November 4th and beyond - 11月4日與往後

About a week ago, I proudly faxed my absentee ballot from Taiwan to the US, voting for Obama of course.
差不多一個禮拜前，我很得意的把我的選票從台灣傳真到美國，當然選票是投給歐巴馬的。

His eloquence and attention to the issues that matter cause me to believe this man is truly different, and has arrived in the nick of time.
他的口才和在重要問題的專注上，讓我相信這個人真的是與眾不同，並且出現在最緊急的時候。

In his post-election speech, he mentioned three issues to highlight the troubles facing the American people: two wars, a planet in peril, and the economic crisis (in that order).
他在後期選舉的致詞中，他提到了三個問題點來強調現在美國人民正面臨的困難：兩個戰爭、一個置於危險中的星球和經濟危機(按照順序)。

That he mentioned our "planet in peril" is a strong sign that the global environment is much on his mind -- a refreshing reference, as this issue seems eclipsed by news of the economy.
一個讓人耳目一新的依據--當他提到了我們的星球置於危險中，是個有力的徵兆在他的思想中存在著地球的環境，不過這個問題好像被經濟新聞給蓋過去了。

The recent economic crisis has spurred governments into a frenzy. But what of the ecological crisis? Is it only lip service we pay to this very real threat?
最近的經濟危機讓政府驚慌。但是那生態危機勒？對於這個真正的問題我們只會開空頭支票而已嗎？

If we acted with the same diligence in response to climate change, pollution, and loss of natural habitat, much could be averted.
如果我們可以像響應氣候變化一樣努力的話，就可以防止汙染及自然生態環境的損失。

But we turn our eyes to other stories as the media prioritizes our information for us, and we forget that the mass media consists of corporations who suffer from the same psychosis which is causing this ecological meltdown: the belief that money is everything.
但是我們被媒體優先發佈的訊息給轉移到其他的事件上，而且我們卻忘了有許多媒體公司也一樣，受到金錢就是一切的洗腦，而導致生態的崩潰。

If we fail to remember who we are and where we come from (i.e. single cell organisms in the sea), our fate will not be pretty, nor will the fate of those species who rely on our better judgment.
如果我們不能記得我們是誰或是我們是從哪裡來的(舉例在海裡的微生物細胞)，我們的命運將不再是美麗的，和那些需要依靠我們的生物種類的命運也將是一樣的。

Like someone noticing another drowning within arm's reach, our capacity to recognize, influence, and manage our impact on the environment enshrines us with responsibility.
就像某些人發現了有人在身邊溺水，我們要認清自己本身的能力並賦予我們責任去影響及處理對環境的衝擊。

Another disturbing observation is that most discussion on the financial and environmental crises consider only human comforts. Commentators reflect on technology's ability to manipulate natural systems, thus postponing or preventing our social and economic collapse.
另一項惱人的觀點是，很多有關經濟和環境危機的議論都是以人類的舒適為考量。評論員反映我們在技術的能力上來操縱大自然的系統，這樣可以延後或防止社會和經濟的崩盤。

What a remarkably selfish people we, the world's most educated and wealthy, have become.
在這世界上受過教育和最富裕的我們，卻成為了最自私的人。

Do we care whether a mother shark's fin is hewn off for five star soup, while she searches for food? Or whether migratory birds fry in electrical wiring as they seek safe places to nest? Is it a concern whether or not toxins, industry and climate change eliminate entire species?
我們會去在乎一隻母親鯊魚在尋找食物中魚鰭會被割下來做成魚翅湯嗎？或是侯鳥在尋找安全的地方築巢時飛進了電網內？不管有沒有毒素這是讓人擔心的，產業和氣候變化會除去全部的生態類型嗎？

I pray an awareness spreads on the heels of the November 4th landmark election, that we humans are cohabitants and stewards of all the life on Planet Earth.
我祈禱，隨著11月4日的一個新的開始後，我們人類是地球上所有的生命體的共存者及服務者。

What a lonely world this would be, if the mass extinction continues.
如果大量的撲滅延續著，那麼這個世界會變的多孤單阿。

The Passing of the Chief

I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Chief Kao Min-zheng, the chief of the Atolan aboriginal community in Dulan, Taitung. He suffered a heart attack while on a performing tour in China.
當我得知台東都蘭部落的頭目郭明正逝世的消息讓我深深的感到難過，當時他在中國的巡迴演出中突遭心臟病發作。

