And They Did Nothing - 20101221

Europe is under fierce attack of snowstorm. Heathrow, most notably, have many of the flights indefinitely delayed. The airport is virtually taken to a halt.

Again, we heard the usual comment in the media. Travellers trapped in Heathrow, many of them students, were dismayed at the minimal assistance rendered by the authority. Some targeted at the lack of accommodation, others complained for the taxi rip-off. Nevertheless, everybody commented that the authority "has virtually done nothing", synchronously.

HKSAR government said they would arrange for charter flights to UK, if necessary. So, our government is better than their colonial predecessor, as they at least did something, right?

Well, under such a natural disaster, what could human beings do? Besides saying foolish stuff, one could still pursue their own choices, though limited, I presume. The rich guy could take taxi back to downtown, and the ordinary people could quietly squatting in the airport for a while, waiting for their belated planes. Nobody could wipe off the snowstorm, even the almighty communists.

By the way, HKSAR government is just paying lip service. The existing problem is that planes could neither take off nor land, the availability of plane is never an issue.

民意取向 - 20101216

政府堅持申辦亞運，預算支出由最初的四百億，曾降至最低六十億。昨日，官員放風，如把通脹計算在內，支出可能回升到八十億。

兒戲顯而易見。如果這一組數字也配叫「預算」，那「鳩嗡」應該也是「預算」的一種了。

撇除政府的混帳不談，在撥備的議論中，民建聯再一次準備轉軚。起初，該黨堅決地反對香港申亞，立場鮮明。至昨日，黨主席卻又說，投票時會留意「民意取向」。真箇可圈可點也。

甚麼是「民意取向」？要認真研究，當然無從稽考。「民」是「人民」定「選民」？如是後者，那「非選民」的取向是否可以略過？功利地，只看「選民」，相信其「取向」亦相當難觸摸。信港大的民意調查，還是紫荊的？結果可以很不同。

其實，人人都知，民建聯從來只看一種取向，「爺意取向」是也。而甚麼鬼「民意取向」，也只是轉軚的委婉語。

Slipper - 20101214

So finally, I bought a pair of slippers yesterday.

Usually, I wear flip-flops at home. It is convenient and comfortable enough for daily use. My flip-flops are from "Sea Horse", a local brand with some history, at least 20 years of age. I first got impression of it when I was five or six, my aunt wore it. Blue velvet-like strap, beige upper leather sole with sea horse logo, together with blue rubber sole, the flip-flops could easily be recognized. It is always light, flexible and durable. Mine have been worn for many years.

However, there is one big flaw. While toying with flip-flops, all the toes would be exposed in the air. Normally, it is not an issue. But, when the temperature is freezing, toes are frozen like ice cubes, which never are pleasant things under the chill.

Threatened by weather forecast, I determined to get the slippers in Jordan. The shop name "先達", was established in 1958. With that many years of experience, I trust its quality. Made by cow leather, the dark brown slippers are nicely crafted. Tried yesterday night, the body of it was a bit stiff. The genuine leather could avoid pungent smell which fake leather usually gives. Simply speaking, I like it.

Hopefully, I could get rid of the torment of chilly toes.

維基解密 - 20101208

維基解密創辦人阿桑奇終於在英國自首了。

連日來，大家對這澳洲人的一舉一動都非常緊張。最期待是，今天又有甚麼料爆呢？

各國政府好像都非常不滿他。又泄漏國家機密，又破壞國家安全。霎時間，全世界，包括美國，都好像中國上身似的。話說回頭，究竟維基解密到現在泄了些甚麼密呢？好像都是花邊新聞居多，如奧巴馬點評卡梅倫是輕量級般的無聊事。

不過，阿桑奇好像預告好戲在後頭呢。他選擇在英國自首，是非常明智之舉。有甚麼地方的法律比英國更長、更有公信力？應該沒有。另外，他會否尋求政治庇護呢？

阿桑奇的經歷，包括電腦駭客、瑞典、一夕風流，活脫脫是《千禧三部曲》的真人版。

至於甚麼才是公義，則有排拗了。

Serbia - 20101206

Serbia won the Davis Cup. Trailing at 1-2, Djokovic and Troicki nailed down consecutive single victories for Serbia and at the end of the day, they got the better of France.

After crowned, by keeping their promise, all the Serb players shaved their heads on court. The pictures were bemusing.

Checked the web, France swept Spain at 5-0 in the quarter-final. The scoreline was stunning since, normally speaking, Spain is the strongest tennis kingdom. They have Nadal, Verdasco, Ferrer etc. No other country could have a comparable squad.

So, although the Frenchmen have defeated the strongest competitors, they could not have the last laugh. The Serbs must be thankful for the French service.

It may not be easy for Serbia to repeat the feat next year. To concentrate on his own business, I suspect that Djokovic would spend less time for his country.

回塘 - 20101203

2018年及2022年世界杯的主辦權揭曉了，分別由俄羅斯及卡塔爾奪得。選前熱門，英美兩國，則相相落第。對此，兩國反應，失望之情洋溢面上，只能用「回塘」形容。

英國落選2018年世界杯主辦國，人們估計是因為BBC日前爆料，指國際足協代表貪污。因此，國際足協可能因此報復，使英國只能慘淡地得到兩票支持，在首輪投票後已被踢出局。

有英國代表團成員直指BBC此舉「不愛國」；也有人指，爆料時機太差，影響選情。乍聽之下，似曾相識，和我國指責挪威頒和平獎給劉曉波無啥分別。英國人的陰沉、幽默、機智，去了哪裏？還有，連第四權也敢鬧？還有，國際足協是否貪污已經沒人理會了。

至於美國，奧巴馬在落選2022年世界杯後直指結果是「錯誤的決定」。意思顯而易見，捨「美」其誰？國際足協，竟敢選出此等蕞爾小國？因此，總統先生連官式恭賀卡塔爾的說話，都省卻了。

現今的政治家，是否都已經不須隱藏情感，可隨意地自說自話？

Millennium Trilogy: Part 3 - 20101202

This one is real gripping, and the ending is satisfying.

Actually, the elements that construct the story are never groundbreaking. Politics, crimes and the court proceeding. Nevertheless, the presentation matters. Everybody who is realistic enough would trust that "the section of Sapo" exists, more or less, in any country. I suspect that any serving government, if faces the predicament as the one depicted in the fiction, would do the same thing as the story suggests. Keep an arm length to stink and feign pure.

The court proceeding on Lisbeth's case is fascinating. The contrast between Annika's silence in most of the time and her eloquence while cross examining Teleborian is so steep. The change in atmosphere is great. Also, Larsson's light-hearted play around assertion and question is bemusing. It just seems like an assignment during the tutorial of Evidence.

Eventually, all the problems solved. All the evils ought to die, die.

大結局 - 20101129

星期日的晚上，是但台接連播出兩套電視劇的結局。

平日都沒有看這兩劇。那套處境劇在八時放映，我多數都在跑步。昨晚，碰巧吃晚飯，看了大半。劇情淡出鳥來，還在搞甚麼風水屋旺生仔的爛橋段。正常香港人都不生了，有啥寫實？如要暗諷四叔新袍，也太無聊了。

那個交棒儀式更令人搖頭。舊劇演員把鑼棒交到新劇主角手中，搞響銅鑼。其實，可否用腦想想其他方案？

至於另一套以抗日(？)為題的劇集，平日我們也沒有看。媽說不想看日軍殘殺中國同胞。在那時段，我對家裏看甚麼也沒所謂，都一樣吧。雖然此劇的男女主角都是真正演員，更是上年的最受歡迎主角；但是，聞說師奶們今年都希望「公主嫁到」的一對得獎，好搞笑喎。

說回抗日劇，我只看了埋尾廿分鐘，其餘時間都在看小說。報載此劇本非常利害，個個演員讚不絕口。可惜，廿分鐘的結尾，我看不到它和其他同台劇集有何分別。一般煽情。而且，除了登報，尋人也有很多其他方法吧？

Millennium Trilogy: Part 2 - 20101126

I've killed the book in several days.

A page-turner? Definitely.

The story was brilliantly arranged. Like the event of "All the Evil", and the identity of "Zala", the aura of mystery has been created so successfully that one just can't help flipping pages to get the answer. Though "All the Evil" would still cast a big question mark after the last page has been turned. Besides, things developed logically. I love the timing Larsson told those important events. Like Zala's relationship with Salander, which has been smartly concealed until the very end, is not a normal narrative. Nevertheless, the flow of the story has not been affected.

Flaw in it? Must be.

I don't quite understand the value of the first hundred pages, on Salander's encounter in Grenada. The murder, as well as the casual relationship, has not a pence of linkage to the story in Sweden. It should either be cut off, or put together in short story series of Salander, if it is to exist.

As quoted in the back page, someone said the ending was jaw-dropping. When there was still 50 pages left, I was quite curious how the ending would go, because the climate has just been looming. I wonder if any abrupt stuff would happen. The truth is, the story could only be ended in Book 3. Shit, but truly jaw-dropping.

So, at this stage, book 3 is a must.

電子動態版清明上河圖 - 20101124

星期日，因緣際會，到亞洲博覽館看電子動態版的清明上河圖，好一個繞口的名字。

如股票，因為有「世博概念」，此圖的門卷也熱炒起來。香港人，湊熱鬧嘛。又平，當見識下囉 . . . . . . 儘管入場費只區區十元，奈何因排隊而損耗的「機會成本」，卻無從稽考了。

下午三時入場，四時便要離開。人頭湧湧。入場館前，需打一圈小蛇餅。逢數十人過，便作攔截。一個個小單位，如方陣般，徐徐移動。有些師奶，硬是要碰碰撞撞，搶在隊頭，也是無可奈何。幸好，不一會，便入到會場。

千萬黑點在昏暗中搖曳。有的早有準備，如說書人般，向身旁女伴喋喋不休，煩到火起；更多的天真觀眾，一心只是搜索虹橋上的小孩肥豬，找到了，足可樂透半天；最普遍的，是舉起手中相機，拍過不停。駱駝啦、馬啦、牛啦、船啦 . . . . . . 鉅細無遺。

其實，我對創作出來的東西，如汴京城夜景、如小孩肥豬，都不反感。始終這圖的本質是「電玩」罷了，不須道學。不知遲些，會否有動畫版的清明上河圖呢？到時更過癮吧。

Confessions - 20101122

Before the film is getting off the shelf, I managed to watch it last Friday.

The cinema itself is worthy of a remark. Owing to the scarcity of option for timeslot, Chinachem in TST East is virtually the only choice. There are totally three cinema houses, Confessions was showed in House 3. Equipped with around 30 seats, the screen is ridiculously, outrageously tiny. I suspect that some of the home theatres could project larger movies than that. Anyway, I am too old to be rebellious on such a small issue. And to weight the balance,I found the seat reasonably comfortable, at least.

The film itself was very entertaining. The theme was on revenge. A teacher's daughter was murdered by two of her own students who were under the age of 14. Legally speaking, those kids are incapable of murder and thus no real legal punishment could be casted upon them. The teacher, by arranging a series of event, seemed to have punish the two murderers successfully. By interweaving monologues, or confessions, from different characters, the perceived events and consequences twisted rather dramatically.

Japanese have the gut to tell the truth. They constantly produced works which reveal the dark side of human beings. The Queen's Classroom is an outstanding example. Confessions pushes the stuff even nearer to the limit. Human beings are just one of the animals. Morality is one of the tools to control our animal traits. However, it may not be equally efficient among all of us.

It is arguable, in the legal perspective, juveniles lack mens rea to commit crime. Children are precocious nowadays. The murder of James Bulger by two 10-year-old boys in UK sets up a strong counter-argument.

Never underestimate the evil of children.

奴才的頂撞 - 20101119

今天讀了兩篇佳品，分別是陶傑的專欄及練乙錚的文章。將之並排看，更令人會心微笑。

陶傑稱，中國的中產階級是奴才，要忍氣。縱是如此，還有大把人爭著做；練乙錚的文章，分兩天刊出。主要是論述左派對趙連海冤獄的反響、或勸諫，程度有高有低。

我國「中產階級是奴才」 - - - 高論也。要認識奴才的心理活動，練乙錚有活潑描述。比較葉國謙、田北辰及梁振英就趙連海冤獄的反應，就如照妖鏡般，看得一清二楚。

奴才之為奴才，大前提是為了保著中產位置。他們清楚知道，平日的大老板是中共，奴才們都是一派阿諛奉承，狐假虎威。老板的想法，就是皇法；自己的想法，不須表達。

有時，小老板的心，也要兼顧。例如選舉。沒有小老板今天的支持，奴才以後如何狐假虎威？此時，小老板所想，就是奴才所想。如趙連海冤獄。以香港「範式」看，火滾理所當然。奴才既要攫取小老板歡心，又要避免觸怒大老板，當要取得平衡。

因應情況，葉國謙的「希望」、田北辰的「懇求」及梁振英的「滑頭」，便應運而生了。

Millennium Trilogy: Part 1 - 20101117

So, I borrowed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo from CityU in early November, and finished it off in a week.

The book is, without any doubt, exciting. Also, Stieg Larsson has mixed up the traditional and modern elements so well that a crime thriller should possess.

The protagonists have been intelligently designed. Mikael Blomkvist, a left wing journalist, is the incarnation of virtue, though sometime timid and fragile. Lisbeth Salander, an anarchistic hacker, has special talents but with flawed attributes. They are heroes, humanly ones.

All the characters are casual to sex, some are perverted. The scenes of Salander being raped by Bjurman are particularly breathtaking. However, I rather doubt that whether a woman, like Erika, could be peacefully shared between two men in reality. Unless there is only lust but love.

Overall, the plot has been logically and detailedly crafted. The labyrinth of the expanding list of victims, ended in the survival of the presumed death, is somehow fascinating.

That costed me a hundred bucks for Parts 2 & 3.

道風山 - 20101116

因為出席婚禮，上星期日到沙田道風山一遊。

由銅鑼灣山口入，路經豪宅三兩。過盡庸俗樓房，轉入道風山單程路。蜿蜒曲折，林蔭處處，是短線行山的好地方。不一會，便到達教堂。

婚禮舉行之處，全名為「信義宗神學院」。四週環境清幽，不在話下。建築物是中西合壁：青磚瓦頂，配白色牆身，應是教會為尊重各地風俗而建的混合體。池塘與水池禪味十足，霎眼還以為進了優雅的佛堂。教堂對出有空地，非常開揚。下覽沙田全景，上接開闊天空，天人合一，不過如此。

翻查網頁，神學院提供不同程度的神學課程，由學士到博士，一應俱全。神學，不是大學的水泡科嗎？有志者能在如斯環境靈修，當是福份；無緣者如我等能偶到此地，稍稍洗滌，也是好事。

最奇怪，是找不到那碩大的十字架。

Recognition - 20101111

It is quite a common practice for large organizations to implement some kinds of "staff recognition scheme". The scheme is like this: a staff member could nominate another colleague who is good, kind enough etc for praise. Any reason suffices.

Superficially, the scheme is of good intention. Everybody is busy. Nobody would suddenly be grateful to others. The scheme seems to provide a channel, or act as a remainder, for us to say thank you to deserved ones.

However, it doesn't work. Human beings are both lazy and selfish. Even they have spare time in office, it would be exhausted by chatting and web-surfing. Completing a recognition form for others benefit is anti-Darwinism.

Plus it leads to rigging or bribe, depending on the approach is top-down or vice versa. If management would like to glorify somebody's profile, that somebody is prone to get exposure in this kind of situation. On the other hand, if the colleague yearns for something, and the scheme could help out, spectators' forms would be bought in.

So, please say thank you in the act when you want to.

