假如我是一本書 – 兩周一聚(21)

假如我是一本書，我想做一本神奇的自傳或傳記。

這本神奇的自傳/傳記讓我可以借鑒於別人一生的成功與失敗。

這本神奇的自傳/傳記的部分主人翁包括 - 王安, Ray Kroc (auto-bio), Lee Iacocca (auto-bio), 楊振寧, Thomas Watson, Jr. (auto-bio), Bill Gates, 查良鏞, 林思齊, Steve Jobs, Kurt Gödel, I. M. Pei, Richard Feynman (bio & books), Louise Arbour (the eagle), Milton & Rose Friedman, James Dyson (auto-bio), Dick Haskayne (auto-bio), Warren Buffett (bio), …。

其他網友文章請見兩周一聚。

P.S. For my blog friend Haricot, the above list is not meant to be exhaustive nor chosen because of the person’s gender. Over the years, I have also enjoyed biographies of 林語堂, Lewis Carroll, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Knew Infinity), … and books like “Out of Their Minds“, and “Founders at Work“.

小籠包的藝術

小籠包 is something that I love since I was a little boy. Blogger Yun recently wrote about a meal of which 小籠包 was one of the entrees and that had lead to a few comments and me writing this blog entry.

Other than the color being a bit off, the following 小籠包 look good.

And this photo says a lot as well.

What I look for in a 小籠包,

• look good and tasty
• skin can’t be too thick.
• juicy inside

I think it is fair to say the 小籠包 chef cheated on the night Yun had hers as I can’t imagine a respectable 小籠包 chef will cheat by putting 小籠包s in a container. Some 灌湯餃 dim sum “chefs” cheat by using a bowl or a container, but at least their excuses were the 餃s are full of 湯. But the juice in the 小籠包s are not that much.

I grew up having my Peking food at Spring Deer and their Peking Ducks are my favourite. Spring Deer doesn’t look fancy (on the outside and inside) but their food are consistent and quite tasty.

放完飛蛾，放蜘蛛

剛剛放完飛蛾，現在又放蜘蛛，非常有趣的一夜。

大飛蛾

小時候，我見飛蛾飛進家裡面，它們多數會被我打死。

近年，我會盡所能拯救和釋放它們。

今晚，大飛蛾飛進家裡面，我小心地用一個長玻璃杯捉住它，然後把帶它出外面，讓大飛蛾快樂地飛走。

:)

敬悼 卡城中國民主促進會前任會長 吳耀初先生 逝世

Goodbye Mr. Ng.

（本報訊）卡城中國民主促進會前任會長吳耀初（鍾衡）先生於八月廿一日以八十高齡辭世。吳老一生為促進中國實現民主而奮鬥，青少年時已投身革命致力建立新中國。吳老之祖父為加國鐵路工人，父親出生在加拿大，回國娶妻生子。抗戰勝利後父親回國欲把他帶回加拿大，但其時吳老已加入共青團，為建設新中國決定留下不走，五十年代鳴放期間以直言獲罪，下放青海勞改遭逼害二十多年。

七十年代移居卡城後，體會到西方民主制度人民享有言論自由，尊重人權，保護私有財產，人，活得有尊嚴，和中共對人民殘酷打壓，強迫進行洗腦和奴化灌輸，不讓人民獨立思攷，人民財產任它搜刮。和平時期在中共統治下千萬的民族精英和人民被中共各种政治運动迫害致死。两种制度相比突顯民主制度優越性，老吳深感中國人民亦應享有同等權利，雖身處海外下决心為推動中國民主出力。吳老除在報刊不斷撰文批判中共的獨裁統治外，努力凝聚志同道合朋友，於1990年成立「卡城中國民主促進會」，印發民主刊物”卡城民主前哨’，邀請民主人士前來卡城華社宣揚民主訊息，應邀前來者包括司徒華、李柱銘、魏京生、王丹、劉慧卿、梁國雄、黃毓民、陳偉業等知名人士，成效顯著。

