舊韻

自從兩個孩子回新西蘭後，我已經很少獨自往屯門公園。上週末與友共聚，通宵達旦。翌日過午才起，膳後已是三時許，遂流漣在屯門市中心，信步至屯門公園。 公園本身沒多大變化，遊人多了不少。最是人群集中處，漫舞輕歌，樂韻停不了。也不知是從何時起，屯門公園變作了歌舞者的聚集處。除了週三，公園都開放給表現者，並且也開辟了多個自娛區，讓表演者各自歸班。大大小小的表演區不下十處。最多人圍觀的，當然是歌聲舞影喧天處。驟眼看來，圍觀的多是上了年紀的中老年人。有些隨歌起舞，有些與表演者唱和，各自樂在其中。 日期：2012年12月26日 地點：屯門公園內，辟了多個自娛區。與者正在跳社交舞。 日期：2012年8月。 參與者多是上了年紀的長者。 日期：2012年8月。 參與者多是上了年紀的長者。 隨著香港人口老化，一些地方，特別是屯門、元朗一帶，長者特別多。人到了一定年紀，很多都不再有工作的打算，因為他們往昔的工作技能，大多已經和現代社會脫節，是沒法從投工作崗位。因此大大小小的公園，都是長者們投閒置散的地方，特別是男性長者，可能是他們不習慣日間處身於家中吧，公園也就變作他們交友聯誼的地方。加之屯門公園唱歌的，都是二十到四十歲的女性歌者。女子原來是水，從國內來的女子，不少都見過世面，懂得如何交際和逗人，不少長者都是癡迷迷的，天天都來捧他們心儀的歌者，是故男性長者特別多。 表演是免費的，年輕漂亮的表演者最招途人，一曲游龍戲鳳還未唱完，表演者已收到十多個紅包。 人 畢竟會老，但記憶還在。上世紀六七十年代，當台灣流行曲風靡香港的時候，也就是這些長者的盛年時代，從大笪地歌棚到油尖的夜總會，都是唱著那些歌。今日屯 門公園歌唱者們唱的正好都是那個年代的台灣歌，倒牽起了長者們不少回憶。除了台灣流行曲外，當然小不了遊龍戲鳳之類的黃梅調和香港最地道的電視主題曲和廣 東小調。我想她們為迎合本地人的口味，唱的也是香港人熟悉的歌。在國內家傳戶曉的珊瑚頌，紅梅贊，少有聽聞。 觀看的，多是上了年紀的中年人。 我小時候，很喜歡看街頭表演，那個年頭，賣藝的人不少，觀眾大多是草根階層。據說一代樂壇天后梅艷芳小時，也沿街賣唱過一段日子，我可能也看過她的表演。可能是當年的情意，我聽到歌聲，也會偶爾停步，停下來聽一會。不過看到複雜的人群，還是快步離開。 日期：2012年12月26日  雖是冬日，還可見短褲露肩的表演者。 表演者們唱的歌，對我來說並不陌生。無論是高山青，抑或是水長流，都是我童年聽的歌。唱粵曲的娛區圍觀者不多，一般唱粵曲的多以本地上了年紀的為主，色藝方面哪能及得上年輕漂亮的。當然家傳戶曉的粵曲，什麽人都會唱，基本上不需學。上兩代的粵曲，在屯門公園這等場所不容易聽到，在廟街一帶可能會偶有所聞。說到上兩代（30年代）粵劇中人，以薛覺先和馬師曾最為著名。當年便有【南薛北梅】這等稱號。不過在今日，誰個億它。 左：梅蘭芳，中：白駒榮，右：薛覺先 右：萬能老倌薛覺先當年的花旦扮相

懷念

早前接到一學長的短訊，說道學長Kenneth離世。Kenneth數月前證實患上末期胰臟癌。上月我往台灣前曾經探訪他。那時見他情況有所好轉，還以為他能戰勝病魔。誰知他的情況急轉直下。我從台灣回來不及一周，他便離世。想起 Kenneth 大學時和我們共過的日子，他那自遠而近的身影，草坪上的足跡，他的笑臉、豪情、一切音容，猶在昨日。沒想到他這麼早便離去。上周五晚出席他的喪禮，他交遊甚廣，人緣極好，靈堂上密密的堆滿弔唁的花牌。停留期間，遇上不少舊日的同學，時間過得很快、轉瞬間大家都已白頭。

