Everyone makes mistake

The controversy over Christian Zheng Sheng College, the city only private boarding school for young drug abusers, goes on and on over the past weeks. It is late for me to write on that topic, again. I have been locked inside the court room for almost the whole week and I just don’t have the time to write.
The college in Chi Ma Wan is in an urgent need to relocate because its campus is overcrowded (120 students at the capacity of 60) and shabby. Residents of Mui Wo, the site where the college applied to use, strongly opposed the college application. They say they support rehabilitation services, but they also need to use the site for education of their own children and they fear that the “drug addicts” will impose negative influence on the community. They somehow show the “Not In My Backyard” mentality.
I paid a visit to the college last Saturday for a story. The college is running down. No hot water is available for bathing and it is overcrowded.
I did not need to go through security checks to enter the college. No one accompanied me walking around – I could walk freely inside the campus WITHOUT fearing that the students might do something harmful to me.

Students are preparing food.

Here is the story.
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Getting back to the straight and narrow
There are no security checks for visitors at Christian Zheng Sheng College in Chi Ma Wan. Visitors can go unescorted, wherever they choose on the campus, where young drug abusers are undergoing rehabilitation. Visitors may even take photos of students.
It’s the city’s only private boarding school for young drug abusers.
Though many of the students have committed crimes that go beyond the taking of drugs, they are treated with respect and expected to take responsibility for themselves.

He is the first student greeting me.

Principal Alman Chan Siu-cheuk stresses that students are not incarcerated and should not be considered inmates, though most have been referred by probation officers for stays of about 30 months.
“We are not afraid that the students will be in dispute with visitors. We are confident about our students,” he said. “They are empowered if we stress that they are just students who made mistakes, but not inmates who committed crimes. The students’ identity motivates them to work hard for exams and integrate with community.”
Lau Yin-chun, a 17-year-old who is at the college for three months after committing theft, wants to be thought of as any other normal person.
“I was a set of numbers in the rehabilitation center where I stayed before coming here. Now, people call me by my name,” said Yin-chun, who did not hesitate to open up when he was approached by a reporter.
The school does not use medications in its rehabilitation therapy. Responsibility and self-discipline are the cornerstones to the treatment. The 120 students of the college get up every morning at 6:30. They have morning assembly and Bible reading. By lunch time they have put in three hours of academic study. After lunch they work another three hours and have a couple of hours of free time before dinner. Bed time is 10 pm.Students and teachers share dormitories and the bathrooms which have no hot water.

The shelves will collapse during heavy rains and typhoons.

Students do their own cooking and laundry. Part of their responsibilities require that they help clean up the grounds and assist in renovations. The place is short on regular facilities.
One project took several years as students of succeeding classes removed rocks from an outdoor basketball court. It proved to be good endurance training. They work side by side with teachers, feeling more like equals than subordinates or inferiors. There are no special privileges for teachers.
“The senior students who are the leaders are often the last ones to receive gifts. They are serving others and taking more responsibility,” Chan said.
There’s also some vocational in addition to academic studies. There’s pizza making, photography, video production, design and logistics. Some teaching facilities are pretty sub-standard. A lot of chairs are broken. On the other hand by not replacing broken chairs the school has been able to buy state-of-the-art equipment rarely seen in mainstream schools. The 20 MacBook Pro computers, the HK$48,000 camera and the HK$18,000 lens are some examples.
“I cut staff pay for that. Teachers here are only paid 60 percent of salary offered by other schools,” said Chan whose pay is also 40 percent less. The Christian Zheng Sheng Association has businesses in Cheung Chau, including a pizza shop and tea house. It gets orders for producing videos, T-shirts, and printing names on mobile phone. Even the Macao government asked the association to produce a video about taking drugs.

Students are heading to Cheung Chau for video production.

The businesses have an annual turnover of about HK$1 million.
“We are a social enterprise,” Chan said, adding that students emerging from the school will become more competitive in the job market because of the training they have received.
There are other advantages. Some students were taken on an exchange visit to the United States. Chan said more than 70 percent of the school’s graduates do not return to drugs. “They dare to face the camera. They are achievers. They do not consider themselves criminals,” Chan said.
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I am impressed by the students and the staff of the college. I hope the college will continue being blessed no matter whether they will move to Mui Wo. It is expected that the students and staff are under pressure to continue performing well. Given that huge support for the college is pouring, a single and minor mistake can of the college will disappoint many and jeopardize the college image.
Everyone makes mistakes, and they should be welcomed if they have corrected.

