一樣的話，且千萬叮嚀！

不管是台製或日製的高級太白粉，其實均是由正常的粉麵類〔洗〕剩的副產品，不但沒有營養價值，且對人體有害，所以家裡煮菜，最好不要勾芡，如果一定要，勾薄薄的就好（少中一點毒）。

吃菜剩下的湯汁更別拿來澆飯吃，因為它保留了最精華的農藥殘餘物；當然了，少吃羹湯類的東西是對身體比較好。

有關燒仙草的事：

去年冬天我本來自己也賣燒仙草，一開始是向材料店拿桶裝的，由於它還沒煮成黏綢的燒仙草前，必須放冷藏室，佔空間又不好處理，加上成本頗高，因此只用了一次。

後來，心想自己用仙草乾熬好了，貨真價實，客人吃的安心，自己也賣的安心。

可是！熬了半天，竟然只是仙草「湯」，納悶之餘，便到材料店請教老闆，何以外面賣的燒仙草是綢綢的，此時，老闆拿了一罐東東給我，上面寫著「嫩精」二字，他教我一次只要灑一點點，就可以把仙草乾熬得又綢又濃，賣的時候，再加一些太白粉，邊賣邊加熱，就是您所喝的燒仙草了，待它冷卻後，就是市面上所賣的燒仙草（塊狀 )。

回家一試，不必十分鐘，仙草乾有接觸到嫩精部份的，已經爛透了，再熬兩個鐘頭，那兩把仙草乾早就變成像暴屍荒野的屍體一樣恐怖，爛…透了！又試了別種方法，傳統雜貨店老闆娘告訴我，可以用「硼砂」，而且，也是一點點就夠了，再試了一天！從此以後，那一大袋的仙草乾就被我冰起來了，不只不賣了，連外面賣的燒仙草都不敢喝了！

所以，如果您喝的燒仙草是又濃又綢的，請先別太高興，也不要吃太多 !!

--- 本郵件來自HiNet WebMail ---

蚵仔煎與耳鳴

最近有份雜誌針對1,000位民眾抽樣調查，發現在台灣人的心目中，最能代表台灣美食的是蚵仔煎。蚵仔煎並且以相當大的差距領先珍珠奶茶和大腸麵線。

蚵仔煎在台灣這麼受歡迎，還可能無意間改善了很多耳鳴病人的症狀，您知道嗎？請聽我慢慢道來…

蚵仔煎會成為台灣第一小吃，據說和鄭成功有關。相傳鄭成功初到台灣，軍中缺少糧食，而台南一帶沿海地區盛產牡蠣，於是將士創造蚵仔煎的吃法，度過難關，此後蚵仔煎就變成台灣最負盛名的小吃。

真相如何已不可考，不過蚵仔煎裡面所含的蕃薯粉、茼蒿菜、雞蛋和鮮蚵以現代的眼光來看，的確包含蛋白質、澱粉、蔬菜等重要的營養成分，除此之外，鮮蚵所含的大量鋅元素更是幫助孩童成長、增強免疫力和維持男女性功能的重要成分。

許多人知道海鮮可以增強性能力，但是卻不知道原因為何。其實這和海鮮當中所含的鋅有關，男性精液裡含有大量的鋅，當體內的鋅不足的時候就會影響精蟲的數量與品質。海鮮中以蠔、蝦、蟹的鋅含量最為豐富。一顆小小的蠔或蚵所含的鋅成分大約是15毫克，幾乎等於正常人一天的需求量。

除了攝護線以外，耳蝸和前庭的軟組織內所含的鋅濃度也比身體其他部位高很多，耳蝸負責聽覺，前庭則負責平衡，所以當鋅缺乏的時候就會引起耳鳴、聽力退化甚至眩暈等問題。國外有篇論文報導耳鳴病人當中高達六成有鋅離子缺乏的情形，是否真有這麼高的比例筆者存疑，不過這份報告中病人在補充鋅離子之後耳鳴也隨之改善。

日本學者也曾經報導121位血清鋅離子濃度過低的耳鳴病人，在每天補充34到68毫克的鋅離子2周後，血清鋅濃離子度就恢復正常，同時耳鳴也得到改善。美國的學者的建議劑量是150毫克，大約是日本學者的2倍多一點。

根據筆者觀察，一盤蚵仔煎大約含有6顆鮮蚵（當然這和老闆的慷慨程度有關），以此推算，每盤蚵仔煎大約含有70毫克左右的鋅。剛好跟日本學者的研究所用的劑量差不多。所以，如果耳鳴病人有鋅缺乏的問題，一天吃1到2盤的蚵仔煎肯定會有幫助。

但是各位讀者要小心，鋅和所有的微量礦物質一樣，攝取過量也會影響到其他微量元素的平衡甚至中毒。在體內鋅和銅兩者是呈現互補的狀態，鋅的濃度升高銅的濃度就會下降，所以長期補充鋅離子可能會造成銅離子的濃度不足，導致貧血。

蚵仔煎在無意中改善了許多耳鳴病人的症狀，難怪國外耳鳴病人中高達四分之一生活受到極度的干擾，而筆者的門診中，只有一成左右有這樣的情形，也許這要感謝蚵仔煎的貢獻也說不定！

（本文作者邱正宏為景升聯合診所院長、耳鼻喉專科醫師）

What is Generation Y ?

- People born before 1946 were called The Silent generation..

- The Baby Boomers, are people born between 1946 and 1959.

- Generation X, people born between 1960 and 1979.

- Generation Y , are the people born between 1980 and 2009

Why do we call the last group Generation Y?

Recently a cartoonist explained it very eloquently below...

And I always thought it was because they say....

Y should I get a job?

Y should I leave home and find my own place?

Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?

Y should I clean my room?

Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?

Y should I buy any food?