期望 - 20101110

昨天，太陽報頭版以「萬性節」為標頭，刊登了疑似港大、理大及城大學生的「淫照」。

港大那幾張，只是一對男女在陸佑堂外接吻。兩人衣履完備，只是男的疑似摸女的胸脯，女的疑似托好胸罩罷了。理大呢？舉舉中指，和把女子的頭扮按在男的跨間罷了。城大又如何？照片所見，兩男生像是在拔恥毛罷了。

都是小兒科得不得了的東西，唯有本地報紙會將之放在頭版。

最可笑是張文光議員，可能一見記者訪問便亢奮，說甚麼「大學生做出『過激』親熱行為有礙觀瞻，希望大學生為自己行為負責」。這老傢伙，日日關德興上身似的。但是，博見報前，也請先動動腦筋。

一：如何證明照片中的是涉校學生呢？大學從來是自出自入的。查了學生證否？
二：何謂「過激」親熱行為？問關德興，可能掂下手仔也是「過激」的。
三：何謂有礙觀瞻？問關德興，搭膊頭都有礙觀瞻啦。
四：有何責任要負？刑責？？？如否，是否說來多餘？

我對大學生沒甚麼崇高期望。反而議員，至少也應擁有常識。

算吧，張議員是工能組別的產物，和黃中指及廿蚊張是同類。

In the Gutter - 20101109

In his latest article on Apple Daily, Mr T L Tsim quoted one of Oscar Wilde's maxims, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars".

The image is romantic. Particularly at the time of Wilde, pace was slower, sky was darker, and the stars were more shiny.

Today, in Hong Kong, however, we have to search for stars. The contamination of light is so serious. Sky scrapers that are full of bright spots, laser light that fills the Victoria harbour, and homes that are occupied with late sleepers. Hong Kong is a city never sleeps. The night here is so luminous that makes stars dull.

And the gutter here is overcrowded. With more and more mainlanders move in, buying either milk powder, i Pad or luxury apartment, the gutter is not only packed, but also filthy, stinky and noisy. Under such circumstance, not many people would still dare to look up the sky, in case we would smell others breathe.

And stars. Where are the stars? We are used to treating everything that glitters as nothing but gold.

百物騰貴 - 20101108

為飲宴張羅一件恤衫，慨嘆百物騰貴。

只想買一件普通白恤衫，再加少許細節，例如有些黑線，或加些領花，僅此而矣。去過百利，一件起碼三、四百元，質地奇差，手工別提，還要充滿MK味。到Giordano的Concept One走一轉，嘩，嚇死，還以為到了甚麼名店呢，五、六百元才有交易。本想放棄，隨便找一件舊恤衫便算。昨天，無心插柳到G2000看看，反而完成任務。但是，也要放低二百多元。

也不知道多少年沒有走進G2000了。偏見是此店都是老套廉價東西。再者，也沒有多少穿suit的機會。直至昨天，才知道它改變不少。設計是改進了。而且，縱是沒有減價，逛店的人也不少，大陸人可能佔一半。進更衣室，臭狐味彌漫，中人欲嘔，難為了長駐於此的售貨員，他們應獲逆境工作津貼。也可能因此，和早幾年比，價格也提高了不少呢。

再想想，生活上很多東西都賣貴了。樓是永遠的黃腫腳。食呢？我喜愛的黃興記豬手撈麵，一年內已加價兩次，由廿八蚊加到三十，再到近期的三十二蚊。地鐵、隧道費樣樣加。衣食住行，無一幸免。

不加的，看來只有人工，頂。

Bitterness - 20101104

During today's lunch, one of my colleagues muttered at the bitterness of her coffee. She has already added a bag of sugar in her drink. I opted for the same stuff, sugar free as usual, and enjoyed it alone.

When did I savour the taste of bitterness? The answer could never be told. I guess I was quite used to this unpleasant taste, even in my young age. To quench coughing, bitter Chinese herbal soup was my routine recipe. However, the assimilation of bitterness only started in recent years. The most obvious reason is the recede of sharpness of my aging tongue. Now, I would comfortably quote black coffee and balsam pear as two of my favorite food.

It seems paradoxical for ones to like negative things. Whilst things could be described, like pain, sadness, or the aforesaid bitterness, the "negative" feeling tagged to those things is just generalization or stereotype. Like sadness, the attribute of negativity is easily understandable. Nevertheless, isn't it quite enjoyable to relief oneself through crying in the sadness? Catharsis is omitted.

The Chinese proverb "one who could swallow the bitter of bitterness is the best of the best" could never be testified. However, under the overwhelming tide of sweeties, bitterness is needed to resist the cajolement.

大家樂 - 20101103

近來，大家樂成為眾矢之的。先有「無聲無色」的加價，後有「加人工卻扣飯鐘」之舉。有人因而搞罷吃日。

其實，只要客觀一點點，便知道針道大家樂之無理。

先想一想，有那家店加價會大鑼大鼓的宣傳呢？應該沒有。那麼，大家樂的「無聲無色」，也屬正常不過之舉，何堪吵鬧？市場競爭激烈，亂加價只會趕客。大家樂是上市公司，為向股東交代，管理層萬大事要以公司利益為先，當會珍惜羽毛。

至於「加人工卻扣飯鐘」之非議，亦屬無謂。政府表明，所謂扣飯鐘之舉，並無違法。另外，據大家樂發言人稱，扣飯鐘是行規。即是說，以前給飯鐘錢是bonus。如此吵鬧，是否要迫所有公司不用給「額外」福利員工，否則，他日收回成命，便受批鬥？何況，在「加人工卻扣飯鐘」之後，員工收入，有升有跌，並非全蝕。

政治叫人厭惡在此。如無「最低工資」之壯舉，便無今天聲討大家樂之景象。再者，如果因為罷吃大家樂而改吃大快活、麥當奴等連鎖快餐店，更是無邏輯。因為，他們是一丘之貉。

Reading - 20101102

While travelling by Metro in Taipei, it was discovered that poem(s) and prose(s) were posted, officially, inside train compartment.

People in Taiwan seem to like reading a lot. Those round-the-clocking operating Eslite bookstores prove Taiwanese voracious appetite on books. The Metro's articles are just other pieces of evidence on it.

Hong Kong has always been advocating the tide of reading. However, except the annually-attendance-record-breaking book fair, is there any other trait of book lovers in HKSAR? I am afraid I could not find a bit. While there is free time, at the moment, we just love to fondle our i phones. By either downloading numerous useless apps, or repeating repetitive motions on stupid games, our leisure is filled.

What if MTR does the same thing as Metro Taipei? It would still be quite hopeless, I must say. Sleeping, i phones, or even Cable broadcasting are way too attractive than those tiring literature stuff.

台北行 - 20101101

十月廿二日至廿五日，到台北小歇四天。起初擔心颱風鮎魚直撲，影響行程。猶幸有驚無險，旅途平安愉快。

* * *

十月廿二日(星期五)

乘長榮客機準時於早上十一時許到埗。搭飛狗巴士，由桃園機場去捷運中山站附近，到知名的肥前屋吃一碗鰻魚飯。沿途一片寧靜，一般食店客人疏落。兜兜轉轉，肥前屋終於活現橫巷內。店子古樸，人聲鼎沸。點了鰻魚飯及天婦羅各一客。和香港的冰冷死實鰻魚相比，差天共地。現烤活鰻熱辣軟熟，滋味一流。

飯後，到酒店check-in。是次下榻八方美學，算是間hip hotel。地點方便，步行到捷運站只須五分鐘。房間裝潢簡潔，早餐也不俗，絕對是好選擇。小休，到敦化南路走走。先到明曜百貨，為晚上的自助餐訂座。沿電梯下樓，百貨店無甚看頭。

不過，到敦化南路漫遊，卻是喜出望外。街道井然有序，地舖店子各有個性，就是下著毛毛雨，步行也是趣味盎然。

散步畢，回到明曜百貨吃自助餐，店子曰嚮食天堂。魚生非常新鮮，其他食物選擇極多，價錢只及香港的下午茶自助餐，抵也。

十月廿三日(星期六)

早上乘台鐵到瑞芳，遊玩平溪支線。對慣坐港鐵的我們而言，平溪小火車風味絕佳。單軌行車，路軌穿插民居。穿著整齊的鐵道員於途中查票。有些疑似居民的老婆婆坐在左右。

到過菁桐，閒逛平溪，再蹓躂十分。其實，這些車站都非常「遊客區」，尤其十分。遊人走到路軌上拍照，不能免俗。賣天燈的店如雨後春筍，散落十分站兩旁。吊橋商業味濃。不過，撇開這些吹毛求疵，平溪線是個一天遊的好地方。

在平溪線上，吃過油炸秀珍菇、炭火烤的大腸包小腸及古早味粿，都美味。

回到瑞芳，已是四時許。胡亂選一店吃牛肉麵當遲來午餐。味道實在而不花巧，比永康街的好。

稍息，乘台鐵到基隆。和台北相比，基隆落伍多了。似舊澳門，一出車站便是港口，週邊建築殘舊，味道濃厚。遊基隆的主旨是到廟口夜市。距離火車站約十五分鐘步程，未入其門，已見迫滿遊人。進去，食店分左右兩列整齊地排開。食物各異其趣。左衝右突，吃了一杯土耳其雪糕，煙韌有緻。再到舒國治介紹的十九號店吃魯肉飯。此店異常文靜，店東夫婦默默工作，和隔壁猛拉客的店相比，相映成趣。因為太飽，只吃了魯肉飯及高麗菜，此倆物一濃一淡，實是絕配。

搭台鐵回台北，遊師大夜市。此夜市人更多，九成是年青人。賣衣服的店比賣食物的多太多了。雖則人多，也不是太吵鬧，街道也一貫地清潔。

臨回酒店，吃了Mos Burger。台北的Mos Burger似很受落，廿四小時營業的比比皆是。

十月廿四日(星期日)

早上乘捷運到淡水一遊。淡水就如長洲，本土的遊人頗多。也因為太像長洲，逗留一會已足。

之後，到永康街散步。和敦化南路一樣，永康街也是品味的台北。不過，和一年前比，疑似豪宅零星的、突兀的長了出來，有點美中不足。吃鼎泰豐作午餐，當然美味。不過，香港其實也有很多可堪媲美的店，如金滿庭。

吃飽了，繼續在永康街一帶散步。街上的店子各具個性，和香港千篇一律的商場，分別大多了。就連Birkenstock，也是很型棍的。店外設有金魚池，店裏木具處處，略帶禪意。行到一住宅，頗為搞笑，不知曰「師大禮居」，還是「居禮大師」？後上網查證，應屬前者。

晚上逛西門町。到所謂的潮流集中地 - - - 萬年商業大樓，名牌手袋、波鞋，疑真似假；玩具嘛，毫無興趣。旋即下樓。買了老天祿鹵味和手卷當晚餐，都可口。

十月廿五日(星期一)

因為艋舺，早上到龍山寺。城市如人，應立體多面。如台北，美好一面當是敦化南路、永康街；而陰暗面，龍山寺也可算其一。我們早上十一時到達，在街上見到的中年流鶯，起碼十、八。有些街道，尿燥味濃烈。這裏根本是廟街的deja vu。

想去天母，巴士找來找去也找不到，惟有再去敦化南路，為了度小月。上年一吃，已驚為天人；今次重溫，沒有走味。擔仔麵是吃了兩碗才能止癢，那湯既濃且鮮，想起也流口水。其他炸物如花姿丸、蚵仔，皆乾身味美。

亂逛一會，到誠品稍息。非書類的東西如衫如袋，都不落俗套，但價錢頗貴。霎眼看到一電腦櫈，坐位由厚厚的木頭製，支架鐵造，配滑輪，形態有點樸拙，非常漂亮。在星期一的三時許，看書人也不少，有此客路，怪不得誠品已成台灣icon。臨走看見一堆蔣友柏大頭封面的書，恨得咬牙切齒。

離開，忽然下起雨來。到不知名咖啡店歇腳。後買芭樂與鳳梨酥作手信。

乘飛狗返機場。航程稍延，肚子餓得連飛機餐也極速嚥下了。

* * *

台北真好。吃的多樣，逛的舒適。既有文化氣息，亦不千篇一律。如果有人送我一間永康街的apartment，我也想移居於斯。

叛將 - 20101020

傳了一會，肥仔朗尼要求離隊，費蛇昨日終證實此事。

肥仔去年為紅魔鬼射入了很多波，漸變成新icon。此前，他常對曼聯作愛的宣言，說要踢到掛靴云云。但是，霎眼間，卻又要求轉會了。轉軚比女人還快。

肥仔從來不是我喜歡的球員。雖則異常勤力，上前墜後不惜氣力；奈何技術絕非頂級，看他上腳、傳球，粗枝大葉。不過，愛看英超球迷，多被速度蒙蔽，無暇欣賞技術。肥仔是球味有餘，球技不足。

可是，我也未曾預計肥仔會要求離隊。看他待在奧脫福的日子，除卻近日，絕對是集萬千寵愛於一身。費蛇愛護，球迷愛戴，理應無甚不快。只是近日再受召妓新聞困擾。不過，肥仔愛妓，不理好醜老嫩，人盡皆知。照理無甚大不了。所以，他要求離隊，的確詭異。也只能嘆，肥仔演技著實不賴。

由是之故，傑斯、加利佬與史高斯，更見可愛。

The Chilean Miners - 20101012

Marcelo Rios and Fernando Gonzalez, tennis players. Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas, football players. Moais in the Easter Island. So that's all of my knowledge of Chile, until the Chile mine disaster.

After an "imprisonment" of 69 days, all the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile were saved.

Normal Hong Kongers, like me, cannot help comparing this joyful result with the common ones occurred in China, which were destined to be tragedy. We are so numb as well as used to the casualties from Mainland's mining accidents. Chile's marvellous salvation is out of our thought.

The image of Chile is highly boosted. Through the 33 miners, we could see the quality of Chileans. Leadership, the word that we often hear but rarely see, has been demonstrated in the event. Luis Urzua, the leader of miners, deserved two thumbs up. Through his impartial and strict arrangement of food, nobody has been died under starvation. In addition, being the leader, Mr Urzua opted to be the final one to be saved. This is particularly impressive, as we see so many leaders jumped boats at once during hard times.

Co-operation has also been reflected. The 33 miners, understand that Hollywood would approach them for the story, agreed to keep in silence individually, and sell the story collectively. "The Prisoner's Dilemma" is up there, and they have voted for the optimal outcome, by resisting the seduction of getting much more benefit through betrayal. I really hope that no one would break this brotherhood later.

私情狂 - 20101011

上星期六，為打發一點時間，倉促間，獨個兒選看了《私情狂》。

女主角是Tilda Swindon。高挑、蒼白、冷峻。快五十歲了，還是如斯有型，實在厲害。劍橋畢業，蘇格蘭人，在電影中說意大利文，這才是star。還有幾近露三點的sex scene，環顧全球，誰有此能耐？就是眾人偶像梅麗史翠普看了，也得俯首稱臣。

電影主題並不新鮮，直如Lady Chatterlay's Lover的翻版。不過，角色稍變，換轉了中年闊太和年輕廚師的愛慾。由廚房的噴射火鎗，到一口一口啖鮮蝦，以及疑似北非皮膚黝黑鬍鬚勁多的男角，性聯想顯而易見。

意大利風情洋溢戲內。大屋裏的鏡頭調動簡潔安靜，Sanremo戶外拍攝猶如彩色版的《甜美生活》，豐富多變的配樂適當地為電影吊起味道，導演Luca Guadagnino的功夫不容忽視。

這一趟，時間打發得很妥當。

Marriage - 20101006

So, as generally predicted, the High Court case of transsexual marriage was turned down. W could not be a legal bride, though "she" has obtained the female status in her HKID card.

Opponents of the court ruling argued that the judge has been too conservative, and has omitted the changing tide of the social norm. However, a judge should stick to legal principle while writing judgment. That is, if ordinance exists, follows. If there is no ordinance at all, see the common law precedents. So, even if the ordinance is obsolete, judge should still apply it. The responsibility of keeping ordinance up-to-date should be on legislators' shoulders, not judges.

One of the newspapers made an interesting comparison. There is a transsexual, called Joanne. "She" is a male-turn-female. However, Joanne loves women. Thus, according to the prevailing law, Joanne could marry another lady, legally and openly, as the gender on her birth certificate is "M".

Ridiculous, right? Nevertheless, I don't see the law would change in the near future. Our legislators are either too timid to predict the reaction of the 9/10 heterosexuals, or too retard to acknowledge equal rights. Status quo is always nice.