Estate battle

The most important witness of the Nina Wang estate battle started giving evidence this week. This means my “tragedy” has started. I have to arrive at the High Court at 7am everyday – three hours before the hearing starts – in order to get a seat in the small and heavily packed court room. The hearing ends at 4:30pm, and I have to write the stories until 10:30pm.
In addition to the long working hours, the content of the hearings is really something that I can't bear.
Chan, a married man, already started an affair with Wang and living in Wang’s quarters when his wife was bearing his first son.
Chan named his son “Wealthee” because his mother moved to a luxury housing unit “Wealthy Heights” and he believed “Wealthee” meant a man of blessing.
Then, we hear that Wang would burn real bank notes for fun, and Wang would call Chan as “Hubby Pig” and “Hubby Kin”. Chan had his “first occasion” with Wang in 1992, and they recreated the “first occasion” every night.
The hearing goes on and one with Chan saying his identity as a fung shui master is just a smokescreen covering his secret intimate relationship with Wang and denying that he is a eunuch.
Part of the transcript of a video taken by Chan to prove his relationship with Wang was read out in the court. Chan said the word “beautiful” for more than 40 times. One of the sentences is “真係好靚嘅。好靚，好靚，好靚，好靚，好靚，真係好靚，啊，好靚。你可以--係呀，真係好靚。所以 呢套衫真係好靚嘅，影得你。Oh, really very beautiful. Very beautiful. Very beautiful. Very beautiful. Very beautiful. Very beautiful. Oh, Very beautiful. You can….really very beautiful. You look really very beautiful in that outfit.”
I shivered when I was hearing the terms like “Hubby Pig” and writing.

Two songs by an Australian aboriginal singer

Teoh recently sent me two songs by Australian aboriginal musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Excellent piece. Calm me down when I am tensed.

1) Wiyathul

Wiarthul - Gurrumul Yunupingu

English Translation.

Two scrub fowl crying out, looking for Guwalilna
the calls like women crying, looking for Murrurrnawu
the cries returning his mind to the jungles at Mutimutina

oh place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m…m

Oh the old man cries, from this drink
oh dad Kampa-Djundjuna, home Mayan-naraka bright in his mind
oh my two mums, beloved mums, hold Ruypu Milinditj
oh my two mums, beloved mums, cry for the sacred spring Burarrapu
oh the place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m...m

*Djilawurr, the orange footed scrub fowl are family and relatives to the Gumatj Nation

2) Gurrumul History (I was born blind)

Gurrumul - Gurrumul Yunupingu

English Translation

I was born blind, and I don’t know why
God knows why, because he loves me so
as I grew up, my spirit knew
then I learnt to read the world of destruction
united we stand, divided we fall
together we’ll stand, in solidarity

Narranydja dhuwala Batuman (I am ancestor)
Narranydja dhuwala Diarrami (I am ancestor)
Narranydja dhuwala Djenarra
Narranydja dhuwala Gurrumulna (I am ancestor)
m…m

I heard my mama, and my papa
crying their hearts in confusion
how can I walk? Straight and tall
in society please hold my hand
trying to bridge and build Yolnu culture
I’ve been to New York
I’ve been to LA
I’ve been to London
narranydja Gurrumul

United we stand, divided we fall
together we’ll stand in solidarity

Narranydja dhuwala Barrupa
narranydja dhuwala Dhukulul
narranydja dhuwala Maralitja
narranydja dhuwala Nunbununbu

Y…e, wo wanawu Garrapala (of the country Garapala)
Dhamutjpirr, Dhamunura

20 Years

Remarks: This article, a long piece, is not well written. It is not insightful and there is no new view offered. But I have to stress that I write it sincerely (not suggesting that I am not serious to the other pieces I have written) and wholeheartedly.


I am very glad that there is no significant development in Nina Wang estate battle today. I can manage to finish work earlier and arrive at Victoria Park at around 9pm.
I cannot manage to get inside the Victoria Park. I can only stand in the outer area.
I can neither see what's happening inside the park nor hear what the people on stage are talking about. But I am excited, really excited, when I heard Szeto Wah announcing that there are 150,000 people attending the candle light vigil for June 4. I should be glad that I can only manage to get into the outer area because it is an indication that there are really many people showing up. It is a record-breaking turnout.
I am just one of the small persons in the large crowd, but the power of this large crowd of small persons can make history and show the world that we have not forgotten even though the government wants us to forget.
I am glad that I was among one of them, paying respect to June 4 victims. In Hong Kong.

