人肉炸彈 - 20100330

莫斯科的地鐵受女人肉炸彈襲擊，炸死卅多乘客。

看電視新聞，莫斯科地鐵站的外貌饒有特色。圓拱形的天花，車廂配以吊燈，充滿東正教的風情。這勾起我幾年前在北京乘地鐵的回憶。同樣是一個上了年紀的車站，密封的地底大堂，由麻石和大理石鋪成的月台，只有雙線往來的路軌，歲月留痕處處。畢竟中國師從俄羅斯。

真不敢想像香港有一天會發生類似的事。如我等每天必須迫火車上班的蟻民，置身擠擁的車廂內，活動空間有限。尤有甚者，車到大圍，馬鐵沿線乘客更是不理三七廿一的一湧而上，大家更是動彈不得。只要列車一天不到九龍塘，任誰都不要妄想能移動半分。遑論炸彈，就是對面有人打個噴嚏，你也別希冀能夠避開。

也不知算不算幸運，一般香港人都沒有強烈宗教信仰。因此，我們不會在宗教層面得罪教徒。另外，儘管口頭說愛國的人多，香港人實際上亦愛台灣，每天到台北高雄台南旅行的香港人不知凡幾；所以，我們也不會就「中國人」議題和兩岸同胞反面目。由此觀之，我們蟻民乘火車上班，還是可以睡得很香甜安穩的。

The White Ribbon - 20100329

Directed by Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon recalled the feeling what a film should have.

Theatres are piled up by so many commercials and soap operas which are incarnated as films. However, rarely do they fulfill the nature of a movie. Styleless and of silly storyline, we would well be contended if some giggles could be unleashed. In the time that banality prevails every aspect of our lives, the film industry is of no exception. In its heyday, there were so many masters, like Bergman, Fellini etc, in the film industry. Though never quite grasp what those classics tell, the impression they give is always distinctive.

The White Ribbon is quite artistic. In monotone, the tension of suspiciousness reflects strongly in front of the audiences. The use of shades through black and white colour is quite unforgettable. The stillness of motion and minimal use of dialogue maintain the sense of uneasiness throughout the movie. All in all, to me, the movie is a rare good one in recent years. A Palme d'Or suits its quality.

Sadly, in Hong Kong, the film could only be watched in two theatres. Yesterday, a usual Sunday afternoon, there were only around 30 audiences to go for it in Broadway Cinematheque, and I overheard that a lady could not even find out who the butler was when the film was finish. Sigh.

涼 - 20100325

由攝氏廿五度，下滑至十五度，只消數小時。

昨夜七時許，室外氣溫仍高，在街上跑一圈，縱是赤裸上身，大汗淋漓依然。晚飯畢，既讀報，亦瞄電視。無聊間，漸覺風起，時為九時半。後晾衣服，講一會電話，看一回書，至十一時半，開始看錄影了的《醫神》。看著入神，北風驟起，吹得背脊清涼，要把窗戶關上。看看街，原來下起雨來，也奇怪竟然有途人記得帶雨傘，明明日間還是陽光普照嘛。至十二時半，倦了，上床睡覺。被窩有點涼，但可能太累了，也不需偎暖床枕，旋即睡著。

今早醒來，非常清涼，看電視晨早新聞，上水只有十三度。如常做掌上壓、sit-up，瓷磚地板沁著清爽的冷洌，是起北風的訊號。披上羊毛外套，走到街上，也不冷。相反，濕度不高，吹著風，頗為舒適。

天氣反反覆覆，時冷時熱，拿地球暖化來對號入座的人最是討厭。春天，正常就是這樣，只要冷不過十度，凍過了頭，輕鬆面對便是了。

Monster Parents - 20100324

In Japan, a new term, Monster Parents, emerged in the teaching circle, to describe those ultra-demanding mums and dads. One of the examples is like this, a mother lodged a complaint against a teacher, about the "unreasonableness" for requesting her kid to deliver a speech towards a crowd of classmates. This kid, according to his mummy, disliked speaking in front of people.

