本網誌三週年誌慶

多謝各朋友的祝賀。我對未來沒有甚麼計劃，只希望除咗找到一個真命天子以外，一切都不要變。

呀，務求各位可以找我吃飯，我空閒得很，而且要多啲見人。

Text kerning in Firefox 3.0

I think this article covers some aspect of typography that people is not well aware of... especially if you are not sensitive to pixel level differences.

Just scroll to “Kerning”, Firefox is clearly better in that particular comparison.

I can finally see your status (and you can see mine too)

Holy Crap! I have finally waited the shit out of me long enough to see others’ status messages on MSN and I can have the whole world (well, my contacts) see my status too! With Adium, I can now forget that there existed something called “Microsoft Messenger” which has a hideous, non-Mac interface.

The unofficial Adium build I am running now has these for me to play with:

• Contacts Search
• IM’ing to Facebook contacts
• Setting my status message and seeing others’ status messages
• Sending and receiving offline messages
• Have a message box pops up before a buddy sends the first message

All Mac users rejoice! But maybe a little bit too early though... the build is unofficial and unstable and whatever—read and understand everything before you start testing. I warn you: all data can get wiped clean by this.

Coffee Thinking

I originally planned to go to see a movie in Broadway Cinematheque when I was taking the trains from the University station, but I soon realised that I would certainly have missed the opening by then. So I threw away the whole idea and alighted at Shatin and headed back home.

At a Starbucks enroute, I saw a young woman heading my way when I was waiting for my decaf iced tall latte. The woman’s clothing reminded me that it is hot sunny summer despite it was cold and rainy outside. The way she walked to me was what I hate the most. I’m not particularly sure why girls have to walk like that as if they were models in the Shiseido commercial, besides the idea that they are trying to induce male hormones. Well... after all it is pointless—she wouldn’t be able to induce any sex hormones anyway. And I’m speaking this on behalf of the general male population.

Luckily she was approaching her companion behind me. Then it kept me thinking while I was still waiting for my cup: if she genuinely enjoys walking like this way it wouldn’t be a problem. I walked awkwardly, sometimes on purpose. However I think she wasn’t genuinely enjoying it by the look of it.

An update to my music problems

I mentioned that after I upgraded to QuickTime 7.5 the music cannot be played correctly both by QuickTime and iTunes. Turns out it is logical that they couldn’t play these files—these MP3 music files are corrupted. I don’t know why they go corrupt as over the last few days I have been testing some programs, many of them music related. I don’t know which one of them is the culprit. It could be the QuickTime update itself, the RealPlayer 11 that I installed recently or some Windows music converter software that I run in VMware.

After I restored the music from the back up (not through Time Machine, but rsync), everything seems fine now.

Apple’s keynote and the consumers

Every now and then someone will say that the keynote from Apple’s WWDC is boring. There is no doubt that expectations are high towards any keynote speech of Apple—Steve Jobs is an excellent speaker and his reality distortion field transforms even the most simplest feature to become state-of-the-art innovations. Too high the expectations can lead to disappointment, especially for consumers viewing the WWDC keynotes. The target audience for WWDC keynotes is clearly the developers, and lay-persons might not feel interested in, if not bored by, the content.

Consumers generally like to hear key points with a high WOW factor—iPhone with 3G+GPS capabilities or thin MacBook Air with MultiTouch trackpad—which are also the points which the consumers can understand and talk about. They are happy to hear this and they expect to hear these things in any Apple’s keynote. On the other hand the consumers won’t understand a bit of “Oh! Apple’s announced the Push Notifications Service!” Even if the keynote is all about these innovative technical details, consumers won’t feel interested in any way. The consumer is ignorant (which is a bliss) of the technical innovations that will benefit them in the long run. This is why the WWDC keynote is often “boring”, but in fact, they just lack the WOW factors.

Of course, Apple wants more hype and rumours before the keynotes to generate higher expectations and attention to their keynotes. In fact, they are believed to intentionally leak (fake) product features. The rumour mills are, well, okay at expecting what will be announced next. But they aren’t necessarily correct. There are numerous times do they predict that the (then) Apple phone would be announced but these rumours turned out to be false. And Apple sometimes release something entirely new without the rumour mills saying a word about it before the announcement.

To me, watching the WWDC keynote is like watching a football match (some friends may point out that I never watch football matches, but anyway I’m just making an analogy here). I watch it because I want to know how Apple announces their new products, not what they will announce. If I only want to know the results I could simply skip the keynote and read the news afterwards.

People are always anticipating new gadgets. But how about the software? I believe that good software is a large contributing factor to Apple’s success, though the general public seem to direct their attention to somewhere else. This is why I like to ask people why they buy an Apple product—it seems pretty shallow to me if “being cool” is the only reason. I like Apple because I like their way of working with computers, and this is software related.

Apple: Hong Kong is the New Territories

Source: Apple WWDC Keynote 2008 video.

Problems with QuickTime 7.5

Since yesterday Apple started pushing a new update to QuickTime which bumps the version number to 7.5. Though there seems to be issues with this release that makes MP3 music to be played incorrectly. iTunes won’t even play some MP3 music (iTunes uses QuickTime to play media files, it seems). So I advise people to skip this release and wait for another update.

It’s amazing

When I thought I have gave up, something amazing just happened—the connection went back to normal. Absolutely no problem with 0% packet loss.

In the mean time I watched When Harry met Sally, and I love it.

豈有此理！

今時今日仍用電話線做寬頻。

本來問題不大，但今日的上網速度比正常慢很多，不穩定的情況由今早黃雨開始直至下午仍未好轉，嚴重時資料流失率超過 60%。

每年總有一次半次因為天氣而影響上網，要打電話到網上行的熱線派員維修，上年雨季甚至有一部電腦和解碼器在雷雨天後報銷。

我家的電話線是掛在電話線桿上的，十分兒戲。上網服務由出問題，是不是要考慮轉用別的服務？不過家住村屋，選擇甚少，較合適的服務就是數碼通流動寬頻，連同所有不合理收費要 $408／月，又好像太貴了，而且不可以用點對點檔案共享。

更新：我決定放棄垂死掙扎，是日休息。

四川地震

關於四川地震，我沒寫個一字，我一向認為無到好過遲到，因此不打算寫些甚麼，不過我從其他網誌引述下閱讀了一些報導或文章，或可用以代表自己的想法。

梁文道著《浩劫中見希望　傷痛裏有慈悲》

「然後，我看見了我心愛的成都，以百萬計的市民露宿街頭，令人神傷。可是我要說，這次災劫中最叫人感動的還不是雖然負傷流血卻仍趕赴災區的士兵武警，甚至也不是親臨前線的溫家寶總理，而是這些可愛的成都人。這麼大的一座城市，不只沒有發生災後常見的趁火打劫，更沒有商舖乘機抬價，幾百萬人就這樣秩序井然地守在街頭，照樣過自己的日子。有人譴責部分市民在這當頭仍不忘露天打麻將是幸災樂禍。我卻想起伊朗導演基阿魯斯達米在《春風吹又生》中那最動人的一幕﹕強烈的地震摧毁了無數人的家園，但那些災民在野地上架搭帳篷時仍不忘豎好天線，因為世界盃就快開鑼了，逃難固然要緊，但並不表示世界盃就不重要了！這不只是苦中作樂，這更是人在浩劫中奪回自己尊嚴的努力。天災可以帶走我們的財產、親人以及生命，但不一定帶得走人之為人的起碼生趣。」

明報《紅會行政籌款支出比例最低》二零零八年五月二十日

「社會服務聯會業務總監蔡劍華表示，慈善機構均有不同理念、服務對象、宗教背景、運作方式，市民捐款前應先了解它們的工作重點及財務，然後選擇個人最認同的作出捐獻。『成熟的捐款不是即興、不是在街頭放低 100 元便了事。』」

我（至）系音樂

Nokia 最近推出的新廣告，以手機聽音樂作主題，雖然不太喜歡，甚至認為有點恐佈，但我頗喜歡那口號——「我系音樂」，因為它可以有兩個意思。

誰不知 Sony Ericsson 推出另一系列的廣告「我至系音樂」，明顯衝著 Nokia 而來，敏銳的觸角和快速的回應確值得一讚，可惜那個「系」字不搭，但我又想不出更好的點子。

武倉頡碼

唔怪得我打極都打唔到呢個字。

呆咗。

係咪有啲似曾相識嘅感覺呢？

來自：應該是世界上最多人聽過的旋律

參考：Wikipedia: Gran Vals

如何表達

感覺，應如何表達，是一個令人困擾的問題。

要嚟嘅終於嚟了

用少少時間整理咗我經常搭嘅幾條巴士線嘅新收費。

路線	目的地	原有收費	新收費	差額	加幅
68M	荃灣鐵路站	$8.4	$8.8	+$0.4	4.8%
68X	佐敦（匯翔道）	$12.5	$12.5	-	-
264M	青衣鐵路站	$9.1	$9.6	+$0.5	5.5%
268B	紅磡碼頭	$16.5	$16.5	-	-
268C	觀塘碼頭	$16.5	$16.5	-	-
269D	瀝源	$14.5	$14.5	-	-
276	上水	$7.6	$8.0	+$0.4	5.3%
968	銅鑼灣（天后）	$20.7	$21.4	+$0.7	3.4%
E34	機場（地面運輸中心）	$13.0	$13.6	+$0.6	4.6%
N269	美孚	$10.5	$11.1	+$0.6	5.7%
N968	銅鑼灣（天后）	$31.0	$32.2	+$1.2	3.9%