I keep recalling what has happened to me over the past 20 years these days. I was just a primary school student spending most of my time doing homework and playing video games. Similar to my classmates, I just did not care what was reported in the newspapers and TV.
What happened exactly this month two decades ago changed the way I and my classmates behave. We read newspapers and listened to radio news in schools even though the content was complicated and incomprehensible to us. In class, the teachers put aside the textbooks and told students about what was happening in Beijing. Some even broke down to tears before the students.
We understood that there were a large group of students living far away from us demanding better changes.
Back home, I watched TV news with my family. My brother, who is four years older than me, took to the street. The whole family watched and recorded the marathon concert 民主歌聲獻中華 (Concert for Democracy in China).
We always heard of the serious corruption in China. I got an impression that those living on the mainland were poor and backward, which is the reason for my father coming to Hong Kong. Seeing the students on hunger strike, we knew that there were people with true compassions fighting to make the nation a better living place. Hope. We really hoped that the nation would get rid of problems and better respect its people. The hope was growing stronger and stronger. Until it was crushed on June 4.

Throughout these 20 years, there are many changes in the society. My parents have not talked about June 4. My brother, who took to the street two decades ago, even believes that the crackdown is helpful to China’s present development.
Our schools do not about June 4. The history textbooks only briefly mention about it. Teachers are reluctant to talk about it. Students are unaware of it.
I am more aware that the students’ leaders have made mistakes and I was somehow affected by the negative comments against those who escaped to overseas countries. I was puzzled why some people always took to the street to express what they want and why some people gathered in Victoria Park year after year demanding a vindication of June 4. Yes, it is a tragedy and it is sad that the students died. But what’s the point of the vindication? How can the vindication “benefit” me? Shouldn’t we let bygones be bygones and move “forward”?
When I think deeper into it, I understand more. I am not saying that I got a very in-depth understanding of the nation and Hong Kong. I am still not familiar with China’s political and economic system.
China’s economic development is amazing. The living standard of many people has improved. China’s rapid growth is increasingly important to the future of Hong Kong. The nation has also made some tremendous developments. The space missions and the Beijing Olympics are among them.
However, we should not forget that the nation has impressed many with its problems. Put it sarcastically, we have learned melamine from the contaminated milk and other chemicals from other products scandals. We have learned how the poor people have their interest ignored because of corruption. We have learned that Chinese people are generous and sympathetic to the people in need from last year Sichuan’s earthquake, but we have also learned that how inhumane and uncivilized the government is as parents of children died from sub-standard schools are banned from expressing their grievances and no officials are held accountable for the construction of those schools.
And on this special day, we have learned from news that a sister whose brother was killed 20 years ago is banned from paying tribute. And we have the following item that makes me feel ashamed and question whether we really have a civilized history of 5,000 years.



Yes, we have to move forward. But how can we actually move forward if we do not dare to face and settle our past. Yes, China’s economic development is rapid. But that does not mean that we have to support and accept what we believe is immoral and wrong. Yes, the students’ leaders 20 years ago had erred. But this is not a justification for sending troops and tanks against the people. Yes, we have long history and our ancestors have taught us many good lessons that can convince other nations to respect us. But we have to stop all the ridiculous incidents if we want to make people respect not only our economic power. Yes, it is painful recalling the tragedy of June 4. But how can we teach history to our children and ask other people to respect history if we are not courageous enough to face our ugly past. Yes, we have seen corrupt and bad officials being arrested and removed from office. But there will be corrupted officials coming to power if we do not improve our system. Yes, there is no perfect system in the world and all countries have their own problem. But striving for excellence should always be our dream and ideal. Yes, we are benefited from the nation’s development. But we deserve to be respected and have our demands and views listened.

I have watched a public affairs program in TVB on how youngsters think about June 4. A secondary school principal said his school does not touch on the sensitive subject because there is no sufficient data on many things, such as the death toll of June 4, and a responsible educator should not only base on media reports when teaching.

This is such a RIDICULOUS comment. The reason behind the lack of sufficient data is because we do not dare to face our past. Isn't it our job to get the whole picture and collect information from our own sources, especially when officials are reluctant to do that? I am afraid that most historical events, not only June 4, will be forgotten if the officials are not willing to give us the data.

I am glad that I am born in the 1970's. I am glad that I was a primary school student in 1989. Not mature enough to understand what the students in Beijing were doing at that time, but I was able to watch news from media organisations which did not exercise self-censorship as they do today and I was able to know how my primary school teachers felt about the incident.

