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- 65张可爱的小动物摄影照片
- 外国人看好美国房地产 中国亦受青睐
- 刘洪波：杨支柱的抗辩所及不止24万元罚单(zt)
- 象征性退税与争取“同税同权”并不矛盾
- [转载]超越法律的“申请单号”
- 美国历史画卷开拓者篇名画赏析之二：瑞维尔报信
- 张五常评茅于轼
- China: Social media for social change
- 2011年01月14日糗事TOP10
- 象征性退税与争取“同税同权”并不矛盾
- 抢稿小红猪
- Fairer policies would really prompt citizens engage in sports.
- 政府應合法化社區電台
- Mind gym: Putting meditation to the test
- Uncertainty principle: How evolution hedges its bets
- 学保尔还是学比尔？
- 化废为宝的环保美学
- 逃368万过路费农民称替弟弟顶罪，收费站有“内鬼”
- 无法“同税同权”，网友要求退“个税”
- An Interview with Burt Malkiel
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 02:56 PM PST 当你看到小孩子，或者小动物的那种天真无邪的样子的时候，我想你肯定会想到用可爱这个形容词。今天就分享：65张可爱的小动物摄影照片，希望有你喜欢的。 Suprise, is her name by Raul Alexandre
Siblings by Stephen Earle
Cheetahs in the rain by Stephen Earle
Fox Kids by Uri Kolker
Just born by Doron Nissim
Life is good! by Nikolai Zinoviev
(European) Reed Warbler by Yaki Zander
Feeding time by Katootje
Little Explorer by David Orias
Three of a Kind by Roeselien Raimond
Got a whole lot of Living to do….. by Roeselien Raimond
Lost in a Warming World? II by Dennis Bromage
Emulate by Doug Roane
Lunchtime by Daniel Hasselberg
Photo by Fabio Ornago
Mara Wind by Stephen Edds
Rear Guard by Stephen Edds
Fratricide by Alexandre Buisse
Not ready to fly by Carl Quick
There is a whole big world out there by Mark B Bartosik
First steps by Mark B Bartosik
The Summit by Marac Andrev Kolodzinski
Peekaboo by nova
TRIO by Ilia Shalamaev
The Essence of Cute by Brian O'Connor© emilo for 创意悠悠花园, 2011. | 本文链接 | 暂无评论 如果你喜欢创意悠悠花园的文章，可以收听我们@emilo,或者订阅我们的rss 如果你的订阅器出现防盗链的提示，请通过邮件emilo@vip.qq.com通知我们你的阅读器域名！ 高性价比美国VPS：20G硬盘512M内存2T的流量只需要2美元
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| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 01:47 PM PST 这个月月初"国际房地产投资者协会"（the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate）公布了一年一度的投资调查报告，这是该协会自1992年以来第19个年度报告，在这个报告中，美国的房地产继2010年后，再次成为外国投资者的首选，而中国则名列其次。参与调查的协会成员在全球持有的房地产资产约6270亿美元，其中在美国的资产为2650亿美元。  纽约中央公园周边 （照片：Martin Amant） 国际房地产投资者协会的这份调查显示，许多国际房地产投资商认为，2011年的美国房地产市场为投资者带来了大好的投资机会，从资本增值潜力的角度看，60%的投资者认为美国最具潜力，这个比例是自2000年以来最高的，显示出他们对美国房地产市场充满信心；而在2006年美国房地产泡沫高涨时，这个比例只有23%，从中可以看到，这些投资人是十分精明的，他们对房地产价格的判断很准确。美国的房地产价格经过这几年的大幅度修正，已经极具吸引力。72%的投资者表示计划在2011年将更多的资金投入美国房地产。在同样项目的调查中，处于资本增值潜力第二位的是中国的房地产，不过看好中国的外国投资者人数不到看好美国的一半。 在几天前的博文晒晒美国房价中，博主Jianan提到2010年11月份全国新房销售价格中位数为21.3万美元，而二手房销售价格中位数略高于17万美元。根据美国人口普查局2010年9月公布的资料，2009年的全美家庭收入中位数是49777美元，以这个收入为基础来看的话，新房房价是家庭收入的近4.3倍，二手房的价格是家庭收入的3.4倍，这个比例是十分合理的。  华盛顿纪念碑雪景 （照片：Xiao） 房价不高，加之贷款利息又处于历史最低点，难怪全美房地产经纪人协会编制的房屋购买力指数（affordability index）2010年11月份达到184.5的历史高位。指数越高，表明房价相对便宜，而在2007年房价高峰期时，这个指数只有115.4。 看好美国房地产市场的外国投资者将目光集中在大城市，名列前五位的是纽约、华盛顿、波士顿、旧金山与洛杉矶。排名前两位的纽约与华盛顿最具吸引力，人气度比排名第三的波士顿高出四倍。在各类房地产投资类别中，最受欢迎的是独立屋，其次是零售商场、宾馆、办公楼与厂房。 从全球的角度看，最受欢迎的城市为纽约、华盛顿、伦敦、巴黎、上海；东京则名列第14。不过，如果从房地产投资的稳定与安全角度看，排名前5位的国家是美国、德国、加拿大、英国与澳大利亚。 前几天雾谷飞鸿博主写了几篇有关美国房价的博文美国买房要花哪些钱、美国房租知多少等，引起网友热评，有人甚至猜测我们写房价的动机。其实我们的目的很简单，没有那么复杂。我们只是想通过自己的亲身经历，将美国社会的各个方面全方位地介绍给读者，事实上有关美国房地产市场的情况，早在一年前就介绍过，如三十万美元可以在哪里买房？ 美国房市泡沫已尽曙光在前、 全美房屋购买力指数已达高点等。以我个人的观察，美国的房价如果与收入相比的话，的确已经十分便宜；如果与其它发达国家相比的话，也显得便宜。从2006年开始的房价大跌，可以说是我们这一代人一生中难得一遇的机会，如果不在这一两年中把握这个良机的话，将后悔莫及。当然这只是我自己的看法，希望网友不要误解。 | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 09:49 AM PST
中国青年政治学院副教授杨支柱因超生二胎，被海淀区计生委开出24万元社会抚养费罚单，向法院提起行政诉讼。 所有的诉讼都是具体的，解决的是某个人、某件事的是非曲直。但有些诉讼涉及的问题，却是普遍的，应该得到普遍的关注，杨支柱与海淀区计生委的诉讼，就是这样一个案件。 杨支柱提出，计生委所称的"违法生育"，在相关法律法规中均无表述，《人口与计划生育法》"提倡一对夫妻生育一个子女"，并未作为强制条款。而且"社会抚养费"未纳入行政处罚范围。计生委代理人表示，收取社会抚养费的决定适用法律法规正确，认定事实清楚，程序合法。 杨支柱是诉讼的提出方，但就计划生育执行情况而言，杨支柱发出的是一个公民的抗辩。在这一抗辩中，杨支柱针对海淀区的具体行政行为，质疑其合法性问题，包括"违法生育"作为处罚理由是否有法律法规上的明文规定，以及社会抚养费虽见诸 《人口与计划生育法》，但未纳入行政处罚范围，因而冲突于《行政处罚法》。双方对杨支柱在未获出生许可情况下生育第二个孩子，并无分歧，而报道中，计生委自称 "程序合法"、"适用法律法规正确"，但并未直接回应杨支柱对程序和适用法律法规的质疑。 杨支柱的抗辩，意义重大。严格的计划生育政策，执行已经多年，执行中令人感慨扼腕的故事，不可胜数。在一些农村，村头墙上的相关标语，可谓触目惊心；而在城市，则以户籍、工作岗位的管理，形成了严格政策执行的保障。在政策与法律之区分未成为人们的普遍认识前，严格的政策执行很少受到质疑，而现在，依法治理的观念深入人心，使得杨支柱的抗辩得以提出并进入诉讼程序。 从"准生证"到"计划生育服务证"，从"超生罚款"到"社会抚养费"，计划生育的相关语汇在进步，而生育次数的严格管理，以及管理所要达成的效果，并无改变。 "服务证"的柔性表述，"罚款"名称的去除，使得"提倡与自愿"的语言，与"准生证"、"惩罚性"一表一里。 这一诉讼值得关注，不只是一个孩子的社会抚养费问题，也不只是计生处罚决定是否有法律法规明文表述的理由，而是人口与计划生育的一系列相关观念，以及这一政策正在面临的新形势需要如何应对。杨支柱的社会抚养费诉讼中，还只表达了人口与计划生育问题上目前存在的社会分歧的很小部分。 没有人能够代替法庭作判决，但判决结果显然将引人关注。判决尚未作出，但并不影响人们去思考十字路口的相关问题。很多人尚在"人口太多"的焦虑之中，主要视人口为一种负累。而与此同时，人作为创造主体的价值，生育作为一种天然的权利，其实无可辩驳。加速到来的老龄化，普遍的生育意愿降低，以及严厉措施的社会代价，也正在引起相当程度的忧虑。 当年深度参与计划生育政策的学者田雪原近日撰文，既表达了对当年时势下积极建言并参与制定实施严格政策的肯定态度，同时表达了对不得已而为之的"一胎化"被概述为"只生一个好"的不以为然。针对现时态势，田雪原认为人口问题已经缓解，并特别回顾了1980年《致全体共产党员共青团员的公开信》中的话："到三十年以后，目前特别紧张的人口增长问题就可以缓和，也就可以采取不同的人口政策了"，认为现在已经到了兑现承诺的时候。 杨支柱的诉讼，在众所关注的计生政策上，提出了行政行为的合法性问题，也有利于拨正仅仅从"负累"角度看待人口的社会思维。人的问题归约为人口问题，人口问题归约为经济问题，这种简单化的思维应该终结了。何况即使仅仅从经济而言，持续的劳动力供应也未必不需要提早谋划。（作者为资深评论人士） | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:39 AM PST
杨支柱
"假如你是外来人口，假如你面临着与本地人上一样的税，享受与本地人不同权利的困境，请加入诉求队伍。转发视为签名。"近日，一则题为《征集签名，要求地方政府给外来人口退税》的微博引起网上热议。据报道，该建议信及网友签名已经寄往全国人大常委会。（《网友联名建议给外来人口退个税》，新京报2011年1月14日） 确实，外来定居人口像本地人一样纳税，却不能享受同样的社会福利，是很不公平的，它使得宪法中"中华人民共和国公民在法律面前一律平等"成为一纸空文。以北京为例，无北京户籍人口看病完全自费，孩子上学要交借读费或者只能捡本地户籍学生挑剩的学校，买房贷款受特殊限制，买车不能摇号，只能"暂住"在自己家里…… 高度相似的歧视，也发生在所谓"超生"子女（准确地说是"无证生育子女"）身上。公民无条件享受各项基本人权，是公民成年后纳税的道义基础。如果"超生"子女享有的儿童福利是父母以"社会抚养费"的形式买来的，他（她）还有纳税的道德义务吗？为什么别的孩子无条件享有的儿童福利，"超生"子女的父母必须用钱购买？平等原则何以体现吗？甚至歧视的理由本质上也是相同的：排斥未得到政府许可而在本地生活的"多余的人"迁入或出生，同时不放弃他们能够带来的任何利益。 改变这种不公平的局面，维护宪法的权威，努力的方向当然是争取"同税同权"，而不是"不同权退税"。建议信要求修改《个人所得税法》第五条，增加"纳税人因为户籍原因而在纳税地得不到与户籍纳税人同等权利的，可以申请所得税的减征、免征和退还"一款，实际上将"不同权退税"制度化，并不可取。要求"减征、免征和退还"的为什么是个人所得税而不包括其他税种？难以理解。本地户口居民享有而非本地户口居民不能享有的权利，有的也很难准确估价。还有，并不是所有的外来打工人口的孩子都在父母工作地享受歧视待遇，退税以后是不是应该回户籍地再交一部分？操作起来也相当复杂。 争取"同税同权"，其实并不像某些人所说的那样需要加快改革户籍制度，只需要恢复户口制度的人口登记本来面目即可。近年来程海律师一直在呼吁，根据全国人民代表大会常务委员会于1958年1 "中华人民共和国户口登记条例"（注意，这是法律，不是行政法规），"公民应当在经常居住的地方登记为常住人口"（第六条）。户籍与各项社会福利挂钩来自其他行政法规、规章及政府规范性文件。公安部门有法不依，屈服于这些行政法规、规章及其他政府规范性文件，使户口不能依法在常住地登记，才造成了长达五十多年的对无本地户口居民的歧视。 不是说"户口登记条例"就十全十美无需修改，但是它既然没有修改，就应当无条件立即实施。如果一部生效的法律可以长达几十年束之高阁，那么制定得再好的"户籍改革方案"又怎么避免同样的命运呢？ 一些人担心恢复户口制度的人口登记功能会导致北京、上海等地人满为患。这种担心在目前的政策格局下或许并不是杞人忧天。但为什么纽约、巴黎、伦敦不存在这样的国内准入限制和歧视待遇并没有人满为患？北京、上海、深圳等大城市的超常吸引力很大程度上是政策和中央投资倾斜的产物。需要改变得是这种地域不平等的政策和投资，而不是阻止人口的自然迁徙。严格执行"户口登记条例"，外来人口剧增的压力或许可以推动这些不平等陋习的革除。继续目前的准入限制和歧视待遇，"逐步改革"实际上就成了不改革的托辞，早已被废除的"收容遣送"制度也会继续阴魂不散。 尽管我反对外地户籍者为争取平等权利修改税法，但是我并不反对退税本身。不但退税要求作为一种行为艺术我非常赞赏，我还希望各地政府以特别决议的形式给与曾经的受歧视的居民以一定的退税作为补偿。我认为政府在落实宪法和法律规定的同时，有必要真诚地向所有曾经遭受歧视的外地户籍者道歉，并通过象征性的"退税"来表达道歉的诚意。这个象征性的"退税"是一次性的，采用特别决议的方式显然比修改税法合适。由于退税只是为了表达道歉的诚意，也不存在回户籍地重新纳税的问题。 2006年2月22日下午，加拿大总理斯蒂芬·哈珀在国会发表正式声明，代表政府就1885至1923年间的人头税和1923-1947年间的"排华法"问题向全加华人道歉。这一"道歉与和解"典礼同时使用了英语、法语、汉语普通话、粤语、台山话5种语言。除渥太华外，多伦多、温哥华两地华人在分会场观看了典礼的现场直播。在随后的招待会上，加联邦祖裔部部长小田宣布，将对在世的"人头税"纳税人及其配偶每人补偿2万加元。小田还表示：加联邦政府将斥资2400万加元用于一项"社区历史认同项目"，其中250万加元用于提高社会对"人头税"以及"排华法"的认识；另一项独立的1000万加元资助的"国家历史认同项目"，也以提高社会对歧视问题的认识为重要目的。 2006年2月22日是个让加拿大华人激动的日子，加拿大华人的百年心结打开了，加拿大境内的种族和解实现了！这难道不值得正在建设"和谐社会"的中国政府学习吗？ 加拿大政府此举值得我们学习的不只是对历史负责的态度和道歉的诚意，还包括处理历史问题的智慧。加拿大政府拒绝赔偿"人头税"纳税人后代的要求，我认为是正确的。历史旧账是算不清的，矫正的正义不可能不受到时效和对无过错第三人保护的限制。如果年代久远或欠账太多，还不能不受赔偿必要性、查找受害人的成本和政府财力等方面的限制。姓刘的要恢复汉朝的江山，姓李的要恢复唐朝的国土，政府统统答应，那还不乱成一锅粥？与其为不大必要的赔偿让财政背上一个沉重的包袱，实不如花少得多的钱于反歧视教育以防止悲剧重演！但对幸存者及其配偶的适当补偿仍然是必要的，否则不足以表达道歉的诚意。
（新快报2011年1月15日，发表时有删节） | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:03 AM PST 原文地址：超越法律的"申请单号"作者：杨慧文 超越法律的"申请单号" 作者：杨慧文（北京律师）
申请单号，本是北京司法局为了工作方便，使用互联网办公一个流程标识，可在公务人员手中却变成了玩弄权术的法宝，通过屏蔽措施，隐去网上信息，便因为无法获得申请单号而使法律程序难以进行下去，并以此相要挟，达到公务人员出于私意的目的。
我正在经历申请单号的障碍。北京司法局让我无法获得申请单号，阻止换所，恶意剥夺我的执业权。
北京司法局在下属工作人员的手中，律师管理工作中看似有一张严密的程序网，实质上却成了滥用权力的一道道关卡，每过一个关口，都会有人掺入一些个人的私意，以法律为表现的公意变得越来越微不足道。
申请单号本是一个没有法律意义的流程标记，其主要目的仅是为了工作传递中的方便，无论是律师还是律师事务所，申请时填加这一标识，只是为了减少司法局工作人员工作中的难度，让他们工作的更方便一些，说白了就是让公务员少付出劳动，而纳税人自己增加负担；
作为公民或者法律拟制人，我们之所以愿意增加自己的负担，填写这一个申请序列号，根本原因是这样减少了行政成本，而行政成本是我们的税费负担，这样我们就有更多的税款用到其他的社会福利中去。
就是这样形成的申请单号，却被执行者赋于了决定行政程序能否启动的意义，通过控制申请单号能否形成，来卡律师的脖子，权力开始了寻租的过程。
为什么我们总觉得到行政机关办事很难呢？类似这种毫无法律含义的"申请单号"，有机会被运用出高于法律的意味时，让他们办事之难就在情理之中了。
违法滥用职权的权力寻租，在普通人的感受中变成了法律的错误，变成了严谨法律程序的错误，让很多人抵制法治。
滥用权力的实质则是公务人员的私利绑架了法律，绑架了政府，绑架了公共意志。却败坏了法治和法律的美名。（请保留署名，欢迎转载） | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 10:53 AM PST "美国历史画卷"（Picturing America）是国家人文基金会（National Endowment for the Humanities） 2002年启动的"我们人民"（We the People）计划的一部分，旨在加强对美国历史和建国原则的研究及理解。为了达到这个目标，该图片集把美国一些最重要的美术作品带进全国各地的教室，帮助学生们通过一些最伟大的艺术作品来了解美国历史和丰富多彩的风土人情，展现这个国家所经历的艰辛与辉煌。我们将在每周五为世界各地的中文读者献上这套历史名画赏析，希望借此为有意探究美国历史的读者开启一个独特的窗口。
