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Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 12, 2010

Luck

INITIAL WORDS: This is a short story called 'LUCK' written by writer Mark Twain, one of the most successful American writers and humorists. It is said that he was the greatest humorist of his age. When we were in high school, we got a chance to meet Mark Twain through a novel so-called 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer '. He knows admirably how to describe his character Tom Sawyer as well as the complex-multiple American culture. And here is another story for people who love Mark Twain as well as people who used to love Tom Sawyer. The story is full of humorous anecdotes told by Mark Twain's satirically-writing style. I have read this story many times when I feel sad and lost, when I feel life does not go along the way as it should go or the way I managed it to go. This time it may help you find out the fact not the truth about our lives and may help you feel better with a slightly-smiling face and sympathize the fact not the truth on which our lives are going on. Sometimes, life does not give you the result which you deserve to win. Sometimes we claim that life is not fair enough. But who knows? Life is just going on as a fate, the fate we cannot completely change in some ways! Throughout this story, I hope you will enjoy facts in our daily lives as well as a satirically-writing style of a genius, the one who is highly praised as the most important feature and typically represented for a long period of American-style literature. Best regards!)

I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English military men of his time. I do not want to tell you his real name and titles. I will just call him Lieutenant General (1) Lord Arthur Scoresby.

I cannot describe my excitement when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, in person, all covered with medals. I could not take my eyes off him. He seemed to show the true mark of greatness. His fame had no effect on him. The hundreds of eyes watching him, the worship of so many people, did not seem to make any difference to him.

Next to me sat a clergyman, who was an old friend of mine. He was not always a clergyman. During the first half of his life he was a teacher in the military school at Woolwich. There was a strange look in his eye as he leaned toward me and whispered – “Privately – he is a complete fool.” He meant, of course, the hero of our dinner.

This came as a shock to me. I looked hard at my friend. I could not have been more surprised if he has said the same thing about Napoleon, or Socrates, or Solomon. But I was sure of two things about the clergyman. He always spoke the truth. And, his judgment of men was good. Therefore, I wanted to find out more about our hero as soon as I could.

Some days later I got a chance to talk with the clergyman, and he told me more. These are his exact words: About forty years ago, I was an instructor in the military academy at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt extremely sorry for him. Everybody answered the questions well, intelligently, while he – why, dear me – he did not know anything, so to speak. He was a nice, pleasant young man. It was painful to see him stand there and give answers that were miracles of stupidity.
I knew of course that when examined again he would fail and be thrown out. So, I said to myself, it would be a simple, harmless act to help him as much as I could.

I took him aside and found he knew a little about Julius Caesar’s history. But, he did not know anything else. So, I went to work and tested him and worked him like a slave. I made him work, over and over again, on a few questions about Caesar, which I knew he would be asked.

If you will believe me, he came through very well on the day of the examination. He got high praise too, while others who knew a thousand times more than he were sharply criticized. By some strange, lucky accident, he was asked no questions but those I made him study. Such an accident does not happen more than once in a hundred years.

Well, all through his studies, I stood by him, with the feeling a mother has for a disabled child. And he always saved himself by some miracle.

I thought that what in the end would destroy him would be the mathematics examination. I decided to make his end as painless as possible. So, I pushed facts into his stupid head for hours. Finally, I let him go to the examination to experience what I was sure would be his dismissal from school. Well, sir, try to imagine the result. I was shocked out of my mind. He took first prize! And he got the highest praise.

I felt guilty day and night – what I was doing was not right. But I only wanted to make his dismissal a little less painful for him. I never dreamed it would lead to such strange, laughable results.

I thought that sooner or later one thing was sure to happen: The first real test once he was through school would ruin him.

Then, the Crimean War (2) broke out. I felt that sad for him that there had to be a war. Peace would have given this donkey a chance to escape from ever being found out as being so stupid. Nervously, I waited for the worst to happen. It did. He was appointed an officer. A captain, of all things! Who could have dreamed that they would place such a responsibility on such weak shoulders as his.

I said to myself that I was responsible to the country for this. I must go with him and protect the nation against him as far as I could. So, I joined up with him. And away we went to the field.

And there – oh dear, it was terrible. Mistakes, fearful mistakes – why, he never did anything that was right – nothing but mistakes. But, you see, nobody knew the secret of how stupid he really was. Everybody misunderstood his actions. They saw his stupid mistakes as works of great intelligence. They did, honestly!

His smallest mistakes made a man in his right mind cry, and shout and scream too – to himself, of course. And what kept me in a continual fear was the fact that every mistake he made increased his glory and fame. I kept saying to myself that when at last they find out about him, it will be like the sun falling out of the sky.