Last year, we had the successful Olympic Games. We had a massive torch relay in Hong Kong. We had a HKU student staging protest during the torch relay in HK and also demonstrations in overseas countries. A public affairs program by RTHK interviewed some youngsters who are proud of the torch relay. In the eyes of these youngsters, there are only positive developments in the nation.

I do not totally agree with the protesters. But how these youngsters talk worries me. I am glad that I am born in the 1970's and I have a different perspectives from these youngsters.

20 years now. 20 years. Not a short period of time. But I am willing to wait, and we have to wait. We must continue doing that year after year. We are doing that because June 4 MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

I really like this song named 自由花 (The flower of freedom). English translation of the lyrics will come later.

忘不了的，年月也不會蠶蝕
心中深處始終也記憶那年那夕
曾經痛惜，年月裡轉化為力
一點真理，一個理想永遠地尋覓

We cannot forget, nor will time wear away our memory;
Deep in our heart we always recall that day in that year.
We felt the pain, but time has turned it into strength.
One bit of truth and one ideal are what we will forever seek.

＊ 悠悠長長繼續前航不懂去驚怕
荊荊棘棘通通斬去不必多看它
浮浮沉沉昨日人群雖不說一話
不想清楚分析太多真心抑意假

We continue on a long long journey but we know no fear.
We will cut away all hindering thorns, not minding them one bit.
People of yesterday went through thick and thin in silence;
They didn’t want to hear more reasoning, be it true or unreal.

＃ 但有一個夢，不會死，記著吧
無論雨怎麼打，自由仍是會開花
但有一個夢，不會死，記著吧
來自你我的心，記著吧

But there is a dream that will not die - remember.
No matter how hard it rains, freedom will still bloom,
But there is a dream that will not die – remember.
It comes from your heart and mine – remember.

忘不了的，留下了不死意識
深深相信始終會變真某年某夕
如此訊息，仍賴你跟我全力
加一把勁，將這理想繼續在尋覓

We cannot forget, as has prevailed our undying belief.
We deeply trust some day it will finally turn real.
This message, depends on you and me,
Doing our best, to keep searching for that ideal.

Thought Provoking

New name and layout

I don’t actually like two former names, An ordinary diary and I want to record, of this blog. Have come up with a new name and changed the layout.
I like both black and white colors, and I finally decided to use Black. I cannot explain the reason.

Nina Wang

I spent the entire week in the High Court covering the probate trial which will decide who – Chinachem Charitable Foundation or fung shui master Tony Chan – can inherit the estimated HK$100 billion estate of late Asia’s richest woman Nina Wang.
When Nina died two years ago, most people thought her estate would be used for charitable purposes based on a will dated 2002. However, to the surprise of Wang’s siblings, Chan – an unknown person before the saga – suddenly came out, claiming himself the sole beneficiary of Wang’s fortune based on a will dated 2006.
Chan claimed himself the secret lover of Wang, whose husband Teddy was declared legally dead after being kidnapped in 1990. The court heard that Wang was attracted to Chan because the fung shui master claimed that he could locate Wang’s husband, but Chan denied that his fung shui knowledge is very limited.
Fung shui, Chan claimed, is only a smokescreen covering his romantic and intimate relationship with Wang. Chan presented video, audio recordings, Wang trademark pigtail and love letters to the court to prove the relationship. Awaking many reporters who were bored to fall asleep in the court room, Chan’s counsel said one of the videos could prove that Wang wanted to have a baby with Chan.
I somehow cannot understand how these rich people think.
Wang, a person known for her frugality who treated police or staff helping her with only a simple meal that even the poorest people can afford, spent millions of dollars in fung shui. She asked for the transcript of court document to be prayed on, and the color of the bundles be matched with fung shui advice. She gave Chan HK$700 million over a few years in cash transported by car. HK$700 million in cash in addition to HK$2 billion and fees to other fung shui masters!! I don’t think I can make it in my life.
A former legislator, who introduced Chan to Wang, said he gave Chan some HK$750,000 a year for fung shui advice and burned some HK$500,000 real bank notes to get rid of legal problems. The result – he was still sent to jail. If I had HK$500,000, I would quit my job for studying or travelling or taking rest, or use it for investment. I would definitely not burn them. Burning real money is unimaginable and insane.
I cannot live without money. Maybe if I am as rich as these people, I will feel more insecure with more money I have.

