亂世.強權

沒有最黑暗，只有更黑暗。有人說女方丈更小器，果然不幸言中，得罪她的小朋友都罪加一等；來一首應景歌曲：
 
這個「官方」上載寫道：

地球人在這個大地上用上種種藉口互相廝殺, 各自的歪理今日愈來愈令人類良心道德撕裂

諷刺的是歌手曾被批評轉軚愛國賺維穏費。

Sports highlights: Young guns and underdogs

I enjoyed all 3 NASCAR races this past weekend. Gotta admit I slept through most of the laps but did wake up in time for the exciting endings: both Sam Hornish Jr and Darrell Wallace Jr were able to preserve their lead late in their respective races (Xfinity in Mid-Ohio and truck in Michigan) and fought off the strong challengers from behind. You just don't see Kyle Busch finishing 3rd in a truck race often (NASCAR is limiting the number of lower-level events for top-level drivers so fans would actually see other drivers winning more :P) I guess it's an irony to see an African-American driver winning in a sports rooted in the south on a weekend dominated by news about white supremacists. And it's the first race that Bubba returned to the series this season! For the cup race, Martin Truex Jr was dominating as usual but out-gunned by Kyle Larson at the last restart. Yup. It's a weekend for the young guns and underdogs.  

The same is (almost) true for the opening weekend of the English Premier League, with defending champ Chelsea beaten by the underdog Burnley and Liverpool tied by Watford. And the young guns of Man United shined in their game vs West Ham: the 24 year old Lukaku scored twice in his EPL debut for Man U. So did Martial and Pogba.

And the awful SF Giants actually went 6-4 for the last 10 games, even won 2 on the road! Welcome back, Panda!  

Looping through Multiple Databases on a M$ SQL Server

An instance of M$ SQL Server can host several databases. One application suite at work has objects scattered around many databases (because there are conceptually multiple applications that work together) I have a stored procedure that I need to debug but I don't know the name of the database. Fortunately, there is an undocumented SQL Server feature/stored proc called sp_msforeachdb. Check out its usage here.

「求其」不要寫得太求祈

我地講廣東話不時會話人地做野是是旦旦，亦即係好「求其」（中間再加一個助語字 :P）
原來正確寫法唔係咁，應該寫「求祈」先啱。
求同祈都係指請天上既神幫忙，好多時求完就自己乜都唔做，所以係「小心認真」做事既反義詞，咁解都有道理嘅。
這本書解釋得更詳盡。

手遊. 電競. 女神

從小就接觸電腦遊戲，不知何故一直不算太沉迷，雖然有玩過第一代PlayStation及Wii，也有好幾年完全脫節，最近幾次返港聽財經節目，有講及以手機遊戲為主要業務的公司，股價頗受關注，總之是有人炒的股；繼「手遊」後，又有新詞語「電競」，即電腦遊戲競技比賽，相關公司股票成為新炒作對象。其實電競日益「主流」化有跡可尋，美國有線「大台」TBS近年有節目ELeague轉播打機比賽，我看人家打Street Fighter看得很過癮，好像回到大學年代在Austin機舖星期五下午放學後到機舖和友人觀戰的歲月；而香港「大台」TVB旗下的網台Big Big Channel也有直播藝人打機聯賽，並在電視台的「男人」節目特地找來兩位將參與聯賽的港姐靚女馮盈盈及張曦雯訪問，她們這一代不只是「宅男」才打機了，這兩位都有豐富打機經驗，也把這些經驗轉為商機：上星期香港動漫展就找了她們出席，這一代的藝人不再單靠登登台剪剪綵等活動賺外快吧。

Passage by William Ackerman

I mentioned the 5-for-$15 deal I got at California Audio Show the other day. One of the vinyls I bought Passage by William Ackerman (the pic I took on that post was blurry) I know nothing about this artist so I took a gamble on it. I figured you can't go that wrong with a release from THE New Age brandname, Windham Hill. After all, George Winston did a few excellent piano albums with Windham Hill. This album turned out to have a very interesting back story: I later on found out Ackerman was a guitarist, a composer and most importantly the founder of Windham Hill, after he dropped out of Stanford (almost graduated but became a carpenter instead.) He made this record while he was in Palo Alto! The album cover has notes from him about the various duet with other instruments adding colors to his acoustic guitar. The guest pianist was actually George Winston. A great buy!

You (and I, but why :P) can also stream it from Spotify:

奧運城市

上兩個月就想介紹一篇文章，關於奧運城市在申奧成功後往往大興土木，建球場體育館宿舍等等，但在奧運結束後即荒廢，其頹敗情狀認真不堪入目，是不折不扣的勞民傷財大白象！政府落得負債累累，受害的當然是市民；而事前政府所指的經濟效益，也只是空頭支票，真正撈到油水會是貪官和朋比為奸的承建商，難怪每次申奧都有不少城市樂此不疲。

奇怪的是，2024及2028這兩屆，竟然無人問津，巴黎和洛杉磯輕易取得主辦權！還記得十幾年前遊巴黎，見不少和申奧有關的橫額海報，不過輸了給倫敦。今天聽體育台的Happy hour節目討論此話題，原來洛城是少數辦奧運真正有錢賺的城市，皆因校際體育活動及旅遊業本已相當發達，大部份設施可使用現成的：包括大學宿舍､體育館､大球場及酒店。希望到時不用加州或美國政府倒貼吧。

California Audio Show 2017

I wrote on this blog the last 2 times I attended the show (2011, 2015) It was on hiatus last year. The 2017 show was at Oakland Airport Hilton (instead of SFO) with fewer rooms (I guess it helped to manage the cost) Still, the manufacturer line up was impressive and I spent a solid 3 hours listening to various systems. The show was "divided" into 4 areas and roughly equal to 4 different classes of equipments:
1) the "sky is the limit" class has 2 rooms: the ultra-expensive Von Schweikert speakers + VAC tube monoblock amp is no doubt the best system of the whole show (well, for that price tag it gotta be)

2) the "still too expensive" class has 1 floor of bigger rooms: the Margules group is the winner here. The system was able to generate a huge soundstage with its own turntable, tube amps and (a very conventional dynamic) speakers. For electrostatic speakers, Sound Lab and Martin Logan were both there. The latter had a pair of huge ones named Neolith (for some reason I just don't appreciate it as much as the smaller systems I listened to before. Maybe the music they played turned me off :P) I would give the edge to Sound Lab. The Acapella spherical horns (speakers) sounded great with vocals too. You can't really go wrong with anything on that floor.

3) the "not too expensive" class is on the 2nd floor with smaller rooms: Audio Note UK has complete tube amp/speakers/turntable system that sounded great as usual (and doesn't require a ton of space behind the speakers) but my top pick went to Volti Audio. The design of having a horn in the middle used by the Rival speakers seem to be the way to go. And it costs less than eight grand! They were also placement-friendly like the Audio Note speakers.

4) the "affordable" class features, finally, equipments that I may buy, i.e. headphone/DAC/amp that I could listen to often. For some reason I am less "in love" with the Audeze planer magnetic headphone this time. I did find some very interesting product by SCHIIT (yeah, weird name) First, I AB-compared the headphone out on a M$ Surface tablet vs Fulla 2 DAC/AMP using a song I'm very familiar with, No Doubt's "Don't Speak" The latter sounded more detailed and fuller with an entry-level Sennheiser headphone. One step up was SCHIIT Modi 2 (DAC) and Vali 2 (AMP) combo (using a pair of Beyerdynamics DT-880. All three combined costs <$500! You can't have a better deal than this)

After checking out hardware, of course it's time for software!  I found THE deal of the show: 5 for $15 vinyl from the "guitar music"  bin of the Audio Nerd. I joked with the guy if he had something against guitar :p He said they just happened to have extra inventory. 

I  hope the show will be back in 2018!

簡體字書在香港書展

一年一度香港書展又來了，記得往年受談論的新聞主要和o靚模有關，不然就是書商趁機大清倉臨尾大劈價，今年有一則不同：來自中國售簡體字的書商抱怨香港簡體字教育不足以致他們的書滯銷，不過寧蝕運費運回國也不打算賤賣。今時今日中港矛盾之深，這樣的說話實在很令人反感，其實問題本身值得思考和討論。我們這一代未必通曉簡體字，但能讀簡體字書的也很多，新一代受新移民家庭影響，相信更加沒問題。從小到大我買過讀過不少簡體字書，包括數學象棋歷史書，都沒有繁體版；也有小說，因為便宜。我認為書籍如果滯銷，相信和內容及售價不夠吸引有關，書商應該自我檢討，何必諉過於人？

Sports highlights: three impressive (or improbable) victories

I am talking about golf's British Open, soccer's Gold Cup (semi-final) and NASCAR's Brickyard 400.

Heading into Sunday's final round, Jordan Spieth had been leading the tournament since Round 1 on Thursday. However, blowing his lead in the final round of a major championship was something he has done before (last year's Masters) And he almost did it again with consecutive bogeys in the beginning of the round. Then he finally lost his lead to Matt Kuchar on the 13th: his tee shot went way way wide. It took a long time to find his ball and then another lengthy delay to find a place to drop the ball (ended up somewhere near the driving range) Nevertheless, he did a good job with damage control: he was only 1 stroke behind after this hole. Then he sank a long put to eagle the 15th and never looked back. I didn't have the guts to watch all these live (glad that I switched channel before the "disastrous" 13th) but I am so happy to see a fellow Texas alum winning a big one. (To be honest, I would not have followed it if not for him. Who won the 2017 US Open anyway? I have no clue) He is now the youngest golfer to have won the first 3 legs of the 4 majors since Jack Nicklaus.

The rematch between 2 former Gold Cup finalists, Mexico and Jamaica, happened one round earlier this time, at the semi-final. Mexico has not trailed at any moment in this tournament so far. And they had many chances during the first half, only to be denied by the excellent Jamaican goalkeeper. Jamaica's play improved in the 2nd half. And the game was 0-0 until the very last minutes. Just when I thought it would end with PKs. Jamaica scored an impressive free kick. The Mexican goalie had no chance. Looking forward to the final between Jamaica and USA! (Even though my buddy looked down on this tournament!)

NASCAR drivers and owners consider the annual Brickyard 400 as one of the more prestigious races (other than Daytona) on the calendar, because it races at the iconic Indy Motorspeedway. Kyle Busch won it last year (as well as the year before, but nothing since then) has been strong and leading the whole race, until he was wrecked by the also very competitive (in fact, red hot all season) Martin Truex Jr (who admitted his fault after the race) The crash left the door open to drivers like Matt Kenseth (who lead after the restart) and Trevor Bayne (who was on a different pitting strategy) Then we have 3 drivers stayed out of the pits: Brad K, JJ and Kasey Kahne (who has been in a long slump with a 100+ race losing streak) Kahne was the first among these 3 that pitted and he got lucky: Kurt Busch crashed right after Kahne left the pit so he became the leader after the subsequent restart. He survived the last restart at the OT and ended his drought! This 18th victory could be the one that revived his once-promising career.