呢 11 條巴士線之中竟然有 4 條冇加價。搭港鐵由銅鑼灣去元朗係 $21.9，九巴新收費 $21.4，只相差 $0.5。但其實元朗出港島最平的方法應該係搭西鐵到南昌轉 K16，再喺天星碼頭搭船過海，收 $14.6，相差 $6.8。

唔明嘅唔緊要，我都冇諗住要有人明。

已過月中

月中了
但好像沒有靜下來
而且得了傷風
仍未有閒置的感覺

搭的士聽到呢首歌

I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿,
I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿,
I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿,
I’m a 窿, I’m a 窿, Oh… I’m so a 窿…

混亂

感覺很混亂，希望月中以後會轉好。

或者我都應該轉電話費 plan

但我已經係用緊最低用量嗰個 plan 了，無得再轉啲更低用量的。或者我應該轉去用儲值咭。

就像一場夢

嗯，要醒了嗎？

世紀馬房大宅

大家估吓呢度係邊度。題示：左上角臨海建築物的一帶，是中大。

系會日誌

還有人記得這個嗎？

港鐵：「上車莫怱怱．最緊要輕鬆」

上車莫忽忽？乜嘢忽忽呀？猩猩嗰啲？睇真啲，完來係「怱怱」。

「怱」呢個字喺國語辭典同埋中大嘅粵語音韻集成係冇收錄㗎，究竟呢個字同埋「匆」係咪相通呢？呢個我唔清楚，希望中文比我好嘅同學（亦即係所有取得 C 級或以上嘅同學）幫忙解答。

今日亦有幸見到西鐵綫班次顯示嘅背後，完來係用 Windows 98。

更新：

有不具名人士留言，提及「怱」字在「上一代」經常出現，亦舉出林子祥《千億個夜晚》的歌詞作例子。

王祖藍

好難受，但係我覺得佢好正，尤其係最後嗰個 shot，而家我好鍾意佢。

仲有一連串好難受嘅系列，例如「頭抽」。

I am a none-of-the-above

I was registering Pownce when I noticed this,

which is good. The service isn’t as good though. It gave me a 500 when I was trying to post a flickr link.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 available for download

Download link

Via: bink.nu

為何他會離開你

為何他會離開你　誰叫你自己不會飛
常纏在一起　會換來危機
他找你　不找你　你不智地對他生氣
問他等於問你　當我問候你

雙眼像鑿滿傷悲　誰又敢深愛你但未怪你
昨天那天真的你
若是還有骨氣　拿回纏他的心機
拿去愛惜你　怎可洩氣

原來擁吻　如不放　錯在你

例句：「見鬼勿Ｏ嘴，潛水怕屈機」

蘋果日報「隔牆有耳：做人別太 HKEAA」二零零八年四月二十七日

⋯⋯考試及評核局（HKEAA）忽然追上潮流，喺試題中玩潮語，點知錯漏百出𤓓到爆。

⋯⋯試題包括一個潮語解釋表，說明上述潮語含意，好似指「喪」有「極其」、「誇張」意思，不過卻將「屈機」誤解作「玩遊戲者因無法取勝而屈服」，唔少考生見到考評局知少少扮代表，當場喪笑。

⋯⋯好多人恥笑考評局，指該局自創例句：「見鬼勿Ｏ嘴，潛水怕屈機」最爆，以為有幾個潮語就係潮，其實冇人明。

後補：YouTube 影像。

A “stolen” display

I just moved my father’s rarely used 24" display to my room.

巴士發展計劃

剛剛從香港交通資訊網下載了 2008–2009 年度元朗區巴士路線發展計劃，我第一次閱讀同類文件。所謂的發展，實質是重組。不過「重組」太中性了，中性會比巿民作縮減班次、取消路線等負面聯想，所以要用一個正面的字眼，聯想到只會作中性聯想。無論如何，內容不少利益考慮。

我發現：

• N968 計劃改為 N368，由西隧改為行紅隧，原因十份明顯。不過節省的隧道費沒有回饋巿民，仍收 31 港元，總站遷往中環。深夜多從灣仔、銅鑼灣區回元朗，應該比以前快一點點，但就肯定沒有空座位。
• 264M 計劃改經元朗 13、14 區。新路線應該經十八鄉路吧，那些新興建的巴士站終於有人使用了。

計劃搬網址

我計劃搬網址，很有可能用 WordPress。我在頭痛網誌的設計，更頭痛的是網誌標題。

有一個想法用「和而不同」。我想，為網誌立一個標題，亂找些奇異的組合，甚麼「程式員之死」的就太求其了。美中不足的是，這個標題太理性，不適合我。

另一個是「樽裝咖啡」，好處是沒人用來作網誌的標題，而且副題可以是「但咖啡可注入這汽水樽　情感藏不了」，帥呆了。不過從歌詞找靈感，太 expected 了，而且會容易令人誤會這是人家的附屬網誌。

無論是那一個標題，意思是一樣的。

品牌概念

我覺得好靚。

我覺得無線有做過㗎，亞視就應該放棄咗。

踩場

透過小奧私陸，看到另一篇討論 Firefox 未來方向的文章。我深感作者未掌握實際情況而散播 FUD，所以我做出令人討厭的事：將人家的網誌當成自己的網誌，怒寫幾百字以表己見。

Chris Beard's article on blurring the border of the browser has nothing to do with Firefox becoming another Netscape Navigator. After all, he didn't say Mozilla is going to add Mail, Calendaring et cetra, to the Firefox that you use and love (not me, I use Safari). Firefox's philosophy has always have been cutting down functionality without making the browser unusable.

If you notice it, you'll see that Firefox's interface is built from XUL. This very same language can be used by websites like Google to build applications that look like, well, applications, not a website inside a browser. Consider Google making a Thunderbird-like e-mail client for its GMail service, hosted on Google's web servers, with the speed and responsive of Thunderbird, now you understand what I mean. Another good example is Songbird, which is essentially a different XUL coat over the same Firefox core.

When Chris said blurring the border, he means something like making Songbird to be more common. Not Netscape Navigator. In other words, these most likely will interest developers rather than end users. : )

End users might notice a behaviour change. For now people access GMail, they open up Safari (oops, I mean Firefox) and go to gmail.com. They do this because they think GMail is a website that they need Firefox to browse it. What Chris envisioned is that GMail (as an example only), if written as an XUL application, what people do is to open the GMail application, rather than opening Firefox. One less redirection there and people probably likes simpler ways of doing things. And of course, that GMail application is hosted on the web, and so Firefox is just the same little fox.

By then, probably you'll still need to open up Firefox to view regular websites. I dare say Firefox will not have tons of functionality added to it by then. So you don't need to worry so much.

The Weave is interesting because, if you think about it, Firefox works like an Operating System. Weave, like .Mac, enables user to bring their profile with them, so that they can be in the same environment, wherever they go.

然後我再回應：

照 Chris 所說的，Firefox 仍會是網站（或網站式服務）之間的橋樑，只是他希望用戶用這條橋樑之時，未必一定會留意到這條橋其實正是 Firefox。換句話說，我們沒有必要在這條橋上刻意掛上廣告，標示這條橋是 Firefox。反而使用者可以當這條橋是隱形的，因他們只求跨過這條橋。

或者你未有留意，其實這些 XAML/XUL 的技術已經放到現在的 IE/Firefox 瀏覽器之中，你可以試試這個例子。我想，Chris 希望做到的是將 Firefox 的邊框消失，另內容可自成一個好像是獨立的軟件。因此，你所擔心的事，其實已經發生了，只是表達手法的問題。

這有點像微軟將 IE 的技術整合到 Windows 之中，使有些軟件可以使用到 XAML （XUL 的對手技術）。當然，我想 Mozilla 的開發者會將這個整合比起微軟做得更穩定、更輕快。

對於使用者而言，其實他們要做的工作比起應用程式的本身來得重要。如果他們只想用 GMail 寄送電郵，但要他們開一個叫 Firefox 的軟件，指示它到特定的位置，再使用服務，其實是多一層的不便，只是大家習慣了而已。

即使到將來 Chris 所說的願景，仍然會有一個叫 Firefox 的瀏覽器，像現在的一樣，或可能加上一點必要的功能。這個瀏覽器仍會讓一般使用者使用來瀏覽網頁。但使用者不知到的是，他們慣常所用的電子郵件軟體，其實是用上了 Firefox 的核心技術，不竟，整合是要避免使用者看到那個分隔。

希望這些到可以消除你擔心的問題。簡單點說，就是你不會看到分別。

在商而言，微軟有 XAML 技術，Adobe 有 AIR 技術，都和 Firefox 的技術有相似的功能。Firefox 既然是開放源始碼，又是跨平台的軟體，加入這個巿場確有其優勢和必要。這可以提供一個免費、開放、跨平台的選擇給開發者，最終得益的也是使用者。

我想，我的朋友對此事認識更深，本人在此只為無聊。

My Nokia N80 is sick

A few days ago my Nokia N80 is beginning to get sick. The screen is blank when slid. The “Clear” key and two of the navigation buttons don't work when slid open. Nokia doesn't repair it without me paying $1700.