王丹：曾蔭權64發言不當 不適任香港特首

〔中央社〕中國大陸民主運動人士王丹今天表示，香港特別行政區行政長官曾蔭權對1989年6月4日天安門事件發言不當，不適任香港特首。

曾蔭權日前說，他明白港人對「64事件」的感受及看法，但事件發生至今已多年，期間國家在各方面的發展成就傲人，香港也經濟繁榮、社會穩定，他相信，港人對國家發展及「64」事件，經過一段時間後，會有客觀的評價。

王丹下午出席台灣新社會智庫於台北市市長官邸藝文沙龍舉辦的「兩岸民主改革20年」座談會後，接受媒體訪問時表示，客觀評價應不只是看經濟發展，還要看國家政治與人權狀況，這才是成熟的人民。

他說，曾蔭權作為香港特首，不應這麼污辱特區人民智慧，也從未見過地區首長這麼看輕人民智力，曾蔭權不配當特首。

媒體詢問王丹，今年是否可能前往香港？王丹笑說，「當然不能，我都這麼罵了，還能去嗎？」

天水圍的日與夜/夜與霧及金錢帝國

天水圍的日與夜
這戲很悶嗎？不是。很好看嗎？又不是。電影的情節，不只適用於天水圍，它還適用於深水埗、旺角、灣仔、沙田等等，甚至是全香港。母親日出而作，日入而息，兒子放暑假，在家中無聊度日。母子間的溝通平淡，但雙方關係良好。誰說在悲情城市的單親家庭問題必定問題多多。

天水圍的夜與霧
把年前轟動一時的家庭滅門血案重演一次。老夫在大陸娶來少妻，妻子努力工作，夫卻終日無所事事，加上心術不正，以致悲劇發生。

金錢帝國
先看電影的英文名字 “I Corrupt All Cops”，就知是為了 “ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption)”而硬砌出來，究竟誰是”I”呢？不知道。這英文名讀起來十分不順口，很爛。
電影情節亦十分爛。電影主要描述六七十年代香港警方貪污風氣十分嚴重，到後來ICAC成立後，情況才得以大大改善。
究竟ICAC是如何打擊警方貪污及查案呢？對不起，電影的交代不多。ICAC成立時，引起警員不滿，甚至發生警廉衝突。那警廉衝突是如何平息呢？平息警廉衝突時引起什麼爭議呢？ICAC是如何搜集證據呢？面對警員的恐嚇，ICAC調查員又怎樣維持士氣呢？電影只是簡單的交代。
過半的電影時間，就是交代主角如何的娶了十個老婆及華探長是如何的意氣風發等。
影評說這是王晶認真之作。我則覺得乏善可陳，看TVB的廉政先鋒好過。

To Chief Executive

I know it is late for me to write this, but I really want to say something regarding your remarks about June 4 in the Legislative Council question and answer session on Thursday.

Responding to a question raised by Civic Party legislator Margaret Ng on your stance of June 4, you said you understand Hong Kong people’s feelings about June 4.

But you went on to say that the incident happened many years ago, and the nation’s development has achieved tremendous results and brought economic prosperity to Hong Kong since then. You said you believe Hong Kong people will make an “objective” view of the nation’s development.

Perhaps you can think about this. Can you ask the protesters who march to Japanese consulate in every December to have an “objective” view of Japan’s tremendous economic development over the past decades, which brings benefit to Hong Kong, and forget about Nanjing Massacre?

Well, I have not expected, and will not expect, you will join the pan-democrats in suggesting the need to vindicate the incident. Your response to Ng’s question is what I have expected.

But what touches my nerve is the following statement you have made.

“My view represents the general opinion of Hong Kong people, and the opinion of the public will also affect my view,” you said. “The Hong Kong people I represent is the general Hong Kong people.”

Mr Chief Executive, you come to power after you have been elected by a committee consisting of 800 members. You are not elected by universal suffrage. How can you say that you represent my views? My views are different from yours. I do not share your views. Please just don’t impose your views on me.

You “apologized” after the Q&A session, saying you have used wrong words.

It is not a matter of language. I feel disrespected and offended by you.

