嘉義行

嘉義行(2007-4-25)
除了謝謝還是謝謝!!
溫馨的友誼讓我感恩不已!!
余菊梅 zz214560@cht.com.tw
高淑娟shih.a0110@msa.hinet.net
陳素貞sjun.chen@msa.hinet.net
林佩蓉peirong39@gmail.com

外孫

2007-4-25 外公的照訪

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8183063804838627855&pr=goog-sl








小外孫 七個月大時開始爬沒多久就開始站起來
接著就學步 搖晃的腳步不要多久就穩定下來
看他小小身驅爬行在地 然後抓到桌椅或牆角就站起來走
我可以想像他不必多久大約就會跑步啦
我翻翻舊照片 不少可愛的畫面令我們不由自主喜歡上他
每人小時都是很清純

黃醫師家

Blog

鼓勵你與我們分享個人的部落格，或是提供你朋友的部落格
內省、印象、啟發 http://introspectiveimagery.blogspot.com。
透過A70的鏡頭 http://www.sldesigns.ca/photoblog。
浪跡天涯 http://photo.pchome.com.tw/pijenliu/。
橫貫加拿大步道 http://transcanadagreenclub.blogspot.com/。
學無止境 http://learnweb.ca/。
台灣東北角 http://northeastcoast2.blogspot.com。
Jeff Chang's Photography & Design http://web.mac.com/jchang.photo/iWeb/Site/Home.html。

Ben's teeters around the room

April 13,2007
Description: Ben's teeters around a very messy living room
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2122410520115197909&pr=goog-sl

小孩子學步很"專心一致", 看到玩具會小心頓慢下來誇過去 。

換是大人急吼吼的，大約就"腳沒長眼"的一腳踩上去了。

April 20,2007
Waching American Idol rerun with Ben.
"勉"看電視也會學著跳一下舞。

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1071754241552476509&pr=goog-sl

April 2, 2007
Sean takes Ben out for a ride around the driveway.
"相"在車庫前面拉著拖車散步。
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-151649322775425472&pr=goog-sl

廖秀雄老師走了

各位同學：對不起！我是廖秀雄的太太，
郭錦玲，長期在菲律濱教書，在此透過先
生的網址告知諸位同學，廖秀雄於今年四
月三日下午三時五十三分去逝於台南業大
醫院，現在台南殯儀館和平4號，星期日
四月十五日出殯告別式，特此通知！因我
深知他回台學電腦與各位相處十分愉快！
在此向各位深表道謝！廖秀雄乃心肌炎引
發心臟衰竭。欲知詳請留下我目前在台手
機：011-886-9-3555-5405或可打台灣他好台
南好友手機詢問011-886-9-2169-4955感恩
****************************************

〝同學，你們好嗎？〞簡單的一句問候，卻萬般無奈的獲知秀雄老師已離去！
將於4月15日在台南舉行告別式，如有同學知悉請為秀雄老師默哀吧！
曾彩霞
******************************************
WOW! 驚聞惡耗! 再去看一下曾彩霞老師網頁(錢媽媽部落格)，嚇一跳廖秀雄老師真的心臟衰竭過逝了。

去年四月在台北教師會館同住三樓。 他的室友不知原來是不是通勤的陳坤忍老師。 總之廖老師沒有室友就讓一位朋友進駐。每天早上他都拿個大碗，裝滿清粥小菜外加饅頭。充滿愛心的端上樓去。
晚餐也是如此每晚外帶。除了去內彎玩才無法送菜。我無緣和他的朋友會面但替他朋友感到十分慶幸。有多少好友肯天天如此送愛心餐呢？

他一直是寡言少語，有問才答的。他早上吃素。同桌共餐的席間。偶聽他提及　“印尼昔日生活不很好過。可是每人叫窮歸叫窮。錢多吃好些。　錢少吃差些。日子也一樣熬過來。沒見有誰餓死掉的! ”他説:　“金錢不必多，夠用就好。要時時感恩。像海嘯襲捲印尼泰國。說死就死了。錢生不帶來。死不帶去。富有沒有用。”

現在看他的太太寫"我是廖秀雄的太太，郭錦玲，長期在菲律濱教書。" 心理吶悶他不是住印尼嗎? 還是他印尼，菲律濱兩地跑的工作?怎麼又那麼巧的回到臺南病逝? 真是"葉落歸根"啦!

看他穿著簡樸住在宿舍，我卻老碰到每天勤於洗衣的他。比我這號"懶女人"勤快好多喔!我天天就用條圍巾，避免弄髒領口。能省事只洗圍巾，不必洗衣最好。

我看他在電腦室作家課。很有計劃的，按部就班的，很快就“像模像樣”的作好啦！　他都沒像唐文豪老師等到夜深人靜才錄音。或像小馬班長及其他班友“臺北夜深人未睡”的開夜車。但是終結他的成品卻很好。可見他是“暗暗吃三碗半“那型的人喔！不可小看呢!

他不論上課或吃飯總是”與世無爭”的坐後面旁邊位置。幾回有緣和他比鄰而坐。他謹言慎行的謙謙君子風範可以和陳坤忍老師比美。我不太清楚班上誰和他走的最接近。只知道每回巧遇都可看到他和善可親的笑容。今晚就體會到他“音容宛在”啊！

從不知他的貴庚？相信他是比我年輕才對。怎麼說走就走，令人無法置信啊！真是“世事由來多缺陷，幻軀焉得免無常。“唉呀！　” 頃刻一聲鑼鼓歇，不知何處是家鄉 ?“
希望廖老師一路平安，讓神佛接引。往生西方極樂世界吧！　更希望廖太太“節哀順變”　請多保重！！　
想到目前回臺暫住新營的劉月娥老師可能可以抽空代表"我們這班"去上根香吧！?
靈機一動我該打越洋電話給劉月娥老師請她跑趟"臺南"吧!?
我四月十七日才會抵達台北。歉甚！　慢兩天無法趕上廖老師的出殯告別式。

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明末 憨山大師
醒世歌
紅塵白浪兩茫茫，柔和忍辱是妙方。
到處隨緣延歲月，終身安分度時光。
休將自己心田昧，莫把他人過失揚。
謹慎應酬無懊惱，耐煩作事好商量。
從來硬弩弦先斷，每見剛刀口易傷。
惹禍只因閒口舌，招愆多為很心腸。
是非不必爭人我，彼此何須論短長。
世事由來多缺陷，幻軀焉得免無常。
吃些虧處原無礙，退讓三分也不妨。
春日才看楊柳綠，秋風又見菊花黃。
榮華原是三更夢，富貴還同九月霜。
老病死生誰替得，酸甜苦辣自承擔。
人縱巧計誇伶俐，天自從容定主張。
諂曲貪瞋墮地獄，公平正直即天堂。
麝因香重身先死，蠶為絲多命早亡。
一劑養神平胃散，兩鍾和氣二陳湯。
生前枉費心千萬，死後空持手一雙。
悲歡離合朝朝鬧，壽夭窮通日日忙。
休得爭強來鬥勝，百年渾是戲文場。
頃刻一聲鑼鼓歇，不知何處是家鄉 ?

Fire

Fire Strikes Two Waynesburg houses

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that destoryed two houses on South Cumberland Street in Waynesburg Thursday. Waynesburg Fire Chief larry Marshall said crews were called to the fire about 6:00PM It took firefighters 3 hours to extinguish the blaze. The fire began in a vacan 2 1/2 story house and quickly spread to the neighboring house of J.T. Rafail. Both wooden structures were destroyed by the blaze. Rafail said his stepson and his stepson's friend were upstairs watching television when the two came running down the stairs yelling"Fire." The pair said they could see flames from the house next door through an upstairs window. Rafail and his family fled the home. Marshall said the vacant house was scheduled to be listed for sheriff's sale. Rafail said he had hoped to eventually buy the house, which had been vacant for some time.