九十年代初吳老四方奔走促成“民主女神像”永久豎立於卡城大學學生會前，讓所有大學生了解六四慘劇，影響極其深遠。吳老二十年來對六四悼念堅持不懈，每年均組織紀念活動，甚至出動飛機在渥太華中國大使館上空抗議。2006年吳老積極参加營救”天安门三君子”之一的魯德成安全由泰國來加定居。

中共在卡城開設領館後，千方百計滲透本地華人社團和慈善組織，為其專制統治造勢幫腔，吳老針鋒相對，堅決予以揭露。同時吳老亦積極参與抗日戰争史實維護活动，任”卡城抗日戰争史實維護會”副會長。吳老畢生不畏強權，高風亮節，令人景仰。如今大志未成先逝去﹐令海內外民運人士深感痛惜。

吳老葬禮定在九月四日星期五下午一時在皇后墓園

Calgary Crematorium Chapel (Queen’s Park Cemetery) 3219  4 St. NW  舉行

====================================================

卡城中國民主促進會啓事

敬悼 吳耀初先生逝世

卡城中國民主促進會前會長吳耀初（鍾衡）先生於八月廿一日壽終正寢，享壽八十歲。

吳老先生於七○年代，從大陸移民加拿大，定居卡加利。因眼見中共政治獨裁，官僚貪腐，生民思想受控制，自由被剝削，財產被掠奪，土地被沒收，多少生命被踐踏以至被虐殺，億萬百姓陷入水深火熱之地，乃毅然組織「卡城中國民主促進會」，以推動故國早日實行民主政制，尊重人權，倡導言論、出版、新聞自由為目的。　吳老先生抗拒強權，奔走運動，非有助個人私利。此種公以忘私之精神，於卡城社會以至整個民運世界，皆備受尊仰。今　先生遽爾辭世，實為自由世界一巨星之殞落，令人痛惜無已。

吳老先生葬禮定於九月四日星期五下午一時正，假座 Calgary Crematorium Chapel (Queen’s Park Cemetery) 3219  4 St. NW  舉行。

卡城中國民主促進會敬啓

二ＯＯ九年八月廿六日

**************************************************************

敬悼吳耀初先生

驚悉吳耀初先生辭世，雖已高齡，仍不勝哀慟！謹向遺屬，以及卡城中國民主促進會同人，致以深切的慰問！

吳先生畢生愛國，高風亮節，無畏強權，堅忍不拔，為建設民主、自由、人權、法治的中國，長期奮鬥。他的精神和實踐，是後來者的榜樣。我們一定承繼他的遺志，不達目的，誓不休止！

香港支聯會
二零零九年八月二十七日

Russia’s Got Talent – Beautiful & Captivating

What a beautiful live performance.

[via BMD Love]

Sweet Music of Summer

Out of the blue, a Dickie Dee tricycle showed up playing the sweet music of summer. And then this cute little girl showed up on cue by magic attracted by the music.

悼 老吳 (吳耀初)

我認識老吳 (吳耀初先生，人人都叫他”老吳”)都已經13年啦。老吳一生致力中國民主運動，在北美民運界很有地位。他早幾天精神仍然很好，想不到昨天他去了，真感世事無常。

以下2009年4月照片，老吳(照片左側者)與華叔（司徒華）和十多位友人吃吃家常便飯，談談國家大事。

P.S. In the early days when I first met 老吳, he was loud, very angry, and very much against the Chinese communist government. While I may not agree with some of his approaches or views, I really admire his determinations and dedications.

In the recent years, Mr. Ng’s mind had not been as sharp as before as he didn’t recognize/remember people as well. But he was still deeply dedicated to the democratic movement even, in one case, ignoring his personal safety.

I am deeply saddened since hearing this news last night. 老吳’s life-long and instinctive dedication to democracy is something I aspire to learn from.

