NASCAR's new championship format

Yes, NASCAR has come up with yet another set of changes to its system (a.k.a. the Chase) that determines its champion (at the highest level of racing, i.e. Spring Cup) It's controversial, as usual. Feedback on various sites are mostly negative. A lot of long time fans still prefer determining the champion simply by points (just like most other auto racing competition!) Well, I didn't start watching until the Chase has already in place so I am not clinging to the past like these folks. One thing interesting about this system though (and it makes very interesting conspiracy theory): the most popular driver in NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr (who won exactly 1 race in last few years) would have been the 2013 Champion under the new system. Wouldn't NASCAR just want that to happen in 2014?

The History of the Eagles Tour

I drove down to San Jose yesterday and the traffic was worse than usual when I was near the exits for SAP Center (formerly known as HP Pavilion or Compaq Center) My teacher told me there's an Eagle's concert and we joked about how old bands like them declined. I mean, what have bands like Rolling Stones written lately? They keep recycling the old songs and charge a leg and an arm for concert tickets. BTW, I think the guitar solo on Hotel California is a bit overrated even though I won't switch channel when I hear it.

Still I'm curious what the critics said. Then I found out the Eagles actually play twice at San Jose (with a George Strait concert on 1/30 sandwiched in between! How strange.) Here is a review by the local paper. Well, once again, the name of the tour alone confirms my point that these bands are about the past, not now nor future.

Shock rock/metal pioneer Alice Cooper will open for Motley Crue's "Final tour"

I heard it on the radio last night and read it on the Rolling Stones just now. First of all, what's deal with signing an agreement not to tour again, ever? That's BS to me. They could probably change one member or the name of the group and get away with touring again, when they run out of money. Second, Alice Cooper should NOT be opening for them. It should be the other way around! A lot of comments here said the same. It's not because I like AC more than the Crue. I actually enjoy the latter's music a bit more but from the grand (musical) scheme of thing Alice Cooper > Motley Crue, period!

香港人用香港語

早一陣子發表過反對香港中文用詞強國化的意見，後來在網上找到有人轉載一篇《香港人用香港語：秒殺匪語一百例》，出發點不是一味反共，就我個人而言，強國式中文一大缺陷是放棄固有合適兼意義明確的詞語不用，夾硬新作一些直譯外文的語句，例如：一籃子因素不如寫為多種原因、加大力度即是加強、所謂地標實為名勝。

後記：後來看到有人link去新華網一篇文章批評「重中之重」一詞被濫用。其實論點有少少不同，畢竟作者認為該詞也有其意義，只是使用者常常誇張其事。

The Jimi Hendrix Strange Experience at Miami

今日有空檔去圖書館刨雜誌，照例睇屋企無訂的Guitar World，其中一篇鱔稿味甚重但我都照讀，講一個幾乎失傳的The Jimi Hendrix Experience live performance，那是一場在Miami賽車場內舉行的一個音樂節，舞台就在兩架貨車上搭成，Jimi Hendrix這個三重奏已推出第二張大碟（亦將於一年後拆伙）合作得相當緊湊，雖然開show前hi了不少野；那是原本為期兩天的音樂節的第一天，第二天卻下起雨來，只得彈木結他的Acoustic blues高手Mississippi Fred Mcdowell有得演出兼收得酬金，此外財政處理一鑊粥：連負責保安的也收不到錢，與負責運錢的護衛公司職員持槍對峙！錄音和錄像失踪也和演唱會員工收不到酬勞有關：該名員工拿走母帶一走了之，幾十年後其後人才將之賣給Hendrix公司，今天終於重見天日：收錄上述演出錄像的PBS Jimi Hendrix傳記DVD及錄音黑膠均在最近推出，該文宣傳頗為成功，搞得我心癢癢想入貨！

後記：近期和Hendrix有關的新聞的確不少，以其生平為主題的電影All is By My Side（Hendrix由Outkast的Andre 3000飾演）將於九月上映。