http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/bc/ondemand/video/BROWNsanta.wmv
In this CBC news clip, Santa's Canadian citizenship is revealed.  Also check out his postal code (H0H 0H0 - not surprisingly a Canadian one) and PM Harper's bill for reaffirmation.

Seems silly, but the letters are serious. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17558430

A hint of white Christmas yesterday morning, but rain came back soon. Only 10% chance of having a white Christmas in Vancouver on average... Likely this year we'll have a "wet" Christmas again.

Merry Christmas to everyone. If you are feeling the same as I am, you are in the right mood:-) If not, well, here are some tips:
1. Write to Santa (better not in Chinese);
2. Give a listen to this week's Vinyl Cafe: Dave and his turkey story.  (Not in Canada? Well you've missed a hell of a lot of fun);
3. Buy yourself a present -- I ordered the whole year of TIME magazine for myself (right right I know it's stupid... but I'm poor);
4. Watch movies that require no mental labor, e.g. Ghostbusters;
5. Get enough sleep.

Personally, I think the last one is the most important of all.

有美堂記

歐陽修

from   Tony私選的古文觀止

嘉祐二年(宋仁宗嘉祐2年，西元1057年)，龍圖閣直學士，尚書吏部郎中梅公，出守於杭。於其行也，天子寵之以詩，於是始作有美之堂。蓋取賜詩之首章而名之，以為杭人之榮。然公之甚愛斯堂也，雖去而不忘。今年自金陵遣人走京師，命予誌之，其請至六七而不倦。予乃為之言曰：

夫舉天下之至美與其樂，有不得兼焉者多矣。故窮山水登臨之美者，必之乎寬閒之野、寂寞之鄉，而後得焉。覽人物之盛麗，跨都邑之雄富者，必據乎四達之衝、舟車之會，而後足焉。蓋彼放心於物外，而此娛意於繁華，二者各有適焉。然其為樂，不得而兼也。

今夫所謂羅浮、天臺、衡岳、洞庭之廣，三峽之險，號為東南奇偉秀絕者，乃皆在乎下州小邑，僻陋之邦。此幽潛之士，窮愁放逐之臣之所樂也。若四方之所聚，百貨之所交，物盛人眾，為一都會，而又能兼有山水之美，以資富貴之娛者，惟金陵、錢塘。然二邦皆僭竊於亂世，及聖宋受命，海內為一，金陵以後服見誅。今其江山雖在，而頹垣廢址，荒煙野草，過而覽者，莫不為之躊躇而淒愴。獨錢塘，自五代始時，知尊中國，效臣順；及其亡也，頓首請命，不煩干戈，今其民幸富完安樂。又其俗習工巧，邑屋華麗，蓋十餘萬家。環以湖山，左右映帶，而閩商海賈，風帆浪舶，出入於江濤浩渺、煙雲杳靄之間，可謂盛矣。而臨是邦者，必皆朝廷公卿大臣。若天子之侍從，四方遊士為之賓客，故喜占形勝，治亭榭，相與極遊覽之娛。然其於所取，有得於此者，必有遺於彼。獨所謂有美堂者，山水登臨之美，人物邑居之繁，一寓目而盡得之。蓋錢塘兼有天下之美，而斯堂者，又盡得錢塘之美焉。宜乎公之甚愛而難忘也。

梅公，清慎好學君子也，視其所好，可以知其人焉。

四年八月丁亥，廬陵歐陽修記。

 

Note by acid:

金陵，钱塘，都兼有都会之盛与山水之美，命运却是不同，倒也值得回味。

杭州的得天独厚，有人说是因为“入世与出世在瞬间便得以转换”，我深有同感。谁让这个城市这么小呢。

To all:
I will go out travel for 1 month. So i won't be around to reply your messages on mobile, but i would be glad to receive your email.

朱梦晨的成分如下：

• 大宇宙的意志：33.91%
• 狗血：28.81%
• 不良思想：27.39%
• 時空斷層：4.73%
• 愛：3.66%
• 戀妹情結：1.20%
• 超音波：0.30%