Observer-Reporter April 6, 2007
已經過掉八天了! 不知那天4/5/2007大火燒光全部家當的J.T.Rafail 和他女友及其小孩，是否仍住在他姐姐家?
上禮拜，教會有不少復活節活動。 我開車半小時去華盛頓鎮的Wal-Mart買了51棵百合花。 (店家多給了一棵。 事候我只好又跑一趟。去付清那一棵百合花的錢 $3.99。) 星期四晚上七點表演"最後的晚餐"。 我到教堂的途中。看到救火車正忙著撲滅火勢。 那晚上弄不清誰家著火哪？ 正好手上有相機就遠遠随便拍攝幾張。 料不到那是朋友家火災了。
聽說他正玩弄手提電腦，就提出電腦跑出來。 東西全燒燬，或救火車灌水遭殃啦!可憐那夜天氣氣溫骤降。
救火員也夠嗆的。不管多冷都要撲火哇!
希望他家有保火險! 保險公司會再蓋個新房子給他們住。
我以前都想統計上每人一生燒掉房子的機會不多。保險公司都是淨益純收入!
有好多年我心存僥倖心理都不投保房屋險。 心想我又沒做傷天害理的事。也從不和人結怨。不會有仇家故意來放火。我"敬天畏神"每禮拜乖乖上教堂。多年來義務替教會管收支帳務。神若有靈也會額外保佑我才對! 寄身天地完全把自己交給神了。直到前年來個女騙子上門借用電話 實則"登門入室"實地勘查來當小偷。損失不少貴重的身外物。大家都沒法置信我家這麼多年來都沒有"房屋險"!! 我這才警醒過來必須投保火災險，順便加些竊盜險。否則一旦出事可就"求助無門"!
人生無常。來場大火可以掃光一生積存的所有東西。一個意外可以改變整個人生的觀點。
所有身外物都可轉眼成空 ，以前以為唯有'知識"存在我們腦中沒有人能偷走。但現在看老人失智。 看到高深學歷的年輕朋友被病魔糾纏。 猛然領悟"知識"也有被掃除之虞。看來“身體健康，心理快樂”才是最重要。 我一輩子風平浪靜閒暇廝混。親友都對我很好，又不愁衣食住行，還健康能呼吸就該歡天喜地了。

老外看臺灣生活

朋友寄來一篇E-mail :

這篇原文 Love and Loneliness in Taiwan 的作者 David Signer 是曾在台灣待過兩個星期的一位瑞士人，在歐洲所發表為荷文、德文的文章。
David Signer，1964年生，是一位歐洲的人類學家，專研人類學與社會學。走訪過中東、非洲各國，對文化有深入的研究。其以歐洲人的文化背景與觀點來看台灣，讀者可以得見作者著實下了番工夫去瞭解台灣的歷史背景、政治經濟與教育現況，尤其是其以不偏不倚的人文立場客觀地看台灣的現象。

在您讀過這篇文章後，是否也正思索著作者所述的某些點正巧也碰觸到深愛台灣的你我的"寂寞與愛"呢？

此篇文章原刊登於2006年 七月一日 荷蘭的報紙，網址如下：
http://www.trouw.nl/deverdieping/letter-geest/article375747.ece/Liefde_en_eenzaamheid_in_Taiwan

-------------- Jan. 5, 2007 --------------

台灣有什麼樣的脈動？世上沒有任何一個國家的人像台灣一樣，工作時數每年高達2,282小時，30％的人每週工作超過62小時。台灣人口密度高居世界第二，只低於孟加拉。雖然台灣面積小於瑞士，卻是20個最成功的工業國家之一。台灣是筆記型電腦製造的領導先驅，有世界第三大外匯存款，也是手機密度最高的地區（平均每人擁有1.14支手機）。然而，只有三個國家的性生活是少於台灣，且根據「Elle」雜誌研究指出，台灣女性是世界上最不快樂的。台灣同時也是最多戴近視眼鏡的國家。

這些現象之間彼此有何關聯呢？
20年前台灣從獨裁轉型為民主，現代化與自由化同時快速進行。也因此，嚴謹的儒家工作倫理與同志酒吧、刺青商店同時存在。多彩的道家廟宇，就在電子產業的玻璃帷幕高樓及24小時營業的超市旁邊。自從毛澤東的對手蔣介石1948年退守到台灣，中國就一直把台灣視為叛逆的一省。如果自由化繼續進行，二十年後的中國可能就像現在的台灣。而連同附近城鄉合計約有800萬人口的台北，就是北京現代化後的願景。
家庭是台灣社會變遷中特別引起注意的生活範疇。在許多家庭中，夫妻兩人不只是長時間工作，甚至在不同城市工作，且保有各自的住處，只在週末見面。由祖父母帶大的小孩，其價值觀也因此來自幾乎是與現實脫節的世界。

對台灣人來說，沒有任何事比給孩子更好的教育來得重要，因此，孩子們常常在晚間也必須承受許多額外的課程。
我在台北時，拜訪了一位外科醫生，他六歲的女兒已經在學校學英文，但在晚間，她除了必須再學英文之外，還有畫畫、舞蹈和鋼琴。她很驕傲地不用樂譜就彈得出古典曲子。八月，他們全家會到美國去，讓女兒參加兩週的暑期營隊，以增進英文能力。我問這個父親，難道他不怕給孩子太多壓力？不是常聽說，日本孩子因考試失敗感到羞恥而自殺嗎？

「是的，有時所有努力會化為烏有。」醫生說，「比如有些鋼琴神童，十四歲就能將琴彈得很完美，但到了25歲時，他們彈琴的技巧則無異於從十歲才學起的水平。」這父親也提到在他的周遭環境中，父母與父母之間無法避免的競爭，他甚至用了「全副武裝」這樣的字眼。一胎化在中國是政策，在台灣則成了可以自由選擇的目標，和大家庭比起來，當然就會把更多時間和金錢花在提昇唯一的孩子身上。

強調教育與成就是深受儒家思想影響國家的特質，例如中國、日本、韓國和新加坡。台灣不僅也是如此，更由於歷史背景因素，台灣人希望展現給世界的是一個更好的中國。從1895年到1945年台灣被日本佔據，接著被中國接收。二次大戰後，毛澤東戰勝國民黨的蔣介石，蔣介石帶著150萬民眾（大多數是有高教育水準的上層階級）、50萬軍人和國家寶藏來到台灣。毛澤東和蔣介石都自視為中國的唯一代表。至今台灣的正式官方名稱為「Republic of China」。

美國高度武裝台灣以對抗共產主義的中國大陸，蔣介石直到1975年過世為止，不曾改變他收復中國的目標。
台灣有2,400萬人口，大陸13億，這個海島有世界超強的經濟，但是，在政治上卻是孤立的，台灣甚至沒有聯合國觀察者的身分，只被27個國家所承認，像是帛琉、吉里巴斯共和國和史瓦濟蘭等。這是因為中國大陸拒絕和承認台灣的國家有外交關係，特別是今天，誰承認了台灣就無異與中國大陸為敵。

在台灣可以感受到中國以一種矛盾的方式存在。中國就像一個大哥，台灣想要和他保持距離，可是，這位大哥卻又權威性地不肯離開。台灣尊重人權、沒人苦於饑餓、有言論與媒體自由；台灣進步、民主、自由、國際化、後工業化、後現代化；總之，是一個更好的中國。在台灣可以察覺到一種清醒、一種警覺，這情形讓人想起以色列。這個中東國家除了強調它的合法性之外，也要表現得比敵對的鄰邦更好。可是，台灣人民則更像是一架使勁飛翔的噴射客機，只要把速度減慢到某個程度，就會墜落。

Sheena Chang是中國時報的編輯，女兒四歲時已經上英文的課外補習。她希望女兒能讀國立大學。國立比私立大學更好而且更便宜。這導致一個弔詭的現象：特別是受高等教育且較有錢的父母，他們能提供孩子額外的課程學習，讓孩子能進入收費少的「好」大學；而低社會階層的孩子則只好去「壞」的大學。久而久之，自然會加深貧富懸殊與城鄉差距。