I don't know if I should buy a new phone now. Especially when the phone is just around the corner.

I miss my Nokia N80.

Mobile Internet

I was discussing with my college friends in the library yesterday about the deployment of free Wi-Fi hotspots in government venues. Basically they argued that the deployment of free Wi-Fi hotspots in more locations will diminishes the benefits of 3G networks, and hence making deployment of 3G networks irrelevant.

My stance was at the other end of the argument—3G networks is relevant and it is not a niche market. In a way, if two kinds of technology compete with each other, you can always say one diminishes the benefits of another. However, I would rather believe that the two wireless technologies are not competing with each other—arenʼt they supposed to complement each other?

At some point in the discussion they mentioned that the current pricing of mobile Internet access through the 3G networks is too high for use by the general public. A person having a 3G mobile phone equipped with Wi-Fi transceiver can always find a hotspot to access the Internet, so that they can avoid the high price of transmitting over the cell phone network. They also assumed that hotspots are widespread (or will become widespread soon enough) that people can always find one nearby. Together with the low price of using a Wi-Fi network and now the government actually provided the service for free, people donʼt need 3G networks.

They also suggested that the seemingly lack of popularity in accessing the Internet with a cell phone is an evidence that mobile Internet access isnʼt popular among the general public. Instead, more people bring their laptops to coffee shops and restaurant alike to surf through a Wi-Fi connection. Whatʼs the point, I reckon they believed, of having a ubiquitous Internet connection anyway? It isnʼt necessary

Having bought a 3G cell phone with a Wi-Fi almost two years ago, and switched back to a 2G network recently, it is difficult for me to argue otherwise. The reason for my switching was not of the pricing or of the speed—I considered the pricing acceptable I would say. For $38 a month ($10 less if on a contract) I could use 20MB of bandwidth daily. Never on one day did I exceed that bandwidth limit. I did not like it for three reasons: 1) They added a hideous red toolbar on top of every page, and there was no way to turn it off; 2) the pricing was not fair, namely it only covers browsing, not downloading, chatting et cetra; 3) most importantly, it is not enjoyable to surf the Internet with my Nokia N80. It is easy to understand—how would surfing the Internet with a numerical pad and four-way navigation buttons be enjoyable? Not to mention the phone does not have enough processing power to render many web pages, and N80 is a powerful smart phone by comparison.

Not if compared to the iPhone though. I donʼt want to repeat the whole argument of accessing the Internet with the iPhone. I just want to say that if it is not making mobile Internet usable, nothing is. I believe that the lack of popularity in using the mobile Internet isnʼt limited by what you can do while you are on the road or the pricing being extravagant—itʼs limited by the device.

And frankly it is unfair to compare the current 3G networks with the future Wi-Fi networks. Iʼm sure that pricing for both will go down. Iʼm sure both will be available in more locations. Iʼm sure that both will be faster. Not just one but another as well.

Before I go into the idea of the two wireless technologies complementing each other, lets consider for a moment that they are competing. If they are, the question would be whether people will find it worthwhile to pay more for a ubiquitous service that is actually slower. And if yes, how much more money? How much more available? How much slower?

Letʼs consider these with the technologies of today. Consider a person having a cell phone that makes the mobile Internet actually usable. For as low as $28 a month he gets 20MB of daily usage and $68 for unlimited (applies to browsing only, extra charges for other use). If you look at Wi-Fi, PCCWʼs unlimited plan is priced at $98 a month (available to Netvigator Broadband users only). Gov Wi-Fi is free, of course, but they are only available at government venues.

My friends suggested that in the future more hotspots will be deployed at less the fees. Firstly I doubt whether our government will deploy them in more locations, as doing that would result in criticisms of the government being interfering with the free market. Nor will PCCW makes it free for them being a commercial service provider. Municipal Wi-Fi or public contributed hotspots maybe the way out, but they wonʼt be in the near future, if at all coming.

So is ubiquitous worth it? Iʼll share a few personal experiences.

• One day I have to send an e-mail on the road and it is rather urgent. I was in a hurry as I was running late. I ended up sitting on the bench trying to access the Internet through one of those telephone booths. People looked at me as if they havenʼt seen people using a laptop on a bench in a train station (me neither). (Speaking of which, the signal from telephone booths isnʼt strong enough. Usually I canʼt receive the signal just across the four-lane roads.)
• Another time I was on the streets looking for the bus route and bus stop for some destination. I didnʼt bother heading to a nearby Starbucks, not to mention taking out a laptop and looking for a telephone booth.
• I was on the streets with nothing to do one day and I was thinking maybe I could go to watch a movie or something. If only I could check out what a theatre is showing I donʼt need to go there and found out I was not interested in any of them.

I donʼt use the Internet 24/7, but I use it when I need it. And I couldnʼt foresee when I am going to need it. Iʼm going to use it briefly for the moment that I need it. And I need it right then. If this means Iʼm what can only be described as in the niche market, then just be it. This also made the meaning of a niche market, well, meaningless.

Or one might say that it is a niche market because people donʼt need to access the Internet when they need it. In other words: not necessary. This is difficult to argue whether something is necessary for the general public. But I reckon one might argue that it is not necessary to access the Internet after all. Or one might argue that it is not necessary to take the bus when I could walk. I could write another article of this length just devoted to this particular topic. So I am not going to discuss much about this.

And for the two wireless technologies being complement of each other, one way to look at it is that the mobile phone networks are for mobile phones and the Wi-Fi networks are for laptops. (Surprise!) Laptops are bulky and you donʼt want to bring it out everyday. If you use a mobile phone, the 3G networks is adequate for most. Of course the line becomes blur now when laptops become smaller and can be used with 3.5G networks, while mobile phones are equipped with Wi-Fi transceiver. However, this wonʼt make either of these technologies irrelevant, they are good at what they are good at.

Things might change tomorrow. Wireless services are getting faster, more available and cheaper. But as for today, the both are not being kicked out anytime soon.

I think what I dislike about is that people think our government is advancing telecommunications by deploying hotspots. In my eyes, they are at best better than nothing. After all, you should remember that the government did not have any plans rolling out hotspots back then when the ITU conference is held in Hong Kong and attenders complained about the state of wireless Internet access in the city. By that time, municipals Wi-Fi was already being deployed at other cities, Singapore being one example. Our governmentʼs action is slow and I doubt whether they would advance any further when the public has forgotten the reasons they are deploying hotspots at the first place.

Battery-tale

I recently noticed that battery didn't have enough capacity to power the computer for 2 hours after fully charged. When I bought this laptop last June, the computer can be used for 4 hours without recharging. coconutBattery indicated that the battery capacity is now half of the original capacity. So I reckon I should request to have the battery replaced.

Justin had a problem having his battery replaced. He can't get his battery replaced without travelling to the other side of the globe and he argued that the world is not flat. Apple has a pretty good customer service track record in the states. Apparently, this really applies in the states only.

My strategy was to call Apple's technical support. To do that I have to purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend the complimentary telephone support to 3 years. That costs about $2000, which is a pain in the ass. But I have to buy it anyway, so this is a good opportunity to do so.

The staff at the call centre were not helpful (damn!). What they did was to ask me a bunch of questions about battery conditions and my usage pattern, and tell me that "No, you can have the battery replaced." She suggested me to visit the authorised service centre (yes, there is only one) instead.

I took the battery and the computer to the service centre in Times Square. It was a small office. I'm surprised that so many Hong Kongers have bought so many iPods and Macs, what we deserve is a small office for customer service. It is a contractor's office, though. The staff offered to let me leave the battery for four days and it will be sent to Singapore for examination. This is the best I can get. Frankly, as long as they don't tell me to leave my computer with them, I am okay.

Finally, today I visited the service centre again and was glad to hear that they have the battery replaced. I walked out of the office with the brand new battery and as I am typing this, the battery was charged to the full.

They should have just sent me a replacement in the mail and I'll sent back the faulty one. This is such a prevalent practise in the states and Apple do that (in the states). Four days is still too much. I remembered once I took my ThinkPad to a service centre in Quarry Bay and they have the motherboard replaced in four hours. I doubt if Apple's service centre in Hong Kong do anything other than sending faulty units to Singapore.

I won't go so far as to declare that world is not flat.

你鍾意寫程式嗎？

最近和一個一年級的同學在 MSN 談。如果算年級，我和他相差四屆。

我問：You like programming?

他答：我入大學之前從未接觸過電腦既知識, 而家就愈讀愈鐘意.

感覺這一類的學生不多，相反的卻很多，隨便可找個例子。

O mio babbino caro

A beautiful, touching aria — O mio babbino caro,

O mio babbino caro
Mi piace è bello, bello
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l'anello!

What I am surprised with is the English translation,

O my dearest daddy
He pleases me, and is handsome, handsome
I want to go to Porta Rossa
to buy the ring!

The Cantonese translation is even more fun (provided by Pineapple),

親愛的爸爸
我鍾意佢、靚仔、靚仔

That somewhat speaks my heart as well.

這本來就是香港人的公共空間

這本來就是香港人的公共空間。

難度食蕉阿叔或者警察以為自己大哂？睇住佢哋除咗影相冇嘢可以做嘅不知所惜，我覺得好好笑。

話時話一開始嘅時候嗰個男仔好似幾靚仔。XDD

騎劫公共空間

謝：小奧私陸

是依然還是真的？

再撩交嗌，就拖你出去斬...眼...斬...足...成...日...