噴飯 - 20101004

中午吃燒味飯，適逢午間新聞，聽到連串怪誕事件，堪令人噴飯。

開首一則：港股半日暴升三百多點，原因是「市場對前景感到樂觀」。這句子的主語「市場」和賓語「前景」都是虛詞。

第二則：兩解款員於周日銅鑼灣的商場懷疑爭執，其中一人懷疑開鎗射擊另一人。想像一下，如當時正置身商場中的唱片店，聽著jazz，突然有一鎗聲「即興」加入，可會為原本的jazz潤飾不少？

第三則：小學教師於高院承認多次性侵犯十三歲女生，並拍下片段，判入獄六年。抖出此案也有段故，話說小學教師牽涉另一非禮案，警員在調查間於小學教師的電腦發現此案影片，才有今天之新聞。不能否認，「天網恢恢，疏而不漏」，間中也是如此。

能夠於三數分鐘內聽到如斯高潮迭起的「怪談」，只有新聞報導能做得到。

TVB - 20100928

The biggest shareholder of TVB is rumoured to be transferred, from Sir Run Run Shaw to one of the estate moguls.

If the deal is sealed, would there be any improvement in the local TV market? It is well recognized that the development of TV broadcast in HK is stagnant. TVB sticks to manufacture soap operas with unbearably low quality. ATV keeps on buying overseas programmes, most notably from South Korea. Anybody who does fear the contamination of the duet has to bear the high cost of paid TV, NOW and Cable, for over $200 in every month, at the very least.

It is quite naive to yearn for quality programmes, if the transaction is realized. TVB has been making good profit from those silly things for so long. There is no way to argue with success. The change of biggest shareholder would not change the essence of a company, that is, to generate profit. Thus, superficial dramas would go on.

However, it is even more silly for artists to predict any salary raise. Many TVB artists have said openly in media of that wish. Actually, this kind of "wild guess" is base on sheer sentiment. Normally, while new boss arrives, "fire and hire" is the predetermined act. Instead of protecting the job, those naive artists ask for the opposite.

Funny.

又談月餅 - 20100924

不知怎地，今年吃了很多月餅。都是傳統款式。在蓮蓉餡以外，亦吃了豆沙餡的；除了廣東月餅，也試了潮式月餅。至於熱門的冰皮月餅，則無緣品嚐。

曾經非常抗拒吃月餅，實在是太甜了。現在會驚，再不吃，以後想也吃不到，因為只剩下冰皮的了。不是誇張的，看看小孩子，都不碰「老餅」了。

其實，現在的月餅甜度應該已經調低了。例如奇華的，便出奇地好吃。不是太甜，白蓮蓉竟然有點清香。至於美心的，儘管廣告天花亂墜，吃下去卻無啥特別。就是個體戶八仙，豆沙月也不是極甜膩的。豆沙綿密，餅皮鬆化，非常不俗。而潮式月餅和記隆，用上酥皮，更是鬆脆。

吃月餅，也講配套。月餅不應獨吃。正常人，絕不能啃下一整個月餅。因此，和他人分享，是吃月餅之一訣。把之四分，更甚八分，切餅者與眾食家的交流是樂趣。此外，吃月餅，得喝濃茶。黑澀的普洱是絕配，強烈的鐵觀音也佳。只有如此濃茶，才能把月餅帶來的飽滯消弭。

嘻嘻哈哈，吃吃喝喝，已經是一個好夜晚。

For the Fans - 20100922

Recently, Ronnie O'Sullivan completed his tenth 147-break, under the circumstances of open competition. It took him atop in the all-time list of most 147 produced, a single time ahead of the legendary Stephen Hendry. Nevertheless, this little piece of milestone would not be made without the little push from the referee Jan Verhaas.

147 is the normal maximum break in the snooker game. For snooker players, reaching 147 is like touching the celestial, I guess.

While there was one black ball left on the table, O'Sullivan hung up his cue, intended to shake hand with his opponent, as he had already won the game. At that moment, the referee interrupted, urged O'Sullivan to pot the final black "for the fans". The rest was history.

Everybody knows that O'Sullivan has a very strong character. He loves doing weird things. It would be head-scratching to left the lone black on the pool, for players other than O'Sullivan. It is a kind of insult to audiences. In addition, normal ones should be happy to put their names on the 147 list.

Luckily, Mr Jan Verhaas is shrewd enough to tame this pampered genius and let the tenth time happened. Hat off to the referee.

朱義盛 - 20100921

「老實公司朱義盛」，迄今開業八十四年，乃油麻地其一名店。老闆稱，因店租太貴，無以為繼，遂關門大吉。

此老店確是油麻地一風景。每次到電影中心看戲，從地鐵站出來，穿越廟街口，信步途經美都餐室，拐過朱義盛的彎角，再避開夏銘記魚蛋的誘惑，才能到達戲院。可是，這路徑從此易容，只寄望代替朱義盛的，不會又是「緊有一間0係左近」。

其實，朱義盛是應該有生存空間的。看看滿街名店，那一家的手飾不是合金的？所以，名義上，名店東西也都是「朱義盛」。明顯地，除卻質地，名店「朱義盛」都有額外東西令它更為吸引。虛榮、設計、宣傳 . . . 都比「老實公司朱義盛」強。

又是老問題，中國人創意就是比西人弱。

Fickle Fans - 20100920

Thanks to Dimitar Berbatov's hat trick, Man Utd escaped from three consecutive draws in the English Premier League. Yesterday, Red Devils barely defeated Liverpool at 3:2 in Old Trafford. C was lucky enough to witness Berba's overhead kick in Man Utd's home turf.

After the victory, Berba accumulated six goals and is one of the two top scorers at the moment, leveling with Chelsea's Malouda. Everybody is now praising how good Berbatov is, what a tremendous skill the Bulgarian possesses. However, until the starting of this season, possibly the same group of people have been mumbling at Berbatov's laziness.

I have been a fan of Berbatov when he played for Tottenham. I admire his skill and creativity. Obviously, Berba is not the kind of laborious player. It is a shame for the fans to expect him to run like Rooney for the whole 90 minutes. Berbatov is no bulldozer. Though we Hong Kongers love to talk about rationality, very few of us reflect it via our behavior, and almost none of them is a football fan. If someone is an outstanding poet, how dare others would expect him be equally outstanding as a splinter, though by chance it is still possible, albeit rarely. Thus, we should never use the parameter of "hard-workingness" to judge Berbatov's performance.

Anyway, in football, for most of us, the simplest way to measure success is to count how many goals have been scored.

網球機器 - 20100916

拿度擊敗祖高域，奪得美網冠軍。「狂牛」以廿四歲之幼齡，完成「金滿貫」壯舉，不可謂不驚人。

拿度的球技如何高超，耐力如何驚人，眾所周知，不贅。他能如此成功，超人的集中力也是關鍵。每當拿度有被破發球局的危機時，他極少出現大意失誤；就是被破發，也多是對手打出winners所致。能保發球局，自然是贏波的基礎。

為何拿度有如此高集中力？個人譩測，與他單純的性格有關。每次看他訪問，答覆都異常純粹直接，記憶中未看過他兜圈子。志慮忠純，沒有多餘東西纏繞，集中力自然高。

集中力高，作重覆的動作也不易氣餒。因此，搓來回球時，拿度也多數佔上風。當今網壇，相信只得數人有能力和拿度相持來回球。看拿度不斷地把球打回場區，樂此不疲，簡直和機器沒分別。但是，機器也要叉電，「狂牛」就是打上四、五小時，依然精力旺盛，於澳網對華達斯高的四強賽便是一例。

他絕對是一台恐怖的網球機器。

Wound Up - 20100915

According to a survey conducted by PolyU, 60% of interviewees thought that MPF could not address their retirement needs. In the same survey, 40% of interviewees agreed to decompose the MPF system. Columnist Jake van der Kamp suggested that MPFA should be wound up.

Though just a kind of rhetorics, as Jake acknowledged himself that the action of winding up MPFA would never be happened, the idea itself is not without legal backup.

There are so many methods to wind up a company. The most common way is by bankruptcy. However, there are many other less-well-known means to do so. For example, a special resolution to support the liquidation would suffice. Thus, if MPFA is a privately owned company, and over 75% of its shareholders, virtually equal to every employees in Hong Kong, voted for the decision in the meeting, MPFA could be wound up legally and legitimately. And according to the survey findings, the chance of writing off MPFA is not small, if it is a company.

So that's the difference between Chinese and Westerners. For Chinese, we could slur at others so comfortably, even in the media. The exchange on "sub-sovereignty" is a typical demonstration. For Westerners, they are rational animals, and would normally argue base on logic. Like Jake's opinion, though ridiculous by intuition, is solidly supported by reason.

縮班 - 20100914

出生率下降，引起連串中小學變革的討論。殺校？還是小班教學？

純粹從數字上著眼，當讀中小學的人數少了，如每班人數維持不變，班級數目必定減少。人人報名校，非名校便會收生不足，出現殺校危機。汰弱留強，正常不過了。

為了保留非名校，大家扭盡六壬。有甚麼理據呢？舊生說要保存回憶，老師說教學各有特色。都牽強。另外，小班教學亦一路奇兵，這卻是錢的問題了。事情已政治化，非邏輯能解決。如果非名校要殺校，老師校長罷課上街、學生家長示威，情何以堪？

現在教育局提議平等削班，似是可行的建議。無論級別，劃一削減班級數目。即是，理論上，現有各校的收生比例大致不變。除非實施小班教學，否則，各學校要做的，只是減少相同數目的老師，反嚮也應屬少數。

儘管可行，此法無助改善教學質素。正常家長，在鄧顯與沙頭角官中之間，也選前者。平等削班，沙官生存依舊。如果汰弱留強，無人讀沙官，個個讀鄧顯，世界是否更美好？無從稽考。

另外，從今以後，訓練老師的課程會否因而減少呢？須知道，今天能得一個教席，也是吃香得緊。如果不削減訓練名額，就是完成課程，當老師之機會卻如中六合彩，豈不浪費學生金錢？

Egg Tart - 20100910

A colleague treated egg tarts today.

For some kinds of food, the timing of serve fundamentally affects its taste. Egg tart is one of those. Only the freshly baked tart could "move one's index finger". The pastry crises, the egg filling trembles, food lovers could mix hardness and softness in one mouth.

Once cooled down, the savory stuff becomes abandoned. Unlike other tarts, say fruit or coconut ones, cold egg tart is quite unwelcoming. The sweet fragrance fades out. There would be a layer of ambiguous water floating on the egg custard. Taste one bite, the hardened pastry becomes sticky. The cold custard is too static to raise one's appetite. It is difficult to swallow.

So, having traveled for quite a distance, the egg tarts treated today were already at room temperature. As a picky eater, I relinquished my share and gave it away to another one whose hunger outweighs taste.

日誌 - 20100908

周日看《鏗鏘集》，講幾個六、七歲的小孩子背頌《論語》，頗有趣。

很明顯，即使能背，如斯幼童是沒可能明白《論語》的。不過，在禮崩樂壞的今天，小小年紀便能形式地禮拜孔子像，和其他人說早安、答謝謝，已比嬌生慣養的王子公主強多了。何況，潛移默化，這些孩子長大了也應該有家教。

那幾個小朋友，看上去都住在中產家庭。其中一個小男孩，髮型似藝術家，說話夾雜中英語，驟眼看是令人討厭的一類「哈哈霸」。看多一會，發覺小子頗有禮貌，上課態度誠懇。但是，童真不多。就是在暑假，小子的日誌也排得密麻麻。一個早上，已經要練水兩個半小時！每晚要折騰至十一時才可入睡。可憐很多成年人也沒有這般緊湊的日誌。最無奈是小子也說那麼多個不同的訓練班、興趣班都不能取消，以免落後於人。

另外一對小兄弟，童真還在。哥哥較老積，弟弟極其天真無邪。哥兒倆的日誌也比一般成年人密集。但是，比「藝術家」小子幸運的是，他們有一個家姐。家姐看來也年不過十歲，卻已是個稱職的姊姊。她說當兩兄弟不能跟隨日誌時，才會督促他們，非常可愛。看三姊弟的母親也懂教養，如設立計分制買玩具，三姊弟從中學會合作及制肘，溺愛未見。

如果多些父母能從此《鏗鏘集》單元得到啟發便好了。

The End of Critique? - 20100906

Mr Chin Wan's two columns in Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKEJ) have been put to an end. The official reason seems to be the revitalization of HKEJ. However, after Richard Li's takeover of the newspaper, it seems that the defying of Chin's vigor is somewhat destined.

Chin has written a piece of article in Ming Pao, headlined 評論之終局, to reflect on the event. He holds a gloomy view about Hong Kong's politics.

I always prefer Chin's prose to commentary, though both are of good quality. The proses of Chin are terse and funny, and are lively reflection of old Hong Kong. His commentary, mostly critical with points, could seldom sound too ideal. The typical example is on "happy protesting".

Thus, it is quite sad to know the termination of Chin's columns in HKEJ, especially on the prose one, 我私故我在. This column is apolitical, the cancellation is likely owing to the author. It is well understood that HKEJ is targeted to capture the China market. And Chin is renowned for his opposition of the Communist party. Though Richard Li has funded some democratic acts, he is a businessman in nature.

The freedom in traditional media is dwindling,nevertheless, people could still voice out freely in Hong Kong. For Chin, he may consider to post his articles online. I am sure public sight could easily be grabbed.

到會 - 20100903

公司慶祝某事，請同事吃到會午餐。

首先，老闆循例訓話。語畢，同事各就位準備開餐。食物種類不算少，壽司、熱暈、沙拉、甜品皆見踪影。不過，人太多，狼吞虎嚥者隨處可見，旋踵屍骸遍枱。我等斯文輩，幾經波折才夾得壽司數件、沙拉幾箸、些許蔬菜。未夠半小時，食物已幾近掃清。畏甜如我，也得掙一片lamington頂肚。只是，效果不佳，最後也得和同事叫下午茶填滿肚裏大片空間。

其實，到會的食物一向難吃。無他，擺放太久之故。例如壽司。在三十多度的溫度下進出室內室外，未說味道，就是衛生狀況，也有大疑問；例如春卷。外皮已放淋，一圈圈的油澄澄更是叫人倒胃，炒麵也是一樣。

到會食物先天已有缺憾，但人為的錯誤選擇更叫人無奈。例如燒豬肋骨。一塊數支骨，在到會場地，座位欠奉，人已左手捧碟，右手拿叉，又能從那裏生出第三隻手來把豬肋骨鋸開？

還是可免則免。

Back to School - 20100902

After the summer vacation, most of the students were back to school on 1 September.

While having my breakfast in Fairwood yesterday, there was a substantial boost of diners, thanks to the customers wearing school uniform. Three students, one girl and two boys, believed to be in their secondary six, were sitting next to me. Strangely, their conversation was mainly conducted between the two chaps, the lady just sited there and ate out quietly. The overweighed boy mentioned that he wanted to study archeology in the future. I was a bit stunned by his words as his target seemed not to be a money-making discipline. We Hong Kongers generally love business administration.

On my way to office, students could be seen intermittently. No girls has put on any typical woollen cardigans or vests. Without any clue, for a while, ladies love to put on those superfluous stuff, even under the blazing sun. Some suggested that the young girls want to hide their body shapes. It was quite non-sense, as the same person could easily be spotted scantily clad after school.

Students' ruffled uniforms, a common phenomenon nowadays, dissatisfy me. When I was a student, most of my classmates have their clothing ironed. By then, I did the ironing by myself. Students in smooth dress or trousers are especially impressive. In contrast, those unironed uniforms are real eyesore. With unmanned clothes on, it reveals that the student's parents do not hire any domestic helper, and the child is too spoilt to look after himself.

