Mind Brick Building Project

The objective has been met

2008-04-29T15:38:00.004+08:00

警方：展示旗幟勿帶挑釁性 (明報) 04月 29日星期二 03:05PM http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080429/12/2t7mg.html

警方表示，若聖火傳遞當日，示威者若展示一些旗幟，警方會視乎其行為是否帶有挑釁性，是否破壞公眾秩序。

警務處公共關係科總警司吳家聲被問到若有示威者展示雪山獅子旗，警方是否會採取拘捕行動時，他說，警方會視乎有關的行動是否有破壞公眾秩序，是否有挑釁性，以及公眾的反應才作決定。

而民政事務局常任秘書長尤曾家麗就說，香港並沒有具體法例表明不可以展示什麼旗幟，又強調，香港有言論自由，但希望示威者克制。

Well - even if - at last after the prosecution it is found that the petitioner didn't break and laws of Hong Kong and if (s)he is then released and not being charged, the objective of not allowing those opposite opinions being shown on TV / before the Olympic torch has been met.

Even if later the police is charged of abusing the power, so?

Hong Kong Police covering up 火炬護衛手?

2008-04-29T15:20:00.002+08:00

港警察會穿火炬護衛手制服 (明報) 04月 29日星期二 02:35PM

警方說，聖火傳遞當日，最貼近火炬手作保護的本港警察，會穿上火炬護衛手的藍色制服。
警察公共關係科表示，火炬手的保安工作，會由香港全權負責，而按中國奧委會的要求，最貼近火炬手的數名香港警察，將會穿上內地火炬護衛手的藍白色制服，和內地火炬護衛手的分別，是內地護衛手會戴上棒球帽，港警則不會。

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080429/12/2t7js.html

Although there is a 'difference' between the Mainland's torch protection team and Hong Kong Police, I think its very possible that HK Police is afraid that in case the Mainland's team is doing too much which might violate HK laws, they could claim that those are Hong Kong Police, at least to the foreign press.

食蟲蟲救世界泰國高峰會倡吃昆蟲紓糧荒

2008-02-26T11:25:00.000+08:00

為應付可能到來的糧荒，挪威當局不惜斥資千萬興建「末日種子庫」，但問題原來可能有更簡單的解決方法——食蟲。來自15個國家的30多名專家正聚首泰國，分享吃蟲心得，探討如何把這
種另類食物發揚光大。專家指出，蟋蟀、毛蟲與蛆含豐富蛋白質和礦物質，萬一出現旱災或其他天災，牠們可以救人一命。

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080225/12/2pfw7.html

安濟橋 Zhaozhou Bridge

2008-02-22T01:55:00.003+08:00

Extracted from Wikipedia

安濟橋是單孔敞肩坦弧石拱橋，橋長50.82米，寬9米，南北向橫跨洨河之上，橋面分三道，中道行車，左右二道行人。大橋券上方左右各有兩個小空撞券。大橋圓弧拱跨度37.47米，圓弧拱的半徑為27.7米，圓弧拱的高度為7.23米，扁平率（拱高/跨度之半）為0.38（高寬比為 7.23/37.47 =0.19），遠低於半圓拱。實際上安濟橋圓弧段與圓心夾角隻有84°，略小於1/4圓周，基本上是一座1/4圓拱橋（坦弧圓拱橋）。1/4圓拱橋的弧長與跨度比為π/(2√2)= 1.1，半圓弧拱橋的弧長與跨度比為π/2=1.57，在同等跨度的情況下，1/4弧拱橋的弧長，比半圓弧拱橋的弧長，短少43%。因此安濟橋橋身所用石料，要比同跨度的半圓拱橋節省40%以上，既減輕橋身的自重和應力，又使橋面坡度比較平坦，便利橋上的交通。由於安濟橋圓弧拱的跨度大，圓弧拱仍然夠高，水上船隻來往通過非常方便。李春能在1300多年前的隋代意識到大跨度拱橋並不是非半圓拱不可，從而建成這種跨度大、扁平率低的單孔1/4圓拱橋梁結構，是建筑史上一個可貴的創造。

安濟橋的橋券，是由4層28道弧形石砌券並排而成，和一些漢代石橋採用的縱連砌券法不同。每道弧形石砌券，寬約35厘米。砌弧形石券的長方形石塊，長度在70厘米至109厘米不等。兩石塊之間由兩組腰鐵栓牢。為避免28道並排的弧形石砌券相互分離，李春特意設計每道弧形石砌券在橋的兩頭略大，逐漸向橋拱中心略微收小。結果使橋面在兩頭略寬約9米，橋心略窄約8.5米，相差0.5米。此種向中心受窄的設計，使得靠外邊的弧形石券在重力之下，有向內傾斜的分力，使弧形石券相互靠攏。

四個小橋券分布在橋兩端，每端個二。這種建筑式樣，稱為敞肩空撞券，也是李春獨特的創舉，既能節約石料二百多立方米，又能減輕了橋身五分之一的重量，發大水時還可以起到分洪作用，減輕了洪流對橋身的沖擊力量。由於安濟橋在工程設計上的許多優點，所以經歷了十次洪水，八場戰爭和多次地震，依然能保留到現在。

安濟橋是目前世界最古老的現存完好的大跨度單孔敞肩坦弧圓弧拱橋。歐洲到19世紀中葉才出現類似的敞肩空撞券橋。

安濟橋上個部件的裝飾也十分精美，頂部，塑造出想像中的吸水獸，寄托大橋不受水害、長存無疆的良好願望；欄板和望柱上雕刻著精美的石雕群像，各式蛟龍、獸面、花飾、竹節等，尤以蛟龍最為精美。蛟龍或盤踞游戲，或登陸入水，變幻多端，神態極為動人。雕作刀法遒勁有力，藝術風格新穎豪放。

與安濟橋同時期河北井陘縣615年建成的樓殿橋，扁平率更低，隻有0.32，但跨度小許多，隻18米。河北省還有其他兩座1/4弧形拱橋，1130年建成的宋代趙縣永通橋，跨度25.9米，扁平率0.23，為扁平率之冠，還有1175年建成的金朝灤縣凌空橋，跨度20米，扁平率0.3。

西方直到13世紀，跨度在24米以上的大跨度弧拱橋，扁平率都在0.70-0.83之間，基本上屬於半圓拱橋。例如古羅馬前62年的 Fabriccius 橋，跨度24.8米，扁平率為0.83，與圓心夾角為159°，基本上是一座半圓拱橋。1187年法國阿維尼翁橋，跨度33.7米，扁平率0.70。歐洲現存最早的圓弧拱橋建於2世紀的Alconétar多孔橋遺跡[8]，扁平率0.5-0.6（高寬比為0.25-0.3），但跨度很小，第一、二拱跨度僅僅為6.72米，7.28米。扁平的大跨度圓弧拱橋在14世紀初在歐洲始露端倪，例如1306年法國羅拿河上的 St Esprit橋，跨度34米，扁平率為0.51，無論跨度或扁平率都不及安濟橋。要到14世紀中葉開始，大跨度1/4圓拱橋才在歐洲流行[9]。歐洲到了1345年才出現跨度29.9米，扁平率為0.37的大跨度扁平1/4圓弧拱橋——佛羅倫薩的“老橋”（Ponte Vecchio）

英國漢學家李約瑟認為大跨度扁平圓弧拱橋技術，大約在馬可·波羅時代傳入歐洲。

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AE%89%E6%B5%8E%E6%A1%A5

Duty to stop in case of accidents - Road Traffic Ordinance (CAP 374) Section 56

2008-02-20T11:39:00.004+08:00

Extracted from Sing Tao News:

...現時法例存有灰色地帶，若司機已將車停下，只要他二十四小時內向警方投案，未必可追究其離開現場的責任，還有可能被人乘機洗脫醉駕嫌疑。

律師梁永鏗表示，根據《道路交通條例》三七四章第五十六條「發生意外時停車的責任」列明，若交通意外涉及公物壞和有人受傷，肇事司機須即時停車。不過，法例並沒規定司機必須留在現場，只要在二十四小時內向警方報告意外，便不算違法，否則可被判罰款一萬元及入獄一年。...

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080219/60/2p4kh.html

Chapter: 374
Title: ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE
Section: 56

Duty to stop in case of accidents

Version Date:
30/06/1997

PART VII

ACCIDENTS

(1) Where, owing to the presence of a vehicle on a road, an accident occurs whereby-
(a) personal injury is caused to a person other than the driver of that vehicle; or (b) damage is caused to-
(i) a vehicle other than that vehicle or a trailer drawn thereby;
(ii) an animal other than an animal in or on that vehicle or a trailer drawn thereby; or
(iii) any other thing not being in or on that vehicle or a trailer drawn thereby,the driver of that vehicle shall stop.(2) In the case of any such accident, the driver of the vehicle shall, if required, give to any police officer or to any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring the following particulars-
[cf. 1972 c. 20 s. 25(2) U.K.]

(a) his name and address;
(b) the name and address of the owner of the vehicle; and
(c) the registration or identification mark or number of the vehicle.

(2A) If, in the case of an accident referred to in subsection (1)(b), the driver of the vehicle for any reason does not give the particulars mentioned in subsection (2), he shall report the accident in person at the nearest police station or to any police officer as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 24 hours after the accident. (Added 66 of 1984 s. 7)

(3) If the accident involves injury to any person including the driver, the driver shall report the accident in person at the nearest police station or to any police officer as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 24 hours after the accident, unless the driver is incapable of doing so by reason of injuries sustained by him in the accident. [cf. 1972 c. 20 s. 25
(3) U.K.]

(4) In this section "animal" (動物) means any horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig or goat. [cf. 1972 c. 20 s. 25(4) U.K.]

(5) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $10000 and to imprisonment for 12 months.

(6) A person who contravenes subsection (2), (2A) or (3) or who knowingly makes a false statement in supplying particulars under subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $15000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.
(Amended 66 of 1984 s. 8)

一粒藥丸薯條任食阻腸臟吸收脂肪新藥便宜兼防癌

2008-01-15T09:31:00.000+08:00

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/080113/12/2my05.html

【明報專訊】愛吃垃圾食物又怕肥的你，以後可能只要吃一粒藥便可放心大咬薯條漢堡！以色列科學家正研製一種新藥，聲稱服用後即使常吃漢堡包、薯條，非但不會致肥，還毋須大量進食蔬果抵消吸收到的脂肪，並能抗癌而且售價便宜，人人買得起。

研製這種新藥的坎納（Joseph Kanner）說﹕「這粒藥讓你可任意吃喜歡的食品，而不會令你變肥。」藥丸含抗氧化物質「多酚」（polyphenol），能減少血溶脂肪量，減輕患心臟病風險，還能藉掃走損害人體細胞的「自由基」（Free radicals），減低患癌風險。

坎納為以色列政府進行的研究證明，多酚能控制體重和防止積聚脂肪堵塞動脈。假如每餐服用多酚，脂肪縱然入口，都不會溶於血液，反而變為廢物排走。

藥丸含多酚料一年內上市

多酚一般存在於紅酒、生果和蔬菜中。坎納說﹕「有些人在飲食中已攝取足夠多酚，以抵消吸收到的脂肪，但有些人需要其他幫助攝取多酚。這藥丸可讓我們照吃一些普遍認為對身體有害的食物。」他表示，藥丸售價將頗便宜，而且即時見效，現正與生產商洽商生產。
英國一個營養基金會的發言人承認，新藥能遏止人們暴肥，但亦表示「不想見到人們完全放棄進食蔬果」。發言人形容，坎納的研究具深遠意義，「我們一向知道多酚能防止腸臟吸收脂肪，減低心臟病風險。假如它可製成像維他命C補充劑的藥丸，一年內料可上市。」

坎納表示，他的藥丸不會「趕走」身體吸取的各種脂肪，但會限制攝取氧化脂肪（Oxidised fat），包含在各種肉類內的氧化脂肪尤其損害人體。

坎納的研究刊於本月出版的《美國實驗生物學會聯合會》雜誌，雜誌總編輯韋斯曼（Gerald Weissmann）說﹕「這項研究揭示了，人們可享用薯條而動脈不會塞滿脂肪的日子快將來臨。」

每日郵報

More about Polyphenol -from Wikipedia:

Notable sources of polyphenols include berries, tea, beer, grapes, wine, olive oil, chocolate, cocoa, walnuts, peanuts, pomegranates, yerba mate, and other fruits and vegetables.

High levels of polyphenols can generally be found in the fruit skins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphenol

Diversity of opinions is a good thing

2008-01-14T16:36:00.000+08:00

... diversity of opinions is a good thing and should be defended. On the other hand, if that is the position of today's march, then you can forget about any 'dialogue' with the central government...

http://www.zonaeuropa.com/200801b.brief.htm#013

So sad...

Another form of selection process

2007-12-28T11:06:00.000+08:00

I always do not like early retirement.
Somehow I feel that its another form of selection process.
Those who could withstand the pressure could step up in the career ladder. It is also related to what objectives you have in life and what values you treasure.

To me - the selection of right objectives and values might have already contributed 40%-60% of how well off you could be in the future and the rest of your life.

Of course its a luck to have early retirement but I think after the retirement if you do not do something meaningful you'd just deteriorate in terms of the wisdom speedily 'cos you're just disconnected with the outside working environment.

Or they'd just become 黃面公? hahaha...

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071227/12/2m0hh.html

離職不幹中位數48歲料主因工作壓力大近半退休港男搵夠想休息 (明報)
12月 28日星期五 05:10AM

【明報專訊】統計處調查數據推算，去年本港有2.6萬名男士選擇離開勞動市場，其離職年齡中位數僅為48歲，當中44.9%受訪者指出，離職原因是「想休息、無經濟需要或工作動機」，這比率較04年(32.3%)高出12個百分點。柏斯理財董事總經理莊漢輝認為，這可能反映在工作壓力及工作量愈來愈大之下，不少有積蓄的中年男士選擇提早退休。

「想休息」比例兩年增12百分點

但莊漢輝指出，港人愈來愈長壽，若以一家每月開支2萬元、壽命可達80歲來簡單推算，一家之主若要提早於45歲退休，可能需要準備多達840萬元儲蓄才夠用。他又指出，近一年聽聞部分人提早退休，改為全職投資股票賺錢養家，但他警告，股票市場波動可致虧損，投資必須小心，提早退休者亦要記緊量入為出。

專家﹕45歲前退休應儲840萬

統計處在06年7至9月，透過綜合住戶統計調查一項有關勞工流動情的專題訪問，統計推算出一年內全港離開勞動人口（離職不幹）的人有5.9萬，較04年同類調查的8.57萬少。離職不幹者佔勞動人口2.6%，他們年齡中位數為45歲，其中男性為48歲、女性為42歲。統計處指出，男女退休年齡差異可能是由於有相當比例的男士因退休或年老而離開勞動人口。

離開勞動人口的5.9萬人當中，3.3萬人為女士，她們最主要原因是「料理家務及在家照顧兒童、長者或傷病成員」，比率為34.3%。至於2.6萬離職不幹男士，44.9％「唔撈」原因是「想休息、缺乏需要工作的動機、無經濟需要」，較04年同類調查的32.3%顯著高出12個百分點。

柏斯理財董事總經理莊漢輝指出，自金融風暴後，不少機構都資源增值，可能以往10個人的工作，要改交由6個人去做，自然工作量及壓力大增。他估計不少人因「想休息」而離職不幹，可能與工作壓力大有關。

他說，若希望提早退休，需要有一筆積蓄及善用作投資。他指出，要點是必須作風險管理，例如選一些穩陣和固定收入的投資途徑，包括買樓收租、或買一些有股息收入的穩健藍籌股。另外，他建議提早退休後，每隔兩至三年要重新評估自己經濟情一次，若發現積蓄不夠養老，便要考慮重投就業市場。

Putin - Person of the Year vs Maslow Hierarchy

2007-12-20T09:39:00.000+08:00

Actually this news has some impact to me.

Probably its nice to refresh our mind and re-adjust our mindset. I'm sure that what Putin has done actually improved the living standard of Russian people. Yet - is it the right thing to do?

To answer this I'd bring out Maslow Hierarchy.

According to Maslow Hierachy, People needs to get satisifed with their physiological needs before they step up for 'Safety' as such. I'd say in Western developed countries many people are at 'Self-actualization' or 'Esteem'. Its because the 'physiological' needs have been fufilled.

Russia, or even China, are different. Many people can't get enough bread and water. At this stage if we tell them about spiritual uplifting it might be in vain. However, having said that, we also couldn't deny that religious institutions do better in developing countries. Its because religion could give hope and spiritual support whilst people have less valuables with them whilst they still need some support in hearts. Probably that's why religion is not included in the hierarchy and I think we couldn't categorize religious needs in 'self-actualization' and 'esteem'. On the contrary, probably its something stand outside of this hierarchy, or in some situation, in the 'Love/belonging', 'Safety' & 'Physiological' needs.

haha - it went a bit too far but its an interesting topic. anyway. Let's read 'Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty''s article on Putin being chosen the 'Person of the Year' by 'Time'.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/12/d815db2e-74b2-435a-a314-8875eacc4ce4.html

Russia: U.S. Magazine Marks Putin's 'Grand Bargain'

By RFE/RL analyst Robert Coalson

The announcement that "Time" magazine has named Russian President Vladimir Putin its person of the year will come as little surprise to most Russians. "They say that Putin is the most successful figure of the 20th century," academic Leonid Polyakov told a roundtable in September. "I would pose the issue more broadly: Who in history has been more successful than him? Who accumulated such a potential of confidence after being in power just eight years?"
Or, as former First Deputy Duma Speaker Lyubov Sliska put it more succinctly in May: "Putin is our everything."

The newsweekly's editors are careful to note that the distinction "is not and never has been an honor." "It is not an endorsement," they continue. "It is not a popularity contest. At its best, it is a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world -- for better or worse." They correctly note that Putin's achievements have come "at significant cost to the principles and ideas that free nations prize" and that it is far from clear whether "he proves to be a reformer or an autocrat who takes Russia back to an era of repression."

And perusing the magazine's list of also-rans, including former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and British author J. K. Rowling, it is hard to argue that Putin does not deserve the recognition.

New Rules

In its appraisal of Putin, "Time" argues that he has brought Russia out of the chaos of the 1990s to a new stability from which most Russians are benefiting. "In his eight years as president, he has guided his nation through a remarkable transformation," the article contends. "He has restored stability and a sense of pride among citizens who, after years of Soviet stagnation, rode the heartbreaking roller coaster of raised and dashed expectations when [Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev and then [Russian President Boris] Yeltsin were in charge. A basket case in the 1990s, Russia's economy has grown an average of 7 percent a year for the past five years. The country has paid off a foreign debt that once neared $200 billion. Russia's rich have gotten richer, often obscenely so. But the poor are doing better too: workers' salaries have more than doubled since 2003."

Although "Time" argues that this economic miracle is "partly a result" of high global energy prices, it would be more accurate to say that Putin has been phenomenally lucky that throughout his presidency revenues have flowed in at rates several times greater than the most optimistic projections of 2000. His greatest achievement in this regard has been that he bullied the Yeltsin-era oligarchs into accepting "new rules of the game," which included diverting most of the profits from high energy prices into the government's Stabilization Fund. That fund now contains some $150 billion -- even after being used, as "Time" notes, to pay off Russia's astronomical foreign debt.

Putin's other achievement in this regard has been that he placed capable economists, including Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin and former Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref, in charge of these assets, which so far has prevented them from being pillaged. In recent months, however, Gref has been removed from the cabinet and Kudrin has come under fierce attack from the siloviki -- people with ties to the military and security services -- in Putin's inner circle. In February, the Stabilization Fund is to be split into two new funds and the battle to spend those billions will be fierce, possibly to the point of rocking the "stability" for which Putin traded Russia's freedoms.

Many observers have argued that the energy-price windfall has encouraged Russia to put off major reforms and investments that are needed to create truly stable economic development. In the early years of Putin's presidency, he pushed through liberal and much-hailed tax and customs codes and rationalized many Soviet-era economic policies. But in recent years there has been little to boast of. The so-called national projects to improve agriculture, housing, education, and health care (projects that have been overseen by Putin's anointed successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev) have yielded few results and have been attacked as bottomless money pits. Although energy exports account for more than half of Russia's state revenues, production is stagnant. During Putin's second term, old state-dominated monopolies have grown and new ones have been created, increasing the opacity of the economy and placing a premium on political ties and cronyism over sound management and innovation.

'Can Putin Really Be Wrong?'

"Time" writes that Putin established stability through authoritarian domestic policies. "His government has shut down TV stations and newspapers, jailed businessmen whose wealth and influence challenged the Kremlin's hold on power, defanged opposition political parties and arrested those who confront his rule," the magazine's appraisal notes. Kremlin-connected political analyst Sergei Markov perhaps put it better during a conference in August: "The personality of Vladimir Putin is more important to society than institutions of state." Or, to quote Central Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov, "Can Putin really be wrong?"
A key result of Putin's draconian domestic policies has been the elimination of all oversight and a consequent flourishing of corruption. To take one example, a study in October found that the country loses some $40 billion a year just on state purchases. Recently a Kremlin-connected businessman told "Kommersant" how the siloviki, led by deputy presidential-administration head Igor Sechin, are raiding lucrative private businesses by making them offers they can't refuse. "This isn't raiding," he said. "We don't take over enterprises -- we minimize their market value using various means. As a rule, these are voluntary-compulsory means. But, as a rule, people understand where we are coming from."

Former Duma Deputy Anatoly Yermolin, himself a retired Federal Security Service (FSB) colonel, told "Novoye vremya" earlier this month: "Putin is not fighting against corruption. He is using it to control the country." He added that "the genius of Putin's management of the country is that the president and his team have turned the main weakness of Russian state management -- corruption -- into its greatest strength."

During his interview with Putin, the "Time" correspondent asked about the corruption problem and received a "testy" response from the president. "If you are so confident, then I presume you know the names and the systems and the tools.... Write to us," Putin said. In a country with no independent law enforcement agencies and no legislative oversight, one that has virtually no independent media and no functioning NGOs, finding out "the names and the systems and the tools" is no easy task.

Although it is no "honor," "endorsement," or "popularity contest," Putin has clearly earned the distinction of person of the year. But it remains to be seen if he really has carried out a "grand bargain" of freedom for stability. The freedoms are gone, but the promised stability -- as the country's current political transition suggests -- seems far from certain. To use analyst Markov's phrase: Can a country where "the personality of Vladimir Putin is more important to society than institutions of state" really ultimately be stable?

看看過去的香港

2007-12-19T10:53:00.000+08:00

http://my1510.cn/article.php?a14f8590c7d4ef1d

Its really really nice.

The original post is in Simplified Chinese. I converted it to Traditional one.