心靈抗癌

文／孫安迪
近幾年來，一些歐美國家開始流行「意念療法」治療癌症。一位美國德克薩斯州的晚期喉癌病人，醫師診斷只能再活一個月。有位精神心理學家，建議在藥物治療同時，採用「意念療法」。要求每天靜坐，排除一切雜念，想像自己喉頭裏有許多惡魔，而體內白血球則是些勇敢的戰士，他們都集中在喉頭與惡魔戰鬥，把惡魔消滅光，咽喉的惡性腫瘤便漸漸變小，每天病人堅持作二～三次，一個月後，病情便有了明顯好轉。另外，教過筆者生化的董大成老師也有「快樂抗癌」的深切體認。

心靈力量是意念（意識）活動的一個類型。諾貝爾獎得主英國物理學家約瑟福遜認為：測量電子繞原子核運動時，電子的軌道會受到觀測者意識活動的干擾，因而產生測不準的問題。

從這一點來看，意識具有物質性的作用，從而推知心靈力量也可能如此。量子力學是研究微觀世界的能量狀態的；意念也是一種狀態，如何發展量子力學，研究意念狀態與心靈活力，是值得考慮的。諾貝爾獎得主美國物理學家威格涅在他的《論身心問題》一書中指出：過去物理學家不考慮意識作用，是不全面的，應該把心靈與物質結合起來研究。

前年美國也出版了一本震撼醫學界的新書，該書蒐集報導了數百個病例，都是罹患癌症卻奇蹟式痊癒的真實故事。醫學專家研究分析這些自癒的病例後發現：「心靈與身體相互影響，情感與意志力可以影響身體機能。」「思想和情緒是造成不藥自癒的主因。」

醫學專家發現，心理層面，特別是念力的療效似乎大過醫藥的力量。所以有醫師教導病人用心智控制其身體病痛，利用信仰力量作為抵抗病痛的武器。有了強烈的意念與念力，再配合打坐觀想、催眠、瑜珈等方法，會產生不可思議的治療效果。心靈對疾病的康復竟超過生物的醫藥控制？

另外心理刺激所引起的情緒反應，可通過下視丘控制的荷爾蒙分泌來影響免疫功能。如是負面情緒，可使胸腺退化，干擾Ｔ細胞發育成熟，抑制抗體反應和吞噬細胞的功能，及減少干擾素的產生等。這些都會降低免疫力，使易於致癌，或癌細胞易於擴散。

如何發揮心靈抗癌力量？如前述觀想以外，平時還可禪修或練氣功，使經絡活絡，增強抗癌力量。如筆者平時習練達摩禪功六式精髓，前五式為動功，可自行演練；第六式為靜功，需人指導。

第一式　丹田吐納

兩腳張開與肩同寬，雙唇緊閉，用鼻呼吸，雙手置於小腹前方約一拳頭寬度，掌心朝上，緩緩吸氣至小腹，同時雙手緩緩舉至胸前。呼氣時，雙手翻掌，掌心朝下，緩緩降至小腹，氣隨兩掌之下降，緩緩吐出。

第二式　甩手通脈

兩眼輕閉、精神統一於頭頂，兩腳張開與肩同寬，雙手舉起約與肩齊，然後雙手順勢向下甩去。

第三式　踢腳通脈

先踢左腳，兩眼平視正前方直視一定點，左腳自然抬起向左前方踢出，腳尖下壓，踢腳約二十次，停下休息。再換踢右腳，要領與左腳同。

第四式　天地震動

兩眼輕閉，精神集中於頭頂，兩腳張開與肩同寬，兩腳微蹲，用雙腳之力帶動全身上下震動。

第五式　正定不動

兩眼輕閉，兩腳張開與肩同寬，雙手自然下垂置於大腿兩側，此時雙手手掌下壓，掌心與地面平行，五指伸直併攏，手指朝前，將精神集中於雙手掌心。

第六式　靜心坐禪

需請老師指導禪坐方式。

Thursday, May 12, 2011

身材變糟了怎麼辦？

好久沒穿的褲子 or 裙子扣不上了怎麼辦？教你一個方法5分鐘後就能穿了！

一. 聽起來, 很有道理也, 有空試看看吧!

二. 日本人做事, 真是認真!!

好神奇, 回去馬上試試~~~

影片來源：緯來日本台的生活魔法家

http://vlog.xuite.net/vlog/guest/basic.php?media_id=eEdmaVlPLTcyNjcyMC5mbHY=

真的是非常神奇的方法。而且居然只有五分鐘！

相對於魔鬼式的減肥，流淚流汗，還不一定有效果，這樣躺在地上五分鐘，就可能改變小腹的一生，真是令人泫然欲泣。

小薯也有請教過相熟的脊骨治療師，治療師也認為，很多人坐著或站立的姿勢不正確，的確有可能導致腹腔的臟器"掉"下來，不完全是因為肥胖，才生出令人煩惱的小腹。

為了安全起見，小薯當然要拿大薯做實驗，看看到底是節目的效果還是真有其事。

首先，先讓大薯拿一件無法穿上去很久的長褲，接著按照電視的步驟：

1. 平躺在地上，拿髮圈將兩個腳的大拇指套在一起.

2. 在腰部，約在髖骨和肋骨之間，墊一個對折的坐墊.

3. 雙手朝頭頂方向伸直(10指相扣枕放在後腦杓.手肘朝上)

4. 腳尖微微下壓.

就這樣過了五分鐘。結果，大薯起身，開始試穿那件不能穿的長褲，沒想到，腰間的釦子居然可以扣上了！！

原本半信半疑的大薯，也嚇了一跳。從側面看起來，大薯的鮪魚肚真的已經從大腹肉變成中腹肉，真是太令人感動了。

所以大家回去也可以試試看喔。

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A Brief History of Reston

Reprinted from a publication of Gulf Reston, Inc.
I. Reston Land Before The Twentieth Century: 1649-1886

The land on which Reston now stands first became a political entity in 1649 when King Charles II (exiled in France) deeded one-fifth of the present commonwealth of Virginia, a parcel of land known as the "Northern Neck Proprietary", to seven noblemen. Lord Culpepper, one of the original seven, later acquired title to the entire parcel which in 1710 went to his daughter Catherine, Lady Fairfax.

The land remained in the Fairfax family for generations. In 1843 Thomas Fairfax, the Ninth Baron Cameron, deeded over 8,000 acres, including what is now Reston, to is son Reginald, who, in turn, sold the land to Benjamin Thornton in 1852 for $5.00 an acre.

Following the Civil War, the land became a favored area for speculation. In order to satisfy back taxes, the land was put up for auction in 1886 and sold to Dr. Carl Adolph Max Wiehle and William Dunn for $20,000.

II. What Happened To Wiehle?: New Town Predecessor 1886-1961

In 1881, Dr. Wiehle, a successful German-born physician from Philadelphia, retired from general practice at the age of 35 and brought his wife and children to Washington.