那個更差？ - 20100831

有變性人在香港擬註冊結婚被拒，遂於本月中提出司法覆核，結果有待公佈。

口頭開放，內裡守舊，也是香港人一個普遍的特質。例如，潮人應該捍衛平等機會。但是，聽到變性人結婚，不少潮人卻耍手擰頭，說甚麼違反自然、核突、不能傳宗接代等等。只是，變性人卻因此失去合法結婚的平等機會，及合法婚姻可帶來的一切福利 - - - 大至申領配偶遺產，小至以夫婦名義申請公屋，其餘按下不表。

當然，問題複雜，並非平等一偏可概完全。例如習慣。和兩位女士討論下列選擇題：在女廁內，你寧可碰到由男變女的變性人，還是扮演男角的女同志？變性人的心理狀態是一個女人；而女同志卻懷鹹濕佬心態，合法當瞥伯。結果，變性人和女同志各有捧場客。選女同志者，主觀地不能改變習慣，並不深究其思想。

在這方面，還是麻甩佬瀟灑，闊佬懶理是否有人裝，屙完就條條fing。

另：讀雅虎新聞，學到新詞彙，曰「吸睛一擊」。http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/100831/8/jz2n.html

Shoes - 20100830

I used to be a materialistic chap. Before graduated from college, I yearned for products with brand names. While getting older, somehow, my appetite to all those labels has been receding. In recent years, nearly all of my clothing and belongings are plain. My desire for "stuff" is now quite minimal. Except for one thing, shoes.

Women would compete with one another on so many items. Handbag, watch, jewellery . . . . . .even for cup size. You name it, they buy it. Regarding men, shoe is one of the rare accessories attracts their comparison. Beautiful shoes are always eye-catching. Young fellows are addicted to trainers. Old guys would be crazy for a pair of lovely Oxford. So, luxuries are available in both niches. A pair of Visvim sandals could cost up to several thousand dollars. And those bespoke leather shoes could easily be charged for tens of thousand dollars.

I would not join those fervent packs. Nevertheless, excellent ones are still mouth-watering. While shopping in recent weeks, I was bewitched to a pair of brown Derby. Sold from a local store named Darkwater, the pair of shoes would probably be made in China. I am old enough to accept this ugly truth. With the stunning appearance that even J has given her nodding, my already light wallet became slimmer.

臭蟲 - 20100826

成龍又發偉論。在twitter，大哥如是點評菲律賓慘劇：If they killed the guy sooner, they will say why not negotiate first? If they negotiate first, they ask why not kill the guy sooner? So sad"（「如果警方早d擊斃個脅持者，d人會話點解唔談判先？如果警方談判先，d人又會問點解唔一早殺個脅持者？真悲哀。」）

驟眼看，成龍的提問好像很有深度似的。想清楚點，便知是廢話。因為，他的兩個假設基於兩個不同的後果。又，兩句話中的they(疑問者)是不同的人。

假設一：如果警方早d擊斃個脅持者，d人會話點解唔談判先？
如果此假設成立，最可能後果是只有脅持者一人死亡，全部人質安全獲救。有此疑問者，會是脅持者家屬，和人道主義者。

假設二：如果警方談判先，d人又會問點解唔一早殺個脅持者？
此假設之後果便是今天之悲劇，即香港無端添八亡魂，脅持者一樣死亡。有此疑問者，是所有香港人。

兩個假設之分別，在於後者比前者死多八個香港人。真悲哀，香港人因賓警無能而死；真悲哀，成龍身為香港名人，在錯誤場合錯誤宣洩他對香港人的不滿。

Live Broadcast - 20100825

During and after the Manila Bus Massacre, we have been, willingly or unwillingly, watching so many live broadcasts. Though there are tones of Cantonese news channels, some render round-the-clock service, none has provided satisfactory coverage.

The main cause is, I suspect, Hong Kongers are so afraid of silence. In addition, anchors have to voice out in order to prove that they are working.

While there is no note on hand, anchors prone to describe what they have seen from the screen. However, this is the same screen audiences are watching. Anchors description, never fluent, is an indirect humiliation to audiences. There is no value for those remarks. Maybe anchors intend to serve blind people by their lip service. However, those over the top description are always annoying.

Speaking at the wrong moment creates even more harm. For example, when the pipe is on, silence should be the only option to show our respect to the death. Sadly, anchors could still not control their mouths, either by reminding audiences for victims background, or chatting with the on site journalist. Among other things, the timing is wrong.

Like football match, we could only enjoy silent viewing by switching to English channels.

公關 - 20100824

菲律賓有前警員挾持香港旅遊巴十一小時，最終流血收場。唯一匪徒當場斃命。另外，迄今為止，共八名港人死亡。事情不可謂不恐怖。

這次綁架有很多荒誕及滑稽的地方。傳媒，不論披上黑色牌頭與否，一律詳盡報導。同事回到公司，不論無聊與否，都侃侃其談。在無數的談論點裏，康泰的公關值得一提。

慘劇發生後，康泰總經理迅速開記者招待會。儘管回答內容貧乏，但其取態值得一讚。那陣子，全香港的目光都聚焦在電視報導，凝神貫注，希望得悉任何新消息。總經理夠膽色，在大堆攝影機前，氣定神閒，兩文三語，沒有大出錯。就是那廿、卅分鐘，康泰獲得免費廣告，至少對我來說，其形象有所提升。這是個危機管理的良好示範。

再想想，身邊高層，哪有如此果斷？遇到「爆鑊」，先要花大遍時間整理「line to take」，可能的話，一是龜縮，二是推低層去頂。如今次事件，正常遊行社，多數唯政府馬首是瞻，潛水去也。康泰總經理肯果斷應對，挺身而出，難得也。

政府嘛？差不多晚上十一時才見到特首出鏡。平心而論，也不算太遲，特首表現也不過不失，至少沒有讀稿後拂袖而去。只是，頭啖湯被搶喝了，合格不足以挽回主導。

Ocean Park - 20100823

Last Friday I spent my time in Ocean Park. The sun was blazing, temperature searing, and the tourists were mostly annoying.

Though the crowded environment was expected, the overriding majority of mainlanders was out of thought. While waiting to be onboard of the cable car, our compatriots were circling us up. Some of them bypassed us, so professionally, without a single ounce of shame. It was a good training of EQ to line up in such a queue, if it could still be called so.

The cable car ride was pleasant as usual. The scenic cove, together with the summer breeze, could soothe down one's anger. Once departed, I could not help frowning again. The mountain was captured by all the mannerless Chinese.

We could only squeezed some time to watch the "Ocean Theatre". Before the show, I stole little time to buy sneaks from McDonald. For god sake, I would never spend 30 minutes under the punishing sun for junk food, except in Ocean Park. Anyway. Lovely dolphins and seals were a huge contrast to the audiences. I was thrilled to see those acrobatic creatures, conditioned to perform various acts. The show was nice.

Merry-go-round was the only mechanical stuff we played. Then, we visited those giant pandas and red pandas. Giant pandas were either too old to move, or too gluttonous to eat. In contrast, red pandas were more active. It ran around to make ends meet.

Nevertheless, it was sad that the park was spoilt.

高登 - 20100817

孤陋寡聞，一直未曾到過高登討論區。到最近，好奇一遊，覺頗有趣。

先是用家名稱，幾乎個個諧音粗口。一大堆「狂峰大罩乳」、「毒撚」等等，甚是親切。至於內容，因粗口夠多，就是沒有見地，也堪打發一些煩悶。此外，網友創作很多可愛圖案，例如有舉中指的「哈哈笑」、有以陽物為造形的「動物」，都別緻。從而衍生的新詞彙，如膠post、惡搞、高登葡等等，也得意。

但是，論壇內容的確無聊。例如，有特設「無事幹上班族揮手區」。看到一條，說反對食店亂加芫茜，有人「惡搞」，說芫茜臭定莞西臭，笑死。但是，都沒有半點意義。看到的，都是很香港式的小聰明。玩食字，小鹹濕，一貫港男的特色。

也沒辦法。閱那「無事幹上班族揮手區」，回帖的人多如牛毛，便知道社會的「深層次矛盾」。年輕人要不沒上位機位，要不連上班機會也欠奉。打發時間，討論區當然是個好地方。

如果我要留言，考慮自稱為「膠硬化」。

King of the Jokers - 20100816

Jim Chim should be the undisputed "king of theatre" in Hong Kong. Owing to my reluctance to follow the tide of hype, I have not seen his shows until last Friday. However, it gave me a less than pleasant experience.

Named "King of the Jokers", the "drama(?)" seemed to be reviewing the history of comic in Hong Kong. The thought was fine, the result was else. Too much cliches, too little jokes.

By adopting the format of "雙星報喜", Jim, together with Tyson, tried some up-to-date jokes in it. However, the mimic was perfunctory. To me, the classic plastic hammer should appear, at least. Another scene, the part on Stephen Chow was also lighthearted. Performed by Tyson and Harriet, funs were tried to make with classic quotes and Chow's remarks alternately. However, the connection was weak.

The part on nowadays comic was more relevant, but the content was superficial. Everybody knew that Stephy was shallow, and the "post-80's" generation was shallow as well. On the solo audition part, Jim reproduced a typical materialistic actor in mind, but not in form. I doubted the actor who asked for money would have the skill Jim performed. And the tribute to Charlie Chaplin as the real king of the jokers was also common sense.

One of the even more serious problems was that, those impersonations shown in the advertisement could hardly be seen in the show. It was a prima facie misrepresentation.

美食展 - 20100812

書展終，美食展始，循環不息，年年如是。

奇怪地，從來未去過美食展。那些賣點，甚麼一蚊一隻長腳蟹，三十八蚊一隻鮑魚，於我無用。

想像一下，在攝氏三十多度高溫下，要進入會展，少不免輪候半小時。乘地鐵於灣仔出閘，在告士打道天橋開始「打蛇餅」，人龍緩緩前行。這無異於「未見官先打八十大板」。正常人，入到美食節場地，已經滿身臭汗，手軟腳軟了。胃納，明顯減半。

有志者，進了會場，冷氣是等到了。可是，眼前一片黑壓壓，人聲鼎沸，餘下的一半胃納理應消磨掉。尤其是看到那些「回本必吃」的攤當，八蚊兩隻蟹粉小籠包，十八蚊碗佛跳牆 . . . . . . 更是萬人空巷。僥倖給掙到一鱗半爪，但站立在蟻群之中，能嚐到真味嗎？機會渺亡。

說到底，我們對美食的要求，還是平常格言，即平、抵、賺。其它元素，如環境，如心情，如吃伴，都是無關宏旨的了。

Symmetry - 20100811

The following piece of news is really head-scratching. In Hunan, one of the jobs required interviewees to have symmetric breast.

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20100811&sec_id=15335&subsec_id=15336&art_id=14332271

Gosh! What job is it? The news provide no clue on it.

It is funny to guess whether the job would be open to both men and women. Logically speaking, the greater the cup size, the larger the chance of asymmetric breast. So, men do have an apriori advantage here, if they could fill in the opening.

Methodology to test the identicalness of the breast is also fascinating. X-ray? Or by the chairman's bare hands? So, efficiency and cost-effectiveness are two of the many issues to be taken into consideration.

Most importantly, what kind of job on earth needs the requirement objectively? Prostitute would be the answer by instinct. However, it would be too outrageous to list it out even so. If the job is an ordinary one, even if symmetric breast is needed, interviewees could wear remedial underwear to suit the requirement, easily.

禁「打邊爐」 - 20100809

因室內禁煙，衍生一奇特現象，曰「打邊爐」，亦即一眾煙民圍著寫字樓大堂外的煙灰缸吸煙。每逢上班、午飯時間，商業大廈外，煙民例多，可達二、三十。數人一組，圍著幾個公眾煙灰缸，吞雲吐霧，以「打邊爐」況之，也是貼設。

今天報載，控煙辦厲兵秣馬，擬擴闊禁煙範圍，至建築物入口五米內；又建議食肆店東需為食客吸煙負上刑責。

說來說去，如果煙真是那麼毒的話，不如全面禁絕算了。一來保障市民健康，二來禁了煙，控煙辦亦完成歷史任務，省卻不少稅款。可惜，政府始終未能大刀闊斧，只是不停毛手毛腳。先有過關限帶十九支煙，今有上述新猶。

控煙辦的建議，套一句流行語，是「反智」。首先，有甚麼理由支持「五米論」？為何不是兩米、十米？須知道，香港地寸金尺土，很多寫字樓門口對出根本沒有五米空間，如要實施此「德政」，煙民可要到馬路中心抽煙呢！到時煙民性命有何閃失，控煙辦又是否要負上刑責呢？此外，香煙應該不比死氣喉毒吧？那為了市民健康，巴士站又是否要設立類似的「五米禁區」？

要食肆店東為吸煙客負刑責，就是看已令人喊痴線。其實，控煙辦此小動作，無非想增加自身權力矣。可是，以眾店東之人頭換取自家之點點無謂地盤，絕對是不義之舉。

控煙辦人員間遭襲擊，和其厭惡形象不無關係。如果控煙辦主管有一天要親身落區，看來有心打柒他的人為數不少。為了公義，如主審法官是煙民，也會輕判「義士」社會服務令罷了。到其時，法院還挽回不少因Amina案所失之分呢。

The Reds - 20100806

English football club Liverpool FC is rumoured to be changed hands again. This time, a Chinese may take it over from two Americans.

There are so many fans of the Reds in Hong Kong, however, I have never been one of them. Paradoxically, my first football jersey was a grey away one of Liverpool, which was bought by mum when I was in primary school. Rationale of the pick was a mystery. And by then, most of the football clothing in Hong Kong was fake ones, mine was no exception to it.

So, I am quite indifferent to the ownership of Liverpool FC, sentimentally speaking. I suspect most of their fans would yearn for the transaction, as the Reds were financially in drought. Fans would hope that the rich man, no matter his nationality, could foster money to the club like the BP oil spill so that, they could buy a squad to win for a Premier League title.

Yellow peril is so real nowadays. Those Chinese tycoons have been trying to buy their toys around the world. The result has been less than satisfactory. Like Prada, the brand has rejected the Chinese buyout, for the sake of preserving its prestigious status.

However, I can't see Liverpool FC could resist the Chink temptation. The club has lost its virginity to the Americans. So, it should be an non-issue for the identity of their future boss.

《中國歷代政治得失》 - 20100805

早前看陳雲專欄，介紹錢穆的《中國歷代政治得失》，好奇重溫，確是好書。

第一次看那小書是何時呢？大概大學吧。還記得那本殘破的舊書，是妹妹高考的讀物，也不知轉手多少遍了？儘管看的人多，寫閱讀報告的人也不少，但欣賞的人肯定是小眾，否則書也不會「貨如輪轉」。

書的形態印象猶在，書的內容了無痕跡。今次翻讀，趣味盎然。平常中史書，尤其教科書，資料為主。浸在那些冰冷的史料裏，不悶到沒頂才怪。加上我輩尚打機，耐性非常有限，有心機鑽研歷史的人如鳳毛麟角。

其實，《中國歷代政治得失》是認識中史的絕佳楔子。短短數十頁，分析漢、唐、宋、明與清五代政制的因由與好壞。讀到的，是錢穆對歷史的見解，言簡意賅，功力非凡。如「制度」與「法術」之別，以清朝跟其它朝代比較便看得到。稍加想像，融入時代脈胳，看滿清為異族小數統治中原多數，以「法術」行之，成效顯著。

類比之於公司，「法術」也處處可見。

Coughing - 20100730

Recently I has been coughing a lot. Either voluntarily or else.

Coughing was a nightmare to me. When I was a child, I contracted bronchitis. Referred by my uncle, if I am not wrong, I went to a Chinese medicine practitioner for treatment. Surname Ng, his clinic was located at a commercial building in Mongkok. I could still visualize the surrounding of the clinic. Most of the furniture was made by wood: chairs, cabinet, floor etc, the surrounding was warm. Doctor Ng was a guy in his middle age. He was rather short, with receding hair that his head was virtually bald. Nevertheless, he was always nice. If my coughing was much serious, doctor Ng might use those vacuum suckers to suck out the "air" inside my body. In addition, injection was possible, though I suspected that it was a western medical means.

Usually, I could leave the clinic with those herbal medicines. Herbs were picked out from the wooden "hundred sons" cabinet by a woman. The woman, rumoured to be the lover of doctor Ng, was a nice person, too. Her thick, black curly long hair was particularly impressive to me. With the herbal medicines deftly mixed up in paper bundles, it's time to back home.