機上娛樂2017暑假篇之二

繼續寫寫其餘在旅程看過的電影/節目。

• 三少爺的劍：本片改編自我未讀過的同名古龍小說。首先出場的是一位劍法高超的劍客，原來他叫燕十三，卻不是三少爺，接著出場的是三少爺的舊情人，真正的神劍山莊三少爺卻躲在妓院做打雜，是為了避開一眾迫他稱霸武林的家人情人，當然事與願違不得不戰。男女角長相都不太吸引，算是打發了點無聊時間吧。其實本片最令我覺得有趣的是最尾演員名單出現了一個久違了的名字：顧冠忠，我認不出舊情人父親就是由他飾演；另一位我認得出飾演三少爺父親的，正是徐少強！這兩位同時出現，相信80年代電視迷都會聯想起當年轟動一時的「中途易角事件」：麗的天蠶變主角雲飛揚本來由徐飾演，拍攝及出街半途，徐突然失蹤，結果找到顧頂上，在劇中的解釋是練成天蠶神功後連容貌也改變了！再Google一下，更發現本片導演爾冬陞在1977年正是飾演楚原執導的三少爺的劍成名，而徐和顧兩人也有份！而當年三少爺的「新情人」由余安安飾演，比這個版本漂亮吧。
• 這個冬天不太冷：這個電視節目由無線旗下三位音樂人參與，一起遊阿拉斯加，三集節目介紹了北極光，通往北極的公路，位於北極圈內的小鎮巴羅（Barrow，竟然有香港人移民當地揸的士！）等等，三位音樂才華實在不弱，在極地彈彈唱唱十分好feel，大家不妨上YouTube看看。
• Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery: 即使對藝術品古玩拍賣市場毫不認識，都會聽過贗品充斥的問題，不過贗品「製作人」的故事，相信大家就不會聽過幾多，始終他們都是「見光死」，難得近年有「落網人」公開其故事，當然他們「從良」後要賺點收入，甚至可以靠影片提高知名度，或者有人欣賞其原創作品而成功轉型也說不定，這個肯定是Beltracchi出鏡的原因。此君本身頗有才華，十四歲就已經能抄畢加索到似模似樣；亦對藝術史藝術家有深入認識，他說他會從藝術家作品集找「靈感」，例如某畫家有一段時期沒有作品流傳，他就會從其他敍述中「創作」一件風格相符的作品。至於如何找舊畫布，偽造作品被收藏家買入的故事，也很有趣。Beltracchi夫婦曾經因為這門「生意」十分風光，不過2010年被補及被判有罪，需還款歸原主兼坐監，真是一場空。

不同場加映：到埗翌日是星期日，大雨無出街，爸爸介紹看港台31台逢星期日下午播放的音樂節目，播的是「Bob Dylan 無處是吾家」我陰謀論地認為在回歸廿週年介紹這位以抗爭音樂聞名的唱作人，是港台又一次暗反「阿爺」:P

還有一天早上channel surfing，在電影台看到警察鬥大盜的《通天大盜》，主角是林子祥（被盜一方保險公司的調查員）及楊紫瓊（心靈空虛以做案為樂的富婆），部份在巴黎拍攝，又有滑雪滑翔機騎馬等exotic玩意，當年（87年）普羅大眾相信沒有像現在般常常有機會外遊玩樂，自然覺得格外有新鮮感。就算撇除這些今日看來很cheesy的情節，我也覺得頗有娛樂性。

機上娛樂2017暑假篇之一

一如過往，坐長途機都是睡不著，今次第一程看了三部電影，兩集電視及一部紀錄片。回程也看了三部電影，兩集電視及一場音樂會錄像。

• Logan：此片算是X-Men系列作品，之前幾套我都非常欣賞，所以對本片十分期待，上畫時本就想拉隊去看可是攪不成。上機前已和兒子討論，他說既以金剛狼為主角，相信會很血腥，事實上的確如此。不過片中時代的Logan，能力已不復當年勇，連打不死之身也走下坡；故事主題是以「人工製造」Mutant為「武器」的公司，因為新技術淘汰舊技術，要把一大批少年武器殺害，以揸出租汽車為業的Logan，就被捲入拯救行動，包括一名有他的Mutant基因的少女。
• Lego Batman movie：早幾年在香港戲院看了第一套Lego Movie，結局揭露原來是現實世界中的爸爸不准兒子亂動他的Lego collections，十分欣賞。本片的主題是惡搞Batman和Joker的關係：前者似乎不能沒有後者！感覺上太過胡鬧。
• John Wick, John Wick 2：由Matrix「型到震」的Keanu Reeves著到官仔骨骨做打不死的「殺神」，其實兩集內容差不多，我還是先看第二集再在回程看第一集呢！第一集中Wick為亡妻留給他的愛狗被殺復仇，第二集則被迫為黑幫大佬殺人再對抗全球追殺令。相信導演很受吳宇森及發哥的英雄片風格及形像影響，原來不只我這樣想，請看此網上文章。
• Jack Reacher：本片有點John Wick X Logan的味道，皆因靚佬湯飾演的主角Jack Reacher也是打不死的戰神，而主線又是打救懷疑被他「留種」生的女兒；當然，片中角色最吸引我的是我一直十分喜歡的舊Sitcom "How I Met Your Mother"女主角Robin(Cobie Smulder)她飾演一名好打得的女軍人，其下屬因揭發軍火商陰謀被殺，她順理成章被陷害，和她常常通訊卻素未謀面的Reacher也被捲入其中，逃亡期間有少許Smulder露bra鏡頭甚養眼；芳鹷十八飾演機警的「女兒」的Danika Yarosh也演得很稱職。
• 骨妹：本身不算梁詠琪fans，其實由她主演吸引力不大，不過很好奇一把年紀的她如何演譯一個骨妹，原來她的戲份是已離開了該行；故事開始時梁和丈夫在台灣生活，無意中在報紙看到一則㝷人廣告，尋的正是她，事緣她的老友剛過世，梁回到她長大及工作的澳門和其他舊友團聚，原來過世友人購了保險受益人是已經翻臉遠走的她！接著就倒敘當年梁(桑拿場19號 )如何入行，如何從「老師傅」（「重口味」江美儀飾演）努力學按摩，如何得到其他同場女幫助，特別是未過世前的18號，如何和18號艱苦地共同湊大後者的私生子；當中的母子情及姐妹情實在賺人熱淚，也算對骨場⻣妹有了少少認識，剛去完澳門的我感覺上好像去了兩次呢。

 
最後介紹我在機上聽了的一張爵士唱片，是鼓手Will Calhoun向Elvin Jones致敬之作，可以在Spotify上重溫（當中有cover Wayne Shorter一曲Mahjong，倒和去香港有點關係呢）：


請留意part 2

文藝香港

早幾年重拾玩筆寫字的樂趣後，會常常去看看（中國）書畫展，幸運地在灣區有個矽谷亞洲藝術中心，當然，在香港機會就更多；今次訪港第一週就在中環大會堂看了三個書畫會：香港中國美術會、九鼎書法會及筆尋嘗畫會的會員作品展。九鼎書法會更是「開正我嗰瓣」：大力推廣古書體，展出很多金文篆隸之作。
今次也看了以本土為主題的畫展，其實本來打算到觀塘的一新美術館，陰差陽錯卻去了香港大學美術博物館（在荷花池拍攝不到荷花，幸好找到此館不算白行一趟）
至於音樂會，下機當晚在D100爵士鍾情FB頁的介紹下去了旺角樓上餐廳（真的叫做Upper，位於「著名」砵蘭街地區一座架步林立的大廈！）的一場音樂會，是由鼓手Nate Wong領軍的Wong Way Down，玩的是Fusion風格爵士樂，包括多首原創作品，這隊樂隊創作及演奏水平均相當高。臨尾Nate用melodica玩了幾首歌，無獨有偶，這是我最最最近期玩的樂器！

在機上讀港版星島日報，介紹HKCO4U（香港中樂團「為你」）這場以年輕樂手為主角的音樂會，如果我沒有記錯，原來自小就喜愛中樂的我從來未曾去過一場專業正式的中樂會！（小朋友演出不算）演出場地地址就是香港中樂團，其實位於上環文娛中心之內。當晚第一個驚喜，就是我久聞大名的炎黃第一鼓閻學敏擔任司儀，他笑說由於近日天氣炎熱，打鼓會火氣攻心，因此當晚音樂會並無打鼓部份，他改為負責介紹作品及樂手。第一首作品以一支低音大笛為主角，玻璃鋼製造的大笛我是首次見識，音質雄渾有勁。而由揚琴伴奏的二胡獨奏傳統作品一枝花，就讓二胡高手施展出渾身解數。接著是香港作曲家廖穎琛的琵琶作品花針，正如鼓王指出該作品利用琵琶發出十幾種不同的聲音，實在變化多端，掃弦手法令我想起力度澎拜的重金屬及Flamenco結他！由兩枝二胡合奏的良宵，老實說也不太特出，不過鼓王說這是兩人對話版卻沒有錯。接著五首均為胡樂（高胡，二胡，胡，低音胡）四重奏：也就是以西樂弦樂四重奏為藍本的一種編制，我也是首次接觸。對於參考西樂的做法，我也感到頗矛盾：一方面，玩西樂流行樂的我，對西式的和音手法比較「習以為常」，而中式合奏大家大致上玩同一個旋律的手法不是那麼「認同」，卻同意那是值得保留的傳統；其實對於「新VS舊」這一點，我找到一篇詳盡的分析。我想各種玩法都有高人可以玩得好聽吧。當晚的四重奏我最欣賞由旅居北京德國音樂家「老鑼」的作品「燃燒希望」，至於當晚首演另一首香港音樂家譚逸昇所編，由三首中港台名曲（康定情歌，月光光，高山青）串成的作品，當然有點「政治正確」的味道，其實也編得頗為有趣，例如所用的chromaticism有點爵士味。（對我來說更有點個人感情：康曲的歌詞「廿八蚊一塊....」當年啟發了我們把樂隊名稱改為SPS，而SPS就曾在上環文娛中心比賽，演出了「電訊盈科」）

週末最後一擊去了另一個（中環近上環）樓上表演場所「花好音樂廳」的Funk jazz之夜，演出包括Mike Stern, John Scofield, Jaco等等的名作，兩位結他手Simon Yu和Wilson Lam，相對後者簡單一部BOSS multi-effect, 前者的Stomp box算多籮籮，總之各有各特色。

後記：在Google老鑼時得知早幾年他因為作品《法海你不懂愛 》惹來宗教界及其他人士抨擊他侮辱佛教人物。老老實實，以我對白蛇傳少少的認識，的確覺得故事中的法海有點多管閒事，我這講法是否要被禁呢？

何文田A3遊

去年十月觀塘綫延綫通車很多傳媒提到新的何文田站依山而建，部分出口遠高於月台，例如由月台到通往愛民邨的A3出口共五百多級樓梯，和廿五層樓相若，被毛記電視惡搞，我一直就想去行行。今天正好要去紅磡張榮記，似乎會坐港鐵去黃埔站並會經過何文田站，不過家人教路，在旺角的話搭巴士(6C,6F)較方便，在張榮記再問如何去黃埔站，原來最近的站就是何文田站！入站前看到的裝飾覺得甚有特色，在閘口這一層行去A3減省了月台上來的樓梯，所以只得百多級而已。

題外話：今天是觀音誕（每年有數天，這天是成道日），我們經過觀音廟，見香火鼎盛。

Cycling and sailing (and a new America's Cup winner!)

I have been loosely following this new edition of the America's Cup since Oracle USA's miraculous victory 4 years ago. I watched a bit of the Louis Vuitton Cup competition earlier this year and was surprised by the new system used by Team New Zealand: instead of winding with arms and hands, they used a bicycle-like pedaling system which winds with leg power. I was very curious and immediately Googled it and found this article. And I missed the TV coverage of all America's Cup races until it's over! This time no comeback from USA. This new pedal system seems to be THE innovation that contributes a lot to the success of Team New Zealand according to this article. Congrat to the Kiwis! (yeah, Larry doesn't win every time)

3 Minutes to Midnight

昨天才聽了一首我熟悉的Iron Maiden歌曲，來自其精選的Two Minutes to Midnight!今天聽的名字多了「一分鐘」，卻是完全風馬牛不相及的結他手Lawson Rollins的新唱片
Lawson Rollins的風格大致可歸類為New flamenco, 即Jesse Cook及Ottmar Liebert那一類，論技術及創作水平，Rollins和他們都不遑多讓；近年他每有新作，結他雜誌都會訪問，和我一樣十分推薦。

拍攝荷花

相熟朋友都知我喜歡帶著相機周圍去但拍不出甚麼好東西，反正拍過的照片將來未必找得到。記得早幾年訪港見過好幾個荷塘，包括饒宗頤文化館及北區雲泉仙館，不過都是在秋冬時候，荷花盛放的五六月早已過了，只剩淍零殘花，僅可拍頽廢之美。最近找到去年一篇文章介紹香港八大影荷花熱點，雲泉也榜上有名，且看有否緣份去其他拍拍。

Steve Wozniak the painter

I went to Paint Nite's event several times before. Basically each event is a lesson by an artist who taught you how to paint a piece from start to finish. These are not serious art lessons but more like social events where you can (or expected) to drink. After attending one, I receive their newsletter regularly. And a recent one is about a painting called "Tahitian Sunset" which is quite pretty but what really caught my eye was the name of the artist who created it: Steve Wozniak. Is he "the WOZ" (Apple's co-founder)? Hmm...... No. 