The Washington and Old Dominion railroad made it possible for fashionable Washington families to own summer homes in the nearby Fairfax County, Virginia area, and in 1886 Dr. Wiehle formed a partnership with William M. Dunn to buy at auction 6,449 acres of rolling, timbered land in Fairfax along the railroad in the area known as Thornton Station. The cost was less than $4 an acre. The land was later divided, with Dr. Wiehle taking the 3,228 acres north of the railroad tracks, where in 1888 he built a Victorian-style frame house with an elaborate white gazebo near the station. The house is no longer in existence, but the gazebo still stands beside Reston Avenue. About the same time he bought an additional 300 acres, including the land now the property of the Fairfax Hunt, for $10 an acre.

A man of prodigious energy and imagination, Wiehle must have found retirement at 35 unbearably dull, for he soon turned his attention to an ambitious project. In his virgin forests of oak and hickory he envisioned a new town, complete with a hotel, industry, parks and a community center.

To lay out the town, Dr. Wiehle brought a planner from Germany, who used a modified grid pattern, which evolved from medieval European cities built inside walled fortresses for protection. The grid pattern was believed to bring the most economical use of land, and had been used for centuries, even where land was unlimited.

Although only a few of the streets were ever laid out, many of Wiehle's plans were carried to completion. In 1887, he succeeded in establishing a post office named Wiehle (rhymes with Greeley), which it was to remain until officially changed to Sunset Hills in 1923. A two-story brick Town Hall with an 80-pound bell in its steeple was built at the corner of Edmond and Lakeside Avenues. Church services were held on the second floor until the Wiehle Methodist Episcopal Church on New York Avenue was completed in 1907. The church was in regular use until 1939, but the pulpit and pews have long since disappeared and the Chapel, as it is now called, houses scenery for the Reston Players.

Of the planned 800 residences, only six or seven are known to have been erected. All the homes were similar in design and construction-two stories and finished in white clapboard. The house Dr. Wiehle commissioned, as a replacement for his summer home, was an imposing brick mansion of 25 rooms. Situated on a knoll behind the gazebo, it was completed in 1902. However, Dr. Wiehle died of pneumonia in 1901 and never occupied it. Within a few years after his death the town went into a slumber for 60 years.

Transportation was probably not a major problem. The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, successor to several earlier lines, made the 20-odd mile trip from Washington to Wiehle in less than an hour. During the rainy season, when unpaved Route 606 became impassable, the train was used for the short trip to Herndon for supplies.

Furthermore, Wiehle's overall plan did call for industry, as necessary then as today if a town is to be self-sufficient. A strip of land along the old Lakeside Avenue, strategically close to the railroad tracks, was set aside for industrial use, but the limited extent of the industry may have discouraged prospective residents. The first industry in the area included a mill built for the Maryland and Virginia Serpentine and Talc Company of Baltimore. A brick kiln and sawmill were established to supple materials for the construction of the town, and an icehouse was built on the shore of one of three lakes which were hand-dug on the edge of town near the intersection of the railroad and Louis Avenue. Only the largest of the lakes remains today-the others were filled in during the widening and paving of Route 602.

The plan itself, though shortsighted by contemporary standards, probably was not responsible for the town's arrested development. Irving Wasserman, a Chief Planner for Gulf Reston said, "For its time the plan was rather advanced. However, its street design clearly shows its variance with modern street planning, which is geared to contemporary traffic needs and relates to the contours of the land."

The streets themselves were 60 feet wide, and the main thoroughfare 70 feet. The geometric arrangement of the avenues resulted in many triangular lots which would have been difficult to use. Several of these oddly shaped parcels were designated as parks, pre-dating by more than half a century the "vest-pocket" parks now being introduced in New York City.

Economic conditions may have been a major factor in Wiehle's failure. The country experienced a severe panic and depression just before the turn of the century, caused in part by the silver crisis. The silver dollar fell in value to 49 cents after western mines began to produce silver in unprecedented quantities in the late 1890's. Land values also fluctuated wildly, with some areas in the United States doubling in value between 1881 and 1887, and by 1892, the date of Wiehle's completed plat, boom towns were turning to ghost towns as the inevitable deflation set in. Another factor in the plummeting land prices was the mechanization of farm production, which increased the yield per acre so that for the first time in history, production exceeded demand.

The most likely reason for the town's early demise was the untimely death of its founder at the age of 50. His sons did not share his enthusiasm for the project, so the plan gathered dust on a shelf and future expansion was abandoned. In 1908, Dr. Wiehle's heirs sold 3,500 acres for $80,000, and the acreage was primarily used for farming for the next 15 years.

After changing hands several times, what was left of Wiehle was purchased by the A. Smith Bowman family in 1923, and a distillery-Virginia Gentleman-was established in the town's old industrial buildings. The ice house became the office of the Internal Revenue agents assigned to the distillery, and the churchlike steeple was removed from the Town Hall so that the structure could be decently used for aging the barrels of whiskey. In 1947, the Bowman's purchased the former Dunn tract south of the railroad, bringing their total holdings to well over 7,000 acres. The property changed hands twice more before all but the portion occupied by the distillery and the former Wiehle mansion, now the home of A. Smith Bowman Jr., was acquired by Robert E. Simon, Jr., a man with a new dream he called Reston.

III. The Genesis Of Reston: 1961-1962

Simon Enterprises, headed by Robert E. Simon, Jr. purchased 6,750 acres (additional acreage added later, to 7400 acres) of the historical parcel of Virginia countryside in March 1961 from Lefcourt Realty Corporation. The price of the purchase was $13,150,000 or $2,000 an acre, a long way from the $5.00 an acre paid by Benjamin Thornton 100 years earlier.

Before engaging architects, economists, sociologists and planners, Robert Simon set down seven goals which were to become the blue-print for the building of Reston (a name formed from his initials):

1. That the widest choice of opportunities be made available for the full use of leisure time. This means that the New Town should provide a wide range of recreational and cultural facilities as well as an environment for privacy.

2. That it be possible for anyone to remain in a single neighborhood throughout his life, uprooting being neither inevitable nor always desirable. By providing the fullest range of housing styles and prices-from high rise efficiencies to six-bedroom townhouses and detached houses-housing needs can be met at a variety of income levels, and at different stages of family life. This kind of mixture permits residents to remain rooted in the community-if they so choose-as their particular housing needs change. As a by-product, this also results in the heterogeneity that spells a lively and varied community.