So the bitter soup was waiting. Cooked from the herbs, the soup was unpleasant as hell. Cooking of the bitter soup was complex. Several bowls of water, boiled by slow heat, into one bowl of soup, with different herbs added in different sequences. This kind of difficult task could only be done by mum. According to a Chinese proverb, "bitter medicine is a good one", it seemed true in my case. After treatment, in a year or two, I was fully recovered from bronchitis.

So, until late July, I did forget the feeling of coughing. However, it is something anyone would opt for ignorance.

死剩把口 - 20100727

甚麼是「死剩把口」？渠務署長及八達通行政總裁分別作了示範。

那渠務署長，早前斬釘截鐵說碗窰沙埔仔村的「水災」和渠務署無關；事隔兩日，此君改口，說不排除部分石頭從渠務署地盤範圍沖至河道。轉軚如斯肉酸，當是受壓之果。

而八達通行政總裁，先於七月八日對外宣稱從未販賣客戶個人資料；至員工爆她說謊，便於七月廿一日改口說曾賣料給兩間公司；到私隱專員於七月廿六日盤問，她又改口說恩客共六名。而被蒙騙的市民所得到的，是一句「謹此致歉」。事件迄今，未過廿天。

儘管兩位高層均屬「死剩把口」類，厭惡指數卻有分別。渠務署長只是典型的A字膊，怕死之下，「口不擇言」，企圖蒙混過關。至少，署長大放闕詞時，無可能肯定「水災」成因，不算欺騙。而那行政總裁，卻肯定是「擘大眼講大話」，企圖當大眾傻B。心眼惡劣，最是討厭。

雖然八達通不是上市公司，也不是公營機構。但是，其擁有個人資料之鉅，足可媲美政府。行政總裁如此公然作Fradulant Misrepresentation，一定是Tort-liable，即是公司最終很可能因而上身；置公司於此死地，也不是高層應有之舉。如八達通大股東地鐵不動議更換行政總裁，會是很奇怪的事。

Inception - 20100726

Inception is unexpectedly wonderful, in nowadays' standard, to say the very least.

In the world filled by sea of sequels, Toy Story, Shrek, just to name few, it is quite uncommon to see a Hollywood blockbuster which is base on an original story. Even more rarely, the story is written by the director of that film, Christopher Nolan.

The theme is on dream. Film is always a perfect medium to it, as anything unreal could be depicted legitimately. The idea of the story is quite intriguing, which is to see the possibility of changing one's thought by inception through dream.

The film lasts for around two and a half hours. However, boredom has never appeared. By shifting between different levels of dream, it is a reminiscent of playing video game. So, youngsters would be excited. In some shots, the scene is cinematic. Like the one Ellen Page rotating two mirrors to produce infinite images, it is a tribute to Last Year at Marienbad. Thus, movie lovers would be pleased to see it.

By taming different groups of moviegoers so tactfully, Christopher Nolan could be a new master.

韓燒 - 20100723

午膳時間，跟同事到久違了的港式韓國餐廳吃飯。

中六、七時，經常和同學到八號花園的一所同類餐廳吃韓燒。花多眼亂的小碟前菜最是美味：大豆芽、白菜仔、津白、咸魚仔等等，清淡酸辣，各具特色。及後，主菜送到。初認識「龜背」於此，龜背燒烤，板沿湯灼，不知韓國真有此物乎？集六、七同學之數，我們每能選多款食物。牛、豬、雞、魚自是例牌。最難忘是迷你八爪魚，牠真箇令人愛恨交纏，既難熟卻又可口。燒弄八爪魚，所花時間倍之於其他食材。眼見張三李四分別已鯨吞三件牛肉及二件魚塊時，那可惡的八爪魚還是半熟不軟。心裏焦急，既感蝕底復肌腸轆轆，最是難受。不過，當大功告成，吃一口彈牙八爪魚，啖一口冰凍酸梅湯，前事一畢勾消。結賬，還有蜂蜜糖供潤喉，儘管吃得滿身油煙，也心甘情願。

不知何故，上大學後，幾乎沒上過韓國餐廳。可能是同伴少了，可能是選擇多了，更可能是咀巴尖了。

話說回來，今天到的港式韓國餐廳，有點冷清，難道韓燒已成強弩之末？時間關係，只吃定食，沒碰「龜背」。點了泡菜豬肉飯，泡菜紅得很假，微辣卻頗開胃，只要別追究那紅澄澄的源頭；豬肉得可憐的三數塊，幸好現在食量不大，否則必須買定下午茶。卅元貨色，也不諸多要求。離開，那一身油煙還是免不了。

味道，如鹹魚般，久久揮之不散。

Precocious - 20100722

While being interviewed, a boy, at the age around 10, said it was unhealthy for those girl models (aka "langmo") to show up in the book fair.

"Langmo" creates quite a hype in Hong Kong. The scantily-clad young ladies are simply omnipresent. We could see them in every newspaper headlines, TV game shows, movies, even in our holy book fair.

Many writers lement for the hijacking of book fair by "langmos". It's just a question of demand and supply. To me, if we love it, so be it. As we could see, over 70,000 people registered in HKCEC yesterday. So, when we are examining this figure, nobody could say that Hong Kong is a "cultural desert". Indeed, we could even be proud of being the "sub-cultural oasis" of "Langmo".

Back to the precocious 10-year-old boy. It is comical to hear those pious wordings from such a young boy. Normally, righteous stuff comes from middle-age, patriotic politicians. However, premature children are not uncommon nowadays. They are unlovable.

導遊 - 20100720

據說，一香港導遊，芳名阿珍，懷疑為賺回皮費，恐嚇大陸團友購物，現成為眾矢之的。

大陸團友，應該是參加「零團費」旅行團到港的。他們真的以為有那麼大隻夾也母隨街跳？定還是天真爛漫得以為香港人好客如此，請飲請食？

無可能吧。說到陰謀論，天下有哪個民族比中國人耍家？計我話，這班大陸人根本立心討便宜。他們知道，香港不比大陸，是貨真價實的法治之區。因此，便「利用」此點，明知零團費超現實，當導遊明示暗示要購物時，便利用法治精神，討此地便宜。試想想，如同類事情發生在大陸，你道這些團友敢哼半句嗎？不會的，大陸的潛規則，人人清楚。

如真的這般窮困純情，也不會拍下片向外公佈吧？

話說回來，要到香港的「景點」，易過借火，真不明白為何要參加旅行團。

Freak - 20100714

A 28-year-old mainland woman, carrying a 6-inch knife along with her, stabbed a Hong Kong woman in a West Rail train. Luckily, the victim was only slightly injured. The mainlander was charged of battery.

According to news, the mainland woman may be suffering from psychological illness. She was reported to have heard some wordings of insult in Cantonese, which should have not been voiced out.

During lunch, my colleagues shared their similar experience, either first-hand or hearsay. Y, once read newspaper in the MTR train compartment, has her newspaper been snatched, due to repeated contacts between the irritated lady and HKHeadline. According to Y, even if there was any contact, it must be slight. G, told by her husband, that a colleague of him once had an exchange of eye contact with a woman in MTR. Later, when the colleague tested perfume in a shop, that same woman, stood beside her and whispered "you pork chop could never be beautified in any means!".

No matter the truthfulness of the stories, we indeed are living in a stressful society.

死魚 - 20100713

閱報，得悉紫金礦業於福建銅礦廠滲漏山埃，毒死千九幾噸魚。

這公司，也不知怎地能在香港上市。出現如此錯誤，公司管治想必有問題。

舉一反三，在港上市國企日多。正常地，上市要跟香港公司法規條。可是，公司實際上卻在大陸運作。常識告訴我們，此等公司在大陸常靠走後門和拉關係繞過規則。無事固然好，有事便難收拾，公司在港股價亦會隨之急挫。因此，買國企股時也不能忽略此風險。

試想想，假若護舒寶衛生巾設計有缺憾，出現滲漏，用家也可依侵權法作民事索償。不過，護舒寶滲漏，弄污衣服事小；紫金滲漏，至少也死魚吧。看新聞圖片，成千上萬死魚浮滿河堤，也夠壯觀。而漁農，又能向誰討公道？

再者，河水已有劇毒，魚當然不能吃。可是，賠償那麼少，總難保沒人將毒魚照賣如儀。不要忘記，大陸火窩湯底也用炕渠油吊味。

Referee - 20100712

Spain was crowned the World Cup. Their victory against Holland was well deserved, though not convincing.

The Dutch coach, van Marwijk, moaned at the standard of refereeing. Van Marwijk argued that the referee wasn't in control of the match. Anyway, it was just an convenient excuse for their loss.

Actually, Holland seemed to be a team more out of control than Mr Webb, the referee. As we have seen, football players in Holland were more like gangsters. Among the mob, Mark van Bommel was more like the god father of Mafia. Nigel de Jong, another defensive mid-fielder, even played Kung Fu against Xabi Alonso, by studding the chest of the later. Actually, Holland players' stiffness were beyond acceptable. They could not behave themselves even that many yellow cards have been fetched.

So, if Holland had defeated Spain, it would have been ridiculous. Though defensive football seems to have the upper hand in the prevailing time, thanks to Morinho's success, we should not mix up toughness with brute. Victory is the goal, means are subordinate. Still, to win the World Cup, you have to play football.

I didn't see much football from Holland. Their attack was scarce and monotonic, owing to the poor form of van Persie, as well as the individualism of other attack players. Sneijder had scored quite a number of goals, most of them were more of less with luck, except the one against Japan. Thus, a final place for Holland has already exceeded what they were worthy of.

叛將 - 20100709

勒邦占士由騎士跳槽至熱火，與韋廸及保殊組成超級鐵三角。

騎士老闆被惹毛了，大罵占士是反骨仔，又誓言騎士一定比熱火更早拿到總冠軍。很可惜，正常人都知道此誓言的可能性幾近零。

當然，這個超級鐵三角的確教球迷期待。三人皆正值壯年，只要沒有傷病，NBA總冠軍真可說十拿九穩。照牌面看，三人實力，更可能凌駕佐敦、柏賓及洛文之上。

說到大帝這次轉會，都可說是「有咁大搞到咁大」。ESPN竟以一小時專輯去報導之，可想像占士影響力之巨。不會否認勒邦占士有驚人的球技及體質，只是，他選擇轉會，卻可看成對自己的一次「不信任動議」。

如果他對自己有信心，應該留隊，「單天保至尊」，以一己之力帶領克里夫蘭摘冠才是。而且，占士只是廿五歲，離退休還有大把時間吧？他是否懷疑，自己如不加盟熱火，能敵得過韋廸及保殊的duet？

不過，我也很懷疑誰個教練能壓得著此三人。到了生死關頭，派誰射最後一球？順得哥情失嫂意呀。

Paul the Octopus - 20100708

Till now, the most scintillating performance in the World Cup has been conducting outside the field, by an octopus called Paul.

Paul the Octopus, one of the pets lives in a German Aquarium, has been forced to predict each and every match Germany has been taken part. Paul got it right six out of six times. Supposing Germany could have 1/3 chance to win at each occasion (otherwise be it a draw or defeat), the chance of getting the correct prediction six -in-a-row is 1/729. i.e. 0.137%. Paul's achievement could not be underestimated.

In the world full of pundits, nothing seems to be more reliable than the gut feeling of Paul. Goldman Sachs tipped Brazil as the champion. Wrong. JP Morgan for England. No way. The list could go on. So, all those mathematical formulas and super computers are powerless in front of Paul the Octopus, the wizard of fortune telling.

How could Paul pick the food out from the winner's box? It is quite unnecessary to explore as the World Cup is coming to the end. Anyway, Paul the Octopus has left quite a prominent remark.

禮貌 - 20100706

和八十後接觸日多，愈覺彼此代溝之壯闊。當中令人最光火的，是她們普遍沒禮貌。

八十後把爽直和無禮混淆了。可這個世界，不是人人都會如父母般遷就她們的。

例如，一個愛穿短裙的矮小肥妹經常批評別人的衣著，見人家的恤衫皺，便笑之似阿爺衫，她應該不懂fashion；同一個肥妹，企圖強行將食物放在其他同事的cabinet上與人分享，理由是該同事的座位位置優越，方便他人覓食云云。

八十後是一郡自我又多口的小鬼。

口水多也分很多種，例如，口沒遮攔和健談便是兩碼子事。前者多是廢話，經常令聽者懊惱。怕麻煩的，會由得他們；怕他們的，可以冷嘲熱諷，務求令八十後收聲。

話說回頭，要忍著不指罵她們，也不是一件易事。例如矮小肥妹，要頂著不面斥她是「死八婆又矮又肥不要穿短裙自暴其短」的念頭，絕非易事。

Germany - 20100705

After thrashing England at 4-1, Germany once again demonstrated the art of counter-attack, by the vanquish against Argentina at 4-0 in the World Cup quarterfinal.

I was amazed by Germany's performance. The discipline presented was first class. The German side fully understand that they do not have any superstar comparable to Messi, thus no German player would possess the ball for any extra second. As a result, ball movement was exceptionally swift. Also, they must have struck to the game plan firmly. In the quarterfinal game, all four goals were coming from the left which Argentina's right back was the weakest link. It must have been directed by their manager, Joachim Loew.

Except his stunning figure and handsomeness, Joachim Loew is little-known to football fans. However, Germany's wonderful performance prompted me to google his background. Strangely, Loew's resume is not particularly impressive. He has been fired by several less-than-renowned clubs in Germany and Turkey. Before promoted to the present post, Loew was the assistant of Klinsmann in the Germany national football team.

Thus, it was quite a mystery regarding Loew's appointment. When we see teams belong to the same echelon, their coaches are high-profile, most notably Fabio Capello. So, how come a football kingdom like Germany could allow such a minnow to be their leader?

After the repeated feats, I could hardly see Spain's chance against Germany. Spain, to me, is just a weaker version of Argentina. So, Germany's chance of lifting the World Cup depends on their opponent in the final. They would prefer Holland to Uruguay. Against Holland, Germany could rewind their counter-attack. However, Uruguay may not dictate the play. Germany then would have to dominate, which may not be their best tactics.

終審法院 - 20100629

因先科案被判串謀妨礙司法公正入獄的律師林炳昌，上訴至終審法院得直。

誠如林炳昌所言，「好在香港仲有終審法院」。此話何解？

第一，終審法院常任法官李義於判詞駁斥了上訴庭的判詞。上訴庭的判詞由誰撰寫？高等法院首席法官馬道立是其中一人。須知道，馬道立是候任終審法院首席大法官。根據中國式思維，馬官是李官的未來「老闆」，這般數落他是否膽生毛？不是。李官此舉證明香港暫時還有司法獨立，法院運作未受政治干擾。

第二，推番早前判決，直是剃廉署眼眉。看廉署那些高調行動，如正生案、陳志雲案等，虎頭蛇尾；而於先科案窮追林炳昌、艾勤賢，更有打壓反對聲音之嫌。須知道，林、艾二人出了名是「廉署剋星」。試想像，如果林炳昌是窮鬼，沒錢上訴，他便會永不超生，而先科案亦會成為律師們心中的一隻「鬼」，廉署亦可因而更膨脹。

幸虧我們還有終審法院。否則，一來冤獄，二來人人噤若寒蟬。

Big Loss? - 20100628

Germany thrashed England at 4:1. It was a victory the conqueror truly deserved.

While all the England supporters are busy at finding any possible culprits for the loss, say the referees, they are just afraid of facing the truth. That is, Germany is clearly a better team, in any visible aspects like speed, skills and cohesion.

Hong Kong people support England in a blind fashion. Proximity is clearly the main cause. We are addicted to English Premier League. Everybody recognizes any player of Three Lions. Without a second thought, most of the laymen would be pleased if England could advance, in order to provide lip service if needed.

Of course, it was a pity that Lampard's goal was buried. There has already been enough noise on the adaption of modern technology for helping fairer judgment. In this sense, I go for hawk eye or line referee, too. Nevertheless, Germany controlled yesterday's game comfortably.

With a young squad, the German side outran England in every counter attack. Of high discipline, German players would not hold the ball unnecessarily long. They could attack with a combination up to four players, smoothly. In contrast, the English battalion was lack of energy, most notably the highly expected Rooney. With such a poor performance, I doubt any team would be interested in buying English players after World Cup.