豬流感

昨天五一公眾假期，打算做完政府每天下午4:30的豬流感記者會後可以輕鬆收工，怎知就在下午4:30，在現場的新聞官說因為官員要開緊急會議，記者會要延誤幾小時。當下心知不妙。眾多高官也立即回政府開會。
結果：特首在晚上8:45才公佈香港﹝其實是亞洲﹞首宗確診個案，衛生官員在晚上9:30才公佈個案詳細資料，晚上10:45記者會才完結。快速地在凌晨12時完稿，但結果卻是白費心機。
--------------------------------

在首宗確診個案出現前，政府天天介紹如何防疫，說會提高警戒級別，又再推出全城清潔大行動。公司一位被稱為經驗老到的人，建議去找一些評論，說當局的反應過快過敏。
確診個案出現後，當局決定封鎖病者入住的酒店七天，進入酒店的人要被困酒店七天，接受醫學檢查。
據報，有旅客抱怨安排混亂。當中一對來自廣州的夫婦，昨晚因無法返回酒店而大發雷霆，丈夫不滿地說：「唔係咁大件事，都搞到咁大件事。」他認為封鎖酒店是一個混亂的措施。
另一位內地旅客張太與兒子及同事一行四人來港旅遊，傍晚返回酒店時才發現已被封鎖，其後在酒店外等消息。她表示不擔心受感染，因此不會進入酒店接受隔離，會按照計劃外出觀光購物，更形容「係你哋啲香港人懶緊張」。不過，張太反而擔心返回內地時，深圳政府知道她曾入住維景酒店會將她隔離。

我想問，什麼是過快過敏，六年前的香港，是如何的被沙士襲擊，你們知道嗎？如果當局在過去幾天都沒有工作，昨天才突然宣布首個病例，政府一定備受批評。
旅客門，要被隔離七天，當然不好受。若是我的影響行程及受心情，我也會發火。但現在疫情開始緊張，你們堅持外出觀光購物，其實很自私。要知道，六年前，就是有一位已感染沙士的中山大學教授，悄悄地來了香港，當局沒有防範，當然也沒有即時封鎖他入住的酒店，病毒就極速的擴散。結果：1,755人受感染，當中299人死亡，部份人成為單親家庭或孤兒，部份康復者因為類固醇的副作用而患上骨質疏鬆症。

差劣的翻譯

對電視劇與電影的翻譯要求不多，但求讓觀眾理解劇中對話便可。
在看過的vcd及在優酷網自ER時，發現令人啼笑皆非的翻譯。

例子一
主角A說：「Have you got a job?」主角B回答：「I don’t have one。」
翻譯出來的竟是：
主角A：「你有工作嗎？」主角B回答：「我‧沒‧有‧一。」
例子二
醫生說：「I will be right back。」
翻譯版本是「我剛回來。」
例子三
醫生說：「What’s going on？」
你以為翻譯是「正在發生什麼事？」但字幕顯示的竟然是「正在繼續什麼？」
例子四：
But she is not even your baby.
但是她沒有妳的嬰兒。
例子五：
You really don’t want to give her away? Do you?
你不想給她活路，對嗎？
翻譯的意思與原文完全相反。
例子六：
We will admit him to the hospital.
我們將承認他。
把admit這個字譯為承認，沒有理解一字多義。
例子七：
You make me sounds like some kind of a nuts.
你讓我聽起來像個堅果。Nuts譯為堅果，沒有理解nuts亦指發瘋。
例子八：
Would you turn that thing off?
你將為那事情離開嗎？