3. That the importance and dignity of each individual be the focal point for all planning, and take precedence over large scale concepts.

4. That people may be able to live and work in the same community.

5. That commercial, cultural and recreational facilities be made available to the residents from the outset of the development-not years later.

6. That beauty-structural and natural-is a necessity of the good life and should be fostered.

7. That Reston be a financial success.

Simon wanted his country-city to be more than a place to live; he wanted Reston to be a way to live. He wanted to offer not only a new kind of housing scheme and new relation of home to recreation, but another dimension-thoughtful planning for community life. Frustrated by the disappointments of family life in suburbia, incensed by the enormous waste of time commuting from home to city, disillusioned by the asphalt wilderness of the regional shopping center, Bob Simon looked to Reston as a creative solution to America's increasing urban crisis. Reston was soon to become the first major effort in the United States to build a full-scale self-contained city on the perimeter of a larger metropolitan area.

Simon was familiar with the ten satellite cities, of 30,000 residents each, which Leonardo daVinci had proposed for Milan in 1484 as a solution to the overcrowding which brought on the Black Plague that same year. Bob Simon was no stranger to the works of Ebenezer Howard (1850-1928) whose book Garden Cities of Tomorrow (1902) inspired England's first city-in-the-country, Letchworth. Simon's father was involved in financing America's first garden city in 1928, Radburn, New Jersey.

Assisting the planners of Radburn, Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, was a young architect, Julian Whittlesey. It was to the firm of Whittlesey and Conklin that Simon eventually turned for the creation of the Reston Master Plan. The firm of Whittlesey and Conklin (now Conklin and Rossant) deserves the major credit for the distinguished plan which today guides the development of Reston.

Convinced that his master plan should be shaped by innovative land use, Simon envisioned Reston as a well-balanced community, not merely another subdivision. He wanted Reston to be a unique, private real estate venture which would integrate residences, industry, commerce, schools, churches, cultural institutions, social and recreational facilities in an essentially independent community structure which would be economically viable and socially desirable.

Faced with conventional zoning ordinances in Fairfax County which segregated residential, industrial and commercial use, Simon had to formulate his own code in order to make his dream become reality.

"Our present zoning ordinances are largely responsible for the diffusion of our communities into separate, unrelated hunks without focus, identity, or community life", Simon said. "They have helped produce chaos on our highways, monotony in our subdivisions, and ugliness in our shopping centers. They are to blame for the whole neon-lighted wasteland that exists because of the subdivision's separation from commercial and recreational facilities."

Simon dreamed of a cohesive community made possible by mixed density zoning. "Mixed land use reduces the distance between home and offices, stores, community facilities, and recreation. It provides day and night use of the same areas and facilities, which is more efficient economically, more interesting aesthetically, and safer. Mixed land use gives the developer greater flexibility. He can construct garden apartments, high-rise buildings, and townhouses in a way appropriate to the topography of the land. And mixed land use saves space, which makes additional facilities possible."

Assisted by economic, social, legal and political consultants, and armed with a creative master plan based on sinews of high density linking seven village centers and a town center, Bob Simon presented his bold innovation to Fairfax County.

In July 1962, the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County adopted into law Residential Planned Community (RPC) zoning. Based on population density distribution, the RPC code allows the land to be divided into density areas: high (60 people per acre), medium (14 per acre), and low (3.8 per acre), and permits: apartments above stores, high-rise with townhouses, and the spread of commercial, recreation and community facilities throughout. Under this zoning code, the developer must submit a master plan to the county and maintain an overall maximum density of thirteen people per gross residential acre.

"We started with a program rather than a plan," Simon said. "We asked what people could be offered when they moved here, rather than what we were going to do with the land. It was like Christmas. Whatever we could dream up, we would write down. And, in the end, we actually used many of the ideas we wrote down."

The physical plan that emerged came from the concept that people came first. The usual concentric, bull's eye plan, with densest areas in the center and a green belt around the outside was avoided. Successes and mistakes of new town building in Europe and Britain were carefully studied. Open space in Reston, it was decided, would be used for recreation rather than protection, as in other new towns.

Simon wanted to make these open space areas as accessible as possible to all residents. This desire sparked the Whittlesey and Conklin plan for high-density sinews that wind through the property from north to south. This plan brought all residents within walking distance of these recreation areas.

The Reston master plan called for seven village centers which would provide convenience shops and community facilities for 10 to 12,000 and serve as the focal point of each neighborhood. 42% of the gross acreage was left to the public factor, which included open space, roads, parks, golf courses, walkways, schools and churches. A town center was established which, when built, would service not only Reston's expected 75,000+ population, but an additional 50,000 people as well. 1,000 acres, in the heart of the property, were set aside for an industrial center.

By the spring of 1963, working drawings were in order and detailed plans had been approved by the County for construction of Lake Anne Village Center, Reston's pilot project. A substantial loan from the Gulf Oil Corporation early in 1963 enabled Simon to put into operation the elaborate machine which he had started two years before.

IV. Reston, Virginia, Inc.: 1963-1967

The first project was the building of 30 acre Lake Anne. Carved out of a natural water-shed area, 94,000 cubic yards of earth were moved to create a 45 foot high by 500 foot earth dam. Completed in August 1963, at a cost of close to a quarter of a million dollars, the Lake Anne dam impounded the waters of Colvin Run and the lake began to fill. By the time the dam was completed, work had already begun on Reston's first 18-hole gold course. Designed by golf course architect Edmund B. Ault, the Reston North Gold Course was over 7,000 championship yards. An entire underground irrigation system was put in. Drawing water from newly-formed Lake Anne.

Throughout the spring of 1963, construction began on the shops, apartments and townhouses of Lake Anne Village Center, designed by master planners Conklin and Rossant. Simultaneous construction began on the first two townhouse clusters: Waterview Cluster, 90 townhouses designed by Washington architect Cloethiel W. Smith, and Hickory Cluster, 90 townhouses designed by Charles M. Goodman. This initial project included 227 townhouses, 113 rental apartments, including 15-story Heron House, and approximately 50,000 square feet of commercial space.

During this same period of time, three different projects were set in motion. In May of 1963, Reston's first residential sales office, known simply as the "Roundhouse", started pushing up its walls on the hillside overlooking Route 606. It was located on the road which was at that time the sole entrance to the growing village center from the highway.