Kenneth 長我兩歲，是高我一屆的學長。我初抵英國校園，英文不好，很多科目對我來說是陌生的。幸得熱心同學們的幫忙，才能脫離困境，Kenneth 便是其中襄助的一位。Kenneth 畢業於香港浸會大學，后轉往英國修讀電腦學碩士，1980年回香港發展。他能幹，拼搏，很早便踏上管理階層。他曾任香港電腦學會秘書，也是早年香港電腦學會的要員。

Kenneth 近年來事業不大如意，已慢慢淡出電腦行業。主要原因是那行業對新血的要求很大，但對上了年紀的舊人的需求就有限，特別是高級管理層的需求就更少。加上不少大公司都北移，大趨勢之下，也不是他個人能力所能改變。Kenneth 早年得意，這個現實對他有一定的打擊。

Kenneth 很好吃，不論中西，那處有好東西，都有他的足跡。同時他也喜歡杯中物。上次我們聚會見面，他領我們往中環的食府，開懷暢聚。他還笑說某道菜整個中環只有該處才可以吃到，但是膽固醇就非常高，不過他不介意，還不停地進酒，他就是如此豪情。往昔共聚，把酒言歡，此情不再。

我從Kenneth 的親友中得知，他的病在一定程度上是吃出來的。由於他飲食沒節制和經常喝酒，間有心情欠佳，且又缺少運動。日子一久，積下的問題便多了，到身體不適時已是很大的問題。

Kenneth 和太太育有兩女一男。大女兒原在美國工作，知道父親發病後便從美國回來，一直伴在他身邊；二兒子在港修讀碩士；三女兒還在念大學。Kenneth 彌留時，兒女全都在身旁。他去得安詳。

特誌此篇懷念劉熾堯學長，叩謝昔日隆情。

「事實」與「真實」

九月十八日傍晚，我和友人在東莞常平晚膳。據早前媒體的報導，東莞市已連續幾天有群眾搗毀日式店鋪。晚膳時常平大街上仍沒見有異。大約八時半許，中元街上看到數十武警步操而來，引起道旁大批群眾圍觀。其後更見一大群群眾集結跟隨，之後便傳出武警和群眾的一些叫喧。最後，人群和武警都各自散去。街上回復平靜。其間，友人把當時的情景用手機拍下來，第一時間用 whatsapp 把照片傳回香港。

時間：2012年 九月十八日，大約晚上八時三十分。

地點：廣東東莞常平。

照片描述：12年918晚上八時半許，武警在常平中元街

照片描述：12年918晚上八時半許，常平中元街群眾

朋友們 看到照片後都說很驚心，叫我們小心，最好盡早回香港云云。我是旁觀者，我沒有跟隨群眾。我只是留意情況和事態發展。之後，我把我的感想發給香港的朋友。

自從九月初中日因釣魚台島主權爭議升級後，雙方關係更是緊張。 918紀念日前後，中國國內陸續有城市爆發連串反日示威。但在常平，原本沒有什麽事情的。不過武警奉命要展示實力，防止滋事份子乘勢搗亂，所以擇時而出，企生阻嚇之效。群眾看見大批武警出動，好事的，不知就裡的，趁熱鬧的，都蜂擁相隨。人群就像滾雪球的越滾越大。其實那情況是很危險的，如果其中真是有滋事份子意欲圖謀，在人群中推撞，叫暄，毆鬥，製造紛亂的話。只要稍有差池，亂事便一發不可收拾。

大家看到的「事實」就是當時很亂，有武警在現場鎮壓（特別是只從照片上看或傳聞）。 「真實」是由於武警的顯示實力（本來什麽事情都沒有），引致群眾聚集而幾乎引起騷亂。

不要說一般人，大聖大賢又何嘗不如斯受惑：

孔子窮乎陳、蔡之間，藜羹不斟，七日不嘗粒，晝寢。顏回索米，得而焚之，幾熟。孔子望見顏回攫取其甑中而食之。選間，食熟，謁孔子而進食。孔子佯為不見之。孔子起曰：今者夢見先君，食潔而後饋。顏回對曰：不可。向者煤室入甑中，棄食不詳，回攫而飯之。孔子曰：所信者目也，而目猶不可信。

