沈vs沉

在寫上次提過的柳永離別難時，發現有些網頁寫「夜沈沈」，有些寫「夜沉沉」，直覺認為後者才對，因為多年來讀文章形容深沉的都會這樣寫。不過到底兩字是否相通？Google找到李碧華的分析：沈乃正字也；我想我跟李碧華不會錯到那裡去吧？

柳永．離別難

上星期寫了一篇提到無線電視劇中一位「讀書人」用了幾句柳永的詞來讚他心儀的一位女性心地善良，到底那位女角有甚麼反應呢？

答案是大罵了前者一頓，說自己根本不善良。

如果她知道這是一首悼亡詩，而主角更很可能是風塵女子，相信會出手打讀書人才是。讀書人（即是編劇）應先看看這位網民的解讀呢。

花謝水流倏忽，嗟年少光陰。有天然、蕙質蘭心。美韶容、何啻值千金。便因甚、翠弱紅衰，纏綿香體，都不勝任。算神仙、五色靈丹無驗，中路委瓶簪。

人悄悄，夜沉沉。閉香閨、永棄鴛衾。想嬌魂媚魄非遠，縱洪都方士也難尋。最苦是、好景良天，尊前歌笑，空想遺音。望斷處，杳杳巫峯十二，千古暮雲深。

雖則如此，詞中主角應屬美女，網上找到此文，作者為柳永多首詞中美女配上圖片，很有心機！

落霞與孤鶩齊飛 秋水共長天一色

在網上隨意看看書法相關文章看到沈鵬書王安石孤桐一詩（老實說很不喜歡王安石，因其變法害人不淺，雖然他是基於一種對政經改革的熱誠，出發點不壞；他以此詩明志，頗有自讚品格清高的味道）由此再連到以下作品 原來出自有名的《滕王閣序》（無獨有偶，上期提過的蕭老也介紹過此名作，質疑非唐代王勃十四歲的作品），搜尋「落霞與孤鶩齊飛」一句時，又找到此奉勸大家不要亂引古詩文的文章，作者不無道理，其實我更欣賞該頁採用的圖片，是本文標題最佳寫照！ 

再扯開一點：提到說話常常引古詩詞，我竟然想到無線劇集「BB來了」的中醫（長青），引柳永詞來讚MK妹（朗朗），認真對牛彈琴！

中文字對錯

今天阿股提出這個話題：「線」和「綫」兩字好像一樣，Google一下出了這篇文章，解釋了十對意義相近的中文字，相當有趣。「線」和「綫」都算正體，互為異體吧；不過自己習慣上用線多於用綫。