He was only 67 years old... very young for an Amis chief to pass on -- it is the first time a chief has passed away before his five-year term as chief is over.
他當時只有67歲…在逝世的阿美族頭目中算是很年輕的 - - 這是第一個在任職的五年內逝世的頭目。

He became chief shortly after I joined the Amis Atolan tribe, entering my age rank known as "La Zhong Chau". I remember how hard he worked to meet the expectations of the people and of his position as chief, and how seriously he took his position. And while it is a tragedy that he died so far away from home, it is a testament to his commitment that he passed away while on tour, promoting awareness about Atolan culture.
在他擔任頭目之後，我很快的便加入了阿美族都蘭部落，以我的年齡地位被稱為「La Zhong Chau」。我還記得他是以認真工作來達到人民的期望和他自己頭目的位子，並且很認真的看待他的職位。之後悲劇發生，他在離家鄉很遠的地方過世，在巡迴中過世是對他投入人們宣揚提升對都蘭文化的意識抬頭最好的證明。

I pray now for this Chief, his family and friends, and for the Atolan people who must now face the decision of how to appoint new leadership.
我現在為這位頭目祈禱，他的家人和朋友們必須面對該如何決定新頭目來帶領都蘭部落的人民。

I will remember him well, sitting at Dulan Point in his traditional clothing... and that is where I believe his spirit will tether.
我會牢記著他，穿著他的傳統的衣服坐在都蘭山頂…我相信那是緊繫著他靈魂的地方。

Good bye for now, my Chief. You will join a new age rank now, and observe your people from the heavens over Dulan.
暫時離別了我的頭目。你將進入一個新的歲數地位，並在天堂裡俯瞰著你的都蘭人民。

I trust we shall meet again.
我相信我們將會再見。

Most sincerely,
最真摯地

Matthew (MaShow) Lien 馬修連恩

Looking for some peace of mind

Feeling a strong need to get out of this city (Taipei) and listen to the cleansing sounds of nature, I headed out last night, going up Bei-yi Gong Lu (a winding mountain road which links Taipei and Yi-lan).

我強烈覺得我需要離開這個城市（台北），去聆聽大自然純淨的聲音，所以昨晚我出發前往北宜公路(連接台北到宜蘭的山路)。

My original plan was to visit my dear friend A-kiang in Yi-lan, where we were going to record a Bei-guan Opera master for a song I am creating (more on that later).

原本計畫去拜訪我宜蘭的好友阿鏗，並且一起在那裡錄一首我為北管大師創作的歌曲(詳情待續)

But my plans changed as my departure from Taipei was delayed, and because road conditions were pretty bad... it seems the recent "super typhoon" caused sections of the road to collapse into the mountain valley.

後來計畫有所改變,因為從台北出發的時間延誤，加上路況不好…似乎近日強烈颱風的侵襲，造成有些路段都崩塌了。

As I was driving my BMW motorcycle, I finally realized the conditions were too dangerous and decided to cancel the recording, but I did leave myself a bit of time to just sit there in the mountains and look across the dark valley, listening to the river below.

當我騎著我的BMW重型機車時，我才真的發覺路況實在太危險了，於是決定取消錄音行程，但我留了點時間給自己，坐在山中看著漆黑的山谷，聽著谷中潺潺的水流。

Although short, it was a much needed time and gave me a small sense of returning peace for my busy and sometimes-nervous mind.

雖然時間不長，但已足夠讓我繁忙、緊張的頭腦得到寧靜。

Tonight, I am off to an interview for ASUS (I love those guys... and their gear!!!) and then off for a two-day trip to Hsinchu.

今晚我有華碩的採訪(我愛他們…還有他們的設備!!!)結束之後去新竹2日遊。

We'll see how long this peace of mind lasts... but I guess I'll be needing some more natural recharging (and much more deeply) very very soon.

不知道這樣的平靜可以維持多久…但我想我很快就會需要更多大自然的充電。

Opening Entry...

It's 12:40 AM and I should definitely be sleeping... but we are desperately trying to meet a deadline for updating one website (http://www.matthewlien.com/) and creating another (http://www.mashow.com.tw/), and thus I am creating this blog to dovetail with those efforts.

So far so good...

I am quite happy to see all this coming together, as there are many plans and projects in the works which have layers of thought as their foundation... so this shall be the place to air those thoughts. ;)

OK... that's all for now... suffice it to say I'm happy to see this blog created, and in the words of one Governor of California... I'll be back (insert macho Austrian accent here).

Matthew (MaShow)