"WHAT do you think about moving to Canberra?" my husband asked. I looked at him as if someone had died." Yeah, right. Over my dead body."

Due to career opportunities and a rock-solid promise that we would return to civilisation within three years, I reluctantly agreed to relocate "there". I adored living in Sydney and considered it a privilege to live in the greatest city in the world. I loved our suburb in the inner west, the beaches, the restaurants, the harbour. I was going to be miserable in our nation's capital. Even John Howard refuses to live there.

How wrong I was! We have been here 18 months now and I shock myself with how much I love it. First of all, there is no traffic. Parking is 80 cents an hour in the city centre. My son's soccer matches are a five-minute walk away. I walked into a day-care centre and walked out having secured places for my two daughters. We have a large house with a not so large mortgage, friendly neighbours, great friends and incredible scenery. We go to the coast all the time and decide on the morning whether to go to the snow. There are great restaurants and a cafe culture similar to Sydney's. Best of all, Sydney is only a few hours away, so it is easy to get my Sydney fix without having to live there.

Canberra is not as bad as you think. It may not suit all but, for a young family, life is much less stressful. My husband gets to work in 15 minutes; it used to take him that just to cross the Iron Cove Bridge. When I visit Sydney now, the traffic shocks me, and I would struggle to deal with it every day again. In Canberra no one talks property prices and it's not a badge of honour to have a million mortgage. When we moved here my son asked why everyone was so friendly.

I implore you not to be as critical and dismissive of Canberra as I once was. Looking back, it makes me so cross to remember the looks of pity people gave me when I told them where we were moving.

I'm sick of being asked "where do you live?" and when I tell them, they look at me scathingly and quickly change the subject. "Won't you miss all the trendy cafes in Balmain?" We have three little kids, we don't go out. And don't get me started on that radio ad where a planeload of people are shrieking in fright because they are being diverted to Canberra. There is more to life than being gridlocked in traffic to get to work to pay off an impossibly large loan on an impossibly small house. I still love Sydney but it's not the be-all and end-all.

If hubby came home tomorrow and announced that we were moving back to Sydney, my response would be: "Yeah, right. Over my dead body."

找工作如同谈恋爱，要找到心意的又适合自己的的款，二者都要费一番功夫，一见钟情永远是少数，大部分的人都要经历曲折婉转。
不是每个人都有机会选择五星级酒店的Coffee Bar和猎头侃侃而谈，不在招聘会上挤得灰头土脸已经是一种运气。
为了一个面试机会，你需要全力以赴展开追求，露出六颗牙齿的完美微笑，See，我就是你要找的人，让我们立刻开始这段感情吧。
基于你是如此主动，于是人家就有了挑三拣四的权利。这个人的着装是不是OK是第一眼要打量的。无数的面试宝典上都写着“衣冠楚楚”，可是，如果你勒紧裤腰带投资的名牌套装，一年也找不到几次隆重到应该穿的场合，你穿去面试也一样不适合。和身份不和，就会显得煞有介事，可是若要套着一身牛仔，人家又会觉得你嫩，要是妖艳示人，又有人说你轻浮，为了第一个印象博个好彩头，你得丢掉一床衣服才能走出家门。
到了双方会谈期间，我们又开始习惯伪装自己，表现自己最好的一面，以为这样才能赢得爱情，找工作时指导我们的也是这套逻辑。
明明从来没有做过的事情，要说很有经验相当拿手，明明很在意私人时间，却偏偏要说OT当然没有问题，明明觉得8K已经是自己的底线，却要忍气吞声接受别人7.5K的还价，再来安慰自己500块不过是一顿不算奢侈的大餐。少吃一顿也无妨。让了这么多步，只是希望她说，你，什么时候可以来上班？
最后貌似谈拢了，但麻烦也随之而来了。工作上的左支右拙需要大把时间补课；不是的OT让你失去的不仅仅是几个小时，还有耐心；500块忽然可以沉甸甸起来，起码可以去超市抱会一大堆生活物资。也许是时候思考一下why。
婚姻要门当户对，个性相投才容易幸福，好工作也是一样如此。笑容可以伪装，能力却不可以，有机乎滥竽充数还能为自己争取点补课的时间，没有的话出局就是迟早的事情；薪水可以Bargain, 但是永远不要忘记自己的底线，免得将来有机会为自己不值。
你在找工作，工作也在寻找着你，这本来就是你情我愿才会幸福的事。遗憾的是生存的压力总是能让人忘记前者，让每个人削尖了屁股去坐那把华丽的椅子，管他适不适合我。
你，屁股下的那把椅子是你的SIZE吗？

