Italy Advanced to FIFA Final... 意大利夺得决赛权!!

下半场的加时赛，最后的两分钟，两个妙传，两个不同角度的进球，一位后卫，一位候补前锋，一个失守的龙门，一场拥有上亿见证人的赛事，捍卫了意大利每十二年进入世界杯决赛圈的命运。

早晨3点钟的闹钟声准时地把我叫醒，让我没有错过这场精彩的赛事。双方顽强的踢法，即攻又守，球员们都把持着标准体育精神，完成了90分钟的正场奔跑--特别是意大利队，在加时赛才更换球员。赛前被看好德国队，持着高大的体魄，强攻死守，抹杀了好几个敌队的角球，硬梆梆地阻挡了来势汹汹的意大利队。反观意大利队，身材比起德国要矮上一个人头，可在拥有超高控球、传球技术下，无惧于德国主场气氛的欺压，漂亮地制造了一个又一个的进球机会。必须强调的是，双方的守门员，并没有摸黑世界级最佳守门员的头衔，成功地拦截了好几个险球。

正时赛双方的表现已充分体现出他们杀进四强的实力。虽然意大利队在下半场的表现有所保留，其刚厚的守卫墙却让德国队无从下手，无奈地让球赛进入加时赛。意大利教练看来是吸取了阿根廷对垒德国的教训，并没有在正时赛更换任何球员，适当的观察力及战略上的揣摩，让意大利球员准确地把握时机，在进入加时赛后，把攻守技能发挥的淋漓尽致。

在加时赛进入了最后3分钟，当世人--观众（全世界哦）也好，球员也罢，都以为点球将是决定性的关键时，意大利抢回了一个被德国解救了的角球，经过了Pirlo 的妙传，由后卫球员Grosso以左脚踢出了决定性的一球，闪过了世界最佳守门员的防卫，往龙门的一角滚过进去。惊吓中的德国很快地接回了控球权，飞奔地攻向意大利的龙门，却被意大利漂亮地拦截住，超快地反攻让德国的后卫军没能反应过来，在赛前最后一秒由候补前锋--Del Piero在队友Gilardino 的反传下漂亮地又踢进偏离龙门的角球，巩固了意大利进入决赛的事实！

拥有主场优势的德国队，无法突破巴西前优秀球员比利（Pele)的预言及看好，败北后挥泪离场，无缘实现第四次夺杯的希望。继德国步入巴西的后尘，上届决赛比拼的两只球队都在八强及四强遇上各自的克星后，证实了一物克一物的说法，也确定了在球场上没有永远的赢家，只有顽强拼搏的队伍才足以生存、立足。

FIFA Semi-Final = EURO Cup 世界杯半决赛=欧洲杯

Was so into soccer for the past few weeks - for the once-in-4-year football season. Am not so much fancy about soccer, but will allow myself to be in the fever, at least for the major one like EURO and World Cup - happen with 2 years interval (4 years for EURO, 4 years for World Cup; both interleave in between for 2 years gaps).

Chasing after each and every single match was part of my target every day since June 9, but was not able to accomplish such mission with my 'busy schedule' of work - can't live as zombie for long too... ^_< Selectively, I have to skip most of the 3 o'clock (morning, local time 9pm) matches, except when I was in India (with better time difference of 3 1/2 hours), during weekend, when good teams were playing or skipped earlier match for some rest before continue with 3am match.

Am quite disappointed when Argentina was sent back after quarter-final with Germany, the host of 2006 FIFA World Cup. With such a good skill in ball controlling, passing and juggling, I still can't accept the fact that Germany has won the match over Argentina with PSO (Penalty Shoot Out), where Argentina is (or was) really good at (and they are supposed to be the Pro!). The early substitution of their first choice players (forward & midfielder) cost them dear when Germany stroke back with 1 goal to even up the scores. Even with some 'noobie' like me who know so little about football strategies would know that this could be the most costly mistake by the Argentina coach.

I was in India during the GER-ARG match, catching my flight back to KL on the same night. Managed to watch the first 90mins games, missed the extra time 30min games (where I had used to travel to airport), continued the match with PSO at the airport, with a bunch of German supporters - feel abit lonely until I heard the same 'yes' from another whiteman when Argentine manage to score the PSO. We both pointed at each other with the word "Argentina?" coming out from our lips concurrently, both posted with great smile after knowing that we were not alone, but with big 'sigh' and 'aiks' after Germany's 4th goal that advanced them to semi-final.