白話譯文如下：

孔子厄於陳蔡，途中絕糧，七日沒有飯吃。顏回討了些米來煮。快熟時，孔子看到顏回抓起鍋裏的飯來吃。當顏回端飯給孔子，孔子說：「剛才夢見了先父，先用潔淨的飯祭過父親再吃。」顏回知道孔子懷疑他先偷吃飯，便說：「不行（這飯不大乾淨）。剛才有煤灰掉進鍋裏（弄髒米飯），丟掉可惜，我就抓起來吃了。」孔子於是說：人應該相信自己的眼睛，但即使眼睛看到的仍不一定可信。 

聖哲如孔子，若不給與解釋，也難分事實背後的真實，更何況是如我的一般俗世人。現今世代，不少厲害的人，就是利用事實或一般人分不出真實的手段，傷害欺壓他人來達到目的。當對方長期受壓，忍無可忍或失去理性還擊時，這些厲害的人便以受害人自居，訴諸法律從而獲得極大的利益。

我輩中人特別要小心，因為法律只講求「事實」，不理「真實」。不少人因為「事實」而含冤受屈，甚至飲恨終生！

工作坊：只要在搜索器上輸入“鋼琴家劉詩昆”，便可看到劉詩昆涉嫌毆妻的消息（2009-01-08），試問誰能看出事實背後的真實？

OLD TALKS 老生常谈

My Presbyopia (老花眼) is getting worse. I could still see my PC monitor without glasses a year ago, but now I have to wear glasses every moments in order to read the monitor. I use PC most days and each day is around 8 hours. I hate having the glasses on.  I was not that busy recently and that drove me to tidy up my flat in Chang Ping which had been vacant for many years. After spending some efforts, it can now be lived and I am quite pleased about it especially the estate has become a bit popular and more people (small families) have moved in.

I replaced my bedroom aircond because it was very noisy and costly to run. I bought a new  bossy desk and chair for the reading room, a new 32”LED TV,  a new bluray player and a small set of 5.1 hi-fi system for the sitting room. I have also brought my pc notebook from Hong Kong and put it there for my leisure reading and typing. When everything was ready, I connected those HDMI appliances together thru a 3-in 1-out HDMI converter. Now, I can switch amongst bluray, PC, and TV set-top box. With this outset, my tiny little 10” notebook now becomes a 32” big one. I bought myself a set of wireless keyboard & mouse, and I now can sit on my sofa to type and read on the big screen.  It immediately solves my presbyopia problem. How wonderful it is.

In addition, I can save money from buying an up market SMART-TV because the so called smart-tv could not be as smart as my real pc on the tv screen. In terms of easy surfing, a smart-tv remote control definitely cannot beat my wireless keyboard & mouse.  The commercial gimmick of Smart-TV cannot fool me. I will do the same in my HK’s home. Instead of using a notebook, I will use a desktop PC because I have three desktops at home. I can simply put one next to the TV and put hard network cable onto it and that is. Alternatively I can put my spare 802.11N wireless adaptor in its USB slot and let it do network connection thru wi-fi. I can also set my pc to run on either windows, linux or even android. So for those that are interested in buying a Smart-TV, they can re-think IF THEY CAN TURN THEIR EXISTING TV INTO A SMART-TV. The investment is just a set of wireless keyboard & mouse, plus a desktop to TV VGA cable & audio speakers (I don’t expect your spare PC has a HDMI outlet) and an optional wireless adaptor. All these together should be within ￥300, and you don’t need to throw away your working TV for a Smart-TV.

I like milk tea for its special red tea fragrant. However, red tea is notorious for carrying high amount of ‘wet’ which is not good to human’s intestines and stomach. I know that if I take too much milk tea, then problems will come. Recently I did take quite a lot, but it did not hurt at once. It was cumulating and waiting for a catalyst to burst. So happened my cousin brought me a bowl of Indonesian curry and seriously told me to finish it. I took only 3-spoonfuls and that was enough to break me. In less than an hour, a reddish skin rash appeared on my inner left thigh (左股沟) and it developed very quickly to extend to a sizeable size. HK’s Summer is hot, skin rash is irritating. It is itchy and painful and I don’t need to relate further. Initially I tried some Elomet but it did not help (it could be the Elomet had expired). I knew what it was therefore I was not panic.

That’s how I overcame it.

1.    Did nothing and just let it develop further until it reached its peak.

2.    Applied a thin layer of eczema cream (can be Elomet, Hydroderma or something that contains hydrocortisone) 3 times a day.

3.    Performed a mini-fasting program called The Lemon Detox Diet (Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup) in conjunction to 2 above.  (if you want to know more about the diet,  search  the web using the above keywords)

4.    After the program, took light meals in the 1st 2 days (rice porridge is good)

Warnings: consult your physician (doctor) for any illness you have. I don’t consult a doctor because I know my situation well.