看看過去的香港

閭丘露薇

2007-12-16 23:08 閱讀(2252) 標簽: 犬儒主義, 生存法則, 香港, 戰后嬰兒潮, 回歸

最近流行申請聯合國非物質文化遺產，由香港的立法會議員准備下個星期三在立法會提出動議，成立一個委員會，要把香港的茶餐廳申請為文化遺產。茶餐廳，確實最能代表香港，而港式茶餐廳這些年已經遍布神州大地，隻是到了內地城市的港式茶餐廳，形象不似香港那樣的街坊和隨意，甚至是簡陋，隻是，在裝修精美的茶餐廳裡面喝奶茶，確實有點點奇怪的感覺。

說到茶餐廳，調查顯示，最有代表性的就是奶茶，菠蘿油和鴛鴦。奶茶的來歷，是因為香港人覺得英國人的西式紅茶味道太淡，於是創造出了絲襪奶茶，當然，用來過濾的不是真的絲襪，而是用棉襖的料子做的，隻是時間用久了，看上去，就好像絲襪一樣了，如果大家有機會到香港，一定要去中環結志街的蘭芳園，那裡的奶茶是出了名的，據說絲襪奶茶這是第一家。

其實奶茶還有鴛鴦（就是一半奶茶，一半咖啡），很有香港的特色，那就是把西方的東西拿來，改良成適合自己的東西。奶茶有了五十多年的歷史，那個時候的香港，充滿了來自各地的難民們的流離情緒，但是最著年輕一代的成長，也就是被大家稱為戰后嬰兒潮的一代人的成長，把香港當成家的感覺慢慢出現，而茶餐廳，就見証和參與了這批人，在殖民地統治下，用一種慢慢變成很香港的很獨特的方式生活的過程。

這些人就是現在香港的中堅力量，而他們在五六十年代的日常生活經驗，也形成了他們的生存策略，形成了獨特的香港文化。所以，要了解香港，必須要從香港的過去開始看起，不需要太遠，從五十年代開始看起，來了解現在的香港的文化，香港人的特性，特別是那種學者眼中的犬儒的，隻求目的不做其他考慮的工具注意的生存策略，是怎樣來的。

介紹香港的社會學學者呂大樂的一本書“唔該，埋單“，這是典型的廣東話，就是對不起，結帳的意思。這本書首次發表於1997年，十年之后，2007年，回歸十周年，增加了一篇后記，再版了。

書不厚，一個社會學家的香港筆記。分享一些讓我很有觸動的片段：

談香港從七十年代開始的民眾運動：

“長期在建制外扮演反對派角色的社會運動，在批判殖民地政府之時，卻發展出一種肯定市民有權表達不滿，提出訴求的觀念，而且更逐漸由批判者轉為基層組織者，代表市民和殖民地政府談判，口號也有意識形態批判轉為利益的爭取。這樣，官民之間的關系不再是互不相干的。”
談九七過渡的過程中，香港社會出現的政治“大執位”：

“本來是港英陣營的悍將，新扎師兄師姐，后來跳‘政治哈蘇’，一個轉身，成為殖民地主義的批判者，遲熟的民族主義者，緊靠中方路線；那些一直在惡劣環境下仍然堅持民族主義思想的，“忠誠”沒有幫他們一把，反而他們要赤膊上陣，靠群眾運動來找個政治位置。很多曾經主張續約，獨立，買島的意見領袖，經過一番“洗底”之后，今是昨非，以左派的姿態出現，擦去過往親近殖民地權貴的底細。”

談犬儒主義在香港的現實發揮：

“醒目主義是香港人，尤其是戰后嬰兒潮一代人的生存哲學之一。我們可以將好與壞，甚至是與非的問題暫時擱置，不問為什麼，也不探討終極價值，隻問怎麼辦，要投入幾多？又有多少回報？”

談香港因為七十年代開始的普及文化經歷了黃金時代之后，造成的香港人的不自覺地以自我為中心：

“表面上信心十足，躊躇滿志。實際上，香港人慢慢收窄了自己的視野。在感覺良好的背后，是一些舊有的空間概念的淡化。”

如何看待保持現狀，五十年不變：

“基本法的精神在於急凍香港，利用這份小憲章把香港社會的各個方面變為維持不變的條文。當時的想法也簡單不過，隻要把過去成功的元素都想辦法保留下來，到1997年之后遇上任何困難，都可以搬出這些發包來應付問題。於是，整個香港社會鎖定在八十年代中期的狀態……問題是，這是一種向后望的思維方式。而且更嚴重的事，這種向后望的思維，以八十年代中期的香港社會，文化，想象力為立足點，而他所展現出來的視野（例如，嚴重低估了內地和香港之間的互動),遠遠落后於二十一世紀的需要。”

“1997年至2007年，是不可思議的十年。有一個朋友這樣說：大大小小，不同的事情都發生了；像手上所有的東西倒在地上，不知如何收拾。九七前，香港故事不易講。九七之后，千頭萬緒，不知從何說起。回歸十年，是時候要好好執拾一下上世紀八十年代所遺留下的手尾……現在事后看來，保持現狀/不變，並不足以應付萬變”

The fall of democractic parties in Hong Kong

2007-12-12T14:12:00.000+08:00

Chief Executive Donald Tsang has just announced his democracy development plan of Hong Kong on TV this afternoon.

The content is mainly on that Hong Kong could have universal sufferage of Chief Executive and LegCo members not later than 2017.

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071212/12/2l6wb.html

Members from DP & DAB made comments to this already (Please refer to news) and Yeung Sum said that it is totally disappointing and its an insult to Hong Kong and its citizens. To me as a layman I won't see it this way. Yes - probably its good to have universal sufferage in 2012 but there's not much difference to see it in 2017. (of course I might not say so if Tung Chee-Hwa is still the CE)

Again, as a layman, I do not want to see the CE is from DAB nor any pro-Beijing figure. However, I could see no one from the democractic camp could be the CE. Martin Lee? Certainly not. Hong Kong would be under deep shxt. Audrey Eu - maybe - but she has a small tumour in her head and I think she won't do it. Pro-Beijing camp I don't want to discuss at all although I would say Tsang Yok-Sing is a good leader and he looks a lot more responsible than many of the democractic figure heads.

Then I'd ask - why I need democractic political parties?
The answer is, they could counter the pro-Beijing parties. But could they really do so? Frankly I'd say no. They do not have the quality and resources. When Civic Party was established I think many Hong Kong people really hope that they could do something constructive to the democractic progression of Hong Kong, and probably they share the same idea as well.

However, it is disappointing that I could hardly see it works. Now their focus is on universal sufferage and environmental protection. No concrete economic stance at all.

Economic development of Hong Kong now highly depends on China. If a political party could have no channel to communicate with Chinese leaders I could see no possibility that they could help in booming the economy of Hong Kong.

What's left? Certainly the AOs.

Home Rule from the new Australian PM Kevin Rudd

2007-12-11T09:59:00.000+08:00

Its quite interesting. I think it fits the uphold of equality and hatred of aristocracy. No matter Mr Rudd is doing it for the votes or he's doing it whole-heartedly, I would wonder when Asian could learn it from our neighbour?

Its no absolute right or wrong.

Mr Tung Chee-Hwa tried doing this partially but I think his intention is to get rid of the colonial smell and he does not want to spend a penny to build another residence for the Chief Executive.

The most important thing is - in addition to these formality - whether we have the mindset of upholding equality of human beings.

Home rule: why the Australian PM prefers to run the country sitting on his veranda
Paul Larter in Brisbane

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3026081.ece

International relations has developed a new branch – veranda diplomacy. While President Bush hosts guests at his Texas ranch, Kevin Rudd, whose Labor Party swept into government two weeks ago, met Helen Clark, his New Zealand counterpart, yesterday on the back deck of his modest, wooden 100-year-old Queenslander-style home in suburban Brisbane.

Here, the seat of power is a wicker chair and the platform of authority is a timber deck surrounded by lush tropical foliage. It was from this humble abode, under a scorching tin roof, that Mr Rudd had phone conversations last week with Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Prime Minister, in fluent Mandarin, and Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General. That same afternoon it served as the venue for Mr Rudd and his finance minister, Wayne Swan, another Queensland native, to prepare for their first Cabinet meeting. “I’ve held most of my meetings here since the election,” Mr Rudd told Ms Clark, who seemed impressed.

Mr Rudd, a former diplomat who has been cultivating an image of “the average bloke”, seems in no rush to leave his family’s four-bedroom, two-bathroom house for the official prime ministerial residence in Canberra.

John Howard, whom Mr Rudd defeated after almost 12 years in power, last week handed over the keys to the 40-room Georgian-revival style mansion in four acres of grounds. But Mr Rudd, 50, has yet to make a decision on whether to relocate. The Rudds have lived in Brisbane’s relaxed but trendy Norman Park for 13 years – their longest period in one house.

While their eldest daughter, Jessica, 23, lives nearby with her husband Albert, sons Nicholas, 21, and Marcus, 14, live under the same roof as their parents. Nicholas is likely to complete his law studies in Brisbane if the family relocates, but Mr Rudd and his wife, Therese Rein, face a tough decision about the immediate future of their youngest son and last week she visited several Canberra schools.

Ms Rein must also take her own career into consideration. Her international job placement business In-geus, which runs the welfare-to-work services of WorkDirections in the UK along with operations in France and Germany, is based in South Brisbane. She has already sold off her domestic interests to avoid any conflict of interest with her husband’s political career.
Mr Rudd has said that he expects to host many national and international meetings in Brisbane, Australia’s third most populous city of 1.8 million.

His approach may be low-key and methodical but his demands are anything but. His ministerial team is said to have worked constantly since the election to set in train the framework of his electoral promises on education, health and workplace relations.

Ms Clark said that she had enjoyed the setting and her lunch with Mr Rudd, during which they had discussed a long-term carbon emissions goal – key to negotiations under way at the UNsponsored climate change conference on the Indonesian island of Bali. Mr Rudd, whose first official act as Prime Minister was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, will tomorrow leave for Bali. “We’ll be in close contact as governments on the challenges we face with climate change, plus the negotiating agenda over the next couple of years,”' Mr Rudd said. He then walked Ms Clark to the gate. “Thanks for coming around,” he said.

Perfectly placed
- Median house price in Norman Park last year was A$444,500 (£193,000)
- Kevin Rudd’s house, now worth about $1 million, was bought for A$384,000 in 1994
- 6,000 people live in the suburb, with an average age of 33
- In 2001, average individual income was between A$500 and A$599 per week
- The Gabba cricket ground is a five-minute drive away
- Native river mangroves grow in the nearby Norman Creek. Mud crabs, mullet and prawns can still be found in the lower reaches
- A flying fox colony lives in the trees near by
- Locals play barefoot lawn bowls at Norman Park Services Bowls Club

Source: Times research

Its why we need democracy

2007-12-10T09:47:00.000+08:00

自由黨簽名運動向匯豐施壓各黨派轟罔顧基層利益促收回櫃員機提款下限
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071209/12/2kzfs.html

Its why we need democracy.

Even Liberal Party - no matter they protest against HSBC for the LegCo election or what - they are doing it.

We do not need to know whether they are doing it whole-heartedly or not. They're just doing it.

貴州窮鄉推五合一民主公章

2007-12-06T09:25:00.000+08:00

【明報專訊】為體現權力互相制衡，貴州省一條貧窮的村莊，仿照古代的兵符制度，將一枚印章切開5份，分別由4個村民代表和1個黨支部委員保管，村裏的開支須經他們中至少3人同意後，才可將公章併蓋印，這樣，單據才可入帳報銷。這枚公章被網友稱為「史上最牛（最威）公章」。
公款花費需有共識

《貴州政協報》報道，貴州省錦屏縣平秋鎮圭葉村是國家重點貧困村，最近因這枚由該村村民刻製的「公章」聞名全國。圭葉村每年獲得撥款5000元人民幣，為數不多的公款如何使用，引起村民質疑。

帳目更清投訴減少
去年2月，村黨支部書記譚洪勇召集10名村民討論後，決定刻一枚「平秋鎮圭葉村民主理財小組審核」字樣的印章，並將印章鋸成5塊，要5塊一同合起來才能蓋章。自從採用「五合一章」後，村民對村委會的財務投訴沒有了，理財小組的帳目也記錄得格外詳細。

至於這枚公章與其他財務審核公章不同的是，多了「民主」二字。譚洪勇解釋，「民主就是為了實現大家的意圖」，這比簽字或者打手指模更具透明度。

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071205/12/2ksqx.html

Thought of the day

Why in China democracy is allowed?
As it is allowed, why it is in a poor village?

笑裏藏刀打擊對手

2007-10-29T10:01:00.000+08:00

【明報專訊】絕交專家指出，在原始社會，人們見到不喜歡的人會揮拳就打，但現今社會，人們在競爭中仍講求風度，打擊對手往往要笑裏藏刀，攻於心計的客套問候，很可能更有效令對方自信受挫，以

下是專家揀選的「毒友語錄」：

你還喜歡自己的新髮型嗎？
噢！你又喝酒，借酒澆仇會令我很痛苦，你卻沒有事。
我剛剛見到你的前度女友，她看來漂亮極了。
一段感情到了這階段，你們會發生吵架，然後分手

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071028/12/2ic4x.html

Astrology for Pisces - Oct 29

2007-10-29T09:27:00.000+08:00

It might feel as if everything is changing, but really it's just a few seemingly-solid aspects of your life that are shifting. You can handle change better than a lot of people, as long as you're not taken by surprise.

www.astrology.com

靠生意發達不足四成

2007-10-18T13:36:00.000+08:00

... 港的打工皇帝比例明顯較高，因做生意所賺取的盈利亦只佔本港富豪財富來源不足四成，大幅低於內地的62%；其薪金及按表現發放酬金的比例，佔財富來源合共三成半，與新加坡相同，而內地的打工收入卻只佔兩成，可見「打工都有出頭天」這句老話的確適用在香港。...

From
港超級富豪比例冠亞太百萬美元富翁8.7萬個 1330人各擁逾2億資產http://hk.news.yahoo.com/071017/12/2hrmn.html

Monks and China Rising

2007-10-12T09:22:00.000+08:00

Roger Cohen
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/opinion/11cohen.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Seldom has a country’s rise been as smooth as China’s in recent years. Bush-bashing has left the world with scant surplus indignation to devote to Beijing’s backing for many of the planet’s ugliest regimes, including those in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Iran and Cuba.

Talk of “harmony” — the buzzword favored by President Hu Jintao — and “no strings attached” assistance has been the camouflage for China’s readiness to get in bed with thugs from central casting who can provide the oil, gas and raw materials that fuel the furious growth critical to preserving one-party rule.

Hu’s harmony is mostly hogwash. But who cares? The global thirst for China’s business, and for alternative power centers to Washington, has given the slogan a free ride.
China is not in the business of exporting war, development models or moral and political blueprints. It wants stability for its upward glide. Democracy comes in a distant second to growth, if at all. The tarnishing of the “D-word” in Iraq has suited China fine.
What suits China less is saffron-robed Buddhist monks in neighboring Myanmar — the former Burma — confronting the guns of a military junta that began its rule in 1988 with the massacre of 3,000 protesters and has not wavered in its corrupt brutality since.
The Burmese troubles are troubling to China for several reasons. They are on its doorstep. They come in a country transformed in recent years into a virtual client state, where the Chinese are building roads, burning forests, backing gas projects and dreaming of long-coveted access to the Indian Ocean.

Worst of all for Beijing, the unrest presents about as clear a picture of good versus evil as exists outside fairy tales. There’s little to debate in young monks being gunned down and everything to deplore. For a Buddhist, killing monks is like killing kin. Nine months from the Beijing Olympics, that’s bad.

So the Chinese have been writhing. Not to the point of supporting United Nations Security Council action against Burmese barbarity — the official view is that “pressure would not serve any purpose” — but to the point of gestures suggestive of some discomfort.
These have included facilitating the work of the U.N. special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari. He’s been instrumental in opening new avenues between the military and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition leader who has long been under house arrest.
China has also offered guarded statements about supporting “stability, reconciliation, democracy and development of Myanmar.”

Democracy? Well, up to a point. View all this as the minimum China thinks it can get away with on the last pre-Olympic lap. Stability, as ever, is the key word; “democracy” is a sop. Still, the Chinese may be ready to hedge their Burmese bets.

The junta’s leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, is 74; nobody’s immortal. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Myanmar is part, is reviewing a new charter that obliges member countries to “strengthen democracy.”

The Burmese military is increasingly isolated in a region where the Indonesian transition from military rule has given the lie to generals who say their rule is indivisible from national survival.
That said, Myanmar is a weak state where the danger of fragmentation is real. Insurgencies and drug warlord militias could easily fill a vacuum. “The country presents a democracy challenge, but also a failed state challenge,” says Thant Myint-U, a historian.

In North Korea, another Asian country that reeks of failure, China and the United States have united to push Pyongyang out the nuclear business. But it was precisely the nukes that concentrated Chinese minds: nobody in Beijing wanted the militarist wing in Japan emboldened by Kim Jong-il’s folly.

Burmese folly lacks such a galvanizing threat. It does, however, present a unique opportunity for a great power, the United States, and two emergent great powers, India and China, to press for a rapid end to the junta’s rule.

Myanmar is a buffer state between India and China; both have major economic interests there and fear turmoil. India has already called for “political reform.”

I don’t think Olympic boycotts work; nor do I think a breakdown in Chinese-American relations serves anyone. But fierce criticism by Mia Farrow of Chinese complicity in Darfur atrocities through support for Sudan produced modest movement. The nine months to the Olympics present a unique opportunity to shame China into shepherding Burmese reform, beginning with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

It’s time to call “harmony” to task. Monk-murder in a client state is no advertisement for China rising. India and China need political ideas to frame the economic rise of Asia: the sanctity of monk power is not a bad place to start.

You have to ask

2007-07-29T16:02:00.000+08:00

Today I learn something from the sermon in the Mass. Its very good esp. to me.

Its the sermon by Fr Roman Carter of Dominican.

He said that we have to ask God what we wants but we just have to ask.
Why it stroke me is because he said - one day a man came to him and said he feels miserable for all these years - then as a Father he might not know what exactly this man wants him to help.

But if the man said, he's feeling miserable and he wants the Father to pray for him. That's much more clear. Isn't it?

Same applies in our prayer. Its true that God knows what we are asking for, but if we don't say it clearly / explicitly, is it the right way to pray and expect God would help us automatically?

It is also shown from the Bible Verse of the Day in facebook.com:

Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Pisces Daily Horoscope - Jul 20

2007-07-20T10:55:00.001+08:00

You're famous for going beyond borders and being able to blur boundaries. This skill comes in handy when combined with a double dose of diplomatic sweet-talk. You can go just about anywhere you want today.

http://www.astrology.com

Many owners of SMEs have a mission

2007-07-15T10:39:00.000+08:00

"Many owners of SMEs have a mission," he said. "Sum Kee has been promoting cultural activities and book reading for the past 47 years but there is a question mark over whether we can cope with the ever-increasing high rent.

"Should the government want to help SMEs, it is necessary to solve the high-rental problem."

SCMP - Book rental business is still a best-seller in the internet age (Enoch Yiu - Jul 15, 2007)

http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/
menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?
vgnextoid=68ad52e4595c3110VgnVCM10000036
0a0a0aRCRD&ss=Your+Money&s=Business

Successful Factors

2007-07-13T14:53:00.000+08:00

Attention; Dedication; Urgency 30%
Professionalism; Skillful Approach 30%
Hard Work 30%
Luck 10%

三字頭

2007-07-04T00:18:00.000+08:00

Stephy成日同我講，當你行左入三字頭，你既黃金二十年(係，你冇睇錯，我係寫二十年，唔係十年。Stephy話黃金十年咁少，唔夠玩，要整夠佢廿年先過癮喎。)就開始啦。呢個年紀開始，係響一生人裡面，有能力做到最多既野，活得最精彩豐盛既時候，要好好把握。三字頭之後，好多人話煩惱多左好多，人又被迫要現實，逼住放棄好多理想。不過唔知點解，我總覺得，當你願意做個樂觀既人，三字頭之後，應該可以係好正既。

人在中環
拾年
http://manincentral.blogspot.com/2007/06/blog-post_29.html

My Scratch Book & Snowman

2007-07-03T01:50:00.001+08:00

Life is Simple - The Art of Escape

2007-07-02T20:49:00.000+08:00

its time to go back to work again after the 3-day work-from-home experience and the long weekend. maybe its already good 'cos I totally have 6 days of 'free' time.

I just dun want to see people during these days 'cos I kind of want to hide myself. Interacting with others would be quite energy-consuming - at least for me. But there's also another side of the coin. Today I had lunch with ex-colleagues and I found its really fun.

Hope that 'd get re-fueled and face the future challenges.

Also, 2 frenz of mine told me the same time in 2 consecutive days. They told me 'Life is Simple'. Its right. Life is simple. What I worry is that if I treat life too simple I might lose something. Am I just too greedy? Probably when compared, what's more important, the lose of happiness or the lose of something which I do not know? haha... yes... life is simple. No need to think too much :p but I just can't convince my consciousness to accept this concept.

God

2007-06-17T22:54:00.000+08:00

- 'something I think is very positive - is there's this idea that God did put us on this earth to do nothing. No matter your age.' (Jean-Marie Eveillard, June 25, 2007, Fortune Special Investor's Issue, p40)

硬漢子的大智慧

2007-06-10T22:18:00.000+08:00

香港人處處爭先，要爭取、要表態時卻非常禮讓，是小男人的小聰明：西方人小處禮讓，關鍵處卻是寸步不讓，這才是硬漢子的大智慧。或許，回歸十年的意義，就是令我們更加肯定，無論再過多少年，香港仍然是一個亞洲城市，而不是甚麼國際大都會。認命吧。

From CUP Magazine Issue 65, p.27, 十年空剩半多Fun林子祥

無論雨怎麼打，自由仍是會開花

2007-05-28T10:10:00.000+08:00

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　
年月裏轉化為力
一點真理　
一個理想
永遠地尋覓
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
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

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

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

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

En Primeur

2007-05-26T14:07:00.000+08:00

En Primeur, also known as Wine Futures, refers to the process of buying wines before they are bottled and released onto the market. Wines are usually delivered 2-3 years after the vintage, and can only be purchased by the unmixed case (12 bottles, 24 half bottles, 6 magnums).

http://www.bbr.com/GB/shopping/en-primeur.lml?&ID=FBBNB6QZ6TV0014

This year I purchased 2 cases, one case of each of the following for 2004:

Chateau Quinault-L'Enclos @ EUR 17 (91-93 RP, 85-88 WS)

Clos de l'Oratoire St.-Emilion @ EUR 17.7 (89-91 WS 4 **** WS)

And now the delivery charge from Bordeux to Hong Kong is HK$247.93. I'm just wondering that'd be a good purchase. haha. Wine could be a good investment but 'm not sure whether these 2 are that good. For Chateau Quinault-L'Enclos 2000 its selling at £43.50 and Clos de l'Oratoire St.-Emilion 2003 at £28.00. See how it goes. Only at these 2 prices 'd be earning. Probably they'd be the cornerstone of my cellar or wine shop in the future? Who knows.

I also placed an order of Ch. Quinault L'Enclos RP 92-94 @ EUR 25.3. Hope that it'd be another good investment. haha.

愛在漫天風雨時

2007-05-16T01:49:00.000+08:00

Still 'm not standing at the side of defending for the CUHK students about the student journal incident, but Mr Choi's essay on Ming Pao gave me another side of thought. Actually I think what the students lack now is that they are still v afraid of getting jailed. Well - that's what I don't really look upon them. Yet - it is really v true:

「法國思想之父」伏爾泰（Voltaire）曾經講過：「雖然我並不同意你的觀點，但我會至死也捍衛你說出那個觀點的權利。」*

However, is it still applicable to Hong Kong in this era? If its yes, then congrats. If no, why no?
I browsed thru' Mr Choi's essay's title but I didn't go into it until I read this blog:

如果情色版事件在港大發生
http://chiulf.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=577592

I do believe that in nowadays U-grad is nothing. Probably students culd do more to show their contribution to the society. I know that the world is changing. People just care about money and efficiency. Why on earth I have to spend stupid time on these stuff - with no material reward? Just to ful

蔡子強﹕愛在漫天風雨時 ——再評中大學生報事件 (明報)
05月 15日星期二 05:05AM
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070514/12/27ecl.html

【明報專訊】作者為1987年中文大學學生會會長

如果要我說出自己最敬佩的大學校長，或許有人會覺得我不識時務，因為我心目中的人選，不是一位會為大學掙得很多捐款，也不曉得誇耀自己把大學建設成世界「第幾大」的人，但他卻有教我更加心悅誠服的胸懷——那是中大前校長高錕教授。

記得1993年，中大30周年校慶，舉辦了盛大的「開放日」來慶祝。但碰巧那時，也是六四事件後，香港學運最「激」的幾年，學生組織最恨歌舞昇平，於是便執意要與校方對幹。

高錕校長的故事

在開放日那天，中大喜氣洋洋，冠蓋雲集，正當高錕校長要致辭時，冷不防被激進的學生衝上主禮台，在眾多嘉賓、家長、同學、校友的眾目睽睽之下，誓要搶走校長手中的「咪」，以表達另類聲音，結果令台上亂作一團，擾攘達數分鐘之久，令人覺得中大丟盡面子。他們又把抗議的單張放在吹脹的避孕袋內，向現場人士派發，極盡挑釁之能事。

事後，當校長步下禮台時，《中大學生報》的記者第一時間衝前採訪，詢問校方會否懲罰學生，怎料校長卻一臉詫異的說：

「懲罰﹖我為什麼要懲罰學生﹖」

那位學生記者頓時為之語塞，頗覺自己就像以「小人之心，度君子之腹」。

我記得幾年後，有一晚與老師關信基教授促膝談心，提起這件往事，他才透露，事後差不多各方都排山倒海的要求紀律處分該等學生，但卻有3人由始至終堅持反對，最後才能頂住了壓力。3人中的其中一位，原來就是當事人，本來該是最受屈辱、最應意憤難平的高錕校長。

老師的訓勉

至於另一位，就是當日身為學生輔導長的關老師。我記得老師當時是如此跟我講的：

「大學校園，本來就該是引發思潮、帶動社會前進的地方，如果我們的步伐和界線，都與外面社會的一模一樣，那又豈能起到帶動的作用呢﹖」

我完全能夠想像，當日身為輔導長的老師，會為此受盡多少壓力，受盡多少委屈，但當他道出那一番說話時，就是那麼一臉淡然，就像一切本當如此，像高錕校長當日一樣。

老師的學養，做學生的限於資質，學不上皮毛；但老師所講過的做人道理，做學生的，卻一直未敢或忘。

但可惜當年中大的學生組織，卻不領情，因為校長接受北京委任為「港事顧問」，而一直對抗到底。例如出版學生報，大字標題刊出「港事顧問粉飾太平，中大校長一事無成」等辛辣、侮辱性字眼，令不少教授為之側目。但高錕校長本人卻一直以平常心待之，甚至每年從個人戶口中拿出兩萬元，捐助有財政困難的學生組織中人；又每年都親筆撰寫書信，多謝學生組織對大學的貢獻；更幫助學生排難解紛，在一場教授與學生可能因教學評核而對簿公堂的官司中，為學生順利調解。