Anyway, it is a blessing for real football fans to watch Argentina versus Germany in the quarterfinal.

品味 - 20100625

無端被標籤為「情色產業」工作者的0靚模們，據說因「品味低俗」，不能在今屆書展舉行簽名會。吊詭地，0靚模們的寫真仍能在書展擺賣。

看到「謬法局」那勞什子顧問團的「解晝」，個個道貌岸然，又怕教壞細路，又話睇0靚模cheap，又掛羊頭賣狗肉，乜乜七七的。這幫道德塔利班，比一眾「起錨」水手更肉酸。

書展的確可以看到城市的面貌，以至品味。一個自由的地方，理應百花齊放，雅俗共賞，學術與通俗兼收並蓄。例如日本。荒木經惟的女人裸體寫真，三點畢露，可人家是公認的大師。如果荒木在香港開簽名會，不知會否被拒。

況且自由的大前題是包容。即是，人種萬千，喜惡不一。要享受自由，首先便要包容其他人的差異。否則，一言堂盛行，最後只有訴諸權力。權力愈大，自由愈多。如「謬法局」，手執書展簽名會生殺大權，香港人的「品味」，便要馬首是瞻了。

其實，「謬法局」此等家長式干預，實在愚不可及。試想像，青年人精力旺盛，原本追0靚模便是一個合理宣洩精力的渠道。現在堵塞了，精力再加怒火往哪兒釋放？加入社民連，定還是參加「超錯」示威？

添煩添亂，莫過於此。

Boring Speeches - 20100624

Chinese are renowned of lacking sense of humour. Tones of example could easily be glimpsed through the filibustering of electoral reform in the Legislature.

Democratic Party becomes Judas, or Jesus, depending one's view. However, no matter the incarnation individual member was in, their speeches were consistently boring. Lack of imagination, full of prevailing cliches, they thought that they were the martyrs of democracy. Face tightened up, body movement unnatural, they were actually unsuccessful sales of anything except boredom.

Even worse, the focus of the discussion has been quietly shifted from electoral reform to whipping Long Hair. By querying whether Uncle Wah has caught brain metastasis, everybody has been requesting Long Hair to say sorry. It is naive. Regardless the remark Long Hair has made to Uncle Wah, it is inappropriate to mention it inside the Legislature. The act was tasteless.

If we gets our adrenaline too high after watching Federer's matches in Wimbledon, any one of these speeches is an excellent sedative.

北韓 - 20100622

昨晚，北韓慘吞葡萄牙七蛋，非常可惜。

球賽首廿多分鐘，北韓的表現令我驚奇 - - - 小組推進流暢，個別球員如十號仔技術不俗，葡萄牙只有捱打份兒。可惜曇花一現。當對手射進首球後，北韓便潰不成軍，結果不在話下。

不過，北韓確帶給我們不少話題，例如變節。其他球隊，無論踢得多差，球員也不會遭國家問責吧？北韓好像例外。僅負巴西一比二，理應是好成績，奈何賽後傳聞有四位球員變節；經過昨日一役，有消息指北韓球員回國可能要當礦工，變節誘因愈來愈重。

計劃經濟真神奇。像北韓，足球員變礦工，剎那已行。

Mad Dog - 20100621

Who could be a greater ridicule than "DAB and Co"? "Mad Dog", Raymond Wong Yuk Man.

Yesterday, Wong bullied Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong in the public. Claimed to be under the "pan democratic alliance", both of them are allegedly fighting for democracy of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, Wong refuses compromise of any kind. Tsoi, together with the Democratic Party, advocates a milder form of election reform. Wong could not stand their "betrayal". By sticking a "super wrong" sticker on Tsoi's chest, Wong had prima facie committed battery against his "enemy".

Wong simulated one of the most disgusting images of Hong Kong men. In his fifties, Wong still gets his hair highlighted in yellow, like a triad member. By sucking a bluetooth earphone permanently on his left ear, Wong always looks like a busy sales. Other than shouting, he must have done exercise very rarely and results in a ballooned body. What a typical model of Hong Kong man.

Tsoi is always a character less than well-like. He is too outdated, in the sense of both dressing and manner. However, by playing the role of prey, Tsoi accidentally got his image boosted. He should thank that unleashed Mad Dog.

辯論 - 20100618

今早乘火車看有線新聞，稱余若薇與曾蔭權之政改辯論為「大辯論」，笑了。

看特首的表現，不論台風、口才、眼神等等，及至政改內容，凡此種種，確與「大便」匹配。再想到辯論是特首提出的，及至形式、場地、觀眾安排等一切，皆由政府主導。但是，在此等優勢下，曾蔭權還是輸「七個一皮」(蘋果語)，真是叫人難堪。

曾特首在辯論裏，未見有何論點。他意圖把余若薇抹黑，將她和社民連的爛仔打成「黑五類」，叫人搖頭。在會場裏，曾蔭權可能忙於看稿，眼尾也沒「梢」余大狀一下，其無禮表露無遺。任何中學辯論隊，當以特首表現作反面教材，定期重溫，提高警惕。

而且，只是如夢魘般叫喊「起錨、起錨、起錨」，即使聲嘶力竭，也算是辯論嗎？

還是去吃三十蚊海鮮餐實際吧。

Game Seven - 20100617

So the NBA Championships are to be decided by one game, which is to be held tomorrow morning.

After routing Celtics at a margin of 22 points yesterday, everybody is now tipping Lakers to be the winner. With the home court advantage, a superb Kobe Bryant, together with the absence of Celtics center who was injured in Game 6, everybody is chanting "beat Boston".

I still remember, two days ago, while Game 6 was yet to start, everybody was predicting Boston to lift the trophy. "Big Three", plus the emerging Rondo who injects the energy to the old team, are a good mix to defeat LA.

It just shows how fickle and amnesiac we are. And the power of halo effect could not be underestimated.

To me the chance of both teams is really split. The quality of "Big Three" is so valuable to neglect. Though they are really old, they understand that it is the final game of the season. There is nothing to reserve. According to Game 6, Pierce could still lay up, albeit with walking velocity. Garnett could hit the mid-range jumper easily. Same as Allen, with an even longer shooting range.

Unfortunately the game would be played in office hour.

越位 - 20100615

世界杯其間，其中一個最熱門的詞語，是越位。

像今天和三位女同事吃飯，都不懂甚麼是越位。經我以一支叉、一支匙及一小塊午餐肉作道具解說後，她們還是似懂非懂。但是，她們都很雀躍。

無他的，太多女人被迫看足球。平日好端端，女士們絕不會花兩個小時呆坐電視前，看廿二個男人追逐一個足球，更遑論去理解足球的規則，例如「恰西」？

只是，世界杯的規模太大了。當報紙頭版是昨日賽果，商場變成球賽酒吧，時裝店充斥球星照時，女士們總不能坐視不理吧？即使陪睇，幸運的，看葡萄牙，就算不懂足球，也能陶醉於C朗的靚樣。

最怕是兩隊非洲球隊碰頭。第一，廿二人個陌生黑人，實在難分馮京馬涼；第二，沒有美男，不能專心看下去。想立心此刻勉強去欣賞足球，也是姍姍來遲了。

World Cup - 20100614

World Cup of football has been kicked off. Everybody's eyesight would be fixed in South Africa this month.

I do not have any favorite team. However, Spain would be my pick of champion. Spain has always been a serious contender in every occasion, however, those Iberia players failed their supporters. This time, the situation may be different. All the talents, in addition to their quality, are psychologically well prepared. Barcelona stars have been tested under the pressure in the European Champions League.

Columnist 林行止 queried the economic benefit of World Cup, in the aspect of football clubs. Lam said players are employed by clubs but play for their countries. Clubs would gain nothing regardless players performance in the meantime.

Straightly speaking, Lam's argument is quite unarguable. Nevertheless, World Cup is a good occasion to trade. Players performance would be scrutinized by every football clubs. Managers with sharp eyes may get good deals, say buying those Asian footballers at reasonable price. On the other hand, it would also be a good chance to offload players at an attractive sum of money. After all, there is no bigger market than World Cup.

Lastly, it is quite dismal for non-Cable subscribers. We could not even see the real goals from news. By seeing goal-replica from those ridiculous animation, I am dumbfounded.

溫室小花 - 20100609

話說，公司有一同組女同事，戲稱之茂利，行年廿七、八，和我絕談不上熟絡。但是，近日茂利因感情煩惱，四處找人訴苦，我也不能倖免。

茂利其人，五短身裁，化妝不淡，樣貌無過人之處，誠普通港女一件。風雨未臨之時，僅屬點頭之交，言談只限工作、吃飯等皮毛事。惟近日，面臨分手邊沿，除卻女同事外，茂利連爾等男子也不放過。其感情生活，鉅細無遺，如泣如訴。

話說茂利男友，年三十有五，熱愛高達模型，曾花數萬於斯，實為kidult一員。前陣子，不知何故，忽發買樓興頭。茂利認為樓貴，囑之勿作蠢動。男友及其父母不理茂利，執意買樓，男友父親更惡言相向，斥茂利思想幼稚云云。自此冷戰，不在話下。

初以為茂利因分手不樂，後才知原來男友還有和他去街，還會手拖著手。只是，茂利擔心男友父母不接納她，於是心煩意燥，怨氣不吐不快。

茂利所患實為典型「口痕症」。此病流行於港女，惟口痕內容大有不同。多為他人事非，或是師奶劇情，莫衷一是。如茂利般，以私事和大家分享，比較罕有。可恨是，我對茂利生活毫無興趣，卻慘成其「無比膏」，為其止口痕，實可憾也。

Candlelight - 20100607

Every June 4, thousands of flicking candlelight would constitute quite a stunning scene in the Victoria Park. Like a piece of pointillism oil, it comprises a black canvas and numerous swaying golden spots.

李天命has a short poem - 「夜越暗，星越亮」. So, in Causeway Bay, the poem could be paraphrased as "The darker the night, the brighter the candlelight".

With no extraordinary theme, in not a memorable time, the 21st anniversary of June 4 rally was attended by 150,000, or 113,000, depending on the source to be relied upon. However, either number of attendance is enormous.

So, what is the main cause? Some said the selective enforcement performed by our Police. Quite a number of people suggested the ridiculous "Act Now" campaign. Others would point fingers at the timid top management of Chinese University of Hong Kong. The truth could never be known and is meaningless to be guessed of.

However, there is still one thing for sure, is that we could still enjoy our freedom. We could enjoy the farcical "Act Now" campaign, that officials and opponents shouted at each others' faces for repetitious wordings. "Act Now" "Act Now" . . . "Super Wrong" "Super Wrong" . . . Similarly, on June 4, I treasured the moment of singing and shrieking, on my own will, very much.

校格 - 20100604

人有人格，校有校格。中大高層在不記名投票下，廿七位與會者一致拒絕民主女神像永久放在中大校園，理由是要維持「政治中立」。經此一役，中大校格急降。

中大校友梁文道急急撰文批評中大此舉其實最為政治化。所言甚是。

但是，更令人心寒的是，廿七位高層一般心思，比十八羅漢更有默契。投票不記名，理可暢所欲言。不過，中大高層就是如此和諧。為什麼呢？其一可能是，事情黑白分明，絕無討論餘地，如一加一是二般。但看外界嘩然反應，此事似不在此列。其二可能是，高層之為高層，必經一番爭鬥，不必細表。一方水土養一方人，此地專出李蓮英。只是，廿七人也如富士康出品般無出其右，全盤向左，總有點那個。

難道，爭取大學撥款，真的只能北望神州？

看來，當大學由「領導」變成「管理」時，看待校長也應如行政總裁。

Yukio Hatoyama - 20100603

The comical figure resigned from the post of Japan Prime Minister yesterday.

One of his election pledges was to dispatch the US Army from the jurisdiction of Japan. However, Hatoyama could not live up his words. The America airbase in Okinawa is as rock solid as ever. Moreover, the rating of Hatoyama has been plunged from 70% to 18%. He lost his mandate.

Swiftly, Hatoyama hoisted the white flag. Like UK, this event revealed that Japan has genuine democracy. Once elected, the platform should at least be executed. Non-performance is a betrayal to voters. In mature state like Japan, abandoned leaders know what to do, regardless their ability.

The result would be less amusing when we compare the similar situation in other parts of the world. The most notorious ones would shot their opposing compatriots for silence. Those less shameful jerks would stick to their seats, and claim that they would stay to change over the worst. They hijack democracy for personal good.

That's why Hong Kongers are so fond of Japan.

砍柴佬 - 20100602

蘇達寧竟然擊敗費達拿！

那句騙人的「自古成功在嘗試」罕有地實現了。蘇達寧能在第十三次對賽裏首度擊倒費達拿，也不得不佩服他的韌力。上年把拿度法網五連霸的美夢打跨，今年將費達拿連續廿三次在四大滿貫入四強的走勢截停，蘇達寧也真是個「紀錄終結者」。

蘇達寧的網球好看嗎？不。他打網球如砍柴，不論開波、正手還是反手，都是死命的把球砸出去。正常人總不會著迷於豬肉佬在肉台重複砍豬骨吧，很累人的。得鋪牛力，欠缺變化，再兇悍也慢慢轉化成沉悶。和蘇達寧同種的，有廸普祖。

費天王對落敗的解釋，是因為天雨暫停，一來影響節奏，二來球重地慢，於砍柴佬較有利。算了吧，上屆不是多得砍柴佬，費達拿也很難拿得法網，完成大滿貫。昨日落敗，也是投桃報李。

星期日也不用費周張去看費達拿對拿度了，算是一件遺憾的美事吧？

Gym - 20100601

I visited a gymnasium last Sunday. Rare thing.

Though fond of sports, no matter do it or watch it, I have not gone to gym house after graduation. To me, it is always boring to deal with machines. Also, being muscular is never my top priority. I prefer to be fit and thin. Thus, swimming and running suffice.

Hong Kong gymnasiums are peculiar, in both the sense of setting and users. Most of the gymnasiums are located in commercial buildings. We could watch body movement easily through the transparent glass-wall. Some of their action were less than agile, others were willing to share their body-line with any pedestrian. Like fish in an aquarium, users mind their own businesses, consciously or unconsciously.

Men in gym house are often narcissistic. In the weight-lifting session, all the gentlemen, either scantily-clad or even undressed, with their tight pants on, are challenging dumbbells that are beyond the limit of human beings. Surrounded by glass walls, men are obsessed by the reflection of flexing muscles. Smell of animal fills in every corner of the room, sweat keeps dropping from different bodies, the ambiance is obscure.

However, sometimes, gym house do provide a better environment to work out. Like last Sunday, the sky was yellow, air was heavy and humid, and temperature was high. Outdoor running becomes torture. By avoid skipping a good day to exercise, gymnasium is still an acceptable venue.

民主女神像 - 20100531

政府又選擇性執法了。

支聯會的民主女神像，不論新舊，一概被冠之以「沒有娛樂牌照」的罪名而充公。其實，民主女神像已被連續展示凡廿一年，早已如風土病般殖根香江。何以食環署與警署不在往時六四強行扣押它？怕人多乎？

也不排除有些人早當六四如娛樂活動，年復年的到維園點洋燭、唱自由花。民主女神也可能有其娛樂性，或吸引力。但是，這不是今年才突變事件，年年如是。

明顯地，香港在那些自由城市的排名將墜入深淵。電檢署將個別電影剪得體無完膚、警察查問社運人士家人、律政司選擇性檢控個別網絡電台. . . . . . 凡此種種，都是近月發生的事。顯而易見，自由空間正不斷收窄。

也難怪，當泛民正在內耗，大陸又樂意分化他們，「自由」已在討論議程裏剔除。今次真是水浸眼眉了。

Revisit - 20100528

Graham Greene's short story The Innocent is interesting enough to recall my childhood.

When I typed in the wording of "Po Chark" in Yahoo Hong Kong, the following website prompted out.

http://www.kcrestate.net/main.htm

Skimming the website, tears were difficult to be held.

* * *

Some years ago, while J and I have exhausted all accessible shopping malls, we went to Yau Tong for a causal walk. Yau Tong, a place which my initial memory was formed and where I lived till seven, has been turned up-side-down. To me, all the old stuff vanished.