RIP Geri Allen

I've just learned that the amazing jazz pianist Geri Allen has passed away. I have enjoyed her performances for decades. For those not familiar with her music, just listen to her album "Life of a Song" and you will understand how talented she was.

It's a very sad day for all jazz lovers.

Superhero comics as a reflection of social movements

I watched a documentary aired on the History Channel called "Superhero decoded." At a first glance it was kinda like a promotion for the new Wonder Woman movie! However, I actually learned quite a few surprising facts from it. For example, I have no idea that Stan Lee created the X-Men as a reaction to the African American Civil Right movement! The message was that American shouldn't look down on others because they were different. He also joked that he was lazy to come up with backstories for each Superhero how they acquired the superpower so they were all just born with it :) And the peace-loving Professor X (Charles Xavier) and the aggressive Magneto also represented two schools of thoughts from the two African American leaders: MLK Jr and Malcolm X. Still, the first Marvel black superhero were created a bit latter. That would be the Black panther, a prince from a fictional African country. Then the first African American superhero appeared: Falcon, who was the crime-fighting partner of Captain America.
Back to Wonder woman: She was first created around the WWII as a warrior with superpower from the Amazon. However, as the American society became more conservative, her role also changed in that direction: renouncing her power in order to get a boyfriend! The demand for equal rights by another social group, the women, was reflected in the transformation of Wonder woman, who was once again the mighty hero who beat up bad guys. They showed a few clips of the TV show starring Lynda Carter. She was great in that role. Also reminded me of the childhood days when it was aired on Hong Kong TV.
Another surprising fact for me was that Iron man was created during the Cold war era. Tony Stark was a weapon manufacturer making big bucks but was injured and captured by the enemy and ended up creating the Ironman suit to save himself. The story was "refitted" for the war in Afghanistan after 911, which drew a lot of comparison to the Vietnam war: heavy casualties of US soldiers overseas evoked antiwar sentiment.
Yeah, maybe comic books could be used as supplementary textbooks for Social Studies!

Ferko lawsuit

繼上次寫過馬場風雲，今次又寫寫賽車場風雲。美國NASCAR房車賽每年巡迴全國舉行很多場賽事，某些和NASCAR淵緣深厚的賽車場如Daytona, Talladega, Dover Monster Mile，一年必有兩場賽事，其餘的只得每年一場，多年前曾有人因此興訟，結果卻實在令我驚訝，講的是這一單：德州居民Ferko（也是德州賽車場的小小股東，但和管理層無關）以反壟斷法控告NASCAR未有為該場每年安排兩場賽事，勝訴後的一年他如願以償；但對他生活卻帶來重重打擊：首先他工作的食品安全公司認為他成為新聞人物影響團隊而解僱了他，他在外州找到工作搬離德州，其後他留在德州育有一子的廿歲兒子自殺身亡，Ferko覺得如果他還留在德州的話可能可以阻止悲劇發生，最後他太太因為爭取孫兒撫養權失敗和他離婚；種種不幸可以說是源於該次訴訟，只能歎一句命運弄人吧。

人品與藝術

前一陣子和朋友討論一位歌手的新歌，他說不喜歡那歌手平日說話太「作狀」，我說那對歌唱得好不好沒有影響吧，話題再扯到人品與藝術水平的關係。我第一個想到的「反面例子」是出色的Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz，第二個想到元代書法家趙孟頫，似乎史家對他為人評價不高，想來和他是宋室後人卻在元朝做官有關，事實上的確如此。其實我倒不太在意，他的字我相當欣賞，我認為實在是文質彬彬秀麗的美，把王羲之這一面發揮光大，只是主觀地略嫌不夠豪氣。當然，論人品，趙和奸臣的層次不可同日而語；我記得宋代就有書法藝術水平極高的奸臣蔡京，再google一下，還有更多，當中最臭名昭著自是秦檜，且看看專家有何評價。

Leonid Afremov's paintings

I "discovered" this artist because of this music video:

Some of his depictions of streets of small towns reminded me a bit of Thomas Kinkade. Seems that his stuff are more available (less pricy) according to this discussion.

Here is a video that shows how he paints:

You are what you meme

For those not familiar with the current language, "meme" basically means idea or a thing that represent idea (e.g. a picture) As a verb it means passing around those things. Maybe I should be glad that I started college and career before the "age of meming" As you can see I like to write (>1000 of posts on various blogs) I cannot guarantee all of them are unoffensive to no one. Kids, learn from these 10 "was-accepted-by-Harvard-but-not-anymore" students. Yes, everything you post will count against you.

《着色山水》熱

早前澳洲之旅在紐西蘭奧克蘭轉機，竟然派發免費中文報紙華頁(Mandarin Pages)，當局對中國旅客（及移民？）似乎頗為重視，我當然順手拿了一份，閒來讀一點，早幾天讀到其中一篇關於新發現中國古畫《着色山水》的報導，原來美國密芝根大學在我飛那一天舉行了和此畫有關的研討會，此畫之所以如此受重視，皆因有學者認為可能出自著名詩人兼畫家王維的手筆！專家朱紹良先生對鑒定此畫提出幾個入手點，例如服飾、建築方面，值得參考（以上連結也包括該畫的圖片。）

大笨鐘

小時候所認識的英國名勝中，大笨鐘算數一數二，大個才知那是音譯英文Big Ben，原意和笨無關，Ben好可能是紀念當時一位土木工程師Sir Benjamin Hall，他也是負責監管工程的國會議員，其名字有份刻在鐘上。我一直以為那是整座鐘樓的名字，原來Big Ben只是指那被敲出聲的巨鐘而已，鐘樓其實以伊利沙白女皇命名。

Sports highlights: Back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion, first time NASCAR winner

After the European football season is over, I had to switch my focus on another championship: this year's Stanley Cup final was a great one, pitting one of my favorite sports team, the Pittsburgh Penguins against the relatively newcomer Nashville Predators. Since the Pens have won last year, I won't feel too bad if they fail to defend. After all, it's hard to repeat as champ in many pro Sports in this day of age. (That's why Real Madrid's back-to-back European cup was hailed as a big achievement) Just when I thought it's a piece-of-cake when the Pens won the first two games of the series at home, they lost the next two away. Then won 1 at home again. So they were 3-2 at Nashville last night trying to clinch the title. And unlike the previously high-scoring contests, it was 0-0 until the last 2 minute of regulation! Both goalies were at their best and proved they were the elite of the elites. At the end something have to give and it's a lucky bounce that scored an "ugly" game-winning goal for the Pens. My family was surprised that I am actually a long time Penguin fan, which I try not to show too much when they played against the local fav San Jose Sharks! I jumped on the bandwagon in the early 90s when Super Mario and Jaromir Jagr reigned supreme winning the first two of the 5 cups they have now. The current dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have actually surpassed their predecessor by winning the next 3 together!

After writing about a five-time winner, I would like to change the topic to a first time winner on the same day. That's Ryan Blaney of NASCAR Cup Series, winning at Pocono. Seems like many rooted for him to win because of the history of his team owners, the legendary Wood brothers. (I just found out one of the driver-turned-announcer Michael Waltrip used to ride for them and won an All-Star race. No wonder) The No. 21 car has been strong and especially at the end passing the then-leader Kyle Busch with about 10 laps to go. To be fair, if there was another caution and re-start, his car will probably be over-taken by the "Closer" Kevin Harvick. FOX sent fellow cup driver Brad Keselowski as a reporter to the Victory Lane to interview Blaney, who did the opposite one day ago for the Driver-only broadcast of the Xfinity race at the same racetrack. BTW, that really made interesting TV. Hope there will be more Driver-only broadcasts in the future!

大熱倒灶名馬風雲

昨天上FB讀On this day見到我在N年前的帖，說我對Big Brown很失望。隨著年紀漸長，這些「不知以前寫的東西何解」發生的次數也越多。Big Blue我知是甚麼，但Big Brown 呢？我以為這個好普通的詞語可能Google也不得要領，但全能的Google立即找到答案：那是2008年順利勝出美國馬圈三冠賽事頭兩場的馬！當時對上一次有馬匹贏得三冠王已是三十年前的事，之後一直有多次「叫胡食唔出」，大家對Big Brown寄予厚望，結果它在Belmont Stakes跑包尾不特已，甚至沒有衝線！難怪我這個「忽然馬迷」如此失望。看看Google其他搜尋結果，發現更有趣的文章！原來背後馬主練馬師都分別捲入醜聞風波：練馬師由於多次違反規則，包括餵馬匹食類固醇及止痛藥等禁藥，又隱瞞馬匹操練紀錄等等，結果被停牌十年！而擁有該馬的公司，亦以馬圈前所未有的方式經營：把馬匹馬廄設施及馬醫院資產如基金般售予投資者。問題是養馬從來回報難估計，很多馬主都是得不償失，志在過癮。不過該公司以高價買入有質素馬匹以贏取獎金的策略，起初的確奏效，只是無以為繼，背後金主以種金方式營造假象，上下其手中飽私囊，最後被判入獄廿年。這樣的故事可能比無線拍的更引人入勝。

有黑暗既地方就有光明

標題是一句著名的對白，來自一套我從來未看過但聞名已久的卡通「天威勇士」，最近FB史檔出了相關的帖，我才知原來這個系列的卡通及玩具是我喜愛的「變型金剛」的競爭對手，有網民指後者有抄襲前者的成份，更令我對「天威勇士」（及前身「百變雄獅」）產生濃厚興趣！找到一篇介紹它歷史的文章。

到底「百變雄獅」及「變型金剛」那一個先面世？其實歷史頗為複雜，如果計美國版，Tonka公司在1983年由日本引入Machine Robo成為GoBots（百變雄獅），其後Hasbro在84年也從日本引入Micro Change及Diaclone成為Transformers（變型金剛）由此看變型金剛的確是跟風之作。那兩者的前身又是誰抄誰呢？根據維基百科，Machine Robo及Micro Change均於1982年由日本推出，但前者被視為先驅：

Machine Robo (マシンロボ) is a Japanese transforming robot toyline first released in 1982 by Popy, a division of Bandai. The toys featured a number of other innovative features – Raideen is often considered the first transforming toy, and thus a precursor of the world-famous Transformers line.  

Takara Toys' 1982 Micro Change series of toys were part of the 1980 New Microman toy line and were small household objects that could transform into vehicles or artificially intelligent robot characters that fought alongside their 10-centimeter tall alien cyborg Microman creators against the evil Acroyears. The line was combined with Takara's 1982 Car-Robots series of Diaclone toys by Hasbro in 1984 to create the Transformers. The transformers Megatron, Soundwave, Blaster, cassettecons/casettebots, Perceptor, Reflector, and several Mini Cars (Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Windcharger, Huffer, Gears, and Brawn) came from this line.

只要對流行文化有少許認識的讀者都知道，兩者的「比拼」係由市場包裝策略比較精明的「後來者」變型金剛勝出；除了在八九十年代大受歡迎，近年又拍成電影，玩具大賣。那百變雄師的下場如何？從此文可見它的玩具評價實在不高，其引入者Tonka被Hasbro購入，包括部份GoBots的知識產權，以此為名出過零星以幼童為對象的玩具（1993年，2002年）2012年及之後的Transformers Rescue Bots也源於此。不過原創者母公司Bandai似乎仍保留了部份知識產權，在2004年及之後推出無動畫的玩具系列，2015年及之後授權香港公司Action Toys推出的超合金等等。看看這一款三合一，實在令人眼前一亮，似乎真的由黑暗走出光明了:)

後記：近日無論香港或世界都發生了不少黑暗的事情，實在令人沮喪，希望一如標題所言，光明快將來臨。

The Santana highlights

I watch a bit of ESPN (Sportscenter?) highlight show last night and host John Buccigross dedicated a segment to the Santanas, which included:

• Carlos Santana played the National Anthem at the NBA Final Game 2 Warriors vs Cavs in Oakland. He actually "made a mistake" by playing an extra verse. (BTW, it's kinda hard to find out who played the bass in that video. That's Benny Rietveld. Check out his bass solo on Youtube. He played with Miles in 1988 too)
• Atlanta Braves' Danny Santana went 4-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, HR.
• Milwaukee Brewers' Domingo Santana has been playing well lately too: he hit a HR against Clayton Kershaw on Saturday.

古典音樂網台

再一次介紹我在Shoutcast發掘的網台Audiophile Classical，今天中午之前播了好些不太熱門的作曲家及作品：

• Piano Concerto No. 2 in B minor, op.42, [Howard Shelley piano, BBC Philharmonic, Matthias Bamert] Erno Dohnanyi Erno Dohnanyi - Piano Conc.
• Concerto for two clarinets in B-flat major, [Dieter Klocker, Sandra Arnold, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra] Antonio Cartellieri Less-known composers
• Entracte No. 2 from Rosamunde Franz Schubert Masters Of Classical Music (Vol. 9)
• Serenade No. 5 in D minor, op.53, [Cologne Chamber Orch., Christian Ludwig] Robert Fuchs

Dohnanyi是一位新浪漫派匈牙利作曲家，廿世紀人但算保守，是我欣賞的風格。

Robert Fuchs有一位很出名的同姓同鄉Christian Fuchs（Leicester City奪英超隊伍成員，也曾在2016代表奧地利首次打入歐國盃）也是風格略保守的廿世紀作曲家，以上一曲可在Youtube找到，原來他是Brahms少有點名稱讚的作曲家，那我更加非聽不可！維基百科指他也是著名的老師，你道他旗下弟子包括那些？Mahler, Sibelius, Korngold, Enescu等等！認真「架勢堂」了。

Antonio Cartellieri比以上兩位更早一個多世紀，是波蘭奧地利人，擅於聲樂及小提琴，不過今次聽到這首他的作品卻是兩支單簧管協奏曲，不算多見的組合！大家可以在Youtube聽聽，我認為相當悅耳，十分慶幸像他這樣較為冷門但出色的作品能被今人重新發現、錄音及被播放。

鐵達尼號撞冰山之謎

上月遊船河，原來適逢鐵達尼號撞冰山沉船，認真大吉利是。當年電影一出主題曲成為大熱，傳聞各郵輪皆禁播該曲，不過看來已解禁。而該船因何故撞上冰山，一直以來眾說紛云，最近在Netflix看了它推介的一套2012年的紀錄片Titanic Final Mystery，似乎找到合理解釋。一直以來，最令人不解的是，船上有兩位船員專職觀察航行方向有否冰山之類的危險，視野足以讓船長有三十分鐘改變方向，所以矛頭一直指向船員船長失職。本片指出真正原因其實是海上冷暖空氣造成了海市蜃樓般的現象，令觀察員的視覺出現誤差，到撞冰山前一分鐘左右才發現及警報，船長立即扭軚也來不及；更不幸的是其實原來正面撞以該船的設計反而不會沉沒！唯有概嘆一句：人算不如天算。不過以上連結的評論似乎對本片結論有所質疑，並建議讀者參考其他紀錄片，有機會真要看看。

Sports highlights: Triple Crown of Motorsports

For the recent years that I have been following auto racing, F1's Monaco GP, IndyCar's Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 (at Charlotte) always happen on the same Sunday. I guess you can't have a bigger day than this for US motorsports fan (even though only the first 2 is really part of the "Triple Crown" with the third one being 24hr of Le Man) I knew I won't be home the whole day so I recorded all of them and started watching the first one in the morning. It has been a long time that I saw Kimi Raikkonen leading a F1 race. Too bad his Ferrari team decided to pit him too early and have him lost time in traffic so the 2nd place (aka Ferrari's #1 man) Vettel could build a big lead and remain in the 1st place even after he pitted. That's basically the gist of the race. Then it was time to watch Indy 500: the polesitter Scott Dixon was involved in a freak accident in which his car became airborne and smashed at the wall but fortunately he walked away unharmed. The beloved "newcomer", 2 time F1 champ Fernando Alonso did very well and led quite a few laps but his engine blew and ended his day prematurely. Finally it came down to 3 time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and the driver who "almost won it" a few years ago, Takuma Sato. Both had fast cars this Sunday. Castroneves passed Sato but was overtaken again late and Sato never looked back. The race wasn't decided by fuel saving strategy like last year when Alexander Rossi won it. However, fuel-saving was the race-winning strategy for Coca Cola 600 later that night (really late!) 2 of the stage winners, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr really dominated most of the race but they pitted at lap 368 while Austin Dillon stayed out and gambled with the fuel, along with Jimmie Johnson. Dillon was the "last car standing" (Johnson ran out of fuel) and didn't caught by Busch and Truex (who finished 2nd and 3rd) Finally able to made his very supportive grandpa and car owner Richard Childress proud. (You need both luck and the silver spoon to win a race at this level!) My recording actually ended before these "thrilling" last lap because there was a lengthy rain delay :(

八卦掌 vs MMA

繼太極師傅挑戰MMA教練的Epic FAIL視像成為大熱後，又傳出八卦掌李姓師傅不敵MMA好手的片，後者董建（和香港前特首差一字:）的師父則是散打冠軍仲叢陽，仲又被稱為「少林梅花樁第一人」，不過從片中可見董出拳腿都不太有少林功夫的影子，至於李的八卦掌功力如何，也無從印證。

Hugo Boss和納粹黨

在FB歷史討論有網友提到據聞納粹黨軍服是Hugo Boss設計的，以前我從來未聽過，其實Hugo Boss的服裝對我來說貴了一點，不過也很喜歡該牌子黑色的褸及簡單直接的設計，現在才知原來是德國品牌，的確有德國Bauhaus "form follows function"的味道！說回正題，到㡳以上傳聞是否屬實？我找到這篇文章（維基百科也有提及），原來Boss未有為納納粹黨設計軍服，但他們兩者的關係匪淺：Hugo Boss本人曾經成為黨員("party membership",戰後他被歸類為"follower"而非主動推動納粹主義份子），此身份幫助他公司取得為納粹德國政府生產服裝的合約，公司的確是德國軍服的供應商之一。而他真正「助紂為虐」的罪過，是在他環境惡劣的工廠使用當時德軍佔領區被迫成為勞工的居民以及戰俘，而他們在空襲期間仍要工作！以上連結文章給Hugo Boss的評語是：

Ultimately, Boss was not an evil man, but he did not do enough to stop evil happening.

我想這段歷史也值得現今各大舉足輕重的科技業巨頭引以為鑒，不竟他們掌握了現代人生活多個重要環節。

金庸表哥

上帖提到金庸小說從現實世界中的政壇人物取材，而早幾個月著名女星夏夢離世，有人提到她是小說家金庸的夢中情人，也是幾位絕色美女主角（如小龍女）的原型！話題再扯到金庸小說中亦有一些角色受家族人士啟發，就是好幾位「差勁」的表哥（如天龍的慕容復及倚天的衞璧）負心人原型究竟是金老那一位表哥？有說原來就是鼎鼎大名的詩人徐志摩！節錄自此文：

1922年，徐志摩與有夫之婦陸小曼墮入情網，為此還與原配張幼儀離婚，引起軒然大波。當時不但親朋好友大為不滿，文壇中人亦紛紛抨擊，徐志摩的老師梁啟超也是毫不客氣。1931年，徐志摩空難喪生，查家送來的輓聯竟然寫著“司勳綺語焚難盡，仆射余情懺較多”，譏諷之意溢於聯表。雖然當時的金庸還年幼，但查家長輩對徐志摩的不齒不可避免地會讓他耳濡目染。

還有，天龍中的天下第四大惡人雲中鶴這個名字，是徐志摩曾使用的筆名呢:)

一連四篇談金庸小說就此打住，藉此紀念很喜歡研究金庸可惜在兩年前過身的老友。

金庸論政

再承接上帖講金庸、笑傲江湖及他的修訂，對其小說略有認識的讀者都知道他的寫作背景適值文革，所以魔教「領導層」之獨裁及霸道是反映那個政府，實在很明顯。其實值得更深層的研究，港台學者就發表了這篇；我才知道教主為甚麼姓東方，魔教為何在第一版名為「朝陽神教」！大家都聽說過那個年代有首很「紅」的歌曲名為東方紅吧，著名文學家（但人格亦有名低下）郭沫若就曾奉承領導人為紅太陽呢。金老在第二版及其後的修訂就把這些影射收歛了一些，我不敢說是明顯為媚共，不竟出色的文學作品應該含蓄一點。（雖然金老後來在九七政權移交時代曾因提出保守的「雙查方案」被視為親共人士，現在看來，該方案中的「公投」，今時今日根本不容進行！香港政制是進步了還是倒退了呢？）

金庸論酒

上帖提及金庸小說笑傲江湖向問天帶令狐沖去梅莊和江南四友打賭那一回，金庸在新修版改了一個關於書法的錯處，原來和酒相關的敍述也有些改動，他還特地寫了一個附注，節錄如下：

有評論家論及丹青生與令狐沖在梅莊品酒一節，細心及此，盛意可感。唯我國古人製酒及酒具與今日大異，論者以在美國之自身經歷為標準，論及丹青生、令狐沖之品酒，則未必相合。如欲以現代標準評論古人，現代葡萄酒之正宗者在法國，其次德國、意大利、西班牙、葡萄牙、瑞士、比利時、羅森堡、奧地利亦有佳釀，近年來澳大利亞之Penfold Granger崛起，國際間大受歡迎，價格陡漲；此外智利、阿根廷、南非、紐西蘭等地紅酒白酒亦有佳者。美國加州紅酒白酒品質較次，世界高級酒店及西餐廳之酒牌中常不予列入，否則自損餐廳品位。美國人飲紅酒，往往沖以橘子汽水加冰，猶似香港、新加坡人以加冰七喜汽水沖白蘭地，以此為標準論令狐沖梅莊品酒，當不相合。

Google了好一陣子也找不到金老為何如此介懷那位「美國」人的評論，只找到這位「金學」作者應聲附和。他們如此看不起美國酒，顯得實在偏頗。首先，我和一班美國友人都算走過各大城市，從未見過美國人飲紅酒溝橙汁汽水加冰。（飲Sangria不算飲紅酒吧，也不是美國獨有，甚至不是美國人發明的飲法。正如某地區有人把威士忌加進咖啡的話，就等於那是當地人品評咖啡或威士忌的標準？相信必有一些不為人知的細節，我真十分好奇！至於世界高級酒店及西餐廳之酒牌中有無加州紅白酒？加州Napa谷的French Laundry曾獲選為全球最佳餐廳，它的酒牌難道沒有加州酒？其實金老也知自己寫葡萄酒四蒸四酿之後還是紅色不太對勁，也不宜稱之為葡萄酒，新修版已改為黃色，及改稱為葡萄濃酒。不少論者都曾指出葡萄酒再蒸餾即是白蘭地的做法（連結一，連結二），此書更詳細介紹現實中的西域酒文化（及與金庸小說中描述所不同之處，第188頁），值得讀讀。

金庸書法

承接上帖講蘇東坡王羲之，本帖講的書法是另一位我最推崇的書法家顏真卿，算「平易近人」的楷書有「顏勤禮碑」及「麻姑仙壇記」，最「真情流露」的行書有「天下第二行書：祭姪文稿」，不過對我來說最感到「引人入勝」是非楷非行非篆非隸的「裴將軍詩」，也可能因為金庸小說中的描述太有趣：這是「笑傲江湖」入面「江南（琴棋書畫）四友」中書法家秃筆翁用於武功和令狐冲比武的作品，金庸說那個「如」字寫得直猶破壁飛去。但問題是：「裴將軍詩」全詩（就算連秃筆翁沒寫的也計在內）均沒有一個如字，倒有一個若字，想來金老寫稿時記錯了，二版也沒有修改過來，到新修版才把「如」改為「若」（這網站很有心地比較各個版本，值得一讀）

金庸本身對書法有認識有研究有練習，那是毋庸置疑，此頁展示了不少金老的作品。我無資格說他寫得好不好，不過肯定有個人風格，部份我甚為喜歡。

Yes vs Yes

和多數在80年代中正式開始接觸西洋流行及搖滾的樂迷一樣，我第一首聽的Yes樂隊作品是Owner of the Lonely Heart，這也是當年我常聽、討論年輕男女戀愛關係的港台節目的寂寞的心俱樂部的theme music! 主持人之一的倪震出的雜誌取名為Yes，想來也和此曲的Yes樂隊有關，可能他是樂隊fans?（無獨有偶，上次帖關於Yes,也因為去完倪太周慧敏的演唱會！）今次再寫Yes,則和樂隊榮登搖滾名人堂有關：結他雜誌訪問了樂隊其中一位結他手Trevor Rabin，訪問理所當然提到Owner of the lonely heart這首樂隊最hit作品，本來就是Rabin本人的作品，原來打算以另一樂隊名義推出，而Yes主音Jon Anderson加入後，索性就成為改組的新Yes。老實說，在我接觸過原班人馬更早期的真正經典prog rock作品如Close to the Edge及Fragile之後，對Trevor Rabin這個陣容的Yes就看低了一線，該陣容的作品全部都是Owner of the Lonely Heart一類的hit songs，前衞味道盪然無存，難怪Anderson後來又另組ABWH(Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe)，再度回歸prog rock，尤記得當年還有荷李活中心還有熱心推介搖滾另類獨立音樂的唱片舖Monitor Records（助聽器）的年代，店主Alan就對我大力推薦ABWH唯一一張新作，我的財力只能買小量CD也購入，初聽不覺如何，卻越聽越欣賞；ABWH的Steve Howe正是Close to the Edge的結他手，有結他友認為他的結他技術不如Rabin精鍊，但音樂才華及創意之高則無人能否定。十年人事幾番新，Jon Anderson退下重組後Yes主音一職，補上的繼有Benoit Davids及Jon Davison, 兩位均唱功一流。除了少量全新作品，現場玩的音樂以Close to the Edge時期為主，那邊廂Jon Anderson捲土重來，和Rabin及Wakeman再組band。基本上兩邊陣營均有Yes名字的使用權，原來低音結他手Chris Squire曾和Anderson有協議，兩者不會爭用Yes名字，不過隨著Squire舊年去世，協議也不再存在。總之今時今日的他們早已昇上神枱，無論那一個名字玩甚麼水平的音樂，似乎也沒所謂吧。

中史.古今

女兒今天問我知道文革的歷史嗎？我概括地解釋了一點當年爭權批鬥勞改的一點情況，老實說我也不知太多，原來她學中文的教材略有提及，那作者有經歷過中國近代史相當黑暗的一頁。然後她又問我知道韓國國旗上的線代表甚麼嗎？我告訴她那來自代表中國文化最精粹的Iching（易經），她聽得一頭霧水，倒是兒子加入回應，問我和老子的道家有關嗎？實在令我有點喜出望外！原來學校教世界文化有提及先秦諸子百家呢。我也簡略地解釋了八卦的卦象，指出那是比老子孔子更早出現的哲學思想。有說外國比中國保存和流傳中國文化更不遺餘力，也有道理。

"Pour over" with AeroPress

My friend bought me some coffee (ground for drip) from Kona (Thanks!) And I decided to experiment with a different brewing method than my usual "espresso made with an Inverted AeroPress" (and dark roasted beans ground more coarse) I bought a Kaffeologie S Filter and followed this video:

I think it works well (and produced a bigger cup :) Come to think of it: this is how the AeroPress is "supposed" to be used rather than the "inverted" method, right? I have actually tried this method when I first got my AeroPress 1 year ago (but with the original paper filter) and the water "dripped" way too fast and made very weak coffee. The comments on Amazon from many users mentioned they found their coffee tasted better after replacing the paper filters with this S Filter. Maybe it's really that good. Who knows?

天下第三行書《寒食帖》

這是本blog第一千零一帖！寫一個我很喜歡的題目，是我十分欣賞的書法：蘇東坡寒食帖。

我開始喜歡蘇東坡的詩詞書畫，當然和我們是「同宗」有很大關係:) 事實上，他的多才多藝，就如（遲他約五百年的）文藝復興時代幾位傑出藝術家。蘇東坡的作品如何有藝術性，各位請看看台灣著名作家、詩人及畫家蔣勳先生的介紹。

回想我練字之路, 幼稚園學寫字但求齊整，當然也充滿童真稚拙，老師獨具慧眼（還是濫芋充數）給我一個寫字獎！之後一味求快任意胡來，毫不追求美感，近年才來個180度轉變，開始學習王羲之，不論普羅大眾還是書家眼中，王體理所當然是美的最高境界！不過喜歡率性而為的我，也被不拘一格的蘇體深深地吸引，縱有個別字醜拙有敗筆，整體上卻是傑出不凡，這篇寒食帖正正體現了他這種獨特風格。（其實我對書法認識淺薄，有錯請指正）

Carlos' old team vs Carlos' new team

Caught a glimpse of the Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros game yesterday. It was one-out, bases-loaded in the bottom of the inning. Carlos Gomez made an incredible catch in the center field which turned a base-hit into just a sac-fly. Wait a minute: I thought Gomez played for Astros but he actually was traded from the Astros to the Rangers last season! Then I saw another Carlos, Beltran, came up to bat. Wait a minute: I thought the days of Beltran playing for the Astros were way way back (Yep, that's 2004. BTW, I also remember his very brief stint with the Giants after the 2011 trade deadline but did nothing to save that season.) Well, he re-joined the Astros after playing for the Rangers in 2016.

Yeah, it's confusing.

(Side note: If I could have done it all over again, I would have become a Red Sox fan 'coz not just ESPN but also MLB Network is trying to show every Red Sox game live. I am pretty sure they have the most national coverage among all teams.

And this is the 1000th post of this blog! Congrat to self :)

Building Pharaoh’s Chariot

Netflix "knows" I love watching documentary about history, especially Europe, Egypt or Biblical ones. So it recommended this one from NOVA (I watched quite a few NOVA/PBS documentary when I was taking the art history courses and knew they are GOOD) Most history buffs know that Egyptian civilization had its glorious days (their written language, their sculptures and their architecture which utilized their scientific knowledge) However, between the kingdoms/dynasties, there were times that the country was threatened by their neighbors. With their strong army, the Egyptian Pharaohs were able to defeat these enemies and further expand their territories. The creator of this documentary argued that what made the Egyptian army so powerful was their secret weapon: the chariot! To prove this theory, the team reconstructed a chariot based on careful researches combining info from various historical sources (excavated artifacts like the harness), sites (cave with drawings) and also engineering knowledge, from our UW Madison Engineering Physics Professor Bela Sandor (who is really a multi-talented Renaissance man) The result is a vehicle that is easy to maneuver, fast yet providing a well-suspended platform for the "driver" and the archer such that the latter could hit their target/enemy and get away quickly, as proven by the weaponry experts who tried it out.

太極拳及MMA

少時候的我最討厭隨波逐流，所以要到大學時代才聽The Beatles及看李小龍電影（多得老友樂迷戲迷周輝介紹），其實我也不是好勇鬥狠之徒，所以廿幾歲才因好奇習武，那次九陽神功及少林傳人示範如何練功，例如用鐵掃把打手手腳腳，又免費教了我們十二式復興拳，是來自台灣的國術。後來又在公司參加由練楊式太極多年的資深同事教授的太極班，再加上《武論金庸》作者潘國森的講述，總算對太極有點認識及感情。見識過一些以太極招式自衛的示範，深信太極除了是適合老人家的運動，也有實戰用途。

十年前左右，因為YouTube興起及電視開始轉播MMA賽事，我又有點改觀。從前者可看到「史上最出名」的中國功夫擂台戰：五十年代太極吳公儀vs白鶴陳克夫（即啟發金庸創作武俠小說一戰）陳被打至流鼻血，但裁判判打和，其實也無所謂吧，我最失望的是兩人根本沒有使用任何中國功手招式，出的不外乎直拳勾拳，這些打法看電視播的現代MMA也有，不過防守嚴密得多了，再加上當年比武沒有的腿戰及地戰。

上星期發生了一件震動中國武術界的大事：中國一位不滿傳統國術門派自吹自擂的MMA教練徐曉冬，出來挑戰各方高手，而自創雷式太極的魏雷憤然應戰，卻極速被打倒地上，抱頭捱打，當然被裁判判TKO！老老實實，以我相當皮毛的認識，也看得出這個擂擂完全不懂格鬥，不要說出拳對打，連步法也完全不行，又缺防守意識，對手一推即跌，我想他懂的只是演演太極拳招式吧。

到底太極拳vsMMA，是否如此不濟？網民當然議論紛紛，莫衷一是，我較有興趣聽聽媒體對武術有真正認識人士的看法，這篇提出幾點均有說服力：

• 練MMA者集各家所長，出拳肘腿膝，再加地戰攻防；相反地，練太極者一般只練太極拳，又怎有對抗前者多樣化的打法呢？（不過作者有點矛盾地引用李小龍說：「我不懼怕對手識一萬種腿法，但懼怕對手只懂一種腿法，而練了一萬次。」）所以此戰後，中國陳式太極拳第十二代傳人、太極拳世界冠軍王占海，據報導打算派出師門六十五徒弟陳前挑戰徐曉冬，這位陳前其實不只跟王練太極，後來更成為散打冠軍，散打即中國式綜合格鬥技也。
• 太極拳是「以柔制剛」、「以弱勝強」嗎？這都是真的，包括以弱勝強，但我們看得武俠小說太多，便覺得以弱勝強等於「以最弱勝最強」，這是不可能的，因為這違反物理定律。
• 太極拳當然有技擊，但多年經驗顯示，很多理論上可行的技法，在實際上是非常難用。很簡單，太極拳講求鬆沉，因為只有這樣才能以柔制剛，但能保持鬆沉的狀態，是與心理有關的。自己練功時，練套路時，要練到鬆沉當然較容易，但上了擂台，要保持這種狀態很難
• 練太極拳，你會學到巧勁，不用拙力，用巧力，在日常生活中非常有用。咁即係唔打得？也不然，因為你可以將當中的運力原則，放進其他武術。就如上述那位散打冠軍可能也受惠於太極㡳子。

同一網媒也有發表撐太極的文章，指有日本空手道高手坦承敗於太極老人手㡳，可信程度見人見智。

再看看YouTube一些近代太極格鬥影片：

• 看慣慢吞吞出拳轉手踼腿的太極，可能對本片中的類似摔跤的打法不以為然，不過我當年練過少許推手，知道推手比賽就是如此起手的。第一位紅衫參賽者王戰海就是上述陳前的師父王占海的本名。
• 這場2011年由中央電視台舉辦的所謂太極拳武林大會，打得也像摔跤或柔道多過傳統太極，勝出者就是王戰海的兄弟，名氣有過之而無不及的王戰軍。

如有太極拳手戰勝徐曉冬之類MMA專家，想來也是運用類似打法吧，據報導格鬥賽事《勇士的榮耀》創辦人郭晨冬，將拿出120萬作獎金舉行比武賽事。規則是徐需於一個晚上，連續戰勝2-3位武林掌門人才可獲勝，比賽不戴任何護具，可踢襠插眼，限10分鐘內分勝負。希望真的成事。

特別的週末

放完假一星期，生活大致返回正常軌道，星期六早上和好久沒有出動的行山友去了Rancho San Antonio，夏令時間又加上開始熱，所有行山客皆勁早出動，6:50am停車場已爆滿，泊得老遠，反正也是幫助消脂:) 行完8.2miles，行山友各自歸家，行程緊湊的我飲完咖啡食完lunch就去坐Caltrain，再踩單車去Fort Mason的ART MARKET SF藝術展，渡過很是充實的三個小時，再起程踩去Laughing Monk Brewery和家人會合，之前我上地圖check過路線，也不太遠，基本上沿海皮去球場，在China Basin沿著3rd street往南面走，經過的地方其實我全部均未去過， China Basin原來很多舊船塢，再踩多陣就見到Oracle Team USA的名字，我想那是service America Cup船的地方。 那天是該Brewery anniversary，又適逢Southside Festival，雖然鄰近地區出名不太太平，當日人山人海一片熱鬧氣氛，飲杯Coffee and Cream Ale就十分啱feel了。

星期日唯一scheduled activity是Flag football，繼上一個季打Cowboys，我兒子今季「效力」Packers,原本打算在賽前放低兒子和上星期教練（其實都是義工家長）給我的一袋器材(flags and footballs!)就去嘆咖啡，不過賽前練習只有兩個Packers隊友在等，事前教練說聯盟會安排人代替當日不能出席的他，卻不見踪影，作為唯一一個家長，總不成即走，硬著頭皮coordinate一下賽前練習，讓他們熱熱身再練幾個plays，那位10號仔和我兒子都是有比賽經驗的，也不用我input。到比賽開始也不見代教練，我唯有「A貨」Mike Holmgren上身，不過也沒有能力call甚麼plays，都由得隊員自由發揮，充其量只是一個跟著跑的啦啦隊吧。真.教練，我們熱切期待你回歸呀！

Fyre Festival

Like it or not, when a music festival makes the news, it's usually not good news. The Fyre festival is yet another example. (If a music festival ever become a "real" cultural/seminal events, it will only be talked about in many years after, IMO) When my friend told me about it (during a hike!), he first showed me the promotional video of the festival, i.e, the now "infamous" one with lots of pretty hot ladies in swim suits hanging out at a luxurious-looking island (think Hawaii) Well, well, well. The reality was nothing like that. When the guests arrived in the Bahamas island, they saw a bunch of tents, some with mattresses soaked wet, because of the rain/storm a night before the festival started. Another famous pic from the event was the supposed-to-be-high-quality food: a Styrofoam box with some bread, salad and cheese. The big name musical acts did not show up either. The whole thing ended up "postponed." The ticket price was reported to be from close to $1000 to way-way above that. It's understandable that several lawsuits were filed about the organizer. The festival was co-founded by a "tech" guy Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule. McFarland apologized and admitted that they were "a little naive" while others thought it's more like a money-grabbing scheme. I'm interested to see how the organizer would follow up: will people get their money back? Will there really be a "replacement" festival down the road for those who bought tix? To be honest, if this happens 20 years ago and it featured metal or jazz, I might have been one of them :P

澳洲遊之電影篇(二)

繼續寫由SF去Sydney坐Air New Zealand航機上看的電影：

• X-men: First Class. 在眾多super hero系列入面，X-men我起初因太怪異無興趣去認識，看了一套Days of the Future Past，被其有正有邪的角色們和超越時空的故事深深吸引，去年看年Apocalypse，今次則看了更舊的First Class，當年飾演Moira的Rose Byrne當然更年輕，穿內衣執行任務一幕實在正，還有更火辣的January Jones（飾演Emma Frost)，本片除了養眼，故事本身也精彩。
• The Accountant. 我對主演本片的Ben Affleck其實頗有偏見：繼成名初期後主演的電影水準參差（見維基），不過表面上是會計師暗地裡和黑幫週旋食大茶飯的主題又幾吸引（皆因我的老友是會計師暗地裡是獨立音樂人及衝浪士）除了連場打鬥，Affleck的角色如何踏上雙重身份之路也夠奇情，值得一看。
• 點五步. 本片的主題曲剛在電影金像獎獲最佳原創電影歌曲獎，我實在為他們高興。令八十年代在沙田長大的我更感動的其實是故事本身，講述一間沙田Band5學校校長為改變校內一班精力過盛常常惹事生非的學生，取得政府撥款（其時沙田由前曾特首主理）成立全港首次華人少年棒球隊，成班「麻煩友」由一盤散沙不斷成長到奪得冠軍，感人得來不老土，因為改編自真人真事！
• Le Ride. 又是一部體育電影，講另一樣我十分喜歡的運動：單車；這些年來在機上播放過的單車電影我差不多全部都有選來看，包括台灣的「破風」和法國的La Grande Boucle (Tour de Force)；本片也講環法單車賽，而且是紀錄片：兩位單車友重演1928年環法（史上最艱辛之一）的路線，其中一位是來自紐西蘭的電視人Phil Keoghan，為的是追尋1928年參賽的包括紐西蘭冠軍Harry Watson的「澳紐四人組」的足跡，用的也是那個時代生產的單車，除了重，「轉波」也要靠人手下車調整單車鏈！「澳紐四人組」當時真的是前無古人：他們是首隊講英文的隊伍，過程更是困難重重：由澳洲坐船去巴黎固然花了不少時間，到埗後原本和另外六位歐洲車手合組十人隊伍的計劃又告吹。只得四人輪流帶頭這樣的隊伍不被看好有力完成整項賽事，他們不畏種種障礙包括爆胎傷病等等，三人完成了賽事（當屆共164位參賽者，最後只得41人完成）也贏得其他參賽者的尊重。

澳洲遊之電影篇(一)：La La Land

人生首次去澳洲，以前常常聽朋友說那裡距離美國很遠，坐飛機相當長途，西岸到雪梨要15小時！我買的平價機票要在紐西蘭轉機，所以最長一程「只是」12小時，和飛香港差不多，睡不著所以看了四套電影；由奧克蘭到雪梨三個多小時，竟也看了兩套電影！其中只有Office Space是「女神」Jennifer Aniston舊片重温（其實情節已完全忘記，當中的IT人心態自然繼續有共鳴）本文想講話題電影La La Land：該片主題是圍繞一個鬱鬱不得志的爵士鋼琴家Seb：滿腔熱誠的他開jazz club被騙財倒閉，在餐廰開工又被禁止演奏他醉心的正宗爵士樂（老板說no free jazz）無奈地靠著和舊相識一起玩大路「新爵士」音樂才令事業起飛。本片在電影界算叫好又叫座，不過爵士樂手及發燒友就頗有微言。看完之後我也有同感：(1)主角其實在片中作為正宗爵士鋼琴家身份的時候，例如他違反餐廳老板所謂"free jazz"禁令或在jazz club演出時，也沒有彈過多少爵士鋼琴（更遑論free jazz)，他的"theme"就一點也不爵士，全片的配樂（我之前已聽過原聲大碟）只有一條真正（但不怎出色的）爵士track，配樂這位仁兄根本就不太在行，我想演奏此配樂的一班有料爵士樂手的心情大概像為揾錢而降呢地彈奏的Seb一樣吧，認真諷刺 (2)主角以純正爵士守護者自居固然有問題（見1)，有網友對找個白人來「守護」爵士就十分反感；本片嘗試把他的（黑人）band友John Legend塑造成爵士改革者也不像樣，片中他們band玩的音樂絕對無革命性亦不會是未來爵士的取向，其實導演真有見地的話應該採用如Robert Glasper的音樂（此君有揉合R&B及爵士元素的能耐）甚至rapper Kendrick Lamar的音樂也更稱職。總之「未睇過無資格批評」，那我現在就有了。

看看NPR找來的LA爵士樂手怎樣說？

其他電影另文再寫。

澳洲遊之雪梨篇

這次澳洲之旅要追溯到廿多年前爸爸還未退休那時：他和媽媽計劃首次到訪「新大陸」澳洲並探望已移民該地的大舅父，不過公司大老細不放人，唯有把計劃押後。之後他們遠遊的配額都給了美加探望寶貝孫兒女，媽媽病後至去年過身，都沒有機會實現此計劃。人生苦短，我和姐姐決定帶同爸爸把澳洲之行實踐，當然媽媽精神也和我們同在！是次旅程最先出發的是姐姐，她先到香港的家再陪同爸爸直飛雪梨，而我則從三藩市飛往紐西蘭奥克蘭轉機到雪梨，我過關後行至取行李區途中就會合了爸爸和姐姐，一出閘見到多年未見的long time family friend, 即我的契大佬來接機，他多年前已移民澳洲，為公為私又來來回回港澳之間；他帶我們到第一站Eastwood食午餐, 這是一個唐人舖林立的小鎮，十分興旺，之後再到他們新居探訪。在酒店小睡兩小時後，來和我們相聚的是闊別多年的舅父和表哥，表哥先帶我們到新旅遊點Barangaroo,  不過拍了幾張照片後即開始下雨，我們趕回車上不久即變傾盆大雨！下一站是表哥位於市郊的大宅，舅父在當天早上已到Eastwood街市買餸，我們到達時表嫂已把火鍋準備好，這一餐有蝦有魚有蠔有鮮鮑魚等等，新鮮豐富又美味；更重要的是多年不見卻不減大家情誼，談得停不了口！老實說，我因為性格關係不易和人溝通，尤其是甚少接觸的人，我想血濃於水的力量實在不少呢。

Sights from Barangaroo, hot pot dinner with uncle and cousin

當晚大jet lag前前後後共睡了四小時左右，幸好有WhatsApp好友們和FM92.9 ABC Classic古典音樂電台陪伴。第二天先到所住Holiday Inn(題外話：小時候跟爸媽旅遊，表格上填地址default是Holiday Inn,  這次可能是首次名符其實) 的維多利亞街尾的Glider喝杯咖啡，在King's cross這個旺區當然不乏潮店。是次旅程的重頭節目其實是遊船河，在上船之前夠時間到一個旅遊點，我們選擇了雪梨版漁人碼頭：Sydney Fish Market,  場內的店各自為政：每家店的椅桌只能進食該店食品，所以我們轉了一次場，第一家Christie’s點的是早已煮好的海鮮，味道僅屬一般；第二家Peter’s我們即叫即整牛油蒜汁青口，才是真正美味！

在下船後，我還有一天時間參觀雪梨其他名勝，作為樂迷及SOH 家成員，當然首選是雪梨歌劇院(Sydney Opera House,  縮寫為SOH) 。我們未到早上九時已下船，在酒店放下行李後，到七仔買張澳寶咭(即雪梨八達通or Clipper for bay area folks),  然後到Museum站坐鐵路T1線在Circular Quay(讀作key) 下車，又回到郵輪碼頭重會我們早上下的船！其實歌劇院就在碼頭對面，我們在船上房間露台已看了很久呢！行到歌劇院才十時，購票參加導賞團，盛惠每位AU$37, 導賞員詳細介紹歌劇院計劃來龍去脈及建築細節，還有機會看了一點管弦樂團排練Elgar Cello concerto及芭蕾舞團排練當晚演出的現代作品Faster,  實在值回票價，只是辛苦了爸爸多爬樓梯。

當天演出的「重頭戲」應是Carmen，但那是我最不喜歡的歌劇之一，演出地點又只是室外。導賞團結束後，我們沒有購歌劇票，過去車站附近吃個午餐，光顧要算最便宜的banh you越南包，其實水準遠不及三藩市唐人街賣的，然後再幫襯自稱最佳咖啡店喝一杯Flat white(實在不差)｡

午餐後要坐火車回酒店房，出遊經驗豐富的爸爸提議不妨坐相反方向遊遊火車河，可過橋到海港北岸欣賞風光，結果我們一路坐到好像大圍站的Chatswood才回程，搭錯車再回到Circular Quay再一次和郵輪告別才成功返回酒店房。

下一站我決定去Darling Harbour,  沿著利物浦街(名字實在改得差勁) 有很多食肆，看來相當繁榮，也經過一個(中國友) 誼(公) 園，建築相當有特色的ICC, 以及停泊了戰艦潛艇的海防博物館，在Harbourside商場的Hard rock購物及在Foodcourt喝過澳洲本土連鎖店Gloria Jean的咖啡店後，我們走過Pyrmont bridge, 打算回到海港另一岸找間餐廳吃晚飯，誰知六時半後特價餐時段結束後，正價餐都比Foodcourt貴得多，幸好有唯一一家Tokio hotel全晚均有特價，我們一邊欣賞夜景，一邊聽木結他及R&B歌手二人組演出，一邊進膳(牛扒，漢堡包，蘋果雞沙律，合計AU$65也算合理) 再走路回酒店。

Top L Clockwise: Darling Harbour, Anzac Memorial, Chatswood Train station, Mussels from Peter's
Sydney Fish Market, Sydney Opera House (SOH)

我休息片刻後，八時半走路到廿分鐘外的505, 固然因為它最近酒店，更因為它是澳洲#1 jazz club, 雖然不知當晚演出的Old School Funk band是何方神聖，到此一遊總沒錯，事實上當晚的funk jazz演出的確火花四濺，十分精采！打道回府時才十一時半，街上還頗有遊人，尤其是有得賭錢的VIP lounges.  我在Hyde Park打了一個白鴿轉參觀了澳紐聯軍紀念碑及巨型子彈雕塑後才回酒店房睡覺。

第二天一早在Hyde Park Inn住客有九折優惠的Bahista Cafe 231喝過Toby's coffee吃過牛角包做早餐後，才乘坐AU$18.5一程的火車，只需十五分鐘便到國際機場登機回程。

之前一晚的精采爵士樂依然縈繞耳際，我聽了Air New Zealand在機上娛樂提供的Ron Samsom大碟Ace Tone，除此之外還聽了幾張紐西蘭爵士樂好手的作品：The Rodger Fox Big Band Plays New Zealand(碟名X) 及Phil Broadhurst Quintet的Panacea。航空公司撐本土音樂，抵讚！

以下是姐姐提供的後記：我們送完弟弟到火車站後，決定在行程的最後一天參觀雪梨市中心(Central Business DistrictCBD)的建築物，很多都有超過百年的歷史，我們先後到過Queen Victoria Building，Pitt Street Mall 和 St. Mary's Cathedral ，最後在Hype Park行了一轉再回酒店休息。這天亦大飽口福，有機會嘗到了唐人街八樂居的香港點心和雪梨鼎泰豐的小籠包，點心的水準和香港不相伯仲，鼎泰豐的牛肉麵卻比小籠包更出色，多謝舅父和同學的款待。
翌日和爸爸坐計程車到雪梨機場打道回府，在機場品嚐了一杯cappuccino ，為澳洲雪梨之旅畫上完美句號。
這趟旅行我最珍惜一家人寶貴的相聚時刻，感覺媽媽也一直在大海相伴。

請繼續閱讀我的遊船河篇。

澳洲遊之船河篇

去年住在澳洲的舅父跟爸爸提到有郵輪由香港到澳洲，於是我們搜尋了一下，該行程對於仍在工作中的我們實在太長，不過因此對去澳洲遊船河產生了濃烈興趣，雖然我看過不少Aussie rule football及Super rugby, 對澳洲地理的認識實在極淺，只是頗想去一次「傳說中的昆」士蘭省，見Royal Caribbean International 有船（Radiance of the seas）去，開船日子日數及價錢皆合適，就跟隨gut feeling參加了。我上一次遊船河坐的是迪士尼的船，不知是否因為那次是第一次，樣樣都新鮮，記憶中整體感覺相當一流，包括飲食活動表演及設施，可見迪士尼管理層為每位顧客營造VIP experience方面，在員工培訓等各方面下了不少功夫，例如在等候登記上船的大堂已有米奇等角色歡迎大家，上船一刻又會準確宣告上船家庭之姓氏。這些Royal Caribbean就通通差了一皮。下船當晚我去了jazz club，恍然明白應該如何形容這次船河的體驗！首先我要兜兜圈子，寫寫Radiance上的音樂表演：在泳池邊、大堂及酒吧等地方，每天有起碼三四次演出，演出者包括玩奏輕音樂輕爵士的木結他小提琴二重奏，演唱鄉謠老歌為主的電結他手女歌手二重奏，通天老倌的四人rock band，自彈自唱新舊流行曲的鋼琴佬，他們有幾個共通點：技術都是很精鍊和廣博，例如我心目中認為相當不易玩的jazz standard即興演奏，他們都應付自如；從容不迫演出的效果都是令人聽得很舒服，名符其實地smooth。和這種感覺截然不同的是我在雪梨市内505 jazz club觀看Old School Funk Band的演出：老實說，玩funk jazz的技術要求我敢講低於傳統jazz standards：伴奏方面不停重覆的部份相當多，獨奏也可以不用不斷轉keys and scales. 當然，jazz club聽眾對音樂要求就比大堂酒客高不知多少倍，樂手面對如此挑戰自然不能從容對待，反而傾向敢於冒險，投入高能量，也就是由「技」昇華至「藝」的水平！這次Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas昆士蘭之旅，整體上就是前者。（當然，我無意貶低船上音樂人的水平，好可能他們都像電影中那些日間為揾食玩不喜歡的商業化音樂，下班後才在jazz club大展所長？）

此船稱得上高水準的是幾間船費不包的「特色」餐廳，我們一上船吃過第一餐自助late lunch後就成功被推銷買下每人US$75光顧三間特色餐廳的優惠「套餐」，首晚就在Samba Grill吃晚餐，作為喜歡食扒的非食家，我一直想試試由侍應把整串肉帶到餐枱由食客切下那種巴西式燒烤，今次食得津津有味！第二間特色餐廳是意大利菜Giovanni’s Table，第三間則是美式扒房Chops Grille，也都是絕對超值：在美加25元吃不到如此水準，而且已包含稅！至於其餘五個晚上去main dining room吃晚餐，在成功爭取到我家三人不用在520號枱「搭枱」，可以自己獨家坐501號枱後，每晚都很enjoy:其一是菜色選擇多水準佳，其二是來自印度的阿里生及印尼的啟德兩位侍應的親切服務，他們和我們分享了不少家庭逸事。啟德那支輕盈可單手操作之胡椒磨筒更是他從Amazon買入的私伙傢生！唯一不解之謎是從未見有另一家人坐520號枱，不知我們原本被分配和那一家人搭枱呢？

讚完又要彈：船上員工服務態度，感覺上往往都是敷衍了事！我剛上船，在櫃檯旁找了一位女職員詢問水機位置，她只答了我一句：「沒有」！反而是在旁的一對熟路乘客夫婦教我在何處取水，同時亦可先跟執房職員交帶每天裝水。另外有一晚十一點半我想醫肚，問櫃檯另一位女職員，她說所有餐廳已關，只能call room service, 我不想吵醒房內的爸爸，只好吃了自己帶上船的powerbar, 後來再查證，其實有一兩間開得很晚。還有，我們參加shore excursion, 在Airlie beach碼頭等待，預定出發時間已到，船公司一位男負責人一味玩手機，我們向他查詢，他只是叫我們繼續等，而其他醒目的旅客早已走出碼頭在車前排隊！

這架車及shore excursion也值得一提：本來我們早已報名及支付了由Airlie beach 前往參觀世界知名奇景大堡礁，可惜活動卻在兩週前因颱風破壞了該區而被取消。於是我們選擇了坐旅遊點不時會見到的水陸兩用「鴨仔車」作為「退而求其次」的替補活動，雖然我們都想坐該車已久，不過真正坐上卻感到不外如是：其一，下水和上水其實沒有甚麼特別感覺，和一般開船開車沒有分別；其二，鴨仔行走的水路，有部分和穿梭郵輪及碼頭的駁艇路線重覆，所以在車上的感覺是：我們不是剛剛才從那裡來嗎？幸好上水後駛的一段路風景極佳，我們在途經市集時下車，逛了一陣，又喝了咖啡，才坐AU$2.5一位的巴士回碼頭，車程不到五分鐘呢，其實走路的話也不用多久，只是有點烈日當空兼狂風亂吹。

唯一提供免費巴士出入「城」的是Day 2的紐卡素，我們下車後由巴士站沿岸漫步往海灘，再行回市集，看到一個被荒廢的鐵路站，找到Cirque cafe喝咖啡順便免費上上網，然後走了幾條相當斜的路上去參觀當地少數的名勝大教堂Christ Church Cathedral，下來才見到那條購物小街，竟然連我姐姐這個購物女王也沒有興趣，反而是我走進了Barker Guitars這間custom guitar shop看了一會店主示範其出品。（此站有一段小插曲值得一提：Radiance原定在靠岸當日下午五時即離港前往Airlie beach，不過由於當時風浪太大，押後了十二小時到第二天大清早才起航，起航時有兩三隻大大小小「帶路船」跟著，認真大陣仗）

穿梭巴士收費最貴（廿澳元）的則是最後一站的布里斯班，不過我們參加了到該市走馬看花及遊樹熊園的shore excursion，樹熊園的賣點是可付廿澳元抱著樹熊拍照，全澳洲據聞只有該處可以這樣做（及揾銀），我嫌要排長龍唯有作罷。這個被布里斯班河穿插的澳洲第三大城市（大家知道墨爾本是第一還是第二嗎？）本身其實頗為可觀，旅遊巴載我們到Kangaroo point的岸邊公園停下，該處拍照一流！而導遊講及部分歷史相當值得一聽：她說Captain Cook認為雪梨一帶像英國威爾斯才以此命名，後來墨爾本人不甘於隸屬雪梨及新南威爾士州，向維多利亞女皇申請起家，女皇批准但條件是新州分需以她為名；布里斯班人有樣學樣，女皇亦從善如流，條件是命名為女皇之地，即昆士蘭也！

Clockwise from Top left: Christ Church Cathedral, Duck tour aqua bus,
Koala from Lone Pine, Brisbane from Kangaroo Point

在布里斯班沒有機會光顧像樣的咖啡店，幸好船上的咖啡檔serves Lavazza這個著名意大利品牌，水準也不俗；我還試了他們的spiked coffee, 當然沒有我在家製作的重手及易醉！提起酒，算是船公司落力推銷的一環，有US$65 per day的「任飲」package, 我倒覺得在船上喝得醉醺醺有點浪費，所以只是偶爾點點啤酒及紅酒，那些澳洲本地品牌如Victoria Bitter及XXXX, 我都頗感新鮮。也參加了一次事後覺得被昆的Lafite tasting, 皆因紅酒不是法國名酒中之名酒Lafite，只是其他Domaines Baron de Rothschild旗下的法國波爾多紅酒，不過廿美元試四枝水準還可以的酒，總算不太太過份。至於香檳，船長reception 派的固然是免費，Park West藝術品拍賣會也喝了不少免費香檳，拍賣會invitation only VIP之夜免費香檳紅酒更可refill!

Park West每天的確花不少人力物力去攪拍賣會及相關講座，把那些又大又重的油畫及prints搬來搬去掛上掛落已可見一斑，相信來遊船河順道購入藝術品的乘客及所花金額必定比我預期的多，雖然每天拍賣會成交的作品皆寥寥可數。他們力推的作品中，不少是hand embellished digital print (giclee), 有名家簽名卻非出自其手筆，個人認為算複製品多於原創品，我和不少網上討論均對其收藏價值頗有保留。不過，對於讀過幾課藝術史算是認識皮毛的我，也從Park West介紹的畫家及作品知識獲益不淺，例如Peter Max的各種作品，及Thomas Kincade的symbolism。

到拍賣會聽故事幾乎是八天行程中每天的指定動作，不竟有四天全在海上不靠岸，要努力在船上找找消遣才行。船上活動有好幾項實在值得回味：我親身參加過的包括「名人相似大比試」及「咪咀歌王比賽」。前者由船上歡樂組長(cruise director)為我拍數張照片，再由我提供一個名人的名字，讓他上網找一張相似的照片，然後給船上看show的乘客即場投票決定贏家。我去拍照時見到一位老老高高乾乾瘦瘦戴頂帽子的白人老兄，就立時想到滾石樂隊結他手Keith Richards, 果然就是他的選擇，也由他順利勝出比賽，贏得香檳一枝。

參加比賽之前，我不知「咪咀」(lip sync，夾口型扮唱歌) 如此過癮！原來也對技術需求甚高呢。比賽第一位出場的肥師奶「唱」Beyoncé 名曲，一開始就技驚四座：她口型和動作皆與歌詞及音樂十分配合，十分豪放！而最終奪冠的是「唱」Backstreet boys經典作的四人組合，他們合拍之餘，更一臉正經扮chok樣。整個節目娛樂性極度豐富。

作為旁觀者，最有趣的節目要算是「讓雞蛋從十樓安全著陸設計大賽」，我本來以為雞蛋十分易破，成功率其實超過70%！所有成功的設計都利用「降落傘」拖慢下跌速度，至於失敗的，在中途跌出高速落地撞爆，也引得全場大叫大笑。