中文版的口號是：「無糖依然可口可樂。」英文版的是「real coke taste zero sugar」，英文的比中文的誇張多了。

台灣大選

我不可能有甚麼獨特的見解，只覺得馬勝出總比謝勝出好，到底他是在香港出生的呀！就算謝勝出也算了，最起碼此後不用再聽阿扁的講話。

記得本世紀初，美國有布殊仔，台灣有阿扁，香港有董生，我笑說這是一個有趣的組合，現在終於一個個退下來，總算有新的開始。

今天從電視聽到一些言論，指台灣是一個成熟的民主社會，又不能與香港作比較。我在想，推行民主要有自由和法治作基礎，不能說一人一票就相等於民主。

新加坡與台灣，均聲稱擁有所謂的民主政制，基礎卻不完善，反而香港有完善的基礎，卻沒有推行全面的民主。將香港與一個沒有自由可言的地區，或者與一個沒有法治可言的地區作比較，當然是不可以了。

只可惜這裡的居民都向錢看，對投票不感興趣。

資訊科技？究竟所謂何事

我不明白。

原來，我比我的朋友都要浪漫，浪漫得脫離現實。

菠蘿！咪咁多心啦！

XDDDD!

My newest wallpaper

This is my newest wallpaper :)

下一站設有分段收費

數月前朋友告知，乘坐九巴時聽到以下廣播：

「下一站設有分段收費。下一站係...」

朋友不明所以。既然乘客已上車，即已符車費，下一站是否設有分段收費對乘客而言並不重要。

對！不過，這段廣播的對象其實是司機。

理據：

1. 就車上乘客而言，是否分段並不重要。
2. 廣播內容只有廣東話，沒有英語及普通話。

簡單以言，九巴可能認為司機經常忘記調整八達通機，所以用電子報站器來提醒。

不過，我認為報站器、八達通機和電子車費顯示器可以合併，用一個按鈕來更新所有儀器，免卻麻煩。

唔好彩

從來都唔覺得流感高峰期係乜嘢一會事，今年終於感受到。

除咗我病咗一個禮拜之外，我有兩個朋友、朋友的女朋友、甚至係老細都病咗。

最初覺得有啲肌肉痠疼、頭痛咁，全日都好攰每天瞓十幾個鐘，到周末以為有啲好轉，但係就開始喉嚨痛同埋咳，呢幾日有轉返做有啲頭暈，真係頂佢唔順。好彩嘅係，一直都冇發高燒，如果唔係就仲麻煩。

星期日見好返少少，出街行吓。去到葉一堂見到有個男仔睇緊書，咁我好奇行緊啲睇清楚啲嘅時候，唔小心撞到書架，隻腳痛咗半日。

呢個星期真係好唔好彩。

可愛嘅眼仔

你你你你你你你你... 幾時見過... 眼珠係凹㗎？

祝所有今日生日嘅人生日快樂

(PS: I’m sick again.)

BIG NEWS

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

給最開心的人

窮途末路之時　我急需的是你聲音
每當天色昏沉　你就像太陽為我暖身
對於朋友　你的細心　已足夠花去半數時間
尚有精神娛樂大家　從沒離群

我有我美麗

香港電台電視部《傳媒人》2008年2月24日

我不介意演清潔女工，但必須有所發揮。若只需問人家有沒有舊報紙，根本不需演技，難度我沒演技？

帶給觀眾歡樂，不介意做配角，但也講求發揮，盡顯專業精神，自得其樂。

《傳媒人：余慕蓮 - 我有我美麗》

時間河

「時間河」是林一峰《你今日拯救咗地球未呀？》唱片裏的一首歌，歌名旁寫上「給離開了的人」。與唱片同名的音樂劇由林一峰和蘇玉華於 2005 年演出。我有留意到宣傳，但沒去看。

這首歌在我的 iTunes　裏被表示為三棵星，代表一般。

數天前去林一峰演唱會，他唱了這首歌，台上背景播放劇裏的片段。在那個時候，我終能感受這首歌描寫的感覺了。其實歌詞、故事主題、唱片裡的小冊子都已經明示了它說的是甚麼，可是我沒有細心留意，更何況要感受。諷刺的是，我的後知後覺和部份歌詞所寫的類同。

其實早有提示，原來是我沒有留意。

現在五顆星都未能代表我對這首歌的感覺。讀今天的新聞，再聽這唱片，又有深一層的體會。

直播特首睇煙花

點解無線要影曾特首影啲煙花，而唔直接影啲煙花？

取自 dchome.net。

喺年初二晚放煙花嘅途中，無線加插曾特首睇煙花嘅情況，一共三次，每次大約兩至三秒。第三次更白痴，就正正係喺緊接完場前，煙花放得最激放得最大聲果陣轉咗去影曾特首。我都明白潮流興擦鞋同埋邀功嘅，但係無線都唔駛擦得咁出面㗎喎，最衰係阻住我睇煙花（同埋影響我睇煙花嘅心情）。

其實做香港人可唔可以有啲性格，唔好因為人哋有權勢就黐埋去影人呢。而家你喺直播緊煙花呀，唔係直播緊曾特首睇煙花呀。你影胡諾言都話好啲，話哂都係我有少少鍾意嘅男藝人之一。

當然啦，同我哋嘅兩間免費電視台講性格係冇乜可能嘅。當我留意到無線嘅主持人雞啄唔斷，我就轉咗去亞視，聽到：

某女藝員：

…原來今年（日期）同埋（日期）都係宜嫁㗎喎，諗住結婚的朋友就要快啲了。

某男藝員（疑似陳啟泰）：

咁你又有冇興趣結婚呀？

果然係一山還有一山高，一豬還有一豬兜。

喝一口一個新世界

我又好哂錢咁買咗隻林一峰嘅專輯啦，計埋呢隻一共有七隻光碟或影像光碟。

係《城巿旅人》又或 “Travelogue Three”。

我好鍾意喎，除咗咁樣講之外我唔係好識點形容。

或者我講吓我鍾意邊幾首歌，畀聽過嘅人知到我點解會鍾意。

包括象鼻尾貓、咖啡／伴侶和 smsnicq。

其實我想講我每一首都鍾意。

我已經聽到傻咗了。

仲有呢我去咗德福睇林一峰囉，好近呀，差唔多係隔離咁滯。XDD

同埋佢嗰日正式簽咗東亞娛樂了，林一峰係咪仲叫做獨立音樂人係一個疑問。真係估佢唔到。

吞併之後

嘩！

簡潔統一的站牌設計別具一格，顏色鮮明字體清楚，那些「歡迎」呀，藍底或無聊圖案呀統統被棄掉。

如果有人說地鐵的指示不清楚，我會認為是他們自己的問題。

當然這個新格調也不是所有人都能接受。

大地任我行香港版的旅行書裏提到地鐵 「sleek, pristine and always on time, it is also rather soulless」。當一切太過程序化公式化的時候，系統的本身好像缺少點人情味。又或者我們十年後重臨同一個地鐵站，發現到處依久光鮮，不許每天經過的人留下任何痕跡，我們對地鐵站還能存有怎樣的感情？

對於遊客，地鐵站顯得冷酷無情，看來沒有情調，千篇一律。相反就算到一個古舊的歐洲的車站，看到破損似藏著一些歴史，也只是看來很有情調。其實地鐵站的情在於生活體驗，只有每天走進去的香港人才能感受。

減慢步伐，重溫某個角落曾出現的人和事。

地下鐵碰著他…

站牌的英文字型是 Myriad。

Another laughter: Possessions of obscene articles

Section 21, Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance (Chapter 391), the Laws of Hong Kong.

Prohibition on publishing obscene articles

(1) Subject to subsection (2) any person who-

• (a) publishes;
• (b) possesses for the purpose of publication; or
• (c) imports for the purpose of publication,

any obscene article, whether or not he knows that it is an obscene article, commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $1000000 and to imprisonment for 3 years.

Emphasis added.

In other words, if there is no intention of publications, merely possessing obscene articles (which I believe many boys do) does not constitute an offence. Though even if you have no such intention, the police can argue that you do.

The man did actually post the photos to the Internet, that's why the police located him and put him into custody. He has a difficult case to argue.

I strongly disagree with anyone who say that downloading the photos is an offence. It's not. My opinion.

Our police chief is naïve in that he was happy to tell the press a scapegoat had been arrested. I wonder whether our police chief would still be happy for that if he was reminded of the terabytes of pornography being shared on a daily basis.

They even contacted the Interpol or other overseas authorities to obtain the posters' Internet Protocol address or have the obscene articles removed (the articles are still pending for classifications). I think foreign authorities and internet websites have no obligation to comply. Frankly, requesting the addresses of the posters and remove the celebrity photos? They must think we are crazy.

I just hear another laughter at us.

《攣到爆》四度公演

一字一「笑」講你知　香港基佬嘅愛與哀愁

好值得睇嘅演出。場地移師對面的演藝學院歌劇院舉行，規模肯定比起以往大，亦有全新的佈景及服裝。最唔明白係無啦啦又會關東亞娛樂嘅事。除咗出碟之外我諗唔到其他原因。

無論如何未睇過嘅都應該睇吓，因為我搵唔到另另一個劇目比起呢個更具代表性。

仲有呢，呢$300蚊唔係淨只睇梁祖堯囉。

誰伴我　誰是我心魔

每次想起這句，仍是一陣唏噓。

Ｗ創作社

Coffee: Sandwiches, we can't be friends.