而另外一些更加偏激的中大學生，更加出版一系列以粗口諧音作為名稱的「小報」，刊登一些不雅、性器官的照片，尺度遠比今天的大膽，但當時校方也只是循循善誘，屢加勸喻，卻始終沒有紀律處分。

「法國思想之父」伏爾泰（Voltaire）曾經講過：「雖然我並不同意你的觀點，但我會至死也捍衛你說出那個觀點的權利。」從當年的中大校園，我完全能領會到這句說話的境界，也就是這些點滴和積累，令我們那一輩的學運反叛分子，至今仍十分熱愛中大。

「昨非」與「今是」

近日《中大學生報》的情色版，惹起軒然大波，都說同學偏離了社會標準，公眾不能接受。但社會標準，又真的應是學生運動及校園討論的極限嗎﹖

我記得80年代初「香港前途談判」，中大同學冒天下之大不韙，提出香港應該脫離港英殖民管治，民主回歸祖國。當時在這個醉生夢死的殖民社會，這是何等的離經叛道，與所謂的「主流社會標準」，差距又豈能以道里計，公眾也是絕不接受，甚至更罵同學為「共諜」、「死左仔」。更有聲音說這些中大同學畢業後公司將永不錄用，甚至催促中大應予以警誡。但20年後，事實證明，究竟又是誰對誰錯呢﹖

今天中大視為顯赫校友的鄭海泉先生，70年代曾是因為在街上張貼「保釣」海報而被抓過的學運分子。朋友王慧麟曾到倫敦翻閱業已解封的殖民地機密檔案，才發現原來竟然有這位「鄭大班」的黑材料，他被形容為「extreme radical student」，視之為麻煩搞事分子。

我相信當日也曾經有不少聲音，批評過這些同學影響校譽，損害中大學生形象。但幾十年後，一笑便已風雲過，鄭海泉已成了匯豐「大班」，當日搞學運的何安達，那個曾經拿水槍在宿舍「知行樓」周圍射，憤世嫉俗、玩世不恭的「死飛仔」劉細良，卻已成了行政長官曾蔭權的左右手。學生年代的稜角，本來就是理應如此。

那是一張倔強而非猥瑣的臉

上周四，我有透過電視直播收看學生報編委會的自辯論壇，在一張又一張同學的臉上，我看到的是一臉的倔強和純真，而不是淫褻猥瑣。雖然過去言語間，或許他們有頂撞過個別老師，但我相信他們都是真誠的。

我相信，如果有一天同學願意反省，又或者歉疚的話，原因一定不是因為校方處分了他們，而是我們這些作為老師的，曾經以極大的耐心和誠意，來看待他們所做過的事；如果好多年後，學生仍會惦記我們的，多半不會是因為我們教授過他們什麼具體知識，而是我們曾經以身作則，教導他們如何處世做人。

周六回到校園，得知政政系的同學，在考試季節，大家都在捱更抵夜的時候，還是奮力「開夜車」，趕出了一份聯署聲明，並邀請我加入聯署。這群同學本來不是直接牽涉在內，但都能如此見義勇為，做老師的常常鼓勵學生要有 judgment，要有initiative，如今還夫復何求，即使再有些什麼，也只是枝葉，於是立即簽名。

為什麼我們這樣愛中大

事件中，我一直只是個旁觀者，只是在旁邊說些風涼說話，我知道真正要負責的中大老師和同事，卻處身熱廚房，壓力都很大。

在民粹主義肆虐的今天，傳媒會動輒不問情由，指摘我們「包庇」學生，把整間大學的校譽也「擺上」。我完全體會到校方調查委員會做決定時的難處，而大學輔導長何培斌教授，早前接受記者訪問時亦透露，有需要時，他個人願意為學生提供法律支援，並以「有理想、有看法、有堅持」來形容學生報的委員。但我只想補充多一句，能對學生寬容的，希望都能盡量寬容。

現在差不多每一間大學，都說鼓勵學生獨立思考、批判思維，但當學生的看法與我們一模一樣時，哪用大家多作lip service；相反，正正是當學生的看法與我們南轅北轍，與我們不同的時候，校方仍能表現出的尊重和包容，才真正最能體現出我們對獨立思考和批判思維的真誠，才最彌足珍貴。

我們都愛自己的學生，但當學生飛黃騰達，名成利就時，我們的愛充其量只是錦上添花；相反，正正是當漫天風雨，壓力鋪天蓋地，學生茫然無助時，我們的愛，我們所表現出的承擔，才是學生最需要的。

我們那一輩都十分愛中大，因為那是一個曾經容許我們犯錯、容許我們跌倒，以及容許我們跌倒後重新站起來的地方。我真切的希望，很多年後，我們的師弟、師妹、學生，也能夠有幸因同樣的原因，愛同一間中大。

*Voltaire is often incorrectly credited with the quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." These words were actually written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, in her 1906 book The Friends of Voltaire. Hall intended to summarize in her own words Voltaire's attitude towards Claude Adrien Helvétius and his controversial book De l'esprit, but her first-person expression was mistaken for an actual quotation from Voltaire.^{[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire}

啡王騰達

2007-05-09T10:46:00.000+08:00

啡王騰達

The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.

2007-05-07T13:43:00.000+08:00

Just read from 案內人隨筆 about this subject headline:

The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.

Its from Murdoch. It could be right but still in those well-established industries its not right. If this logic makes sense, that means if we need to get rich fast, we have to think outside the traditional mindset.

But - to me - I need to find something concrete where I could stand and to build up things accordingly. So - maybe some imagination and breakthrough's within the oldies could also help? Just like Google. It's built upon the search engine business and certainly it beats Yahoo! now. haha, but that's the mindset of an SME owner only. it won't help me to be a multi-billionaire. However, it'd be good enuf if I only want to seek financial freedom.

老師誤指抄作文資優生稱遭打壓

2007-05-04T10:11:00.000+08:00

(明報) 05月 04日星期五 05:10AM

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070503/12/26q3p.html

【明報專訊】「如果我有一道通往未來的門，我會去看人類是否和外星人交了朋友……」充滿想像力的文字，出自智商達137、年僅10歲的資優生王競㗖。競㗖以超乎其年齡的字詞及創意寫作，但老師卻
誤會他抄襲，半年來的冷言冷語及不公平對待，令他不想上學，更引致晚上尿床、怕黑，結果要轉校。

王先生昨日致電香港電台節目《千禧年代》，表示就讀五年級的兒子王競㗖，遭其早前就讀的北角區小學「打壓」，後來他在教統局總課程發展主任（資優教育）陳沛田協助下轉校，才開朗起來。本報昨日未能聯絡競㗖之前就讀的學校。

行文成熟被要求重寫

王先生說，競㗖年幼時被評為資優生，曾參與中文大學資優課程。去年10月，競㗖參加作文比賽，向中文老師提交的作文因行文成熟和內容豐富，被斷定是抄襲，要求另寫一篇。競㗖當時非常愕然，整個人呆了，感到很傷心。

王先生續說，有中大教授於網上搜尋，找不到類似競㗖所寫的文章，證明他沒有抄襲。王先生向學校投訴，但老師卻在同學面前對競㗖說︰「你老竇咁麻煩！」嚇得他不敢再告訴家人。此後半年，老師對競㗖態度冷淡，早前又指他的一篇文章不是作文，要「打回頭」。王先生不服，請教中大教授，教授說競㗖採用了新詩的寫作手法。

舉手答題遭忽視突然尿床

競㗖說，老師經常對他不瞅不睬，即使舉手也不叫他作答，又曾說︰「智商137，又點呀？」令他無心上課，成績從Ａ降至Ｃ，更突然出現尿床、怕黑、怕一個人的情況，他又請求父親不要再向學校投訴。後來他獲陳沛田協助，於兩周前轉校。

陳沛田說，他以私人身分幫助王競㗖，發生類似情況，轉校並非最佳選擇，因學童需要適應新環境及面對心理轉變。他指學校應好好處理類似事件，與家長商討如何辨別及教導資優生。

資優師訓不足易扼殺
聖方濟各英文小學有不少資優兒童，該校校長梁偉才說，一般教師缺乏資優教育培訓，無法辨別資優生，也缺乏處理其行為問題的能力，或會壓抑及扼殺資優生的創意。他建議教師接受專業培訓，多閱讀相關書籍。

How could we protect our children under Hong Kong education system?

A Photo Trove, a Mounting Challenge

2007-04-30T15:13:00.000+08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/business/10corbis.html?ei=5070&en=
f8bf6f586bc69304&ex=1178078400&pagewanted=all

Lisa Kyle for The New York Times

By KATIE HAFNER

Published: April 10, 2007

Corbis, started by Bill Gates in 1989, owns millions of images, some of them kept underground in a former limestone mine in rural Pennsylvania.

Correction Appended

In some sense, the iconic photograph of Rosa Parks recreating her quiet act of rebellion on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., belongs to every American. But as a practical matter, it belongs to Bill Gates.

Multimedia

Marilyn Monroe during the filming of “The Seven Year Itch.” More Photos »

Anyone wanting to use that image in a book or on a Web site must first license it from Corbis, a corporation founded and owned by Mr. Gates, who is better known for starting Microsoft. The photo is among the 11 million prints and negatives in the legendary Bettmann archive, which Corbis bought in 1995.

Since that first purchase, Corbis has spent tens of millions of dollars acquiring image collections and other companies, hired more than 1,000 people and set up two dozen offices worldwide. Although Corbis says it brings in some $250 million a year in sales, it has yet to turn a profit.

Now the company is shuffling its top executives as it takes on new challenges, building up a business in rights management and plotting its response to the rise of low-cost online photo services that threaten to undermine its lucrative stock photo sales.

The company plans to announce Tuesday that Gary Shenk, the president, is being made chief executive as well. Mr. Shenk, 36, is an expert in rights licensing who has risen rapidly through the Corbis ranks since he was hired in 2003 from Universal Studios, where he started a small licensing unit.

Steve Davis, 49, the departing chief executive, will continue as a senior adviser after 10 years of running the company.

The move into rights clearance, which involves sorting out the questions of who owns what material and how much they should be paid for its use, is a departure from the original vision for the company.

Mr. Gates started Corbis in 1989 with the idea that people would someday decorate their homes with a revolving display of digital artwork — interspersing, say, Stanley Tretick’s shot of John F. Kennedy Jr. playing under the desk in the Oval Office with photos of their own families at play.

That is not how things have worked out. But meanwhile Corbis has built up a formidable stash of historical photos, including those in the Bettmann Archive. In 1999, Corbis acquired the licensing rights to the Sygma collection in France, and two years ago it did the same with a German stock image company called Zefa. It licenses those images for an average of about $250 apiece.

Corbis also owns digital reproduction rights for art from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Gallery in London.

In all, Corbis represents or owns the rights to more than 100 million images, including some of the most famous photographs ever — Arthur Sasse’s photo of Einstein sticking his tongue out and Marilyn Monroe on the subway grate. And Corbis handles the licensing of millions of other images on behalf of thousands of photographers.

The archival photos bring in about half of Corbis’s sales, but the company also has a stable of professional photographers who generate stock photos for advertising and media clients — images of children on playgrounds, people sitting in business meetings and men in khakis swinging golf clubs.

Over the past few years, Corbis has moved beyond newspaper and magazine clients to pursue advertising and graphic design agencies, as well as corporate marketing departments, which are turning increasingly to high-quality stock photography rather than doing their own expensive photo shoots.

Those customers are also buying from Corbis’s growing library of 30,000 short video clips — mostly generic scenes of, say, people shopping or running down the beach.

What Corbis did not foresee was the rise of so-called microstock agencies like Fotolia and iStockPhoto. These sites take advantage of the phenomenon known as crowdsourcing, or turning to the online masses for free or low-cost submissions. Thousands of amateur and semiprofessional photographers armed with high-quality digital cameras and a copy of Photoshop contribute photographs to microstock sites, which often charge $1 to $5 an image.

Although the microstock business still represents a small fraction of the $2 billion market for stock photos, analysts say it is possible that low micropayment prices could take business away from the higher-priced images Corbis relies on for the bulk of its revenues.

“Think about how visual the world is,” said Barbara Coffey, a senior research analyst at Kaufman Brothers in New York who follows the stock photography market. “We have pictures on our cellphones. If I can get a reasonably clear picture and the rights are cleared and I pay $2 for it, then why would I pay Corbis $200?”

The rise of the microstock companies has been of particular concern to Corbis. For all its new lines of business, the company still gets some 88 percent of its revenues from image licenses, yet commands only about 11 percent of that market. Getty Images dominates the market with a 40 percent share.

Getty, which has grown quickly since its start in 1995 with the backing of its wealthy co-founder, Mark Getty, has a foothold in microstock thanks to iStockPhoto, which it bought last year for $50 million.

Mr. Shenk said Corbis would announce its plans for the microstock business sometime this quarter. As for the question of how a high-end company enters that business without cannibalizing its more expensive products, Mr. Shenk said the idea was to find a new kind of customer, people who would never envision buying pictures from a Corbis or Getty.

In that vein, Mr. Shenk said Corbis would make its service as easy to use as the iTunes store of Apple and hinted that Corbis would also be following the crowdsourcing model.

“More interesting and innovative things are happening on the pages of Flickr these days than on Corbis and Getty,” said Mr. Shenk, referring to the photo-sharing site owned by Yahoo. “If we can use this type of opportunity to find the next great group of Corbis photographers, that also makes it a great opportunity for us.”

Corbis is also betting heavily on its Creative Resources division, which includes rights services and recorded 44 percent growth in revenue last year, to $30.1 million.

Mr. Shenk, who will take over from Mr. Davis at the end of June, is most likely the biggest reason for that growth. When Mr. Shenk left Universal for Corbis in 2003, he took five people and an impressive Rolodex with him. Now nearly 30 Corbis employees work in rights clearance, in offices in Los Angeles, New York, Europe and Asia.

Mr. Shenk, a Hollywood veteran who is an expert in what he calls “new ways to sell media,” said he believed Corbis was offering something unique in building a worldwide network of rights experts. The business of rights clearance, he said, is often a matter of knowing whom to call, and the idea is to make Corbis the first place that comes to mind when, say, an advertising agency is trying to clear the rights to use an image, video clip, or song.

Such was the case when the band U2 made its most recent video, for “Window in the Skies,” which braided together some 100 clips of old stars like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, synched to the new song’s music and lyrics. Corbis helped the band’s production company negotiate a thicket of publicity rights.

Roughly one-third of Corbis’s 1,100 employees are in downtown Seattle, in an old bank building well suited to the company’s hip self-image. The vast, open, two-story space has retained several enormous vaults that once held gold bars and now serve as photocopy and office supply rooms. Conference rooms are named after famous photographers, and copies of their work cover many of the walls.

The Corbis photographs themselves are not stored in Seattle, except digitally on the computers there. And those digital images constitute only a small fraction of Corbis’s holdings. Of the 50 million items in the Sygma collection, just 800,000 have been digitized.

The prints and negatives from Otto L. Bettmann’s archive, as well as those from a few smaller collections, are kept 220 feet underground in a former limestone mine in rural Pennsylvania. In February, Corbis announced that it would be storing the Sygma collection in a preservation facility near Paris.

As ventures go, Corbis represents a small investment for Mr. Gates. He pays for large expenditures, and the company uses its revenues to cover smaller projects within the firm.

Mr. Gates’s involvement in the company is minimal. He spends only two to three hours each month meeting with Corbis management. Yet it is clear that he makes the big decisions. He has no interest, for example, in treating the undigitized portions of the image collections like one of his charities by, say, donating them to a public entity.

Despite the hands-off approach, Mr. Gates is apparently never far from the minds of Corbis employees. Mr. Shenk is in the process of relocating to Seattle from Los Angeles, and his sparsely decorated office in Seattle is evidence of the commuter life he has been leading. The only work of art in evidence one recent afternoon was on Mr. Shenk’s whiteboard, where a colleague had drawn the unmistakable likeness of Mr. Gates, peering out from behind his glasses.

“Keep up the good work, Shenk,” Mr. Gates says. “Or I’ll kill you.”

Correction: April 11, 2007

An article in Business Day yesterday about the photography licensing company Corbis misidentified the photographer who took a well-known photo of John F. Kennedy Jr. playing under his father’s desk in the Oval Office. It was Stanley Tretick — not Cecil Stoughton, who also shot pictures in the Kennedy White House.

五窮六絕七翻身

2007-04-30T11:18:00.000+08:00

Let's see whether its right this year!

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%94%E7%AA%AE%E5%85%AD%E7%B5%
95%E4%B8%83%E7%BF%BB%E8%BA%AB

五窮六絕七翻身

维基百科，自由的百科全书

跳转到：导航, 搜索

五窮六絕七翻身是香港股市在1980年代至1990年代的一個都市傳奇，是當時的經濟分析員在參考過歷年香港股市的升跌而得出的結論。結論指：股市在每逢5月的時候都會開始跌市，到了6月更會大跌，但到了7月，股市卻會起死回生。

由於這個「預言」在發表之後數年都繼續出現，使當時不少小股民都對這個傳說深信不疑。不過，到了1990年代的中後期，開始有人以各種方式來「預防」這現象。這些「預防措施」包括在踏入3月之前，把手上的高價股票賣出，並於6月之時大手購入各種低價的優質股票，結果使這個升跌周期不斷提早出現。

過了亞洲金融風暴之後，這個名詞已再沒有人提起。

五窮六絕七翻身亦被使用作形容香港電影票房，因為當時學生佔票房收入中很大的比例；由於五月正值舉行香港最大型的公開考試——香港中學會考，而六月更是各中小學年終考試的日子，所以電影票房亦隨之下跌。

而七月初考試完畢，七月中期暑假開始，學生開始外出活動，電影票房收入亦隨之增加。

嚴守止蝕

2007-04-30T01:10:00.000+08:00

I thought about putting this topic in blog but I gave up for a while 'cos 'm doing some other things. Yet when I MSNed with Anna we talked about this topic - then I know I should type it up here.

I discussed with mum about stock picking today and she just wonder why I bought 910 (China Grand Forest). She said even if you pick that, when it dropped, you'd better sell them and get them back later when its cheaper.

E.g. I bought 910 at 1.1 and if it dropped to 1 we'd just sell it. Then get it back at 0.8 or 0.9.

Of course it involved more commission and transaction costs but its a safer way to do so 'cos you never know how low it'd drop.

Maybe that's what Cho Yan Chiu always ask people to '嚴守止蝕'. I need to write it up to make this idea rooted in my investment philosophy.

That's Encouraging!

2007-04-28T00:59:00.000+08:00

Don't give up on your dreams; once you've cleared a path for them they are more likely to come true.

Provided by Astrocenter.com

2 additional tests for picking stocks

2007-04-25T01:55:00.000+08:00

Based on yesterday's Piotroski's 9-step tests, according to Harry Domash, 2 more tests are added:

#10) Total Liabilities/EBITDA: A gauge favoured by lenders, EBITDA measures a company's income before deducting for interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Credit Analysts believe that EBITDA best measures a company's ability to service its debt. Lenders believe so strongly in this gauge that they often require debtor companies to maintain a specified total debt/EBITDA ratio. Failure to maintain the required ratio allows that lenders to call their loans, meaning that they want their money immediately, an action that can drive a company into bankruptcy. Of course, lenders would do that only as a last resort, since bankruptcy means that they'll end up collecting only a fraction of the money owed. Ratios of seven to eight, or higher, typically give lenders the option of calling the loans.

Credit analysts also consider the ratio a measure of a company's credit quality. Companies with ratios below 5 are considered investment quality, and these companies can borrow funds at lower rates than firms with higher ratios.

Analysts and lenders' reliance on the total debt/EBITDA ratio makes it more important than any other single factor, so I've given it more weight. Companies with investment quality ratios of 5 or lower get one point. Ratios above 5 and below 8 get zero. Ratios of 8 or above signal extreme danger, and I deduct a point.

I substituted total liabilities for total debt to ensure that the test considers all debt. Making that change does not significantly change the ratio values for most firms.

#11) Total Liabilities to Operating Cash Flow: I added this test to differentiate firms that generate significant cash flows compared to their liabilities (cash flow at least 25 percent of total liabilities) and are in little danger of insolvency as long as that condition persists. Add one point if the TL/OCF ratio is less than 4.

May be I should talk about the background of Piotroski's test. Piotroski is an accounting professor at the University of Chicago and in the early 1990s he had done a landmark study. He found that although the value portfolio outperformed the growth portfolio, it is not all the value stocks outperformed but just a few of them among the portfolio. More value stocks actually underperformed the market than outperformed. Piotroski wondered what's the relevance of a strategy that 'relies on the strong performance of a few firms, while tolerating the poor performance of many deteriorating companies'.

However, according to Mr Domash, these tests, even with the 2 tests he himself added, would break down when applied to very low-debt firms. Sometimes it gives failing scores to very strong companies that recently reported negative cash flow and earnings. So this detailed fiscal health exam should only be applied to high-debt firms (TL/E ratios of 0.5 or higher)

Reference: Fire Your Stock Analyst! Harry Domash, FT Prentice Hall, 2006, ISBN 0-13-935332-9

Piotroski's 9-step method of picking stocks

2007-04-24T01:32:00.000+08:00

#1) Positive Net Income: Net income, the bottom line after-tax profits, is the simplest measure of profitability. Companies with positive net income are, by definition, profitable. You can use Morningstar’s Five-Year Financials report lists net income going back five years. Get there by selecting “5-Yr Financials” from the Financials dropdown menu. Add one point if the trailing twelve months (TTM) net income is positive, and zero if not.

#2) Positive Cash Flow: Cash flow is arguably a better profitability measure than net income. Cash flow measures the money that actually moved into or out of a firm’s bank accounts. By contrast, net income results from a variety of subjective accounting decisions, such as how fast to depreciate assets. Morningstar lists operating cash flow just a few lines below net income on the Five-Year Financials report. Add one point if the trailing twelve months (TTM) operating cash flow is positive.

#3) Earnings Quality: Many experts compare net income to operating cash flow to detect potential accounting shenanigans. Cash flow normally exceeds net income because depreciation and other non-cash expenses reduce income, but not cash flow. The reverse condition, when net income exceeds cash flow, signals possible accounting mischief. Award one point if the TTM operating cash flow exceeds the TTM net income.

#4) Decreasing Debt: Piotroski rewards companies that are reducing their debt levels. He uses “financial leverage,” which is total debt divided by its total assets, to quantify debt. You can find financial leverage on Morningstar by selecting Stock Grades on the Snapshot dropdown menu. Award one point if the most recent annual figure is less than the year-ago value.

#5) Increasing Working Capital: Working capital, the difference between current assets and current liabilities, measures the cash available to run the business. Piotroski prefers stocks with increasing working capital. Current ratio, which is current assets divided by current liabilities, is the usual metric for expressing working capital. Morningstar’s Stock Grades report displays the current ratio going back five years. Award one point if the most recent annual figure exceeds the year-earlier number.

#6) Improving Productivity: Piotroski uses asset turnover, which is revenues divided by total assets, to measure productivity (higher is better). You’ll find it the Profitability section of the Financial Grades report. Award one point if the most recent annual asset turnover exceeds the year-ago figure.

#7) Growing Profitability: In contrast to asset turnover, which gauges how well a firm employs its assets to generate sales, return on assets (ROA) measures overall profitability by comparing net income to total assets (net income divided by total assets). Morningstar lists ROA in the same section as asset turnover. Award one point if the most recent annual ROA exceeds the year-ago figure.

Switch to Hoover’s (www.hoovers.com) to obtain the data for the final two tests.

Switch to Hoover's
#8) Issuing Stock: Piotroski prefers companies that do not need to issue more stock to raise capital or to fund acquisitions. From Hoover’s homepage, enter the company name and then click on Financials. Award one point if the most recent number of total shares outstanding is equal to, or less than, the year-ago figure.

#9) Competitive Position: Increasing competition often forces companies to cut prices, and hence profit margins, to maintain sales. Conversely, rising profit margins may signal can an improving competitive position. Piotroski uses gross margin, the profit a firm makes before considering overhead, to gauge the competitive environment. Hoover’s Financials report lists the gross margins. Award one point if the most recent quarter’s gross margin (Gross Profit Margin) exceeds the year ago number.

http://www.winninginvesting.com/best_busted_stocks.htm

Lawyers might need to be jailed 'cos they are defending for the clients?