Among all the valid reasons, the downgrading of schooling to consumer goods should be a contributing force. In the good old days, teachers were highly respected. Though some of us may challenged some of them sporadically, under the effect of hormones. Mostly, we revered teachers and trusted their judgment. By then, we still had the vague belief that teachers were doing for the goodness of their students, whatever the means were.

The tide changed. The culprit should be those course evaluations. Under the facade of democracy and impartiality, students views are collected, regarding the performance of their mentors. However, teachers are no consumer goods, the nuance of their quality is not crystal clear. In addition, students' motive is suspicious. According to my personal experience, only those tutors who were generous enough to provide exam tips could be well-liked. Thus, teachers image and integrity is battered.

So, the boys and girls who participated in the course evaluation are now parents. They know the game and how to fight for their children. In order to protect their own jobs, teachers would do the ridiculous stuff as ordered by the Monster Parents. Anyway, customers never commit wrongdoing.

沙塵暴 - 20100323

昨日，環保署表示，香港各區空氣污染指數普遍超過四百，部分地方如觀塘更達五百。

這是一組很荒謬的數字。當人仍在辦公室，還未上街午膳，卻聽到同事驚呼甚麼鬼五百。先是嘩然，繼而上網查證，似乎是真的。試想像，平時空氣混濁的一天，污染指數可能也及百多二百。即便如此，藍天也必被掩沒。因此，有點擔心五百會是怎樣個景色。

食飯時間到了。下樓，走到街上，抬頭看看，天空確是灰黃一片。不過，感觀上卻未能分辨這五百和平時的二百有甚麼不同。人大了觸覺鈍了？環保署還千叮萬囑呼吸欠順的市民不要做戶外活動。

聽說，這次污染源於華北的沙塵暴。對沙塵暴的認識，始於千禧年初到北京旅行。看旅遊書，說沙塵暴怎麼個兇猛。於是，跟從書中建議，帶備雨衣同行。幸運地，那次旅行並未遇上沙塵暴，而該雨衣最後也不知所終。之後，間歇在新聞裏看到沙塵暴的報導，颯颯狂沙，剎是嚇人。不過，終究是間隔著電視，未有親身經歷，過目即忘。

只想到，香港見五百，已經敲鑼打鼓，著人不要幹這幹那。那麼，北京內蒙同胞，又或者印度人，長年面對沙塵暴、污濁空氣，政府又有甚麼「呼籲」？如果他們像我等港燦般「身嬌肉貴」，只怕人人都不能涉足戶外，全天候的幹「室內活動」。到時，人口拾級而上，影響更深遠。

Jaw-dropping Messi - 20100322

While having my breakfast in a Hong Kong-style restaurant this morning, the TV was showing some highlights on the Li Liga match between Barcelona and Zaragoza. In a mere minute, Messi's magic made me "wow" a few times. In the end, Barca won 4-2, and Messi completed another hat-trick in this week, following the previous one against Valencia.

Actually Messi could scored four goals easily in this game. However, the generous little giant, who caused the spot kick in the closing minutes, gave the opportunity to Ibrahimovic. Without letting Messi down, the Swedish put the ball into the net. I could hardly imagine the selfish C9 to follow suit.

Owing to the broadcast time, usually around dawn, most of the normal Hong Kongers would not watch Li Liga matches live. It is just a shame, as the level of football Barca demonstrates, is the ideal football. Arsenal could only be the "A-version" of Barca.

Being the ace of Barca, recognized not only by critics but also among his fellow superstars, say Henry, Messi should be the real emperor of football. Though inborn a short guy, he could blast through his opponents easily. The Argentine's technique is simply superlative, he could trick any defender by both legs. In the match against Zaragoza, no matter two or three defenders guarded around him, Messi could find the tiny space available, dribbled through and striked the ball into the net. It was sheer art.