New York Times “Starbucks to Close Stores and End Sandwich Sales” 31 January 2008.

“In short, the scent of the warm sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores,” said Howard D. Schultz, the company’s chairman and chief executive.

This is why I like Starbucks. At least they make themselves appear that they concentrate on making good coffee.

Thanks Cleave.

專家

明報《專家﹕姊弟戀男方受照顧　自覺公平交易》2008年1月28日

他分析，姊弟戀的男主角往往會享受對方安排所有生活細節，包括金錢及性需要，甚至由對方「教導」自己。由於社會傳統觀念認為年紀大的女性與年輕男性走在一起是「佔了便宜」，因此男方可以在她們身上尋到尊嚴，並認為「犧牲色相」滿足女方的性需要，就有權利在其他方面得益，以為這是一種「等價交換」的公平交易。

他表示，若姊弟戀的兩人均擁有一定身家及地位，關係反而會較持久；但一般來說雙方收入有差距，男方最終會在經濟上依賴伴侶。若女方決定放棄這段感情，被拋棄的男方會認為她破壞了遊戲規則，無法接受失去靠山，可能失去理性而做出過激舉動。若男方殺人後自殺，更是一種害怕面對將來、不負責任的幼稚舉動。

如果將男女的字眼互換，這兩段有會變成怎樣？

他分析，兄妹戀的女主角往往會享受對方安排所有生活細節，包括金錢及性需要，甚至由對方「教導」自己。由於社會傳統觀念認為年紀大的男性與年輕女性走在一起是「佔了便宜」，因此女方可以在他們身上尋到尊嚴，並認為「犧牲色相」滿足男方的性需要，就有權利在其他方面得益，以為這是一種「等價交換」的公平交易。

他表示，若兄妹戀的兩人均擁有一定身家及地位，關係反而會較持久；但一般來說雙方收入有差距，女方最終會在經濟上依賴伴侶。若男方決定放棄這段感情，被拋棄的女方會認為他破壞了遊戲規則，無法接受失去靠山，可能失去理性而做出過激舉動。若女方殺人後自殺，更是一種害怕面對將來、不負責任的幼稚舉動。

我覺得這兩段所說的也很合理，尤其是「佔了便宜」那部份。

姊弟戀不是甚麼奇異的事，就只是與傳統男女關係有所不同，社會人士大驚小怪而已，可恨的是這些分析就只有套用這些傳統觀念，沒甚見解，倒不如問各界私奶，定有更精彩的言論。

問題不一定出在專家，不竟一篇男女殺人自殺的報導，不值得放到頭版去，更不必找專家來分析這個問題。

這位專家是城市大學應用社會科學系犯罪學課程主任黃成榮。我認為應再找一個性別研究的學者來加以討論較為合適。

更新：晚上再讀蘋果日報，發覺他們找的專家更適合。

蘋果日報《專家之言：姊弟戀趨普遍　相處仍有壓力》2008年1月28日

香港家庭及事業發展服務訓練總監司徒漢明，形容今次命案是一宗悲劇。他表示，姊弟戀並不完全是建築在金錢之上的，近年社會亦普遍接受男女之間相差「十幾廿年」的戀情，不過男女雙方年齡相差太大，相處起來並不容易。

他說，20多歲的男子很有活力及冒險精神，追求金錢、事業，但40多歲的中年女子，則渴求踏實和安穩的生活，體能、活力不斷減退，雙方相處會出現不協調，若有金錢糾紛等問題，則更易起磨擦，他表示，男女之間無論出現多嚴重的金錢和感情問題，都絕不能用暴力來了斷。

關注家庭暴力受害人法權會主席吳惠貞說，情侶之間年齡相差太遠，容易產生矛盾及衝突。「佢哋本身都可能有好大壓力，行出街都驚人哋以為佢哋係母子或者姊弟。」吳惠貞說，除了金錢及感情會導致關係破裂，家人、朋友是否接受都很重要。

這條算式是計算甚麼的呢？

12.5+ceiling(max(a+5b-10, 0))×1.2

忘記解答：新界的士的車費。

旺角黑夜

約清晨三時，攝於旺角西洋菜南街。

一點鐘新聞報導

深夜一點鐘，開著電視仲可以睇到李臻喺 now 寬頻電視報新聞。仲記得幾年前佢喺政府總部出面罵：「有冇搞錯呀你哋香港警察」，好型。

我主要喺想睇返今日喺港鐵火車上面睇過嘅新聞片段，想知到發生咗乜事。突然間，今日好似好多新聞：

唔係好明白點解台灣人可以咁瘋狂，個貨車司機加速撞記者，佢嘅回應竟然係「擋著我怎麼過？」

呢句說話仿佛係台灣教育部長嘅心底話。兩位自持己見，前面有甚麼東西跟本沒有理會。其實我留意咗咁耐，都唔係太清楚台灣嘅教育部同埋中正紀念堂有乜關係。

諗到呢度又覺得香港好似幾好，頒個學位畀董建華都唔係太難接受，話哂佢冇搞到香港好似台灣咁衰。

中大校園又成焦點，鏡頭影到嘅同學好多都見過面，又見到大學嘅超頹保安忽然落力，極悶的畢業典禮頓時變得精彩。

竟有家長喊住咁話請假黎睇仔女畢業但係又因有人抗議影響咗典禮。呢位家長令我諗起一個新娘對完美典禮嘅追求，又令我諗呢個家長嘅仔女睇完新聞之後有乜感想。可能佢唔知到呢個典禮本身冇睇頭，又或者唔知到下午仲有書院嘅畢業禮，所以咁大反應。我相信呢位家長嘅不滿下午會得到舒緩。

幾日前有同學問我喺咪應該去畢業禮，我仲話唔使哂氣，而家有啲後悔，咁精彩嘅畢業禮真係萬中無一，我都好想去。

可能因為上鏡嘅抗議同學我都識少少，少不免牽動咗我啲情緒。

我覺得，而家嘅社會，比起我嘅感情生活更令人無奈。

夏天的尾巴

電影裡有交代「夏天的尾巴」的意思，簡單直接，但又讓我意想不到。

當然有更深層的意思吧。與我看過的台灣電影感覺差不多，無論感覺是如何都不像朋友所說的「純愛」，可能是自己所感受到的就不是這些而已。

我在想，有多少我們這一代的，會放紙船到河上，讓它自由漂到他方？就算放到溝渠上去也不減浪漫：重點是無聊自在的生活。我們這青春的一代，來到這裡生活太忙碌又苦悶，期望的是未來的退休生活。所謂理想的生活開始的那時，生命已過了理應最精彩的大部份，那，不是很可笑嗎？

我想我的思考過程裡一定是欠缺了些甚麼，走在我前面的人一定已經想過些甚麼。問題不是誰的理論正確，是誰的理論較適合自己。

說回電影，我想我喜歡這種花很多時間營造某些感覺的手法。但我仍想看點別的，台灣的所謂青春電影，應該不止這樣吧。

故事很簡單，音樂很好，只是末段的剪接不太喜歡，但亦不失感情。

留意演員序，夏天的名字是布布。

聞名不如見面

今日見到傳聞中嘅陳香港嘅中學嘅同學。唔...同張相咁唔同嘅，普通普通。

我認到㗎，不過唔敢肯定之嘛。

A new report on environment

A depressing read.

Desperately waiting for a cat

: )

For the time being I watch this little cute cat here to kill time.

Mobile Communications

I recently subscribed SmarTone's internet on mobile service, with a monthly fee I can browse the web / check e-mail with the application that came natively with the phone. Rates at $38/month with a daily free usage of 20MB. After that the plan is automatically "upgraded" to $78 for the rest of the month.

I once asked a customer representative at one of the local stores: If on the last day of a billing month my usage exceeded 20MB will they charge $78? They will. A completely rip of if you ask me. I have to use this service very carefully.

The speed is good. One drawback is that the phone display is so tiny it hurts to read for longer than a half an hour, especially on the road. So I don't think I will ever use all of that 20MB. If I do I'll go blind or something.

I feel a little sick tonight. The food seems to be the problem.

無奈

今日我又諗起呢首歌：

是你嗎？你在微微地笑
心跳 如今確是奇妙

在「魁北克」的哥哥、巴士上面的學生、小巴回望嘅男仔……

哈哈，我好變態，經常望住街上邊啲人

但係除咗多啲去文化中心「魁北克」之外我都諗唔到可以做啲乜。

之後我又諗到第二首歌嘅歌詞，來自另一個音樂劇：

我盼當我走到盡頭　他可伴我在身旁

呢句歌詞之後，其實仲有一句。

Coffee

我家有頭狗名 Coffee，從未向朋友露面，它是唐狗，少於一歲。

數天前它死了，父親說原因是它出外吃了不該吃的東西。

雖不是人命，但也是一個小生命，回家時少一個會行會走的動物，有一種說不出的失落感。

原來死是多麼突然，又令我多想人、死、關係、感情的問題。

找不到它的相片，可能遺留在剛報銷的記憶咭裏。

Free Burma!

Ability to reason

More and more often I find out that it is quite common that people around me do not have the ability to reason. When an idea is odd enough they just scrap the whole idea, without giving enough thought on it.