所謂誠其意者，毋自欺也

老實說我不是蕭若元先生的粉絲，不過見老友開心些牙以下視像，對標題頗好奇下看了，竟然巧合地回應了發生在另一位朋友身上的事情！  
原來標題出自大學，且看此文詳解。

當代草書大師

讀了一篇內容農場講關於今人寫草書的挑戰的文章，很好奇看看沈鵬的作品到底是怎樣的，找到榮寶齋網頁上他的作品，包括這一篇：

以我粗淺的功力，看得懂的字只有幾個，多得偉大的Google才知道寫的是西晉詩人左思慨歎史上當政者經常用人不當的《詠史詩》（上半部）：

鬱鬱澗底松，離離山上苗． 以彼徑寸莖，蔭此百尺條． 世冑躡高位，英俊沈下僚．

無巧不成話，上個星期正在學鬱（及其他林字首草書）的寫法！

Magazine Jazz

This is another post in my recent "Blah blah Jazz" series. Every now and then I would visit the local bookstore and read some magazines, which almost always include Jazz Times because of its extensive review section. I listened to the following albums reviewed in the latest issue:
Still Dreaming: this is the name of the album as well as the name of the group led by saxophonist Joshua Redman, who paid homage to his dad Dewey Redman,  and Ornette Coleman, who has collaborated with the senior Redman. The review implied this album sounded more conventional than expected. Well, to me, it has just the right amount of "un"conventionalism. Or I might as well listen to Dewey and Ornette themselves!
Adam O’Farrill’s Stranger Days - El Maquech: As the grandson of Chico O'Farrill, you would expect to hear Afro-Cuban jazz. It certainly has those elements but there are more! I recommend reading NPR's interview with him regarding this excellent album.
Dave Holland - Uncharted Territory: this is a collaboration of the versatile bassist with avant garde saxophonist Evan Parker. If your last name is Parker and you play jazz, you'd better play something that break away from the tradition, like Charlie Parker and William Parker did! (I did manage to find one album with both William and Evan) The first track is totally misleading in the sense that it sounded "conventional" but I can reassure you the rest is not. Very challenging material.
JD Allen - Love Stone: I have read magazine articles mentioning this saxophonist before but never really listen to his music. However, with Liberty Ellman on guitar I figure you can't go wrong. I expected something adventurous to be honest but this album is all about standard ballads, played in a refreshing way though.
Buster Williams - Audacity: finally, an album that I expected to be conventional and sounded conventional indeed. This is straight ahead jazz at its finest. You can't go wrong if you are a fan of jazz.

San Franciscan Jazz

This is sort of part 3 of my latest jazz "series" and this time I will write about my "backyard" SF. As a SF Bay Area resident for over 20 years, my go-to place for jazz is still Yoshi's in Oakland. For SF, the go-to place has gone through many many changes: it was Jazz At Pearl's near China town years ago. I went a few times around 2001 before it went out of business. Then it's Yoshi' SF, which also went out of business because of the high cost. Savanna Jazz got a lot of good reviews but it had to leave the expensive SF for San Carlos, which is further down South on the Peninsula. Fortunately the SFJAZZ center seems to be here to stay 'coz I think that's the type of institution the social elites like to associate with. I did "discover" a few new venues this year:

Black Cat: this club has definitely booked quite a few quality acts and with many show times weekly. The most recent one I saw was the group Beekman from New York, which has just released a new album named Vol 3: live in San Francisco (so I count this as San Franciscan Jazz :P)
Even though I heard good music both times I went, I need to give it thumbs down: for people going there just for music like me, the only place to sit is at the bar, which has limited number of seats, one-side facing the stage and the other side back to the stage! Besides, most people went there to talk to their friends, with jazz as the background. I actually don't understand the rationale. If you just want jazz as background for chit-chat, you don't NEED to go to a jazz club. And the neighborhood is not exactly where I like to hang out at my age :P

Mr. Tipple's Recording Studio: to be honest, one big reason I wanna go was the name. It just sounds too interesting. After being there once though, I can tell you the place has absolutely nothing to do with a recording studio. It's just a bar with live music. I do have to give it thumbs up for allowing people like me (drink only and didn't reserve table for dinner) to sit close to the stage. Yes, most people there are talkers too but at least I can still hear the music, performed by this fine jazz quartet:

The sax and piano solo were impressive. They definitely have their own sound.

Bird and Beckett Books and Records: this is a relatively small local store in the SF Glen Park area. No cover charge (suggested donation is $10) and no talker! Everyone in the audience truly appreciate the music of Adam Gay Quintet last time I went.

丹布朗小說

作為一位（偽）文青，實在不應承認自己讀過丹布朗如此商業化的作品，原來他寫過七部小說，我竟然讀了兩本半（《達芬奇密碼》、《地獄》、及正在閱讀的《起源》，亦認識了他的創作公式：
必以某個歐洲名城為背景：包括達芬奇密碼的巴黎，地獄的佛羅倫斯，起源的巴塞羅娜。
必和某個歐洲著名博物館建築物有關：包括巴黎的羅浮宮，佛羅倫斯的聖約望洗禮堂，畢爾包的古根漢藝術館。
必以某驚世秘密開始，然後花極多篇幅兜圈及放大此秘密。
必定雷聲大雨點小般結束。
所以，每本書首本部都讀得停不了手，然後50-75%有點等待完結，最後25%是因為已經讀了很多而覺得棄之可惜才讀完；直覺《起源》也會是這樣，且拭目以待！

French Jazz

After writing about Croatian jazz, of course the next topic is French jazz! I actually experienced it in person at the Duc Des Lombards jazz club in Paris years ago. And we all know quite a few American jazz musicians spent a lot of time in France. The most famous one is probably Dexter Gordon. However, I wanted to listen to French musicians and found these two saxophonists:

This one by Richard Raux sounds more traditional
while this one by Celine Bonacina sounds more modern
And here is a good article about French Jazz on Vinyl.