Some pundits are comparing Rooney with Messi. To me, they are just mixing up quantity with quality. I suspect those pundits were too dazed after watching Messi's performance and made that silly suggestion. Anyway, nobody would treat drunkards' words serious, right?

大師 - 20100319

志雲大師被廉署「拘留」後，昨天主動開記招，暢談近況。

大師即是大師，談笑風生，殺人於無形。一句「莫名其妙」，把廉署的粗暴和自身無辜的申訴，含蓄而有力地表達出來。為戴上口罩作解說，既幫廉署「涉嫌虐打」開脫，亦為自己面上貼金。一來不是因犯罪膽怯以作掩飾，二來亦顯自身寬宏大度。儘管拘留莫名其妙，亦不發炮轟擊。主動提到往公立醫院覆診，除了表明生活沒受影響外，更重要是點出所到之處。如是貪污，會委身到「公立醫院」看病？至於甚麼碌柚葉買一送一、真的假不了等，只是為服侍傳媒而設的sound bite矣，無甚重要。

看廉記，有點走火入魔。如王岸然早前一篇專欄所說，廉記可能忘記了natural justice中的「假定無罪」。正生書院如是、中原經紀如是，「拘留」時超級高調，證據不足不作檢控時卻異常低調，不是王岸然重提，大已經都忘記。但是，那些當事人可慘了，如正生書院的捐款，在老廉的「幫忙」下便銳減九成。

為了證明存在價值，耍點花臣可以理解。只是，其後果是害得其他人，儘管未致身敗名裂，也五癆七傷，這便有點兒那個了。

Jab - 20100318

How dare those fucking vaccines could be supplied in Shanxi?

Some 80 children contracted serious side effects after receiving various vaccinations. The cause was suspected to be related to the sub-par quality of those vaccines. Side effects included internal bleeding, dumbfound and even death.

The health bureau of Shanxi rejected the allegation, and claimed that the vaccines were up to standard. Actually, officials of the health bureau should mimic top management of the milk industry, to prove the safeness of vaccines by publicly injecting it. Otherwise, nobody would treat their words seriously.

Jabbing in China is fatal, no matter legally or illegally. I just recalled that one of my classmates' father was then robbed in Shenzhen. The unfortunate man was pricked by a contaminated syringe, rumoured to be mixed with sewage water. He could manage to crawl back to Hong Kong, and was admitted to the North District Hospital. Sadly, his life could not be saved.

It is just shameful to be a Chinese. If I were a father in China, I would have flipped a coin to decide whether my children would accept any vaccination. I doubt the chance of getting hurt by jab would be lower than contracting those epidemics naturally.

連駱駝都頂唔順 - 20100317

今早看報，差點笑死。河南漯河市動物園初生雙峰駝，因喝了「偽劣」奶粉，差點送命。幸得獸醫閆水生及時診治，化險為夷。

早有三鹿害死人，今有雜嘜累駱駝。自三鹿出事後，大陸好像雷厲風行的掃蕩了假奶粉一陣子；不過，今次初生雙峰駝的險死事件，是否意味著大陸產品的檢測還原基本步？定還是動物飲品和人類飲品的規格有別？如是前者，日製荷製奶粉商感激它；如是後者，也只是說明動物在大陸受曲線虐待的另一例證。

不過，只消看到那奶粉連駱駝都頂唔順，便知其壞到甚麼地步。試想想，駱駝有「沙漠之舟」的美譽，就是在沒有水的沙漠，駱駝也能堅韌的生存一段長時間；如今，BB雙峰駝只是安安樂樂的在動物園hea，反而差點被奶粉「灌死」，實在吊詭。

還冒出一個新的形容詞，曰「偽劣」。這是一個全無邏輯的詞語。如果有「偽劣」，那麼，便應該有「偽優」吧？可是，在現實裏，根本不會有「偽優」的東西。求其舉一例，A貨金勞，儘管價賤，其品質一定比正牌差。說回那「偽劣」奶粉，它實際上就不是奶粉，只是高澱粉質飲品罷了。因此，喚其作「偽劣」奶粉，就算不是抬舉了它，也肯定是名不副實。

Echoes of the Rainbow - 20100316

As a certain kind of support to the local film industry, we went to watch Echoes of the Rainbow on Sunday.