Similar to the usual poor, we lived in the illegally built house, situated in the midslope of "Devil Hill". I could still remember the long trip home. Two hundreds steps uphill, maybe. Along the path, the garment factory where mother worked for was located on the bottom. Walked across a bridge, there was a field of vegetables, and the landlord also cultivated rabbits. The smell of soil and animals is still real. Near home, we could see a lot of purple "trumpet" flowers.

I shared most of my time with my elder cousin. Though he diminished for over 10 years, we were then very close. We played hide and seek, my leg was once ripped open by a piece of metal sheet, and a 6-stitch scar was the end product. We went to picked "flower seeds", which were never tasty. We stole porno from my father and got the first thrill at the age of six. The images are still lively as live.

My kindergarten was called Kong Kong. It was quite far away from home. Though the impression was blurry, I particularly remembered a classmate, dark and fat, with surname Law. Then I moved to Po Chark for primary schooling. Po Chark was nearer to home. At the time being, we were obsessed with hourglass. With different color of sand, and different size of containers, my cousin and I gave away quite a few amount of money to the hawker.

Hong Kong was yet to be a hack of skyscrapers.

富士康 - 20100527

半年內，竟然有十二名員工於公司內相繼墮樓，造成十成兩傷，也真夠荒誕。

輿論歸咎公司管理文化有問題，省政府責令富士康要關愛員工。頃刻，富士康變成一間冷漠、甚至冷血的公司。

其實，富士康真的那麼差嗎？看電視，郭台銘到大陸的公司視察，裏面有泳池，而且還有數人在游水呢！試想想，香港有那家公司有泳池供員工使用呢？再者，有人推測跳樓員工以死換取保險金。也不會有十多人做此等傻事吧，大陸不是遍地黃金嗎？說到底，這是命呀。

而且，富士康已經是大公司了，福利理應比一般公司好。我真不相信，成千上萬的山寨廠會比富士康更關愛員工。大陸血汗工場，不是這兩天才發現吧？更何況，公司為什麼要關愛員工呢？別肉麻了。

有理由相信，富士康是大公司，廠房建得夠高，尋死員工因利成便矣；山寨廠工人，在其蚊形工場的頂樓，即二、三樓跳下，是摔不死的。所以，他們想死，也只好選擇其他較低調的方法，如狂吃坑渠油火窩？

至於尋死原因，莫衷一是。除了陳腔濫調，還有大把可能。例如，尋死員工，不是八十後，便至九十後，即是「一孩政策」下的產物。他們會否久經驕縱，性格脆弱不堪打擊？

法網 - 20100525

昨天看了點費達拿法網首圈的比賽，他的狀態非常不俗。發球、正反手俱沒有太多失誤，贏來清風送爽。

當然，全世界、就是連費達拿都知道，拿度才是捧杯大熱門。泥地王在本年的三項泥地精英賽俱摘冠，重拾佳態毫無疑問。只要撐著膝蓋傷，拿度左手的重上旋肯定是其他右手球員的惡夢，尤其是單反的費達拿。

是屆法網，儘管有兩大球王在陣，總覺得氣氛稍遜。第一，沒有甚麼紀錄待破。費達拿上年已把法網拿到手，繼而在溫網破森柏斯大滿貫得獎紀錄。就是再奪獎盃，也是錦上添花。第二，次級球手狀態低迷。祖高域上年曾在泥地把拿度迫入死角，惟今年態況如死水一潭；梅利在泥地裹足不前；廸普祖更因傷避戰。因此，單調難免。

不過，要是決賽真的是費達拿對拿度，也定必觀看。每當兩人對戰，除了少數時候，網球都會升華至另一層次。只要費達拿不跌入和拿度對搓的迷思，減低來回球相持，以多變的打法應戰，如放更多短球。費達拿還是有「偷雞」機會的。

Lemon Grass - 20100526

Our office has been harassing by flies. The suspected cause should be colleagues plants.

Those flies, very small in size, would create no noise while hanging around. However, just like every mundane office, as the surrounding is either on white or light grey, while flies pass by, it is in no doubt an eyesore.

Being annoyed, many colleagues have voiced out their dismay in different ways. Say, some of them would mumble on those moving black spots. Others would compete to be "butcher of the day", and my personal high is 3.

This kind of flies could be vanquished effortlessly. I like to bring it down by swirl. Waving a file strongly, the fly could be anaesthetized and then laid dead on the desk. I once transformed the tiny creature into sample, sticking it by transparent tape. However, nobody accepted this gift.

Some of the plant owners have been alerted. Normal ones would check their plants frequently, to ensure that they are not the source of trouble. However, one of them, I would call her "Genius", tried something exotic.

By giving no notice to anybody, Genius sprayed lemon grass gas (or oil?) around. The strong smell of lemon grass has been lingering in our office for 3 days. By then, we were too shy to ask where the smell came from. Some of us suspected that maybe a colleague had a sprained knee, or sort of, and had to do some massage. I thought maybe one of the ladies has put up some newly created perfumes. Anyway, we just acquainted the truth this morning, as Genius admitted her act, when so many of us were on the brink of breakdown.

Nevertheless, the effect of lemon grass to kill flies is dubious. As I still demolished one yesterday, easily.

Battered Bangkok - 20100524

Those disgusting red shirts protesters demonstrate how real violence should be.

Fighting with the army, blood spilled everywhere in the heart of Bangkok. Not only soldiers and their opponents shed blood, several journalists also lost their live while conducting broadcast. As said by our revered leader Mao, "revolution is not treating guests. Revolution causes death". When we look back to the so called "political violence" in Hong Kong, we could be proud of our timidity.

It is very sad to see our beloved shopping arcades burnt to ashes. Central World, so intimate to you and me, was set ablaze by the mob. When I was travelling in Thailand two years ago, we bought bags in Naraya there. Now, it was demolished by arsonists. Nobody could go there anymore. When the news was first heard, I was really stunned. Theoretically speaking, there would be no much difference if Central World was substituted by Harbour City. Luckily, it is very unlikely to be happened.

One just moans when would the saga be ended. In the near future, Hong Kongers would find alternatives for massage and food and flea market. Hopefully, Bangkok could resume to where it has been and we could see those smiling faces once again.

風骨 - 20100520

昨日，唐英年到官立庇理羅士女子中學推銷政改，遭通識科教師吳美蘭質詢，官員不投票會否樹立壞榜樣。及後，吳老師更高舉「我要有權選特首！」的標語。

此之為真英雌。

官校老師，即是公務員。一般香港公務員給人的印象是：縮骨、怕事、少做少錯。就是五月十六日舉行的五區補選，公務員總工會便說，因特首不投票，若公務員投票，便會有壓力，怕秋後算帳。

試想像，若果吳老師是那些一般公務員，要說服她安靜的理由有千百樣。例如：怕家長投訴其激進行為教壞學生、公務員應該政治中立、怕被校長照肺、怕無職升 . . . . . . 可是，吳老師就是頂著壓力，作其義舉。

政府這麼鬼喜歡叫人發揮獨立思考，理應大肆宣揚吳老師這個發揮獨立思考的實例了。他們會嗎？不知是幸抑或不幸，政府叫庇理羅士女子中學不要秋後算帳。一說便穿了，正常機構都會對不聽話的員工秋後算帳，如早前的女青年協會，這是本地文化。

另外，如此大膽行為，在香港的亦確只有女子敢幹。香港男人，不是小男人，就是電車男，又或是維園阿伯了。

By-election - 20100519

By-election of five seats in the Legislature was completed on 16 May 2010. As expected, the five then resigned LCs were re-elected. However, the 17% voting rate was disappointingly low.

Hong Kong People are in general unenthusiastic about politics. They are particularly uninterested in this one. Some of my colleagues said no one was electable in their constituency. Some of my civil servant friends were afraid of being punished. Some just tore the election notice once received.

Few are clear about the aim. The move from LSD-cum-Civic parties, in the name of realizing universal suffrage of both CE and Legislature, with content too hollow to follow. People simply don't know the proposal rendered by the government. Discussion could hardly be seen. On the contrary, we are so tired of Raymond Wong's combat, on matters regardless importance. As such, the voting rate is as low as it gets.

Our government sucks, as usual. Once again, they acted as a proxy of Grandpa. Donald Tsang, during his election campaign, notoriously claimed that he would "玩鋪勁" for the election reform. Sadly, either he is too conservative, or bluffing, his proposal is anything but bold. In addition, by absence in the by-election, Donald & Co completed castration in their own hands. Anyway, Donald Tsang is only responsible for the 800-electorate, not common people like you and me.

The only winner of the by-election should be the Central Government. By manipulating those pro-Beijing parties to stay away from the by-election, the low show came true. So, hat-off to Grandpa.

怪談 - 20100518

雖然是老生常談，但一日未死，還真的會聽到令人驚奇的事。

話說昨夜與中學同學吃飯，言語間，一人提及我老友的初戀情人，竟然與老友的朋友結了婚。即時與老友求證，他稱是，但他亦只是在二人結婚請飲時才得悉此事。

老友、初戀情人及朋友是中學同學。老友與初戀情人中四始認識，中六拍拖，大學一年級甩拖；至於初戀情人及朋友，中一至中三時是同學，中四、五不同班，至中六重聚；而老友及朋友則中六始認識，大學亦同科。

其實，老友早兩年已結婚，朋友亦有份做兄弟，所以，就是知道朋友與初戀情人相好，也無尷尬吧。何以朋友要把事情隱瞞呢？

也無所謂吧。不過，也不得不對驚訝緣份的奇妙。朋友與初戀情人，自初中已認識了，正常地，要是發展，早也發展。我不懷疑男的早對女的有feel。至於初戀情人，莫名其妙地，算是萬人迷。可是，靠等待，十多年後，竟也能開花結果。

玄妙。

V. S. Naipaul - 20100517

Naipaul is a tremendous writer. Born in Trinidad, with Indian ancestors, Naipaul has sharp eyes on the colonial stuff.

After reading A Bend in the River, I turned to Half a Life. Both novels are set in the background of colony, and I am so impressed by Naipaul's honest and distinctive observation.

The snobbery revealed between different classes is so real. Half-black Eurasians could bully those all-blacks so naturally. In A Bend in the River, the colonial state suffers after independence. Leaders toyed their countries by guns and bombs nonchalantly. Hong Kong readers, like me, would be amused to the deja vu.

Half a Life is a model of concise English. Sentences kept short and clean. Nevertheless, the story flows. Naipaul is a witty guy, the upper portion of Half a Life is especially hilarious. The characters in the book are usually of mix-raced, or mix-casted. The clashes among castes and races are coolly reflected to readers.

Some people, like Edward Said, criticized Naipaul of offering no help to the suffered colonies. It may not be the responsibility of Naipaul. To me, one of the factors to judge upon a writer's work is their ability to reveal the truth. And truth has different faces. Naipaul is a master to present the dark side of it.

Requesting writers to improve the disadvantages is over-zealous. They are neither social workers nor humanitarians.

又黎港姐 - 20100513

不驚不覺，新一屆港姐開始面試。又是報紙忙為佳麗改花名的時候。

也不得不佩服娛記的小聰明。先將參賽者分成天堂組與地獄組。天堂組只是配角，焦點一定是地獄組成員。甚麼鬼如花 2.0、酒凹耀揚、紅粉射喱姊、膠袋花姑 . . . . . . 看圖索驥，夠同事們樂上半天。

港姐質素持續低迷，人盡皆知。雍容華貴、大方得體，就算不是傳說，也早已掃入歷史。況且，港姐的定義，應該隨時代變遷有所不同。死守老遊戲規則，是為港姐無眼睇的主因。

其實，要「活化」港姐，不如將之改變為「港女選舉」。一想到選港女，起碼電車男會抖擻精神。至於選舉形式，可考慮鬥化妝。一眾港女，拚命的把頭髮染金電曲，戴不同花款的大眼仔。泳裝環節不必剔除。港女們除了鬥事業線長短外，也可考慮邀請大班龍友加入「互動」，既影相又俾分，增加客觀成份。至於內涵測試，可以用微博形式，為各港女選手開設帳戶，和公眾一起討論。話題不用扮高深，例如應避免討論甚麼0靚模、後現代的東西。取而代之，可試談援交與召妓的異同。

「港女選舉」，應該有得做？

Hung Parliament - 20100512

So, we learnt a new term from the latest UK General Election, "hung parliament".

Though Tories did obtain the plurality, without holding the majority seats, they could not control the parliament effectively. Thus, the newly crowned PM, David Cameron, has to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, to reach the line of majority.

UK demonstrated how effectively democracy could be. Once the huge parliament was formed, Nick Clegg, the head of Liberal Democrats, overtly said that the Conservatives were of a higher priority to discuss with them to form the coalition government. Although practically speaking, Labours and Liberal Democrats together could also form a coalition government with the majority seats, Clegg knows that Tories are too popular to be ignored.

And the Labours' head Gordon Brown, though reluctantly, stepped down his post swiftly after the defeat.

If hung parliament is to be occurred elsewhere, the situation could be very different. The loser may refuse to exit, and call for strike and demonstration. Also, votes are likely to be requested for recount. For certain, the hung parliament would be lingered way longer than UK.

UK General Election was held on 6 May, and the problem solved on 11 May, albeit tentatively. Instead of bluffing, the issue settled in 5 days.

英超收爐 - 20100511

今季英超，一如所料，車路士奪得冠軍。至於紅魔鬼以一分飲恨，並不足惜。

雖說車路士捧杯不意外，但全季能入超過一百球卻令人甚為驚訝。須知道，藍戰士自摩連奴起，成功靠龜縮。如條件反射般，每次知道車仔贏波，賽果十成十是一比零。但是，今季在安察洛提帶領下，他們竟能以進攻稱王，實令人嘖嘖稱奇。原因之一，是杜奧巴鹹魚番生。即使曾在季中離隊，參加非洲國家杯，魔獸仍能趕過朗尼成為神射手，絕對實至名歸。另外，一直被投閒置散的馬路達，被肥安如意國古蹟般「活化」，亦是關鍵。不要忘記，我心目中的車仔最佳球員艾辛今季還長期因傷缺陣呢。

相比之下，曼聯便進退失據了。中場缺乏創造人物，至季尾始重用蘭尼也有點姍姍來遲吧。我不明白人們為何經常批評貝碧托夫，說來說去也是鬧他懶走動。只要平心看，有貝碧的紅魔鬼進攻流暢多了。話說回來，我們曾幾何時看過人埋怨更懶惰的簡東拿？於我而言，貝碧托夫的技術絕不亞於大帝。另外，費格遜的調動也實在丈八金剛。每對強隊，不論主客，必打朗尼單戰頭。殊不知C朗一去，曼聯中場全是防守類。保守如此，你會旨望他們擊敗同級對手嗎？就是僥倖勝了，也覺沒趣。

至於降班三隊，般尼和侯城乏善足陳，不看也罷。反而樸矛如非財困，扣減九分影響軍心，其大上大落足球還算刺激。云云倖存者中，狼隊值得一提。雖然質素平庸，還幸領隊麥卡菲避重就輕，忍辱負重。縱受雲加謾罵，指其對曼聯未盡全力，惟於其後戰勝同級般尼，以至現在護級成功，麥卡菲用兵應記一功。

PIIGS - 20100510

First we got Greece. Portugal, Italy, Spain and Ireland seem following suit. All the five countries are on the brink of bankruptcy.

It is unimaginable how a country could go bankrupt. After reading some of the related articles, a blurry picture has been formed.

Similar to a company, the financial situation of a country could be glanced through its balance sheet. Under the column of revenue, tax would be one of the great sources of income. According to news report, Greeks love evading tax. On the other column of the balance sheet, the Greece government have not contained its expenditure very successfully. Their civil servants have been lavishly paid. Thus, combining the ineffective tax system and excessive payroll, Greece need extra money.

Bond issuance is a convenience way to gather the additional cash. However, Greece is at the time so poor to repay the interest due. As a result, existing bond holders are worry of owning a bundle of bond-turn-rubbish paper; and moreover, nobody would buy their less-than-sound bonds. If the situation goes on, that no money could be borrowed through the medium of bonds, to fill in the deficit between salary paid minus tax received, the country could go bust.