A mile away, siting and grading started on the Group Facilities Complex in the heart of the 1,300 acres set aside for government and industry. Located along the Washington & Old Dominion right-of way, across the valley from the Bowman Distillery, the Group Facilities Complex was immediately adjacent to the newly graded fairways of the first golf course. During the following spring, construction began on the first 33,000 square foot shell building of what was soon to emerge as Isaac Newton Square.

Meanwhile, down at the southern tip of Reston's eleven square mile boundary, siting and initial road grading began off Route 602 (now Reston Avenue)2 in Hunters Woods Village; Simon was persuaded by the County planners to concentrate his low density areas around the periphery of the 7,400 acres. He felt it important to begin selling lots for detached, single family homes in Hunters Woods village in case the cluster homes in Hunters Woods Village in case the cluster concept of Lake Anne Village was not acceptable to the metropolitan Washington market.

As work commenced in Hunters Woods Village, Simon and his legal counselors worked on the Deeds of Dedication and By-Laws for Reston's First and Second Homeowners Associations: the First to serve the area north of the Dulles Access Road, the Second to serve the area south.

The principal role of the associations was to care for the land and facilities designated for community use and common ownership: i.e. open spaces, swimming pools, tennis courts, Lake Anne. A secondary role of the associations was to enforce the covenants set forth in the Deed of Dedication which is part of the title to each parcel of Reston land. The covenants dealt with the external appearance of property and empowered an Architectural Review Board to approve plans for all non-developer construction.

The Reston North Golf Course opened for play in May 1964, and during its first season averaged 1,000 rounds per week. Shortly thereafter, construction began on the 40-stall Reston South Riding center in Hunters Woods Village. At the same time, a number of single-family homes began to emerge out of the woods opposite the riding center.

Two days before Thanksgiving, 1964, the Reston Industrial Division welcomed its first tenant-The Air Survey Corporation, an aerial photographic and photogrammetric engineering firm with 30 employees-into the Group Facilities Complex.

Two weeks later, on December 9th, the Residential Sales Division greeted Reston's first citizens, a couple who purchased a Waterview Cluster townhouse on the shores of Lake Anne. Industry had preceded the people.

Five days later, on December 14th, Reston's second industrial tenant, HRB-Singer, Inc. a division of the singer company, moved into their laboratory facility on a five-acre wooded site in the Industrial Center.

By February 1965, the entire commercial space available in the Lake Anne village Center had been leased. The leases included a pharmacy, Fairfax County branch library, a decorator studio, hairstylist, hardware store and garden shop, dry cleaners, barber shop, restaurant, art supply store, card and gift shop, supermarket, and children's store. In addition, space in the first office building was quickly rented out to a life insurance company, a bank, a lawyer and two dentists.

By the time Lake Anne Village Center was officially opened on December 4th, 1965, two community swimming pools, four tennis courts, a volleyball court, numerous playgrounds, a pedestrian underpass and several miles of pedestrian walkways, the first 18-hole golf course, a riding center, a fifteen story high-rise, 227 townhouses, 113 apartments and approximately 100 single family detached homes, not to mention the village center itself, had all been completed. In addition, seven industries had signed up for occupancy in the Industrial Center and four were actually in operation, employing over 250 people. Residential population was approximately 500.

Throughout 1964 and 1965, the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company had been watching the development of Reston with keen interest. At the end of 1965, it was announced that Hancock would invest a considerable sum of money in permanent financing for the orderly long-term development of Reston.

Reston was officially dedicated on May 21, 1966. Guest speakers at the Dedication day Program included Stewart L. Udall, Secretary, Department of the Interior, and Robert C. Weaver, Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Dedication Address was given by Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. At this landmark program, Robert E. Simon, Jr., was awarded HUD's first Urban Pioneer Award. In a telegram from the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson sent greetings: "In this age of ever-mounting urban growth... the birth of a new town such as Reston is a living influence which invigorates our concepts of urban planning... I extend greeting to all of you as you dedicate the City of Reston."

During the Dedication ceremonies, Secretary Udall revealed the Federal government's decision to build the new $50,000,000 headquarters of the U.S. Geological Survey on an 85 acre site in Reston's Industrial Center. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill would be the architects for the 1,000,000 square feet of space.

By the end of 1966, four more major industries had signed on to join the Reston community. Population had tripled in a year's time, townhouse sales were moving well for the first time. The apartments were 100% occupied, and close to 200 single family homes were either occupied, built or under construction.

But development and sales could not move fast enough to cover the tremendous burden of developmental costs. By the fall, the residential population was nearing an unimpressive 2,500, and only about 370 townhouses, 400 apartments and 325 home sites had been sold or rented, far short of projections. Bob Simon had exhausted his financial resources. It was at this point that Gulf Oil Corporation stepped in.

Writing in the Washington Post in November 1967, Robert Durham, President, American Institute of Architects, pinpointed exactly the problems facing those who wish to build a community from the ground up, including all the social institutions: "It would be a mistake to believe that Reston' current problems raise questions about the viability of the New Town movement, or about Reston's design. The project difficulties stem from neither of these sources. They reflect the fact that in the U.S. we have not yet faced up to the special kind of financing needed by New Towns. Contrary to other kinds of construction projects, a New Town by its nature must provide for a long lead-time between investments and returns--a time when costly community facilities and amenities, plus payments, taxes and land carrying cost in general will deplete early capital and there will be insufficient income to replace it."

Gulf Oil Corporation had been studying Reston's profit potential from the very earliest days. It was their initial investment in the spring of 1963 that enabled Bob Simon to go from blueprint to bulldozer. Gulf saw promise in the professionally planned community as an investment as well as a means of demonstrating the company's interest in the orderly development of New Towns in the U.S. with private funds and experienced management.

As an international company operating around the world, Gulf had been observing over the past several decades the sociological impact on the New Towns being built in Sweden, Finland, Scotland and England. Gulf Oil was no newcomer to the world of town planning: a wealth of experience in designing and building complete towns all over the world provided financial and managerial insight.

Based on exhaustive computer studies regarding Reston's profit potential, land use restrictions, financial feasibility studies, and managerial availability, Gulf decided to accelerate and expand the development of Reston consistent with the long-term aspects of the project.

2 and now Reston Parkway.