Apart from the movie, the choice of theatre merits to make a note. We chose GH Mongkok, which could hardly be described as our usual pick. Actually, the house itself was satisfactory. The screen was large and the Sinomax seat was comfortable. Nevertheless, the audiences sucked. A couple commented and predicted the film real-time one row behind us. In that same row, three lesbians, one of them sitting right behind J, rattled throughout the movie. The vibration only faded out when we turned back and starred at her for two times. It was quite unfortunate to be disturbed by those etiquette-free monkeys. Should we go to IFC or Admiralty in order to have quiet enjoyment of movies?

Regarding the film, it was simply a "spiritual masturbation" of the director. Though brotherhood is a kind of universal sentiment, I do not think the director's private tribute to his prematurely dead brother be particularly touching. Having said that, the retro ambience throughout the movie was lovely. The selection of songs was also tremendous, and the lyrics of those folks were beautiful. The wardrobe was quite detail, as "Pan Am" schoolbags should be the representative of 60s. The technique of flirting in the film was quite old-school, as nobody would be hooked by another one's knowledge nowadays.

Anyway, DBS boys would enjoy this film in a deeper sense. We ordinary people could only jealous at the kind of school life as depicted. French lesson, mass and a reclused school yard, what a Utopia.

葬禮 - 20100315

外婆於二零一零年三月十三日早上十時廿分離世了，享年八十多歲？(待考)

這是我有生以來第一次出席親人的喪禮，感覺既奇特又陌生。於星期四晚，妹妹和我趕返沙井，送外婆最後一程。回到娘親鄉下老家，一進門，看到一大班早已沒有來往的親戚，有點驚訝。平常這幫契弟，不是吵鬧，便是借錢。我也不多加理會他們，看外婆要緊。橫躺在大廳的她，還沒斷氣。可是，右半身已因滑倒不遂，雙腿亦已軟癱在床板上，只有左手尚剩餘半分活動能力。和我感情最要好的舅父「朱生」便向外婆大喊妹妹和我回來看她，妹妹和我便輪流握外婆的手。還是溫暖的。不過三數秒，我們便退開一旁了。

外婆明顯地已走到生命盡頭。口吐白沬，眼睛緊閉。在沒有任何醫療儀器輔助下，她直是在等死！但也難怪，年紀大，創傷深，人口密集的大陸還會浪費資源在此等長者身上嗎？稍一會，殯儀人員和「朱生」、阿姨，合力為外婆擦拭身體，然後穿上青藍色的壽衣，時為十時許。一工作人員說，如外婆未能於十一時前離世，葬禮便要順延一天至星期六。我的「七舅父」焦急了，可能害怕外婆等吧？因為，除了他的一對子女基於「感冒」沒有回來之外，其他的子孫大致到齊了。他對著外婆，不斷嘀咕，說他的子女因病缺席，不下十次，可惜外婆無動於衷。到十二時許，外婆仍處離留狀態。此時，除卻六名子女及三個媳婦，其他人都悉數回房，稍事休息。

一宿無話。至星期五早上九時多，「朱生」拍房門，道外婆快不行了。趕快到大廳，外婆連左手都不動了，只剩微弱的呼吸。大伙兒內心乾急著，時間秒秒流逝。突然，外婆無聲無色地斷了氣。大家都下意識飛奔往外婆處，只有我還記得錄下時間。嗩吶聲登時響徹東塘村。子女媳婦，男左女右，列於屍旁，跪下扣頭。我走到屋外，天開始下毛毛細雨。看見外公獨個兒坐著，黯然啼哭，最是難受。也只能輕搭他的肩膀，聊以慰藉。