Dear 老吳, may you rest in peace.

我的情人節晚餐 @ 君子雜誌 (Esquire.com) – How Men Eat

I am excited to see my “Home-cooked Valentine’s Day Steak Dinner” featured in “How Men Eat” in Esquire.com (see picture #11 or a screen capture here).

When one receive a sweet letter from Esquire.com saying,

“In addition to credit and a link, you’ll get our undying devotion and respect, plus the ability to brag that you’ve got a photo up on Esquire.com and all the attention that comes with it.“

It is definitely an offer one can’t refuse! :)

P.S. Special thanks to Ms. E. from Esquire.com for loving my photo and calling it an “incredible image”.

《少女日記》故事續寫 – 阿濃

《少女日記》is a seven parts online short story (now published as a book) that 阿濃 wrote with three young female writers.

內 容 簡 介 ：

這 日 記 原 本 屬 於 一 名 女 孩 ， 卻 輾 轉 地 落 入 一 個 男 子 手 中 ， 他 從 日 記 中 窺 看 到 她 生 活 上 的 種 種 矛 盾 … … 她 經 歷 了 父 母 離 異 的 打 擊 、 與 老 師 L.Y. 像 霧 又 像 花 ， 似 真 疑 是 假 的 情 感 糾 葛 ， 令 她 進 退 維 谷 ， 不 知 如 何 是 好 … …

《 少 女 日 記 》 原 是 作 家 阿 濃 與 網 友 一 起 參 與 香 港 教 育 城 「 故 事 續 寫 」 的 活 動 。 本 故 事 共 有 9 章 ， 其 中 1 、 3 、 5 、 7 、 9 ， 共 5 章 由 阿 濃 撰 寫 ； 2 、 4 、 6 、 8 章 分 別 由 網 友 續 筆 。

From 故事續寫座談會後記 (spoiler alert, if you want to read the story, read that first),

《少女日記》刷新了香港教育城和突破合辦的故事續寫有史以來的紀錄：

在網上發表過的作品達169篇
讀者回應達1883個
瀏覽次數超過13萬

是次續寫能夠引起這麼大的迴響，除了因為「師生戀」的題材吸引之外，也因為是次續寫徹底地打破了地域和時間的界限，讓身在加拿大的阿濃和香港學生合寫故事，並且通過教育城的平台，讓不同地方的讀者交流和討論。

Also check out “阿濃專訪：從動盪年代到恬靜生活 | 動盪年代” after reading 《少女日記》.

Battle of Hong Kong – Remember 64 years later

CBC and CTV report (with video) the dedication of the memorial wall honouring Canadian soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Hong Kong. International Trade Minister Stockwell Day’s grandfather fought and soon after the war died as a result of the maltreatment.

最佳小小說三則

From 李怡 “最佳小小說三則“,

網傳這是「中國 08年獲獎小小說」。我不知是在那裏獲的獎，恐怕只是網民之間給它一個「榮譽獎」吧。小小說題目是《好懸》這是北京話，「好險」的意思。全文只四十餘字：
「老王提前下班回家，發現老婆和單位書記偷情，嚇得老王趕緊跑回單位。嘆道：好懸，差點被領導發現早退！」
不到五十字，把大陸現在的權力與兩性關係描述得夠透徹也夠畸形了。[...]

但《好懸》之後，又有人寫了姐妹篇《原諒》，也是只有幾十字的小小說：

「老王知妻與領導不軌，怒找領導妻，領導妻氣極：咱們上床報復他倆。事畢領導妻：我還氣，再報復一次！一連三次，老王跪倒趴下告饒：求求你了，我已經原諒他們了。」[...]