图片赏析：在《保罗·瑞维尔午夜策马报信》中，美国中西部画家格兰•伍德赋予一个人们熟知的故事以魔术般的吸引力。孩童时的伍德就迷上了瑞维尔星夜策马从波士顿前往列克星敦报信，告知爱国志士英国军队前来偷袭的故事（列克星敦是独立战争的始发地）。像当时大多数美国人一样，伍德对这一历史事件的了解来自1863年出版的朗费罗的一首诗： 听我说，孩子们，你们将听到 伍德被这位因星夜报信而成为不朽人物的英雄所吸引。他幻想自己能够在家乡艾奥瓦州完成一项类似的业绩，驰马在农场间飞奔，警告乡亲们即将来临的龙卷风，在风暴结束、众人得救时，自己受到极大的赞誉……伍德未能有机会成为那样的英雄，却因一幅油画作品《美国的哥特式建筑》（American Gothic，1930）获得不朽地位，该作品比夜奔图早一年完成，主题是一位艾奥瓦的农夫和他的妻子（一说女儿）及其模仿哥特式建筑的农舍。 虽然受过艺术家的训练，伍德却有意做一名"原始"画家，喜爱模仿毫不矫饰、朴实自然的美国民间艺术。这种率真的画风使他拒绝任何会转移画中主题焦点的细节或技巧。《保罗·瑞维尔午夜策马报信》把这种风格更推进一步，从孩童的视角描绘了这一传奇场景。 画面取俯瞰角度（像从飞机上看到的图景），图中是新英格兰的村庄和田野，简单几何造型的乡村教堂和周围的房子如积木玩具一般井然有序，线条分明；树冠呈完美的绿色球形，如同出自儿童画。伍德显然无意写实，例如一些房屋的窗子过于明亮，不可能来自烛光；他也无意尊重科学，例如照亮前景的月光就异乎寻常的亮，在路上投下又长又深的阴影，就像使用了当代体育场的聚光灯。远处丘陵起伏，村庄在黑暗中沉睡，只透出点点微弱的灯光。为了突出儿时的梦幻，伍德异想天开地将保罗•瑞维尔的坐骑——即朗费罗在诗中所称的"无所畏惧、疾走如风"的骏马—— 描绘成一匹玩具木马。 看到这童话般的画面，一般人会以为伍德是以逗趣的形式描绘一位深受大众喜爱的美国传奇性人物，然而其意图恰恰相反。他说，他的目的在于保留那些"宝贵的、令人无法割舍的美国民俗"。这种保护文化遗产的倾向来自他塑造美国国家形象的宏大计划，他相信可以通过艺术创造和再现历史达到这一目标，正如朗费罗在诗中所言： 历经我们全部的历史，直至最终， 《保罗·瑞维尔午夜策马报信》完成于经济大萧条期间，此时伍德的使命显得更加迫切。美国开始失去一个有活力的年轻国家所特有的光彩；同时，美国艺术开始失去反映日常生活的传统，因为年轻一代的艺术家舍弃地方性主题和传统，转而追求巴黎和纽约兴起的反映大都市生活的主题和抽象风格。伍德顶着这一潮流，继续追求保护真实美国艺术的理想，编织把现在与过去相连的纽带，努力传承构成美国文化遗产的那些故事。 | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 12:51 AM PST 2011年1月11日★张五常教授在长沙碧桂园凤凰大酒店演讲★现场提问中，陆思同向张五常提问：张老师您好，我叫陆思同，我负责管理茅......>>点击查看新浪博客原文 | |||||||||||||||
| China: Social media for social change Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:51 AM PST
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/01/13/china-social-media-for-social-change/ China: Social media for social changePosted 13 January 2011 Discussion about the political power of social media has focussed on its potential to organize mass protests for revolutionary changes. In the January/February 2011 issue of Foreign Affairs, however, Clay Shirky argued that the real power of social media lies in supporting civil society and the public sphere, with impacts that should be measured in years and decades, not weeks or months. Hu Yong, a media scholar at Peking University, would probably agree with Clay Shirky. In an article published shortly after Liu Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize was announced, Hu claimed that Twitter and all its clones (the various microblogs offered by major portals) have become important tools in China for organizing activism like social resistance and civic investigation. But rather than leading to a 'Twivolution', he argued that social media would lead to more subtle social progress in China: That subtlety reflects the distinction between macro-politics and micro-politics. Macro-politics is structural, whereas micro-politics is daily. Changes in the micro-political system do not necessarily lead to an adjustment in the macro structure, particularly in hyper-controlled political systems like China's. But if small units are well organized, they can greatly improve the well-being of society as a whole, bit by bit, by working at the micro level.'Micro-information' and 'micro-exchange' can push forward real change. In a recent interview about the Chinese social media landscape with Xiaomi (@xiaomi2020) from the China blog Translators, Hu Yong (@huyong) expanded upon this notion of gradualism. He stated that it would be innocent to think that social media can lead to revolutionary changes in China, as many participants are merely 'onlookers' of public events. However, it has a transformative power which should not be underestimated. Below are some of the comments expressed by Hu Yong during the interview (titles added by author of this post for ease of reading). The meaning of 'onlooking' 我强调围观是一种最低限度的公共参与，它其实与通过参与达成共识或通过共识再采取决策和行动这些东西都距离非常遥远。所以，我们如果简单地认为围观就能够改变中国的话，肯定是对中国的现实报以太过于天真的幻想。但是，反过来讲，我们不能够因此低估网络围观的意义，因为它降 低了行动的门槛，导致很多人可以去表达一种立场、一种诉求，这种立场和诉求积少成多、集腋成裘，可以形成一个很大的舆论力量。 I emphasized that onlooking is the minimum level of public participation. In fact, it is very far from the kind of politics in which people participate, reach a consensus, make decisions, and then act. Therefore, it would be too innocent to think that onlooking can change the reality of China. On the other hand, we should not underestimate the meaning of this onlooking in social media. It lowers the threshold of public participation, enabling many people to express their views and desires. These micro-expressions, when combined together, can form formidable public opinion. 另外，我觉得说，这个围观还有一个很重要的东西在于哪里？所谓的围观，就意味着说大家彼此能够互相看见对方，互相看见对方是非常重要的。因为，我经常讲到的一个观点说，在当下的中国社会，人的原罪不是无知，而是视而不见，视而不见比无知是一种更大的危害。也正是由于如此，在 当下的中国社会，单纯的看见这样一种渴望，就会引起很多人的恐慌，引起某些机构的恐慌，原因在于看见本身就是一种力量，因为它代表着公民对很多事情的一种见证，这样的见证如果又是互相能够守望的一种见证，至少它所产生的心理的和社会的动能是不可低估的。 Apart from this, I think that this kind of onlooking represents something important. The so-called onlooking means that people can see each other. This is very important. As I always emphasize, the original sin of people in contemporary China is not ignorance, but apathy, which is more harmful than ignorance. The fact that some parts of the government panic when faced with public demands in the social media shows that onlooking is a force of its own. It represents a kind of witness and caring about each other on the part of the citizenry. The psychological and social momentum generated by it should not be underestimated. Social media and political consumerism 一方面，我们当然要肯定围观政治的积极作用，但是围观政治的确有它的一些比较明显的弊端，比如说短暂性。短暂性是一个比较明显的特点，在中国，尤其是互联网的舆论，总是呈现一种波浪形的，它是一波一波的。换句话讲，一个事件形成以后，它的热点非常集中，形成大家铺天盖地的舆论，但是它的维持舆论的势头其实是有问题的。如果一个新的热点出现，原来的就会很快淡出视野，甚至会被人们遗忘。实际上说，这种围观政治的短暂性，包括民众对于议题的注意力的易碎程度，其实不是特别有利于改变中国的制度结构。 We should acknowledge the positive force of the 'onlooking politics'. But it has its limitations, of which transience is a major one. In China, public opinion come and go like waves. When an incident first breaks, coverage concentrates on it, with massive amounts of reports and comments. But this attention is not sustainable. If another hotspot emerges, the original event will fade away or even be forgotten. This short attention span of the Chinese public is not helpful in effecting structural political changes in China. 这是一个注意力的螺旋定律，就是说为了要获得注意力就要采取一些极端的做法，但是，下一次要获得更大的注意力就只能采取更极端的做法。也有人把这种东西叫做审丑疲劳，就是大家比丑，一个事情比一个事情更丑恶，丑恶到最后，大家对这些东西都比较麻木不仁。所以，我一直觉得，我 们一方面要非常肯定这些新的工具带来的民众的参与性，但是，我们要意识到，这其实是一个最基础的工作，我们永远要把这种政治参与度或者是对社会事务的关注 度的提升作为一个很大的好事来鼓吹，因为它提供了将来结构改变的一种最为核心的基础，如果不打这个基础的话，我觉得任何改变都是纸上谈兵。但是，也不要把打基础的工作夸大为好像就是在建造某个新的结构，或者是说在建造某个新的大厦，打基础和建大厦的区别还是非常明显的。我觉得，微博政治或者围观政治到目前为止，其实还是为我们的民主的微观政治提供了很多改良的机会和手段，它为我们以后更大的社会变迁在打基础，但是它不能代替很多很多的制度化的变革。 This is the spiral rule of attracting attention. You can attract the spotlight through some extreme methods. But to do the same next time, you have to resort to even more extreme means. Sometimes this is called scandal fatigue, in which people compete with each other on being uglier. In the end, people become insensitive. Therefore, I sense that while we should affirm the positive role of social media in encouraging public participation, we should also realize that it is very primitive. Our goal should always be raising this political participation and care about public affairs to a new level, which would provide the foundation of structural changes in China. If we don't construct this foundation, all else will be empty talks. However, we should not equate this foundation building with creating a new structure. After all, the difference between foundation building and constructing a high-rise is apparent. I think that microblogging or onlooking provides a lot of opportunities and tools for us to improve our politics in a micro sense. They lay the foundation for something bigger, but they cannot replace the many structural reforms required. The role of micro-power 今天的中国的变革并不需要一种强有力的革命性的力量，它需要的是一种微动力。这个微动力为什么是重要的？因为，在过去，少数人跟大多数民众之间，中间的联系是断裂的，总会有一些少数的动力特别充足的人，他们会推动某个事情的前进，但是他们永远搞不清楚的是，"为什么大众总是 不关心我们所做的事情，甚至在我们给他们争取利益的时候，大众也不关心"。而大众通常会觉得这些少数动力十足的人，他们太政治化了，可能有他们自己的目的或想法。我觉得，由于微动力的出现，会导致在这两者的断裂间架设起很多的桥梁，这就是微动力的作用。 Today's China does not need a strong, revolutionary force. What it needs is micro-power. Why is micro-power important? This is because, in the past, there was a disconnect between the minority and the majority. The politically active minority always pushes forward real change, but what they find it difficult to understand is, 'why is the mass always unconcerned about what we are doing, even when we are fighting for their benefits?' On the other hand, the majority thinks of this active minority as too politicized, perhaps with their own agenda. I think that the presence of micro-power creates many bridges between the two disconnected groups. This is the role of micro-power. Revolutionary vs. transformative 当下的中国，如果我们有一些公民的行动，或者用更大的词，我们有一些社会运动，那我觉得，它的功能或者效果不是 revolutionary，就是它不是革命性的，但是，它可能是transformative[渐变的]。