Sheena Chang還展示了另一個台灣紀錄：根據她的統計，世界上沒有一個地方的孩子睡眠像台灣孩子那麼少。她把自己和與她同樣的人稱為「pm people」。「我從下午兩點開始工作，在晚上十點回家。」大部份資訊科技產業的人在晚間工作，因為這剛好是歐美客戶的白天時間。「pm people」的孩子和他們一起熬到午夜，一起吃東西、看電視、玩電玩。但是和大人們相反地，孩子又必須在早上七點起床。

她這種不帶情感的客觀陳述，讓我小心地問，這樣不會損害孩子的健康嗎？「也許是。」她說，「但這讓孩子有更強的抵抗能力，也能學會處理將來的壓力。最大的問題是，祖母寵壞孩子，她們只餵給食物但不教任何事。」

作家Yen Minju告訴我，她在讀書時，因為家裡還沒有洗衣機，所以，必須在洗衣板上搓衣服。為了利用時間，她把寫上英文生字的紙片貼在一旁，可以一邊洗，一邊背。

某晚，我和一位精神科醫生一起泡溫泉（就在卡拉ok旁邊。卡拉ok是台灣人喜歡的娛樂活動之一）。晚上十點時，他說他必須回家去幫女兒複習功課。「在這個時間？」我很驚訝。「當然，明早九點她有化學考試，我得幫她再複習一次。」

一個長時間住在台灣和中國的瑞士女人告訴我：「對這些人來說，重要的是錢和吃，愛與性不重要。如果有人說我愛你，那是沒有意義的。但是，如果他給你一塊盤子裡的肉，你就知道，你對他來說很重要。」

台灣人的情慾是不容易瞭解的，人們不善於表現情感。除了台北市中心之外，很難看得到成雙成對的人手牽手或是交換溫柔情感。但另一方面，卻可以看到檳榔西施穿著比基尼泳裝坐在玻璃櫥窗裡。由於有個綠色心形霓虹燈，所以，遠遠就可以認得出來。你停下車，她走出來，彎下身軀面對你打開了的車窗，你可以從她深裁的前襟看到裡面。她踩著高跟鞋，扭動臀部，走回去拿你訂的東西，然後帶著誘惑的微笑遞給你檳榔。嚼檳榔後出汗與暈眩的快感則是完全的快樂。

這些檳榔西施以雙倍的價錢賣出檳榔，計程車和卡車司機則視為當然。檳榔西施通常散佈在看不到溫柔的鄉間，自由台北的市長則試著阻止她們在市中心營業。還有，賣傳統中藥的人把情慾當成促銷的工具，同時提供神奇的中藥及「輕裝」的女孩。最讓人驚奇的是，這些「性感女孩」也在婚禮甚至葬禮上出現！那通常是由汽車和卡車組成的車陣，其中一部車上是亡者的棺木，另一部是哭號的女人，在第三部車上，則可以看到跳豔舞的性感女郎。包括孩子們在內的觀眾群，顯然不認為，一場「桌上熱舞」的氣氛與對死者的哀傷有任何衝突。「家屬付許多錢給這樣的表演，才能讓許多人來參加葬禮並懷念亡者。」這是當地人所告訴我的。

因著窄小的空間，情侶或甚至是夫妻要有個獨處的地方，並不容易。直到上學年齡，孩子都還和父母親睡在一起。長久以來，MTV是個深受喜愛的，可以私密約會的地方。在包廂中依自己的喜好選擇要看的電影。不知從什麼時候開始有了檢查制度，包廂不再可以關門，檢查人員隨時可以進入，所以，情侶改到公園或KTV。KTV是有許多房間的建築，情侶或是親朋好友可在裡面唱卡拉OK，也可以點飲食，但是，服務人員依然可以隨時進來。不過，每個包廂中又有一個引人注意的，很大，且可以上鎖的洗手間。人們對Motel的需求已有好一段時間，可以相當便宜地在那裡築起愛之巢，三小時約三十歐元。缺點是離市中心較遠，需要自己有車。

相較之下，要找個好的餐廳就容易得多了。在飲食方面，台北有著地理上的優勢。日本、中國、韓國、泰國、美國、歐洲及台灣原住民的菜餚錯綜交織。台北有無數個餐館，甚至於焚化爐煙囪頂端都還有旋轉餐廳，叫做『摘星樓』。
對台灣人而言，食物與性之間顯然有某種緊密的關係。每上兩道菜就可以聽到，「這是特別對男人重要的食物」。這些地方上的珍饈，包括牛眼、幼蜂、燕窩、炸蟋蟀、鹿鞭、魚翅、海參、香菇、胎盤、未孵化的生雞蛋、人蔘、熊掌、鴨舌、海馬、尤其是蛇。週末在華西街夜市可以大開眼界：一條掛在繩子上面活生生的蛇，被人完整地將皮剝下來，滴在杯中的蛇血則提供觀眾品嚐。然後殺蛇人也取出蛇膽，把膽汁擠入杯中，黏黏軟軟的膠狀物據說很健康，能提高性慾；宰蛇的人還用筷子在他兩腿間清楚地示範。在他後面是些老饕就著露營的小桌子，正在喝蛇湯、龜湯。

不過，女人並不因此而快樂。Chang Mei-Ling，三十多歲，單身，讀羅馬語言學系並在法商公司工作。她說，高教育、好職業、高所得等等在男人身上加分的條件，在她卻成了減分；此外，她也長得相當高。但是，台灣男人要教育程度比太太高，收入比太太高，而且也要比太太高過一個頭。她自己或許也同樣這麼希望。而能夠符合這些條件的少數人往往有許多工作，所以沒時間去找另一半。

Chang Mei-Ling曾有過一次婚姻，她要小孩，但他不想要。他說要先賺到一百萬美金。他們很難得見到面，當她發現，他和女同事有曖昧的關係時，她便離婚了。「這裡所有的事情都是為了事業。」她說，「大部份的台灣男人都如此，一些人為了女人試圖改變他們自己，但一段時間以後他們便放棄了，因為他們覺得，女人從他們身上帶走了一些東西。」

當她還在孩提時，她的父母總是力圖打拼事業，家裡通常是長女負責照顧弟弟妹妹們。「這就是為什麼我們這麼伶俐和獨立。」她說，「因為我們是在沒有父母照應下長大的。」

下週，Chang Mei-Ling會參加一個「驅動旅行」。她的公司請最好的十二個員工去夏威夷。她還和家人住在一起，外出的活動就只是和客戶吃飯或去卡拉OK。她不像大部份坐辦公室的女人去逛街或買高價的名牌衣服，而是把薪水花在小豬毛絨玩具的收集及旅行上。去年她和母親到一個太平洋上的小島去渡假，住在五星飯店裡。

有一次她說：「你以為我們的社會是如此多彩多姿與自由？其實它只是看似如此，因為我們沒有根。我們的父母移民來台灣，卻沒有家的感覺，今天他們不再試圖去瞭解來由。我們都是孤兒，我們的孩子也會一樣。」她也說：「許多人工作到晚上十點，他們必須如此，是因為內心空虛，他們夢想在五十歲時存夠錢以便退休，然後死於無聊。」

台灣社會的差距與不同時代面貌並存的情形令人感到困惑。一種超現代，而讓歐洲顯得老態龍鍾的情形是，台北一半面積都已是無線區域網路的範圍，甚至在捷運裡也能收發電子郵件。台北市長要建造世界上第一個無線網路城市。許多人的手機有GPS系統，即使迷路了也可以從手機中找到方位。過馬路時，綠燈裡一開始有個小小的人閒適地走著，在他上面是倒數計時器，然後那小小人越走越快，直到最後像發瘋似地狂奔。

