A courageous girl called Sophie

Hans Scholl (left), Sophie Scholl (centre) and Christoph Probst (right)
Original picture from raincitypastor.blogspot.com

Just finished watching the German film “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days”. Guess it was never too late to learn about some extraordinary people.

Sophie Scholl was born on 9th May 1921. The fourth of six children, she was a student at the University of Munich. Through her brother Hans, their friends and some lecturers, she joined the White Rose, a non violent resistance group in Nazi Germany.

The belief in human’s dignity and conscience formed the basis for resisting the Nazi ideology of war and extermination of Jews. Sophie and Hans were caught distributing leaflets calling for an end to the war at the Atrium of the University of Munich and were caught by the Gestapo on 18th February 1943.

After several days of intense interrogation, Sophie, Hans and another friend, Christoph Probst were brought to the People’s Court sat by Judge Roland Freisler on 22nd February 1943. All three of them were convicted of high treason and sentenced to death.

Sophie bravely told the judge this, “Somebody, after all, had to make a start. What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just do not dare express themselves as we did.”

And when told of her sentence, her reaction was this, “I am, now as before, of the opinion that I did the best that I could do for my nation. I therefore do not regret my conduct and will bear the consequences that result from my conduct.”

After meeting their parents for the last time, the three of them hugged and shared a cigarette. They were executed by guillotine at the Munich Stadelheim Prison a few hours after the verdict. Sophie’s last words were, “The sun still shines.” Next to die was Hans and his last words were, “Long live freedom.” Christoph was the last to be executed.

After their death, their last leaflet was smuggled to the Allies who made millions of copies and air dropped them over Germany. Today, they were considered heroes of modern Germany for standing up against an evil regime.

What is the point, really? 值的吗 ？

All around me, I could see some people buying this or selling that. These stuffs were not petty things like a T-shirt or maybe a new mobile that costs several dollars to a few hundred bucks. On the contrary, these stuffs are heavy weight stuffs that can cost several millions of dollars.

Yes, I am talking about those "opportunists" out to make cash and more cash!

These people are usually professionals, holding top posts in their organizations and earning big bucks. They were so loaded with cash that at any given time, they have a string of properties in hand to be disposed off given the right price. You can see them laughing all the way to the bank.

I personally knew two of such people. They stayed in high class residential areas and riding in luxury cars. They go for overseas holidays annually and their children went to the best schools. They were the first in line to pick and buy prime units for investment purposes. Needless to say, they were leading lives that many of us dare not dream off.

Why am I kicking up a storm? It was their right, of course. But not when in the process to impress their higher ups, your chance to make a decent living was taken away. Yes, your rice bowl was broken and so were many others so that they stood out in the eyes of their superiors.

But fate has an upper hand. A few years ago, one of them came down with end stage nasal cancer and today, I heard that his wife succumbed to lung cancer although she does not smoke. Neither did he smoke too. And they were still in the prime of their lives, healthy and kicking.

I could not say much except that it was their doctors who had the last laugh on their way to the bank. Yes, what is the point, really? I mean, to make so much money but in the end to lose them all to expensive treatments?

Note :
Opportunists ~ plural .
                       ~ noun:
A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by principles , conscience or plans.

Flying High 自由自在

Wind Beneath My Wings

(BETTE MIDLER )

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,

to never have sunlight on your face.

You were content to let me shine, that's your way.

You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,

while you were the one with all the strength.

A beautiful face without a name for so long.

A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,

and everything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,

but I've got it all here in my heart.

I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.

I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?

You're everything I wish I could be.

I could fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?

You're everything, everything I wish I could be.

Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.

You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.

Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,

so high I almost touch the sky.

Thank you, thank you,

thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

A good year 美好时光

“ Solitaire 专壹 ”

 

Season to celebrate.

25th July 1991

A diamond with a flaw

is worth

more than

a pebble

without imperfections.

Eureka ! 茫茫人海确定是你.

Where and when, an unexpected reunion occurs.

11th July 1991

" 在人海茫茫.

如不约而同 , 与你再相聚.

总是最美丽 ."

KEDAI KOPI LAI FOONG, JALAN TUN HS LEE

Ginny Come Lately

Brian Hyland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv7uHRnHTBE

I only met you just a couple of days ago

I only met you and I want your lovin' so

Ginny-Come-Lately, sweet, sweet as can be-ee-ee-ee

You may have come lately but Ginny-Come-Lately

You're the one for me

I only had to see the sunlight in your hair

Your soft, soft silhouette to know I'd always care

Ginny-Come-Lately, sweet, sweet as can be-ee-ee-ee

You may have come lately but Ginny-Come-Lately

You're the one for me

You only had to smile a little smile

Do nothing more than look at me

You only had to smile and in a little while

I was dreamin' recklessly-ee-ee-ee

I only met you just a couple of days ago

And oh, my love for you has no more room to grow

Ginny-Come-Lately, my dream come true-ooh-ooh-ooh

You may have come lately but Ginny-Come-Lately

I'm in love with you

* 重逢 * 相聚 * 喜悅 *

Heart Is In July Ignition 点燃七月的火花

     七月,这是不约定的重逢.
~ An unexpected reunion in July.

When I first saw you
I was afraid to talk to you,
When I first talked to you
I was afraid to like you,
When I first liked you
I was afraid to love you,
Now that I love you
I'm afraid to lose you.

The first time I saw you ,
I knew it was true.
That I'd love you forever
and that's what I'll do.

Love at first sight is possible,
but it's always a good idea
to take a second look.

Believe in love at first sight
Love at first sight is one of the
greatest labor-saving devices
the world has ever seen.

What's so remarkable about
Love at first sight?
It's when people have been
looking at each other for years
that it becomes remarkable.

Love at first sight is possible,
but it pays to take a second look.

The only true love is love at first sight;
second sight dispels it.

Love at first sight saves a lot of time.
Who ever loved that loved not at first sight

相聚与相识
~   single eyelids  ~

Rare bricks found among the debris at Pudu Jail demolition site

Site visited on the 23rd Jun 2010 , 6 a.m. , morning.

This brick was found among the debris which carry the name "KIEN HIN". What or who is "KIEN HIN" ?

Again, site re-visited on the 27th Jun 2010, 7.30a.m., morning.

  

Who or what are these two P.W.D. and Y.Y.C., do they belonged to the brick manufacturer ?

Strange is , only few pieces carried these names, almost 99.9% of the debris (bricks) with plain surface without any name.