等于说，它会推动中国社会缓慢地沿着一个长线的道路前进，比如让所有的中国人享有更多的尊严，能够在一个更加公平的社会环境下生活。我觉得，它会推动社会向这个方面有一个很缓慢的转变。所以，可能很多人期待的是，我们有没有可能有一个一夜之间的变化。鲁迅很早就说得很清楚，在中国搬一张桌子都是要流血的。其实，中国的任何事情都不会有很快的变化，都是一个缓慢的变化。那么，在这个意义上来讲，这种微博政治或者围观政治还有一个很大的好处，就是它会锻炼我们的精神。我那时候经常引用朱学勤的话，他说"纵使十年不将军，却无一日不拱卒"，就是不要期待很容易就将军了，但是要日复一日的拱卒，这种精神恰好是很多中国人比较欠缺的东西。大家习惯于速成，习惯于走捷径。西方有一个谚语说，捷径其实是最远的道路。那就是说，我们特别欠缺就是耐心对峙、长期渐进的一种韧性的战斗。而我觉得，凡是期待迅速变化的人 会失望，但是，这一次一次的过程，其实在告诉我们，在中国人当中培养这样一种精神，这种精神最终能够改变现在很多不良的政治和社会。 I think that the effect of citizen actions or even social movements in today's China is not revolutionary, but transformative. It will propel China through a long path of improvements, like more dignity for individuals or a fairer society. It will go along this path slowly. Perhaps many people expect changes overnight. But as Lu Xun pointed out long ago, change in China does not come easily – this was a place where even moving a table will almost always end in bloodshed. From this point of view, microblogging or onlooking has an immense benefit – it refines our spirit. I used to quote Zhu Xueqin, 'we may not be delivering checkmate in ten years, but we waste not a single day advancing our troops.' Don't expect an easy checkmate, but advancing step by step. This spirit is what most Chinese are lacking. We are used to shortcuts and accelerations. There is a good saying, 'a shortcut is the longest distance between two points.' In other words, we lack patience and a progressive, tough fighting spirit. Those who expect sudden changes will be disappointed. But, one incident after another, this process will develop our spirit, and this spirit will correct the defects of our politics and society. Written by Andy Yee
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| Posted: 13 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST "妈，咱家酱油没有了。" "知道了，我这几天没空。你明天不是考研去呢么，正好打一点儿回来……" "……" 考研 打酱油 内牛满面 前几天在某网站看到一个老公老婆之间的可爱事情，原文是这样的： 老婆：老公老公，快问我是不是小兔子。 老公：你是小兔子吗？ 老婆：是啊，我是小兔子，快问我是不是长颈鹿。 老公：你是长颈鹿吗？ 老婆：你傻B啊，都跟你说过我是小兔子了。嘿嘿！！！ 老公很是无奈。 =================分一分================================ 我平时和老公也是常常扮可爱，所以看到这个我觉得可以和老公玩一下，嘿嘿，洗完澡躺在床上就开始跟老公撒娇。 我：老公老公，快问我是不是小兔子？（这里省略我的卑鄙利诱，老公终于从了我） 老公：你是不是小兔子啊？ 我：是啊是啊，我是最可爱的小兔子，老公快问我是不是长颈鹿。 （嘿嘿，按计划一步步进行，我心里已经开始窃喜了，糗百的g潮还是到了） 老公：你傻B啊，你都跟我说你是小兔子了，我还问你啊。 我傻B了 爆个自己的。。。 高三那阵，我和同学（女，发小）在家看学校的信息，讨论选哪个学校。这时妈妈过来参与讨论，展现出了一个正常母亲在接近更年期时所应当展现出的啰哩啰嗦，就说哪哪哪个城市好，哪哪哪个城市人特膈应云云的。我呢，也展现出一个正常青春期孩子的叛逆，就说走开走开别啰嗦啦云云。 妈妈去忙她的事之后，同学开口了："你妈妈挺可爱的嘛。"我觉得她是说好话，就回："你喜欢啊？那送给你当妈。"同学噌的站起来，跑过去，喊了声妈，帮着干活了。。。。 然后。。。 她就成我媳妇儿了。。。 话说她大学四年打了我四年小报告。。。我妈爱死她了。。。晕 老婆是这么娶的 跟一mm表白:我喜欢你！mm:嗯，我知道了。我就不知道怎么接话了… 比好人卡还高端的一句话 初中时，学校离家近，每次放小假我都步行回家。有一年冬天放假，我独自走在回家的路上，不经意间看到天上飞着一只老鹰。那天我穿的外衣有一个仿兔毛的大白领子，瞥见老鹰的那一刹那，我就想它不会把我的领子当成只大兔子而飞下来抓我吧？于是我果断的找了个隐蔽的墙角躲着，在凛冽的寒风中站了将近半个小时…在这半个小时中，我时不时的探出一只眼睛来偷偷看看老鹰还在不在，在…在…在…还在…一直在，时间久的让我终于发现了事情的蹊跷，于是我壮着胆子仔细的观察了老鹰片刻，然后…低声咒骂："神经病，大冷天的放个大头鬼的风筝"。 祝大家快乐每一天 话说我们单位请一老师傅到地下室里修理柜子，到了地下室，突然想起有事要请示领导。拿出手机。。。无信号，问同事借手机来。。。还是无信号。（我的是IPHONE4，同事的是N97）这时候老师傅拿出他的板砖机说道 来用我的 然后就拨通了。。。 手机 昨晚喝点酒，睡的早，老婆睡不着无聊，把我的睡衣袖子和她的绑在一起，然后她也睡着了，袖子还绑在一起，我半夜尿急，起床过猛，只感觉袖子很沉，之后发现老婆被拽到地上了…然后然后我睡的沙发…其实我什么都不知道，睡得死死的，我有多无辜… 来糗百学坏 唉，说一下自己的一个糗事吧，希望能为明年赞个RP ---------------------昏割线--------------- 话说，那天刚洗完澡，发现家里浴室洗澡用的水龙头坏了,于是想在网上找找有没有卖这个水龙头，于是就拿自己刚买的单反，给水龙头来了几张微距的高清写真。 之后在整个淘宝狂找卖水龙头的，找到一个，就发张图片过去问有没有，就这样，找了十来家，奇怪的是那天RP不是一般差，80%都不理我，理我的一半问我发的是什么？一半是骂我神经病!靠，不就是水龙吗，我拍的这么清楚都看不出来?MLGB,真是太不专业了。于是就觉得网上不靠谱，还是发给老妈，让家里人看看吧。 我妈接了图片，没说话，过了半天，我弟弟QQ上发信息过来：哥，你拍的啥?我：水龙头啊！咋回事，看不出来？弟弟：你自己看看，水龙头上有什么？ 有什么呢？大家猜猜？ 原来,TMD，我那天是刚洗完澡就拍的照片，水龙头是TMD的超级亮的那种，于是。。。 我看到，水龙头上映着一个鲜活的高清裸体。。。 我突然想到。我把这些高清H图，发给了那么多个卖家。。。 水龙头 倒映裸体男 听同学讲的。在某医学院附近有一条河，一日河上漂浮着一只人腿，有人看到并报案，警察把腿捞上来后，并没有立刻立案，而是询问医学院的老师此腿是否是学院的丢弃教学用具，此老师端详此腿片刻，十分淡定以及专业说到，这个腿从皮肤看上去应该是个年轻女人的腿，blabla～～～这么好的腿我们可舍不得扔！警察听后大惊，立刻象上级报告。—⋯⋯％＊＃@ 这不是g潮，当警察报告完毕，转身要走的时候，老师一把抓住警察激动的说，如果你们这腿以后没用了别扔，给我吧！ 给我吧～ 我吧～ 吧～ 糗事百科是这个星球上最暴笑的糗事分享网站 :: 立即发表我的糗事 | 查看本月最糗的糗事 
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| Posted: 15 Jan 2011 12:14 AM PST 杨支柱 "假如你是外来人口，假如你面临着与本地人上一样的税，享受与本地人不同权利的困境，请加入诉求队伍。转发视为签名。"近日，一则题为《征集签名，要求地方政府给外来人口退税》的微博引起网上热议。据报道，该建议信及网友签名已经寄往全国人大常委会。（《网友联名建议给外来人口退个税》，新京报2011年1月14日） 确实，外来定居人口像本地人一样纳税，却不能享受同样的社会福利，是很不公平的，它使得宪法中"中华人民共和国公民在法律面前一律平等"成为一纸空文。以北京为例，无北京户籍人口看病完全自费，孩子上学要交借读费或者只能捡本地户籍学生挑剩的学校，买房贷款受特殊限制，买车不能摇号，只能"暂住"在自己家里…… 高度相似的歧视，也发生在所谓"超生"子女（准确地说是"无证生育子女"）身上。公民无条件享受各项基本人权，是公民成年后纳税的道义基础。如果"超生"子女享有的儿童福利是父母以"社会抚养费"的形式买来的，他（她）还有纳税的道德义务吗？为什么别的孩子无条件享有的儿童福利，"超生"子女的父母必须用钱购买？平等原则何以体现吗？甚至歧视的理由本质上也是相同的：排斥未得到政府许可而在本地生活的"多余的人"迁入或出生，同时不放弃他们能够带来的任何利益。 改变这种不公平的局面，维护宪法的权威，努力的方向当然是争取"同税同权"，而不是"不同权退税"。建议信要求修改《个人所得税法》第五条，增加"纳税人因为户籍原因而在纳税地得不到与户籍纳税人同等权利的，可以申请所得税的减征、免征和退还"一款，实际上将"不同权退税"制度化，并不可取。要求"减征、免征和退还"的为什么是个人所得税而不包括其他税种？难以理解。本地户口居民享有而非本地户口居民不能享有的权利，有的也很难准确估价。还有，并不是所有的外来打工人口的孩子都在父母工作地享受歧视待遇，退税以后是不是应该回户籍地再交一部分？操作起来也相当复杂。 争取"同税同权"，其实并不像某些人所说的那样需要加快改革户籍制度，只需要恢复户口制度的人口登记本来面目即可。近年来程海律师一直在呼吁，根据全国人民代表大会常务委员会于1958年1 "中华人民共和国户口登记条例"（注意，这是法律，不是行政法规），"公民应当在经常居住的地方登记为常住人口"（第六条）。户籍与各项社会福利挂钩来自其他行政法规、规章及政府规范性文件。公安部门有法不依，屈服于这些行政法规、规章及其他政府规范性文件，使户口不能依法在常住地登记，才造成了长达五十多年的对无本地户口居民的歧视。 不是说"户口登记条例"就十全十美无需修改，但是它既然没有修改，就应当无条件立即实施。如果一部生效的法律可以长达几十年束之高阁，那么制定得再好的"户籍改革方案"又怎么避免同样的命运呢？ 一些人担心恢复户口制度的人口登记功能会导致北京、上海等地人满为患。这种担心在目前的政策格局下或许并不是杞人忧天。但为什么纽约、巴黎、伦敦不存在这样的国内准入限制和歧视待遇并没有人满为患？北京、上海、深圳等大城市的超常吸引力很大程度上是政策和中央投资倾斜的产物。需要改变得是这种地域不平等的政策和投资，而不是阻止人口的自然迁徙。严格执行"户口登记条例"，外来人口剧增的压力或许可以推动这些不平等陋习的革除。继续目前的准入限制和歧视待遇，"逐步改革"实际上就成了不改革的托辞，早已被废除的"收容遣送"制度也会继续阴魂不散。 尽管我反对外地户籍者为争取平等权利修改税法，但是我并不反对退税本身。不但退税要求作为一种行为艺术我非常赞赏，我还希望各地政府以特别决议的形式给与曾经的受歧视的居民以一定的退税作为补偿。我认为政府在落实宪法和法律规定的同时，有必要真诚地向所有曾经遭受歧视的外地户籍者道歉，并通过象征性的"退税"来表达道歉的诚意。这个象征性的"退税"是一次性的，采用特别决议的方式显然比修改税法合适。由于退税只是为了表达道歉的诚意，也不存在回户籍地重新纳税的问题。 2006年2月22日下午，加拿大总理斯蒂芬•哈珀在国会发表正式声明，代表政府就1885至1923年间的人头税和1923-1947年间的"排华法"问题向全加华人道歉。这一"道歉与和解"典礼同时使用了英语、法语、汉语普通话、粤语、台山话5种语言。除渥太华外，多伦多、温哥华两地华人在分会场观看了典礼的现场直播。在随后的招待会上，加联邦祖裔部部长小田宣布，将对在世的"人头税"纳税人及其配偶每人补偿2万加元。小田还表示：加联邦政府将斥资2400万加元用于一项"社区历史认同项目"，其中250万加元用于提高社会对"人头税"以及"排华法"的认识；另一项独立的1000万加元资助的"国家历史认同项目"，也以提高社会对歧视问题的认识为重要目的。 2006年2月22日是个让加拿大华人激动的日子，加拿大华人的百年心结打开了，加拿大境内的种族和解实现了！这难道不值得正在建设"和谐社会"的中国政府学习吗？ 加拿大政府此举值得我们学习的不只是对历史负责的态度和道歉的诚意，还包括处理历史问题的智慧。加拿大政府拒绝赔偿"人头税"纳税人后代的要求，我认为是正确的。历史旧账是算不清的，矫正的正义不可能不受到时效和对无过错第三人保护的限制。如果年代久远或欠账太多，还不能不受赔偿必要性、查找受害人的成本和政府财力等方面的限制。姓刘的要恢复汉朝的江山，姓李的要恢复唐朝的国土，政府统统答应，那还不乱成一锅粥？与其为不大必要的赔偿让财政背上一个沉重的包袱，实不如花少得多的钱于反歧视教育以防止悲剧重演！但对幸存者及其配偶的适当补偿仍然是必要的，否则不足以表达道歉的诚意。 （新快报2011年1月15日，发表时有删节） | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:50 AM PST
新政落实后的第二期抢稿。 本期的两篇文章： Mind gym: Putting meditation to the test Uncertainty principle: How evolution hedges its bets 抢稿方法：
抢稿须知：
小红花试行规则如下：
积分奖励
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| Fairer policies would really prompt citizens engage in sports. Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:31 AM PST Fairer policies would really prompt citizens engage in sports Dear Editor I refer to Mr K.H. Lee's letter "Asian Games held in the city would prompt citizens take on a sport as hobby" published on SCMP 9th Jan, 2011. Mr Lee argues that the money spend in the event won't be a white elephant since more people will enjoy sports after the Games. If it is the case, I would very much like Mr Lee to show us why the expected effect didn't take place after the 2008 Olympics, 2010 East-Asian Games held by our city and the recent Guangzhou Asian Games and why should a Asian Games held by our city make any difference. The cause of citizen's lack of interests in sports is not that we do not have enough international events (in fact we have plenty), but the lack of comprehensive sports policies. First is the undemocratic management of various sports associations. A friend of mine, who is a champion elite athlete, is recently forbidden from taking part in the Asian Games and the Olympics due to power manipulation by the Hong Kong Fencing Association. Her career, along with her coach's, is forcefully ended. Similar incidents happens again and again over the years to football players, judo combatants and different fields in the Sports sector yet there still isn't an independent complaint institution that athletes can appeal to. Under such concrete fact it is difficult for us to believe an extravaganza can bring about hope for Hong Kong Sports. Second the failure in Hong Kong Sports policies reflects the failure in Hong Kong general policies. When a government upholds the