在許多計程車裡，你還可以在前座椅的頭靠上看電視，所以才不會浪費時間，就是講求效率。一個台灣人告訴我，她曾在德國參加婚禮。「妳覺得怎麼樣呢？」「真可怕。好像永遠不會完！」對她來說，甚至連婚禮都要講求快速。有些餐廳中的桌子有電視螢幕，可以邊吃邊看百種節目。許多飯店房間裡的臥房和浴室用玻璃分隔。是要讓人從床上就可以看到美女入浴？不，正相反，你甚至可以從浴室或廁所裡看電視！

另一個驚奇科技是 508公尺 高的台北101，它擁有每小時 60公里 ，世界上最快的電梯，在幾秒內就可以抵達80層樓高，你卻沒什麼感覺。電梯內有壓力平衡的裝置。

「我們必須一直是最好的」，Chang Ming-Lei簡單明瞭地做評論。台北101是依照風水理論建築而成的，那是以傳統原理避免無形沖煞的知識。根據這樣的知識，入口和出口處不可相對，否則就會有訪客進入大樓後又立刻出門的風險。根據風水理論，居住在路沖的大樓中是很不好的，可是對一樓的商店卻有好處。轉化負面的影響是把八卦鏡掛在窗上。台灣人很小心，儘量避免生活上不好的事情發生。街上到處是監視器和緊急紐，大部份的陽台裝設鐵欄杆，不過有個居民對我說，發生火災時，這些鐵欄杆卻讓人無法逃走。這人還說，八卦鏡的作用就像光線，可以轉移不好的東西或反射回去。

台北101由每節八層樓的節段所構成。八是中國人的吉祥數字，四是不吉祥的，所以沒有四樓。台北101看起來像是一節節垂直重疊內插的竹子，中空而有彈性，卻仍然堅固，象徵堅毅與進步。內部有個660噸重的鋼球，地震時會晃動卻不斷裂。就像在風中佇立的竹子。

我不斷聽人說：「只有懶惰和孩子多的是窮人。」這個超資本主義社會裡，在店前燒錢的那些人也是個驚奇點。這種錢不是真正的鈔票（註：就是金紙啦），而是看起來像錢的紙鈔。他們在商店前的鐵桶裡燒紙錢，祈求好財運。不久之前出現所謂的「環保紙錢」，煙較少，但賣價也就更貴。

在資訊科技產業大本營的台北，有許多孔廟、道宮和廟宇，這些往往也是取得神諭的地方。和瑞士教堂不同的是，年輕人也來廟宇。例如週六中午，許多帶著Gucci或LV皮包的年輕女人在購物前到廟裡來，供上鮮花和訂婚餅。這裡也有管姻緣的神，女人就在那裡求籤求問她們的未來。

有一晚我到一個廟裡，在廟前有一種可以行駛的神龕。「神過生日的時候，把神放進車裡，到處開著走。」有人這麼告訴我，「現在神在中國大陸，明天回來，到時候會有遊行。」第二天的遊行是個盛大的熱鬧場面，有鞭炮、紅色孟加拉火把，可行駛的、裝飾燈光的電子琴，閃爍不停的強光、煙火、鈸、鼓、吵雜的擴音器。神是彩色的木雕，坐在左右晃動的長轎子裡，被抬著到處走。轎子有刺眼的霓虹燈管，電源是由一個在後面推著的，發出難以忍受噠噠聲的發電機所提供。范、謝兩人通常是廟裡的守護神，在遊行隊伍裡卻成了主角。
謝，有張黑臉。范，有長長外吐的舌頭，而且身體高得讓打扮成他的人只能從衣服上的洞向外看，並且要挺胸，以頭來保持平衡。這兩人的外表可由民間傳說來解釋：范、謝曾約好在橋上相見，謝早到了，在等候時，因看橋下的水身體失去平衡而跌入水中。當范抵達時，發現他的朋友早已死去。痛苦之餘，范用雙手勒死自己。這是為何他的舌頭吐出這麼長來，而謝的臉在水中成了黑色。台北人說，這兩人夜裡帶著鐵鍊在艋舺附近巡邏，看到了小偷就把他們吞掉。艋舺一帶的犯罪率的確比其他地區低。

台北有好些紀念國家英雄的地方，中正紀念堂和國父紀念館也在其中。這兩個建築物內有巨大的廳堂和大於常人的塑像，塑像前面站有衛兵，塑像四周空曠，彷彿讓不朽者和平常人的生活有了適當的距離。令人驚訝的是，居民如何對待這種強烈要求展現崇敬的地方！

只要在整個城市還相當安靜的清晨五點去到紀念館，會突然看到某種型態的嘉年華會。從許多不同的擴音器傳出進行曲、嘻哈、國樂、鄉村、探戈等等不和諧的刺耳聲音。有的團體練太極拳，有的練劍，有的就在晨曦中跳社交舞。一對銀髮夫婦互丟粉紅色飛盤。這裡有幾百個人。有人穿和服，有人穿得像啦啦隊，也有人穿像唱饒舌歌的人，有特大的褲子和鴨舌帽，背後還印著「Gung Fu New Fashion very good」。好多人都已經上了年紀，他們對我說：「你猜猜我幾歲？」大多數人的年齡看起來比實際年輕一半。也有年輕人練習目前最流行的薩爾薩舞。這些熱鬧場面都發生在台北101底下。上班族穿西裝打領帶，急行穿梭在練習功夫和太極拳的人群中。沒有人去組織這些活動，有的人雖規律地來參加，團體卻也常有異動。

七點，衛兵踢著正步出現。他們在國歌聲中升旗。霎那間每個人都停下來，做敬禮姿勢。幾分鐘後，紙傘舞、有氧舞蹈、搖滾、氣功等又再度開始。石雕的、青銅的孫逸仙（也就是「國父」）正坐在公園四處，恬淡地看著這一切。在忠烈祠每天都有十五分鐘守衛換崗的精彩節目。結尾部份，他們像機器人一樣僵直而機械化地把槍支互拋好幾次，每一個接手都是精準而完美，是種穿制服的水上花式表演。然後他們站在平台上一個小時，像雕像一樣完全不動，連眼也不許眨。有時助手幫他們擦汗或拉正肩飾。

這些守衛都是軍人。有個士兵告訴我，台灣有兩年的兵役期，只有成績好的會被選出來，訓練半年，每天從早上八點到下午五點。然後在這裡站四個月，換另外一個地方，再站四個月。練習的時候常常出事，特別是拋槍的動作。不久前有人傷了前額。最危險的是刺刀，兩個月前有個新手甚至削掉了一隻耳朵！有了疤痕，就不可以站在台上了。做錯了，怎麼辦？「如果是小錯誤，必須面壁一小時。如果沒接到槍，假期就會被取消。」必須在太陽下一動也不動地站好幾個鐘頭的時候，都想些什麼呢？「儘量想些美好的事情。」

在一個下雨的午後，我去拜訪了Peng Wu Chih，他是台灣著名的太極和中國功夫教鍊之一。Andy Hug也曾經是他的學生。他原本是醫生，後來改學中醫，最後專注於亞洲各種武術。他是功夫大師LiuYun-Qiao（蔣介石的首席護衛）的最後一個學生，在Liu Yun-Qiao生命中的最後幾個月照顧他，而Liu Yun-Qiao在最虛弱時也只能用筷子教他。

快速太極是Peng Wu Chih的一個專長，他強調，原始太極並不像現在的龜速慢移，而是快速的。在餐廳中主菜和點心之間的空檔，他在桌子旁邊示範給我看。整套拳只花了幾秒鐘就完成。Dr.Peng喜歡速度，也因此而成名。在我們上車之前，他說：「扣緊安全帶，我開車像007」。這當然是有那麼點誇張。他談到「氣」──生命的力量，說：「冥想不是從世界撤回，而是留在那裡。對手需要兩秒，你必須在半秒內便完成。再忙，也不可失去中心點。」有次他握住我的手腕，不緊實，但我感到那無窮的力量，就像是踩下法拉利的油門：只要願意，他可以在瞬間殺了我。