2007-04-22T00:15:00.000+08:00

莫少平指出，中國律師多不願為刑事案辯護，是因為中國法治並不公平，加上中國一些刑法條文不清晰，以致律師在庭上為當事人辯護或蒐證時，往往成為被告。

The crucial part is the Criminal Law of the PRC:

第三百零六条　【辩护人、诉讼代理人毁灭证据、伪造证据、妨害作证罪】在刑事诉讼中，辩护人、诉讼代理人毁灭、伪造证据，帮助当事人毁灭、伪造证据，威胁、引诱证人违背事实改变证言或者作伪证的，处三年以下有期徒刑或者拘役；情节严重的，处三年以上七年以下有期徒刑。辩护人、诉讼代理人提供、出示、引用的证人证言或者其他证据失实，不是有意伪造的，不属于伪造证据。 (http://law.chinalawinfo.com/newlaw2002/slc/SLC.asp?Db=chl&Gid=17010)

To read more about its 'application', we'd check this website. The story is quite interesting:

《律政之王》
http://www.yaabo.com/htm/4/1505/135109.html

內地維權律師未能赴港開會
(明報) 04月 21日星期六 08:55PM

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070421/12/25zy5.html

多位中國法律學者未能出席在香港舉行的一項有關中國維權律師境況的研討會。

由香港大學比較法及公法研究中心、中國維權律師關注組合辦的「中國維權律師與法治」研討會，今天在港大舉行。

中央社報道，主辦單位說，多位先前答應來港的中國法律學者突然不能與會。

原先應邀出席但臨時不能來港與會的中國學者包括中國律師協會刑事專業委員會主任田文昌、武漢大學法學院講師張萬洪、重慶周立太律師事務所主任周立太、中國政法大學法學院講師滕彪。

港大法律學院院長陳文敏致開幕辭時指出，研討會原本有六位中國法津學者專家答應參加的，但今天只有北京維權律師莫少平及中國郵電大學文法經濟學院講師許志永與會。

對於兩人與會，陳文敏說：「他們真是鼓起了很大的勇氣才能到港。」

陳文敏說，日前接獲一名答應出席的中國法律學者來信指出，不能來港的原因，是因為中國當局認為這項研討會是由反共組織舉辦，因此受壓不能來港。

在會上，莫少平就「中國刑事辯護律師面對的危險與機會」主題發表演講。他表示，在中國當刑事辯護律師很危險，風險也大，加上沒有什麼利潤可言，很多律師都不願接手處理刑事案件，寧願選擇其他類型案件。

莫少平指出，中國律師多不願為刑事案辯護，是因為中國法治並不公平，加上中國一些刑法條文不清晰，以致律師在庭上為當事人辯護或蒐證時，往往成為被告。

莫少平特別建議中國當局廢除中國刑法第三零六條，以及成立律師協會，監管律師運作，這樣才能使中國走向法治，減少中國刑事辯護律師被判刑的機會。

中文大學亞太研究所中國法制研究計劃研究員王友金說，根據統計，目前約有五百名中國律師被當局囚禁或判刑。

他說：「在一個國家有這麼多律師被判刑是很恐怖的事情。」

他指出，中國有十三億人口，但截至二零零六年為止，刑事辯護律師只有十一萬八千人，與美國現有七十萬名律師比較，是小巫見大巫，也反映出中國民眾在遇到問題時，非常缺乏資源。

出席研討會的香港法律學者專家還有港大法律學院教授陳弘毅、中國維律師關注組主席兼立法會議員何俊仁、港大法律學院副教授傅華伶等。

此外，剛抵港的中國民運人士任畹町及香港前線召集人兼立法會議員劉慧卿等民主派人士約一百人，也出席了研討會。

Is it a good sign?

2007-04-18T09:45:00.000+08:00

I read it from SCMP today. ahmm - probably I'd link it to the article I posted on blog yesterday.

Dissident to research HK democracy during visit to city
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZARGIBK0F.html

GARY CHEUNG and FOX YI HU

Chen Ziming

Hong Kong's democratic development will feature in mainland dissident Chen Ziming's new book on the history of China's democratic movements in the past century.

The leading pro-democracy activist, branded a "black hand" organiser of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest, has been allowed to visit Hong Kong for two weeks.

Mr Chen, who is making his first visit, says vindication of the movement in 1989 remains one of the major aims for many mainlanders.

During his stay, Mr Chen will gather information for his book and give a lecture at Chinese University before leaving on Monday.

A chapter will focus on Hong Kong's democratic movement and the development of party politics in the city, while another chapter will feature Taiwan's path to democracy.

Mr Chen, 55, was arrested in October 1989, four months after the Tiananmen Square crackdown, and jailed for 13 years for "counter-revolutionary activities". He was given medical parole in 1994 but sent back to jail a year later after joining calls for Beijing to release political prisoners.

He was paroled again in 1996 but placed under house arrest until he completed his sentence in 2002. He was then deprived of his political rights for four years.

Today, four police officers live in a rented apartment facing his home, he said.

Mr Chen has met Civic Party chairman Kuan Hsin-chi, who is also director of the Universities Service Centre for China Studies under Chinese University.

Professor Kuan briefed Mr Chen, who was invited by the centre to visit for academic exchanges, about the latest developments in the party.

"The stay is too short and I barely have time to meet other politicians," said Mr Chen, who is scheduled to give a lecture on the Anti-rightist Movement on Monday.

He arrived with his wife under the Individual Traveller Scheme, which only allows them to stay for two seven-day periods. The couple have visited Victoria Harbour but had no time for further sightseeing.

Mr Chen said Hong Kong's political reform was an important part of the history of democratic development in China. "I hope Hong Kong can serve as a pioneer of China's democratic development," he said. "The mainland can draw from its valuable experience in political reforms and the building of a democratic system."

He said China's integration with the rest of the world was creating greater needs and momentum for its democratisation.

"Democracy has gradually become a need not only for the Chinese people but also the state leaders," he said. "In an attempt to be part of the international community, China has to make itself a normal country with a democratic system."

Apart from writing the book, Mr Chen devotes much of his time to research work at the Beijing Social and Economic Research Institute.

The private think-tank's website is blocked from most mainland internet users.

2 Good Read from Web

2007-04-17T16:31:00.000+08:00

Just read 2 articles from web recommended by ESWN website.
Very different though.

I'd write my comments in the coming days:

李瑞环谈民主改革:防止奴才庸才掌权

被辞警察吴幼明的另类人生

李瑞环谈民主改革:防止奴才庸才掌权
http://news.163.com/07/0412/10/3BSEDE9H00011SM9.html

2007-04-12 10:30:21　来源: 南方报业(广州)　网友评论 140 条进入论坛

　　4月10日，李瑞环新书《辩证法随谈》面世。一年半前，李瑞环出版了哲学著作《学哲学·用哲学》有不俗市场表现。此次《辩证法随谈》延续上部书的哲学主题：处处都有辩证法。哲学、辩证法在李瑞环嘴里往往变得深入浅出。谈到敏感问题，李瑞环往往有神来之笔。

《辩证法随谈》涉及改革、开放、民主、领导作风、舆论宣传等改革年代的热点话题，可以看出作者在当时的所思所想。由于对国情有较多了解，对时局有较深感悟，经多年锤炼，造就了独特的“李氏风格”——

否定民主对社会发展的进步作用，对民主政治建设不积极不热心是错误的。不顾我国具体国情，照抄照搬西方民主模式是危险的。把发展民主看得过于简单，急于求成是会误事的。看不到我国民主政治建设所取得的成就，对前景缺乏信心是没有根据的

有那么一小部分人，在领导面前是奴才，干起工作来是庸才，一切活动为了升官发财，一旦掌权就搞独裁。我们必须防止这种人投机上来

掌声、歌颂未必真帮忙，批评、反对不是都添乱

认为自己凡事都能说明白的人，这个人常常是不明白。若干人就是因为老认为自己什么都明白，最后做了很多糊涂事，这叫做“假明白真糊涂”

《南方周末》记者赵蕾

改革、发展：废棋比臭棋损失还大

下了高棋得意，下了臭棋生气，下了废棋不在意，其实废棋有时比臭棋损失还大，它耽误了许多时间和机遇。回想一下，建国以来我们下了多少废棋！

（摘自１９８１年７月学习《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》时的发言）

夏天有苍蝇、蚊子，但夏天能长出我们所必需的粮食和各种作物；冬天虽然少一些害虫，但冬天也不长庄稼，因此，谁也不会希望总是过冬天。

（摘自１９９５年６月２２日会见巴西总统卡多佐时的谈话）

改革过程中总会伴有阵痛，但必须是在阵痛之后变成不痛，而不能越来越痛。

（摘自１９８８年５月１１日在天津市党员领导干部会议上的讲话）

有些人形成了一个习惯，对任何事情都要先定性，先问是社会主义还是资本主义。我讲过，先生孩子后起名。孩子生下来，先起个小名，这小名不讲究，叫阿猫、阿狗、铁蛋都可以，关键的问题是孩子要养得好，要结实，要聪明，要有本事。

（摘自１９９８年４月１７日同温州市领导和企业界人士座谈时的讲话　

在社会主义初级阶段，对于某些资本主义因素和形式，不能采取完全排斥的态度，也没有必要“犹抱琵琶半遮面”，非要贴上社会主义的标签才敢用。凡是适应当前生产力发展的，就应该允许存在，这不会改变我们国家的社会主义性质。

（摘自１９８７年６月２７日在天津市党代表会议上的讲话）

主张开放是马克思主义的应有之义，否认开放不是真正的马克思主义。对中国人来讲，马克思主义本身就是从外国引进来的。

（摘自１９８９年１０月３０日会见美国前总统尼克松时的谈话）

民主：存在不同意见是正常的

否定民主对社会发展的进步作用，对民主政治建设不积极不热心是错误的。不顾我国具体国情，照抄照搬西方民主模式是危险的。把发展民主看得过于简单，急于求成是会误事的。看不到我国民主政治建设所取得的成就，对前景缺乏信心是没有根据的。

（摘自１９９９年３月１１日在地方政协主席座谈会上的讲话）

真实、全面、及时地弄清群众在想什么，并不容易。如果没有民主、和谐的气氛，就不容易听到真话；如果缺乏闻过则喜的胸怀，就不容易听进真话；如果对听到的情况不作科学的综合分析，就不容易抓住事物的本质和主流。

（摘自１９９１年３月１７日在重庆市考察关于加强思想政治工作时的谈话）

听群众意见要真心真意。要找确有意见并敢于提意见的人而不是一味说奉承话的人；给别人以说话的机会而不要让人把话憋在肚子里；有闻过则喜的胸怀，对待提意见的人不是反感而是感激，把能听到不同意见当作莫大的好事。

（摘自２０００年２月２４日听取浙江省委、省政府工作汇报时的讲话　

履行程序需要花费时间和精力，是有一些“麻烦”，但它是民主权利的体现，也是集思广益的过程，添了一些小“麻烦”，可以减少决策失误导致的大“麻烦”。

（摘自１９９５年６月５日在政协第八届全国委员会常务委员会第十三次会议上的讲话）

贯彻民主集中制，笼而统之地讲是不行的。有的地方本来就没有什么民主，你还去解决集中不够，那更是一个人说了算了；有的地方本来就集中不起来，你还去解决民主不够，那就更是谁说了也不算了。

（摘自１９９４年１０月１９日听取贵州省委、省政府工作汇报时的讲话）

存在不同意见是正常的，有不同就需要协商。如果只有一个人的脑袋发挥作用，只依靠一个人的聪明智慧，没有不犯错误的。

（摘自１９９８年１１月８日听取福建省委、省政府工作汇报时的讲话）

被辞警察吴幼明的另类人生
南方周末　　2007-04-12 15:48:48

http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20070412/xw/rw/200704120019.asp

　　被辞警察吴幼明的另类人生
　　我就是个小人物，不是什么英雄。我说真话仅仅出于一个警察的良知
　　
　　□本报记者　张悦
　　
　　被黄石市公安局辞退———这是他早已猜到的结局。
　　得到通知的吴幼明一声不吭地掏出警官证，放在桌上。圆桌对面是市局政治部的领导。领导问：吴幼明，你还有什么话要说？他答：没有。
　　这是3月16日发生在湖北省黄石市西塞山区公安分局政治部办公室的一幕。
　　
　　祸起民间刊物　
　　黄石市公安局辞退吴幼明的理由是，吴非法经营刊物《水沫》，并从中盈利。
　　吴幼明否认他从中谋利：“我花3万多元做《水沫》，卖了1620元。他们说只要卖一本书也是营利性的经营，我无话可说。”
　　《水沫》可以说是吴幼明一个人的刊物，他身兼约稿、编辑和校对。这本已创办6年的杂志在被黄石市新闻出版局确认为非法出版物之前，曾多次被当地报纸、电视台、电台正面报道，那时对《水沫》的提法是“民间刊物”。而此时，吴幼明文学梦想的寄托成为其被清除出警察队伍的证据。
　　而事实上，除了创办民间刊物，吴幼明还做了很多警察没有做的事，多年来，他在网上发表揭露警队体制弊端帖子包括：《交警为什么都热爱罚款》、《罚款任务猛如虎》、《死人不销户，活人难上户》等，今年“两会”之前，他响应全国政协常委任玉岭反映公安截访问题的提案，写就《基层民警向两会进一言：政府行为中应该禁止截访行为》一文。“两会”结束的那天，他接到了辞退通知。
　　吴幼明坦言：“我是警察的叛徒。”身为警察，领导认为他不该在网上公布当地公安系统内部的一些“秘密”。
　　“第一次在网上发帖子的时候我就做好了最坏的打算。”他说，自从他执拗地决定听凭内心的良知而非警队的纪律处事之后，他离预先埋伏在他命运里的这个结局就越来越近。
　　对此，黄石市公安局政治部副主任张立新否认存在这种“埋伏”，他表示这是市局党委会议决定的，完全是按照有关规定。
　　
　　爱哭的警察
　　被辞退的那天中午，派出所用车把他送回了家，最多的行李是书。
　　妻子周丽开始收拾东西，吴幼明就一直呆坐在沙发上。两个小时后，当周丽忙完坐到他的身边，吴幼明突然抽泣起来。哭完，坐在电脑旁，开始写《一个被辞退民警的自白》。一边哭，一边敲字。
　　这样的痛哭间歇性地持续了好几天。他说这不是为自己哭泣：“我一想到父母就忍不住哭，我严重对不起他们。”
　　后来他想通了：我是对不起父母，但不能为父母高兴就让自己痛苦一辈子。
　　担心父母受刺激，他打算过一年半载再告诉他们。可他的妹妹在看了他的博客后马上就跟父母说了。第二天，母子见面时他又抱着母亲号啕不止。“也好，我心里压力就没了。”
　　《自白》发在博客上，很快，有网友发帖声援他，支持他的电话和短信也络绎不绝。有不少是外地的警察，他们告诉他：“你不孤单！”吴幼明忍不住又泪流满面。妻子周丽在一旁，不住地用纸巾给他擦眼泪。
　　在周丽和朋友们印象里，吴幼明始终是个爱哭的人。3月7日，吴幼明来到特困户袁茂林的书店，这个书店已经被拆迁，袁给他看一份要求城管允许其摆摊的求助信。吴幼明答应帮他复印。在去复印的路上，他看着那份求助信就哭了。
　　他看书时经常“泪”透纸背，比如看《往事并不如烟》。连看“超女”比赛的时候，每每有人泪别舞台，他也别一场哭一场。如今，他也被自己原来的舞台抛弃了。习惯于在别人的故事中触景伤情的他，终于为自己的角色流泪。
　　这份干了13年的工作突然间没有了，尽管有心理准备，当这一天真的到来的时候，吴幼明还是一片茫然。他花了好多天时间才适应每天早上醒来不用上班的生活。
　　这时，33岁的吴幼明像个搞艺术的大男孩，每天画画，写作。从此，这对夫妻，这两个无业文艺青年的人生也不再像小城的其他人那么整齐划一。
　　张立新评论吴幼明半路进入公安系统的，没有受过专业训练，至少从他一拐一拐的走路姿势和肆无忌惮的语言来说，吴确实不像个警察。
　　父亲吴业权担心他还会“出事”，给他打来电话：你再也不要写什么东西了！农民出身的吴业权通过自己的奋斗成为一名小官僚。
　　“我父亲在我20岁的时候就把我送去当警察，在他眼里我混了十几年混成现在这个样子，太失败了。”
　　
　　从积极分子到“反抗者”
　　吴幼明从小就不让吴业权省心。
　　这位上千册哲学、文学和艺术书籍的拥有者并没有读过大学。“高中我都不想读，是我爸强迫我读。他属于那种主流的想法，标准就是入党、升官，当个领导，还有就是发财。”
　　1991年吴幼明高中毕业，父亲托人把他安排在城管队工作。
　　在一次“执法”中，他的同事将一位农妇放在地上出售的一篮子鸡蛋踩碎，蛋清流了一地，农妇号啕大哭。他认为这样的“执法”行为太过野蛮，两个月后就洗手不干了。
　　父亲又“安排”他进入自己的单位，“1993、1994年就拿着400块的高工资，几天不上班也没人管。”那时，他还迷恋“老虎机”(赌博游戏机)。
　　1994年，黄石成立巡警队，吴业权把他送了过去。孝顺的吴幼明遂了父亲的意愿，后来还通过自修取得大专文凭，算是弥补了父亲的遗憾。
　　在上世纪末，罚款是警队收入的一个来源。为了争取表现，吴幼明一大早就出去巡街，每天都能收到一百多元的罚款，1500元／月的任务经常能超额完成，还有10％的奖励。他成为单位的创收骨干，“每个月不仅自己完成任务，还时常帮助别的同事完成”。
　　那个时候，吴幼明和派出所的领导称兄道弟，也积极汇报思想，“向组织靠拢”。彼时吴幼明对工作和为人处事驾轻就熟，很快就因表现出色被嘉奖了一台1400元的精英型汉字传呼机和一辆供上下班使用的摩托车。警校的同学羡慕不已，吴幼明内心充满了成就感。
　　当时所里的一大财源是跨辖区抓嫖。在离所不远的大泉路上，因人烟稀少，经常有人将车停在路边行“好事”。这其中有卖淫嫖娼的，也有一些搞婚外恋者，他们不问青红皂白一律抓回所内，按卖淫嫖娼处理。
　　有一次他抓获一个嫖客，对方冲他顶了一句，“你说我嫖娼我就嫖娼了啊？”话音刚落，那人已被踹飞了出去。
　　回忆过往的经历，吴幼明说，我也曾经是完成罚款任务的积极分子，我也曾经打人，同我批评的现象相比较，我没有任何道德优势。
　　从积极分子到“反抗者”的转变也是那几年中潜移默化发生的。吴幼明习惯了每天带一本书上班的生活，没事的时候就翻。看的书越多，思考也越深。“看《甘地自传》，我明白人要按照自己的想法做事，要有承担。”
　　当2007年3月16日，手中的书换成了《亚科卡自传》时，该有所“承担”的那一天终于来了。
　　
　　“你第一次当民警吗？”
　　2003年11月调入交警黄石港大队后，随着任务量的上调，吴幼明开始“不合作”，先是不完成任务，到后来，干脆拒不执行。
　　有一次，他拿着雷达测速仪在街上测速，一辆特殊牌照的车在他面前直接冲过去，理都不理他的停车示意。他火了：“罚款基本是针对出租车和货车司机，有的车却罚不了，跑车拉活的也很不容易，仅仅针对弱者，不是一种掠夺吗？”
　　在一次大队会议上，矛盾首次公开化。会议宣布要扣吴幼明等几个没有完成任务的交警的工资，吴幼明当场表示反对：“如果要扣钱请给我一张收据，我拿去告你。”
　　大队长显然没有被下属这样顶撞的日常经验，“你第一次当民警吗？”他当着全队成员的面拍桌怒斥吴幼明。
　　随后的半年里，吴幼明的罚款记录一直排在最后，先后被扣了803元，矛盾愈深。此后，他被调到支队交管科，“负责带临时工安装护栏，刷油漆”。
　　2005年12月21日，吴幼明将这一封反映情况的信送到黄石市公安局局长办公室，当天下午，交管科长通知他，明天到西塞山公安分局上班。
　　这封信就是后来轰动网络的《交警为什么热爱罚款》。在吴幼明发帖后的第23天，大队补发了他803元的扣款。当天，他在日记本里写道：参警12年来，我目睹了众多不合理因素和问题，如果现在还不公开向社会正视这些问题，解决的那天可能永远不会到来。
　　2005年12月22日，吴幼明到西塞山分局政治处报到，得知自己被分配到西塞派出所。西塞在黄石市郊的乡村，从他家骑摩托车到西塞派出所要半个多小时，几乎穿越整个黄石市区，同事们戏称他被“发配边疆”。
　　2006年2月20日，吴幼明被安排到更偏远的风波港村，在那里当管片民警的经历，被他写成了《死人不销户，活人难上户》的帖子，探讨户籍管理混乱的原因和危害，并举例说明仅风波港村就有46名死者未销户，34名居民未上户。
　　风波港村的户口问题很快得到了处理，而他又被调动工作。吴幼明被辞退前，在当地一家化工厂的警务处上班。
　　整个警务处就他一个人，“工作跟保安没区别”。
　　
　　“我也是一个童话”
　　吴幼明把自己比喻为警队里的刹车装置，虽远不及引擎重要，但却能避免事故危险。张立新却说他不是个好警察。吴幼明对此不以为然：“我是个优秀的警察。你去问问我工作过的地方，我牛不牛？”
　　市局的一位民警表示对此不作价值判断，只是说，他这样的警察是少数，个别现象。不少当地警察觉得，像吴幼明这样的警察早该被辞退了。“也有不少人对这个事情有点幸灾乐祸。”他的前同事说。
　　和吴幼明同时加入交警队的一位同事说，跟吴幼明在一起什么人的车都敢罚，领导打电话来说情，他就是不接。
　　摆书摊时认识吴幼明的小商贩袁茂林说，如果按照正义、公正的原则来评判一个警察的好坏，那么吴幼明肯定是个好警察。“我很难过，这么好一个警察被辞退了。”
　　在吴幼明曾经当过管片民警的偏远的风波港村。村主任冯北芳告诉记者：小吴工作非常不错，很有责任心，经常看到他骑着自行车走家串户的。
　　村口正坤平价超市的老板娘程全英还等着吴幼明把身份证送到她的手里，她对吴的评价是“实在，为群众着想，比以前的管段民警好太多了”。
　　吴幼明承认13年的警察生涯给他一生打下了抹不去的烙印，上网一看到警察的新闻，还会去关注，他说要跟警队“相忘于江湖”。
　　在电影《黄石大道》里，吴幼明饰演男主角。导演卫铁说我们并不想找英俊小生来塑造一个英雄形象，你就演你自己。影片讲述了一个小城市交警的日常生活，他的工作、爱情、友谊、苦闷还有幻想。“我演的这个普通小人物，在人海中茫然的失落沉浮，他的感情和坚持似乎也没有意义。”
　　“我就是个小人物，不是什么英雄。我说真话仅仅出于一个警察的良知。我不会去做抛头颅洒热血的事。”吴幼明说，我这样的人能够长期存在，说明公安队伍对我已经仁至义尽，体制对我很宽容，我对体制也充满希望。
　　吴幼明被辞退后几天的生活被艾未未拍进了纪录片《童话》，回顾他13年的警察经历，他说，“我也是一个童话。”
　　

　　前警察吴幼明，33岁的大男孩　　郎清湘／图

[Quote]: 網絡實名要小心

2007-04-13T10:43:00.000+08:00

http://moliuology.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=527136

Originally uploaded by R80o.

在網上公開自己的個人身份，例如在Blog 中寫下名字，以常用的e-mail 或網名去開設網誌、相簿等等。很多人可能會認為，這些行為無傷大雅，所以根本沒有為意，在不知不覺中就做了。但其實，在網上公開得太多，會很容易被人「起底」、將你調查得一清二楚。

近日有兩單新聞，都是關於在網上使用個人身份的。

第一宗是關於求職的。報導指，英國有25% 的老闆，會在面試之前在網上搜尋求職者的Blog。當中亦有提及，真的有求職者因為在Blog 上批評自己的前老闆，結果在新工作面試因此而失敗。如果你應徵的是文字工作，但Blog 上卻充滿了口語和火星文的話，你又認為自己的機會有多大？

第二宗是關於求偶的。報導指，美國近年流行在約會前，用Google 搜尋一下對方的資料。看看他的Blog 或相片之類。除了日常日活之外，最想知道的應該是外表吧。例如報導指，有女士在網上找到約會對象自拍的出浴裸照後，立即取消了約會。

不過，網上身份到底要如何確認呢？假若你的名字實在太普通，陳大文或John Smith 等等的話，隨時在網上找到的根本不是你，因為這些張冠李戴的搜尋結果，而失去面試、約會機會，的確可悲。況且，就算在網上找到真正的你，單憑一個Blog、一張相又怎能全面認識？

當你知道世界上真的會有無聊人，在搜尋器輸入人名找尋結果，你又會否隨便公開名字？又或者，每寫一篇文、每留一個言時也要思前想後？越走和web2.0，個人身份越在網上抬頭，在網絡上可能比行在街上更易洩露你的私隱。

「Big Brother is watching you」

將軍澳厚德街市

2007-04-13T10:12:00.000+08:00

I've read HKEJ lately and they mentioned a rumour that LSD - 社會民主連線 (League of Social Democrats) is supporting Mr Tsang indirectly. Well. If its true, I have the following thought in my mind about the Tseung Kwan O Hau Tak market (將軍澳厚德街市) incident.

