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Snake-like Reflection of a Bow in the Cup

   Nearly 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty, wow goldthere was a county magistrate called Ying Chen. One summer day, he invited his secretary Du Xuan to his house and treated him with wine. On the north wall of the room hung a red bow. It waswow gold reflected in Du Xuan's cup. Du Xuan took the reflection for a squirming snake. He was very frightened but he dared not turn down Ying Chen's offer because Ying was his superior. He had to swallow the wine with his eyes closed.

  When he was back at home he felt so painful in his chest and stomach that he could hardly eat and drink any more. He sent for the doctor and took some medicine, but nothing could cure him. When Ying Chen asked Du Xuan how he got so seriously ill, Du told him he drank the wine with a snake in his cup the other day. Ying Chen found something strange about that. He returned home , thought hard, but he could not find an answer.wow gold Suddenly the shadow thrown by the bow on the wall caught his eye. "That's it!" he shouted. He immediately sent his man to fetch Du Xuan. He seated him where he sat before and offered him a cup of wine. Du Xuan saw the snake-like shadow again. Before Du was scared out of his wits again, Ying Chen said , pointing at the shadow, "The 'snake' in the cup is nothing but a reflection of the bow on the wall!" Now that Do Xuan knew what it was, he felt much easier. And strange enough, his illness disappeared the next moment.lotro gold

  This story was later contracted into the idiom "Bei Gong She Ying'. It is used to describe someone who is very suspicious. It is like saying someone is afraid of his own shadow.

Former Community Leader Dies in Absolute Poverty?

I just got around to reading an e-mail a couple days old from a friend of mine who posts over at PhillyBlog. Anyway, he just e-mailed me a link to a post by State Rep. Mark Cohen which I discovered has left me feeling quite meloncholy and a bit haunted feeling for lack of a better description...and I don't even know the subject of his post. I thought I would cross post an excerpt and link:

Philly Blog: Former Logan Community Leader Sally McIntyre Dies In Legislative Office by Mark B. Cohen

A Poem for Two Voices: "Save Darfur": Kids say the darndest things...

Kids can sometimes set us adults straight. Such was the case today, as I attended a "Poetry Slam" at Girard College, put on by the 5th grade class of Ms. La Shaya Duval. Ms. Duval is my supervisor in the After School program at Girard called G-Sap. I've encountered her class at least once before; and, it was a great experience.
As a part of "305 Lounge" and the Poetry Slam, students recited several types of poetry: Free-Verse, Parralel, Poem for two voices and personification. I was enthralled at the performance--and the 'worldly' awareness of these wonderful students. I guess it speaks to Ms. Duval's teaching style--and effectiveness.
One of the pieces; "Save Darfur" a poem for two voices, pointed out the daily tragedy of the Darfur genocide in the Sudan. We have so many problems. Not really. These kids are really concerned about what's happening worlds away. The event's student MC, pleaded with audience members to "Do more, do something".
"Go to www.savedarfur.org " he said, but, if you're a kid like me, get your parent's permission first." I'm always impressed with the abilities of young persons. I have a special love for Girard College students. I'm enjoying working there and being part of the culture that is Girard--inside--and outside the wall.
So, for me, for my special "Good Friends" at the Elementary School at Girard College, check out the web site for Save Darfur. Get up to speed with what's going on there. If only as a diversion from the daily death toll in Iraq, and our constant threats to Iran. Find out what we're doing--or not doing about death, and devestation in the Sudan region.
Do all that you can to learn about this situation. If you teach, tell other teachers. Teach your students. Develop young, independent thinkers and concerned, compassionate humans. One day, you may be glad that you acted.
Oh, one more thing; encourage a young person today. There are too many negative stories about kids. Let's talk more about the good that they do--everyday.

www.savedarfur.org Do It...TODAY! Act Now! Lives depend on it.

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