It is as if any one idea must be on a single side of the fence so that it makes sense to anyone, and this idea must be on a side at the extreme. Think about it, when the democrats rejected the proposal for the new election procedures a few years back, were they really supporting a more general election or not? I bet some people just doesn't understand. They don't have the ability to reason.

I recently spent some time reading The Dilbert Blog by Scott Adams. He talked about Cognitive Dissonance a few days earlier and he mentioned an interview of an economist on the topic of global warming. The interviewers were confused, and rejected the economist's idea entirely.

I like the way how he attacked the nonsense. His posts were extremely humourous.

What the hell?

系會捐血

莊員唔好打我...

想像力

中秋節，喺天台同屋企人燒嘢食同埋賞月。

雖然天文台話可能睇唔到個月亮，但係嗰日大部份時間都見到個好圓好圓嘅月光，附近有少少雲陪住個月亮，所以唔覺得個月亮孤令令喺個天空上面。

我見到天空咁大，俾少少想像力，自己喺個地球入面比啲大氣層包住，上面個月亮圍住自己轉...點解佢唔會跌落黎呢。

呢個時候又食多兩件雞翼，又桔多兩件雞翼嚟燒。

之後又攞咗兩件月餅嚟食，幾好幾好。遺憾嘅係冇汽水，如果有嘢冰凍嘅汽水就 fit 哂啦。

當然又睇吓電視，同屋企人傾計呀咁。（電視搬咗上天台。）

好似冇點燈籠，唔興掛，我諗。

我又諗，點解呢個活動要叫做賞月呢，其實，真係無乜去望個月亮。話哂佢都係主角，如果我係佢比人冷落咗都幾無奈。

天氣清涼，如果可以喺天台度瞓，地係床以天係被，應該幾得意。

「凍死你呀！」

今朝攞起隻杯，睇到杯內雪白無比，覺得屋企人真係好。

夜晚返屋企見到間房有人執過，原全無咗嗰種溫馨嘅感覺，只係覺得要將啲嘢打亂返好麻煩。

人真係奇怪，要諗咁多嘢。

「你咁做即係想點？」

明報《網站無警告字眼禁重複提交》2007年9月26日

記者嘗試直接寄出電郵，自行撰寫意見，電郵中並無提供個人資料，亦是重複寄出，亦未見「打回頭」。

記者做這個測試，有甚麼結論？

沒有任何結論。

因為電子郵件從軟件送出時，只是由用戶端的電郵伺服器接受，也就是 "accepted for delivery"，此後，用戶無從得知對方是否會收到該電郵。這種測試方法無知、可笑。

近來，明報喜用引號，將口語放到文字去。加引號不代表他們可以用口語。

This is crazy talking

I read a blog post by Wil Shipley (who write programs for Delicious Monster). I found it deeply touching, especially near the end, about the feeling of losing everything he loves. Also the question "is genius linked with craziness?" is inspirational, I have given a few thoughts on it, those who understand me should know.

In the last three paragraphs, what he described sounds amazingly familiar.

Fortunately I have never been diagnosed as suffered from depression. Or I should say I haven't been depressed enough to qualify the medical definition of a person suffering depression. It hasn't caused enough impact to my life. If I am not qualified to claim this feeling of mine as depressed, what else can I call it? Sad? It is not sad - I'm not saying that sad is not involved, but it is only part of it.

I have always admired those who have never feel depressed, whose life looked so cheerful, friends never in shortage.

And My heart goes to those who are depressed. I never could imagine how I could endure the hopelessness and everything this brings. I know friends who suffered from depression and I don't know what I could do... there is nothing I can do.

I can't help myself either.

A trip to the Island

After the show I took the tram to Causeway Bay. I actually think it is where many cute guys hang around (of course there are MK guys who migrated to Causeway Bay for no reasons, but anyway we pretend they didn't exist anyway). I looked like a slightly over-sized boy who don't care very much about how he looks. Sometimes I feel that a guy is looking at my direction, I always think they find me weird or something. I seldom looked at myself in the mirror, too afraid to see horrible thing. (Is that me!?)

Causeway Bay is not for me. I can't remember if I found myself comfortable in this place... nor any place, then it is not the problem of Causeway Bay after all.

I went to Times Square and collected a box of Häagen-Dazs ice-cream moon cake. Delicious. Also picked up a Starbucks drink a few levels up. The barista seemed confused when I ordered, and what I ordered isn't complicated - just plain iced tall latte. Is there something wrong with my pronunciation? I knew that I have some pronunciation problem but people can hear what I said no matter how I say it, what a nice place this is.

《再見不再見》將會重演

本人覺得這是一個不錯的劇目，創作導演演也是彭秀慧包辦。有興趣又有金錢是值得一看的。

《再見不再見》重演
2-4/11, 6-8/11 8pm
4/11 3pm
香港藝術中心壽臣劇院
$195 $165 ($150 $100)

《瘋女社》

Yesterday night I knew from 萊斯's blog that there is a theatre show at Shouson Theatre today, and the show in the afternoon would be the last. I suddenly felt interested in it because, well I have basically nothing to do today and all of my close friends are either busy or have their own dates. Today morning I read that they lowered the price and I called Anthony (a guy who is responsible for the show's ticketing) and got tickets from him directly. I got so lucky this time for buying tickets late.

I arrived with only a few minutes to spare. I don't have much time to read the programme and I don't know much about who would appear in the show. What I did know is that 彭秀慧 was the director to the show, and I liked her 《再見不再見》 a lot, and this is the primary reason why I went there. The show today was 《瘋女社》. It is a musical theatre.

The scriptwriter of the show was 茜利妹 and this came a bit of surprise to me. (I really didn't know beforehand! I'm out-dated, as always.) 葉宇澄, 葉佩雯 and 李卓庭 appeared (the later two of which I haven't heard of :p) and sung a few songs, also 梁祖堯 who appeared in a video recording (full of gags, though looked inspirational).

The musical wasn't the most enjoyable I have been to, but it certainly was not bad. The music suited the mood and theme of the musical (a little bit crazy, exaggerated) and they were good. The songs (note the difference in "music" and "songs") didn't fit so much IMHO. The reason for this might just be that I can't hear the lyrics clearly and so I didn't really know if the meaning fitted. I did like some of the songs though, especially some rock and roll and the emotional kind near the end.

I especially like how they lifted the a piece of set decoration to reveal a small room full of carton boxes and Yip playing a piano, accompanied by a plant with no leaves and tall lamp. Still can't hear the lyrics - my fault. If only I could hear them more clearly then that should have been a touching scene. This kind of presentation reminded me of 馴情記 actually, in which the stage elevated to reveal a fully grown plant appeared earlier on. It makes me feel that something (eg feeling) is already there most of the time, it is just that we didn't aware it is there.

I'd have to say the show isn't very much inspirational for me. Maybe it is because I don't get it, or that they are expressing some feelings I haven't felt before and so I don't understand. This happens all the time. I do get a glimpse of it, maybe I'll discover something more later on.

I also liked some dance (can't think of a better word). One scene featuring all mentally ill patents and those who are sane doing a little dance, like a crazy dance. Everything looked random but it was enjoyable to watch.

iPhone as it is now

Not good.

I saw an iPhone yesterday in person. I was not looking for it on purpose. I was waiting for a taxi and a couple a few metres from me said, "It is already connected to the Internet." Looking at the voice's direction, I saw something shiny, prestige maybe. Nevertheless a women held the little baby and she looked clueless. Moron.

Speaking of which the taxi never came, I took the light bus.

Maybe it is because of Ming Pao's coverage of the phone and the SimLock hack, people start noticing the phone and flock to Mong Kok and buy one. Anyway the iPhone is a great device, and no device on the market packed so much technologies in one thing. (except for N90, but it doesn't look gorgeous and it doesn't have the touch screen)

But there are something I do not like about the iPhone as it is now. It is too popular. Using something so popular is not consistent with my style.

Secondly and more importantly, it is a close system. It looks like Apple is not trying to build a platform, they just want to build a device. iPhone is not like a Mac that everyone is free to build software and even install another operating systems on it. One cannot install anything on the iPhone though. Apple dictated what you can do with it. I still don't get comfortable with the idea that I can only do what some people allowed me to do, especially as the device is a piece of hardware I paid for. I can do whatever I wanted with it. This is worse than Windows Mobile - they have a platform and people can develop things around it. With iPhone, Apple ditched the long supporting Mac developers and destoryed the trust that Mac developers can build good software. (iPhone runs on Mac OS X with its ARM processor.)

And this is just the beginning. If you looked closely, Apple put so much restrictions on the device and it is even more restrictive than other mobile phones on the market. You cannot put your ringtones on it. (Officially, I mean, Hong Kong doesn't have her on iTunes store.) You cannot connect the device to the computer and expect the file system to be accessible from the computer. And finally, you cannot use it with the carrier of your choosing.

Bundling the phone with the carrier is the stupidity that Americans get used to. People in other parts of the world don't do it the same way. If the phone is bundled with 3 Hong Kong, I won't even think about buying it, unless there is still a way to unlock the phone by then and it won't void the warranty. Speaking of carrier choices in Hong Kong, Apple should choose China Mobile Peoples - because they are the only carrier in Hong Kong that still lives in the Jurassic era and operates EDGE.