Its true that LegCo members and District Councilors need to obtain support from the voters before the election, but I do feel that there could be some conspiracies behind.

I haven't done any research on it yet but its just my impression.

Would it be that the Govt is losing the control of the Link REIT and they want to regain it without being accused of controlling the market? So they are trying to initiate some activities which strengthen the political risks of the Link REIT and scare TCI away ('cos if the risks increase and the return is not satisfactory, they might just leave?)

I guess Mr Tsang would do nothing at this stage and he'd just say the Govt could hardly control it because it could not control the market. I do not think the Govt would also be actively participating in solving the problems for Hau Tak market petitioners. But troubles against the Link REIT would be coming.

Mr Darcy was autistic?

2007-04-10T10:40:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I'd think the analysis of horoscopic sign of fictitious characters is quite absurd. Probably the academics do those analysis are its just for fun or for gaining reputation. Or if they are doing it in good faith, it could be good being the material for social education of some specific items, like those brain disorder stuff in this news from the Daily Telegraph.

But - are there that many diseases that we need to cure on earth?
Anyway. Pay attention to the Asperger's Syndrome. Probably I have that as well. :p

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/07/ndarcy07.xml

Why Mr Darcy was the strong but silent type

By Graeme Paton

Last Updated: 12:44am BST 07/04/2007

He is the handsome bachelor whose strong but silent demeanour has sent women's hearts fluttering for generations.


	Mr Darcy, played by Colin Firth, set hearts fluttering

But one academic thinks she has found the reason for Mr Darcy's tight-lipped manner - he was autistic.

A book claims that the hero of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice suffered from the brain disorder that affects communication and interaction skills.

The text also suggests that Mr Collins, the clergyman, was a sufferer and Lydia Bennet had attention deficit disorder.

Phyllis Ferguson Bottomer, a speech pathologist in Canada, analyses eight characters from Austen's classic novel, in a book that teachers are being encouraged to use to liven up GCSE English lessons.

She argues that five characters from the Bennet family, and three from the Fitzwilliam clan, have fundamental difficulties with communication and empathy. It provides an explanation for some characters' awkward behaviour at crowded balls, their frequent silences or the tendency to lapse into monologues rather than truly converse with others, she said.

Mr Darcy's "unaccountable rudeness" can be blamed on "high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome", which Austen wrote about without knowing what it was, it is claimed.

In her book, So Odd a Mixture, Miss Bottomer quotes Austen's description of Mr Collins - "awkward and solemn, apologising instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it".

The author says it epitomises "some of the co-ordination problems those on the autistic spectrum can have". Mr and Mrs Bennet, the squabbling couple, are also said to be sufferers. Lydia, the heroine's younger sister, is also described as having attention deficit disorder after she runs off with Mr Wickham.

Miss Bottomer told the Times Educational Supplement: "I hope it will help people understand the sometimes subtle challenges faced by those on the mild end of the autistic spectrum and serve as a reminder not to judge too quickly."

The book, which the publishers hope will be used to provoke debate in schools, was dismissed by the National Association for the Teaching of English as "wonderfully absurd".

Miss Bottomer's conclusions came as it emerged that the number of A-level set texts will increase from eight to 12 under plans to make English literature exams more demanding.

Students will also have to analyse the cultural and political context of books in greater depth.

New works will include F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust and poetry by Wilfred Owen.

Check it out

2007-04-06T20:56:00.000+08:00

Check it out carefully and see what's so different that I post this pic here before your click the link beneath ('cos when you click the link you'd know why):

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070405/12/251tf.html

直播臭芝士發酵 80萬網民爭看

2007-04-04T00:12:00.000+08:00

Its really amazing! Very post-modern. I just don't know why people would do it! You'd have a screen shot of it. It'd be a video but it seems that its a pic on the page - 'cos everything's static.

(明報) 04月 03日星期二 05:10AM

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070402/12/24vl5.html

【明報專訊】僅3個月大的「他」，黃皮膚中帶點藍黑色的「皺紋」，散發近似臭襪味的體臭，但「他」可能是英國有史以來最不可思議的網上明星。單在最近數日，專誠上網欣賞「他」的擁躉由40萬人次激增至80萬！

暗戀者寄情人卡示愛

更出乎意料的是，人們都只在家中目不轉睛地盯他一動不動的樣子已覺心滿意足。但來自瑞典、澳洲及新西蘭的「粉絲」卻忍住不給「他」寫情信傾訴。一班來自美國的女學生更是像收看連續劇一樣，每日定時觀看，並以電郵支持「他」。一名害羞的「暗戀者」更寄情人卡給「他」。

「他」是何方神聖？「他」就是重50磅、直徑達15吋的大芝士！現時，每分鐘都有逾100人登上網頁看其發酵。

「他」的主人湯姆對他寵愛有加，頭兩個月內每周都為芝士掃塵。這芝士明星要保存在氣溫為10℃及濕度達92％的倉庫內，目的就是要讓細菌慢慢生長，直至聖誕節，令他成為「舉世滋味」的芝士王，屆時身價最少值5700 港元。有意一睹可看網站 http://www.cheddarvision.tv。

每日郵報

Why a pet in Paris could be the perfect tax dodge

2007-04-02T10:25:00.000+08:00

Holly Watt and Robert Winnett

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/
property/overseas/article1596764.ece

AFTER Turkish lira, oriental rugs and gold bars, the latest dodge for the wealthy seeking to avoid paying tax is to buy a pet abroad.

HSBC, Britain’s biggest bank, hosted a seminar in London last week at which millionaires were advised that keeping a pet at an overseas property is one of the best ways for them to convince tax inspectors that they do not live in the UK.

It coincides with a boom in the number of Britons claiming that they are “nonresident” in this country for tax purposes. According to HM Revenue & Customs, the number has quadrupled from 33,000 to 135,000 over the past four years.

There has also been a sharp rise over the same period in the number of so-called “nondom residents” – those born abroad who are now living in Britain – from 65,000 to 112,000.

HSBC, in conjunction with Baker & McKenzie, the multi-national legal firm, hosted the private seminar at the Hyatt Regency, a five-star London hotel, to advise the wealthy on how to avoid a clampdown by the authorities.

It was during this seminar, attended by a Sunday Times reporter, that the unconventional advice about buying a pet was dispensed.

According to the advisers, the key for the wealthy Britons was to convince the Revenue that they had roots in another country.

A lawyer from Baker & McKenzie said: “It’s a very good thing if you’ve got pets there [abroad]. The Revenue gets the [right] impression.”

The advisers said that the residency rules were “all a bit floaty” and that those who understood the system could now treat Britain as “probably better than Switzerland”.

However, the millionaires at the seminar were warned that the Revenue was becoming more aggressive, conducting monthly meetings with their counterparts in America, Europe and the Far East to discuss the tax affairs of various individuals.

The millionaires were also advised to switch banks and accounts every year. “Ideally be at different banks or different branches; make sure terms of accounts are a bit different,” said the adviser from Baker & McKenzie.

The adviser said: “That offshore account the Revenue was not aware of, the Revenue is now aware of.” Another adviser added: “An account in Switzerland really won’t work any more.”

According to a document circulated by HSBC at the meeting: “More and more Britons have been seeking to become nonUK resident for tax purposes as the tax burden in the UK increases.”

Other accountants and private banks claim that the Revenue is becoming particularly aggressive in its approach to policing the growing number of tax exiles – who are allowed to spend only 90 nights in Britain if they are to escape paying tax.

Yesterday a spokesman for HSBC defended the advice given at the seminar.

“As you expect, HSBC advises its customers to remain both within the spirit and the letter of the law with regards to their financial dealings and I’m sure that our colleagues at Baker & McKenzie do the same,” the spokesman said.

Honour of Hong Kong - the Symbol of Ethnic Division

2007-03-28T01:09:00.000+08:00

I was attracted by an article in Apple Daily last Sunday about Bruce Lee's statue in Bosnia. Its already strange enough for me that why these 2 are related. I guess not many Hong Kong people realize that Bruce Lee actually is the symbol of Ethnic Division. I didnits't quite understand why at the v begining but P told me that its because Bruce Lee's favourite saying in the film of Fist of Fury (精武門) with the favourite saying: "Remember this. We Chinese are not sick! (中國人不是東亞病夫) (after defeating the Japanese karate school, for the first time). It implied the meaning of ethnic equality. And that'd be why Bosnia erected Bruce Lee's statue in the Bosnian city of Mostar.

You'd read more from the BBC news as follows. Its not new though:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4474316.stm

Bosnia unveils Bruce Lee bronze

The statue is situated in Mostar's central park and faces north

A bronze of martial arts legend Bruce Lee has been erected in the Bosnian city of Mostar - a day before a second statue of him is unveiled in Hong Kong.

The life-size 1.68 metre statue depicts the Chinese-American actor in a typical defensive fighting position.

Hong Kong unveils its own statue of the kung-fu star on Sunday, at a ceremony to be attended by Lee's widow Linda.

The Mostar unveiling was attended by the ambassadors of China and Germany, both of whom assisted the project.

The city witnessed fierce fighting between rival ethnic factions in the 1992-95 war.

Symbol

It remains split with Bosnian Muslims, Croats and Serbs still deeply divided.

Lee was chosen by organisers as a symbol of the fight against ethnic divisions.

"We will always be Muslims, Serbs or Croats," said Veselin Gatalo of the youth group Urban Movement Mostar.

"But one thing we all have in common is Bruce Lee."

Lee, who died in 1973 at the age of 32, was born in the US but moved to Hong Kong as a child.

The statue there will be unveiled on what would have been the Enter the Dragon star's 65th birthday.

'True or Fall'

2007-03-26T11:35:00.000+08:00

One more reason of not investing in Hong Kong. - actually it might not be necessary if Hong Kong could provide an environment suitable for expats coming in to do business.

One more reason of widening income inequality - smart people would still work hard 'cos they know that this benchmark is rubbish. But those who are not yet wakened by this alarm would mistakenly think that they have achieved an acceptable English standard, which is already the stopper of not studying harder.

One more reason of earning more money for paying private schools for kids - I think teachers would fall into the myth that its good enough to get a student passed in the exam. I could hardly accept this myself... sigh!

One more proof of sweet poisoning.

Lately I had a quick lunch and seems that the ones share the same table with me are students and teacher. I'm not sure what subject this teacher teaches but I could hear the student saying a phrase, very likely in the discussion of some examinations or tests sort of things, 'True or Fall' (I think what she wanted to say 'True of False')...and I almost trembled; what I feel more terrible is - the teacher didn't correct her!!!

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070325/12/24c2c.html

新會考文法標準降肯寫已及格
(明報) 03月 26日星期一 05:10AM

【明報專訊】今年會考中英文科是全新課程，有英文導師認為，只要學生嘗試作答，便大有機會取得符合升讀中六資格的第二級成績（分五級成績，第五級最高分），較舊課程取得及格成績容易，但亦擔心這批學生文法根基較弱，日後面對覑重文法的高考英文科隨時慘敗。

文法根基弱恐難應付高考

新城娛樂台昨舉辦會考備戰講座，邀請補習社遵理學校的老師主講，吸引約1000名會考生前來「取經」。英文科導師梁賀琪認為，以考評局早前公布水平參照中不同級別的能力，只需寫出「The restaurant should give people can relax feel」等句子，因為「看得明」便可取得第二級成績，但她形容這些句子不知所謂：「相對以往，這些句子已經fail（不及格）。」

她認為，新課程鼓勵考生嘗試，故只要考生「肯講肯寫」，幾乎已可及格，試卷亦取消了以往專考文法的部分。她擔心日後就算取得第三、第四級的學生升上中六，因為文法根基弱，面對覑重文法的高考，分外吃力。距離英文科開考尚餘個多月，她建議學生先花多些時間串生字。

另一位英文科教師伍經衡也認為，考試模式改，歷屆試題參考價值已不大，但學生也應試做改動較少的聆聽卷，特別留意近3年的試題。

中文科導師徐迅和梁頌佳認為，應付中文會考新課程，多閱讀和多看報紙是不二法門。梁頌佳建議學生每兩天讀一篇社論：「從社論中學習思維和批判能力，社論的用字比較考究和認真。」

徐迅則表示，徐迅認為「死背死讀」的舊課程已成過去，新課程要求學生的視野廣闊，故考生平日應多花時間閱讀，多讀武俠小說或魯迅、余秋雨、阿濃和小思等著作必有所裨益。

醫院滋事講粗口可被檢控

2007-03-26T09:49:00.000+08:00

I read this news from web today (醫院滋事講粗口可被檢控(明報)http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070325/12/24c3c.html) and it sounds interesting. Not sure if in other ordinances there're similar provisions. The relevant laws are as follows:

Hospital Authority Bylaws (CAP 113A)
Prohibition of certain acts

Bylaw: 7

(1) No person shall, in a hospital-

(a) have in his possession or under his custody or control any animal, bird or fish;

(b) smoke or make use of a naked light, other than in any part of a hospital where it is indicated by notice that smoking or the use of a naked light is permitted;

(d) behave in an indecent or disorderly manner;

(e) make or cause to be made any noise which is a source of annoyance to the patients in a hospital;

(f) take any photograph or film or video picture whereby the likeness of a patient in the hospital is thereby depicted without the consent of such patient; or (L.N. 436 of 1991)

(g) take any photograph or film or video picture whereby any ward in a hospital is thereby depicted without the consent of a member of the staff whose consent shall not be withheld unless annoyance or disturbance to a patient, or prejudice to medical treatment of a patient, is thereby caused or likely to be caused. (L.N. 436 of 1991)

(2) No person shall, unless authorized by the Authority to do so-

(a) handle, disturb or otherwise interfere with any equipment in a hospital;

(b) bring or cause to be brought into a hospital (other than upon a road) any vehicle or other form of conveyance; or

(c) use in a hospital, any radio apparatus, record player, tape, records, disc, musical instrument or other apparatus which emits sound audible to other persons.

(3) Any person who causes or suffers or permits any person to cause equipment in a hospital to be a nuisance or damaging or dangerous to health by wilfully destroying or damaging or otherwise interfering with, or by improperly using such equipment or equipment connected therewith, shall be guilty of an offence.

And the penalty is:

Offences and Penalties

Bylaw: 10

Any person who-

(a) contravenes bylaw 4, 7(1)(a), 7(1)(c), 7(1)(d), 7(1)(e), 7(1)(g) or 7(2)(c) commits an offence and is liable on first conviction to a fine of $1000 and on second or subsequent conviction to a fine of $2000 and to imprisonment for 1 month;

(b) contravenes bylaw 3, 7(1)(b), 7(1)(f), 7(2)(a), 7(2)(b) or 9 commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $2000 and to imprisonment for 3 months; or

From http://www.legislation.gov.hk/eng/home.htm

That means - you might be put into jail for saying foul (loudly) at hospital! hahaha...

10 Reasons of Not Yet Having USD1m

2007-03-25T02:28:00.000+08:00

[Translated from Cho Yan Chiu (曹仁超)'s 投資者日記 at HKEJ on March 24, 2007]

The reasons of why you are not yet a client of private banking (i.e. having current asset of USD1m or above worth) are:

1. You spent too much money in pursuit of materialistic lifestyle and you have not been concentrating on accumulating your wealth, including spending too much money on fashion, cosmetics, leisure travelling and purchasing luxury items;

2. You do not have budget to your spending, for instance, you always borrow money from credit card for consumption and pay expensive interest from credit cards, and not to consume when you have enough money;

3. You have bad habits, including smoking, pubbing, football gambling, horse gambling and going to casinos. Being you have a large sum of wealth, you spent your seed money;

4. You do not have targets, especially financial targets. You would rather play online games rather than learning wealth management;

5. You do not prepare psychologically. For example, in the 60s I (Lo Cho) had 3 jobs because I didn't have sufficient capital (in addition to the job at securities firm, I earned money from newspapers by writing articles about my investment experyience and tutoring school children). My first 10,000 capital was obtained by these means;

6. You like short-term trading too much. For example, you use 10,000 to earn 3,000, use 100,000 to earn 10,000, and disallow the profit runs. So what you earned is 'little', but sometimes mistakenly lost the 'big' money;

7. Don't think that others could manage wealth for you. You could get advice from many others but the decision should be made on your own. Others would not make decision on your money (investment) because you are the one to bear the reward and loss. When you lose, others won't compensate you. When you earn, you won't share 50% of it with others;

8. You invest in something you do not know, like the Vietname stock market. I (Lo Cho) was positive about it last year but I didn't invest in it because I do not know about it;

9. You are afraid of losting money, and do not understand 'stop losing; don't stop earning'. As long as you have prepared psychologically to lose 15% of your capital in the market, you could feel comfortable to invest. However, too many people would rather put money into banks and are willing to allow the depreciation of money by inflation but not involve in investing. As you are afraid of losing money, you do not understand 'big money won't come in if small money is not given out';

10. You utterly do not have interest in owing asset of USD1m or above. Few people are not interested in earning money and once they have money they would like to spend them right away, and do not have interest in learning earning money from money. They'd rather go shopping, watching movies, dining, going to karaoke, and even thinking that reading HKEJ is a difficult task, so how could these people earn USD1m or above? If you don't keep an eye on your money, how it could grow?

Seems that my translation sucks - and I really find those who does translations as career is really someone great... hahaha

百萬蝴蝶搬家台封公路既保蝶身安全亦防交通意外

2007-03-25T01:11:00.000+08:00

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070323/12/24ara.html

【明報專訊】台灣被稱為「蝴蝶王國」，每年4至5月，百萬計的紫斑蝶從南部過完冬，北上遷徙繁殖，由於新建4年的高速公路彰化縣林內段剛好是紫斑蝶北上遷徙的必經「蝶路」，大批蝴蝶穿越時常遭高速行駛的車輛撞死，為保護「蝶身安全」，高速公路局（高公局）今年首次實行間歇封閉高速公路措施，為蝴蝶季候性遷徙讓路。

高公局封閉的林內段全長約600米，從後天（26日）起至4月5日止，每天上午9時至12時封閉北上外側車道，保護紫斑蝶免遭車輛衝撞。由於這是台灣保育界創舉，備受保育界關注。

每早封路3小時

台灣蝴蝶保育學會研究員詹家龍接受本報訪問時指出，台灣是蝴蝶王國，紫斑蝶又是數量最多的蝶種，多達百萬隻以上，而紫斑蝶與一般蝴蝶不同，牠不但壽命最長（7個月，一般蝴蝶僅1個月），又是必須「過冬」的唯一蝶種。詹家龍說，香港在2003年時也曾發現幾個「紫斑蝶谷」，但數量只有5萬隻左右。

每分鐘萬蝶飛過

詹家龍指出，在台灣南部台東大武等地「過冬」的紫斑蝶，春天時就會北遷，而高速公路林內段正好就是紫斑蝶的「蝶道」，也是所謂的「交通樽頸」。蝴蝶學會曾觀察到每分鐘內約有1.15萬隻蝶飛過，總計單日遷移的紫斑蝶就超過百萬隻，形成壯觀的「空中蝶河」，但亦有大量蝴蝶在穿越公路時遭車輛撞死，且大批蝴蝶飛越也威脅交通安全。

未來將建防護網

詹家龍指出，林內段屬於天橋段，離地面10米以下，紫斑蝶從下爬升時，因一開始的高度不足，因此會撞到最外側車道的車輛，同時因蝴蝶有「趨光性」，橋面下較黑暗，蝴蝶不會從橋下穿越，因此蝴蝶保育學會建議高公局封閉公路來保護紫斑蝶。他說，封閉車道是創舉，未來高公局還將架設「路堤網」（以加高的防護網提高紫斑蝶的飛行高度），同時在橋墩下設置「紫外線燈管」以導引紫斑蝶穿越。

Reinhold Niebuhr - quoted by Donald Tsang

2007-03-23T14:40:00.000+08:00

God grant me the serenity,

to accept the things I cannot change;

the courage to change the things I can;

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Return To Innocence

2007-03-23T01:41:00.000+08:00

My fren Anna likes this song. This is the first time I listen to it when I saw what she wrote on her blog. The lyrics is good actually. Surprisingly. Worth to share:

If you want, then start to laugh
If you must, then start to cry
Be yourself don't hide
Just believe in destiny
Don't care what people say
Just follow your own way
Don't give up and use the chance
To return to innocence
That's not the beginning of the end
That's the return to yourself
The return to innocence

一次半次大調整，根本不算甚麼

2007-03-19T15:39:00.000+08:00

...所以話，一次半次大調整，根本不算甚麼，股市總會那樣子起起跌跌，短炒的人損手爛腳，但長期投資者準會捱過。但我們每日只有24小時，況且生命當中，還有太多美好東西，比如老婆、老死、屋企、份工、美食、美酒、美女… …要麼享受短炒的刺激，還是安樂地長線投資，時間怎樣分配，由大家自行選擇吧。...

“If you don’t feel comfortable owning something for 10 years, then don’t own it for 10 minutes.” ─ Warren Buffett

案內人隨筆: 股海浮沉別急著上天台
http://wanszezit.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/
%e8%82%a1%e6%b5%b7%e6%b5%ae%e6%b2%89%e5%88%a5%e6%80%a5%e8%91
%97%e4%b8%8a%e5%a4%a9%e5%8f%b0/

曹仁超: 唔懂節流，無藥可救

2007-03-19T01:24:00.000+08:00

理念投資法須經三個階段

成為億萬富豪，必須有正確思想（right frame of mind），知道何時進攻、何時防守，明白投資唔係遊戲，買股票唔係買六合彩。人人講「理財」，其實「理念」更為重要！窮家子弟懂事早，唔使人教已知理財不外開源節流；普通打工仔又點樣節流？懂得節流，窮表不窮裏（外表貧窮，其實唔窮）；唔懂節流，無藥可救。未學理財先學節流，有咗節流，自然有「財」，然後才學投資。投資唔係炒股票、炒期指、炒外滙，上述都係短期獲利、長期損失慘重嘅方式。首先要學睇方向，如方向錯誤，其他方面已唔重要，例如1997至 2003年樓市下降期，你有冇逃避風險？2000年TMT股泡沫爆破時，你有冇止蝕離場？今年方向係點？貝南奇話係黃金歲月（上落市），格蛇話今年底有三分一機會衰退。你信邊個？你嘅理念（capital idea）又如何？

（信報：二零零七年三月十七日理财投资「曹仁超——投資者日記」）

Why Indians need to walk on aircrafts

2007-03-15T01:57:00.000+08:00

The title is merely eye-catching. Don't get me wrong. I've just flied back from Delhi and from my flight from Singapore to Delhi I found that Indians luv to walk back and forth in the aircrafts. I also heard from my colleagues that when he was on the Air India aircraft during midnite Indians appear to be sleepless and walk around as well.

Actually I believe that they're sensitive and sometimes mysterious. Their sensitivity should be as strong as their culture. So its difficult for me not to co-relate their need to walk around on aircrafts because they do not feel comfortable to be 'locked' at the tiny seats:

http://203.99.65.121/category/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10428330

Deadly threat in the office

5:00AM Monday March 12, 2007
By Martin Johnston

Economy class syndrome

Office workers glued to their computer screens have an increased risk of potentially fatal blood clots, a world-leading New Zealand study has found.

The study, by Professor Richard Beasley of the Medical Research Institute in Wellington found that 34 per cent of patients admitted to hospital with blood clots had been seated at work for long periods.

Painful blood clots can develop in deep veins of the legs of those who are immobile for long periods.

The clots can break off and travel to the heart, lungs or brain, causing chest pain, breathlessness or even death from a heart attack or stroke. Treatment with blood-thinning drugs can take months.

Many risk factors for clots, including smoking, pregnancy and old age, have been known. But after the death seven years ago of a 28-year-old woman thought to have developed a blood clot during a flight from Australia to Britain, "economy class syndrome" became the fear of long-distance air travellers.

It was named because of the cramped immobility imposed in aircraft economy seating, but the more-spacious business class was later implicated too.

Studies found clots had formed in 10 per cent of air travellers at high risk of the condition, and 1 per cent of all passengers.

In 2003, Professor Beasley's research group reported the first known case of life-threatening clots associated with prolonged computer use.

The man often sat at his computer, at work and at home, for 12 hours a day and sometimes up to 18 hours. He would stay at his screen for up to two hours at a time and sometimes up to six hours.

The new study will be presented at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand scientific meeting in Auckland this month and published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

Professor Beasley said yesterday that some office workers who developed clots were seated for 14 hours a day.

"Some of them were going three to four hours at a time without getting up. These were people in the IT industry, call-centre people whose jobs really related to them and their computer.

"The major weakness of the study is that we didn't have a control group to look at the background prevalence of seated immobility at work in the general population.

"We've addressed that in a second study we've just completed. The results would be very consistent with what we've found at the moment.