午後，幫手於大門口燒衣紙。正對著外婆失去了靈魂的身軀，一邊燒衣，一邊看著村民魚貫入內奉帛金，暗忖村民也真悠閒，於星期五下晝不用工作，隨傳隨到？衣紙得連綿不絕的燒至星期六出殯為止。「工作」了一小時後，表弟接棒，我便回家小睡片刻。此後，嗩吶聲定時奏起，六兄弟及媳婦們亦應時歸位，直至週末。

出殯之日到了。早上六時三刻起床，吃過久違了的合味道咖哩海鮮杯麵，便往送外婆最後一程。穿上白衣白褲白鞋，戴上如3K黨般的白帽，大家便準備出發。嗩吶聲再次奏起，大家列隊，走出家門到村外空礦處。稍後，外婆的遺體便運到臨時帆布亭。六兄弟及媳婦們輪流跪拜，及至外公。法師唸唸有詞，畫符作法，不在話下。稍後，大顆兒，包括鄉親，圍繞外婆遺體走了三圈，每次掉下一注清香。禮成，遺體運上黑箱車慢駛，親友們尾隨圍繞東塘行了一圈。完事，吃下糖果，六兄弟隨車往深圳，火化外婆遺體；餘眾四散。原本計劃和一眾親友前往墓園，奈何連番誤會，妹妹與我最後被撇下，直至眾人回來。法師再次作法，為外婆安然上路盡最後努力。小歇，出席「英雄宴」，飲飽食醉，連同兩大袋毛巾，於七時十五分離開沙井。

早明白生死無常，也不悲傷。而觀乎鄉下喪禮，與《禮儀師之奏鳴曲》一比，便知中國人之求其。為外婆清潔，無遮無掩，肉體橫陳於眾人眼前；外婆遺容，完全沒有化妝，因腦手術剃去的頭髮只以假髮胡亂覆蓋。也罷，總不能幻想見到如本木雅弘般有型細緻的禮儀師？

The Clash of Civilization - 20100311

While on my way back to office this morning, a quarrelling was taken place inside the train compartment.

The train was departed from Lok Ma Chau. When I took my seat in Sheung Shui, the 4-seater opposite to me was occupied by a Mainland couple and another woman, who was a non-factor to the event. The couple, carrying several bulky luggage as well as a trolley with two boxes of cartoon, intentionally occupied 3 seats, with a vacant one separating the two of them. As there were still several seats available, the train departed from Sheung Shui quietly.

However, once the train doors opened in Fanling, a middle-aged woman ran in and yelled at the couple, "this is a 4-seater!". The husband talked back, and queried at the woman's loudness. The woman, a combative one, shouted at the couple immediately, "you Mainland pigs and Mainland dogs are street tumblers!". The man then shouted at equal high pitch, and the exchange of foul languages filled in each and every corner of the train compartment. Weirdly, the bickering died down when the train reached Tai Wo, and the shouting trio remained seated, shoulder to shoulder, even when I left in Kowloon Tong.

I must confess that I am the supporter of the Fanlingese. We are so used to the bullying by our mainland compatriots. When we see those abuses, most of us would not dare to fuck them off, for any excuses, but timidity would be the ultimate cause. Thus, this flammable Fanglingese should be our example, though she could gain more credits if she could induce the Mainlander to be the first one to speak foul language.

吃人夠夠 - 20100310

亞視股權風波真有趣。旺旺老闆蔡衍明指亞視股東查懋聲違反承諾，「吃人夠夠」，不增賣股權給他，事件鬧到高等法院。蔡衍明開記招訴苦，還獲「感同身受」的星島老闆何柱國「聲援」。

這件事的娛樂性完全蓋過了事情本身。公司法千變萬化，不是我等一般小市民能駕馭。縱是公司股票，也有等級之分。例如，有些股票有投票權，有些有配股優先權等，花多眼亂。不知道蔡衍明擁有的是何種亞視股票呢？儘管蔡衍明可能想控制亞視，只是，查懋聲說溜了咀，香港電視台法律上要由香港居民擁有。那麼，除非蔡衍明投資移民香港吧 . . .