Brazil, the defending champion, bit world cup a big goodbye when they were defeated, the 2nd time, by France. A curse or being jinxed, Brazilians were struggling throughout the match with French tough defense team. French had played well - have to admit that they catch up the momentum a bit slower in this World Cup, where they were not performing in the very first 2 matches. With the most 'old' (or experienced, a better word, I guess) players in team, they destroyed the hope of Brazilian of winning the sixth World Cup.

With the 2 South American teams being sent home, World Cup 2006 semi-final has now become the all-European games with France against Portugal in Munich, and Germany meeting Italy in Dortmund, on 5 & 6 July respectively (local time, 9pm). Feel like watching EURO Cup without having any team from the rest of the world playing at this stage.

Updates: 近况报告

好久没有写blog了，是懒惰还是忙碌，自己也无法分辨。忙碌是真的，但忙里偷闲总不难吧，就是想给自己找个藉口，好好地‘懒散’一下下 - 但这一下下也一下下了几个月了吧 :P

最近老是在不断地反省，为什么在这么一个讲究、在乎员工[生活-工作平衡]的公司上班，我还是无法在工作及我的生活找到平衡点呢？以为换换工作环境，就会找回享受生活的时间，让自己喘息，蓄势待发。可为什么偏偏只要有我加入的project，就得花好长的工作时间在好紧凑的期限来收拾残局呢？看来不像是工作环境的问题嘛，好像是所谓的[命水]，有点邪哦。小姨告诉我说，最可怜的并不是我本身，而是跟我合作的伙伴，因为我的[命水]的关系，也把他们扯入了这个旋涡。觉得有点可悲，也有点可笑，要是真的是[命水]的话，我也得认了吧。看来不能让跟我一起合作的同事知道吧，否则有谁要跟一个[克星]一起做苦命工呢 ^_^

依照现在project进展及期限看来，短期内是没有办法有好日子过。不停地往印度飞（忘了多少次了 - 每次都忘了更新blog :P)，却无缘享受整个旅程 - 太紧凑了，匆匆忙忙地，总是匆匆地来，匆匆地走 - 好想套用徐志摩在《再别康桥》中一段诗句： 悄悄（匆匆）的我走了，正如我悄悄（匆匆）的来；我挥一挥衣袖（拉一拉行李），不带走一片云彩（只带走一片空白）。唉，真是无福消受啊。早前买的相机好像也英雄无用武之地嘛。

看来得多多‘拜拜/祷告’，希望[衰]的快去，[好]的快来！祝福我吧！

What In A World...

In the ever-changing world of now
Living through an evolution of its own
In pursuing the wide-ranging needs
Keeping oneself distance from simplicity
Earning a life with status as eternity

Slaughtering the environment as deem as it could be
Eavesdropping, coarse cursing
Extreme thoughts, obscene conduct
Mighty the eagerness, tiny the sympathy
Isolating the hearts from being communicating
Nurturing the power of materialistic
Giving the space to worship technology

Dozens of hearts are falling
Over the shadow of lavishness
Every minute if you are counting
Sinking in the swamp of egoistic

Hide away the sincerity
Enlarging the pride and priggish
Firing the minority
Eliminating the sound of liberty
Entrusting the authorities
Legitimate the act of killing

Tearless, our nature is roaring
Helpless, the prey is revenging
Exclaiming their soundless protest
Summoning the disaster and diseases
Arousing the global warming
Manipulating the evolution over the mankind
End of the day does it imply

Thus far damage only we applied
Offering goodness should we all now subscribe
Over the time will the cosmos be revived

因为，所以。Because...