"And we've just started a third, funded by the Accident Compensation Corporation, looking at the work environment in more detail.

"I think ACC's interest is really important because it is obviously recognising it as an important workplace hazard."

He agreed that deskbound computer users should take frequent "micro-pauses" from their work to stand up and stretch arms and legs.

ACC spokesman Laurie Edwards had no figures last night on claims arising from blood clots, but said such claims were not usually covered.

"The fact we've put some money into the study suggests there's enough suspicion of a connection for us to want to promote the research."

* An earlier version of this story wrongly stated that office workers were at greater risk than long-distance air travellers. The study found that 34 per cent of people presenting at Wellington Hospital with blood clots reported sitting for long hours in the office whereas only 21 per cent had recently been on a flight of more than four hours. However, the report did not take into account the fact that the former group would have been drawn from a far greater number of people than the latter.

盼與他再活100年

2007-03-12T16:07:00.000+08:00

This news is very touching...
In fact when I read about that the husband obstructed the truck and protected his wife from being crashed its already very touching and now the newspaper reported his wife's wish it made me feel that true love still exists in the world...

I also feel that its very touching: 你跟著天使去吧！放心，教友們會照顧我……
Its the unselfish love from Mrs Lai 'cos she knows that Mr Lai is suffering and if he could feel confident that his wife could be taken care by some others he could end his painfulness and go to Heaven...

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070311/12/23fui.html

「盼與他再活100年」盲妻憶擋車亡夫 (明報) 03月 12日星期一 05:10AM

【明報專訊】上周三以身擋車護盲妻、被貨車撞至重傷昏迷的71歲老翁賴復振，前日撒手人寰。彌留一刻，雙目幾近失明的妻子趙雪芳握著他的手，就如當日撞車後丈夫握著她的手一樣，雙方以觸覺去感受對方心意。在旁的醫生見儀器顯示賴復振的心跳突然急促，知道他快不行了，賴妻很不捨，但仍在丈夫耳邊細說﹕「你跟著天使去吧！放心，教友們會照顧我……」說罷，監察心跳的儀器拉出一條長長的直線。

「如果可以，我希望和先生（賴復振）再生活100年。」剛喪夫的趙雪芳向本報記者細訴丈夫生前種種時，平靜地說出這個無法實現的願望。

10多年來拖著她走

賴氏夫婦結婚接近20年，在這7000多個共處的日子裏，外人或會以為要照顧視力嚴重衰退的伴侶很辛苦，但賴先生從沒半句怨言。趙雪芳憶起，當年出席朋友聚會時認識丈夫，之後雙方約會了幾次，不久便結成夫婦，過程沒有半點轟烈。結婚初期，她一隻眼還有少許視力，日常起居不用伴侶太操心，還能做一些家務，但隨著視網膜衰退急劇惡化，近10多年來，所有家務都要由丈夫去做，她不能獨自上街，外出時必須由丈夫拖著引領。

數年前，原任職餐廳侍應的賴先生退休，此後幾乎每時每刻都伴在妻子身旁，悉心照顧她。趙雪芳說，每早丈夫會帶著她上街吃早餐、一起買菜，閒時會跟教友在村內公園唱歌消遣，其他時間兩夫婦就留在家中，丈夫看報紙，她就在旁「聽電視」。傍晚，丈夫會下廚為她及99歲岳母準備晚飯，再侍候她們進食。由於遠行不方便，夫婦二人都沒有去過什麼地方旅遊玩樂。靠著傷殘津貼及生果金等每月共2900多元，三人生活捉襟見肘，但知足的他們從沒覺苦，生活平淡但幸福。

怕妻吃力共識無孩

56歲的趙雪芳說，丈夫婚後認為她眼疾太嚴重，要照顧孩子會很吃力，兩人早有共識不生育。「生了小孩，要給他們吃，只要省用一點沒問題，但最大責任是教育，一定要他們對社會有貢獻才好。」賴太說這話時，不無遺憾。

風趣丈夫愛送公仔

在將軍澳翠林村的家，細小的客廳內放了很多毛公仔，可愛不可愛，賴太無法看見，但她卻摸得、抱得著。這些毛公仔部分是賴復振買給妻子的玩意，丈夫當日如何拿著毛公仔哄她高興的幕幕往事，趙雪芳銘記於心，「他為人很風趣，又有正義感……」

趙雪芳形容，丈夫遇事重傷昏迷後自己腦中一片空白，什麼事都無法定下來細想，直至前天丈夫去世，傷痛感覺才漸漸浮現。過去，趙雪芳靠著丈夫當「盲公竹」，外出時丈夫總是拖著她的手，如今失去了丈夫的她，此刻只能重新適應沒有人拖手引領的日子。

明報記者陳道明

Air Sahara and Spirit of Hong Kong

2007-03-07T00:31:00.000+08:00

I flied to Delhi for business trip and I was adventurous enough to take Air Sahara. I asked my colleagues and my cousin and 4th uncle & aunt in Singapore none of them know Air Sahara. Some people do not have good impression towards Air India because of some detail things (and of course, people tend to compare it with SQ & CX).

The trip has just ended this afternoon and my comment towards Air Sahara is: its good enough. At least its better than American Airlines. The plane of Air Sahara is not new and you'd say its quite old. However, they do have some little TV screens for public viewing, and they keep on giving a lot of drinks on the way. I guess I drank at least 5 cups of water and juices plus the breakfast and small sandwiches.

I'd tell the air stewardness' service is better than CX. CX's service is getting bad and it seems that whenever people complain them they might issue warning letters to them. I'd say if they do not have Asia Miles or Marco Polo Club its revenue would drop pretty much. SQ has been doing great now. Just like for their new planes the in-flight entertainment could start at the time you sit down and end when you leave the plane. Moreover, the food of CX is not impressive during my Asian trips lately. Mileage programme is a low-cost but effective loyalty programme, but if the flight service is not good, then sooner or later people would just leave. They'd just leave because the air stewardnesses speak poor English and keep on having no smile on their faces. May be that's really the 'Spirit of Hong Kong'?

My comment is: I'd fly Air Sahara again if SQ & CX's time don't fit.

Mysteries - The New Trend

2007-03-05T00:51:00.000+08:00

I watched about film about magicians on the plane today again, The Prestige. I know I luv this kind of things. When I flied from HK to the US I watched 3 films: The Illusionist, Lady in the Water and The Nightmare before Christmas.

But - I believe that I always could get some hints about the trend.

P is right. People want to escape from the tense, detailed and demanding world. Mysteries could help.

Here are some snapshots of the 2 magician films I watched.

The Prestige

The Illusionist

Pictures from Seoul

2007-03-02T19:01:00.002+08:00

I'm leaving Shanghai now for home - and it shouldn't be too late to post my picture from Seoul. I've just left Seoul on Wednesday and its a stop of my tight schedule. Seoul - its a bit disappointing that its far to be regarded as a place which it'd be close to Tokyo in terms of its lifestyle, trendiness (do we really have this word?).

Yet - I really find that the Korean food in Hong Kong is already very close to the authentic Korean food - as I mentioned in the previous writing.

However, Koreans are good and I think they are more willing to share with you how they think than Japanese. So I should learn some Japanese - at least I'd understand what they are talking about even though they do not tell me what they are thinking. Sometimes those 'gwei-lo' books about how to understand Asians might help as well. Hong Kong people are a bit more westernized already and when we interact with people from other Asian countries its still necessary to know more about them and to adopt to their culture.

These pics were taken at the place closed to Hyundai Department Store. It's one of the busiest area in Seoul.

ahmm - sigh - while I'm typing up this article here on the blog I saw 2 HK people 'sucking' cup noodles like pigs in airport lounge. Yuk! Despite of the good economy of Hong Kong, Hong Kong people still have to work hard on their own esp. on their courtesy and thoughtfulness.

Ginseng Chicken Soup

2007-02-26T23:40:00.000+08:00

This is the Ginseng Chicken Soup I had tonight (or yesterday?). It looks great isn't it? I had that at a shop specialized in Ginseng Chicken Soup in COEX Mall in Seoul. It tastes good and its just KRW10,000 (HKD83.25 equivalent!). COEX Mall is at the very central location of Seoul and its in the Gangnam-gu (강남구 / 江南區). It is an upscale community. Things are ok there but still - Hong Kong - I always think Hong Kong is really good. The more places I go the more I like Asia, I like Hong Kong.

Anyway. I'd say Hong Kong's Korean food is very authentic already, although a bit pricey when compared with Korean restaurants here in Seoul.

When I see the white and milky soup I recalled a fren said that chicken soup in Chinese cuisine which are claimed to be made in the 'old way' is that the soup is cooked with chicken skin. That's exactly what it is here. haha - I won't say that it is a must-try but its really good for me to travel around and have good food during biz trip!

Human Rights and Money

2007-02-14T12:09:00.000+08:00

I read this from Yahoo! News: 港女生「推倒」深工廠招怨 (http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070213/60/21s7a.html)

It is also quoted from the ESWN website with the link to Nanfang Daily. The workers claimed that because of the publishing of a Hong Kong university student about the poor working environment of their factory, Disney decided not to place orders to their factory and it caused the wound up of the factory. They felt that because she published the news which is disadvantageous to the factory which caused the wound up. The manager of the factory said that the requirement from Disney is not applicable to China. Personally I do not think the requirement of Disney is unreasonable. These requirements include the following:

调查报告中的整改措施要求企业员工在公共场所摆放的卫生用品要无限制供应。“比如肥皂等，你不限制地无偿使用，一放出来，马上会被工人拿走。”

另外，整改措施要求员工工作期间离开工作岗位，不需要进行登记。也不可以对员工进行小额罚款。而企业认为这在现实中不可实现。员工去上厕所等很正常，但是，如果按照此整改措施，员工一天去5次厕所，每次半个小时，这让企业很难进行管理。

I guess these could be done by improving the processes... maybe educating the factory's management with the appropriate management skills and the concept of human rights it'd help China more. Now the workers' concept is that they have to live. The concept from Disney is that they have to have a quality life...

It's making me more interest in learning more about Human Rights. It recalled a book I read a few years ago about Child Labour: Free the Children

To be a millionaire

2007-02-14T00:20:00.000+08:00

百萬富翁去年增2千人
is definitely a very eye-catching punch line. Being a millionaire has been difficult when we were young where the purchasing power of money is low. Now its different. According to this survey, there are 276,000 millionaires in Hong Kong and the average age is 48 with average capital HK$560m.

It is not too surprising actually. I did a quick calculation on how long I need in order to be a millionaire. The calculation is simple. If I save up HK$17K per month then in 5 years time WITHOUT doing any investment and even you do not need to put them in bank for gaining interest, I could be a millionaire. HK$17K is not a overwhelmingly big portion of many people's salary nowadays esp. those who have been working for 5 or above years. Think: if I graduate from university at 22 and I save up diligently since I started working I should be able to be a millionaire when I am 32. Of course, if you buy a flat during this period, you might need to save up, say 5 years more, in case you use all these to purchase your flat (but HK$1m can't buy a real decent flat). Probably you'd use HK$1m and your partner contribute another HK$1m for the flat, (it makes more sense) you'd be able to save up HK$1m even more easily by saving up HK$8.5K per month from each of your partner and yourself and then you both would share HK$1m.

However, if you do not know the right way of getting the right salary or you simply do not have this aim in mind and you want to spend as you earn, you couldn't have the 'handsome' saving.

I also mean that the gap between the wealthy and the poor is widening. Many people could even have difficulties in earning about HK$17K per month...

Kaspar Hauser

2007-02-13T10:58:00.000+08:00

I found that I've been having strong interest towards some mysterious things. Sometimes these things could be quite dark in general. I've just read from news about that 3 girls in Austria were locked up by their mother for 7 years in an apartment without running water and with excrement accumulated for 1 metre height. That's really terrible.

What induced me to know further under the news is that the specialists think they have the Kaspar Hauser Syndrome. Kaspar Hauser is an European boy who was found in 1828 in Nuremberg who had been locked up for a long time since he was 3 with mysterious fate afterwards. Endocrinologists and Psychiatrists later called those children whose growth in stature is impaired, often to a dramatic degree, consequent to serious abuse or neglect with 'psychosocial dwarfism'.

However, I found that Kaspar Hauser is a v legendary and intelligent figure with mysterious fate. I would co-relate that if someone was locked up, no matter since childhood or adulthood, what would happen? Just like as I used to hear from priest in my sec schools Catholic Priests in the Mainland China under the sovereignty of the Communists were locked up with 'brain washing' - it'd cause more than mental breakdown. It seems that it really depends on the person who got locked up how (s)he faces this. To gain support from God, in the case for adults, or to keep his / her firm belief on that he(r) could escape some day?

About the news of the Austrian mother who locked up her 3 daughters:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1368918.ece
http://hk.news.yahoo.com/070212/12/21oxs.html

To know more about Kaspar Hauser, you'd refer to:

http://www.spartechsoftware.com/dimensions/people/KasparHauser.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaspar_Hauser

Some Wedding Music

2007-02-13T01:20:00.001+08:00

I have some wedding music in mind but in order to give ourselves more ideas how the tradition says and how we could choose some special choices without really being too strange, I found the 2 less popular choices in Hong Kong but widely accepted being solemn and appropriate music:

Opening I - Jeremiah Clark's Trumpet Voluntary (Trumpet / Violin / Organ)

Opening II - Jeremiah Clark's Trumpet Voluntary (Organ only)

Opening III - Pachebel's Canon (Brass Quintet)
I love the brass quintet version. But hiring a brass quintet could be expensive and its rather difficult to play it :p This video's quality is high and it'd be the famous Canadian Brass.

Conclusion - Widor's Toccata from Symphony No.5

My Wedding Place - Bethanie

2007-02-09T01:30:00.000+08:00

Inside the Chapel
Interesting though the there's no cross on the altar. Its because it is now not a chapel designated for religious service. However, the altar is from the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese.

The Chapel - Outside
It looks marvellous isn't it? It is not as big as I imagined... haha.

Place before the Chapel
That's what I like most. I guess it could be very difficult to find a Church / Chapel in Hong Kong with that spacious place with that many trees! There's a seaview next to it as well. I'm sure we could take a lot of pics here.

The Balcony
That's the inside view of the Chapel from the altar. I feel that I've been to small Chapels in Macau... the Churches / Chapels in Macau were preserved better or they have more variety than those in Hong Kong.

Baking for Britain

2007-01-23T16:20:00.000+08:00

Especially for those who luv cooking / baking. This site looks good but I need to try baking according to the receipes. I was having the traditional biscuits (honey & oat) I bought from Harrods during my holiday and colleagues said that's really delicious. ahmm - that's v true if you're in a not-very-hot weather and feeling super bored in office. hahaha.

So I tried to find the receipes and failed but I got this. Maybe I should try:

Baking for Britain
http://bakingforbritain.blogspot.com/
2005_11_01_bakingforbritain_archive.html

"This is an extremely tough duck with a lot of spirit to live," he said. "This shows how tough and adaptable wildlife are."

2007-01-22T00:15:00.000+08:00

I read this news from BBC. Not to search for it intentionally but its among the most popular news.

hahaha!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6283677.stm

Duck survives two days in fridge

The duck's slow metabolism is thought to have helped it survive

Lucky duck

A duck in the US state of Florida has survived gunshot wounds and a two-day stint in a refrigerator.

A hunter shot the duck, wounding it in the wing and leg. Believing the bird was dead, he left it in his fridge at his home in Tallahassee.

The hunter's wife got a fright when she opened the fridge and the duck lifted its head, a local veterinarian said.

Staff at the Goose Creek Animal Sanctuary who are treating the bird said it has a 75% chance of survival.

The plucky duck was taken first to a local animal hospital, and then to an animal sanctuary for more specialised treatment.

A veterinarian at the sanctuary said he thinks the duck will live, but will probably never be well enough to be released into the wild.

The veterinarian, David Hale, said the duck's low metabolism rate helped it survive its time in the refrigerator, the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper reported.

"This is an extremely tough duck with a lot of spirit to live," he said. "This shows how tough and adaptable wildlife are."

Battle between Morality and Money: 鐘南山警告:人流感和禽流感可能同時爆發!

2007-01-21T13:28:00.000+08:00

I got this line from the following link:

http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2007/01/200701161107.shtml

Actually I still think that this year we at least might have some wider spread of bird flu. SARS - hope that its not coming. However, it could be conflicting.

Why conflicting?

Somehow I could hardly distinguish whether we do not hope that they are coming or we hope to get money from stock market or from property market because of these diseases - that is - to hope that they would come - and thus we would have a chance to get more $$.

I had some chats with frenz and some share the same thought of mine that in 2007 there might be some diseases in Hong Kong and thus we'd get stocks or properties at that time 'cos the stock and property market should drop dramatically.

To analyze our psychological status towards this, I could put them in the following points:

We do not want to see people die or got infected of bird flu or SARS or similar disease
We want to earn money, most likely from stock and property market
If bird flu and/or SARS come to Hong Kong, its expected that the stock and property market would drop
We could earn money by buying in stock and property when the market is down

Then the problem is, how we could balance this in our mind? That's the battle between morality and money. I guess that's good enuf to initiate a discussion inside our innermost.

Should Our Sons and Daughters Move to Cooler Places?

2007-01-20T15:56:00.001+08:00

By 2080 temperatures in the UK could rise by four degrees Celsius, according to the BBC's climate change experiment. To get more info you'd refer to this website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/climateexperiment/

I've quoted one article here for your reference - is it dreadful or the end of the world is coming?

World results

Each of you who took part in the experiment ran a full global climate prediction model. So what do the experiment results tell us about global climate changes?

Global temperature change

See how the temperature could change across the Earth for the near and distant future. These maps represent one of the likely models from the middle of the range.

2020s
2050s
2070s

The experiment predicts a 4°C rise in temperature for the UK by 2080. But how does the rest of the world fare? New Zealand escapes with a lower temperature increase while Alaska should expect a larger rise than the UK. Find out below why different regions of the globe will heat at different rates.

Regional temperature changes from around the world

Compare the average temperature change predicted up to 2080 for selected regions around the world.

Find out why some areas are likely to heat more than others.

You will need the Flash 8 plug-in to view this content.

Download the latest version of Flash for free.
More help on plug-ins at BBC Webwise

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/climateexperiment/theresult/globalcontext.shtml

偏高水平入市代價高

2007-01-18T14:33:00.000+08:00

曹仁超

（信報：二零零七年一月十八日第十七版）

今年人民幣再升值[口既]幅度同速度，或會超過去年，係家[口下]流動性資金泛濫[口既]最大成因。[口系]貿易順差繼續創新高[口既]局面下，短期內難以根治。以基礎分析，A股已偏離合理價，客觀形勢系股票短期難以驟然擴大供應，流入股市[口既]資金卻源源不絕，每日一千億元[口既]超大成交繼續支持A股股價，內地投資者唔明白股價上升隻係紙上富貴，只有隻套[口左]現才係真金白銀。1973年香港唔少人經歷過紙上富貴，到1974年12月已煙消雲散；1997年更多人用市價計自住物業[口既]價值，以為自己擁有一千幾百萬財富，2003年才知道原來自己系負資產。作為賭徒，一天未離開賭[木台]，唔好計自己有幾多身家；作為投資者，一天未套現，所謂財富都隻系紙上富貴，唔係真金白銀。內地A股估值係咪合理？各有各睇。高盛報告認為，內地A股[口既]今年仲可再升 25％。

中國GDP未來十年如保持依家[口既]速度增長，2016年將超越日本，到2031年將超越美國。1986年北京著名歌星崔健[口係]北京工人體育館唱《一無所有》，到2006年短短二十年，中國創造[口左]兩個「一萬億美元」[口既]紀錄，外匯儲備打破一萬億美元，內地A股總值亦超過一萬億美元。中國前景當然睇好，因為二十一世紀係中國[口既]，一如二十世紀係美國[口既]一樣。如果你[口係]1929年9月30日投資美股，當天道指381.17，整個三十年代及四十年代你都幾悲慘；上述指數到1954年才打破。七十年代睇好香港亦好正確，但如閣下[口係]1973年3月9日恆生指數1774點時入市，下一次恆生指數升穿 1800點之時系1980年5月。睇好中國[口既]分析唔使爭拗，但[口係]偏高水平入市，代價可以好大。

當上海人將屋契[羅]去當舖當、當中國人買平治汽車要輪候九個月（香港上一次買平治汽車要等九個月，系1997年8月），肯定有D唔妥。2007年中國人系咪一如1990年日本人？1990年曾見過唔少日本女士[口係]中環置地廣場排隊買LV手袋，今天亦有唔少內地女士去尖沙嘴海港中心選購LV手袋，人山人海，何其壯觀也。

花旗亞太區首席經濟學家黃益平預計，中國人民銀行今年第一季將再度上調存款准備金率，繼續遏制國內市場過多[口既]流動資金。

2003 年中國連續四年GDP平均增長率[口系]10％以上，同期CPI升幅分別隻有3％、3.9％、3％及不足2％。連續四年高增長低通脹，[口系]中國歷史上比較長，甚至外國亦好少見。今年又點？近期糧價升幅唔細，而糧價佔中國CPI三分一。中國眼前經濟問題唔係GDP增長率，而係非均衡發展。出現非均衡發展系結構性問題，例如制造業本身生命周期已進入衰退期，開始進入重工業及技術進步、資本密集期，但中國卻擁有七億勞動人口。[口系]八十年代，中國GDP每增長一個百分點，就帶來二百四十多萬個就業職位；依家GDP每上升一個百分點，隻帶來九十多萬個崗位……。工業進入重工化、技術進步化及資本密集化，需要[口既]係高質素工人，中國卻缺乏職業訓練學校；反之，大學教育卻唔少，大量培養出大學生，到社會卻搵唔到工作，市場上需要[口既]專業人才，中國培養出來[口既]又唔多。今年中國經濟就系面對呢種情況。2003年至今，中國[口既]固定資產投資上以超過25％速度增加，但消費需求遠遠追唔上，結果生產出來[口既]產品隻有低價出口到海外，造成大量外貿盈余及流動資金過剩。上述情況[口係]日本、南韓經濟發展史上皆出現過，處理唔好可以出亂子。講到內需，其實就係收入分配。中國十三億人口中，60％系農村人口，大多數人[口係]過去十年收入其實沒顯著增加，形成內需不足；加上教育費同醫療費過去十年大幅上升，形成儲蓄率偏高，結果資金都涌去房地產及股票市場大炒特炒。上述唔係短期問題，如處理得唔好可以好濕滯。如人民幣大幅升值，將影響出口，繼而影響七億勞動人口生計，所以人民幣唔能夠大幅升值；但每年隻升5％，作用又唔大。另一問題係制造業升級走向重工化、技術進步、資本密集化，但中國人口素質未能提升，又應付唔[口黎]。雖然中國人行已一再收緊銀根，但流動性資金實在太多，無法阻止其流入樓市及股市。可以講今年中國經濟已進入喜中帶憂期，最后能否逃過Boom & Bust命運？我老曹木宰羊。

http://blog.cnfol.com/sl68168/default.html

Hamburger & String Quartet

2007-01-18T14:03:00.000+08:00

My music student could always say something funny.
He's now in F.4 and I'm teaching him Cert. Music. Yesterday we had a lesson on the set piece and now I'm teaching him Haydn's String Quartet Op.64 No.5 'Lark'. My original wording on the notes for its 1^st movement is:

Triplets add increased movement and the use of remoter keys (Original Key: D Major) in the development at the heart of the movement adds a feeling of tension later dispelled as the material of the first section duly returns.

Then he asked whether its like:

You have a hamburger at the very beginning -> Add cheese : Cheeseburger -> Add beef: Double-burger -> Double-Cheese Burger -> Big Mac

!!!

God helps them that help themselves

2007-01-15T03:59:00.000+08:00

Interesting though this line hits my mind when I read it. Probably I'm a person who always depends on others - hehe - but I really trusts this quote.

What's more strange is that although this quote is related to 'God' but I never think that's from Bible. And it really IS NOT. Why its co-related to Bible is that when I tried to search it from the web some sites really try to clarify that its not from Bible (e.g. http://www.gotquestions.org/God-help-themselves.html). What's more strange is that basically its in contrast with the Biblical teaching. God used to help those who are helpless. However, I do not think that God is not helping those who works hard for return. There're parables related to diligent people, namely, the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30)

Anyway. This quote is believed to be an ancient quote, or originated from Benjamin Franklin from his Poor Richard's Almanack. Hope that I could have this spirit sustained for the rest of my life. Its time to fix those messed up, and improve what has been done nicely. :)

Happy New Year!