新近的热播美剧《Lie to Me》从纯粹的技术角度动态的分析了每个人说谎时候的表情、手势、动作等等。
男主角Lightman简直就是一台人肉测谎机器，只不过他的准确率可比机器高多了。能根据人的声调、表情、神态、细微动作，甚至是体表温度的变化识别出对方是否在说假话。
可是生活种的谎言有些时候险恶，有些时候善良，有些时候妙趣横生。有些时候我们虽然痛恨那些撒谎的人，但更多时候，我们喜欢和需要谎言。Lightman博士在第一集就说出了最精妙的一句话：真相和快乐，从来不可兼得。
你可以去选择你愿意相信的部分。。。

情绪和外部表现：
1，说话时一直把手放在裤兜里面或抵着大腿，表示很紧张。
2，性兴奋会使人的瞳孔放大。
3，害怕时会出现生理逃跑反应：血液从手臂回流到腿部，手部会先变冰凉。
4，嘴角向下瘪，是经典的犯错表情。
5，人说谎的时候会抹脖子。
6，下巴用力，是生气的表现。
7，说话很急，将物品放在胸前形成一种障碍：刻意与对话者保持距离，焦虑。
8，五官向面部中心聚拢，表示暗暗反感。
9，皱眉并且嘴唇紧闭伴随上翘，颈部以上有后移表示厌恶。
10，说话重复，声音上扬，很有可能在说谎。
11，当人的面部表情，两边及其不对称时有可能表现的感情不真实。
12，眉毛向下皱在一起，眼睑上扬，眼袋紧绷：说明进行有计划的行动，带有攻击倾向。
13，眼睛朝一个方向，而手指或其他肢体指向另外一个方向，说明在撒谎。
14，两手交叉握紧，食指对齐竖直紧贴着嘴唇，说明很矛盾该不该说。
15，鼻孔外翻，嘴唇紧闭，说明在生气。

Tips for identifying lies：
1，说话的时候，用手触摸眉骨位置，表示对说的内容感到羞愧。（克林顿说他与莱温斯基无染的时候，就是这个动作）
2，单边肩膀抖动，表示对自己说的话不自信。（记得下次要说似是而非的话，得先控制自己的肩膀）
3，身体和语言不一致，表示他在撒谎。（要现场揭示这一点很难。除非像电视剧那样，录下现场画面，回头再去掉声音重播。但说真的，效果非常明显。不信就去看看希拉里嘴里不断称赞奥巴马，却不住摇头的视屏吧）
4，惊奇、害怕的表情在脸上超过一秒，表示是假装的。（专家说这些都是微表情，在脸上停留的时间通常是1/5秒。）
5，如果对方对你的质问表示轻视，通常表明你的质问是真的。（这就是所谓的欲盖弥彰吧，怎么判断轻视呢，就是嘴角上扬加耸肩。）
6，如果对方对你撒谎，会有更多的眼神交流，来判断你是否相信他（她）的谎言。（如今诚心要对你撒谎的人不会再开怕与你四目相对了，大家的心里素质变得越来越好。）
7，对问题生硬的重复是典型的撒谎方式。（Eg: 你今天去过她家吗？我今天没去过她家。－－撒谎！！！）

每年这个时候，谷歌(Google)的愚人节游戏已成为一项传统，即使在中国也是这样。

去年，谷歌登出一则假广告，声称“谷歌人肉搜索招聘志 愿者”。今年，谷歌宣布将在中国推出一项与谷歌街景(Street View)概念相似的新服务“谷鸽鸟看”。谷歌称，这项新服务将“大幅提高谷歌地球(Google Earth)和谷歌地图(Google Maps)的图像分辨率”，同时推进中国蓬勃发展的“山寨”文化。