spirit of "small government, big market", she really disqualifies herself from saying anything ideal such as "promoting healthy lifestyle". When farmers are forced out of their living environment and shop owners are loosing their livelihoods and office clerks are over-worked plus underpaid, don't talk to them about "style", they don't even have lives. Perhaps the most intensive sport they can afford to do is chasing the bus or jumping into the train. And please kindly do not ask them to cheer for the prosperity they can never share, or celebrate when there is nothing to be happy about. Citizens will enjoy sports when the society is fair then we finally have the time, and the community to engage in. Finally, holding a party is not necessarily happier than going to one.I am not an elite athlete and I don't need a locally held game to feel important. In fact all I wish for as an average youngster who loves cycling and trekking, is "nothingness" or "absence". The absence of XRL will result in a less crowded West Kowloon where I can ride my bike; the absence of Mr Li Siu Kei (Uncle Four) in Nam Shang Wai will preserve me an incentive to jog and the absence of Property Market Hegemony will mean I don't have to work double shift to pay my rent and finally have the night to myself. I would love to take up a sports as a hobby and even a profession if there is fairer policies in the future. Yours Sincerely Holok Chen CUHK student, post-80s activist | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:23 AM PST 今年年初，美國總統奧巴馬簽署了一項《社區廣播法案》（Local Community Radio Act），進一步開放大氣電波給新成立的社區電台，並且取消了在都會中使用低功率廣播的限制。反觀近日有一個位於觀塘的無牌電台在營運經費拮据之餘，仍致力增添新的節目；而民間電台的訴訟案則纏訟多年；政府對無牌電台的突擊並沒收其發送設備則時有所聞，這反映了在號稱「亞洲國際都會」、經濟自由度指數連續蟬連17年榜首的城市，在言論自由與大氣電波的運用上仍遙遙落後。 香港正在經歷一條很類似美國開放與合法化無牌廣播的道路，因此美國的經驗頗值得我們借鏡。美國曾經在九十年代發生多起因無牌廣播而訴訟的案例，其中最著名的即為Stephen Dunifer的「柏克萊自由電台」（Free Radio Berkeley）。柏克萊自由電台於1993年年初首播，期間亦曾因無牌廣播被聯邦通信委員會（FCC）處以巨額的罰款，並曾申請法院禁制令，但因憲法保障言論自由的疑慮，以及未能證明電台廣播造成任何實際的損害而遭承審法官駁回。然而，最終柏克萊自由電台仍於1998年因法院禁制令而停止廣播。柏克萊自由電台批評聯邦通信委員會的廣播牌照制度僅有利於大型商業廣播公司，因此一直拒絕申請牌照。他們更自認為從事民權運動，希望以行動進行公民抗命，鼓吹社會運動抵抗他們認為不義的牌照制度。在1999年的一宗訴訟案中，同樣屬於無牌電台的Steal This Radio（STR），甚至質疑整套聯邦通信委員會的牌照制度是否合憲。 這些無牌電台甚至受到部分法律界人士的支持。他們同意無牌的微型電台（microradio）必須要適當地監管，並且由社區的自願性團體協助技術支援與管理。例如必須要向FCC註冊，發送設備應符合基本規範以確保其穩定性，並且在可能產生干擾時降低功率甚至關閉等等。可見美國的經驗也並不是完全拒絕來自政府的管理。最終在1999年年初FCC制定了一套合法化微型電台的制度。然而FCC的決定卻也招致一些批評，例如FCC拒絕核發執照給當初發起公民抗命運動的電台。許多美國民間團體則透過寫信、請願、主持工作坊等方式支持無牌電台的發展，並且喚醒民眾對此議題的關注。反對無牌電台合法化的力量則主要來自既得利益團體，例如美國全國廣播者協會（National Association of Broadcasters, NAB），其中由於聽眾競爭的利益問題，商業性電台也屢次指責微型電台的頻道干擾。 現行本港對聲音廣播的規範如同四十年前的美國，僅准許資金充裕者申請牌照；同時，政府亦明知有不少無牌電台繼續進行廣播，卻也只能選擇性的突擊與檢控。美國的經驗顯示政府的打壓根本不可能阻止無牌電台繼續廣播，相反地，聯邦通信委員會的委員已經承認，開放大氣電波對維持美國的公民對話與公眾參與非常的重要。因此香港亦應該思考降低設立電台的申請標準、費用與程序，並且結合民間社區的力量，首先開放微型，功率較低的非商業化頻道，將已有的無照社區電台合法化。此舉不僅將有利於多元意見的表達與共享，也有助於公民社會的發展與成熟，使市民從一個商業社會的資訊消費者轉化為具有責任感的公民；反之，政府若不積極回應，無照電台與社會運動的結合將持續質疑與挑戰政府的管治。 | |||||||||||||||
| Mind gym: Putting meditation to the test Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:49 AM PST Mystics will tell you that meditation transforms the mind and soothes the soul. But what does science have to say? MANY people see meditation as an exotic form of daydreaming, or a quick fix for a stressed-out mind. My advice to them is, try it. It's difficult, at least to begin with. On my first attempt, instead of concentrating on my breathing and letting go of anything that came to mind as instructed by my cheery Tibetan teacher, I got distracted by a string of troubled thoughts and then fell asleep. Apparently this is normal for first-timers. Experienced meditators will assure you that it is worth persisting, however. "Training allows us to transform the mind, to overcome destructive emotions and to dispel suffering," says Buddhist monk MatthieuRicard. "The numerous and profound methods that Buddhism has developed over the centuries can be used and incorporated by anyone. What is needed is enthusiasm and perseverance." It all sounds very rewarding, but what does science have to say on the subject? Stories abound in the media about the transformative potential of meditative practice, but it is only in recent years that empirical evidence has emerged. In the past decade, researchers have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to look at the brains of experienced meditators such as Ricard as well as beginners, and tested the effects of different meditative practices on cognition, behaviour, physical and emotional health and brain plasticity. A real scientific picture of meditation is now coming together. It suggests that meditation can indeed change aspects of your psychology, temperament and physical health in dramatic ways. The studies are even starting to throw light on how meditation works. "Time spent earnestly investigating the nature of your mind is bound to be helpful," says Clifford Saron at the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis. And you don't need a Buddhist or spiritualist world view to profit from meditation. "One can be an empiricist [in meditation], just by working with the nature of your experience." Saron should know – he is leading the Shamatha project, one of the most comprehensive scientific studies of meditation ever. In 2007, Saron and a team of neuroscientists and psychologists followed 60 experienced meditators over an intensive three-month meditation retreat in the Colorado Rockies, watching for changes in their mental abilities, psychological health and physiology. The participants practised for at least five hours a day using a method known as focused attention meditation, which involves directing attention on the tactile sensation of breathing (see "How to meditate"). The first paper from the project was published in June 2010 (Psychological Science, vol 21, p 829). Headed by Katherine MacLean at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, the study measured the volunteers' attention skills by showing them a succession of vertical lines flashed up on a computer screen. They then had to indicate, by clicking a mouse, whenever there was a line shorter than the rest. As the retreat progressed, MacLean and her colleagues noted that the volunteers became progressively more accurate and found it increasingly easy to stay focused on the task for long periods. Other researchers have also linked meditation with improved attention. Last year a team led by Antoine Lutz at the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, which is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reported that after three months of training in focused attention meditation, volunteers were quicker at picking out different tones among a succession of similar ones, implying their powers of sustained concentration had improved (Journal of Neuroscience, vol 29, p 13418). In 2007, Lutz's colleague HeleenSlagter, now at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, published results from a study involving a combination of focused attention and "open monitoring" or mindfulness meditation – which involves the constant monitoring of moment-by-moment experience. After three months of meditation for between 10 and 12 hours a day her subjects showed a decreased "attentional blink", the cognitive processing delay, usually lasting about half a second, that causes people to miss a stimulus such as a number on a screen when it follows rapidly after another (PLoS Biology, vol 5, p e128). The suggestion that meditation can improve attention is worth considering, given that focus is crucial to so much in life, from the learning and application of skills to everyday judgement and decision-making, or simply concentrating on your computer screen at work without thinking about what you will be eating for dinner. But how does dwelling on your breath for a period each day lead to such a pronounced cognitive change? One possibility is that it involves working memory, the capacity to hold in mind information needed for short-term reasoning and comprehension. The link with meditation was established recently by AmishiJha at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. She trained a group of American marines to focus their attention using mindfulness meditation and found that this increased their working memory (Emotion, vol 10, p 54). MacLean points out that meditation is partly about observing how our sensory experiences change from