Janice: 愛才

2006-12-14T06:42:00.000+08:00

事前做足功課人人皆可致富

2006-12-14T06:28:00.000+08:00

一旦機會來臨，便有秩序地、有紀律地執行既定政策，而非相信個人運氣。

曹仁超

我地羨慕畢非德、索羅斯等有銀士[口既]財富，卻唔願意學佢地[口既]做法—當機會來臨時肯冒較大風險。例如1992年索羅斯拋空英鎊大大賺一筆，畢非德亦[口係]2001年大手吸納中石油（857）。承擔風險乃致富之道，但點樣承擔風險？箇中大有學問，投資、投機與賭博往往隻係一線之差。隻憑運氣決定輸贏係賭；做足功課，一旦機會來臨便全力出擊係投機；令資本每年上升25％或以上係投資。大部分人隻羨慕超級巨富手上[口既]財富，而唔向佢地學習致富之道。其實人人皆可致富，就係事前做足功課，一旦機會來臨，便有秩序地、有紀律地執行既定政策，而非相信個人運氣。每一次成功投資（或投機），背后都係精心策劃、嚴謹地執行既定政策，做到攻守自如，咁你便離成功之道不遠矣。盡量將虧損局限[口係]10-15％，並讓利潤往前跑，「止蝕唔止賺」乃致富之道。唔好追隨群眾，許多時往往要同群眾對著幹才可成功。但相反理論唔係人人可以掌握，必須真正了解群眾心理者才能夠運用自如。

http://blog.cnfol.com/sl68168/default.html

Rosary Prayer

2006-12-08T08:46:00.000+08:00

I said Rosary Prayer when I was in gym yesterday. Obviously its a good way to dissipate the attention in doing stepper esp. when you really feel tired and want to give up on the stepper.

I was taught that God would give what he thinks the best for you, and once you pray, you'd get it, and he'd hear it (unless its not the best for you).

It's pretty miraculous that - even as small request as this - I was given it and I enjoyed it. I felt quite lonely this week when I'm in the US for biz trip. My close frenz all know that I'd feel quite uncomfortable for being alone... something like abnormal stress, unhappinness would appear. Tonight I had dinner with a classmate who came from Hong Kong as well and he stayed in the US for 20 years. I didn't anticipate that I felt a lot better after that. Not because of anything very special but this kind of interaction do let me feel a lot better and feel a bit more energetic.

Thank God!

Therefore let me quote how to say Rosary Prayer here and you'd try to follow. Prayers - sometimes they don't sound substantial - but it helps.

http://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/misteri_luminosi_en.html

How to pray the Rosary - Mysteries of Light?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.O God come to my aid;O Lord, make haste to help me.Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen.

At the beginning of each decade, announce the "mystery" to be contemplated, for example, the first joyful mystery is "The Annunciation".

After a short pause for reflection, recite the "Our Father", ten "Hail Marys" and the "Glory be to the Father".

An invocation may be added after each decade.

At the end of the Rosary, the Loreto Litany or some other Marian prayer is recited.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Loreto Litanies
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Here is the Chinese introduction on the Rosary Prayer:

http://catholic-dlc.org.hk/rosary1.htm

玫瑰經最早出現於中世紀時代，並開始盛行。聖母於一八五八年及一九一七年在露德和花地瑪顯現時，均特別囑咐世人要為悔改和補贖多誦念玫瑰經，從默想基督一生的奧蹟中，我們在今世能伴同耶穌分擔他苦難聖死的哀痛，來日也能分享他復活升天的喜樂與光榮。

在今日的教會祈禱中，玫瑰經依然是深受重視的。因為在默想玫瑰經的各項奧蹟時，我們偕同聖母重溫了整部福音的大綱：童貞女懷孕、耶穌的誕生及逾越節中的受難、光榮和復活、聖神降臨和聖母蒙召升天。玫瑰經是一項福音祈禱，以聖子降生奧蹟為中心，以基督為終向。

我們誦念玫瑰經時，不是機械式的誦念一些固定的經文，而是應舉心向上，在讚美和祈求時，默觀耶穌的一生。在念天主經時，我們莊重地宣認天主是我們的父親，且衷心祈求他，並請求寬恕；在誦念一連串的聖母經時，是愉快地偕同聖母專注默想福音中的奧蹟，及讚美天主的救世計劃；而在念聖三光榮頌時，則衷心朝拜我們唯一的天主。

玫瑰經適合個人或團體誦念；口誦心維，猶如一篇救恩史的頌歌。

1% owns 40%

2006-12-07T22:56:00.000+08:00

The study found that the world's richest 1 per cent owned 40 per cent of its wealth, while half the world's adult population together owned barely 1 per cent of global wealth. (How to squeeze into this 1%?)

Extracted from:
Hong Kong tops survey of world's richest
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZCKVHEBVE.html

DENNIS ENG

Hong Kong people have the highest individual net worth in the world - US$202,000 - the largest study yet of wealth distribution shows.

Japan ranked ninth, with per capita wealth of US$124,858, and Singapore was ranked 12th on US$113,631.

The figures, from 2000, are expressed on a purchasing power parity basis, which takes into account exchange rate fluctuations.

The global study - from the UN's World Institute for Development Economics Research - is the first to chart wealth distribution in every country as opposed to just income. It includes significant components of wealth, including financial assets and debts, land, buildings and other tangible property.

Blair Pickerell, Asia-Pacific chief executive of HSBC Investments (Hong Kong), said he was not surprised by the result given the city's relatively high savings rates and penchant for property investment.

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce chief economist David O'Rear warned against reading too much into the data.

"We don't have very good information about people's wealth in Hong Kong because we don't tax it," he said. "If you're retired and own your own house, you fall outside of the tax system. We have no idea about how much people have."

The study found that the world's richest 1 per cent owned 40 per cent of its wealth, while half the world's adult population together owned barely 1 per cent of global wealth.

Lego Piano

2006-12-07T12:05:00.000+08:00

I read from Yahoo! news about the first appearance of Lego Piano in Hong Kong for an event by Toys'R'us in Plaza Hollywood but I found that it might not be totally right that its' the first appearance in the world. I found that someone made a real-size and playable Lego Harpsicord before and here's the details. Its really marvellous! hahaha...

http://www.henrylim.org/Harpsichord.html

Harpsichord

Audio Example mp3

With the exception of the wire strings, this instrument is entirely constructed out of LEGO parts--the keyboard, jacks, jack rack, jack rail, plectra, soundboard, bridge, hitch pins, tuning pins, wrestplank, nut, case, legs, lid, lid stick, and music stand are all built out of interlocking ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) plastic bricks and related pieces. And is playable.Specifications include a 1 x 8' disposition (single choir (one string per note), middle C corresponds to middle C on other instruments), single manual (one keyboard), 61 note range (5 octaves, C-c'''', A415), 6 x 3 ft. dimension, approximate 150 lbs. weight, and an estimated 100,000 LEGO piece count. The strings (brass gauges .012-.018 and steel gauges .008-.012) exert approximately 325 lbs. of tension.

It's taken two years of theorizing, designing, collecting parts, building, testing, and rebuilding. Originally, upon thinking about the potentials of making a LEGO musical instrument, I had hoped to reproduce a piano, but ditched the idea due to the enormous tension involved (40,000 lbs.)--there's a reason why pianos have steel frames. Its ancestor, the harpsichord, seemed more practically possible--the key/jack workings are simple levers, the strings are plucked, it's smaller, and it maintains less tension. Coincidentally, I was in my Bach phase anyways.The important considerations during design were strength, efficiency, and durability. Anticipating the tension of the strings, the instrument had to be built strong, yet be able to incorporate the functions and mechanisms on a lifesize scale. With many moving parts, it also had to withstand the repeated demands of a keyboard instrument. Several prototypes of the various sections were made. After finalizing designs, I started amassing the necessary LEGO parts.
This instrument would not have been as sturdy without the use of larger sized bricks, such as the 2x8 and 1x16. Staggering these and the sheer reach they afford established the structural integrity. Large plates (mostly 6x8 thru 6x16) and wing shaped pieces (6x6 and 6x12) were packed abundantly (three plates thick) to build the interlacingly secure bottom. A three braced frame in the soundchamber and a two brick thick grid under the bottom plates completed the foundation. Also, Technic ("mechanical" LEGO) parts were relied upon to create the keyboard pivots, locking supports for the soundboard and wrestplank, bridge and nut mounts, hinges for the lid, underside of the jack rail, and the tuning and hitch pins. Foremost amongst these were the holed 1x16 brick, 2x8 plate, 1x7 liftarm, and long friction pin. However, as tight as the pins held in the holes, they weren't capable of keeping taut, let alone pitch. Taking pipe cleaners dabbed with PVC cement, I melted the holes so that the pins could hold the strings tightly while still being able to turn for tuning.Acoustically, the instrument would benefit from being as smooth as possible, so instead of having the standard LEGO studs exposed, I covered them up with tiles (smooth topped flat pieces). Besides the functional studs that align the strings on the bridge and nut, no external stud is untiled. Likewise, the entire unseen floor of the soundchamber is decked with hundreds of 1x8 tiles. The end result is as resonant as LEGO will get.Single studded 1x2 plates were most convenient not only to build between studs (which was necessary for jack alignment), but as the basis for the plectra--after some bansaw and surgical scalpel mutilation. Some of the more whimsical LEGO elements were integrated as well: arches (and inverse arches) for the soundhole, roof slopes for the "curvature" of the internal frame and leg decorations, rubber tires to reduce the "clack" of the keys and jacks, and cloth capes (as worn by the likes of the Hermione Granger minifig) for the dampers.Mosly these were ordered in bulk from LEGO Shop At Home and Bricklink, with some parts (the majority of the 1x8 tiles) obtained from the Legoland California Model Shop store.

I started with the keyboard first, making sure it was translateable on a lifesize scale into LEGO. Luckily, there's just enough space between the keys--any less and the friction would've caused them to stick. Elemental to this design is the sideways alignment of the bricks on the natural keys as the accidentals are built with the conventionally upward pointing stud. After designing a preliminary jack (which itself went through a dozen evolutions, especially after being strung), the rack was built. Despite having a single manual, the rack is double rowed, half a stud displaced. This allowed for the key/jack configuration. These designs were repeated 61 times.The casing was made next. This was standard building. Well, the bentside was done with turntables to swivel the bricks as they traced the angles of the winged bottom. After going through about a third height of the case, the five legs were attached. These took advantage of skeletally stacked grid patterned 2x8s and the weight of the instrument for firm elevation. The soundboard and wrestplank were built laterally in relation to the casing--the studs face to the side. This was done in order to preserve the smoothness of the bricks' sides and to counter the tension of the strings--with this design, as the strings pull they hold the soundboard and wrestplank together rather than ripping them apart if built otherwise. Technic parts were used to secure these directional changes of the studs. As the bridge is mounted upon the soundboard, reasonable speaking length (the distance between the bridge and nut) recalculations called for several revisions of that entire section. Then it was locked into place as the case continued its building. The lid was constructed, but removed to enable easier access for stringing.LEGO as a medium holds rather well, not to mention is heavier than hell on a compoundedly large scale. This weight is what holds the parts together and ultimately handles the tension. During stringing, as I cranked the tuning pins, often I'd hear a disturbing creak off in a corner. I'd check the case, soundboard, and wrestplank for faults as there was the fear that the whole thing would implode. There's a certain self personification projected onto an instrument of one's own building. I spine crackingly empathized with the literal tension. A growing crack was forming behind the tuning pins, to the point that each added string increasingly threw all the others out of tune. I reinforced the wrestplank (doubling its thickness). So far, it's holding.

The final jack design couldn't be realized until they were activated. Only after seeing (and hearing) how they were plucking the strings could I devise the plectra all within the space of about four studs. At this point I'd figured out I was gonna use the single studded 1x2 plate securely attached (and adjustably so) to a 1x7 liftarm as the most minimally complicated and maximally effective solution. Two problems occurred: the back end of the plate was hitting the neighbouring string and there was a nasty downward pluck. Simply, I shaved off the edges with a bansaw to allow for only one string to get struck and I carved out the bottom of the plucking end with a surgical scalpel to allow for a sweep upon return.This didn't completely eliminate the downward pluck, but it was better. Dampers also helped the matter by silencing the ringing of the strings when the keys are released. For these, cloth capes were rolled, cut, and glued (Duco cement) onto the bottom of sliced single studded 1x2 plates.The jack rail serves to contain the jacks from flying out of the rack and acts as a buffer which determines key action. I've set it pretty tight, giving the jacks very little room to move--beyond my preferences, this was purposeful as restricting the leeway presents a more consistent sound. Hubless tires suspended on axels, one per jack, were hung underneath the rail.Along with the jack rail, the nameboard is removeable just in case any adjustments are needed. Due to the odd angles of the bridge and nut, the strings come in from whacky directions, which means each plectrum has a different orientation. All 61 notes need to be uniquely calibrated.The lid was tricky in that building it sideways (for smoothness) meant that it crumbled from it's own weight. Supports were made, but still couldn't keep it together. So I glued (PVC cement) the supports. The lid hinges on Technic parts with the case, but the front flaps were made with actual LEGO hinges (bases and tops).The lid stick is seemingly flimsy, but like the rest of the instrument, is a sturdy combination of large bricks with studs going at opposite directions, packed with plates, fastened with Technic parts, tiled for smoothness, and serves its little function. Music stand simile.

Thanks:
- Robert Portillo, for expertise and wire
- Umberto Belfiore, for recording and helping with the lid
- Eric Harshbarger, for leg attachment assistance
- Mike Wong, for bumping into it and dude, proving just how stable it is
- UCLA Music Library, for reference material

Reference:
- Kern, Evan J.: Harpsichord: Design and Construction (New York, 1980)
- Neupert, Hanns: Harpsichord Manual: A Historical and Technical Discussion (Kassel, 1960)- Paul, John: Modern Harpsichord Makers (London, 1981)
- Ripin, Edwin M., ed.: Early Keyboard Instruments (New York, 1989)
- Schott, Howard: Playing the Harpsichord (Mineola, 2002)
- Zuckermann, Wolfgang Joachim: The Modern Harpsichord: Twentieth-Century Instruments and Their Makers (New York, 1969)

Links:
- Guided tour of a harpsichord
- A brief history of the harpsichord
- British Harpsichord Society
- Miniature LEGO harpsichord
- LEGO harpsichord video clip

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Anti-Santa.cz - No Santa please, we're Czechs

2006-12-05T13:35:00.000+08:00

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2037441.ece
By Dinah Spritzer in Prague
Published: 04 December 2006

(In the independent.co.uk it doesn't have this pic - I got it from anti-santa.cz. But is this St Mary too sexy?)

The freedom-loving Czechs are again rebelling against an imperialist tyrant, although the oppressor this time is not the Kremlin but the world's favourite jolly fat man.

The Creative Copywriters' Club, a leading advertising association in the Czech Republic, has launched a campaign to eliminate the US-style Santa Claus. Its website, Anti-Santa.cz, features the Virgin Mary suckling the infant Jesus adorned in full Santa garb, replete with a pom-pom-topped hat. " This stupid, fat guy with the red outfit [has been] taking over our television ads and we say it's enough," said Martin Charvat, the creative director at the BBDO agency in Prague and one of the campaign's supporters. Cardboard Santas were popping up in the Czech capital's Old Town like daffodils in spring, he complained. We have our own way of celebrating Christ-mas with baby Jesus - Jezisek - delivering the gifts. This American Santa is just confusing our children."

The freedom-loving Czechs are again rebelling against an imperialist tyrant, although the oppressor this time is not the Kremlin but the world's favourite jolly fat man.

The Creative Copywriters' Club, a leading advertising association in the Czech Republic, has launched a campaign to eliminate the US-style Santa Claus. Its website, Anti-Santa.cz, features the Virgin Mary suckling the infant Jesus adorned in full Santa garb, replete with a pom-pom-topped hat. " This stupid, fat guy with the red outfit [has been] taking over our television ads and we say it's enough," said Martin Charvat, the creative director at the BBDO agency in Prague and one of the campaign's supporters. Cardboard Santas were popping up in the Czech capital's Old Town like daffodils in spring, he complained. We have our own way of celebrating Christ-mas with baby Jesus - Jezisek - delivering the gifts. This American Santa is just confusing our children."

Legomate:

Its right or wrong.

Christmas no doubt is a feast day celerbating the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet the story behind Santa Clause might be more easily accepted by non-Christians. If non-Christians could join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it might not be something bad. However, I agree that the focus of Christmas has been shifted from the birth of Jesus to Santa Claus and it is really not right.

Yet - the St Mary is really sexy here. :p hahaha...

Recent Quotes from Analysts

2006-11-24T11:40:00.000+08:00

陸東:
任何一個牛市末期，市場一定會出現瘋癲，但這個現象目前仍然未在香港出現。

從歷史的角度看，股市往往在市盈率達到二十二至二十五倍時才會見頂。股市見頂也將伴隨信貸擴張的情況，但目前沒有這方面的跡象可見。

（信報：二零零六年十一月十七日第二頁）

曹仁超：
二線股利之所在

根據資料，過去五十年[口係]本港投資優質二線股，乃致富之道。今天唔少藍籌股三十年前亦二線股，思捷環球（330）五年前仲係二線股，利豐（494）十年前一樣係二線股。美國Ibbotson Associates資料研究公司翻查美國過去八十年股票歷史（由1926年至今），如1926年投資一萬美元鰠十隻優質二線股身上，到今年價值係三千九百六十萬美元！最易賺錢鮋方法係眼見自己投資鮋二線股漸漸變成藍籌股。投資就係找尋邊一隻股票係明天鮋思捷或利豐？林治粛著作中話：投資二線股令佢鰠十三年內資本升值二十七倍，所以四十六歲便退休去享受人生！今天鮋[口係]軟、沃爾瑪，過去亦曾經係二線股；甚至通用電氣，一百年前亦係二線股！Google[口係]五年內由二線股變成互聯網巨無霸。可惜二線股大行好少推介（因為佣金收入有限，唔值得花心機），卻係投資者利之所在。

（信報：二零零六年十一月二十日理财投资「曹仁超——投資者日記」）

Janice: 離家出走

2006-11-23T01:57:00.001+08:00

Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year 2006

2006-11-19T23:43:00.000+08:00

So happened I read from Wine Spectator's email alert and got to know that they have just released the Wine of the Year. It ignited my interest in going into the wine business, or I'd better say, to reinforce my faith in it. The Wine of the Year is the Casanova di Neri from Tuscany in Italy. It's not too expensive - US$70 per bottle. Maybe I'm not a learned wine drinker - 'cos it is totally unknown to me.

I understand that in Hong Kong, or most Asian countries, people buy wine like buying branded fashion, cosmetics but not really according to its quality. Same for wine. French ones should still be the most welcomed ones 'cos of its unchallenged reputation.

It might be true but having read the result of Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, also known as Judgement of Paris, its obviously not true. In that wine tasting competition, suprisingly, US wine won.

In this Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year 2006, there are 2 out of the top 5 are from France, whilst the rest of them are from Italy, US and Chile. To list the top 10, 3 are from France and 3 are from the US, 2 from Italy, 1 from Chile and 1 from Australia.

To my understanding, there're quite a lot of Aus/Chile/French wines available in Hong Kong. When compared, US wines are not as popular as it should be... haha... that's where the opportunity is!

Let's see how the Wine Spectator Wine of the Year goes:

Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines we've reviewed over the past 12 months and select the most exciting for our Top 100.

In 2006, we reviewed nearly 13,500 wines from around the world in blind tastings. Nearly 3,000 of them earned outstanding ratings (90 points or higher on our 100-point scale). We then narrowed the list down based on four criteria: quality (represented by score); value (reflected by release price); availability (measured by case production or cases imported); and an X-factor we call excitement. But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect our editors' judgment and enthusiasm about the wines we tasted.

Thirteen countries are represented in our 2006 list, making this the most diverse group in the history of the Top 100, which debuted in 1988. The average score of the group is 93 points, while the average price is $49. We hope our selections stimulate discussion, and lead people to a deeper engagement with the world of wine.

From http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Free/Top100-Main/0,4612,,00.html

Here's the list:

Let's find out more great wine and enjoy! :)

My Favourite Pieces

2006-11-14T01:45:00.000+08:00

I'd be quite a boring person. When I like a musical piece very much, I could keep on listening it again and again and again for a quite long period of time, i.e. 1-3 months, non-stop on my laptop / PCs whenever I turned it on, or play it again and again on my iPod. All these years the 'luckiest' pieces I've been listening to could be listed as follows, just name a few:

Vivialdi's Gloria (RV 589)

The Nightmare Before Christmas sound track

Janice's 心亂如麻
Mozart's Piano Concerto No.21 2^nd Movement

haha... the choices' range is quite wide. Anyway. My latest favourit is definitely this. For a while I luv it to an extent that I use the mouse and click the notes one by one with my midi writing programme and play it again and again on the PC using midi... although the sound effect is not good, I really enjoy the busy but tidy and structural countrapuntal movements and I really appreciate the virtuosity of the trumpet... it's super! So among my favourite music I'd put it here. Enjoy!:

J S Bach's Brandenburg Conerto No.2 3^rd movement: Allegro Assai

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

2006-11-10T01:23:00.000+08:00

I like J S Bach but I seldom listen to his choral work. It's always a lot better to be listen to choral works in a live concert than before the hi-fi at home.

This piece got my attention 'cos I'm teaching my student on Cert. Music and its one of the set pieces - the famous Bach's Cantata, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140 (Wake ye maids! hark, strikes the hour).¹ The more I understand this piece the more interesting I found it.

I'd teach my student on what a Cantata² is, how a Cantata is structured, its instrumental settings, or why the lyrics are in German³ (but not in Latin?) and something like that. However, I found something more interesting - its about the content of the lyrics.

The subject of this Cantata, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, is based on the Gospel for the 27^th Sunday after Trinity, the parable of the ten virgins (St Matthew xxv, 1-13). Philipp Nicolai, expanded this idea further: Jesus is the bridegroom, Zion the bride; all men are invited to partake of the marriage feast. It is a Christian idea, but not necessarily a Catholic one. The idea of Jesus being the bridegroom also exists in the Catholic Church, but the bride is not Zion. Zion is most often designated as Jerusalem (See further). The bride usually means the Church instead (See further). So Philipp Nicolai's idea would not appear in Catholic's context.

Anyway, its doubtlessly a masterpiece. Enjoy!

¹ It is not the direct transation of German. Some others would translate Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme to "Sleepers Awake, the Voice is Calling" (this example is from Wikipedia) The translation I used here is from Bärenreiter Kassel's version.

²Cantata is a set of vocal music, usually consists of chorale, solo, duet/trio, accompanied by instruments, on some stories, either sacred or secular, performed without stage and make-ups. It is a popular genre in Baroque Period and J S Bach's a famous writer of this genre.

³Contrasting with Catholic religious music which were always written in Latin, using German in lyric sacred writing is the tradition of Lutheran established by Martin Luther in Germany.

財經演員與神猴

2006-11-09T02:15:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong Economic Journal (信報) and 林行止could always give me some hilarious suprises.

Mr Lin quoted the result of comparing the stock picking result of the US famous stock television personality, former hedge fund manager and he has a Juris Doctor degree in Havard Law School, and Leonard the Wonder Monkey. Of course, I don't think there's really such a monkey but its merely a character representing random pick of stocks. The result is that the Monkey won over Mr Cramer.

Here's the methodology:

If the recommendation is buy and the stock outperforms the index over the 30 days following the recommendation, then it is counted as a good pick. Otherwise the result is counted as a bad pick. If the recommendation is sell, the results are reversed; the recommendation is good if the index beats the stock, and bad otherwise.

To calculate the average return on investment, we add all the returns for buy recommendations, then subtract the returns for sell recommendations, then divide by the number of recommendations

Why they launch this funny thing is because they want to see how good a market commentator and advisor is when compared with a random decision of buying or selling stocks.

Enjoy!

The Website: http://cramerwatch.org/

Efforts Are Growing to Trim the Fat from Employees -- and Employers' Health Care Costs

2006-11-09T01:27:00.000+08:00

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?
articleid=1598&CFID=2586855&CFTOKEN=61491563

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Published: November 01, 2006 in Knowledge@Wharton

Perhaps it was the statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta that more than 30% of all adults in the United States are obese, a number that has more than doubled since 1980. Perhaps it was the new report that obesity may cause as many as 365,000 deaths per year at a time when Americans reportedly spend over $40 million annually on books, products and programs to help them lose weight. Or maybe it was the CDC's dire prediction that "current data indicate that the situation is worsening rather than improving." For whatever reason, the latest statistics have flagged obesity as a serious health issue that corporations can no longer ignore.

Yet according to Wharton experts and others, the dramatic increase in obesity is not what's driving employers throughout the country to address the problem. This past year, these experts say, companies seem to have declared war on fat for one simple reason: Obesity is now recognized as a real drain on companies' health care costs. "I don't think the increase in obesity, the sheer numbers, are what's driving companies to take this seriously," says Peter Cappelli, director of Wharton's Center for Human Resources. "The big driver is really the cost of health care, which corporations have to bear."

"We do know that obesity is a strong predictor of medical expenses," adds Mark V. Pauly, Wharton professor of health care systems, business and public policy. "The business case for doing something to reduce obesity is not that employees would be more productive, but that business expenses would be less costly in terms of health insurance programs." The general trend for most employers, he says, "is that sooner or later, the deal you get on health insurance depends on how expensive your workers are. And when it comes to obesity, what's made it more prominent is that it's become more prevalent. Obesity in employees and dependents is starting to get employers' attention."