He continued to climb up, over the dead bodies of his superiors. Then, in the hottest moment of one battle down went our colonel. My heart jumped into my mouth, for Scoresby was the next in line to take his place. Now, we are in for it, I said…

The battle grew hotter. The English and their allies were steadily retreating all over the field. Our regiment occupied a position that was extremely important. One mistake now would bring total disaster. And what did Scoresby do this time – he just mistook his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. Instead, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. We were over the hill before this insane movement could be discovered and stopped. And what did we find? A large and unsuspected Russian army waiting! And what happened – were we all killed? That is exactly what would have happened in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. But no – those surprised Russians thought that no one regiment by itself would come around there at such a time.

It must be the whole British army, they thought. They turned tail, away they went over the hill and down into the field in wild disorder, and we after them. In no time, there was the greatest turn around you ever saw. The allies turned defeat into a sweeping and shining victory.

The allied commander looked on, his head spinning with wonder, surprise and joy. He sent right off for Scoresby, and put his arms around him and hugged him on the field in front of all the armies. Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader – honored throughout the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last.

He is just as nice and pleasant as ever, but he still does not know enough to come in out of the rain. He is the stupidest man in the universe.

Until now, nobody knew it but Scoresby and myself. He has been followed, day by day, year by year, by a strange luck. He has been a shining soldier in all our wars for years. He has filled his whole military life with mistakes. Every one of them brought him another honorary title. Look at his chest, flooded with British and foreign medals. Well, sir, every one of them is the record of some great stupidity or other. They are proof that the best thing that can happen to a man is to be born lucky. I say again, as I did at the dinner, Scoresby’s a complete fool.
_____

(1) Lieutenant general: highest rank in the military, four-star general.

(2) Crimean War: (1853-56) a war between Russia on one side, and Britain, France, Turkey, and Sardinia on the other. It started because Britain and France believed that Russia intended to take control of the Balkans (=southeast Europe) , and it ended when the Russians were defeated and lost control of their naval base at Sevastopol.

Mark Twain

28/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam

Thứ Hai, 20 tháng 12, 2010

On Books

Because of my work, I move a lot. Each time, it takes a few months before the new house becomes familiar. And I’ve noticed, time and time again, the peculiar moment when a new house suddenly transforms into being a familiar home: it’s the moment I unpack the boxes to put my books on the shelves. As the books are being lifted out of the boxes to fill the shelves, I feel my past also leaps out and fills up the present.

I have quite a lot of books. Some I’ve read once; some many times; some I’ve read a half; and some only a few pages. But I always know when a book goes missing. And it bothers me when someone borrows my books and forgets to return them, even though I must admit that I myself sometimes commit the same crime.

Among my books, the ones that I hold closest to my heart are the old books that have been bent out of shape by time. Like the one that I carried with me to India that rainy season – its pages had been soaked and curled up by moisture, such that it forever lost its original shape. Or the one I left for a month atop the wooden desk on the forth floor of my parents’ house back in Hanoi (that house is always filled with sunshine) — the color on the cover of that book has faded. Watching the books fade with time gives me the same feeling as watching my parents, relatives, and friends grow old with each day past.

I never write or highlight on the pages of my books. Just like I never want to paint my friends’ faces with dirt.
Time and space put limits on our life in the sense that each of us can only live one life and be in one place at a particular time. The pages of books, then, serve as windows that open us to lives of others and worlds elsewhere. And just like windows, they also let the sun shine through and into our own lives.

Thus, we read not only to satisfy our desire to know about the universe and life but we also read in order to nurture that desire to know. When we find the answer to a question through a book, we will naturally come up with two new questions and such questions will lead us to new books.

Of course, we can’t find all answers in books because real life is so much larger than books. There are things that books can’t teach us because there are things we can’t fully understand until we’ve crashed and burned in life. And there are also things that are better communicated through speaking than writing.

But on the other hand, we can learn from books more than we expect because there are many things we cannot express in spoken words. Human relationships hinge on certain rules: our everyday life is already tiring, thus we should not make it harder for others by imposing on them our own torments. When we speak, we are making that imposition because the act of speaking demands immediate attention of the listener at that very moment. When we write, however, we let our readers choose their own time to communicate with us. Expressed at wrong times, the most heartfelt message can become inappropriate and lost. Books, however, give us the great advantage of being always stable over time.

Books are special friends who always come to us with an open heart. When we move, these friends accompany us. Forever they are waiting for us on the shelves.

(original adaption in Vietnamese by professor Ngô Bảo Châu, translated into English by writer Phan Việt)

20/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam 
http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

Thứ Sáu, 10 tháng 12, 2010

New day has come

Life is coming up with tons of bricks on me but I still love it. So many things to do: wash dirty clothes (I almost have not done this boring work for all week’s time); do Mr. Thong-given assignment (the one I have postponed many times and finally I have to take up that great responsibility); write two essays (one is about language learning and another is about Tobacco and Salt intake Enforcement. They all sound great!). I will have finished those works by today’s evening.