一個他的學生說：「在第一堂課他告訴我說：我要殺了你！他也做到了！在這堂課裡，我的內在死了，他毀了我的價值觀。武術最重要的是謹慎專注，所以你必須擺脫你的過去。」Peng Wu Chih 以一個小故事結束談話：「兩個人死了，上帝問他們，希望來世有什麼？第一個說：我要有許多錢！第二個說：我要給許多錢！第一位轉世成為一個乞丐，第二個成了百萬富翁。」

我在 五月一日 尋找示威的群眾，卻徒勞無功，這裡沒有工人示威這回事。台灣是新自由主義者的夢想，不久前都還沒有失業保險（因為幾乎沒有失業人口──至少官方是這麼說）、沒有健康保險、沒有退休保險、沒有社會福利。每件事都由家人自己安排。有些人甚至把一部份休假「送」給公司。建築法規似乎也不太明確。對於建築師而言，台北既是夢想也是惡夢，因為什麼都可能（女人手提包形態的建築。業界的高潮！）。

雖沒有工人示威，卻恰巧是中共國家主席胡錦濤在華盛頓期間，所以台北法輪功有個遊行活動。這個亞洲最大的精神性組織，在中國是被禁止的。
最近有個醫生公開說，他曾在中國的一個集中營裡工作，數萬名法輪功成員不但必須做苦役，有些還被活生生地把器官取出來賣掉。

是反中國的宣傳嗎？無論如何，這樣的新聞嚇壞台灣人，也讓他們記得，自己的富裕生活不時遭受威脅，就像是站立在懸岩上的小花園。直到十年前台灣仍有比中國還高的國防費用，但今天中國卻有台灣三倍之多。600枚飛彈指向台灣，每年還要再加上75枚。只要台北在「正式獨立」的禁忌議題上有一個政治上錯誤的用字，或許在北京就會有人按下紅色按鈕。

最近中國付給太平洋的小島諾魯一億五千萬美元，讓他們放棄台北而和北京建交。台灣很難跟得上，只能試著在正式關係之外，讓自己（特別在經濟上）無可取代。這就要花更多的精力並且也是寂寞的工作。
最後一天我們開車去「兒童育樂中心」，那是種亞洲華德迪士奈樂園，是一個美麗的、花了相當多錢建造的地方，卻看不到遊玩的兒童。一個都沒有！「現在的小孩喜歡在家玩電腦」，一個管理員告訴我們。另一個則說：「大部份的孩子晚上都還有課。」門口守衛說：「父母沒時間帶孩子來。」在回程的路上我捕捉到一個景象：無人的遊樂場中，一個穿著西裝的男人坐在鞦韆上打著手機，而雨滴也開始落下。

腦中風＝Brain Attack = Stroke

妹妹告訴我： 有一天媽媽陪爸爸出去散步。 爸爸忽然說話"語無倫次"，一直答話"文不對題"的。 四次讓媽沒法理解他在說甚麼? 他忽然感到”兩眼昏花”看不清楚，"暈頭轉向"必須坐下來休息， 爸突然就倒下去。媽媽趕緊送爸去急診。 發現爸爸是"腦中風"。 是傷在語言區的部位。 照CT Scan發現這是第二次中風。妹妹想起以前爸爸走在客廳，突然向後倒在地上， 言語不清。 大家以為那是爸爸有糖尿病，又有高血壓，大約”血醣降低”所以語無倫次"失去意識"的往後跌倒。不懂那是第一次"腦中風"。甚至以為他越來越”老人疵呆症”說話顛三倒四的。老叫錯別人名字。爸就一直保持”沉默不語”少說少錯。又老是沒精打采昏昏欲睡。{　研究發现，大约有70％—80％的”缺血性腦中風病”病人，在發病前一周左右，會因大腦缺血缺氧而频频出现打哈欠等犯困现象。其原因是中老年人，特别是患高血压、腦動脈硬化者，由于動脈粥樣硬化，管腔变窄，血管壁彈性降低，致使流向大腦的血液量减少。} 可憐大家不懂，任其發展，差點都要送命!

臺灣醫院每月有預算，如果MRI很貴，每月只能排幾個病人去照MRI。 如果沒控制人數。醫院從健保局領不到錢。就吃虧大啦! 很不幸爸爸正好沒排到名。 所以不能進一步做磁波共震檢查。 也無法住進大學醫院。因為太多病人，不夠病床。只好轉去私人醫院住院十天。表弟是爸爸的醫生。只好辛苦他，每天午餐時間趕過來探望病情進展。爸爸馬上打點滴。服血液稀釋的藥物。控制得宜，保住老命。爸早已認命。反正人總有一天會死去。何懼之有？ 但是他不要我在美國擔心。因為買機票不像買汽車票那麼容易。無法馬上說回臺就回臺。叫媽媽和妹妹暫時別告訴我。
還是妹妹的兒子有天上網用MSN發簡訊告訴我。”外公住院了!”

我想想妹妹每天回娘家陪伴父母。凡事由她來挑擔。她從無怨言。我逍遙自在的在美國都沒有回饋父母甚麼。真是慚愧! 父母養育二女一男。結果只是留在身邊的老二能夠”彩衣娛親"。

弟弟住臺灣但也離家很遠，要上班工作，若要回家也很困難。幾次請父母搬去同住，都被婉拒。弟弟想要孝敬，也不得其門而入。

至於我就更像漂蕩天空的斷線風箏，望斷關山也盼不到的。偶爾才飛回去一次。騙騙父母歡心。每回都反被父母優渥禮遇。活像聖經故事 "浪子回頭The Prodigal Son”的中文版再生。幸好唸佛的妹妹，在家照顧父母。從不計較父母對我那麼好而一氣就出走。感恩之至! 這回我家老大和老三要一起回去探親。希望讓爸爸高興一下。只是於心不安,這下又要讓媽媽和妹妹忙翻天了!

子曰:"父母在不遠遊。" 看來我真忘掉了。還住個離家幾萬哩。 要飛回去還不簡單。還因為我住這麼遠,都沒帶孩子回去。把祖孫兩代的親情都疏遠了。我從沒像臺灣俗例嫁出去的女兒很風光的攜大堆禮品回娘家探親。因為由美國搭機回臺行李有限重。而且嘛 ! 爸媽都叫我不必帶甚麼有的沒有的不實用的東西回去。人回來就好。機票已經花費那麼多錢了。就不要再買禮物啦!反正大家生活富裕不缺任何東西。 我就"信以為真"空手而回。結果返美時 親友反送我不少珍貴禮物。倒卻是每回讓我滿載而歸!我真是不折不扣的一個”女兒賊”喔!