该服务将重点采集以下山寨信息：山寨明星、适合山寨恋人约会的时间地点、山寨发明创造和山寨流行语。

谷歌称，该计划的目标是：鸟看全球信息，使人人皆可山寨并从中受益。为此，他们培训了31,415,926只“谷鸽”，并将为它们配备四大高科技装备，其 中包括装有全球定位系统(GPS)的智能导航帽、装有分散式人工智慧体(CADIE，这是谷歌发布的另一项“假冒”技术)芯片的信息处理肚兜等。

任 何人想召唤谷鸽，都可“走到户外或楼顶超过20平方米的空地，用支持上网功能的手机打开谷歌移动版http://g.cn/，对着手机屏幕上出现的麦克风 图标，使用鸽子的方法，“咕──咕──咕──”大叫三声，谷鸽会在20分钟内出现（除非出现技术故障或鸽子正处于昏睡状态）。

为避免引发隐私纠纷，如果你不想被谷鸽打扰，可以从网上下载“谷鸽别烦我”的折纸挂件图样自行制作，一旦看到谷鸽，就在窗前高高挥舞折纸示意即可。

谷歌称，为庆祝“谷鸽鸟看”项目正式发布，公司的中文博客“谷歌黑板报”从即日起更名为“谷鸽山寨日报”。

Cooper是一只刚满三岁的美国短毛猫，住在西雅图，每周，他都会背上一台小数码相机在西雅图这个大城市里探险，虽说是探险，其实最远也不会超过离家800米的公园，更多时间是在邻居家的草丛里寻找各种好玩的东西，并把这些好玩的东西拍下来。

有时，Cooper也会遇到同样出来散步的猫儿，不过，由于他是这个城市里唯一一只拥有一台相机的猫，面对同类就很有点神气了，轻易不会将镜头对准另一只猫──拍花花草草还来不及，哪顾得上给别人拍肖像呐。

Cooper的主人是一对开画廊的小夫妻，相机自然也是主人为Cooper特别制作的，当他戴上相机后，每2分钟会自动拍下一张照片，他的第一份作品就是拍了张两位主人拥抱的照片，你看，他还挺会拍马屁的吧？

随着时间推移，Cooper的摄影水平更是突飞猛进，连报社和电视台的记者们都被Cooper的作品打动了，从去年开始不断刊登Cooper的经历，在积累了足够多作品后，主人们决定给他开一个隆重的个猫影展，他最棒的作品也被挂到网上出售。




你也可以在Cooper的Flickr相册上看到更多有趣的照片

JANUARY
The Czech Republic assumes the presidency of the European Union, and Linz in Austria and Vilnius in Lithuania become European “Capitals of Culture”.
America welcomes its 44th president to the White House.
The Swiss resort of Davos hosts the great and good from politics, business and the media to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
Star-gazers welcome the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei.
Chinese around the world begin the Year of the Ox, supposedly enduring hardship without complaint and achieving prosperity through patience and hard work.

FEBRUARY
Praying for good snow, the world’s best skiers compete at the Alpine World Ski Championships at Val d’Isère in France.
Iran celebrates the Ten-Day Dawn, marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
Lovers around the world celebrate St Valentine’s day, a week before the lovers of Rio de Janeiro revel in its annual carnival.
Hollywood hands out its annual Oscars, for the 81st time, to the film world’s best—a day after the award of
Golden Raspberries, or Razzies, to the film world’s worst.

MARCH
Fashionistas gather for the Paris Fashion Week, ogling the ready-to-wear designs women will want for the coming autumn and winter.
Barbie, the world’s most popular doll, turns 50, but looks as young as ever.
Battling against the Anglophone tide, the world’s 200m French-speakers celebrate the international day of la francophonie.
China’s National People’s Congress holds its annual plenary session. Voters in Congo-Brazzaville elect a president.
Masochistic runners attempt Morocco’s Marathon des Sables, a race which covers 151 miles (243km) of the Sahara desert and takes six days.