The idea that Apple is starting to rot is circulating on the blogosphere. I worried this might just be the case.

When did the 911 attack take place?

《異型金剛》（三）

是你嗎？你在微微地笑
心跳 如今確是奇妙

忘記了寫這是一個音樂劇，音樂歌詞很能配合故事，而且有現場音樂，營造應有的氣氛，絕對值得一讚。

有一幕上演分手復仇計劃，大概是同一件事重覆很多次，每次更改一點點。我很喜歡這個手法。雖然對此已沒有新鮮感（曾經看過了），但我總覺得很特別，有點永遠走不出某個框架的意味，我們的生命又不是重重覆覆做著一樣的事！

記得老師說過，以同性戀作主題的戲不一定有甚麼特別。我在想，此劇主題雖然是同性戀，但是深層的感情，所說愛的感覺，尋找變成失望，孤獨等，其實應是所有人都可以感受到的。這個主題，就只是傳達某些感情的一個媒介吧。

小孩沒有刻意將朋友分類，為何我們成長後要敵我分明，鬥過你死我活？為何我們還要刻意區分不同的人？我們本來就是一樣的！

本來我不明白為何要在牛池灣上演，完場後走進地鐵站，我終於明白了（或許是一個美麗的巧合）。

開始發現自己寫得太多，怕沒有看過的會預先知道劇情。不過網誌本身就是助我記下一些看法，接著是讓朋友知到我的看法，其他的也管不到了。

《異型金剛》（二）

繼續。

I'm super fed up! - 印象頗深刻的一句。

深刻的也有一幕戲 - 《與神對話》。

我首先聯想到是一句「以下是廣告客戶的說話」。這幕好像一定要帶出主辦單的訊息，就是安全性行為，而主辦單位正是康樂及文化事務署。得悉此事時覺得有點古怪，署方鮮有主辦這類戲劇活動。這樣看來，一切變得容易明白。出發點是好的，而且我想提出的感覺與此訊息沒有很大的關係，在此不再詳述。

死亡是很難面對的，最少我一直這樣認為。我偶爾會想，在臨別這個世界的一刻，會是很恐佈的感受，尤其是知道一段很短很短的時間，我的思想我的感覺很快會消失，在那時，如果沒有人再身旁，就更恐佈。劇中角色的說話動作，再加上燈光和聲音的配合，營造一種倒數生命的感覺，十萬個恐佈。

這個其實不是這場戲想說的，這只是我的感受。個人以言這場戲給我一點安慰，因為它好像要和我們說我們不是孤獨的，又或人就不是孤獨的。死的時候雖然只有自己面對死神（所謂的死神是林澤群的一個爆笑造形），但其實死神一直都以「自己人」身份安慰他。而且那四個間場時出現的角色又重回到台上，之前四個獨立的間場的意義好像一起在成形。我們不是孤獨的，到要死的一刻亦然。

在台上又看到一種無條件的愛，只是感到一點不真實，可能因為，我開始懷疑這會否出現。

仲有呀，我同朋友都覺得嗰個買 KFC 嘅仔仔好得呀好鍾意。都話我唔係淨係去睇腹肌囉！

未講完，而家練習打多啲中文，待續。

《異型金剛》

上星期五到牛池灣看了《異型金剛》，「劇團」是上次看《弍人聚．２人散》的異人實現劇場。

內容鋪排是上次的翻版，多個故事穿插，特別是四個沒有對白的間場部份，好像有一點的關連，近尾聲的時候要將它們都連在一起，但又沒有明言。在脫離現實的《異型》鬧劇，令觀眾笑破肚皮之餘，又有一點時間靜下來（並且讓演員換戲服，而後者可能更重要），用心感受一些情節。雖然故事主題是同性戀，劇目的故事概念更是葉志偉提供，但可以感受到的就不只是同性戀的感覺和無奈，背後還有孤獨，渴望被愛，也有一點小道理。此劇絕對值得多看一次，他們說十二月或會重演。

就從看到他們的宣傳單張開始，就知道他們有能力重演，入場後也印證我的想法。場內打扮光鮮的觀眾（尤其是男觀眾）不少，而且可觀性甚高。我坐在第二行的末段，偶爾回頭觀望觀眾反應，眼前一亮。再看看自己的衣著，唉，是兩個不同的世界。

當然台上的風光更明媚，就好像是一件件希臘雕塑放在台上，嘩，又是另一個世界，又摸摸自己的肚子，唉。我想說的是，對於這個社群，這套劇目很吸引，我相信有能力再多重演一兩次。

配菜（或者有人以為是主菜）說夠了，應說一點對此劇的看法，可是要留待下次再寫。

更多：異型金剛。

重回

荒廢了這個網誌一段時間，這就是網誌的 period，總是每隔一段時間就完全喪失了寫文字的興緻，喪失了還有表達自己的感覺的衝動。

又或是個人語文能力差，一下子文字難以表達心中所想。

應該是時候改變了，九月，回想上年同一時間，為自己定下目標，現在停滯不前，更看不到將來的道路，又是一陣唏噓。

我的九型人格

見林菠蘿同學做了一個九型人格分析，我又照做了一個。九型人格，也就只是一個參考。記得數月前一個電視節目介紹這個東西，更有公司拿它來做招請員工的指標，這很可笑，因為他只是一個參考，而且我不相信人格就是這麼簡單，能用九個格子定出來。況且，自己是任何一個類型，不是自己更清楚嗎？

有趣的是，我和林同學的三個主要類型一樣。

九型人格分析

第四型	藝術型、浪漫者、自我型、憑感覺者  16%
第二型	助人者、全愛型、助人型、成就他人者、博愛型  13%
第一型	完美主義者、完美型、改革者、改進型、秩序大使  13%
第八型	領袖型、能力型、挑戰者、保護者、權威型  12%
第五型	智慧型、觀察者、思想型、理性分析者、思考型  10%
第九型	和平型、和平者、和諧型、維持和諧者  10%
第七型	快樂主義型、豐富型、活躍型、創造可能者、享樂型  9%
第三型	成就者、事業型、成就型、實踐型  9%
第六型	忠誠型、忠誠型、尋找安全者、謹慎型  9%

我的九型人格分析？

你擁有藝術家的性格，多愁善感且想像力豐富，會常沉醉於自己的想像世界裡。另一方面，由於你是感情主導的人，有些工作你不喜歡就可能會放棄不做，不會考慮責任的問題。

music matters

星期六晚去咗聽何韻詩 music matters 演唱會。我第一次去會展聽音樂，以前通常係睇乜展乜展多。

我覺得，呢個場嘅氣氛同紅館嗰個好唔同囉。去紅館，就好似係有啲乜嘢盛會咁，黎會展就好似真係聽音樂咁。場地音響係唔錯，不過唔知係咪冇經驗定係其他原因，間唔中有啲拍拍聲或者 feedback。

同埋，我有啲唔係咁滿意嗰啲扭蛋公仔，既然係 music matters，扭蛋呢樣嘢又咁哂資源，係咪應該有啲本末倒置？

講返個場，我覺得啲燈光好靚，連佈置都係好有心思，有好深嘅印象。

係唱緊汽水樽裡的咖啡、勞斯萊斯、光明會等歌曲嘅時候，我聽到我好多人一齊唱，好似大家聚埋舒發自己嘅情感。我都有一齊唱，仲唱得好大聲，話哂都係我啲主題曲。

唔知點解最感動係我聽過好多次嘅天使藍，我朋友話最近知到呢首歌唱乜，我就好耐好耐之前已經參透咗首歌唱乜。

同朋友喺銅鑼灣傾咗一陣，我突然有個感覺：「始終一天，我會甘心接受不會被愛。」而家問題係，我好似仲未接受到。

買咗何韻詩 what really matters 新碟，裡面除咗幽默感幾鍾意之外，仲有一首《月光寶盒》我都好鍾意，尤其是其中兩句歌詞：

總要　容納各樣痛楚至算得存在過
總要　至少試過分開至算迷戀過

迎新營我又想講

上星期身痕做O'Camp 執委，美其名係做嘢其實都係為咗返去玩。返咗工大年半，生活苦悶，又冇乜滋潤，返中大的確係遠離煩囂嘅好地方，尤其係睇住啲新生開展大學生活，而三年之後嘅事，當然係三年之後再算。

除咗做組爸或者 spy 之外，應該已經做哂喺細O可以做嘅角色。原來做完大組長之後返去做執位又係一個新嘅體會，或者我以前冇諗過執位究竟係做乜。我又開始明白，原來做唔同的位置都有佢嘅難處。

玩咗兩三年，一班做執位嘅老餅或者都睇開咗，唔再在意某啲工作應該點做點做。比着係兩年前或者三年前嘅我，一定會嘈到拆天。我咁嘅意思唔代表做嘢求其咗，只不過係，我諗有啲嘢，有佢哋自己嘅做法啩。

呢幾日同新生或輔導員傾計，佢哋都話今年 O'Camp 搞得好好，大家都玩得好開心。就我觀察所得，大家都應該玩得好開心，新生由唔熟玩到熟，雖然最後我要返工睇唔到佢哋走，但我諗應該都係盡興而歸。

不過，個 Camp 搞得成唔成功呢個問題值得深究，因為唔係新生玩得開心就叫做成功。當然啦，O'Camp 最重要係要盡興，如果盡興，大概都成功咗一大半。咁其餘個小半呢？