V. Gulf Reston, Inc.: 1967-1969

Gulf formed a subsidiary, Gulf Reston, Inc., to take over the planning, construction, financing and sales of the new community within the framework of the original master plan. On September 28, 1967, Gulf took over full financial and operational responsibility. One of Gulf Reston's first goals was to accelerate development. More people were needed to fill jobs; more industry was needed to attract people. The entire process-planning, county approval, construction and marketing-had to be stepped up. It was decided that a constant minimum of 1,000 residential units a year had to be reached in order to make Reston turn the financial corner.

1968 was a year of acceleration. Some 800 units of all types were completed. Reston's population soared over the 5,000 mark. Ten major new industries came into the Industrial Center, and 108,000 square feet of lease space was constructed in Isaac Newton Square, including the construction of the 30,000 square foot Newton Building in the heart of the complex. The Reston industrial population jumped to 1,400. Reston's second church, the Washington Plaza Baptist Church, was completed in the Lake Anne Village Center.

Long-awaited monies from the Department of Housing and Urban Development finally became a reality, and for the first time in Reston, construction began on moderate-income housing.

The Reston Community Association (RCA), a volunteer membership group directed toward the creation and establishment of community programs, was formed. In March 1968, active members of this organization inaugurated Reston's first Express Commuter Bus system. This embryonic mass transportation system was started on a shoestring with little subsidization from either developer or bus company.

This commuter bus system has since gained national recognition and set a national precedent for citizen action in the improvement of mass urban transportation.

In 1969, 1,200 residential units were completed and Reston's 7,500 population was evenly distributed among apartments, town and patio houses, and single family homes.

By the end of 1969, 30 industries were located in the Industrial Center with a working population of 2,000; A graduate extension of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPl), a branch bank and a 300-seat cafeteria opened in the Newton Building, Isaac Newton Square; And an advanced group from the U. S. Geological Survey started operations in a Reston-based facility.

Five swimming pools and eight tennis courts were completed as of December 1969. Reston's paved walkway system, with seven pedestrian underpasses, totaled over ten miles in length. And the Hunters Woods Elementary School, Reston's second elementary school, opened at the start of the 1969 school season.

Construction on the second 18-hole golf course neared completion. Plans were announced for the 21 acre Reston Inn and Conference Center Complex, located adjacent to the second 18-hole golf course. The plans for this Complex included an Inn with approximately 300 guest rooms, 25,000 square feet of seminar-meeting rooms, a 205,000 square foot high-rise office building, a 700-seat twin cinema, and 15,000 square feet of retail commercial space. Working drawings were also started on Reston's second village center in Hunters Woods Village.

Twenty-seven months after the subsidiary was formed, Gulf Reston, Inc. had pumped new blood into an anemic development program, sharply reversing a critical cash position. In that short span of time, 2,000 residential units had been completed, consistent with early management goals, and population figures had jumped from 2,500 to 7,500.

Ten new major firms opened their doors in the Industrial Center in 1969 alone, and the industrial population pushed to the 2,000 mark.

As a strong signal of confidence in this improved climate; The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in October 1969, signed a long-term mortgage agreement; for existing income-producing properties with Gulf Reston, Inc. in the amount of $10,500,000. Not only did this resource come at a time of extremely tight money, but the commitment evidenced the ability of Gulf Reston, Inc. to perform as a recognized and independent real estate developer.

Finally, the apparent success of Gulf's intercession must be measured by the fact that, contrary to the early fears of some Reston citizens, Gulf's management supported the innovative master plan as a continuing guide to each new developmental phase.

VI. A Year of Impressive Gains: 1970

1970 will long be remembered as the year of economic depression. With the White House sitting on one of the worst inflationary spirals in history, a tight lid was clamped on mortgage and lending market. Everyone felt the squeeze of nation-wide spending cutbacks. But hardest hit by tight money was the housing industry. With an estimated 26 million new homes needed in the 70's alone, housing starts fell far behind the 1.7 million units hoped for in 1970.

Contrary to this trend, 1970 registered some impressive gains for Gulf Reston, Inc., and the development of Reston, Virginia.

Housing

Housing was a significant part of the success story. Aided by lending money and standby commitments from the parent Gulf Oil Company, Gulf Reston kept sales moving at a good pace during the most severe postwar credit crisis.

In twelve months, Reston's population jumped from 7,500 to 11,250-a 50 per cent increase over December, 1969- Five hundred and fifty-five apartments, 328 townhouses and patio homes, and 272 detached homes were completed in 1970 for a grand total of 1,155 living units.

November residential sales set an all-time Reston record for one month-$2,800,000 which was double the November, 1969, volume and triple the same month in 1968.

In November another precedent was set: Northgate Square, Reston's first cluster of town- houses with FHA/VA financing went on the market. Two to five-bedroom townhouses ranged from a low of $26,350 up to $37,250. For the first time in Reston's history, a family could buy a home with no money down.

As a result of this market expansion, a large number of families living in Reston rental units purchased their first home. Sales started briskly from floor plans and models in a trailer at the building site. By the end of 1970, even before the grand opening of Northgate in January, 1971, almost half of the 80 townhouses had been sold.

Another portion of the housing success story occurred in the area of low and moderate-income housing. One hundred and ninety-eight low and moderate-income units, in a garden apartment complex called Cedar Ridge, were completed in May, 1970. Built with financing made available under the 221(d) (3) Section of the 1968 Federal Housing Act, Cedar Ridge demonstrated Gulf Reston's willingness to forego profits on the land in order to establish a sound housing mix.

Writing about Reston's Cedar Ridge in his architectural column in the April 6 WASHINGTON POST, critic Wolf Von Eckardt stated: "The Federal government has an official policy of promoting integrated new communities, and a lofty goal of building more low-cost housing- Yet, it seems that Gulf, which is in business to make money, shows a greater sense of urgency than the government about having blue-collar workers, barbers, mailmen and even some people on welfare live in the same town with well-paid researchers, managers and GS-15 civil servants."

Rents in Cedar Ridge ran from $120 for a two-bedroom apartment (for families earning between $6,000 and $9,400) to $165 for a four-bedroom unit (available to families with incomes ranging from $7,900 to $12,200. Ten of the 198 units, interspersed throughout the complex, were designated for public housing families and leased to the Fairfax County Housing Authority. Qualified families could rent one of the $165 four-bedroom apartments for $90, with the Fairfax County Public Housing Authority making up the difference.

With only word-of-mouth promotion, Cedar Ridge opened its first units to the public in the fall of 1969. By year end all 198 units had been rented; and two months later there was a waiting list of 150 families.