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我到電腦搜尋” 腦中風” 還真是資料齊全! 但以下這篇文章深入簡出。馬上會有明確概念。值得一讀。



食物以及氧氣藉由許許多多的血管被攜入腦部。這些血管可以在腦部表面以及腦部很內側的地方被觀察到。 血管（以及神經）經由頭骨上的孔洞（foramina）進入腦部 (右方圖片中紅色箭頭所指之處)。

人的腦雖然只佔身體總重量的2 ％，但是它吸收身體15-20% 的血液供給。因為要是攜帶氧氣的血液供給中斷了，腦部的細胞將會死亡，所以腦部是血液供給上享有第一優先。甚至是在其他器官需要血液的情形下，身體也會企圖持續供給腦部血流。


血液攜帶著許多腦部要能適切運作所必須的物質。血液也同時將許多物質帶離腦部。







血液藉由兩對血管供給整個腦部的需要： 頸內動脈（internal carotid arteries）以及椎動脈（vertebral arteries）。 你可以看到下圖，右側與左側椎動脈在腦部的底側會和形成一條基底動脈（basilar artery）。基底動脈在腦部底側與頸內動脈在一個環狀血管交會一同參與腦部血液的供給。這個環狀血管叫做威利環（circle of Willis）。 這個威利環提供了一個安全機制…若是其中一條動脈阻塞了，威利環還是可以「不減威力」的為腦部供給血液。


腦中風＝Brain Attack = Stroke

你所認識的人，也許是你的父母或是你的祖父母，他們曾經發生「中風」（stroke， brain attack）的現象。究竟什麼是中風呢？當腦部的血液供給被中斷了便發生中風。要是持續時間更長，神經細胞便會因為沒有辦法得到足夠的氧氣而死去。肢體麻痺（Paralysis）或失語症（ aphasia ，loss of speech） 是中風後可能的後遺症。
中風有兩種主要的成因：
• 因下列情形導致血管阻塞 (腦內或是頸內)：
o 腦內或頸內有血拴 (稱為thrombosis)
o 從其他地方而來的血拴堵塞的腦內或頸內的血管(稱之為an embolism) )
o 頭部或頸部的血管壓縮或是變窄 (稱之為 stenosis)
• 血管出血 (此稱為出血性中風，hemorrhagic stroke)
下列幾種警訊伴隨著中風發生：
經過美國國家神經性疾病與中風研究中心許可列印
• 身體某一側的臉部或手臂或頸部突然虛弱無力或是麻木
• 突然某一眼看不清楚或是看不見
• 突然說話有困難或是在理解別人說話時有困難
• 突然頭痛欲裂沒有原因
• 尤其是伴隨著其他徵兆發生的，無法解釋的頭昏眼花，搖來晃去，突然跌倒
經過美國國家神經性疾病與中風研究中心許可列印
• 高血壓（High blood pressure）－均衡飲食，維持健康範圍的體重，以運動來減少血壓。或是用藥物也可以降血壓。
• 吸煙（Cigarette smoking）－不要開始吸煙，要是你抽煙的話，戒～掉～它！！
• 心臟病（Heart disease）－你的醫師將會治療你的心臟病，並且可能會開些處方藥來防止血拴形成。
• 糖尿病（Diabetes） －糖尿病（Diabetes）－好好治療糖尿病可以延緩增加中風風險的併發症發生。
• 暫時性腦缺血（Transient ischemic attacks）－它們是中風短暫發作的警訊，可以以藥物或是動手術的方式治療。
• 每年美國有60萬人受中風之害中風是美國人的第三大死因，每年大約有16萬人死於中風。(統計資料來自：美國中風協會 American Stroke Association)
• "Carotid" (頸動脈carotid artery) 來自希臘文 karotis 意指「深度的睡眠」。這是因為長久以來人們一直認為在頸動脈施壓會使動物入睡。
• 人類的腦用去身體所供給之氧氣的15-20％。非洲象鼻魚的腦甚至用掉60％的氧氣。 (資料來源： Nilsson, G.E., Brain and body oxygen requirements of Gnathonemus perterssi, a fish with an exceptionally large brain. J. Experi. Biol., 199:603-607, 1996.)
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Last week my Dad had a Brain Attack . (Brain Attack= Stroke＝腦中風.)
This is a good article for us to read.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/205_stroke.html#time

When blood flow to the brain stops, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients. "A stroke is a medical emergency because brain cells start dying quickly," says John R. Marler, M.D., a neurologist and associate director for clinical trials at the NINDS. And treatment is most effective when given promptly.

Activase (alteplase), a genetically engineered version of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), is the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating the sudden onset of ischemic stroke. The drug dissolves blood clots that block blood flow to the brain, improving the chance for recovery and decreasing disability. But the drug must be given within three hours after stroke symptoms begin. It has not been shown to be effective beyond three hours.

"The longer blood flow is cut off and the longer treatment is delayed," Marler says, "the more likely it is that the patient will suffer permanent damage." Stroke experts commonly refer to the sense of urgency in stroke treatment with this expression: "Time is brain."

Marler says, "This is why it's so important to recognize the symptoms of stroke and call 911 right away." The most common symptoms of stroke are

sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
sudden confusion, or difficulty speaking or understanding speech
sudden vision problems, such as blurry vision or a partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes
sudden dizziness, trouble walking, or loss of balance and coordination
sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Other symptoms that are less common, but still important, are sudden nausea, vomiting, brief loss of consciousness, or decreased consciousness, such as fainting and convulsions.

Sometimes, people experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called "mini-stroke," which also requires prompt medical evaluation. When a TIA occurs, stroke symptoms may last only temporarily and then disappear. Most TIA symptoms disappear within an hour, but they may persist up to 24 hours.

"About 1 in 4 people who have a TIA go on to have a bigger stroke within five years," says Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., associate chairman of neurology and director of the stroke division at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University. "Stroke may have been prevented if the TIA had been detected and appropriately treated," he says. Doctors may recommend drugs or surgery to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a TIA. "For us, TIA is to stroke what chest pain is to heart disease. It's a warning sign that shouldn't be ignored," Sacco says.

The effects of a stroke depend on which area of the brain is affected and how extensive the damage is. One side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. So a blood clot on the right side of the brain limits function on the left side of the body and vice versa.

At the hospital, Pagnotta recalls that a doctor kept lifting up her left arm. "Each time, it flopped back down," she says. Pagnotta didn't receive treatment with t-PA. Two hours after her symptoms began, she could move her fingers again, then she could move her whole arm, and her speech improved. After conducting tests, her doctors concluded that there had been a blood clot that temporarily blocked an artery on the right side of her brain, but it dissolved on its own.

"I was lucky," says Pagnotta, who ran the New York City Marathon in November 2004. She is among the roughly 10 percent of stroke survivors who recover almost completely. According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), 25 percent recover with minor impairments, 40 percent experience moderate-to-severe impairments that require special care, 10 percent require care in a nursing home or other long-term care facility, and 15 percent die shortly after the stroke.

Risk Factors
As Pagnotta discovered, stroke can strike without warning. After tests done during a six-day hospital stay, her doctors determined that her stroke likely occurred because of a combination of factors--she had started taking birth control pills for the first time three months earlier and she had a heart problem.

Pagnotta found out that she had a hole in her heart called patent foramen ovale (PFO). She also had an atrial septal aneurysm, a thinning of the wall between the two chambers of her heart. She had an embolic stroke, in which a clot travels to the brain. She says her doctors believe that a blood clot traveled from her heart, through the PFO, to her brain. A blood clot could move to other areas of the body and never pose a problem. But compared with other organs, the brain is much more sensitive to the interruption of blood supply.

A condition called atrial fibrillation also can increase the risk of having an embolic stroke. Normally, the atrium pumps blood into the ventricles, which then sends blood to the rest of the body. In atrial fibrillation, the atrium doesn't pump blood out properly. This increases the likelihood that blood will pool and clot in the atrium. If a piece of that clot breaks off, it can then be pumped to the brain.

Most strokes occur because blood clots develop directly in the brain. These are known as thrombotic strokes. The most common cause is atherosclerosis, a process in which fatty deposits form in the vessel walls of the brain. The process is similar to what happens in the heart for people with heart disease. This is why stroke and heart disease share some of the same controllable risk factors: high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity. These factors raise the risk for plaque build-up in the arteries, which in turn raises the risk of the formation of blockages and blood clots. A stroke sometimes occurs because plaque develops in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel in the neck that leads to the brain.

Sacco says high blood pressure is perhaps the biggest risk factor for stroke. "There are too many people with uncontrolled high blood pressure," he says. "Especially given that it can be prevented and treated with behavior changes and medications.

"We want people to be aware of their stroke risk and take steps to address the risk factors they can control. We're all at risk. But no matter who you are, it is possible to lower your risk and help prevent a stroke from happening," Sacco says.