而整件風波的風格和「吃人夠夠」也實在非常匹配。人在香港，蔡衍明硬是要把非香港的東西帶進來，例如旺旺的廣告。鄉土味一如既往，長年轟炸電視。那些老土得令人O咀的O泡果奶，和自以為很前衛，「飲幾多，少幾多」的錫紙包裝飲品，實在老土、落後。而在生意上，不談合約法，轉而指責生意顆伴「吃人夠夠」，也是非常滑稽的，和旺旺廣告沒兩樣。

蔡衍明還大言不慚，說認同未來大股東王征的目標，就是要把亞視「打造」成「亞洲CNN」。是真的「吃人夠夠」，還是有人「戇撚鳩鳩」，也真要走著瞧。

文革 - 20100309

早前看了嚴家其夫婦合寫的《文革十年史》，對文革的認識有所寸進。

看書之前，文革於我只是虛無的名詞。也得佩服我們的教育局，能將這歷史重要的一頁，近乎完全的剔出中學課程，使我們免受人性醜惡一面的污染，天真無邪健康愉快地沉迷打機。

毛澤東、林彪和江青這三人真是中國之恥。老毛為著力保個人權力，在三面紅旗失敗，地位備受動搖之際，先拿批評三面紅旗的彭德懷作炮灰，其實矛頭直指時任國家主席的劉少奇。為了鞏固皇位，老毛利用年青人的燥動，蠱惑民眾，引發無謂的串連、批鬥和上山下鄉。老毛這文革扯旗手，實是中華民族有史以來最大的一株大毒草。

至於林彪與江青，則是揣摩出老毛用心，因勢利導而奉承老毛以達一己私欲的兩條賤狗。林彪從軍隊入手，江青則在傳媒立根據地，一起殘殺異己，直搗黃龍。雖則他倆都沒有好下場，只是，中國便因此而變態了十多年。

看人群的趨炎附勢，實驚嘆人性之軟弱。林彪與江青，為了豎立自己勢力，對老毛一面倒的歌功頌德。所有言論，都是手段，目的純粹，就是攀升。看江青，當林彪蒙毛恩澤，位居副主席時，抬舉他；當林彪叛變失敗墜機身亡後，便批林批孔。目的貫徹始終，就是要當武后，寵面首。

雖然共產黨還是一黨專政，但我深信，黨內必有機制防止一人獨大。如果，有傻蛋的想頭大得要當新老毛，便只有墜機了。

A Decadent Sunday - 20100308

Together with some friends, we shared a decadent Sunday in Shenzhen yesterday. How indulgent it was? Massage, hot pot and ice-cream!

Shenzhen is the Hong Kong version's Sin City. Our men are so familiar with those sex parlours which are in the facade of either massage shops or salons. Nonetheless, there are still some normal massage venues in Shenzhen, and the one that we visited yesterday should be one of those, I suppose.

Our destination, grandly built in the central theme of Maya, its appearance was a typical resemblance of kitsch. Allocated a number band in the entrance, I was too naive to find out that the band was also the electronic key of my locker. Thoroughly washed myself, I was ready to be rendered the first part of my massage duet, feet therapy. Sitting alongside with my friends, we formed a brigade of five in an aisle. Though TV was equipped individually in each seat, the programmes were too cramp for a glimpse. The service was not particularly impressive, and we moved on quickly to the second part, body massage.

Body massage was conducted in respective cubicles located on 5/F. In the lobby, we found some photos of the massagists. Divided into 2 sections, a group of "Chinese Medicine" massagists were dressed with shirt and tie, whilst the other group of massagists were exotically dressed and weirdly posted. Anyway, J and I arranged ourselves in the same room. My massagist came in first. Professionally dressed in a full set of long-sleeve uniform in high collar, I was entrusted that no tendon of mine would be misidentified. My guess was correct. The treatment was great and I was quite relaxed afterwards. At the end, $200 was left down.