Everything seems taking more time than I expected. On other words, I think that I am a timing-arrangement spaz! It is believed that I do not care if finally I accomplish my missions. More important, I should feel grateful if eventually I am still in love with what I have done, what I am going to do and about to do. I should hope so.

I feel uplifted with a strict and fascinating timetable on week’s days left. Saturday morning is filled up with a convention about Art of communicating. Hope there is something I can learn from it. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning are about English classes in preparatory B course. And Sunday afternoon is about going fishing out with my elder brother. We need to relax and take a getaways trip in remote area on the weekend. A timetable will not be changed and could not be better.

Time is too short for wasting when my health problems seem to be defeated temporarily. Thankfully, my nose stops leaking liquid and my eyes’ sight are now clearer and clearer. As long as my health can stand under strenuous working pressure, and still good enough, I know I can still forge on. Thank my beloved one who used to say: It is lucky when every morning you wake up, you find out that you have something to do, you are about to change something. And thankfully, I have found out those days in row.

I know I have to do something to change my life, I know I am about to do something to change the way the common people are now thinking about me! It is about time to take drastic action. I write this note for ones who are reading this stuff, for ones with whom I still in love, for ones who still love me and for ones who always encouraging me when I feel lost!

I know a new day has come!..

10/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam

Thứ Sáu, 3 tháng 12, 2010

Hãy điên theo cách của bạn :D

Trả lời câu hỏi bằng tên các bài hát với phương châm là: "Hãy điên theo cách của bạn!" :D)

Bắt đầu: 
1. Nếu ai đó nhận xét rằng "Bạn rất ổn!" bạn sẽ nói
 You Are My Angel - Seiko Matsuda

 2. Bạn sẽ tự giới thiệu như thế nào về bản thân?
 I Am The World - The Bee Gees

3. Bạn thích điều gì ở 1 chàng trai/cô gái ?
 First Time - Eminem & Lil Wayne (Ke ke. Ai muốn hiểu sao thì hiểu. :D)

 4. Hôm nay bạn cảm thấy như thế nào?
 Top of the World - The Carpenters 

5. Mục đích sống của bạn là gì?
Heal The World - Michael Jackson

6. Phương châm của bạn là gì ?
 Just Do It - Scout Niblett

7. Bạn tự nhận xét bạn!
Bad Boy - Backstreet Boys

8. Bố mẹ bạn nghĩ gì về bạn?
 You are Simply The Best - Tina Turner =))

9. Dạo này bạn hay nghĩ đến chuyện gì??
 Money Money - ABBA (đang túng)

 11. Bạn nghĩ gì về người bạn thân nhất của mình ?
YOU Are My Hiding Place - Sons of Christ

12. Câu chuyện cuộc đời của bạn là gì ?
Like FLying - Jesse Matheson

13. Khi lớn lên bạn muốn làm gì ?
Mr. President - LL Cool J Featuring Wyclef Jean (ông Nguyễn Bảo Toàn sẽ là Ngài cố vấn :D)

14. Bạn nghĩ gì khi nhìn thấy người mà bạn thích?
 I Am Yours - Jason Mraz

15. Bạn sẽ nhảy trên nền nhạc gì trong lễ cưới ?
 I Will Never Let You Go - The Celtic Tenors (Kaka, chắc dễ ăn đấm lắm!)

16. Trong đám ma của bạn ng ta sẽ chơi bài nhạc gì ?
 Funny Funny - Sweet =))

17. Sở thích của bạn là gì ?
 Do it Yourself - Uniting Nations (tạm dịch là “tự xử” =)))

18. Bí mật lớn nhất của bạn là gì ? 
 Secret Garden - Shuhei Kita

19. Nỗi sợ lớn nhất của bạn là gì ?
 Kick Ass - MIKA - RedOne (bị hoài :D)

20. Điều bạn muốn ngay lúc này ?
 Trouble is a friend – Lenka (đang full of troubles :D)

21. Bạn nghĩ gì về những người bạn của mình ?
 Foolish Foolish - Yuya Matsushita

22. Nếu bạn có nuôi một con lợn, tên nó sẽ là ?
 Honey Honey - Amanda Seyfried, Ashley Lilley & Rachel McDowall  (ai muốn làm con lợn của mình? =)))

23. Bộ phim yêu thích ?
 Kiss Ass - Mika (ặc)

24. Hành động điên nhất từng làm?
 Let You Go - Trax

25. Tên note sẽ là ?
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood -  Santa Esmeralda (tạm dịch, “Đừng hiểu lầm là tớ bị khùng, tớ chỉ muốn đùa thôi! :D”)

03/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam