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.

RIP James Cotton

從小就對口琴有一種情意結，十分驚嘆小小一件樂器可以發出如此動人的聲音。在美國迷上藍調音樂，除了結他，口琴算是最重要的藍調樂器，The Rolling Stones的Mick Jagger也經常喜歡露兩手口琴，不過我真正追隨的口琴大師卻不多，只曾在2012年慕名到Yoshi's看James Cotton的Superharp band演出，當晚負責結他的也是高手Elvin Bishop，原來之前James Cotton曾患喉癌，所以唱歌部份已交由歌手負責，但他仍然屢有新作，今天我聽了他13年群星拱照的唱片Cotton Mouth Man來紀念他。
 

雜談莎士比亞

在香港長大及就讀中文中小學的我，對西方文學的認識遠不如中國的，甚麼大文豪數來數去只數得出馬克吐溫、海明威等等小說家，至於會寫詩的，就只識得莎翁，其實他的詩我一首也沒讀過，他的劇也只從電視或歌劇得知皮毛。不過最近他的姓氏在傳媒曝光率飈升，那是因為應屆英超聯冠軍李斯特城剛辭退助他們奪冠的神奇教練雲尼阿里，頂上的新教練就是姓莎士比亞！而英國足球的評述員似乎均飽讀詩書，在莎士比亞剛上任就用了很多莎翁名句來評論李斯特城的賽事。今日李城出戰歐聯十六強次回合，總比數落後一果，我看到李城入了第一球後就轉了台，不敢再看下去。到了球賽結束後，手機上彈出了我足球專家朋友武拿的訊息，興奮地說：『莎士比亞又贏了一仗！今日的莎士比亞，就如同上季的雲帥般創造了奇蹟！上任只有短短的三場，不但三場全勝，每場贏兩球，而且其中兩支球隊是上季歐霸決賽的對伍！』成功晉級八強後，評述員繼續以莎翁開玩笑，指李城如能過關斬將入決賽，那真是一場仲夏夜之夢！

無獨有偶，打開Netflix，竟然向我推介一套（文豪）莎士比亞的紀錄片，原來他的爸爸是製造業商人（懂手製皮手套）也參與本地政治，卻因買入一批羊皮惹上官非欠下巨債，莎翁小時候就見證了家庭這個難關。至於他本人的戀愛史也值得一提：他十八歲結婚，太太比他大八年！相信那個年代頗為罕見。

題外話：我一直以為我讀過莎翁的十四行詩，其實我讀過的是以前中學教材入面的馮至十四行詩之十六，今天重讀頗有印象。

甚麼是博物館？

逛博物館是我生活一部份：出外旅行自然是指定動作，本地的博物館我也每當有空就會去參觀一番。其實很少會思考：甚麼是博物館？或者說：那些是博物館必具的特色和功能？香港西九龍故宮館引發了很多爭議，背後的政治固然令人反感，這個館能為香港人帶來甚麼？也很值得探討，有學者就認為西九故宮館根本不算博物館：

根據西九故宮博物館現有的資料，丁穎茵感嘆，方案與實際的博物館功能有差別。她指出，博物館一般都有自己的藏品。就像西九的 M+ 博物館雖然未開幕，但購買藏品的過程一直進行中。反觀，「故宮館」展品主要從北京故宮借回來，未有提及本館的購藏計劃，「所以香港那個好難叫做『博物館』，只是一個擺放故宮文物的『展覽廳』罷了。」

本人不是專家無資格評論，不過上文介紹北愛爾蘭北部城市德里（Derry）一座直視探討天主教徒與基督教徒衝突的博物館實在相當有意思：

當地民族主義者（天主教徒）與聯合主義者（基督教徒）的矛盾嚴重。兩教教徒居住區域分隔，亦不會互相入侵對方的社區。當要建一間國立博物館，梳理一個地方的歷史時，政府自然要處理人與人之間的宗教衝突，懷著以博物館化解矛盾的意願來建造。建館者設計圓形的觀展路線。起點一邊是「天主教」版本的歷史，另一邊則是「基督教」視點。無論你從哪一邊進入，最終也會繞一圈再出來，目的是要觀眾嘗試理解另一種想法。 以博物館介入政治風眼，叫這座 Tower Museum 遂先後獲得歐洲年度博物館第二位、愛爾蘭及英國年度最佳博物館的榮譽。