Men have a greater stroke rate than women, Sacco says, but women usually live longer and therefore more women are disabled or die from stroke each year. Having a family history of stroke and getting older also raise stroke risk. "African-Americans have twice the stroke incidence and mortality compared to whites," Sacco says, "and Hispanics also seem to be at greater risk." In addition, having one stroke or TIA increases the risk of having another stroke.

Leslie Virgil, 60, of New York City, had a mild stroke about five years ago with no lasting effects. "So I didn't think much about it," she says. "But now I see that the first one was like my body telling me: 'Watch out, because the big one is coming.'

"I had high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, but I didn't make any changes. My mother had a stroke and so did my mother's brother."

Virgil experienced a second, major stroke in November 2004. Due to a blood clot on the left side of her brain, she lost function in her right leg. Her speech is still slurred. And she has difficulty concentrating and finding the right words to communicate sometimes.

Virgil entered the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, part of New York University Medical Center, in December 2004. She is working with a team of specialists to regain her strength. "My goal is to walk out of here," she says.

Now she takes medication to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, and she has switched to a diet that's low in fat, cholesterol, and salt. "This stroke knocked some sense into me," Virgil says.

Small Window of Opportunity
When the FDA approved Activase (t-PA) in 1996, it was the first drug approved to treat acute ischemic stroke. Made by Genentech of South San Francisco, Calif., the drug is given intravenously to dissolve the clot or clots that are keeping blood from flowing to the brain. It improves the chance of recovery by up to 30 percent when used correctly. But there is a major limitation--the need to begin the treatment within three hours.

"The fraction of people who get treated with t-PA is very, very low, just a few percent of all stroke patients," says Marc Walton, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA's Division of Therapeutic Biological Internal Medicine Products. "The three-hour time window is very limiting. There is also a risk of causing intracranial bleeding. Research shows that for safety reasons, doctors are selecting patients carefully."

When someone suffers a stroke, doctors have to run tests to figure out which kind of stroke has occurred and whether the patient is a candidate for t-PA. Meanwhile, time is ticking away. "Hospitals are getting better at evaluating and treating patients with stroke symptoms quickly," Sacco says. "But we also need people to recognize the warning symptoms and get to the hospital sooner."

Most people don't go to the emergency room until more than 24 hours after they experience stroke symptoms, according to the NSA.

James Grotta, M.D., a professor of neurology and stroke program director at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, says there is a host of reasons for the delay.

"Some people don't know the signs of stroke," Grotta says. "Other people call their doctor's office or a family member when they should call 911. Some people are embarrassed to call 911 or they go to bed and hope the symptoms will go away. Stroke symptoms also usually don't hurt, which is why some people try to ignore it. And there are geographical challenges when people are far away from a stroke center."

It's a good idea to talk with your doctor about what hospital you should go to if you are at high risk for a stroke, Grotta says. "Consumers should demand good stroke care." The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has recently moved to certify primary stroke centers by requiring them to meet certain criteria. One requirement is that doctors consider administering t-PA.

"It's also important that family members know about stroke symptoms because the stroke victim's thinking may not be clear and the person may not be able to call for help," Grotta says. Les Bissell, 40, who was treated with t-PA after having a stroke in January 2002, credits his girlfriend at the time for getting emergency help so quickly.

Following a vacation, Bissell got up to look at his mail in his Washington, D.C., apartment. Then he walked across the living room and collapsed, breaking a table on the way down. "My legs wouldn't work; they were like jelly," Bissell says.

He tried to get up and came crashing down again, this time taking the TV and stereo with him. His girlfriend had a friend who suffered a stroke a couple of years before and she recognized the signs. After asking him basic questions that he couldn't answer, like his name and where he was, she called 911. "I will always be thankful for her quick action," he says. "If I had been alone, I probably would have just stayed there on the floor and fallen asleep."

The morning after the stroke, a doctor jingled some keys in front of Bissell and asked him what they were. He had no idea. He was unable to walk or speak. "I could only cry out of fear and frustration," he says. "The alphabet was a complete mystery, although it did look vaguely familiar."

Slowly, Bissell recalled letters, words, and names. He got out of the hospital a few days later, and underwent months of speech therapy and physical therapy. He was treated for depression and attended support groups.

He has a slight speech impediment, gets exhausted easily, and has trouble with comprehension. He also has a whole new outlook. Now he lives on a 28-foot boat named HOPE and is sailing around the world to raise awareness about stroke. His voyage began in Annapolis, Md., in April 2004 and he expects to be sailing for three years.

He exchanges e-mails with other stroke survivors and spreads the word about prevention and treatment. "Don't let it beat you," Bissell says. "Seek help fast."

Expanding the Options
"The biggest impediment to designing therapy for acute stroke is that the brain is extremely vulnerable," Grotta says. "Brain tissue dies rapidly. The brain is also hard to access. The blood vessels are delicate and tiny, and it's hard to get to the brain with a catheter." One big area of research, he says, involves trying to improve on t-PA.

According to a study published in the Nov. 18, 2004, issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, patients who get a combination of t-PA and ultrasound may be able to leave the hospital with a greater chance of recovery. This preliminary study suggests that larger studies to assess the effects on the patient's functional abilities and stroke recovery are worth pursuing.

"Ultrasound causes vibrations that work with t-PA to break up clots," says Grotta, who was part of the international research team that conducted the study. The team was led by Andrei Alexandrov, M.D., at the University of Texas‚Houston School of Medicine. Grotta says, "This may help the drug get to the clot and open up blood vessels faster."

Joseph Broderick, M.D., chairman of the neurology department at the University of Cincinnati, says, "We know that t-PA, while a great advance, doesn't really open up the clots fast enough in people with big strokes. We want to find out whether we can do better."

Broderick and his colleagues are studying an approach that combines t-PA with additional treatment through a catheter at the site of the brain clot. Broderick says, "Patients who have already received intravenous t-PA within three hours of onset are taken immediately for intra-arterial angiography, a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the groin and threaded up to the arteries in the brain." Additional t-PA is put directly into the clot and the catheter is also used to help break up the clot.

"In another NINDS-funded study, we are also comparing t-PA with GP2B3A inhibitors, which are already approved for cardiac use, to see if this combination can open up arteries earlier," Broderick says. GP2B3A inhibitors are agents that prevent platelets in the blood from clumping together.

Researchers are also looking for novel approaches for treating acute ischemic stroke that could be used in addition to t-PA or instead of it. For example, neuroprotective agents protect the ischemic cells from damage or death until blood flow is restored. These agents hold promise, and many have worked in a lab, but none have proven effective in clinical trials.

Hypothermia is another neuroprotective approach under study. This involves cooling the body to lower body temperature and slow down brain damage due to stroke. Hypothermia can be achieved by inserting cold saline into the body intravenously to cool the body to a certain temperature. The more common method involves external cooling through the skin, such as with "cooling" blankets. "This has been effective in cardiac arrest patients with brain damage," Grotta says. "It's proof that neuroprotection could work."

Stroke experts say there is also great interest in treatment that could be started much earlier. Jeffrey Saver, M.D., is leading a study at the UCLA School of Medicine that involves treating stroke patients in the ambulance. Paramedics give the potentially neuroprotective agent magnesium sulfate in an attempt to increase blood flow to the brain and prevent buildup of damaging calcium in injured nerve cells. This experimental treatment is being studied in an NINDS-funded clinical trial.

Preventing Another Stroke
According to the NINDS, about 25 percent of people who recover from a first stroke will have another within five years, and the chance of death and disability increases with each stroke. The good news is that there is a lot people can do to prevent a recurrence.

Besides lowering stroke risk through lifestyle changes and medication that lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, surgery may be beneficial. In a procedure called carotid endarterectomy, surgeons open up the carotid artery in the neck and scrape out plaque. This is sometimes done for acute stroke, but the procedure has more of a role in preventing recurrent strokes, experts say.