moment to moment, which requires us to hold information about decaying sensory traces in working memory. MacLean and others also believe that meditation training enhances some central cognitive faculty – as yet unknown – that is used in all basic perception tasks. "It's like a muscle that can be used in lots of different ways," she says. Then, once perception becomes less effortful, the brain can direct more of its limited resources to concentration. Backing up this idea, Slagter's measurements of electrical activity in the brain during the attentional blink task revealed that as meditation training progressed, volunteers used fewer resources when processing the first stimulus, meaning they were less likely to get "stuck" on it and miss the second stimulus. Feeling better Along with enhancing cognitive performance, meditation seems to have an effect on emotional well-being. A second study from researchers with the Shamatha project, to appear in the journal Emotion, concluded that meditation improves general social and emotional functioning, making study participants less anxious, and more aware of and better able to manage their emotions. A clue about how this might work comes from the finding that the volunteers also got better at a task in which they had to look at a screen and click a mouse whenever a long line appeared but resist the urge to click at the appearance of shorter lines. This is harder than it sounds, especially as the shorter lines appear infrequently. Lead author BaljinderSahdra, at the University of California, Davis, reasons that meditation training teaches people to "withhold impulsive reactions to a lot of internal stimuli, some of which can be emotionally intense in nature", adding that this kind of restraint seems to be a key feature of healthy emotion regulation. The notion that by practising meditation people become less emotionally reactive is also reinforced by brain imaging work. A team led by Julie Brefczynski-Lewis at West Virginia University in Morgantown used fMRI to study meditators "in action" and found that the amygdala – which plays a crucial role in processing emotions and emotional memories – was far less active in expert meditators than in novices (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol 104, p 11483). The ability to manage one's emotions could also be key to why meditation can improve physical health. Studies have shown it to be an effective treatment for eating disorders, substance abuse, psoriasis and in particular for recurrent depression and chronic pain. Last year, psychologist FadelZeidan, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, reported that his volunteers noticed a decreased sensitivity to pain after just a few sessions of mindfulness meditation (Journal of Pain, vol 11, p 199). He believes meditation doesn't remove the sensation of pain so much as teach sufferers to control their emotional reaction to it and reduce the stress response. He is now using fMRI in an attempt to understand why that helps. "There's something very empowering about knowing you can alleviate some of these things yourself," he says. Volunteers noticed a decreased sensitivity to pain after just a few sessions of meditation The positive effect of meditation on psychological well-being could also explain recent findings from the Shamatha project that regular meditation practice can lead to a significant increase in the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that protects against cellular ageing and which is suppressed in response to psychological stress. The work will appear in Psychoneuroendocrinology. Emotions may also be at the heart of another benefit of meditation. One of the hottest areas in meditation research is whether the practice can enhance feelings towards others. This arose partly because fMRI studies by Lutz and his team showed that brain circuits linked to empathy and the sharing of emotions – such as the insula and the anterior cingulate cortex – are much more active in long-term meditators than in novices (NeuroImage, vol 47, p 1038). One of the hottest areas in meditation research is whether it can enhance feelings towards others Compassion is a complicated construct that probably involves a host of emotional skills according to Margaret Kemeny at the University of California, San Francisco. "To be compassionate with someone, first you have to recognise that they are experiencing a negative reaction. Then you have to consider what a beneficial response might be. Then you have to have the motivation to do something about it." In other words, you are unlikely to increase someone's capacity for compassion without improving their emotional balance. A gym for your mind In 2009, an institute dedicated to studying the neurobiological roots of empathy and compassion opened at Stanford University in California. The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, which is funded by a range of interest groups including neuroscientists, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and the Dalai Lama, has already instigated a clutch of studies. They aim to discover how a special kind of meditation training in which the practitioner focuses on enhancing their altruistic love for others affects the brain, and the extent to which it can cultivate empathic and compassionate feelings and behaviour. The suggestion that people can become more empathic and compassionate through meditation practice has prompted psychologist Paul Ekman and Alan Wallace, a Buddhist teacher and president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies, to float the idea of mental training "gymnasiums". Like physical exercise gyms, but for the mind, these would allow people to drop in and learn to improve their emotional balance, develop their capacity for compassion and even measure their stress levels. Others have suggested that meditation could become an alternative to medication. Although this seems like a good idea, Saron is dubious. He worries that thinking of meditation as a quick fix will smother some of the subtleties that are integral to successful practice. "When you are returning your mind to the object in hand, you have to do it with a sense of gentleness and authority, rather than develop a sense of failure when your mind wanders." But the great thing about meditation is that anyone can practise it anywhere. What's more you don't have to be an expert or spend five hours a day at it to reap the benefits. The novices in Zeidan's pain experiment reported improvements after meditating for just 20 minutes a day for three days. In a second experiment he found that similarly brief sessions can improve cognitive performance on tasks that demand continuous attention, such as remembering and reciting a series of digits (Consciousness and Cognition, vol 19, p 597). "It is possible to produce substantial changes in brain function through short-term practice of meditation," says Richard Davidson, director of the Waisman Laboratory. He says data from a new unpublished study by his lab shows "demonstrable changes in brain function" in novice meditators after just two weeks of training for 30 minutes a day. "Even small amounts of practice can make a discernible difference." That is good news for beginners like me. Still, it does seem that the more you meditate, the greater the impact on your brain. Research by Brefczynski-Lewis, for example, revealed changes in brain activity indicating that expert meditators require minimal cognitive effort to stay focused. But this particular effect was only evident in people who had spent around 44,000 hours meditating – that's the equivalent of working for 25 years at a full-time job. Most of us will probably never achieve that level of transcendence but it's certainly something to aim for. Bibliography