I remember the first time I had this type of skin rash was 1987 when I was in NZ. I was very panic because

1.         Firstly I did not know what it was (young and inexperienced).

2.         Secondary I was in another country where I did not have my usual doctors to consult (no trustworthy party to consult).

3.         Thirdly, it was very irritating and you did not know how soon it could be cured (cannot foresee when it’ll end).

Normally when someone faces a situation that is out of their hands, they tend to panic. In commercial arenas, we are fragile and could be a subject to be slaughtered. In financial markets, we tend to surrender and lose out all our money. Therefore it is important to stay calm and not to panic. Once you know what the devil is, you have a way to handle it.

網絡欺凌

差不多有兩年沒有在網上買書。昨天買了兩本。由於太久沒有上這個網站，以往的購買紀錄沒有了，但評級仍在。我在這網站先後買了7本書，都是在同一年買的。在購買第三次時，那賣家要求我先付款约￥100到他的銀行帳戶。一般網購都不建議如此，我覺得與人方便，那就如他意吧。結果這賣家給了我一個劣評。其後我在日後買書，曾有賣家見我有劣評便不願意賣書給我。及后經過解釋，把事情和紀錄引出，他們始知賣家中有敗群，網絡買賣不一定是買家的天下。我認為那賣家對那網站的運作太熟識。他利用那網站的漏洞強迫買家給他好評，如果不依他話，他便毫不猶豫給買家劣評，還投訴買家。他不但不覺得自己不對，還樂於從事。我覺得這是典型的網絡欺凌。趁現在不忙，不妨把事情道出，給大家參考。

下面就是我和那賣家的交談紀錄。这紀錄是当其他书商对我有怀疑时给他们解释的。bluehut  就是賣家。早生花发 是我。

1.
bluehut  2010-06-14 16:21:32【订单确认】看到兄台在香港甚喜，敝店港台书都在香港。麻烦付到中银卡，01287511424651
持卡人LINXI HKD114连平邮费8共122 谢谢
早生花发 2010-06-14 21:21:41既然书在港。请告知商号地址。我往贵店购买或告知电话，能方便吗？

2.
bluehut   2010-06-14 21:30:19 书是朋友私藏，并无店铺。也可以在金钟地铁站约见。但朋友较忙，也许寄发较为方便。或许兄台多惠顾一些？累计略多些再约见。
早生花发 2010-06-15 13:58:48 HK$122 已存入指定户囗 01287511424651。请发书。谢谢。

3.
bluehut 2010-06-15 15:56:53 兄台，联系朋友查收到帐了。但朋友现在国内度假，故需要20日返港返工后寄出，不好意思，请等待数日，多谢！
早生花发  2010-06-15 16:28:53 阁下明知书主人不在，仍通知我付款。我款项已付，仍未更新订单的付款状态。由此两点。阁下似乎不尊重买卖信用承诺。

4.
bluehut  2010-06-15 17:13:45上午发短信才知，多位书友亦无意见。且发书时间亦在允许范围内。订单状态因为您是新手，不知道需要您设置付款，我才可设置收款。故在下及 时以短信回复收到。敝店玩票，都是朋友私藏出让，并非专职。若君以为服务不到，吾亦无可奈何。
早生花发  2010-06-15 17:25:21已设置付款，请设置收款。

5.
bluehut 2010-06-21 12:29:47【卖家发货】早生花发 您好，您的订单(编号：7402715），图书已经平信发出;请注意查收。请给予好评，欢迎下次光临！不料邮费要 16，是我估计错。算了吧。

6
早生花发2010.06.23 13:37  (评价) 商品和店可信。客户服务一般

7.
bluehut  2010-06-24 09:30:19 您好！抱歉打扰，我是孔网燃灯书屋的店主，刚收到兄台一个中评，甚感难过，本店从08年开店至今一直用心经营，好评无数，中差评廖廖，您购书期间因我出差 店铺交朋友代管，在沟通方面多有怠慢，还望兄台见谅，本店将一如既往的为您服务，还望兄台能向孔网客服撤销对本店的中评，非常感谢！