Croatian Jazz

I made a Spotify playlist named "England!" since they made the amazing run at the World Cup. Oh well. It's all over now so I gotta start listening to some Croatian musicians, which I am completely ignorant about. This is a good article about the Story of Croatian Jazz. The most famous Croatian jazz musician is vibraphonist Bosko Petrovic, who has also founded the legendary Croatian jazz club, BP Club. I am checking out this album which contains his best known composition: "Green Lobster Dream"

陽奉陰違？

眾所週知，香港電視台一台獨大，也是建制的護航者；不過所謂上有政策下有對策，間中也有節目內容諷刺政府，就如幾個月前的劇集《翻生武林》；而早前播出的一集《學是學非》，梁嘉琪的角色就對由麥美恩飾演的機械人拒絕回答其母語是甚麼而作出批評，明顯就是針對五月份特首林鄭指詢問其母語的議員問題太無聊一事！

陳奕迅國語歌速成法

我對陳奕迅音樂的認識其實僅限於頗舊的歌，而且是廣東歌，除了最近聽的我們：
不過他多首廣東歌有國語版（多謝網民提供資料）
裙下之臣＝煙味
白玫瑰＝紅玫瑰
黑澤明＝月黑風高
富士山下＝愛情轉移

歲月如歌＝兄妹
明年今日＝十年
打回原形＝寂寞讓你更快樂
Lonely Christmas＝聖誕結
粵語殘片＝白色球鞋
不如不見＝好久不見
最後的嬉皮士＝第一個雅皮士

歌名一樣的有：
低等動物
Ｋ歌之王
Shall We Talk

「鬥」「鬪」「鬭」?

去年開始練書法大師于右任的標準草書，今週寫到這個「鬪」字，即使未正式學過卻也估到意思和「鬥」一樣，上網查證一下才知「鬪」就是「鬥」的俗寫；另外更有一個兄弟「鬭」！詳見此文。文中有圖可見甲骨文的「鬥」字真是忠實反映兩個人對打的形像，而後來「鬭」和其他同屬「鬥」部首的字基本上也可寫作「門」，至於我最關心的草法，該文亦影了《中國書法大字典》，可參考董其昌及草書韻會的寫法。

金庸小說人物姓名考

無意中讀到一篇文章講金庸小說中人名之出處，當然部份可能作者聯想力太豐富，不過總算有趣。有些事件本來我也不知，包括金庸射鵰在台灣因為書名引人聯想起曾在其詞中寫過「彎弓射大雕」的那位「名人」；以及慕容博慕容復兩父子也有點影射蔣公父子。

風流何罪，無榮無辱無咎

早前友人在都柏林一中國餐館牆上見到草書的裝飾，細看方知是鄭板橋詩『新竹高於舊竹枝，全憑老幹爲扶持』，引起大家研究鄭的生平及作品的興趣，鄭是真名士自風流，以下一則實在值得分享（原文出自揚州晚報）： 

鄭四十多歲時納了饒五娘為妾，此事在鄭板橋《揚州雜記卷》中頗為詳細，開頭是“揚州二月花時也。板橋居士晨起，由傍花村過虹橋，直抵雷塘，問玉鉤斜遺跡，去城蓋十裏許矣。樹木叢茂，居民漸少，遙望文杏一株，在圍墻竹樹之間。叩門徑之，徘徊花下，有一老媼，捧茶一甌，延茅亭小坐，其壁間所貼，即板橋之詞也。問曰：‘識此人乎？’答曰：‘聞其名，不識其人。’告曰：‘板橋即我也。’媼大喜，走相呼曰：‘女兒子起來，女兒子起來，鄭板橋先生在此也。’”接下來是會面、書寫《道情》、老媼作筏、贈詞為訂。是年鄭板橋43歲，饒五娘17歲，艷福不淺。 此樁風流雅事中鄭板橋可稱道者，他不急於成親，只許諾：“若成進士，必後年乃得歸，能待我乎？‘媼與女皆曰‘能’，即以所贈詞為訂。”饒五姑娘尤可讚譽的是，第二年板橋成進士，滯留京師。饒家益貧，不僅花鈿服飾拆賣略盡，宅邊小園五畝亦售人。有一富商，欲以七百金購饒五為妾，其母心動，女兒則說：“已與鄭公約，背之不義。七百兩亦有了時耳，不過一年，彼必歸，請待之。” 正在這為難時節，出了個拔刀相助之人，此人為江西茶商程羽宸，一直仰慕板橋文才，那日至揚州，問板橋，在京，且知饒氏事，即以五百金為板橋聘資接饒氏。第二年，板橋歸，覆以五百金為板橋納婦之費。 饒五娘成了板橋愛妾，兩人如膠似漆，後來在山東還生了個兒子，板橋十分珍惜，要饒氏帶著兒子回興化老家撫養，不意到了6歲，兒子又死了，饒氏回到板橋身邊，直到臨終。

