User Comments - RJ
RJ
Posted on: The Mysteries of 而 Revealed
October 11, 2012 at 4:30 PMGrambers,
there is a big difference between living the good life, and living a good life. The former implies a party, the latter, a life of sacrifice in order to do right and be good.
being committed to living a good life is indeed a "heavy burden that ends only with death". At least that has been my experience. Finding employment in an area that allows you to enjoy part of your burden is a "sin free" way to lighten that load.
Posted on: What time do you get up?
October 10, 2012 at 11:50 AMAh, but the Chinese typically bathe at night. Just a cultural tip.
Posted on: The Mysteries of 而 Revealed
October 9, 2012 at 11:46 PMOK, I trust your judgement. I knew it was iffy and originally cited it more for entertainment than historical value. Actually it sounds more like a Ben Franklin quote to me.
Posted on: Rich and Poor
October 9, 2012 at 8:58 PMBachelor apt makes sense. I moved into an efficiency (bachelor apt) for a while long ago. I was still young and only needed a place to sleep. I remember using the refrigerator to hang my shirts in. Its also where I kept the phone so the ring wouldn't wake me. There was still room for beer of course. Ah to be young again. Well, maybe not.....
Posted on: The Mysteries of 而 Revealed
October 9, 2012 at 8:11 PMSiteng,
I know what you mean, and you may very well be right, these things are hard to trace with any certainty but there are many sources that claim this belongs to Confucius. Such as:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/15321.Confucius
http://www.rightpathconsulting.com/PathDiscoveries.pdf
Posted on: Rich and Poor
October 7, 2012 at 12:46 PMIn the US the distinction between apartment and condo is rent vs buy, as Podster has pointed out. It has nothing to do with size. We typically do not use the word "flat" although it would be understood. We do have small units called "Efficiency apartments" in which the bedroom, kitchen, and living area blend together.
I have never heard the term granny flat used in the US, but its meaning is quite self explanatory. Typically we call these "in-law suites" or "mother-in-law" suites.
Posted on: Hamsters, Snakes, and Owls
October 6, 2012 at 4:23 PM哈哈，Glad I could finally make a useful contribution.
Posted on: The Mysteries of 而 Revealed
October 6, 2012 at 2:43 PMApparently that wise man was Confucius himself.
Posted on: Hamsters, Snakes, and Owls
October 5, 2012 at 11:08 AMI think we need to remember that in a medium such as this, without the benefit of facial expression, body language, instantaneous response, or tone of voice, communication can be tricky. On top of that we are talking across cultural and geographical boundaries as if we are in the same room. A great learning opportunity, but we need to give each other a wider berth and not enter with axes ground and hammers back. We all say things that don't wash just right on second thought, or can be misinterpreted, but that's life. Our goal here should be to foster an environment of learning in which we strive to err on the side of tolerance. No one comment makes a man and we all have our moods. Here's to all of us being in a better one.
Posted on: The Mysteries of 而 Revealed
October 11, 2012 at 7:45 PMthis is my shocked face :-)