8  这是bluehut 给我的劣评 和投诉
bluehut  2010.06.24 09:53 作為新手不懂規則，隨意指責，不是賣家好選擇。

9. 网站客服（锁眉） 。2010-06-24 11:53:42 【系统消息】现在有书友对您进行投诉，请到个人中心－投诉咨询－书店投诉中查看并及时处理！

以上是此次交易的全部书信往来。本人一向诚信待人。即使 bluehut 通知我付款往一无保障的银行户囗 (点1)，本人亦不怀疑照办。

bluehut 在(点3)声言要20日返港返工后寄出。我也不多言。但想想。作为一个消费者，我若早知情，我有权利选择向其它书店购买。但款已付，bluehut 这行为没有给我有选择的馀地。

请看bluehut 在(点4)的砌词。其中 "敝店玩票，都是朋友私藏出让，并非专职。若君以为服务不到，吾亦无可奈何。"  一副奈他不何的样子。另外在（点7）却说“本店从08年开店至今一直用心经营”。和前面的"敝店玩票"就自相矛盾。其人虚伪，言辞不一，可想而知。

虽是如此，在收书後，我没有给他劣评 (点6)  我还说他商品和店可信。
（解释完）

bluehut 恶意批评和投诉於我，主要原因是他對這書網的運作非常熟識。我沒有因他那近乎無賴的行為給他劣評，但他卻給我劣評后還發起投訴。这便是他厉害的地方。根據那網站的運作，被投訴者需要解釋或向投訴者妥協。之後被投訴者不可以發起投訴，以免纠缠下去，没有完结 （网站也没有资源去跟进，也不愿理誰是誰非。）

由于往往是买家收到书后先给评，所以这卖家就可以看着买家的行为而行动。一般买家都是给评级但不会主动作投诉。bluehut 就是利用这点，当看到不满意的评级便痛下杀着，同时发劣评和投诉。买家便要忙于解释，接受网站指引和卖家妥协。bluehut 乘势要挟买家更改评级为好评。

这就是典型的网络欺凌。但愿各位不会遇上。

Switching

There had been problems on my XP (Engish) machine and the problems re-occurred more frequent recently and eventually it died down yesterday. It did not die completely after rescue but only not being able to use network facilities. I tested the HD and it was the overheating causing the system corruption. I could reload the backup image onto a new HD and make it revive again. However, XP is a 10 year old OS already. I have the Win7, so I told myself to let it go, otherwise I would never have a chance to use the new Win7 OS (if I dont give up the old stuff). I checked further and confirmed that the HD overheating problem only restricted to that particular HD for my English XP system. In the past, I would be eager to find ways to solve the overheating problem( I know it could only be some parts failure ), now I prefer to take it back to the manufacturer for the repair. So happened, the HD warranty finished 2 months ago. So buying a new one could be more justifiable.


There is not any bitter experiment to switch from XP to Win7. However, there are things I cannot bring them across. The most obvious one is my Chinese Input software Q9. If I dont talk to people from China, I dont really need to use Chinese! I know there are quite some Chinese input methods available nowadays, at least there are 2 coming with Win7. Shall I get a new Q9 Win7 version or learn/use PinYin? For an old guy like myself to learn something new, it may take some time. There is not much problems for young Chinese to use PinYin as they grow up with PinYin. They can use it on their phone with only one finger. It is a different story for a HK Cantonese like myself as PinYin was not part of my education! However, the determination of giving up Q9 and going for PinYin is because my right hand has been diagnosed with muscle strain and the cause, after months of investigation, was identified. It was the prolonged use of a PC mouse! The Q9 software works on a 3x3 square frame and the input requires a lot points and clicks. Prolong use of point and click hurts both the forearm and arm muscles. So I am not going to have Q9 on my Win7 this time. The result is I can completely going to Win7 without looking back.


I guess Microsoft is in a dilemma. I, perhaps quite some people, were bound to Windows OS because there were a lot of software developed/associated with Windows. In the past, they were not able to switch to other platforms because of the close coupled situation. However, nowadays, that coupling is gradually broken. For instance, more input methods are available on Android and Linux. Whatever software/application you have on Windows, you have it on your smartphone as well and some smartphone software may even come out earlier than their PC counterpart. If one could switch from XP to Win7 (or its successor Win8), one could also be able to switch to other platforms as long as they use browsers to surf; the applications connected to the Net with friendly interface. Then, one would ask the question: why pay to have Wins if Android/Linux can do the same and is free. Therefore while Microsoft is urging her loyal customers to upgrade their OS, she is risking to lose them to her competitors.



The good old day of Microsoft has certainly gone!