按：本文標題出自鄭板橋念奴嬌莫愁湖一詞

Is hot dog a sandwich?

Not sure if I've heard this debate before but a Ford pickup commercial mentioned it. In the commercial the guys ask "Alexa" (the voice-activated assistant made by Amazon) integrated to the truck whether hot dog is a sandwich. Alexa replied yes. However, I got different answers from Google! I guess either side has supporters and valid arguments. To me, hot dog deserves its own category.

歌詞：飛蛾撲火（菊梓喬）

對你好無需原因 緣份捉緊迷失情感
圓月總有明暗 人生會有遺憾

待你真緣淺情深 伴隨又相分留低餘温
情未可以自禁 何解要我看君半晌便已誤了一生

夜已深 段段情話耳邊穿梭纖纖身軀撲火
花花世間百轉千彎只等你再經過
誰來寵愛我 無法再幫助
夢太深 虛假與真再分不清猜不到怎結果
刻骨銘心晚想朝思在生命蠶食我
祈求不要太辜負我

舊記憶歷久常新 擁抱過的身如給囚禁
留下一個烙印 何解要我暖多半晌又再度要傷心

夜已深 段段情話耳邊穿梭纖纖身軀撲火
花花世間百轉千彎只等你再經過
誰來寵愛我 無法再幫助
夢太深 虛假與真再分不清猜不到怎結果
刻骨銘心晚想朝思在生命蠶食我
祈求不要遺下我

夜已深 自問情願也都甘心不惜飛身撲火
花花世間涉水攀山只等你擦身過
誰來取替我被愛這寶座
夢太深 燈光與火再分不清根本不知痛楚
貪嗔愛癡各種犧牲是真誠還是錯
無人可以再阻擋我

神劇：翻生武林

一向不大欣賞大台作風的我，近年由於沉迷馮盈盈，她有份主持的《後生仔傾吓偈》固然盡力追，連她客串了三個鏡頭的《溏心風暴》也看足全劇，而她作為第三女主角的《果欄中的江湖大嫂》更是以最快速度收看！順便也看了同期播出的《翻生武林》前香港小姐冠軍陳凱琳古裝扮相出奇地吸引！程度比得上果欄中的小狼女。收視率比不上《果》，相信和劇情充滿政治諷刺有關，始終不及後者容易吸引C9觀眾。不過如此出位的內容，惹來不少回響（1，2）基本上既踩擦阿爺鞋的建制派，也踩無甚作為的犯民。以維穏見稱的大台竟容許如此結局，也令我大跌眼鏡。

Astrophotography

早一陣子寫過關於太空及天文學的帖，而朋友之中有幾位都是好此道者，昨天首次借來一支望遠鏡嘗試觀「星」，第一目標當然是最容易找的月亮！從鏡中可清楚見到月球凹凸不平的表面，看友人提供的星圖可知月亮右邊是雙子座；金牛座及北斗七星亦不難用肉眼可見，從望遠鏡看這些星也只是一個稍大的點。再試試用GoSky Cell Phone Adapter Mount接上手機鏡頭拍攝但不成功，最成功的是裝了免費的SkyView手機app，靠手機GPS及鏡頭即可知所觀看星空位置然後顯示星座！

經過昨晚，我也躍躍欲試，找到以下有用帖子及網站：

Space.com介紹平價望遠鏡

如何拍攝銀河

用基本器材拍攝仙女座星系

關於Nikon D3200鏡頭的討論

天文攝影入門 作者介紹了幾幅作品都只是用相機不需望遠鏡拍的：Orion and Taurus, Milky Way
能把多張天文照片合成的軟件
十大適合新手觀看的天體

灣區最佳觀星地點（2，3，4）
四月份看甚麼星？

希望在可見將來有成果再在此分享！