APRIL
Tricksters across the world delight in April Fool’s Day.
Beirut becomes the ninth World Book Capital, chosen by UNESCO for “its focus on cultural diversity, dialogue and tolerance”.
South Africa holds both parliamentary and presidential elections around now.
Peace-seeking scientists, scholars and public figures gather in The Hague for the annual Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, aimed at reducing the risk of armed conflict.

MAY
Russia hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, normally marked by camp performances and politically biased voting.
Deadline for India, the world’s most populous democracy, to hold a general election to the People’s Assembly.
Star Trek XI is released, delighting the film saga’s fans as it delves into the early days of the Star Trek crew.
Rome hosts the final of the UEFA Champions League, pitting Europe’s best football teams against one another.

JUNE
Voters in the 27-nation European Union elect a new European Parliament to a five-year term. Few citizens will afterwards know the name of their MEP.
Those who prefer life without clothes are invited to celebrate World Naturist Day.
The art world gathers in Italy for the Venice Biennale, held every two years to exhibit contemporary art.
Roger Federer tries, again, and despite Rafael Nadal, to win the French Open, the only tennis grand-slam title to have escaped him.
The deadline passes for all EU states to include biometric data in their passports.

JULY
Sweden takes its turn as president of the European Union.
Horse-riders race around the main square of Siena, Italy; bulls run through the streets of Pamplona, Spain; and cyclists gather in Monaco for the Tour de France.
Indonesia begins its presidential election.
Finland hosts the Wife-Carrying World Championships. The winner gets his wife’s weight in beer.
Arts performers of all kinds gather in France for the annual Avignon Festival and in Lebanon for the Baalbeck International Festival

AUGUST
Montreal hosts the World Science Fiction Convention, where an author’s fantasy can lead to a Hugo Award.
Forbes magazine releases its list of the world’s most powerful women (the 2008 list was headed by Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel; America’s Condoleezza Rice was seventh).
In contrast to America, much of Europe takes a month-long holiday.

SEPTEMBER
NASA launches the Mars Science Laboratory rover, a robot vehicle with an estimated arrival date on Mars of July-September 2010. Meanwhile, NASA’s Messenger spacecraft flies by Mercury.
The UN General Assembly meets in New York.
The bling-bearing pop-music world gathers in Los Angeles for the annual MTV Video Music Awards.

OCTOBER
The IMF and World Bank meet in Istanbul, to discuss the economic woes of the world.
The International Olympic Committee announces the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics, choosing from Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Tunisia holds a presidential election as Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, head of state since 1987, ends his latest five-year term. Uruguay holds presidential and legislative elections.
Astérix, the heroic Gaul of the French comic-book genre, turns 50, having been translated into more than 100 different languages and dialects.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences chooses a galaxy of Nobel laureates, from economics to literature, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the peace prize.

NOVEMBER
Singapore hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, a gathering of 21 Pacific-rim nations, from America to Brunei.
The Pew Research Centre releases its poll on America’s place in the world. In the previous poll, in 2005, some 42% of Americans thought the country should “mind its own business internationally”.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will open the two-yearly summit, this time in Trinidad and Tobago, of some 53 Commonwealth heads of state and government. They may discuss a bid for membership by Rwanda, formerly a Belgian colony.
Word-lovers compete in the World Scrabble Championships, held every two years.
The UN Climate Change Conference opens in Copenhagen, with delegates striving to reach a new agreement on cutting greenhouse gases beyond the expiry in 2012 of the Kyoto protocol.

DECEMBER
Chile holds presidential and parliamentary elections, as does Mozambique, and Iraq elects a new Council of Representatives.
The Finnish-made Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship ever built, at a cost of .2 billion, and with some 5,400 passengers, undertakes its maiden voyage.
At the end of the month, the third deadline set to accommodate protests from America and other exponents of non-metric measures, the European Union bans all imports that are not labelled with metric measurements.