How to meditate There are numerous meditation styles, but the two most commonly studied by researchers are focused attention meditation, in which the aim is to stay focused on a chosen thing such as an icon, a mantra or the breath, and mindfulness or open monitoring meditation, where practitioners try to become aware of everything that comes into their moment-by-moment experience without reacting to it. For focused attention meditation, start by sitting on a cushion or chair with your back straight and your hands in your lap and eyes closed. Then concentrate your mind on your chosen object – say your breathing, or more particularly the sensation of your breath leaving your mouth or nostrils. Try to keep it there. Probably your mind will quickly wander away, to an itch on your leg, perhaps, or to thoughts of what you will be doing later. Keep bringing it back to the breath. In time this will train the mind in three essential skills: to watch out for distractions, to "let go" of them once the mind has wandered, and to re-engage with the object of meditation. With practice, you should find it becomes increasingly easy to stay focused. In mindfulness meditation the aim is to monitor all the various experiences of your mind – thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations – and simply observe them, rather than trying to focus on any one of them. Instead of grasping at whatever comes to mind, which is what most of us do most of the time, the idea is to maintain a detached awareness. Those who develop this skill find it easier to manage emotions in day-to-day life. The more you practise, the deeper the changes will be. As Buddhist teacher Alan Wallace puts it: "You have now set out on one of the greatest expeditions as you explore the hidden recesses of your mind." | |||||||||||||||
| Uncertainty principle: How evolution hedges its bets Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:49 AM PST Variety is the key to survival in a changeable world – and evolution may have come up with an extraordinary way of generating more variety A man walks into a bar. "I have a new way of looking at evolution," he announces. "Do you have something I could write it down on?" The barman produces a piece of paper and a pen without so much as a smile. But then, the man wasn't joking. The man in question is Andrew Feinberg, a leading geneticist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; the bar is The Hung, Drawn and Quartered, a pub within the shadow of the Tower of London; and what's written on the piece of paper could fundamentally alter the way we think about epigenetics, evolution and common diseases. Before setting foot in the pub, Feinberg had taken a turn on the London Eye, climbed Big Ben and wandered into Westminster Abbey. There, as you might expect, he sought out the resting place of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. He was struck by the contrast between the lavish marble sculpture of a youthful Newton, reclining regally beneath a gold-leafed globe, and Darwin's minimalist floor stone. As he looked round, Feinberg's eyes came to rest on a nearby plaque commemorating physicist Paul Dirac. This set him thinking about quantum theory and evolution, which led him to the idea that epigenetic changes – heritable changes that don't involve modifications to DNA sequences – might inject a Heisenberg-like uncertainty into the expression of genes, which would boost the chances of species surviving. That, more or less, is what he wrote on the piece of paper. Put simply, Feinberg's idea is that life has a kind of built-in randomness generator which allows it to hedge its bets. For example, a characteristic such as piling on the fat could be very successful when famine is frequent, but a drawback in times of plenty. If the good times last for many generations, however, natural selection could eliminate the gene variant for piling on fat from a population. Then, when famine does eventually come, the population could be wiped out. Life's built-in randomness generator allows evolution to hedge its bets But if there is some uncertainty about the effect of genes, some individuals might still pile on the fat, even though they have the same genes as everyone else. Such individuals might die young in good times, but if famine strikes they might be the only ones to survive. In an uncertain world, uncertainty could be crucial for the long-term survival of populations. The implications of this idea are profound. We already know there is a genetic lottery – every fertilised human egg contains hundreds of new mutations. Most of these have no effect whatsoever, but a few can be beneficial or harmful. If Feinberg is right, there is also an epigenetic lottery: some people are more (or less) likely to develop cancer, drop dead of a heart attack or suffer from mental health problems than others with exactly the same DNA. To grasp the significance of Feinberg's idea, we have to briefly rewind to the early 19th century, when the French zoologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck articulated the idea - already commonly held – that "acquired characteristics" can be passed from parent to offspring. If a giraffe kept trying to stretch to reach leaves, he believed, its neck would get longer, and its offspring would inherit longer necks. Darwin the LamarckistContrary to what many texts claim, Darwin believed something similar, that the conditions an organism experiences can lead to modifications that are inherited. According to Darwin's hypothesis of pangenesis, these acquired changes could be harmful as well as beneficial – such as sons getting gout because their fathers drank too much. Natural selection would favour the beneficial and weed out the harmful. In fact, Darwin believed acquired changes provided the variation essential for evolution by natural selection. Pangenesis was never accepted, not even during Darwin's lifetime. In the 20th century it became clear that DNA is the basis of inheritance, and that mutations that alter DNA sequences are the source of the variation on which natural selection acts. Environmental factors such as radiation can cause mutations that are passed down to offspring, but their effect is random. Biologists rejected the idea that adaptations acquired during the life of an organism can be passed down. Even during the last century, though, examples kept cropping up of traits passed down in a way that did not fit with the idea that inheritance was all about DNA. When pregnant rats are injected with the fungicide vinclozolin, for instance, the fertility of their male descendants is lowered for at least two generations, even though the fungicide does not alter the males' DNA. No one now doubts that environmental factors can produce changes in the offspring of animals even when there is no change in DNA. Many different epigenetic mechanisms have been discovered, from the addition of temporary "tags" to DNA or the proteins around which DNA is wrapped, to the presence of certain molecules in sperm or eggs. What provokes fierce argument is the role that epigenetic changes play in evolution. A few biologists, most prominently Eva Jablonka of Tel Aviv University in Israel, think that inherited epigenetic changes triggered by the environment are adaptations. They describe these changes as "neo-Lamarckian", and some even claim that such processes necessitate a major rethink of evolutionary theory. While such views have received a lot of attention, most biologists are far from convinced. They say the trouble with the idea that adaptive changes in parents can be passed down to offspring via epigenetic mechanisms is that, like genetic mutations, most inherited epigenetic changes acquired as a result of environmental factors have random and often harmful effects. At most, the inheritance of acquired changes could be seen as a source of variation that is then acted on by natural selection - a view much closer to Darwin's idea of pangenesis than Lamarck's claim that the intent of an animal could shape the bodies of its offspring. But even this idea is problematic, because it is very rare for acquired changes to last longer than a generation (Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, vol 9, p 233). While epigenetic changes can be passed down from cell to cell during the lifetime of an organism, they do not normally get passed down to the next generation. "The process of producing germ cells usually wipes out epigenetic marks," says Feinberg. "You get a clean slate epigenetically." And if epigenetic marks do not usually last long, it's hard to see how they can have a significant role in evolution – unless it is not their stability but their instability that counts. Rather than being another way to code for specific characteristics, as biologists like Jablonka believe, Feinberg's "new way of looking at evolution" sees epigenetic marks as introducing a degree of randomness into patterns of gene expression. In fluctuating environments, he suggests, lineages able to generate offspring with variable patterns of gene expression are most likely to last the evolutionary course. Is this "uncertainty hypothesis" right? There is evidence that epigenetic changes, as opposed to genetic mutations or environmental factors, are responsible for a lot of variation in the characteristics of organisms. The marbled crayfish, for instance, shows a surprising variation in coloration, growth, lifespan, behaviour and other traits even when genetically identical animals are reared in identical conditions. And a study last year found substantial epigenetic differences between genetically identical human twins. On the basis of their findings, the researchers speculated that random epigenetic variations are actually "much more important" than environmental factors when it comes to explaining the differences between twins (Nature Genetics, vol 41, p 240). More evidence comes from the work of Feinberg and his colleague Rafael Irizarry, a biostatistician at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the main epigenetic mechanisms is the addition of methyl groups (with the chemical formula CH3) to DNA, and Feinberg and Irizarry have been studying patterns of DNA methylation in mice. "The mice were from the same parents, from the same litter, eating the same food and water and living in the same cage," Feinberg says. Stunning findingDespite this, he and Irizarry were able to identify hundreds of sites across the genome where the methylation patterns within a given tissue differed hugely from one individual to the next. Interestingly, these variable regions appear to be present in humans too (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol 107, p 1757). "Methylation can vary across individuals, across cell types, across cells within the same cell type and across time within the same cell," says Irizarry. It fell to Irizarry to produce a list of genes associated with each region that could, in theory at least, be affected by the variation in methylation. What he found blew him away. The genes that show a high degree of epigenetic plasticity are very much those that regulate basic development and body plan formation. "It's a counter-intuitive and stunning thing because you would not expect there to be that kind of variation in these very important patterning genes," says Feinberg. The results back the idea that epigenetic changes to DNA might blur the relationship between genotype (an organism's genetic make-up) and phenotype (its form and behaviour). "It could help explain why there is so much variation in gene expression during development," says Günter Wagner, an evolutionary biologist at Yale University. But that does not necessarily mean epigenetic changes are adaptive, he says. "There has not been enough work on specifying the conditions under which this kind of mechanism might evolve." When he began exploring the idea with Feinberg, Irizarry constructed a computer simulation to help him get his head round it. At first, he modelled what would happen in a fixed environment where being tall is an advantage. "The taller people survive more often, have more children and eventually everyone's tall," he says. Then, he modelled what would happen in a changeable environment where, at different times, it is advantageous to be tall or short. "If you are a tall person that only has tall kids, then your family is going to go extinct." In the long run, the only winners in this kind of scenario are those that produce offspring of variable height. This result is not controversial. "We know from theory that goes some way back that mechanisms that induce 'random' phenotypic variation may be selected over those that produce a single phenotype," says Tobias Uller, a developmental biologist at the University of Oxford. But showing that something is theoretically plausible is a long way from showing that the variability in methylation evolved because it boosts survival. Jerry Coyne, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Chicago, is blunter. "There is not a shred of evidence that variation in methylation is adaptive, either within or between species," he says. "I know epigenetics is an interesting phenomenon, but it has been extended willy-nilly to evolution. We're nowhere near getting to grips with what epigenetics is all about. This might be a part of it, but if it is it's going to be a small part." To Susan Lindquist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, however, it is an exciting idea that makes perfect sense. "It's not just that epigenetics influences traits, but that epigenetics creates greater variance in the traits and that creates greater phenotypic diversity," she says. And greater phenotypic diversity means a population has a better chance of surviving whatever life throws at it. Lindquist studies prions, proteins that can not only flip between two states but pass on their state to other prions. While they are best known for causing diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Lindquist thinks they provide another epigenetic mechanism for evolutionary "bet-hedging". Take Sup35, a protein involved in the protein-making machinery of cells. In yeast, Sup35 has a tendency to flip into a state in which it clumps together, spontaneously or in response to environmental stress, which in turn can alter the proteins that cells make, Lindquist says. Some of these changes will be harmful, but she and her colleagues have shown that they can allow yeast cells to survive conditions that would normally mean death. While Jablonka remains convinced that epigenetic marks play an important role in evolution through "neo-Lamarckian" inheritance, she welcomes Feinberg and Irizarry's work. "It would be worth homing in on species that live in highly changeable environments," she suggests. "You would expect more methylation, more variability, and inheritance of variability from one generation to the next." As surprising as Feinberg's idea is, it does not challenge the mainstream view of evolution. "It's straight population genetics," says Coyne. Favourable mutations will still win out, even if there is a bit of fuzziness in their expression. And if Feinberg is right, what evolution has selected for is not epigenetic traits, but a genetically encoded mechanism for producing epigenetic variation. This might produce variation completely randomly or in response to environmental factors, or both. Feinberg predicts that if the epigenetic variation produced by this mechanism is involved in disease, it will be most likely found in conditions like obesity and diabetes, where lineages with a mechanism for surviving environmental fluctuation would win out in the evolutionary long run. He, Irizarry and other colleagues recently studied DNA methylation in white blood cells collected in 1991 and 2002 from the same individuals in Iceland. From this, they were able to identify more than 200 variably methylated regions. To see if these variable regions have something to do with human disease, they looked for a link between methylation density and body mass index. There was a correlation at four of these sites, each of them located either within or near genes known to regulate body mass or diabetes. Feinberg sees this in a positive light. If random epigenetic variation does play a significant role in determining people's risk of getting common diseases, he says, untangling the causes may simpler than we thought. The key is to combine genetic analyses with epigenetic measurements. Feinberg is the first to admit that his idea could be wrong. But he's excited enough to put it to the test. Perhaps, he suggests, it could be the missing link in understanding the relationship between evolution, development and common disease. "It could turn out to be really quite important." Henry Nicholls is a science writer based in London. His latest book is The Way of the Panda (Profile, 2010) | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Jan 2011 08:20 PM PST 参加了一个学保尔还是学比尔问题的讨论，发表了以下意见： 我在这个问题上的看法是：在保尔的时代学保尔，在比尔的时代......>>点击查看新浪博客原文 | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 14 Jan 2011 08:46 AM PST 编: Fei 文:Nico Tang 图:Leo Cha  从拾回来的花，到处理厨余用的泥土，以至环保酵素及雨水收集，陈晓蕾在自己家里打造了一个可以自给自足的、简单的生态系统。