錯失多不勝數。
一些醫療術語，很艱深，翻譯真的很困難。但以上的例子，絕對沒有醫學用語。

ER

ER﹝港譯仁心仁術，內地譯急診室的故事﹞早前在美國大結局了。十五年的電視劇，以一次意外，把傷者送往醫院急救的畫面終結，喻意電視劇雖然完結，但生活仍然繼續。

近幾天，我也在優酷網重溫以前的ER。

這套劇，好像每一個角色都很吸引人。

我特別留意Abby，曾多麼希望她可以跟Carter一起。

MSN

MSN為什麼一下子會變得正面呢？原因很簡單。
我如何捍衛我的私人空間呢？

禮儀師之奏鳴曲

在外婆的喪禮上，那個殯儀經紀服務週到，樣樣打點妥當，但你不會很尊敬他，因為他只是很純粹地做一單生意。你記得，在守夜的那一天下午，那個經紀致電姨，以服務顧客的口吻提醒：「你今天記得下午三時來到嗎？」你不預期他悲傷，但對他的提醒感到莫名其妙。
你在想，從事殯儀業的人，見慣場面，麻木了。而且，他們天天面對死屍，怎麼說也不是一個愉快的工作。
看「禮儀師之奏鳴曲」後，多多少少也對殯儀從業員心生敬意，畢竟他們是幫助先人走最後一程。
電影主角在誤打誤撞的情況下成為「禮儀師」，負責在葬禮上清潔遺體和整理儀容等的入棺儀式。這份厭惡性職業，令主角被人看不起，太太也曾一度離開，因為丈夫接觸屍體，不潔淨。
那天，主角朋友媽媽走了，主角奉命執行任務，心懷敬意地為先人沐浴及化妝，再為先人帶上常用的頸巾，讓先人光鮮地走。主角的朋友在懷念先人之時，亦感謝主角。主角的太太亦改變了對「禮儀師」這負面工作的觀感。
主角的爸爸，拋妻棄子，離開三十年，使主角心生怨恨，連生父的樣子也遺忘了。但蒼天卻安排了主角要為父親送行，在替父親沐浴及化妝時，主角也回憶起父親年輕時的樣貌，落淚。
這電影，打動人心，但不造作。
電影中呈現的日式喪禮，莊嚴但平淡寧靜，讓人靜思先人的過去。我在想，為什麼中式的喪禮好像永遠都很嘈吵，要大鑼大鼓地奏樂，再有源源不絕的各種儀式。生人能夠在吵耳的樂聲中悼念先人嗎？



我的身後事
我，不期待風光大葬。喪禮最好在離世後幾天進行，儀式要簡單一點，祈禱祝福便可。喪禮在細小的場地進行便可。如果遺體化妝及得上電影「禮儀師」裡的水平，可以給我化一個妝。如果未及那水平，不必了，因為我覺得香港的遺體化妝，往往不像先人在生時的模樣。
火葬海葬皆可。

NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS NUTS 忍忍忍忍忍

最近，我深明做人做事要按部就班的道理，未懂行，卻急於去學跑，自己可能會有跳班的自滿，卻令其他人吃不消。

比如說，若你現在要介紹印度的歷史與其國父甘地，你最少也要閱讀幾本相關書藉及甘地自傳，甚至與印度人傾談，才可完成任務。你總不能夠因為去過當地旅行兩次就當自己是印度通吧！

如果你連基本的背景也不查考，便班門弄斧，只會使其他人知道你的虛實。你的談吐可能很有自信，舉手投足都好像在下達指令，你可能真的是一個深不見底的人，但人家就不信服。

我在這裡舉一個例子，為什麼你在反問為何要關注青年劫妓女時，卻那麼在意一個家庭的家事？又為什麼你在察覺不到股價動蕩的重要性時，卻在意六十萬元？

我從前在星球遇見的外人，的確，他們都有不了解的地方，而他們有時也很堅持己見，甚至自大。但他們最少在表面上聆聽你，你也可以嘗試在他們的言詞及你的見解中間上找一個平衡點。他們當然也有不濟的時候，但你也記得，他們亦曾經把你腐朽的工作化為神奇。而他們的想法，是有理由的。

在你面前，我好像什麼都不是，你根本不想知道我的想法，你只是在溫和地下達指令。

大展鴻圖

敝館銳意改革，從外招來有能之士，要令業務蒸蒸日上。
有能之士花數月把脈，後決定每星期開班授徒，發施號令。
有能之士言詞內容實在，引經據典，直指門生的最基本職責，對外為挑戰權貴。人，不挑戰其他人，不能成大器。對內要與同僚及主事者唇槍舌劍，把真理越辯越明，把方針弄清。
言猶在耳，你躊躇滿志，欲匯報工作，預備詳細說明事情來龍去脈，以簡潔易明言詞解釋複雜內容，豈料對只反應一句，說他從網站中已大慨知道事情發展，後不再言語聲兒。
同僚告知，他確實與主事者詳談，但談的內容是要解釋盤古初開的背景，討論，仍然久奉。
挑戰權貴以成大器，有誰不想。你記得你嘗試過，但事後被勸導，要留意某同事的情況，前車可鑑。
得知主事者無意討論，你語塞，走開。在電腦前靜靜地以自認為合適的方式工作，這方式是否符合公司的期望，你不知道。完成後，你靜靜地離去，在路上細想號令如果不實行，頒發的意義何在。

一百萬零一夜 Slumdog Millionaire

我很喜歡印度，有印度元素的電影一般都去看，包括Darjeeling Express，不太理會戲情介紹。
戲內戲外，一百萬零一夜都充滿戲劇性。戲外，低成本製作橫掃奧斯卡並各地票房，貧民區長大的小演員一夜成名後，不能再適應貧民區的生活，病倒了，因拒絕接受訪問而被父親掌摑，又被家人投訴態度囂張，令人關注這些童星以及貧童的身心健康。而貧民區的情況，可以想像，在電影熱潮過後，情況依舊。