人家说幸福是要努力争取的
我努力过了吗？ 没有
因为我选择等候。。。

人家说喜欢就该大声的说出来
我说过了吗？没有
因为我选择矜持。。。

人家说缘分是上天给的，机会是创造出来的
我创造过了吗？ 没有
因为我选择逃避。。。

人家说世事无常，命运弄人
世事真的无常吗？是的
因为我得学会面对

人家说生命是短暂的
生命真的短暂吗？是的
因为我得学会珍惜

人家说人生好比舞台，每个人都是自己的导演
我主导过我的人生舞台了吗？不知道
因为我还在摸索生命的意义

人家说人间只是个修行道场，虚拟不实
人间真的虚幻吗？不知道
因为我还在寻找真理

因为等候，所以只能期待
因为矜持，所以才会错过
因为逃避，所以无法面对
因为无常，所以变化莫测
因为短暂，所以刻骨铭心
因为舞台，所以积极演出
因为虚幻，所以假以乱真

所以我拥抱单身，选择与寂寞为友
所以我面对命运，锻炼自己更勇敢
所以我学会知足，学着感恩每一天
所以我站在舞台，舞出更精彩人生
所以我处身红尘，继续修行悟真理

后记：
因感触而写出的小品，记一位刚过世的同事 – Karen.M，享年46岁。事情发生得突然，让我无所适从。在感慨世事无常的同时，基督同事安慰我说她已到天国界，回归主 – 是值得欣慰的事情，因为她无须在人世间受苦受难。死，或重于泰山，或轻于鹅毛，留下的亲友总是最痛苦的，失去至爱所承受的难过会否因时间的洗礼而康复呢？会否会因此更勇敢的活下去呢？

清明。。。Chingming Festival...

清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂；
借问酒家何处有，
牧童遥指杏花村。
(唐代杜牧名句)

回乡扫墓的一早，老天爷非常应景的下起了大雨。虽然没能在预定的时间内出发(下雨天特别好睡嘛~)，叔叔的超驾驶技术填补了时间上的差距，让我们在9时许抵达家乡。爸妈及几位叔叔、嫂嫂也已等候多时，在把所有扫墓工具、祭拜祖先的祭品‘搬’上车子后，大家就往几公里外的坟地出发。

去年因为在外工干而没能回乡扫墓，相隔了两年的时间，坟地的改变让我无法在第一时间内找着婆婆的安葬的地方。不过，再怎么困难，大伙很快地就找到婆婆的墓碑将工具、祭品都摆放到坟边。经由当地社团的打理下，这块坟地已明显被清理过，杂草都没有了，只有干枯的野草、坟边多余的泥土等待处理。这让我们的扫墓工作变得较为轻松，相对的也更有多时间闲聊。

祭拜过程也因时代的转变，越来越现代化了。咱们的祭品都是自家人爱吃的食物、水果，而我呢，也特地从国外买了大伙爱吃的巧可力，与婆婆‘分享’ – 好东西应该一块分享嘛！从以往冥间大楼、衣服、车子，到现在较为简单的冥间银票、过路钱等，我们已大量地减少对空气的污染，同时也不全失传统特色及对祖先的尊敬，而且还简化了燃烧的过程和等待的时间。

也不知道曾几何时，祭拜后的另一‘重要’项目就是‘野餐’时间。本以为带来的巧可力会大受欢迎，可是经过太阳的曝晒下，块状的巧可力已被溶化成水状，想吃也没法吃，只得带回家冻结后再品尝。妈妈煮的红豆甜品最受爱戴，在炎热的天气喝上一口确实有点滋润解渴的功效。饱尝了妈妈还有婶婶的手艺后，大伙才收拾一切踏上归途，而爸爸及叔叔们（还有我）则准备前往另一块坟地，祭拜往生的二姑。

清明节的意义从单纯的祭拜祖先、孝敬及缅怀过世的亲人，到今天的游子回乡，亲友相聚的日子，其含义并没有因为时代的差异而褪色，反而为传统文化增添了另一摩登的色彩。其实，就算祭拜过程有多隆重多复杂，都不该是重点；最重要的是珍惜身边健在的亲友，避免[树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不在]的遗憾。

Click here for more photos...

清明节(资源：中国古玩网 www.lzcc.com.cn )
中国汉族的节日，又是汉族立法中的二十四个节气之一。节期在阳历4月5日前后（夏历则在三月内）。民间习惯在这一天扫墓。清明前一天（或两天）为"寒食"，两个节令相距甚近，古人常将它们连结在一起，甚至不加以区分。宋代以后，扫墓成为清明节的主要活动。多数人家借出城扫墓的机会郊游，称为"踏青"。不少地区的男女老幼还在清明节或栽插柳树、或折新柳枝佩戴、或"斗百草"、"打秋千"、或放风筝。
现在的清明节已淡化了迷信色彩，升华成了一种精神范畴的文化。祭扫烈士英灵，缅怀故去的亲人，传承中华民族重亲情、讲孝道的传统美德。海外游子回归故里，寻根问祖，祭奠祖先，清明节已成为了维系民族感情的纽带。

我的MP3播放器。。。My MP3 Players...