作為中國藝術欣賞及愛好者，相信西九故宮會帶來一些我一直沒有機會看到的珍品吧。

世界棒球賽中國對澳洲與仁慈條例

就國際化（或者說和全球接軌的程度）而言，和歐洲各國相比，美國給人的感覺是比較封閉。不說度量衡單位或左軚右軚那些，只講體育，瘋魔全球的足球竟不在美國四大聯盟之列（雖然統計指「英式足球」的美職聯每場平均入場觀眾數目比「四大」的冰球及籃球有過之而無不及，但後兩者每球季場數多得多）很多人批評「四大」自稱甚麼World Championship只是自吹自擂罷了。美式足球在美國以外不算流行：加拿大的「美式足球」球例不盡相同，此外以我所知只有德國的聯盟較有規模。冰球的「世界盃」不如足球那樣定期舉行，其實過去廿年冬季奧運才被視為最高水平及認受性的世界冰球賽；籃球也差不多（奧運>世錦賽）而棒球作為美國最老牌體育之一（被視為國粹！），似乎十幾年前才重視「國際化」，由大聯盟（MLB）牽頭的World Baseball Classic越攪越具規模，多了參與的國家（本屆開始有外圍賽），不過各國的水準仍然相當參差，好幾場賽果都一面倒：最誇張的就是今日中國對澳洲輸0:11要出動「仁慈條例」（我由Mercy rule直譯過來，可能另有正式中文譯名）一向有參與小朋友棒球活動的家長相信對這種球例頗有認識：inning結束時，一隊領先超過十分的話就會終止比賽。中國對澳洲這一場苦苦支撐到8th inning,澳洲再士哥擴大領先優勢至11分，而中國無法取得2分或以上，所以在仁慈條例下比賽結束。原來美國職業棒球大聯盟（以及大學校際比賽）均沒有仁慈條例，前幾年就訪問過職業球員對此例的看法，頗為有趣。

歐洲爵士樂壇

上一期Stereophile雜誌專題介紹Jazz in Europe，原來在美國聽開爵士樂的我，除了在「名牌」唱片label ECM旗下的歐洲樂手，認識的不算很多。其實歐洲爵士界十分活躍，從一年到晚舉行的音樂節可見一斑。該文介紹了好幾位樂手，我當然第一時間上Spotify聽聽：

• Francesco Diodati這位結他手首先吸引到我注意的是他的結他！和我一樣，他也是Fender Jaguar用家！其次令我注意的是他2010年唱片的名字:Purple Bra!相信和碟名無關，但本碟音樂的確給人耳目一新的感覺。只憑聽，可能以為主角是色士風手而不是結他手！也令我想起我在Berklee的結他導師Bruce Saunders的作品，同樣是強調整體性。
• Enrico Rava和前者相比肯定是老牌得多的樂手，和這位小號手合作多次的同鄉鋼琴手Stefano Bollani似乎名氣較大，當年我在意大利街頭也見過Bollani音樂會的海報。隨機抽樣聽了Rava數張唱片（當然少不了和後輩Bollani二重奏的作品），發覺Rava的音樂相當多元化，有傳統的也有不少極具現代感。
• Francesco Cafiso是色士風手，2004年相當年輕的他已參與英年早逝歐洲爵士大師紀念音樂會唱片Concert for Michel Petrucciani，2006年他找來一班紐約樂手組成New York Quartet推出New York Lullaby一碟，玩出十分美國的爵士味道，不過我更欣賞他2015年一套三唱片集，大部份歌曲一反傳統，只得2-4分鐘左右，可謂點到即止！

大家不妨多點留意歐洲爵士樂手作品。

Two Classical Guitars

As I mentioned late last year, I have rekindled my relationship with ShoutCast after many years apart. Audiophile Classical has become my "default" background music channel for my morning routine (and replaced the Music Choice App's "exclusive" Opera channel for reason I am unable to explain) You can't go wrong with their choices. However, sometimes background music does become foreground music and stole your attention away from the routine, like this performance of the Tango Suite.