呢個時候我哋就要諗吓，細 O 嘅對象係乜嘢人呢？

答新生唔係錯，只不過答得唔全面。

唔知籌委又有冇盡興呢？唔知其他老餅又覺得點？

我諗新生都玩得幾熟，但唔知有幾多新生識得二年級嘅籌委呢？

而且，今年嘅安排有好多需要改善嘅地方，我諗有啲籌委都會留意得到。與其他學系比較，高低立見。如果唔係我哋氣氛好，應該都會幾麻煩。可能搞咗咁耐，有啲地方做得無咁完善，一睇就睇到。

當年我都做錯做漏好多嘢，所以我覺得咁都好正常，就好似上面咁講，我睇開咗啲。無論如何，我覺得認真少少會好啲。

如果覺得呢個諗法無聊，我有個簡單啲嘅諗法：如果O'Camp只求盡興，咁不如怒 con 新生就算了，我覺得都應該幾盡興。

我仍然覺得，CS Soc 同其他 Soc 真係有啲唔同。最少會其他 Soc 唔會有個無聊老餅返去玩 O'Camp，之後仲要寫埋啲咁嘅嘢。

後記：今年大組長做得唔錯，要讚。有啲 OC 都做得唔錯，也要讚。

迎新營之後

這數天的我極厚面皮
盡演執委老餅大組長等角色
為的是回到自己的回憶裡頭
再感受一些苦與樂
當然，樂比苦多
這數天我樂透了

今年的迎新營給我一個逃離現實的機會
換另一角度去重看當日的每一點
而這次是我的最後機會
不竟，下年八月中旬
還有誰知道我是何許人？

記得兩年前，曾在營刊裡寫著
要新生享受他們的第一個迎新營
自此過了三個迎新營
有些大組仔女真的參加了全部

想到這裡，我才發現兩年已過
看看現在的生活
想想中大的生活
更添懷念

下雨了

香港的八月，果然是如別不同。

賣旗日

明天為明光社賣旗日。現請各位朋友，在隨意從口袋取出一元五角，準備投入收款袋前，請先了解明光社是一個甚麼組織。

四個字：不知所謂。一千字：如果我早一天知道，會寫一千字詳細討論明光社是甚麼東東，可惜我三小時前才收到這個消息。

光明會「明光賣旗 FAQ」2007年6月5日

明光賣旗、有何目的？
根據明光社提供的資料，賣旗旨在購買更大的辦公室，使其可以繼續為禍人間。

更多：明光社 - 維基百科

今日我去咗書展

其實我冇乜書想買呢，尤其是上年買咗嘅書今年都仲未睇哂，今年費時買咁多。我只係買咗葉志偉著《係命嚟嘅》，草日《猿人都市５》同埋幫朋友買咗本通用圖書出版《香港街道大廈詳圖》，其實我仲應該買《偽科學鑑證》和 Mapping Hong Kong，最後唔記得咗買。

今日去書展，主要係因為葉志偉會喺 kubrick 嘅攤位出現，所以特登去拜會一下，攞個簽名，睇吓佢係點嘅樣，嗯。

佢寫咗個 "enjoy life & have dreams" 俾我，我哋握過手。

周圍亂咁行，又隨意翻幾頁書，又去咗睇吓林一峰嘅新書《思生活》講乜東東。

隨此之外當然係睇吓附近有乜嘢仔行過啦，都唔少係我杯茶架。

我一啲都唔覺得我要求高囉。

一個麵包也是兒童色情物品

明報「戀童口交漫畫 書展任睇任買 影視處曾勸回收 書商照賣」2007年7月20日

根據《防止兒童色情物品條例》，任何照片、影片、電腦產生的影像或其他視像描劃，不論它是否對真人而作的描劃，都屬於兒童色情物品，而發布及管有兒童色情物品均屬違法，一經定罪分別可被判罰200萬元及監禁8年，或罰款100萬元及監禁5年。

慢慢揀

明報「葉太：民主程序須篩選 稱匯賢將設專組研政改」2007年7月16日

對於民主派擔心「民主程序」是篩選機制，令民主派人士不能參選，葉太說：「凡民主程序都要篩選，美國總統候選人都有初選，黨都推選一個出來而已。」至於如何令民主派放心，葉太稱，工作小組將研究如何令「民主程序」盡量民主。

就算美國嘅政黨都揀過先推一個人出來選，她們都最少有兩個政黨，各推一個人出黎啲人都叫有得揀。或者葉太覺得呢個做法幾好，可惜上面只係得一個政黨，篩選完就只係推一個人出黎畀香港人慢慢揀。

人哋都唔係咁嘅意思，算吧啦，而家興呢招。

明報「MOTO ROKR Z6 極速編曲」2007年7月16日

神話般的iPhone明年8月才抵港，各大手機品牌已準備秘密武器迎戰，其中最有苗頭的首推Motorola ROKR Z6，它首創音樂手機潮流，隨機附送獨家編曲軟件Windows Media Player 11，支援USB 2.0高速數據傳送。

唉，或者啲記者追唔上潮流。

1. 蘋果公司沒有公布 iPhone 在亞洲的推出日期為明年八月。
2. 「音樂手機潮流」絕對不是由 Motorola 首創。
3. Windows Media Player 11 不是編曲軟件。
4. Windows Media Player 11 不是 Motorola 的獨家軟件，相反，該軟件可從互聯網免費下載。

謝阿之嘅提示。

心情悶熱

套用天氣報告的一句經典說話：「一道低壓槽為華南沿岸帶來不穩定天氣。」雖然近日天氣晴朗但悶熱。又隨處抄來一句話：「悶熱的天氣令人透不過氣。」接著下來的一句更老套：「連感覺也好像沉沉的。」

這是真的，好像六七月起，或許是天氣悶熱令人心情煩燥，人們的心情隨著天氣變得情緒化，朋友們都好像不太愉快的樣子，我當然也是那個老樣子，這是近一年的主調。

我沒有怎樣的改變，是因為我覺得不愉快沒有甚麼大不了吧！最少我不愉快代表我還有感覺，如果某天發現自己失去了某些感覺，這才是一件大事。就因此，我很少會怕傷心而去保護自己，不竟心情高低起伏得像過山車，也會有回到出發點的一天，重新上路。

而且，不見得保護自己會使自己變得快樂。終有一天，會發現越保護自己，所得的更少。

又或嘗試去包裝自己成另一個人，不知不覺換去原來的一塊面而套上另一個面具，到頭來發現面具不適合自己，也很痛苦。我想與生俱來的那一塊面最童真，最可愛。現在的我沒有半點稱得上可愛，但我希望仍有一點傻氣、童真。不要以為這是幼稚，這一點也不是，相反如果真的是幼稚可能更好，一切來得簡單。

本來想寫開朗一點作結。無論如何，要開朗都不是我三言兩語可以改變。試試換一個心態吧，做別的事吧！心情自然會變得開朗。

竟然係咁之麥當勞篇

麥當勞果然係豪咗。

（留意細字）

更無奈係今年無咗新地樂，咁去麥當勞仲有乜嘢意思？！嗚！～

看戲

上次所寫的劇目，最後一套也沒有看，這一兩個月或許會看兩三套吧！

• 威尼斯商人 20-21/7 7:30pm 21-22/7 3pm 香港文化中心劇場
• 秘密願望 26-29/7 8:00pm 28-29/7 3:00pm 香港文化中心劇場
• 暗戀桃花源 香港文化中心大劇院
• 生活在他方 27-28/7 7:45pm 29/7 2:45pm 沙田大會堂 4/8 7:45pm 2/8 2:45pm 屯門大會堂
• 穿紅靴的貓 13-15/8 7:30pm 14-15/8 2:30pm 香港大會堂劇院
• 異型金剛 14-15/9 8:00pm 15-16/9 3:00pm 牛池灣文娛中心劇院
• 小人國 12,16-18/10 8:00pm 13-14/10 3:00pm 壽臣劇院

少看劇場的你，偶爾看一場，或許會有深刻的體會。

更新：演藝風流〈生死叩問：二人聚2人散〉訪問《弍人聚．２人散》的演員（＋導演＋編劇）。

明報

明報「神秘人上載鹹片極速擴散 4年來發布4600套電影 難打擊」2007年7月15日

「討論區紀錄顯示，這名猶如「鹹濕版古惑天皇」的網民Nike，自03年起以點對點的形式發放了超過4600套色情影片，平均每日超過3.4套。他昨天上載的23套電影全是畫面清晰的DVD製式電影，總容量超過40GB，是一般家用電腦的硬碟容量，影片長度也足以播上數天。」

我想記者所用的電腦容量是四十十億位元組，以為這是一般家用電腦的硬碟容量。這些數字亳無根據。

「往青少年買鹹書、鹹碟，既要付錢，又怕面懵，但現在只要懂得上網，毋須成年、毋須花錢，就可以下載無數由網民分享的色情影片，青少年接收色情資訊可謂唾手可得。有名為「Nike」的網民…」

本人認為明報沒有必要在文章開首寫一類可有可無的引導性說話去打開話題。這些段落大多是記者的個人意見，也好像要為文章定下一個標準看法。每遇到這些段落，我會跳過不看。

一

再看一期一會，
再一次悲喜交集，
又一使我溫暖的片段，
就是差一步，永遠捉不到。