《原諒》之外，又有人作了更短一個姐妹篇《和解》。

「老王回家和妻攤牌，妻說：偷腥之後方知還是原裝的好！老王激動地抱住妻說：同感！」
這個續篇有趣的是，夫妻二人都不以為與領導及與領導妻偷歡是什麼大不了的事，而是為求權位、利益和自保的無所謂之舉。根本不存在對另一半忠誠的問題。道德淪亡至此，真是讓人嘆為觀止。

P.S. I don’t often read novels. I don’t even enjoy short fictions too much unless they are very well written and manage to engage me right from the first page. But I will almost always give super-short story a try. Here are some.

For sale: baby shoes, never worn. – Hemingway

Longed for him. Got him. Shit. – Margaret Atwood

First read from Wired.

爬格子的人 | 阿濃：青春讚歌

My research for this entry has lead me to this interesting interview “爬格子的人 | 阿濃：青春讚歌“. You see, 阿濃 was and still is one of my favourite Chinese writers. Many of his shorter articles have guided and shaped my own writing style. Enjoy.

黃宏發英譯唐詩

杜牧: 泊秦淮
Du Mu (803-852): Moored on River Qinhuai

1 煙籠寒水月籠沙
2 夜泊秦淮近酒家
3 商女不知亡國恨
4 隔江猶唱後庭花

1 Mist-clad, the coldish water! Moon-filled, the riverside sand!
2 I moor for the night on the Qinhuai, where wining houses stand.
3 O simple song-girls know not, the shame of a kingdom demised,
4 Still sing from o’er the river, that song by the merry king’s hand.

Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa) 譯者: 黃宏發
2nd June 2009 (revised 3.6.09; 4.6.09; 5.6.09; 6.6.09; 8.6.09)

It is wonderful to read Mr. Andrew Wong’s (黃宏發) English translation of some classical chinese poems. To me, a self-proclaimed translation geek (translating English TV shows to Cantonese), I am even more amazed of the scholarly and insightful notes accompanying all the translations. Andrew’s choices of words are also careful and well thought out.

有一天: 兩周一聚 (第二十期)

有一天小陳的女友詩詩突然問（注：詩詩最愛問這種玩死人的八掛雜誌問題）：

如果你媽媽和你的妻子遇溺，你只能拯救其中一人，你會救誰？

小陳面有難色，想想了一會兒，才恍然大悟，原來這個問題並不難。

小陳然後答:”我當然拯救媽媽。我知你會游泳！”

其他網友文章請見兩周一聚.

(注：靈感/”橋”來自作家“阿濃”的一個小故事。)

P.S. I had the pleasure to meet 阿濃 in Vancouver in the mid-90s. I was (and still is) a big fan of him. And I took all my books of his and got him to autography them. All 9 of them! And the oldest one is 點心集, mine is the 1981 5th edition, cost me HK$6.

英文 不是 拉丁文

Interesting old post, “English is not Latin“.

Unfortunately, the article is in English. Fortunately, at least the article is not in Latin!

P.S. I thought it will be interesting to blog about English after writing about Chinese here and here.

黃毓民北美巡迴演訪@卡加里 (Calgary)

黃毓民北美巡迴演訪 @ Calgary(卡加里) (see all 6 parts)

Dried cranberries和衛生巾

I can’t believe thats the free gifts you get from watching a movie in HK!

Yes, free Ocean Spray dried cranberries… 和一包衛生巾 according to this blogger.

The following is part of what I left (with modification) as a comment and worth reposting here,

*******

Why do they give 衛生巾 when you buy movie tickets?

Well, may be it is because most ladies’ reactions in HK is “立即擲入袋中”? :) Instead of immediately complain about it and refuse to take it?

On a serious note,

1) because no one complains to theatre management or the book sellers at 書展. So the “gift givers” keep up with these kind of promotion campaigns.

2) because the post-campaign sales data must support the effectiveness of this kind of promotion.

3) and because we are talking about it here. And amongst friends, the ladies may even mention the brand names, so this is very effective word-of-mouth advertising/promo-campaign that we are talking about here. Which is why they (the “gift givers”/advertisers) keep using this kind of campaigns.