Teacher, you play computer games???

　　Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. In fact, I believe I have played quite a variety of games compared to teens nowadays, who are caught up in 1 or 2 online games and MSN chats for eons…
　　Listed below are some of my most favourite games, as I will not bother listing games I have played but not enjoyed.

Turn Based Strategy
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Heroes of Might & Magic 2, 3, 4, 5
Medieval: Total War, Rome: Total War, Medieval: Total War 2
Disciples: Sacred Lands, Disciples 2, Disciples 2: The Rise of the Elves
Age of Wonders, Age of Wonders 2

Fantasy Adventure
Diablo, Diablo II
Nox

Real Time Strategy
Starcraft, Brood War
Dungeon Keeper, Dungeon Keeper 2
Kohan: Immortal Sovereign, Kohan: Ahriman’s Gift, Kohan 2
Warcraft 2, Warcraft 3, The Frozen Throne
Stronghold, Stronghold: Crusade
The Battle for Middle Earth, The Battle for Middle Earth 2
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
Supreme Commander, Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
Universe at War: Earth Assault

Role Playing Adventure
Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast,
Baldur’s Gate: Shadow over Amn, Baldur’s Gate: Throne of Bhaal
Icewind Dale
Planescape: Torment
Neverwinter Nights, Shadows of Undrentide, Hordes of the Underdark
Neverwinter Nights 2, Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer

Arcade
X-Men: Children of the Atom
武将争霸
武将争霸2

Online
Guild Wars

Simulation
Mechwarrior
TIE Fighter

Empire Building Game
Caesar 2
Rise of the Middle Kingdom
SimCity Societies

　　Notice that most of the games are strategy-based, and usually involving fantasy, as they are both my favourite genre, whether in the form of games or real world history.

　　Also, I do not necessarily follow mainstream tastes, e.g. not playing the most popular games like Counter Strike, Fifa, Command & Conquer.

　　Any fellow gamers around?

Cher, you know Taiji?

　　“老师，你会打太极拳？”
　　学生时常问我是否会打太极拳。我的回答总是让他们对我的年龄产生幻觉，或觉得很不可思议。也有不少人在猜测我是太极老师还是学徒，因为我老是站在众人面前一块打拳。其实我打太极拳已有六年的时间了，而在我周围的中年人和乐龄人士当中有一位是我的太极启蒙老师――刘素香师，两成是我的“师伯、师叔”，其余的则是我的“师弟、师妹”，因为我是我老师的开山大弟子！
　　在学生的认识中，太极拳是乐龄人士的运动，因为它行动速度缓慢，适合老人家。他们会对太极拳有如此的认识，是值得感到遗憾的，但我想我们不能怪他们，因为练习太极拳时往往是比较慢的。对青少年而言，他们寻求动感、刺激、新鲜的玩意儿，当然不会把看似蜗牛的太极拳放在眼里。但是太极身为一门武学是十分深奥的，在养身保健方面也有一定的功效。况且太极讲究用意不用力，只要动作正确，运动得当，是很难受伤的。不象外家拳那样，无论自身练习或与人对练都有受内外伤的可能性。
　　我自小就喜欢看武侠片，中学时期更爱看武侠小说，自然而然对武术有一定的兴趣。在选择套路方面，我有我的理由。可能由于性格的关系吧，其他武学套路虽然看似刚劲十足，但我却看不上眼，唯有以柔克刚的太极能吸引我。再者太极在武学还有拳、掌、剑、刀、枪、棍、扇、伞等各类形态。即使学完了这些，还能练推手来提高自己听劲的能力。太极就象华族其他文化宝藏一样，都是易学难精，因此十分具挑战性。
太极并非限于乐龄人士，而是年轻人往往没有耐性，再加上现代社会有太多诱惑，如电脑游戏、流行文化等等，因此一般年轻人是不会对太极产生兴趣。即使对武术有兴趣，也一定选威风十足的外家拳。由于我国许多乐龄人士退休后有很多时间，再加上往往身体有病，因医生推荐才开始学太极，才会造成许多年轻人对太极的误解。其实在中国，不少大学都有太极初学班作为大一生的选修课之一。要是我们能在全国各中、小学如此推动武术，我相信我国要培育一些武术高手，应该不太难。

7th/ 8th July 2006 MOE Excel Fest Day

7th and 8th July were 2 and busy days for me... as we were involved in manning the booth for MOE Excel Festival Day for our school, all of us had to endure the hot humid weather during those 2 days. Fortunately, my colleagues and students were very professional, and our efforts had not been in vain. It seemed that the students did quite well in presenting to visitors what we do in school.

“Trinity Blood”

　　在犹豫了一段时间后，最近终于决定观赏日本动画“Trinity Blood”。因为日本动画的题材往往不太适合我，所以才迟迟没买。好在观赏了之后觉得蛮值得。与之前的Chrono Crusade”相比，我觉得这部动画的人物显得比较成熟，内容无论在人物的装扮或整体感觉都酷似我感兴趣的欧洲中古世纪的服装。唯一美中不足的地方是它竟然搀杂枪械和机器，使故事变得半古不新。
　　故事叙述人类之间频频争斗，直到吸血僵尸向人类开战。后来，吸血僵尸在人类的帝国里与人类杂居。故事的主人翁是梵蒂冈的一名牧师，但也是一个具有超能力的僵尸。
故事最吸引我的是开场的歌曲，以及主人翁的人物造型。因为这部日本动画，我才了解到日本人喜欢把动画人物画得很修长。要是在现实生活中有这类人，应该是严重缺乏营养了。
整部动画一共分为24集，目前我国只收买1－12集，相信不久后，13－24集将会到达新加坡。我期待它的到来……