除了主人的关心之外，既没有其他需要，也没有其他消耗。她说：『环保并不是要你完全『Back to the origin』，而是在生活上多一点考虑，多一点行动。』  陈晓蕾的家位于沙田，是一个地下连花园的村屋单位。她说每次住的地方，不是有平台就是有天台，或是地下花园，因为喜欢种植物，"看着它们每天自己生长，是一件很开心的事。" 这些年因为气候变化，食物价格不断地在上升。有一回，一个朋友跟陈晓蕾抱怨蒜头价格高，陈晓蕾当即反驳说，蒜头要秋天开始种，过了春天便收成。夏天的时候，再吊起来风干，等收干水之后，到下一个秋天才可以卖，卖剩的再拿来种，要整整一年。这样的蒜头价格自然会贵。所以，为什么不选择亲自种呢？ 陈晓蕾所提倡的是urban farming，"一个城市有田是应该的，我们不应只有城市和郊野公园，也要有田，但我更想推广urban farming。我们可以在城市里种，可以在窗台上种，种得了花的地方就可以种菜，例如番薯苗，可以自己种一些来吃。"  1 陈晓蕾的家位于沙田，是一个地下连花园的村屋单位。她说每次住的地方，不是有平台就是有天台，或是地下花园。 2 所谓的urban farming，可以在城市里种，更可以在窗台上种，种得了花的地方就可以种菜。 3 陈晓蕾所提倡的是urban farming，主张自己种菜。 4 陈晓蕾喜欢种植物，因为看着它们每天生长，是一件很开心的事。    循环萌生希望 陈晓蕾的家里有八成的家具是二手的，她说："其实我想做的只是减少垃圾制造。买二手的好处，第一，是赚了，它本身不会成为垃圾；第二，是少买一件新的东西，就等于少生产一件东西。"除了家具之外，原来花园里的植物，很多也是二手的。陈晓蕾将洛神花的枝叶原地施肥；借甜菊叶代替糖，一枚叶便可以煮一碗糖水；从耕种班带回多余的菜心在家种；半路看到折断的鸡蛋花，便拾回来插枝，竟继续生了；菜园村的桑苗，拿回来细细一株，现在已长得很大；还有很多花，是从康民署的花圃带回来的。"他们很有钱，经常换花，不要的，我就拿回来"，几乎所有植物她都可以说出来历。 这个花园不只是被遗弃植物的新居，也满载着陈晓蕾的生活片段。她将95%的厨余在这里处理掉：先找一个不要的塑料桶，把桶底割开插进泥土里。然后就可以把每天的厨余放进去，再盖回桶盖，慢慢就会变成天然的肥料。 除了作为肥料，厨余还有更多用途。在陈晓蕾的厨房里，放了一桶桶的很古怪的液体，她说这是环保酵素。"只需要三份厨余、一份糖、十份水，腌它3个月，就会养成很多酵素。酵素可以杀菌、除臭，是很好的天然剂。所以我很推荐餐厅去做环保酵素，因为他们有很多厨余。我有花园，所以可以用厨余来做肥料，但一般的家庭也可以做环保酵素。"晓蕾打开一桶让我嗅，这看上去与污水无异的液体，味道竟然非常之清香！"要用新鲜未煮过的厨余来做，最好是果类，例如黄皮、橙皮、菠萝皮。用的时候再稀释十倍，放进一个喷雾器具内，就可以充当清新剂；又或是用来洗厕所、洗碗碟，我甚至会用来洗头洗澡。皮肤敏感的人，最好是用环保酵素，因为它是真正天然的。我也是半年前才学会做的。"  未来需自给自足 陈晓蕾有收集雨水的习惯。她特地将洗衣机搬出来，是为了方便用雨水来洗衣服。下雨的时候，用屋檐收集雨水。只有下大雨时才会用来洗衣服，因为那时的雨水比较洁净。水量不多的时候，则用来洗地。偶尔，用自来水来洗衣服，因为使用的是洗衣球，所以洗完衣服的水，仍可以用来浇花。"我在洗手间也预备了一些盘子，收集洗澡用的水来冲厕。"陈晓蕾说。 除了身体力行，陈晓蕾也经常参加一些有意义的活动。访问那天，陈晓蕾刚参加完由职工盟举办的"食德好"食物回收计划。这个活动每次都组织一些太太到街市去拾一些不要的菜回来，有些是商贩卖剩的，有些真的是在路边拾回来的。大家将拾到的菜带到一个小区厨房里，将不能吃的部分削去，然后便用来煮饭。"每次都可以煮到六菜一汤，好厉害呀！这次就做了很多木瓜糖水。"陈晓蕾兴奋地说，"有次我见到一位太太很用心地在煮一碟蒸水蛋，我问她为什么要这么考究，她说她希望吃到这道菜的人知道，即使是用拾回来的材料，也可以煮出很好的东西。" 有专家说，未来这20年对人类来说将会非常之艰难，因为北极的冰海将会完全融化，全球水位会上升。陈晓蕾语重心长地说："如果你也相信这种说法，那么我们未来需要的求生能力，就是很基本的，需要懂种植，懂煮食，还要稍稍懂木工。不再是可以待在冷气房里过日子，因为将来的石油价格可能会贵到不可以让你这样用电。我们身处的环境，现在是不亮不暗不热不冷，那是用很多能源才能维持到的，当有一天不再可以这样的时候，你就要与大自然多些接触。这是未来生存的能力，人类的生活不能再依靠产品，东西坏了自己懂修补，而其实人，本来就应该是这样的。"  今年陈晓蕾会一口气推出四本《低碳生活＠香港》丛书，其中四部曲之二的《听大树唱歌》和《一家人好天气》已经出版，现在她正忙着完成余下来的《低碳经济》和《绿色城市生活》。  
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| Posted: 13 Jan 2011 06:28 PM PST 点评：案件中还有如此内幕，还真是没有想到。对这起案件仅提起再审程序是不够的，司法机关和高速公路管理部门还应严查"内鬼"问题。 转自：http://news.163.com/11/0114/06/6QBC4O2G00011229.html河南逃368万过路费农民自称替弟弟顶罪天价过路费调查逃避368万元过路费的河南农民时建锋，昨在看守所接受本报独家采访 昨日的河南鲁山看守所外寒风呼号，时建锋呆坐在铁窗后，面对记者的镜头左顾右盼，显得很不自在。 就是这个来自禹州市的农民，为了逃避高速路通行费，为了多挣钱，在购买两辆大货车后，拿着两套假军车牌照疯狂营运，8个月里免费通行高速公路2361次，偷逃过路费368万余元，最终一审因诈骗罪被判处无期徒刑，目前判决已经生效。 面对新快报记者的提问，时建锋表示"一条高速路上超载的都是假军牌车"，不逃过路费、不超载就赚不了钱。 他还自称，他利用假军牌偷逃过路费的8个月来只赚到了20万元。但法院和高速路公司通过相关文件和法律规定，经过精确计算，最终算出来：时建锋偷逃过路费368万元。网友们据此算了一笔账后不禁发问："如果他不偷逃过路费，岂不是倒亏300多万？" 为此，全国各地媒体纷纷赶往平顶山，试图了解这个"倒亏300多万元"是怎么回事。 从疯狂过路到被判无期 前日，平顶山中级人民法院召开新闻发布会，详细讲解了"判处无期徒刑"的定罪和量刑依据，根据法院公布的材料，该案定罪量刑都符合相关法律规定。法院还表示,"368万元的天价过路费"也是通过两寸厚的证据材料，一单单加起来，精确计算出来的，对出口、入口、超载量等都有第三方非常详细的记载，并非空穴来风。 如果按照这个解释的话，这368万元的天价，虽然看起来很离谱，算起来又是"合理"的。网友们再度疑惑了，既然根据相关文件规定，能算出来"天价过路费"，那么，是不是"相关文件""离谱"了？ 对此，中原高速平顶山分公司总经理助理金煜伟解释称，关于过路费的收取规定并不离谱，这条100多公里的高速路，如果不超载，单程过路费是226元，这个案子的过路费出现"天价"，是因为他严重、恶意超载并且频繁往返，"这只是一个个案，不具有普遍意义，如果正常车辆不超载，不会出现这么高的过路费"。 昨日在鲁山看守所，面对新快报记者的提问，时建锋一而再再而三地强调自己只是"替罪羊"，是替弟弟顶罪来的，所有的事情都是他弟弟干的，他完全"不知道"、"不清楚"、"没参与"。但法院工作人员表示，从证据材料和相互印证的口供来看，该案就是时建锋主导的。 对于网络上广受质疑的368万元过路费，他非常令人意外地说："一点儿也不吃惊，这很正常。" 他还表示，自己不上诉，是因为自己无儿无女，没有后顾之忧。 针锋相对 他说：替弟弟顶罪 法院：他就是该案主导 他说：路上有内鬼 高速公司：我们发现并揭发了他 由于时建锋提出了两个说法：一是自己是替弟弟顶罪的，一是高速公路的管理公司里有内鬼。为此，新快报记者特向法院和高速路管理公司方面求证。平顶山中级人民法院工作人员表示，根据现有的案件材料和相互印证的口供来看，时建锋就是该案的主导，他所说的"一切都是弟弟干的"是为自己脱罪的一种托辞。中原高速平顶山分公司总经理助理金煜伟则表示，公司里没有人和他们勾结，因为，事实胜于雄辩，如果高速公司里真的有内鬼，就不会是高速公司率先发现他的罪行并揭发他了。 对话 "这事儿是我弟弟干的" 新快报：你知道为什么有这么多媒体关注你吗？ 时建锋：跟你们直说了吧，好多情况我不清楚。你们来这里都是有目的的，但这事儿不是我干的，是我弟弟干的，跟我没太大关系。是我弟弟买的车，办的牌，一切都是他办的。他只是让我帮忙"照顾"这个两（辆）车。 新快报：你"照顾"车的时候，知道它挂的是假军牌吗？ 时建锋：军牌是我弟弟用钱买回来的，我帮他顶这个罪，就是因为他是我亲兄弟，我先顶着，他在外面跑，四处活动，争取把我捞出去。 "弟弟说路上有内鬼" 新快报：你们穿上军装，挂上军牌之后，收费站就不管你们了吗？ 时建锋：我弟弟跟我说，高速路上有内鬼，收了钱就不怎么管我们。我弟弟告诉我，怎么走能躲着摄像头。偶尔也会碰到有人拦我们的车，我们就会出示"部队上的"派车单，也是伪造的。 新快报：派车单能证明什么？证明你们是部队的？ 时建锋：派车单上写的是部队的人名，能证明什么我也不懂。 新快报：万一还是被人拦住了怎么办？ 时建锋：问我弟弟，我弟弟知道该怎么办。如果被人拦住了，我们就会避开摄像头给烟。我弟弟每个月都会给人钱，具体给了谁，我也不清楚。 "真真假假说不清楚" 新快报：你什么都不清楚，怎么会进来的呢？ 时建锋：我稀里糊涂就进来了。 新快报：你知不知道判处无期徒刑意味着什么？ 时建锋：我没有老婆，没有孩子，无牵无挂，他是我亲弟弟，我就帮他顶了。 新快报：你为什么不上诉？ 时建锋：法院都已经判决了，真的也是假的，假的也是真的，真真假假说不清楚，我不想牵出一大群来。我无所谓，我无儿无女没有后顾之忧。 新快报：你认为会牵出一大群人？ 时建锋：肯定会的。说多了，会死得早。以后你们就明白了。 "说多了对我没好处" 新快报：你口口声声说是你弟弟干的，你什么都不知道，是来帮他顶罪的，但是你现在又把他供出来，不是自相矛盾吗？ 时建锋：我说多了，对我没好处。 新快报：你弟弟现在人在哪里？ 时建锋：不清楚。 新快报：他来看守所看过你吗？ 时建锋：没有。 新快报：他为什么会有那么多人脉？很神通广大吗？ 时建锋：他欠了很多高利贷，没什么人脉，我也不清楚他怎么认识高速路的人的。 "每个月给他们六千元" 新快报：8个月你们大概赚了多少钱？ 时建锋：20多万（元）。 新快报：你们一天拉6趟，每趟赚300元，一共8个月，每个月30天，算下来应该是赚了40多万（元），为什么只赚了20万（元）？ 时建锋：毛耗太大了。修车要钱，修轮胎要钱，还要分出去。 新快报：分出去是指分给谁？ 时建锋：有人分了，我不清楚是分给谁了。我听说是分给收费站的人了。 新快报：但是，这个案子是收费站的人发现并且率先报案的。 时建锋：贼喊捉贼。我弟弟说，每个月都给他们六千（元）。 "不超载不逃费赚不到钱" 新快报：你们每天能拉多少吨？ 时建锋：我们有两个（辆）车，一天能拉6趟，每趟车装载五六十吨。 新快报：这个是严重超载吧？ 时建锋：我肯定知道啊！谁不超载谁就赚不了钱。 新快报：你们跑一趟能挣多少钱？ 时建锋：跑一趟能挣个两三百块钱。我们拉一车50吨（超载），沙的成本是700块，拉出去卖给工地能卖到1700块，油费大概要花掉六七百块钱。最后剩下的只有三百多块，还要算上耗损啊，轮胎之类的。 新快报：除了走高速，走别的路能不能赚到钱？ 时建锋：走高速快，省时间，一趟往返6个小时，多拉几趟才能赚到钱。走别的路赚不到钱，别的路上交警罚款太厉害了，违章要罚，沙子洒在路上了要罚，超载也要罚。一张罚单一百或者一百五，我们这条路要经过3个县，每个县都罚一次款，这单活就白干了。 新快报：那如果你们走高速，不超载、不偷逃路费就赚不到钱吗？ 时建锋：赚不到钱，过路费那么高，卖都卖不到这么多钱。高速路上超重的车都是假军牌车，跑车的都知道这个是假的，不超载不逃费赚不到钱。 新快报：如果不走高速？ 时建锋：交警一路罚款，也赚不到钱，本钱全赔进去都不够。 "过路费368万我不吃惊" 新快报：最后计算出来你偷逃过路费368万元，你对这个数字感到惊讶吗？你相信吗？ 时建锋：有啥不相信的？超载要翻倍罚款，肯定有这么多啦。 新快报：你不觉得吃惊？网友们都因为这个数字惊呆了，我们也是因为这个才来的。 时建锋：我一点儿都不吃惊。超多少就罚多少，就罚到这么多了啊。随便罚！ 新快报：你知道你的行为是违法的吧？ 时建锋：当然知道，为了赚钱嘛，没办法。 新快报：你知不知道被判无期徒刑意味着什么？ 时建锋：我进来的时候，我弟弟跟我说的是让我先顶着，有人会在外面跑关系，以后会让我出去的。现在我知道我出不去了，我一进来我就知道我出不去了。 新快报：你做这个事的时候没想过自己会被抓住吗？ 时建锋：我没想过自己会被抓住。 | |||||||||||||||
| Posted: 13 Jan 2011 05:16 PM PST 点评："同税不同权"问题，归根到底还是出在户籍上。北京的购车、购房、报考大学，对外地人就设置了种种门槛。支持郭宇宽先生的观点，如不能废除户籍捆绑高福利制度，就应当对外地纳税人退"个税"。 网友建议给外来人口退个税称无法享受同城权利 1月14日《新京报》记者张宁报道：http://www.022net.com/2011/1-14/411376242297787.html "纳税人因为户籍原因，在纳税地得不到与户籍纳税人同等权利的，可以申请所得税的减征、免征和退还。" 近日，一则《征集签名，要求地方政府给外来人口退税》的微博，引来了数百名网友的签名。博文的发布者称，已将关于修改"个税法"的建议信及网友签名，寄往全国人大常委会，目前尚未收到答复。 "假如你是外来人口，假如你面临着与本地人上一样的税，享受与本地人不同权利的困境，请加入诉求队伍。转发视为签名。"近日，一则名为《征集签名，要求地方政府给外来人口退税》的微博，出现在网络上。 相关新闻：新市民联谊会 外来人口的家 北京国土局辟谣：集体土地租赁房非小产权 兰州二手房价"满天飞" 代表建议实行一房一价原州警方端掉5个传销窝点 微博的发布者"云南农民杨学涛"介绍，他老家在云南，现在上海工作居住，没有上海户口。与"上海人"缴纳同样的个人所得税，但在买房、买车、就医、子女教育等权利方面，与"上海人"有明显的"区别对待"。 "同样缴税、权利不等，这不单是多交钱的问题，人为设置的门槛对外来人口不公平。"杨学涛认为，政府应该给外来人口退个税。于是，在2010年12月，他开始发微博征集意见及签名活动。至今年1月4日，转发征集意见的网友有近700人。 1月11日，杨学涛通过快递，将修改《中华人民共和国个人所得税法》的建议信，及附有众网友作为联合建议人的名单，寄往了全国人大常委会，目前尚未收到答复。 ■ 对话 "我的诉求是'同税同权'" 新京报：什么时候开始有这个想法？ 杨学涛：我有这个想法已经很久了，和很多人一样，我头上也戴着一顶"外来人口"的帽子。我刚去上海时，没有居住证，看病就需要全额支付费用。 新京报：为什么要发起这次征集？ 杨学涛：现阶段我国不可能取消户籍制度，"外来人口"的帽子摘不掉，那就需找其他途径。我认为，既然地方政府不给"外来人口"与"市民"同等的纳税人权利，也就不能要求"外来人口"与"市民"尽同等的纳税义务，这是最起码的权利义务对等原则。我把这个征集活动的诉求理解为"同税同权"。 新京报：为什么要征集签名而不是一人建议？ 杨学涛：任何公民都有对公共政策的建议权。在微博征集网友签名的过程，不过是我主动充当了这一诉求的代理而已。 新京报：网友怎么看待这个问题？ 杨学涛：我大概看了一下转发、评论的情况，感受很深。 第一，我感到欣喜的是整个过程的"理性"。虽然有很多人面临"不公"，比我要繁多且严重，但我极少看到有人骂娘。 第二，我感到有些遗憾的是高端微博用户参与偏少。可能是他们的财力，让他们没有这一诉求。 第三是很多拥有户籍的"市民"也加入了签名的行列。因为他们觉得"同税同权"是必须的。 ■ 随访 网友：签名为解决"区别对待" "邻居买一个节能灯，只需1块钱，而我就得掏一二十。"来自安徽的网友"微笑的鱼在北京"称，她已在北京工作多年，但一直没有北京户口。 买房需要暂住证，买车不能摇号，孩子上学要交借读费……相比北京户籍人口，她认为在很多方面遭遇区别对待。 近日，"微笑的鱼在北京"在微博上看到，有网友建议修改《中华人民共和国个人所得税法》，并组织征集签名活动，呼吁给城市外来人口减退个税。她按照博文中"转发视为签名"的规定，毫不犹豫地进行了转发，加入了诉求的队伍。 ■ 说法 "退还个税 合理且可行" 清华大学经济研究所博士后、专栏作家郭宇宽认为，政府给外来人口退个税，合理且可行。 郭宇宽称，我国目前的户籍制度，捆绑着高福利。在户籍制度无法废除的情况下，为了体现缴税义务与福利权利的平等，退税是一种可行的做法。欧洲等一些国家，短期旅行的外国人，在购买大宗物品时，可到海关申请退税。那是因为这些外籍人士只是短期停留，医疗、教育等最主要的福利没有享受到，所以就没理由尽纳税人义务。国内的城市可借鉴此做法和经验，考虑给外来人口退个税。 同税不同权 不是税的错 经济学博士、媒体评论员马光远认为，目前城市外来人口，不能享受和本地户籍人口的同等福利，是现行户籍制度造成的不公平，这本身是错的。如果给城市外来人口退税，在税收方面，对本地户籍人口，又造成了不公平，这又是一个错误。 马光远称，不能创造一个不公平，解决现有的不公平，不能用错误去解决错误。他不赞同改税法，表示应该努力、加快进行户籍制度改革。 ■ 建议修改内容 【原文】 《个人所得税法》第五条：有下列情形之一的，经批准可以减征个人所得税： 一、残疾、孤老人员和烈属的所得； 二、因严重自然灾害造成重大损失的； 三、其他经国务院财政部门批准减税的。 【建议修改】 《个人所得税法》第五条建议修改为：有下列情形之一的，个人所得税应减征、免征和退还。 另外增加一款：纳税人因为户籍原因而在纳税地得不到与户籍纳税人同等权利的，可以申请所得税的减征、免征和退还。 【理由】 （1）"退税"符合权利义务对等原则。外地户籍人口在纳税地纳税，所尽的纳税义务与本地户籍人口一样。如果外地户籍人口在享受权利时遇到很多限制，有违权利义务对等原则。 （2）"退税"有法律依据。国家税务总局《关于纳税人权利与义务的公告》第七条规定，纳税人拥有"申请退还多缴税款权"。 如果外地户籍人口，不能享有同本地户籍人口同样的权利，则外地户籍纳税人可以据此条款申请退税。 （3）"退税"有可操作性。申请退税的额度，以在享受权利的过程中，因户籍原因而增加的支出或减少的收入为标准。如：地方政府只给户籍人口发放100元礼品时，外地户籍纳税人可据此申请退还100元的税款。
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| An Interview with Burt Malkiel Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:28 AM PST A good video to show students while teaching about index funds and the efficient markets hypothesis:  | |||||||||||||||
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