戲內，一個在貧民區長大而且沒有受過教育的青少年，因為想吸引兒時情人，而參加百萬富翁遊戲。他志不在金錢，而是把遊戲時間拖長，讓情人在電視上看到他的機會及時間多一點，因此，他選擇不拿支票走人，而繼續遊戲。
遊戲主持人，多次強調主角只是一個在電話公司的茶水仔。



兩小時的電影，沒有悶場。
我想成為貧民區的富翁嗎？想，但要付出相當大的代價。
遊戲的問題與答案，往往勾起你的傷心回憶，你根本不想知道那些答案。
可幸導演的處理，令電影成為一部勵志的片，不傷悲。

夏菲米克的時代 Milk

不論你是不是支持同志運動的人，夏菲米克的時代(Milk)的確是一部很出色的電影。



首先，辛潘(Sean Penn)的演出，真的令人動容。他完全投入了角色，很吸引，友說他好像「上左身」。那配角，夏菲米克的第一位情人，演出同樣出色。
電影是關於三藩市議員夏菲米克的一生。夏菲米克(Harvey Milk)是首位同性戀者打入政壇的美國人。他參選的主要目的，就是要為同性戀者爭取權益。
同性戀議題，又被淪為政客爭取支持及票數的工具。口口聲聲說支持平等的政客，投票時卻展現出另一張面孔。
夏菲米克參選的過程十分不容易。他三次落敗，但屢敗屢戰，第四次終於在選舉勝出。當選後，他要面對種種問題，其中最重要的，就是另一位議員要提出法案，要求公立學校開除同性戀或支持同性戀者的員工。這位議員的理由是，同性戀者會對兒童造成不良影響。
夏菲米克與這位議員展開多次辯論，法案最終不獲通過。
可惜，夏菲米克的成功，卻引來另一位議員的妒忌。這位議員，最終更因為覺得夏菲米克阻礙他的仕途而槍殺他。
但兇手好像沒有得到應有的懲罰，因為陪審員大多是保守人士，他們同情殺人者。最後，在辯方律師聲稱兇手是受劣質食品(junk food)的影響下才犯案，法院只判兇手五年監禁。



在香港，傳媒報導過，愛滋病的新個案中，有不少是男同性戀者，有醫生指出，這可能與群交有關。
然而，有沒有想過，愛滋病的原因究竟是不安全性行為或濫交，或是同性戀呢？而同性戀的罪是否比其他人嚴重呢？

告別﹝二﹞

修改了幾天前貼的文章，那文章有錯字，一些句子的表達不清晰。如發現語病或不清晰地方，請指正。

到達靈堂後，即去看遺容。我可以想像，把化妝退下，她的面容依然安祥，像睡覺一樣。
二十五年前，外公去世，當時還是小學生的我，把手伸向外公的鼻，檢查他是否仍然在呼吸，他的去世是否錯覺。這一次，我只凝視遺體，外婆已死，是事實。
靈堂內，絡繹不絕，有人把喪禮當成社交場合，不斷地逗旁邊的人談話，向來哀悼的人說「你是貴賓」。有人在看遺容後，悲傷地離去。
喪禮以道教形式進行。家屬時而下跪，又要跟隨道士在吵耳的配樂中進行破地獄等儀式。
我專注地望向遺照，心中悲傷，但感恩。能夠有一位善待自己的外婆，是莫大的恩賜。
外婆在老人院去世的那天，是清早時份。修女致電姨，說外婆的情況緊急。在姨到達老人院前，外婆已走了。
她離開前我一直祈求，外婆可以過這一關，而即使她要走，我也可以見最後一面。想不到，連住在澳門的姨也不可以送她走。
想一想，這也是好的。由姨的住所去老人院要半小時左右。而我由香港去那間老人院，即使坐直昇機，也要兩小時。外婆在姨到達前離開，即是她病發辛苦的時間不太長。她走的真的很安祥。
瞻仰遺容一刻，眾人傷心淚下。因為，這是你跟她面對面的最後一刻，蓋棺以後，你只能在記憶及相片中見到她，而相片是死的。
工作人員把棺木放進泥土裡，眾親友把泥土灑在棺木上，依依不捨地送別。
一陣清風拂過，再見了，願安息。
葬後連續兩天，去獻花。今後，也只能以獻花這方式去探望。
感恩，我希望我能以同樣的態度在日後面對人的離去。