In February, 1970, ground was broken near the entrance of Lake Anne Village for the construction of Fellowship House, Reston's first housing project for senior citizens-the first housing project of its kind in an American new town.

Sponsored and managed by Fellowship Square Foundation; Inc., a non-profit corporation, Fellowship House was built with monies obtained under Title 202 of the National Housing Act of 1968. The 138-unit; nine-story high-rise offered efficiency, studio, one and two-bedroom apartments for singles or couples of any race, color or creed over 55 years of age with incomes not exceeding $5,400. Rents ranged from $99-50 to $126-50.

Like Cedar Ridge; Fellowship House contributed to Reston's growing population mix. By the end of 1970, 80 per cent of the units were rented.

Industry

Integral with the bright Reston housing scene in 1970 was an unprecedented year of industrial and commercial sales. By December, 1970, more than 100 businesses and industries, associations and educational institutions, government agencies and professional services as well as shops and stores were located in Reston.

One of the major news stories to come out of the year 1970 was the announcement that the Nation's largest educational association, the National Education Association, and ten national affiliates had purchased 56 acres of the campus-like Reston Center for Associations and Educational Institutions adjoining the site of Reston's Inn and Conference Center complex.

James D. Gates, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and coordinator of the NEA move to Reston, stated the following reasons for coming to Reston: "The site of the Educational Park, located next to the Dulles Expressway, five miles from Dulles International Airport, adjacent to the Inn and Conference Center and public golf course, was one of our primary reasons for selecting Reston.

"Reston has consistently appeared as the number one choice, not only of independent study groups sponsored by the associations but also of two consulting firms employed by the associations to review possible sites for relocation because of the inadequacy of present facilities in Washington, D.C."

"We were attracted to Reston because of the open space, community facilities and attention given the environment. It affords us flexibility, room for development and planning for the future." "Another very important factor is the availability of housing for different income groups. We would like to be able to help provide jobs for people, traditionally bound to the inner city, in a rural environment-in an area of planned development — such as Reston," Gates concluded.

In October, 1970, the Board of Directors of the American Newspaper Publishers Association made public their decision to move the ANPA headquarters from 750 Third Avenue, New York City, to ten acres in Reston's Center for Associations and Educational Institutions. This decision was the culmination of more than two years of extensive study and location review by the ANPA Board.

In making the announcement, Stanford Smith, ANPA General Manager, said, "Reston was selected from three different locations under consideration because of its ideal proximity both to the U.S. Government departments in Washington and because of Dulles Airport. The ten-minute drive from Dulles to our headquarters location will provide greater ease of membership contact with ANPA headquarters than our present location in midtown Manhattan. FAA studies indicate that Dulles will possibly become the largest airport on the East Coast in the next 15 years."

Architectural Awards

In January, 1970, at an awards ceremony on Washington Plaza, Centreville District Supervisor Martha V. Pennino presented to Gulf Reston President William H. Magness a bronze plaque-the highest recognition in the County's First Annual Beautification Awards Program. Selected from over 30 applications and cited for its "fortuitous blending of architecture, site planning and landscaping as a focal center for the community of Reston," the Lake Anne Village Center was awarded one of three bronze plaques by the Fairfax County Government.

Six months later at an awards ceremony luncheon in Fairfax Dr. William S. Hoofnagle, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, presented another bronze plaque to Mr. Magness in highest recognition of the County's First Industrial Beautification Awards Program.

A special category-Mixed Commercial and Industrial Award-was created by the panel of judges to recognize the Newton Building in Isaac Newton Square and the Professional Building located at 11401 North Shore Drive at the entrance to Lake Anne Village. The Reston plaque was one of four awarded to industrial facilities within the County judged to have been "designed, constructed, landscaped, and maintained so as to enhance their immediate environment and the County as a whole."

Land And Facilities Deeded To Reston Homeowners

In the early days of 1970, Gulf Reston deeded over to the Home Owners Association a total of $600,000 worth of debt-free recreational facilities, walkways, bridges, parks, lakes and open space. This included seven swimming pools, 18 tennis courts, a riding stable and 280 acres of lakes and open space. In August; a $90,000 pedestrian overpass at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Wiehle Avenue was dedicated to the Home Owners Association.

Two Golf Courses

On June 1, 1970, the Reston North Golf Course was transformed into a private Reston Golf and Country Club. A championship 18-hole, par 71 course, the North Course first opened to the public in the summer of 1964.

An extensive addition to the existing clubhouse provided for the new Country Club a formal dining room, dance floor, cocktail lounge and grill, exercise suites, sauna baths, an Olympic size six-lane indoor pool, indoor handball and squash courts, and a golf pro shop. In addition, two all-weather outdoor tennis courts were installed.

On the same day a new 18-hole, par 72, 6,700 yard South Golf Course was officially opened to the public on Sunset Hills Road across from the site of the Reston Inn and Conference Center complex.

Self-Government In Reston

In April, 1970, after a Reston citizen-wide vote, the First and Second Home Owners Associations, organized when Reston was first founded in 1963, became officially consolidated into one organization, The Reston Home Owners Association.

One month later citizens went to the polls to elect five representatives to Reston's first two Village Councils. The Lake Anne and Hunters Woods Village Councils then elected their own chairmen who automatically sat on Reston's first Town Council. Three citizen Board members from the Reston Home Owners Association made up the balance of the Town Council.

Graduate Studies In Reston

In July, 1970, the Gulf Reston Executive Offices were moved into new and expanded quarters at 11440 Isaac Newton Square, North. The former office space, a converted farmhouse on Spring Street and the site of the Executive Offices since Reston's origin in 1961, was renovated and leased to the Graduate Studies Center of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI).

Located in temporary quarters in the Newton Building since 1968, VPI opened the Fall Semester, 1970, with 250 students in seven graduate degree programs.

In August a graduate study center aimed at exploring and solving the problems of new communities was officially designated by Virginia Governor Linwood Holton to be located in Reston.

Governor Holton, who had in April made an official inspection tour of Reston, made this announcement at a luncheon meeting in the Reston Golf and Country Club. Also speaking at the luncheon were Housing and Urban Development Secretary George Romney and VPI President Marshall T. Hahn.

The New Communities Study Center, the first of its kind in the United States, was to be funded by state and Federal grants and administered by VPI.