The European Union is considering to set up a fund to lend money for member states which are financially precarious. However, the proposal is in loggerhead. Healthy states, like Germany, are reluctant to help their poor brothers. No politician is willing to place their heads on the razor in return of a mere thank.

公告 - 20100506

昨天，壹周刊踢爆林建岳的女友懷疑偷食；今日，他倆公告早於兩年前已分手，不及早公開只是為了保護女兒，又說條留追究周刊權利云云。

無稽之談。真不明白，若果他們早於兩年前如實地公佈分手消息，女兒會受甚麼傷害，難道她會因而被狗咬嗎？也不要低估女兒的能力吧。她的有錢同學，有幾個父母從一而終？再者，也不明白周刊有甚麼責任可被追究。至少，Monica和人牽手、咀咀，也應該不是杜撰出來的？

其實，岳少也沒甚麼要和公眾交待。他算是公眾人物嗎？有點模糊。大家對岳少的印象是：有錢佬、好多女、林伯個仔等等。但是，他既不是政客，亦不是明星，他幹甚麼也不會對我們有絲毫影響。當然，很多人對岳少有這麼多索女伴恨得牙癢癢。但是，這能力他與生俱來，想學也學不到。

那Monica也真大膽。從來只見岳少飛女，未見過「岳女郎」換畫，Monica似乎做到了。也難怪，長年累月啃肥羔，不爆血管也吃膩了吧？有時，錢也不是萬能的吧？身子要緊。

Bigot - 20100505

By honestly describing a female support as a "bigot", but negligently forgot to remove the mic on his lapel, Gordon Brown is setting to be ousted from 10 Downing Street in the coming election.

So again, it just proves that human beings are prone to committing errors. With Brown being the prime minister of UK, once "the empire on which the sun never set", it just can't help people agreeing that things dwindle. Of this kind of "talent" as the leader of our beloved kingdom is as comical as Wilde's satires. How dare would those personal comments be slipped out of the mouth of any English gentlemen?

Could the remark be treated as gaffe? Realistically yes. Labour Party is more likely to change side with Tories in the Parliament after the event. However, if we are just looking into the word bigot itself, the conclusion may not be that obvious. According to Merriam-Webster, a Bigot is "a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices". Logically speaking, someone could either have or have not a view on a certain event. If you have a view, and you are Churchill, we would use "steadfast" instead of "bigotry".

Anyway, political correctness rules the media.

六點半新聞 - 20100504

是但台把六點半新聞的體育時段「精簡」掉了。體育主播們被主播取代。

其實，六點半新聞的對象是誰呢？一般白領，幸運的也至少七時才回到家吧；家庭煮婦是一班消失中的族群；學生不會看電視 . . . 六點半新聞，還真的有存在價值嗎？

再者，連是但台也有廿四小時新聞了。現今資訊爆炸，要知道即時新聞，潮人用i-phone，普通人上網；就是科技盲，乘火車也能收看有線新聞了，誰個有必要被限制在六時半才能得悉新消息？

不過，是但台的體育新聞實在不看也罷。首先，最受歡迎的足球新聞，是但台慳得連英超西甲的入球片段大多不播放，內容流於閱讀賽果；此外，最可恨是用普通話譯名。一大堆甚麼鬼貝達思科瑟德林，聽得香港人一頭霧水。摧毀一國兩制，是但台居功不少。

用主播取代，缺點係人都知。例如早兩天，羅馬泥地網球賽，決賽明明是拿度對同胞費拿。嫩口女主播，不知道是口民之誤，還是懶醒，錯說費拿為費達拿。

算了吧，個台有名你叫。

A Scary Run - 20100503

Yesterday when I went running around noon, a black dog pursued me for 15 minutes.

We encountered in a silent corner around the flyover separating Cheung Wah Estate and Wah Ming Estate. The black dog, a comparatively large one, with neck collar, originally poached on the pedestrian pavement. Once our eyesight met, the dog ran to me immediately. I used my sole to resist the dog to sniff me, nevertheless in vain. I slowly retreated, and the dog followed me. At that moment, another runner passed by, I ran side by side with him and thought that the dog would stay. However, this black dog has not given up.

It followed me and just neglected the other runner. I accelerated, it speeded up; I walked, it slowed down. I suspected other people would think that the dog was my pet. When I saw the second runner ahead, jogging in a slower pace, I dashed in the hope of getting rid of the black dog. I changed the direction and ran up to another bridge. When I turned my head back, it was right behind me.

I intended to run to Wah Ming Estate, where much more people would be around and I hope that the dog would leave me alone by then. While on the way to my destination, a cycler was riding slowly. I thus ran shoulder to shoulder with the cycler. After a while, before I entered Wah Ming Estate, the black dog diminished mysteriously. I changed my mind at once to run back home.

The experience was quite bizarre, as I was a bit frightened on one hand and had to keep my head clear at the same time. If the dog was an even bigger one, like rottweiler, I would retreat home with no hesitation. My feeling was mixed, I thought the dog could be manipulated; and maybe deep in my heart, I yearned for a pat dog to be my daily running partner.

Still, I was quite worry of being bitten in that 15 minutes.

世博 - 20100430

無線是夜直播世博開幕式，《飛女正傳》暫停一晚。

無所謂吧，都是一般無謂的節目。問題是，又看到不知所謂的中文 - - - 「開幕式」，及不知所云的世博。

究竟世博是做甚麼鬼的呢？普通人的印象是：多國展覽館、中國館涉嫌抄襲、試展安排混亂等等。但是，世博的目的為何，中國搞世博有啥得著？

引自官方網址，世博簡介摘錄如下：

The World Expo is a large-scale, global, non-commercial Expo. The hosting of the World Expo must be applied for by a country and approved by the international World Expo committee. Expo aims to promote the exchange of ideas and development of the world economy, culture, science and technology, to allow exhibitors to publicise and display their achievements and improve international relationships. Accordingly, the World Expo with its 150-year history is regarded as the Olympic Games of the economy, science and technology.

簡言之，燒銀紙演國力矣。只是，我國雖則財大氣粗，但說到「意念」、「文化」、「科技」，通通都是我們的死穴。就是展館，也涉嫌抄襲，你還能期望內裏軟件有幾精彩？

是夜開幕式，定必大放煙花。尤如煙花，世博也只會帶給我們耀眼但短暫的快感。

Jose Mourinho - 20100429

Down to 10 men in the midway of first half, Inter Milan miraculously eked out a 1-0 loss in Nou Camp, defeated Barcelona 3-2 in aggregation and is now in the final of UEFA Champions League. Standing between the trophy and Inter, there is only the reigning German champion, Bayern Munich.

One just could not praise Mourinho without curse. As a football fan, Mourinho's team always play in dull and safe fashion, as a great contrast to Barca's wonder-football. Everybody knows Chelsea was by then an expert of 1-0 winner. However, this handsome jerk never let you down in any press conference.

Taking the one just held in Spain as an example. Mourinho said it was the best loss in his life. He continued that his boys sweated blood in the field to fight against Barca. He also urged the fans of Inter to swarm to airport to welcome them home, as well as to Rome to support them for the game against Lazio. I mean, who on earth now have better rhetorics than Mourinho? He could have been a great politician had he not been a football manager.

Nevermind how boring Mourinho's side perform, he is an undisputed tactician. Though discipline is one of the cliche everybody knows, Mourinho is a real know how of it. You can see it from Mourinho's appearance, there is no extra ounce of fat on his body. As through his team. Against Barca, the true king of football, Inter should be prima facie a class lower than them. We could see it from the possession of ball, around 70% by Barca and the remaining 30% for Inter. Still, Mourinho has the magic to cohere his boys, to stick in the backyard and conduct counter-attack effectively.

After 38 years, Inter is again one step away to be the European Champion. To me, there is no way the Dutch on the German side could outwit this cunning Portuguese.

Fundraising - 20100427

Yesterday, Hong Kong artists arranged a function to raise fund for victims of earthquake in Qinghai province. Over $30 millions was donated among Hong Kongers.

Though the goodwill from our people should not be doubted, the quality of the show was despicable.

It was so regrettable to hear the name of Wong Fuk Wing for so many times throughout the function. Wong was a truly admirable person, regarding his unselfish contribution to the mainland poverty. However, the show should never be deflected as a kind of worship to Wong. According to the press, Wong was a low profile person who did not like to be praised outwardly. By doing so, people only shown their naivety and hypocrisy. Would parents let Wong be their children's role model? That means children have to sacrifice jobs and schooling for volunteering. I assume that most of us are just ordinary people.

The rundown sucked, too. Apart from singing, there was virtually no other performance. It is understandable that given the tight timeframe of the event, time for rehearsal would be scarce. Nevertheless, it was still a proof of the dwindling of artists. For example, why can't there be magic show, drama, opera etc. Back to the singing itself, most of the songs were astonishingly bad. Those soap opera artists' voices were havoc to audiences.

The situation could change one day, if the show "Hong Kong's Got Talents" is to be run, hopefully.

艋舺 - 20100426

上週末看了《艋舺》，頗好看。

片長超過兩小時，正場票價比普通影片貴，要$70；而早場，十一時二十五分開影，只須$40。當選早場，看完吃午飯，時間剛好。

陳可辛讚賞阮經天在《艋舺》的演出「非常驚人」，有如一顆巨星，媲美《教父》裏的阿爾柏仙奴。這麼誇張，當引起入場看戲的念頭。

其實，片中演員大都十分出色，如真正男主角趙又廷。另外，扮黑社會大佬的馬如龍亦揮灑自如。戴頂浴帽扮大廚，搞笑；在廟內被眾人追殺的長鏡頭，精彩。不過，還是小天的角色「和尚」令人眼前一亮。感染力可能是其中原因。如果任達華能靠《歲月神偷》拿香港金像獎，小天應該可奪康城影帝。

電影票房大收，是計算精確，男女通殺。和尚對志龍的同性愛，顯而易見。由代行膠水私刑，不去召妓，頂Geta的老拳，到最後不忍心殺他，痕跡斑斑。不知小天的女粉絲們知道後會否抗議？

看完戲，到Factory 99吃午飯。餐廳座落APM旁的工廈內，思疑前身是飯堂。裝潢亮麗，星期六下午人流不多，可舒適地吃一頓午飯。豬扒飯美味，埋單兩位才$90，想今天到和民吃也不止此數，更覺超值。

Honour Among Thieves - 20100423

Keep flipping Honour Among Thieves, page after page, and should be finished by today.

Jeffrey Archer is a maestro of story telling. Take Honour Among Thieves as and example, Archer put all the prevailing characters by then in the plot. Saddam, Clinton, Rabin etc. Though sort of faded out while read today, the tension among the rivalries is still hovering.

It just could not help oneself to praise Archer's imagination. By using the Declaration of Independence as the central piece of document for competition, parties located in both ends of the spectrum are involved. Groups of different interests weaved together, and a complex web of connection was formed. Bill, the master of counterfeit, helped Mafia to craft the fake Declaration of Independence. Later, by relying on the expertise of Bill, the US government sought another fake copy from Bill for the recovery of the genuine one. So, anybody's value is situationally dependence. Ethnics is something to speak than practice.

With many other details professionally added in the story, reading Archer's work is amusing. Is the word "British" misspelled as "Brittish"? Would Mossad, the intelligence agency of Israel, works without US's acknowledgement?

Anyway, fictions of this sort are good for time killing.

廿四蚊 - 20100421

有時，也不得不佩服報紙的威力。

當張宇人提議最低工時為廿圓時，經傳媒一輪渲染，他得到「廿蚊張」的惡名。那些正義之士，當然挺身而出，鞭撻張宇人無恥。

可是，無恥在那呢？張議員是立法會飲食界的代表。飲食界的工作人員，可包括洗碗阿姐，可包括學徒。試想想，廿蚊一個鐘，對他們真的很不公道嗎？尤其是學師仔，返工目的，主要是學野，累積經驗，人工應是其次。

如果設立最低工資，也只是迫原本不值最低工資的人失業。又或者，洗碗阿姐們通通變為自僱人士，自負盈虧，繞過最低工資的門檻。

張宇人也真蠢到死。已經得到「廿蚊張」惡名，還出來說甚麼廿四蚊，只是給正義之士另一機會插多幾刀。他不是以為廿四蚊已比廿蚊多二十巴仙，人們會寬恕他吧？

張議員不記得，正義之士信口雌黃最低工資少說也要三十圓。

Trip to Penang and Singapore - 20100420

From 15/4 to 18/4, we went to Penang and Singapore for a short vacation. The trip was a nice one, and we ate a lot under the blazing sun.

15/4 - Penang
We flew to Penang via Singapore. At 5pm, we got our feet touched the ground of Penang. Taxi was taken to our hotel, City Bayview. The taxi driver, a rather talkative one, told us something about Penang. He talked in fluent Cantonese, which he claimed to be learnt from HK soap operas. After a 30-minute ride, we arrived in our hotel. The hotel room was large but barren, with commodities so fundamental for me to eke out my days. A pair of reusable slippers was provided in a room with twin beds, no facial towel and toothbrush etc. We went for dinner in the famous bazaar 新關仔閣. The food was not as good as expected, but still many different local stuff could be tasted.

16/4 - Penang
We stayed in Georgetown of Penang. As a certain kind of "flaneur", we sauntered around without a definite purpose. Normally, most of the colonies would remove its Occidental traits after independence. However, Georgetown was kept in good old shape, no matter by intention or laziness. The temperature was so high, we had to rest in those cafes frequently. Iced coffee was good. The local drinks like 龍眼水 and 羅漢果水 could also quench thirst efficiently. We walked pass the city hall of Penang, which an old man said was the "White House" of Penang. He was right, it indeed reminded that feeling. The old man, another enthusiastic one, offered us free tour around. However, owing to skepticism, we kindly rejected his good will. 粿條 was our lunch. Both the soup and the stuff were very nice. After that, we went to Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O) for tea. As a fan of Maugham, I insisted to visit E&O, in order to have a smell of the colonial surroundings, albeit heavy shower at that moment. The hotel was a real knockout, as its atmosphere was classic. The afternoon tea was tasteful, especially that aromatic pot of Earl Grey. At night, we had dinner in a large seafood restoran. The price was as expensive as Hong Kong but the quality was sadly not.

17/4 - Penang and Singapore
We kicked off our day in the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. The tour was conducted by a middle-age local lady, with a fluent tongue of English. The Mansion, with the blue facade, was acquired to be saved by some local businessmen. However, its mode of preservation would not be without argument, in the Western eyes. Before acquisition, the house was so dilapidated that some of the items had been replaced by new stuff, say those stained glasses. Nonetheless, it was already by far better than Hong Kong. We love to demolish things. We had a nice lunch of 海南雞飯 in a shop not appeared in the guide. The soup was particular impressive as it was clear and tasty. Before departure, we went to a shopping mall in Penang. The mall was just a reminiscent to any Hong Kong's.

We arrived in Singapore at 7pm. MRT was the chosen means to our hotel, another Bayview. In front of the ticket vending machine, a Singaporean zealously helped us to choose the right train circuit, which was by chance opened on that day. That man, accomplished us to our destination, as he claimed that he was on the same way too. Upon check-in, I confirmed with the receptionists that the circuit was opened on 17/4. At night, we had a quick look in a mall for those "Graniph" T-shirts. Subsequently, we dined in a shop specialized in duck. The duck was yummy.

18/4 - Singapore
We walked aimlessly around the city. We came across Chinatown, and then went to have lunch of 肉骨茶, which tasted fantastic. The soup of white pepper ignited our appetite in the sultry afternoon. We sauntered along the Singapore River. Separating the Fullerton and the Legislature, it provided excellent scenes at both ends. Those historic architectures of Legislature, Supreme Court and the City Hall were ideal spots for sightseeing. We then had another meal of 海南雞飯 at the famous 逸群. However, its fame overshadowed its taste. We reached Changi Airport at 5pm. The airport, comprising old and new wing, was quite something. With all the trendy stores, numerous internet spots, video game sites as well as sundry sport channels, visitors would not be bored, even if they are trapped inside involuntarily, say owing to volcanic eruption.

This short vacation was really a lovely one.