Four bucketsful of water—one for each cell—seven for the long passage, two for lavatory and w.c.'s, brasses to clean, paint to dust. It seemed a Sisyphean task, no sooner ended than a new one was exacted.

It is totally counter-intuitive. How do these ubernerds get the cute girls? Is it the ultimate triumph of the Bill Gates era, in which geek is the new cool?

The techniques of contemporary wushu are indeed those which at one time were used for self-defense, but the basis and development of wushu are different from kung fu.

His outward appearance was calm, but inside he was very taut.