其他節目還包括Disco 80年代之夜，坦白說參與的乘客外表令節目吸引力嚴重不足。「親子」的節目則有賭場遊樂：姐姐和爸爸均獲贈五大元泥碼用來玩老虎機，我則分別在三天玩了craps, Caribbean stud poker及廿一點，贏一點輸一點吧。賭場規模格局和我想像中差別很大，我想我看賭神電影看得太多了。

除了賭場，也帶了爸爸去一些平日他不會踏足之地（酒吧），玩他平日不玩的遊戲（word search)，做他平日不做的運動（單車機）提起運動，我和姐姐都因為吃得太太太多而內疚，加上起初還有jet lag，好幾天都有在早上做gym, 用用其steam room及sauna. 而觀察了數天泳池都覺得既多人水又凍，有點卻步，不過山長水遠帶了泳褲總要在臨走前用它一次，才發現室內「成人池」竟沒有幾個「泳客」，我成功游了一會及浸jacuzzi！

其實根據船上棟篤笑匠兼歌手Jonathan Clark的講法，根本不用特地做gym減肥，皆因在大堂等候電梯時，往往需要來來回回左跑右跑！全場觀眾相信都有同感。船上另一位「很唱得」的歌手原來是他太太，他們十多年前在Royal Caribbean 的船上結緣呢。我們在劇場還看了三個shows: 包括向彈鋼琴男歌手致敬的Piano Man, 以穿梭時空為由把各地新舊名曲大串燒的Cities of dreams,及我最欣賞的Tango Bueno Aires, 該節目特地請來四位阿根廷樂手及舞者從布里斯班上船為大家演出，可說是娛樂性及藝術性並重。

總的來說，這次遊船河要我評分的話，大概是中至中上吧。

Web surfing between devices

As an IT guy who doesn't like to be tied to a single vendor/platform, I use a mix of computing devices every day, switching between PC/Mac/Android and iOS. One common scenario is that I was reading a web site on one device but I wanted to continue on another device (say, got a recommendation from FB on my Android phone and wanna blog about it on my Mac) In the past I had to use some sort of bookmarks, link saving or email to myself. Now I have a better way: the browser on my phone can create a QR code from the URL. Then I open webqr.com on my Mac's browser, show the camera the QR and hit scan. Bingo! Very handy, right?

香港很無聊

早前台北柯市長在外國發言推廣台灣旅遊業，不忘踩香港一腳，想來對這個他認為比台灣無聊的城市但旅客人數卻更多很是不值。此言一出，香港傳媒當然作出反應，有好像林夕一般撰文反駁，卻不算十分氣憤。令我想起一句說話：「不以人廢言」（不因為說話的人德行有問題而否定其言論，原來出自《論語》）；這次不同的是：雖然大家不同意其言論，但說話的人不討厭，因此不加指責。如果此番言論出自另一個相鄰地區的官員，我想反應會激烈得多！

冷飯重溫：1990年聖誕加州之旅

最近和朋友討論求學時代旅行消費，想起在美國讀大學首次外遊，是第一個學期結束後，約了在Arizona的中學朋友，去Alhambra找另一個中學朋友，他讓我們住他房間打地舖，件褸就當被冚。最有印象的是去了Magic Mountain（和另一位又靚女又好人的同學！）翻看照片原來也有去Universal Studio，而聖誕正日竟然去了（現在最怕去的）Disneyland!之後上北加州找另一個同學，在元旦日去了史丹福大學也很有印象！

今次最有興趣討論的是：以我們當年的經濟能力（全靠屋企），去Disneyland算不算玩得很「豪」?於是我翻查一下，找到1990年的票價是US$25.5 (計通脹是現在的$48左右）其實也算頗豪呢！當然和現在超過$100不能相比。

Disney goes Metal?

像我這樣的老牌金屬友，聽過見過不少甚麼甚麼goes metal的唱片或視像，也很欣賞像Beatallica這樣把Beatles音樂Metallica化的樂隊。 不過聽到迪士尼竟然也gone metal就有點難以想像和接受，在我心目中迪士尼一直走討好家庭顧客的路線，連他們也玩metal，可能證明metal revival has peaked. Maybe it has nowhere to go but down? 無論如何，Metal Disney一碟的音樂人完全一本正經（或者說是剎有介事）地用正宗power metal手法去演譯這些迪士尼經典歌曲，值得一讚。
老老實實，Disney goes Jazz感覺比較合理。我以前也介紹過。無獨有偶，剛剛Spotify又彈出一首完全無關的Beauty and the Beast!

道德與派對

自問不算打機迷亦不是從事這方面開發，所以當年Google一番才知GDC是Game Developer Conference,該文提到某間參與公司放氣球招來批評，不過這程度的controversy遠遠不及去年Microsoft的：話說他們在會後攪的party請來一班穿得很少的dancers，婦女界對此相當不滿。我一直沒有寫完此帖，眨下眼一年又過去了，即管看看2017年有沒有出事？答案是沒有。

德州女婿

早幾天從電視節目預告得知今週舉行高球對戰(match play)比賽，原來由電腦公司Dell贊助，在Dell的老家Austin舉行也理所當然，而UT Austin校友Jordan Spieth相信是最受歡近的球手，不過德州大學大家庭最近多了另一位高球手新成員！就是前UT女球手Angela Akins的未婚夫西班牙好手Sergio Garcia。此君和老虎仔同期出道，外號El Nino(聖嬰氣候之意), 是在世界各地贏過廿幾場賽事的一代名將！今次在Austin比賽，特地穿上德州大學的橙色服裝，相信校友們都會支持他 :)

Sports highlights: the new NASCAR season

Watching NASCAR during the weekend has become such an integral part of my routine that I really missed it during its off-season, no matter how short it is (3 months) when compared to other of my favorite sports (NFL's "on" season is about 5 months!) And an uninteresting Super Bowl made me even more looking forward to the NASCAR season opener: Daytona 500! For 2017, it was extra-special: the top series in NASCAR has changed title-sponsor for the first time since I started watching, from Sprint (the phone company who "inherited" the sponsorship from Nextel) to Monster Energy (the drink company who has already sponsored many auto-racing related events) Since I am a big fan of supercross and motorcycle racing, when I first heard of the news, the first question popped up in my mind was: if the NASCAR top series' name changed from Sprint Cup to Monster Energy Cup, how about the existing Monster Energy Cup, which is an annual supercross race scheduled a month or so before the new season begins? (BTW, I enjoy it a lot as it gives fans a preview of things to come. ) Well, they actually renamed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. And the move to the new sponsorship is supposed to be very beneficial to NASCAR: after an incredible rise in the last decade in terms of viewership, advertising dollars and broadcast fees, what went up must come down. The sports was actually at an awkward crossroad: on one hand, the younger crowd found that long races and long reasons in which a few cars and drivers could do so well and ran away with championships were boring. On the other hand, the "purists" or old fans of the sports found all those tinkering with the good old point system and the addition of the "artificial playoff" ruining the sports. I guess it's clear which direction (and demographic) NASCAR is going after getting Monster Energy on board as the title sponsor. Still, I am surprised by the reaction to the "new" Monster Energy Girls at NASCAR: Yes, we have fans that complained about those outfits, being too revealing. Not to me. I am used to watching those Monster Energy Girls at the supercross races (with the same title sponsor!) To be honest, what really got my attention was not them but the new race format! When I watch the broadcast of the first race of the new season I saw it mentioned "stage" and "stage winner" and I was completed shocked! It turned out every NASCAR race is divided into three stages. The result at the end of each stage matters: points are rewarded towards the championship! (The actual system is more complicated than what could be explained in one sentence though) And there would be caution laps after each stage ends to bunch up the field. I see several advantages as a fan: (1) the cars would be more competitive among each other not just at the end of the whole race but also near the end of each stage to fight for those points. (2) Less effect from green-flag pit stops and the related "luck factor" that could change the outcome of a race. I always hate to see a driver who did nothing wrong but got trapped in the pit because of somebody else's accident. Now there are at least two more definite points in the race where cars could pit under caution. (3) the stages are short enough that a car can complete without making any pit stop so one could win a stage without any involvement of pit-stop strategy and pit-crew skills. In a way this is "back to basic." Kinda like the format of the GT races of Pirelli World Challenge that I like a lot. I think this new season had a good start: Daytona 500 was won by Kurt Busch, a former champ who tends to be very competitive but has never won this "Super Bowl of NASCAR" We also had Martin Truex Jr winning the race at Las Vegas but everybody talked about "the fight" instead: Joey Logano's car hit Kyle Busch's near the end of the race. Busch was so pissed that he walked to Logano's pit stall after the end of the race. He fought with one of the crew member and ended up with blood on his forehead! Anyway, I am very interested to see if the new point system will produce a different champion at the end of the season (oh well, anyone but Jimmie is fine. Prefer not Logano too as he totally ruined Carl Edward's in 2016)

Hampton Court

Netflix有一套紀錄片專講Hampton Court這個位於倫敦十里以外的皇宮，早幾天晚上我本來打算看一點兒，第一個入住的國王亨利八世有六個皇后，未講到第二個應已睡著，誰知竟然看完！原本該處主人是國王身邊的紅人主教，多次招待國王在此作客，但醒目的主教知道那裡豪華比得上皇宮，還是讓國王作主人比較恰當。這個亨利八世年少登基，那時既fit又有型，第一任皇后亦漂亮高貴，Hampton Court見證過他們關係美好的日子，不過廿多年來皇后無所出，國王耐性有限，要主教向羅馬教皇申請離婚，教皇不允主教亦無辧法，結果主教在皇上降罪前「幸運地」去世，亨利八世亦因此寫下他在史上最為人認識的一頁：就是反出羅馬教廷，自立英國聖公會！在第二段婚姻期間，他發生了改變他一生的一次意外：為追求刺激進行馬上槍術比賽(jousting)而墮馬受重傷，此傷陪伴其餘生，令他每日疼痛，並性情大變，成為一個暴君！這個第二任妻子被他處死，第三任妻子病死，第四任離婚，第五任紅杏出牆又被處死，而他暴飲暴食，五十幾歲魂歸天國（如果天主承認他教會的話），還有第六任皇后在旁，也算是緣份。

其實Hampton Court還再成為後來兩個皇朝國王的居所，之後入住的威廉三世和皇后瑪莉，夫妻關係似乎比較恩愛，他們的目標是把該處改建為一坐比得上法國凡爾賽的皇宮，不過budget有限，只改建了一半，卻因此令今時今日的Hampton Court成為具兩個時代建築特色的歷史名勝！

最後一對入住的皇帝和皇后的故事也值得一寫：喬治二世和卡露蓮亦算恩愛夫婦，皇帝的情婦也是皇后默許的，後來皇后有足患，動得少食得多難免肥胖，去世時喬治二世竟然宣佈不會再娶！可惜的是這對父母和太子不和，太子妃臨盆一刻，太子決定坐馬車逃離皇宮，去倫敦誕下兒子，此子將來會繼承祖父王位成為喬治三世，當然對Hampton Court全無好感，此後不再有英國國王入住。

「講黎講去三幅屁」出處？

今日我同老友吹水，我笑佢「講黎講去三幅屁」，咁佢問我呢句話既典故，真係問到我口啞啞，咁梗係要Google下，揾到有人在FB度寫：

廣州話「講來講去三幅被」來自這句話—「講來講去三幅被，量來量去二丈四」。過去民間織造業有一慣例，每一幅被的長度是八尺，三幅被即二丈四。這句慣用語現在用作比喻人說話重複，沒有新意。例：呢個上司無料嘅，講來講去三幅被。（這位上司沒有才學，說來說去一個調子）

今次真係鬧交學中文！

New metal from old bands

I read an interview of the founding father of death metal, Obituary, from the Rolling Stone magazine yesterday and listened to their new single from the upcoming album (to be released later this month) I guess that's why I subconsciously tuned into the Music Choice Metal channel today. And surprisingly I listened to a couple of (relatively) new releases from several of my old favorite metal bands, including:

• Overkill, The Grinding Wheel
• Dark Tranquiliity, Atoma
• In Flames, Battles
• Kreator, Gods of Violence

The channel promoted itself as programmed by a real person instead of an algorithm. I guess there's really something to it hearing all of the above within 30 min. My first impressions of these albums range from "above average" to "excellent" I am going to listen to all of them multiple times on Spotify until the verdict is out.