Surgeons also may open up a clogged carotid artery with a small balloon and insert a small tube called a stent to keep the artery open. In August 2004, the FDA approved the Acculink Carotid Stent System made by Guidant Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif. The stent is intended to prevent stroke by opening a blocked artery. The Acculink is inserted during angioplasty, a procedure in which the stent is threaded up to the neck artery via a catheter inserted in the groin.

The device helps prevent stroke in people who have had a TIA or stroke and who have at least 50 percent blockage of a carotid artery. It also may be used in those who have had no previous stroke but have a carotid artery that's at least 80 percent blocked and who are not good candidates for the surgical alternative. The FDA is requiring Guidant to conduct post-approval studies to confirm the stent's performance in more patients and to assess its long-term safety and effectiveness.

There are two main types of drugs approved by the FDA to prevent a recurrent ischemic stroke. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), and Aggrenox (aspirin and dipyridamole), prevent clotting by decreasing activity of the platelets--the blood cells that make blood clot. These drugs are used to prevent recurrent thrombotic strokes.

Anticoagulants, such as Coumadin (warfarin) and heparin, thin the blood to prevent it from clotting and also prevent existing clots from growing. These drugs are particularly useful in preventing the formation of clots in people with atrial fibrillation.

Pagnotta takes Coumadin every day. She says she bruises easily, which is a side effect of the treatment. She also has to be careful to prevent cuts and other accidents because anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding. She must have her blood levels checked regularly to monitor her risk of clotting and bleeding.

Pagnotta says, "The scary part is that I worry every time I have a headache or feel tingling or numbness. I'm wondering is this another stroke?" But this concern has lessened over time.

She is anxiously awaiting the results of a study comparing blood thinners to having her heart condition surgically corrected. "For now," she says, "I'm happy to be alive."



Blocked or Ruptured Arteries
Ischemic strokes occur because a blood clot blocks an artery or vessel in the brain. Hemorrhagic stokes occur because a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes bleeding in the surrounding brain tissue. With ischemic stroke, doctors want to open the artery up and dissolve the clot. With hemorrhagic stroke, they want to clot the blood and stop the bleeding.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by an aneurysm, a thin or weak spot in an artery that bulges and can burst. Other causes include a group of abnormal blood vessels called arteriovenous malformation or leakage from a vessel wall that was weakened by high blood pressure.

One drug, Nimotop (nimodipine), is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysm. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and the skull.

Hemorrhagic stroke is also sometimes treated with surgery that removes abnormal blood vessels or places a clip at the base of an aneurysm. Aneurysms are increasingly being treated by using catheters to place wire coils inside the aneurysm to abolish it.

There is no currently FDA-approved treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage, which is when a vessel leaks blood into the brain itself. Joseph Broderick, M.D., chairman of the neurology department at the University of Cincinnati, says this type of stroke kills up to 40 percent of people within about a month after the stroke occurs.

One therapy under investigation is called NovoSeven, which is made by Denmark-based Novo Nordisk. The drug is approved by the FDA for treating bleeding in people with hemophilia, a condition in which a person's blood doesn't clot normally.

In a clinical trial led by Stephan Mayer, M.D., director of the neurological intensive care unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University, NovoSeven has shown promise for stopping early bleeding and improving outcomes in people with intracerebral hemorrhage.



The MERCI Retriever
In August 2004, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the first device to remove blood clots in the brain in people with ischemic stroke. The MERCI Retriever--Mechanical Embolus Removal for Cerebral Ischemia--is made by Concentric Medical Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.

"The device is a catheter with a coiled tip that grasps the clot and allows it to be removed by the physician," says Miriam Provost, deputy director of the FDA's Division of General, Restorative and Neurological Devices. "It may provide an option for some patients who aren't eligible for t-PA."

The risks of the MERCI Retriever include bleeding and vessel punctures. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is funding a clinical trial that continues to study the device. The MERCI Retriever is intended for use by interventional radiologists, doctors who are specially trained to use imaging techniques to view the inside of the body while they guide small instruments through blood vessels to the site of the problem.



For More Information
American Stroke Association
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231
(888) 4-STROKE (478-7653)

National Stroke Association
9707 E. Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
(800) STROKES (787-6537)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
PO Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
(800) 352-9424


FDA Office of Public Affairs

Website

http://www.asianam.state.pa.us/asianam/lib/asianam/2006_asianpacificamheritagemo.pdf

http://www.asianam.state.pa.us/asianam/lib/asianam/Official_flyerAsianHeritage.pdf

http://homepage.mac.com/chihodesign/PhotoAlbum9.html

日期: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:27:23 -0400
寄件者: "Tzu-hui Liu" 檢視連絡人詳細資料
網域認證鑰匙確認這信件寄出自 gmail.com. 更多說明
主題: New Address & Phone #


Dear All,

We have new address and phone number as following:

465 Meadow Road, # 3102
Princeton, NJ 08540

Phone #: 609-452-0512


Thank you.


Jui-yi & Tzu-hui

Ben 開始學步和學語

Ben 開始學步了!!
上回抱著他只想要下地去爬而已。偶而試探性的想扶著玩具走兩步。 不敢放手走的! 才相隔幾天就"刮目相看"。聽說在托兒所沒人管他時 。他自己慢慢專心走很遠。如果有人看他時。他反而激動走較短就跌坐下去! 我記得臺灣俗語:"七坐,八爬,九發牙"。他是甚麼都提早一個月吧! 他剛滿十個月大。開始學步和學語。

人類比起牛羊還是差一截! 牛羊動物出生落地,就會站會走會跪乳。離開溫暖的母肚,馬上就要適應寒冷的環境。鳥兒眼未開就會哀號討食。一個月不到就羽豐學飛。要自行覓食啦! 人類到底還是脆弱些,緩慢些。要離獨立那就更慢了! 子曰：「吾十有五而志於學，三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳順，七十而從心所欲不踰矩。」有的小孩從小到大都不志於學的哩! 要是碰上"三十不立"，"四十仍惑"，"五十不知天命"，"六十耳未順"，"七十無法從心所欲不踰矩"。那就"父母難為"喔!! 加油! 加油!! "路遙知馬力"一切都要慢慢來喔!


請按下列網址去看Ben的學步和學語
April 4, 2007扶牆橫行
side walking:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4511195095835056018&pr=goog-sl

April 5, 2007先爬後走
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2598960491437579559&pr=goog-sl


April 7, 2007牙牙學語
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2033253875339864932&pr=goog-sl

April 8, 2007 Easter egg 復活節
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6444518147483518746&pr=goog-sl

April 10, 2007 oversize PJ
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5753655963092460020&pr=goog-sl

April 11, 2007 Just a diaper
Ben spilled water on himself yesterday, and I got a quick video before putting on some dry clothes.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2478940238731976372&pr=goog-sl

April 13,2007
Description: Ben's teeters around a very messy living room
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2122410520115197909&pr=goog-sl

Snow again

臺語俗諺:"春天後母面" 。

我們說後母總是當著大家面前假意對前妻小孩好熱絡。
背著老爸就給前妻小孩嚴厲的臉色看!
到底不是自己的親生子! 兇悍得很。
不"謹言慎行"就讓你死的很難看!
俗語說"言語傷人三春寒" 要忘很難。

我看春花一次就全凍死了!
"滿園春色"一夜結凍就全"消聲匿跡"。
心裡十分不捨與無奈。
要等明年再見了。
這些各式各樣的水仙花原是美國老師(Esther B. T. Cordray'35)送我的。
她是Waynesburg College 1996 Golden Kay awardee.
還有一個日裔媳婦。她夫妻都在教育界工作。
我去Carol Christen 家就順便去她家兩家住的很近。
有個農場種很多各式各樣的水仙花。
每年看花就思念這位良師益友。
又一次體會到故友"音容宛在""溫情永存"!

我們說不經"一番寒澈骨,那得梅花撲鼻香"。
這些歷經風霜的植物也在啟示我:要經得起人生嚴厲考驗啊!