Summary

1970, a cruel year for the nation's economy and the housing industry as a whole, was a year of impressive gains for Gulf Reston, Inc. Four years after Reston was officially dedicated population had risen 600 per cent, housing starts hit an all-time high, a record sales month was recorded. For the first time one could buy a townhouse for no money down, tax revenues to Fairfax County made impressive gains with support from Reston-based industry, and the completion of Cedar Ridge marked an important milepost in Gulf Reston's determination to provide housing for all income groups. Families of every income level could now live in Reston-the realization of a major planning goal.

Shortly before Christmas, a 259-page study prepared for the U.S. Department of Transportation by The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research was made public. As a solid endorsement of Reston's success, the report concluded that out of ten planned communities interviewed, "General satisfaction among adults with their community was highest in Reston, where 61% said their satisfaction level was excellent."

An Editorial, Restonian (1968)

A New Magazine of New Ways to Live.

Before America was a nation its people were pushing outward. From the Massachusetts Bay Colony some of the pilgrims went south to what was to become Rhode Island. The farmers of Virginia trekked across the Appalachians to the Northwest Territory. Later, as the states gathered themselves together as a nation, the people moved further west – into the Great Plains and on to the Pacific Coast. Future generations, driven by the depression years or lured by speculative ventures, kept up the movement outward. Even as America pressed up against the ocean, the migrations continued.

This time the movement was interior – from the cities to the neighboring countryside. No Indians were killed or treaties broken to settle the suburbs, but all the same, our demographers and historians have not dealt kindly with this migration. In the story of urban America, it can be found under the heading "Urban Sprawl."

There are Americans today who are trying to write a new, hopeful chapter to this story. They are the pioneers of the New Towns. Like pioneers before them, they too are pushing outward. But their towns are not just new places to live. The New Towns, looking toward the future but remembering the past, offer an alternative to the sprawl of the suburbs and blight of the cities. Future cities themselves of 80,000 to 100,000, they are planned into the next generation – not to mold people into conformity but to give them options that land-grabbing, helter-skelter development doesn't.

The New Towns are building their own industry to give themselves eventual economic self-sufficiency. They provocatively mix residential and commercial areas so that shoppers have the convenience of the city neighborhood. They cluster homes together so that everyone can see the countryside from his kitchen window.

Already there are three score New Towns abuilding or on the way. Will they succeed or simply prove to be contemporary company towns or middle-class ghettos? And what of the people who live in the New Towns? Who is this new generation of pioneers? These are some of the questions that Restonian magazine will answer.

Because Restonian is a new magazine of new ways to live, it will not confine itself to New Towns. Wherever people are turning to new ways of living – New Town, suburb or city, in America or abroad – Restonian will turn.

Leonardo da Vinci and the New Town, Restonian (1968)

Thomas R. Huth

Being a ruler by birthright and a hedonist by nature, Lodovice Sforza had the means and the desire to divorce himself from the disagreeable elements of his 15th-century Milan. Venturing out from his splendid palace, he could not avoid the huddled masses, the aggressive prostitutes.

The noisy street-sellers and, most loathsome of all, the garbage that rained on the heads of unsuspecting passers-by and collected with noxious odor in great decomposing heaps along the streets. Lodovice issued regulations and imposed penalties, but the urban rot remained. It was left to Leonardo da Vinci to offer the solution: New Towns.

Leonardo had come to Milan in 1483 as a member of Lodivice's court. He had sold himself as a genius in the design of military hardware, but by the time he arrived Lodovice had turned to diplomacy as the better part of survival. So Leonardo busied himself with sketches and experiments, and proposed one noble project after another. But Lodovice, something of a Philistine, saw little sense in his young artist's ideas. What's more, Leonardo went months on end without getting his salary.

Then, in 1484 and for the next two years, Milan was visited by the Black Death. Lodovice quarantined the sick and, when that didn't work, fled the city. (His only illness was hypochondria—he wouldn't even go near state documents until they were perfumed.) It was in this situation of disease on top of squalor that Leonardo da Vinci imagined the New Towns.

"Give me the authority whereby, without expense to you," he wrote tactfully to Lodovice, and went on to propose the building of ten satellite cities of 5000 houses and 30,000 residents each. Thus, he wrote in phrases that ring familiar five hundred years later, "you will disperse... people who, herding together like goats one upon the back of another, filling every part with their stench, sow the seeds of pestilence and death."

Leonardo's plans were so ambitious, in fact, that his ten towns of 30,000 people would relocate the entire 300,000 residents of Milan. But, if he was proposing a revolution in city planning, he certainly had in mind no social revolution. This bastard son of a peasant woman was injured in the pleasures of good living and suffered uncommonly form contact with the mob.

His new cities were to have two levels—the upper for the "gentlefolk," as he called his crowd, and the lower for the "common people." As in today's New Towns, Leonardo provided for a separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic—not for safety but so the poor people's wagons and carts would not clank and clatter through the beatific upper city.

And, so noblemen would not have to walk around enclosed in clouds of perfume, Leonardo devised an elaborate sewer system. The towns were to be built along rivers; all toilets and stables were to empty into conduits, which would carry the garbage into canals and then to the river, where the cycle would begin again with fresh water. All roads would have gutters down the middle, so street sweepings, too, would be whisked away. Smoke was also to be carried away from sight, and Leonardo presumably provided for underground cables in case someone discovered electricity. The beauty of the upper city was insured by his design, in which elevated reservoirs would water the gardens and the average height of houses would equal the width of the streets.

For the workingmen below, Leonardo designed openings in the upper streets to admit shafts of light. And he drew spiral staircases for the lower city, "because in the corners of square ones nuisances are apt to be committed" – Leonardo had discovered that men unfailingly urinated on the landings.

Leonardo may have realized that he was ahead of his time, because he pointed out to Lodovice the practical benefits: the municipalities would share in the costs of the towns, and the Duke would share in the profit. With a flourish, he told his patron that "the city will be of a beauty equal to its name, and useful to you for its revenues and the perpetual fame of its growth."

But this proposal, like Leonardo's earlier ideas, fell on unsympathetic ears. Instead, Lodovice called on physicians to fight the plague. He also consulted astrologers (they told him not to eat oysters). The plague eventually faded away, leaving 50,000 dead, and Leonardo set his sights lower in his search for freedom from stench and filth. Among his first projects was a redesigned toilet seat, and soon after that he drew plans for a sensible bawdyhouse.