I tried looking for the above on Spotify and instead I found another collection featuring 2 guitars (yes, it has a few tunes from Piazzolla as well!)
 

天宮圖.幾幅畫

去年想在家中書架找本簡體字書給我兒子讀，卻意外地發現了這本買了N年的米蘭昆德拉小說《不朽》的祖國譯本（當然不能讓兒子讀，莫說內裡勁多性愛場面，內容及思想亦實在太深，我自己也勉強讀得在明與不明之間！）其中最多性愛場面的一章〔天宮圖〕內提到好幾幅畫：

• 普桑 (Poussin) 屠戮無辜
• 霍爾拜恩 (Holbein the Younger) 亞當與夏娃
• 科勒喬 (Antonio Da Correggio) 寓意罪孽
• 哈爾斯 (Frans Hals) 小丑
• 哈爾斯 吉卜賽人

本章主角認為最後兩幅的笑容才算是天真無邪的，其餘都帶著邪惡！老老實實，找以上的連結我真花了不少功夫，自問讀了一點藝術史，以上四位的名字我都竟然未聽過，Correggio的名字尤其難（靠Google查）找！

㼵外話：原來這個中譯本略過本章原著某一節，請看此討論，其實那一節也沒有甚麼特別，箇中原因實在耐人尋味。

親子.單車

大家都知我是單車運動愛好者，家中兩個小朋友十歲前我就多次帶他們踩，好幾次還達十英里，不過隨著他們長大有自己喜歡的活動，反而此情不再，著實令我失望。
上星期竟然連續兩天分別和兒子及女兒踩車！話說兒子放學後在另一間學校有樂隊活動，他懂得如何踩去，卻沒有信心由那裡回家，媽媽耐心打開地圖解釋一遍後，還是不太放心，派我去「陪踩」一次，誰知這次他早放，我未到他已離開，不過在「必經之路」上他很醒目地叫在對面街的我！以後讓他看地圖學路線應該沒有問題了。
之後那一天女兒要去藝術中心交暑期活動的表格，單車車程要20分鐘，我們決定一起踩一次，為暑期作準備；我說她的座位太低，令她不能完全發揮腳力，她不服地說已算踩得快！可能因此決定在回程時show下quali，我跟在她後面竟然有點吃力呢！
我的兩個寶貝真的開始長大了！

Archaeology of Ancient Greece and US Politics?

I found that the "establishments" in Hong Kong these days like to use the term "politicized" whenever their behaviors were (rightfully) criticized. And they like to blame it on US influences. Well, they actually might have a point. Consider a Smithsonian magazine article I read recently about the discovery of the "Griffin warrior" at an ancient Greek site, which gave rise to new theories about the beginning of the Greek civilization (and the whole Western civilization in general) Before its discovery, when artifacts from the island of Crete (which were more well-developed before the mainland Greece did) were found in the latter, historians believed they were robbed by the mainland Greek and moved there. The new theory is that two culture might have co-existed peacefully and influenced each other. And the people at those days might not see a clear distinction between them. This is certainly a plausible theory. However, the author added his comments on how this is related to the current political situation: cultural influences from immigrants are beneficial to our society! Yeah, I think this story is politicized.

爵士樂首張錄音誕生一百週年

那是一百年前的二月廿四日，之前有爵士樂雜誌專題討論，然後又讀了這篇BBC的文章，如此長文真難得有心讀完。老老實實，即如我般沉迷爵士，也未必有興趣一再欣賞這張Original Dixieland Jass Band的唱片，皆因和今時今日我們常聽到的現代爵士相差太遠了！當中扮動物聲音效果更令我嗤之以鼻。個人來說，回溯歷史，值得開始欣賞的，最早期要算是Lester Young Billie Holiday 四十年代的Swing爵士樂。