Music has been part of my life ever since my early age where I was put under the spotlight to 'entertain' the audience with my voice. The training stages that I have gone through with singing competition lining up one after another, organized by various association, society or schools, had further cultivate my interest towards music. Which then I had requested to go through the proper music training - not vocal, but the instrument named electone or better known as 'organ'. It was only last for a short period of time which I had stopped due to the formal/ compulsory examination set by government for all Form 3 students, and had never continued since then :P

My passion towards music had never stop even my time had been occupied with studies, community services, co-curricular activities, and now job-related work and project. Have given the opportunity to learn about music composing, production when I was in university which exposed me to the process of producing a song. However, had never thought of getting a job that could continue my journey with music - have opted to be a spectator than a participant ^_^

With the advancement of technology, I could now enjoy music with no boundary - with the introduction of walkman, CD player, MD player, to MP3 players which one could carry few thousands songs conveniently anytime, anywhere. Working in a Telco company that exposed me to various types of handphones, had further ‘revealed’ me to the use of mobile phones as MP3 player.

My first 'MP3 player' was Nokia 6230 which served as my mobile and camera in the same time. Have fully utilized it with various function that it supported - my favorite one, which had proven its worth of value. Until, it quietly slipped out of my pocket and bid me a BIG goodbye :C

My next mobile - Nokia 6630 had replaced my lost 6230 with all its functionality - added with its 3G-compatible specs, until I left the Telco company to China which had discontinued me from using its 3G services. Compromising with its battery life and storage capacity (which I later found out its 'limited' compatability to external memory card in the market), I had 'survived' with its quality as a player for another few months before going for a 'real' MP3 player.

My first MP3 player - Creative MuVo V200 with its 1GB storage capacity had allowed me to carry more songs while I'm mobile. Also, serving as 'thumbdrive' that enabled me to transfer files from one machine to another - which had further 'damaged' it. Leave with no choice, I had to send it back for repair. While waiting for the 'returning' of MuVo, I had got myself the 5GB Creative Zen Neeon to accompany me through the sleepless nights.

With the new MP3 player that could store more songs (in fact much, much more ^_^), I was so excited till I forgot the lesson learnt - I had again used it as thumbdrive which resulting into the same dilemma. It was sent for the necessary 'fixing'!! :( Surviving without any music for many nights, I had finally settled to its core function and try to 'minimize' the unnecessary usage, if possible :P - have been wondering, did I really learn from the lesson? ^_<

My business trip to US with my 'resourceful' colleague had finally brought my eyes to the famous US product - Apple Ipod, which I was once amazed by its branded-with-price advertisement when I was a marketer. After playing around with it, I had decided to bring the white one home - couldn't resist with its stylish outlook, not mentioning about its bigger capacity :) With 30GB in storage, I have no idea how to make FULL use of it, despite the fact that I could use it for music storage, photo storage, and video storage - not sure about using it as thumbdrive, yet, well, won't explore that usage till I am sick with the rest of the function :P, i guess (at least for this moment in time ^_<)

我病了。。。Falling Sick

今早起身后，发觉头重重地，全身疼痛，双脚踩在地上却感觉到轻飘飘地，在万般无奈下，我只好接受一个事实-- 我的健康围墙在过去几个星期的折腾下，终于瓦解了-- 我生病了！

过往的经验告诉我，在紧张忙碌的生活节奏逝去的那一刹那，只要我有稍微的放松，我的健康状况都会亮红灯。人家说这是天生命贱，没有多少机会享受悠闲的生活，因为在休息的当儿，也不管我愿不愿意，病菌都将拿我开刀。

算算看，也好久没病成这个样子了，过去的一年里，除了一两次的伤风咳嗽外，也没试过这般的不适。或许前阵子的劳累，都在潜意识中慢慢地累积，只是我都坚强地‘挡’过了吧。好不容易挨过了，身心疲惫的迹象却在今早一一显露。是年龄的问题（打死我都不愿意承认）？还是是时候病了？老天爷或许知道，再过几个星期，我的生活节奏又将进入另一个颠覆状况。或许我该乖乖听话，好好地休息，为下一个沙场做另一个冲刺。