When we walked out of "Maya", it was already 5:15pm. In addition to the single slide of bread, we ate nothing more for our "lunch". Thus, all the five of us were as hungry as dog. We took railway to our original dinning place. As women are fickle, we swayed from restaurant to restaurant and finally, we opted for hot pot. The restaurant, named "肥羊王", was obviously a copycat of "小肥羊". However, the food was unexpectedly delicious. In addition to the duo taste of soap which were both good, the BBQ food was also wonderful. $90 per person was the price of eating piles and piles of stuff.

After eating that many hot and spicy food, we went to cool ourselves down by ice-cream. The decadent trip was satisfactorily put to an end at 9pm.

Lionel Messi and Chan Seven - 20100305

If we are under the barter economy, how many Chan Seven does one Lionel Messi worth?

Silly question. We should consider in whose shoe we are in first. If I were Chan's father, even a hundred Messies would not count. However, if I were the owner of Barca, a hundred Chans would have never meant as a little toe of Messi. So, intimacy is one of the main factors to decide upon this puzzle.

Suppose we are impartial football fans, the footballer of the world would no doubt outweigh the footballer of Hong Kong. But, one day, if Messi leaves, it would create only one vacancy. That is, no matter the quality of the successor, that vacancy could only be filled in by one person, even he is Chan Seven. Thus, realistically speaking, we could only exchange one Chan for one Messi.

Swapping is an ordinary business inside any organization. Willingly or unwillingly, by chance, undesirable ones would be sitting next to you without the slightest hint. To avoid bullets from the new unwelcomed neighbour, let's try our best to be as agile as Messi and as robust as Chan.

落葉 - 20100304

都已經三月了，非常詭異地，家附近的行人路上竟然鋪滿了密麻麻的落葉。如不是抬頭看見些初開的淡紫的花，和被近日濕漉漉的天氣似鬼魅般，如影隨形的纏繞著，還會錯覺是秋天。

那些枯葉數量之多實在驚人。晚上跑步，整條街道，由頭至尾，被落葉，如魚鱗一樣，把魚身似的街道完全蓋上。路上的每塊磚頭，如魚群，淹沒在浩瀚的葉海裏。視覺效果震撼，惟跑步時卻一步一驚心。那些「魚鱗」，吹彈之間，便會移形換影。對跑者而言，街道尤如佈滿蕉皮。要避免摔倒，也需留神。

* * *

外婆於星期一的早上摔倒了。潮濕的空氣，令廁所的磁磚份外濕滑。八十開外的外婆，就在如廁時跌倒。後腦撞傷，積血甚多。沙井鎮的醫生朿手無策，外婆性命危在旦夕。媽媽及其兄弟姊妹已有心理準備 . . . . . .

* * *

和外婆長年分隔中港兩地，感情不算深厚。因此，外婆意外重創，失去意識，徘徊於無間道上，也不是太悲傷。再者，外婆年過八旬，即使生活不是富足，晚年也實無甚牽掛。萬一真的因此謝世，不用折騰，未嘗是壞事。

如枯葉，面對將落下一刻，狂瀾不必力挽，「化作春泥更護花」。

Snack - 20100303

Everybody loves snack. No matter it is sweet or salty, soft or crunchy, from children to grandparents, we could not help tasting snack, bit by bit, across homes, schools and offices.

I used to be a snack-addictive. When we were young, mother bought loads of snacks for sister and me. I was particularly obsessed to those squid-related snacks. Either came in sheets or bars, it would be welcomed in the same manner. To me, form was subordinate to substance. Somehow, for unknown reason, we stopped to shop in snack shops and my appetite to those little demons ebbed out. Even now in office, I have no motive to open the Pandora box in others' cubicles.

Among that many "Centres" we tout to be, Hong Kong could gain the fame of "Snack Centre" easily. We can buy so many different kind of snacks worldwide in a single store so conveniently. To us, Macau's and Japan's ones compete for the crown of yummy. Products from Japan were all along so trustworthy till recent weeks. Thanks to 蔡瀾, the popularity of snacks from Macau elevates to a new height.

Snacks are good means to connecting people. In office, chatterboxes would be let out, once any pack of snack is unsealed. When sounds and laughters gather and loom, more chatterboxes join in and suddenly the office becomes a bazaar, until boss starts patrolling. That's why people are getting fatter and fatter.

Children have sweet tongues, so their fondness of snack are expected. However, I could hardly understand why a male adult could love snack so feverishly. In my office, a male colleague loves to snap snack from any colleagues. Both the frequency and attitude are astonishing. Being compassionate, I guess his oral period has been extended, to a date which is simply unimaginably far away.

盆菜 - 20100302

上星期六晚，到沙田一私人屋苑參加一個疑似新春晚宴的活動，吃了一頓免費盆菜，非常感謝。

盆菜是自助餐和火窩的同級對手。份量大，選擇多，都是香港人鍾情的菜式。就味道計，於我而言，自助餐最佳，火窩次之，盆菜的味道最差。

何出此言？混雜性是關鍵。自助餐的選擇應是三者之冠。因為，所有菜式都是分開烹調的，所以，儘管食物多是大路貨色，它本身的味道卻未被污染。例如，牛肉便是牛肉，不會沾上半分蠔味。至於火窩，因食材共冶一爐，湯底在不同食物的相互影響下，清濁難分。雖然，我們多點鴛鴦窩，奈何時間越久，味道也殊途同歸。不過，火窩的佐料，如豉油、蒜蓉等，因可持續更替，也勉為污濁食物如「肥牛味魚圓」提鮮。

說到盆菜，味道至為雜亂。所有生料，以個性極強的醬汁如南乳在工場先煮熟，送上宴會場地後再翻熱，所有食物的味道最終都是一般濃郁。那些雞鴨肉，因久經炆煮，早已失卻彈性，糜爛不堪；最好吃的下欄東西如蘿蔔、豬皮等，雖則越煮越淋越入味，但吃多了也是太過肥膩，三五件下肚，胃口失了，胃納卻未滿。尤有甚者，飲品如啤酒汽水不夠冰凍，更難提起食慾。

儘管難吃，盆菜受歡迎，自有因由。家庭成員，平日四散為口奔馳。難得眾首，現今「煮婦」買少見少，以何填肚？盆菜最是簡單。一個窩，幾雙碗筷，飲飽食醉後，清理也是容易。始終，食味其次。人情味，如果仍然存在，還是最堪回味。

Up in the Air - 20100301

Yesterday we went to watch Up in the Air, a film starring "women killer" George Clooney. The movie was funny sometimes, the tone was however hypocritical in general.

The theme of this light-hearted comedy was on how to treat lay-off staff in a humane way. George Clooney, being an old school, opted for the traditional face-to-face channel. However, his protege, Anna Kendrick, developed a system to conduct exit interview through video conferencing. Of course, there is no way the computer could outgun we human-beings.

Americans' attitude towards counselling is comparable to Hong Kong doctors' prescription of antibiotics. Uncle Sam is entrusted that everybody would feel better via counselling and every problem would then be solved. Superficial. Like Clooney, by merely reading the resume of one of the downsized, persuaded the unhappy one to pursue his "dream" of opening a French culinary. How shallow it was. Thus, Clooney got his karma at the end of the film, being played and dumped by Vera Farmiga, an incarnation of the real-life George Clooney.

At the end of the film, it reminded us that a genuine reference letter should be a sealed one. In Hong Kong, on the contrary, we see reference letter in any nonchalance forms. A draft prepared by the requester, a template downloaded from the internet etc. I guess most of my colleagues are foot soldiers with rank too rudimentary that an accurate reference letter is unnecessary.