A $93 Billion Medical Bill

National business advocacy groups and associations now call obesity a "preventable condition" -- a word choice that both recognizes the problem and acknowledges efforts to do something about it. According to workplace surveys, the vast majority of organizations with 200 or more employees say they offer programs designed to help improve the health of employees, while about a third of smaller companies offer programs as well. The most prevalent fitness initiatives in companies today include on-site fitness centers or sponsored fitness programs, along with web-based tools for tracking wellness and information.

Yet health care experts also say that many of these programs fail to deliver long-term, significant improvements. Today's spotlight on obesity in the workplace comes at a time when companies are beginning to realize that they have to do more than offer employees access to weight loss incentive programs, fitness centers and educational seminars. As a result, corporations like Home Depot and Dow Chemical are joining forces with major universities and The National Institutes of Health to develop environmental interventions to help people manage their diet and weight -- not just pump up the workplace with gleaming, state-of-the-art fitness equipment.

Based on statistics, the task is daunting. Obesity and overweight conditions contribute as much as $93 billion to the nation's yearly medical bill, according to studies reviewed by the National Business Group on Health, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that represents large companies. Of that amount, the total cost of obesity to U.S. companies is estimated at more than $13 billion per year -- a price tag that includes $8 billion for added health insurance costs, $2.4 billion for paid sick leave, $1.8 billion for life insurance and $1 billion for disability insurance. According to recent studies on the economic cost of workplace obesity, that translates into 39 million lost work days, 239 million days where work activity is restricted, 90 million sick days or days in bed and 63 million visits to physicians.

In October, Adam Gilden Tsai, instructor of medicine in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, further refined the financial costs associated with being overweight to include a per-person charge. At a conference on obesity, Tsai noted that when compared to a person of average weight, an obese person accounts for an additional $1,034 every year in doctors' visits, medications and medical procedures. "I don't think anyone would question that obesity is a significant contributor to health care costs," he says.

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI), which correlates with their amount of body fat. For instance, according to the CDC, a person who is 5'9" and weighs 125 pounds to 168 pounds is considered a healthy weight; the same person weighing 169 pounds to 202 pounds is overweight; and the same person weighing more than 203 pounds is considered obese. When statistics are tallied to show how many Americans are obese or overweight, more than half today fall into one category or the other.

First in Fat

Among developed countries, the United States has the most obese and overweight people, according to Jean Lemaire, Wharton professor of insurance and actuarial science. "Americans are much heavier than they were 10 years ago and much heavier than other people around the world," says Lemaire. "Life expectancy in the U.S., which is among the richest countries, only ranks 48^th in the world. Being overweight is comparable to having diabetes or having high blood pressure. It is a true diagnosable disease that affects life expectancy."

According to statistics compiled by the National Business Group on Health through its Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity, obesity is now considered a greater trigger for health problems and increased health spending than smoking or drinking. Based on statistics from a 2002 report called, "The Effects of Obesity, Smoking and Drinking on Medical programs and Costs," published in the Journal of Health Affairs, individuals who are obese have 30% to 50% more chronic medical problems than those who smoke or drink heavily.

Specifically, the CDC notes that being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides), Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon).

As obesity rises, the medical conditions associated with obesity have helped trigger an increase in health care costs. The National Business Group on Health notes that obesity accounts for approximately 9% of total medical care expenditures each year, and that 8% of private employer medical claims are due to overweight and obesity.

All of this begs the question: Just how big a slice of the rise in medical costs can be attributed to obesity? In 2004, the last year for which data are available, the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC) reported that total health care expenditures rose 7.9%, for a total of $1.9 trillion in health care spending. When analyzing increases in medical spending from 1987 to 2001, a 2004 report called, "The Impact of Obesity on Rising Medical Spending," documented that obesity drove 27% of these increased costs.

There's no doubt that rising health care expenses increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers. The NCHC notes that in 2005, "employer health insurance premiums increased by 9.2% -- nearly three times the rate of inflation." In an effort to counter these statistics and to help employees adopt healthier life styles, employers are offering a variety of programs and benefits. For example:

With 1,400 people working at its headquarters in Newtown Square, Pa., enterprise software company SAP "believes it is important to partner with our employees related to their health and financial well being," says Brian Shay, SAP manager of rewards and recognition. Using a specially designed software program, SAP analyzes its employee population to help determine the "biggest use of prescription drugs" and the most common medical conditions. "Then we target our wellness programs to those areas. We found that obesity is one condition that we could work on and improve."

To help with that effort, the company now offers an on-site gym and outside gym discounts through its health care provider, as well as additional health and wellness programs. In 2007, SAP will roll out what Shay calls "health risk assessments," and then work to tailor health care programs to target areas like obesity or high blood pressure. The company plans to give cash incentives to employees who take the assessments, and may offer further financial rewards in 2008 for those who successfully improve their health risk assessment.

Though SAP does not have any specific statistics on how its programs may have lowered health care costs, Shay says he relies on existing analytical studies that predict a market rate of return between 3% and 5% from wellness programs. "We are hoping in the long run, say a three- to five-year period, that we will see a significant decrease in our medical costs," he says.
Over the last decade, the University of Pennsylvania's Division of Human Resources has provided a range of health and wellness programs for faculty and staff, including discounts on month-to-month fitness club memberships, health fairs on campus during the spring to provide information and health screenings, and health and wellness workshops throughout the year that address nutrition, exercise and ways to stop smoking.

In the 2006 academic year, the division added several programs to address obesity. Among them is a holiday weight and activity maintenance program called "Maintain, Don't Gain," where participants agree to weigh in before Thanksgiving and again after the New Year to encourage themselves and each other to not gain weight during the holiday season. Other initiatives include a Weight Watchers program on campus, starting the second week of January, and a spring walking program, beginning in March.

Terri Ryan, HR communications manager, also notes that the University's "medical plans are very involved with issues related to obesity." Health care plans offered through Independence Blue Cross include coverage for gastric bypasses, and promise $200 back to members who successfully participate in approved weight management programs. In addition, the University's Aetna HMO plan is in the process of adding a new Weight Management Discount Program to their portfolio of health and wellness initiatives that will allow members and eligible dependents to get discounts on Jenny Craig weight loss programs and products.
Lorrie Reynolds, director of population health and wellness for Independence Blue Cross, notes that the region's 9,500 employees probably mirror national statistics, which means that over 50% of the health insurance company's workforce is overweight or obese. Though Reynolds says that the company doesn't offer financial incentives for employees to lose weight, there are numerous weight reduction challenge programs (similar to those offered to subscribers); support groups; voluntary screenings for weight, blood pressure and cholesterol; online and web-based resources, and telephone counseling for people trying to lose weight.

"We really try to take a comprehensive approach and not zero in on one particular way," she says. Fighting obesity "is very difficult. We offer discount programs for participation, but they are not goal based. We realize it is a challenge, and not something [that people] are going to be successful at over night."

Carrots and Sticks

Data to confirm if and how these programs work is hard to come by. Wharton's Pauly cautions that "with wellness and fitness programs I have reviewed, the sweeping generalization is that their results are mixed in terms of effectiveness." In fact, in 2004, two-thirds of the companies surveyed by the National Business Group on Health reported that only 25% of their workers participated in existing fitness programs -- and it wasn't even clear if the participants were already fit or chronically unfit. Pauley also cautions that programs that offer financial incentives for employees to become fit are often a "delicate issue. Even if you spin it as a carrot, it can become a stick."

This may help explain why companies like Dow Chemical are taking a different approach. As part of a four-year study being funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dow is promoting weight management and physical activity for roughly 10,000 employees at 12 work sites around the country. The study, called "LightenUP," uses environmental approaches and interventions to supplement existing individual-based program efforts.

In coordination with principal investigator Ron Z. Goetzel of Cornell University and the study team, Dow plans to work with food service and vending companies to reduce the amount of high-fat and high-sugar items offered; put up signs to encourage people to take the stairs instead of the elevator; offer weight management tracking programs, and implement walking paths and routes around the buildings. "Providing opportunities for employees to develop a healthy lifestyle at the workplace has become a more strategic focus of the company," says Goetzel, director of Cornell's Institute for Health and Productivity Studies.

Karen Tully, Dow's global health promotion leader, notes that over 60% of Dow employees in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. Without giving a specific figure, Tully says that the 20% increase in health care costs for overweight Dow employees tracks the national average. By participating in programs like LightenUP, Tully argues, Dow is not only "addressing overweight and obesity issues" but anticipating a substantial return on investment. According to Goetzel, preliminary reports from the study indicate that if the program succeeds in reducing individual employee risk factors, the subsequent reduction in corporate health care costs would be more than double the company's initial investment in the program, which Tully says "would be a huge return."

Although the potential benefits to individuals and companies are obvious, there's something about fighting obesity in the workplace that gives Cappelli and others pause. Why? "It's another boundary that's being crossed between the lives of the employees and the interest of the employers," says Cappelli. Putting the spotlight on obesity is particularly unsettling because "unlike smoking -- which is clearly bad, not only for the individuals who do it, but for the ones around them -- obesity has no effects on the people around you. It's just about you."

From here on in, Cappelli notes, "the door is open for employers to think about all kinds of other employee-related issues which effectively cost them money. This has not been examined critically in any serious way. People in health issues see [weight-related initiatives] as a good thing. And the current interest in curbing obesity will probably stand because no one is pushing back on the employee rights' side. But if you start getting into other aspects of people's lives, you may see groups pushing back."

For instance, Cappelli says, the "next step on this continuum [of corporate influence] is for [activities] that might affect you and your performance at work. Some professions already prohibit their executives from participating in extreme sports." Cappelli also notes that companies may already be exerting some unspoken influence on the size of families by offering cafeteria benefits that index the costs according to the number of children receiving benefits. "You have, effectively, created the incentive for fewer kids," he suggests. "No one has thrown up boundaries to this, because it's still primarily an abstract concern for people," Cappelli adds. "And as long as employers put their toe in the water and there's no objection, others will follow."

The Pearl Report: Conflict between Farmers and Local Government in China

2006-11-04T13:16:00.000+08:00

So happened I watched the Pearl Report on Nov 4, 2006 afternoon and its about the conflict between farmers and local government in China. In many instances the local government officials would sell the farmers farmland without their consent, at a much higher price to the buyer, and with minimal or even no reimbursement to the farmers. There are also instances that the local government officials did not reimburse what they have promised.

It seems that this kind of conflicts should have happened in the ancient China (its just from my impression - need to research further on this) and still continue now. What's really sad is that the mentality of Chinese people have not really developed: the farmers still have not had the chance to be educated and to know their own rights about protecting their own properties. The government officials still think that they'd the emperor of their territory.

But it is a complicated problem sometimes, involving a lot of interest among different parties. I could just bookmark them here for you all's reference. It takes time to read them all and summarize something which looks sensible.

It would definitely be a very serious problem for the modern China 'cos its no longer a problem that the Chinese Government could conceal...

Fire station wrecked in blaze had no alarm

2006-10-27T10:33:00.000+08:00

Fire station wrecked in blaze had no alarm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/26/nfire26.xml

By Stewart Payne

Last Updated: 2:32am BST 27/10/2006

A fire station destroyed in a blaze did not have a smoke alarm fitted, an embarrassed brigade spokesman admitted yesterday.


	The fire station which was destroyed in a blaze

The retained fire station at Arundel, West Sussex, was found to be ablaze when its part-time firemen arrived for work yesterday morning.

Smoke was belching from the unmanned building and they had to call on colleagues from neighbouring towns to put it out.

Crews in six fire engines arrived from Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Worthing and East Preston but were unable to prevent the destruction of the building and the appliance inside. It emerged that the fire station was not fitted with any form of fire or smoke alarm.

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service: "A fire alarm system is designed to save lives, whereas this building was unoccupied most of the time."

He added, however: "This incident just goes to show that fire can affect anyone.

"We don't know what caused the fire but we don't think it is arson at this stage. The fire station included a bay, a recreation room, an office and kitchenette."

Nobody was injured but about 20 neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution as firemen tackled the blaze.

Temporary fire cover is being arranged for the area while the station remains out of service.

Two engines crash on 999 call

Two fire engines crashed into each other on the way to a fire, Kent Fire and Rescue Service said yesterday. One ran into the back of the other as they attended a blaze in Chatham.

Four firemen were taken to hospital with whiplash and shock as two more engines were sent to deal with the fire. A fire service spokesman said an investigation was under way.

Sis sent it to me.... well... anything could happen in the UK... well well

儒家。關愚謙。德意志

2006-10-27T00:47:00.000+08:00

... 受儒家教育的人永遠以慈悲為懷，瞻前瞻後，就怕得罪對方，怕影響關係，結果讓人家欺負。美國和歐洲打起貿易仗上是互不相讓的，也並不因此而老死不相往來。

I read yesterday's Hong Kong Economic Journal (信報: Oct 25) and I had some special feeling on this statement in 關愚謙's 德意志 column. I always luv to read his essays. This statement really punches my heart that some Chinese people do think like the way he mentioned.

The essay I extracted from is about the acquisition of Siemens's mobile business by BenQ and was later wound up because of various reasons and many German believe that its BenQ's problem. BenQ is a Taiwan brand and it wants to step into the mobile phone market by acquiring Siemens's money-losing business. However, because of different cultural backgrounds and the lack of understanding in the western business models and culture BenQ was not succeeded in operating this mobile phone section. Mr Kwan tried to pursuade Chinese investors about the dangers and concerns about stepping into the western markets.

Maybe its because in China we do not have rule of law. We only have rule by law, and rule by the people. haha. Chinese seldom understand the necessity of processes, laws and the binding rules. Everything's just derive from their desire......

Quote: 我們這一代生意人

2006-10-26T07:58:00.000+08:00

Quote from 人在中環

難度雖然高，又唔代表一定做唔到。畢竟呢個世界，有太多太多可能啦，Life, is still good。

CK身邊差唔多年紀既生意佬朋友，承繼父業既彼彼皆是，創業既則寥寥可數。今時今日創業，大概比從前更難。

好多年前既一個暑假，CK做暑期工時認識左當時既老細Uncle Sam。Uncle Sam宜家六十幾歲，係一間玩具廠既老闆。七十年代香港經濟起飛，佢同佢細佬，兩兄弟搞左間廠出黎。大概佢地並唔係最出色既生意人，不過憑住努力，雖然做唔成超級富豪，但生活水準都算得上幾富裕。畢竟佢地由二十幾時歲住板間房開始不斷往上爬，到而家六十歲人，有能力坐擁何文田兩千幾呎大屋，供得起兩個仔女留學美國，呢幾十年既努力，都咪話唔野少。

CK偶然都會同Uncle Sam飲下茶。不過幾年前CK同佢講話諗住做生意既時侯，Uncle Sam係其中一個向CK大潑冷水既人。佢潑冷水既原因，係覺得我地呢一代後生仔，唔捱得苦，又容易放棄。童年時物質生活富足，養到我地個個生骨大頭菜咁。創業做生意需要無比毅力同會遇到好多挫折，好似CK呢死仔唔方捱得住云云。

CK當然唔認同Uncle Sam對我地呢一代人既偏見，至少，CK都自以為自己唔係佢口中講果種生骨大頭菜。不過話晒係長輩，無謂同老人家鬥氣啦。呢幾年CK都有keep住問 Uncle Sam一做生意既心得同貼士，不過識左Uncle Same大大話話成十年有多，佢所講既生意心得來來去去都係離不開要「肯捱」同「死做爛做」諸如此類，然之後例必撘句：「你地後生仔唔明架啦！」啊！收到。

CK從來冇抹殺過上一代生意人所付出既努力。不過，時代唔同左，成功既途徑都改變左。聽Uncle Sam講，30年前佢地最初創業既時侯，兩兄弟都係求其個爛鬼豆腐潤既工廠單位，買兩部爛鬼機器仔，再請兩個工廠妹就開工。Uncle Sam同佢細佬，既係老細，又係工人，每日由朝做到晚。咁既山寨廠模式，又可以比佢地接到外國大廠既訂單。做下做下，就越做越大，賺錢就越黎越多。你而家聽Uncle Sam既故事，好似天芳夜譚，咁既規模咁既門面可以接到來佬大廠既單？就係唔到你唔信。30年前既香港，成個經濟都未成型，咩都有可能發生。你間廠個門面樣衰咩？冇規模咩？你對手一樣係咁。大家一齊起步，要賺錢，根本唔需要打贏行家。大家都係中小企，胃口有限，個餅大家根本食唔晒。唔似而家，大財團霸佔左大部份市場，佢地既胃口特大，佢咬左個餅一啖，淨番餅碎俾千千萬萬既中小企分黎食，而家先入行創業，梗係難啦。幾十年前，阿李超人都唔係好似而家咁惡啦，下話？

我地呢一代創業人既難處，除左市場被大財團佔去大部份之外，大公司經過多年既進步同資金既投入，由門面到服務質素既水平都經比以前大幅提高。消費者見慣大公司產品、服務同形象既standard，對全行既expectation都不其然提高左。中小企經營既困難，正係要用比大財團少N倍既資金，做出令消費者感覺上同大企業差唔多既質素。難度之高，絕唔係好似Uncle Sam所講，一招「死做爛做」可以解決。

呢一代創業人，一樣有靠創意發大達既例子，Google、Youtube既故事，大家耳熟能詳。不過，呢個年代同30年前既分別係，宜家一百萬個創業人裡面，大概先會出產到一、兩個天才，佢地有本事極速賺到幾百億，成為超級富豪，其餘九十九萬九千呢，大部份都係浮浮沉沉，吊住鹽水咁啦。30年前呢？或者佢地絕大部份都冇天份成為億萬富豪，但係憑住一招「死做爛做」，只要肯捱肯努力，一百個創業人裡面，總有二、三十個可以脫貧，能夠成為「比中產更好」既富裕階層。

今日做生意要贏並唔係容易。由板間房到何文田豪宅既港式奮鬥故事，究竟仲可以我地呢一代生意人既身上發生幾多次？又或者可唔可以CK身上發生？

難度雖然高，又唔代表一定做唔到。畢竟呢個世界，有太多太多可能啦，Life, is still good。

You have to tell money how you want them to go into your pocket - II

2006-10-25T01:42:00.000+08:00

Peter Lynch's Secret

You don't need a lot in your lifetime. You only need a few good stocks in your lifetime. I mean how many times do you need a stock to go up ten-fold to make a lot of money? Not a lot.

Was that your (Peter Lynch's) secret?

Well, I think the secret is if you have a lot of stocks, some will do mediocre, some will do okay, and if one of two of 'em go up big time, you produce a fabulous result. And I think that's the promise to some people. Some stocks go up 20-30 percent and they get rid of it and they hold onto the dogs. And it's sort of like watering the weeds and cutting out the flowers. You want to let the winners run. When the fun ones get better, add to 'em, and that one winner, you basically see a few stocks in your lifetime, that's all you need. I mean stocks are out there. When I ran Magellan, I wrote a book. I think I listed over a hundred stocks that went up over ten-fold when I ran Magellan and I owned thousands of stocks. I owned none of these stocks. I missed every one of these stocks that went up over ten-fold. I didn't own a share of them. And I still managed to do well with Magellan. So there's lots of stocks out there and all you need is a few of 'em. So that's been my philosophy. You have to let the big ones make up for your mistakes.

In this business if you're good, you're right six times out of ten. You're never going to be right nine times out of ten. This is not like pure science where you go, "Aha" and you've got the answer. By the time you've got "Aha," Chrysler's already quadrupled or Boeing's quadrupled. You have to take a little bit of risk.

Extracted from:
Interview with Peter Lynch | PBS
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/betting/pros/lynch.html)

I read from 曹仁超's article on Hong Kong Economic Journal (信報) today and he mentioned Peter Lynch's secret which I have put in this article. Its true that we could not expect every stock we chose would rise and will not fall. Most people earn much because they chose the right stock, then buy and hold. Just like Walmart and Microsoft 20 years ago. Yet 20 years ago they're not the 1st tier stocks.

That's why an analysis on the company's balance sheet is important if you are to take this strategy.

I also read another paragraph lately which is quite related to this blog's topic from the reading, The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham: (Your Money and Your Brain: p.220)

... It turns out that our brains are hardwired to get us into investing trouble; humans are pattern-seeking animals. Psychologists have shown that if you present people with a random sequence-and tell them that it's unpredictable-they will neverthelesss insist on trying to guess what's coming next.

Why it is related to picking the right stock is because you have to do the analsyis and be confident with it. Here analysis means to do financial analysis on the company's business situation, but not the analysis on the trend of the stock price.... (to be continued)

《熊貓萬能俠》

2006-10-23T00:24:00.000+08:00

Is it lovely?
Sometimes its really interesting to search on the web. I've just read Yahoo! News and found the name of 《熊貓萬能俠》. In Hong Kong 'Panda' means those who got under-eye circles and probably you'd think about An An and Jia Jia in Ocean Park.

The English (Official) name for 《熊貓萬能俠》is Panda-Z. To know about this cute guy you'd click:

http://www.panda-z.net/index.html

That's a Japanese site. I do not have much intention to know more about it but its really cute that I can't resist not putting it onto my blog, hahaha. :p

I just realize that in the hands of Japanese they'd simply everything into something cute and put in animation. P's right. Jap luvs 2 things: cute things & gals.

Astrology Forecast for Pisces - Oct 2006

2006-10-22T02:08:00.000+08:00

You are now being challenged to grow and to evolve, sometimes by being asked to deal with challenging situations that are completely unanticipated. By responding to those types of situations, you reveal your character, true feelings, and values, and you may also discover your true life's purpose. Sometimes we can't imagine how we will feel in certain situations - not until we are in them. Your sign is a highly pensive, philosophical sign, and this quality helps you deal with change better than most. - from Susan Miller's Astrologyzone

I have been a fan of Susan Miller for quite a long while although I found that for a period of time her forecast is not very accurate (at least to me). Well, or as a Catholic I should not be a fan of an astrologer. Anyway - I have my own reason. :p

I also read this from S's blog:

還沒長大

有這種缺點的男女，不願意表現出成熟負責任的態度，結果迫使他們的伴侶扮演父母的角色。哥林多前書十三章11節說，「我作孩子的時候，話語像孩子，心思像孩子，意念像孩子，既成了人，就把孩子的事丟棄了。」耶穌希望我們有赤子之心，但不是幼稚，你要找一個成年人做伴侶，一個可靠的人。當你和一個不可靠的人在一起，最後一定會對他失去信任和尊敬。還沒長大的另一個症兆是消極、沒有原動力，人生沒有方向，總是遲遲不肯做決定。有一些男女在事業上雄心勃勃，卻連賺錢養都不夠，銀行沒有儲蓄，孩子沒有足夠的教育費...；如果對方總想不勞而獲，他就是還沒長大。

That's really true. It is good to be a kid, especially when you want to escape from something uncertain, or something you do not want to see and want to face. Being a follower of Christianity sometimes I'd just think that 'cos Jesus said that if we want to go to Heaven we have to be like kids. Yet it doesn't mean that its to stay acting and behaving like a kid. Its just that we have to have 赤子之心.

So... what's that all related?

Its that I'm in a situation that I have to face some uncertainty, which has been told in Susan's forecast for October, and I know I'm quite determined this time not to avoid it, though, I still have fear in facing them. It's my habit to think the dark side, the negative side inevitably for something I do not know. Some people could think positively and get fun from it. But that's not me. I tend to use the teaching above to tell myself that I should be a kid and then mis-interpret its meaning with intent.

Maybe its time I pray intensely for God's help. It'd be a positive development but I'm just being too worrisome. :p

Let's say Hail Mary together:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace;
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.

Amen.

Salesian Fathers used to teach us to seek help from St Mary. Thank you.

Mr. Market's Parable

2006-10-18T08:37:00.000+08:00

Extracted from 'The Intelligent Investor', Benjamin Graham (pp.204-205)

Imagine that in some private business you own a small share that cost you $1,000. One of your partners, named Mr. Market, is very obliging indeed. Every day he tells you what he thinks your interest is worth and furthermore offers either to buy you out or to sell you an additional interest on that basis. Sometimes his idea of value appears plausible and justified by business developments and prospects as you know them. Often, on the other hand, Mr. Market lets his enthusiasm or his fears run away with him, and the value he proposes seems to you a little short of silly.

If you are a prudent investor or a sensible businessman, will you let Mr. Market's daily communication determine your view of the value of a $1,000 interest in the enterprise? Only in case you agree with him, or in case you want to trade with him. You may be happy to sell out to him when he quotes you a ridiculously high price, and equally happy to buy from him when his price is low. But the rest of the time you will be wiser to form your own ideas of the value of your holdings, based on full reports from the company about its operations and financial position.

The true investor is in that very position when he owns a listed common stock. He can take advantage of the daily market price or leave it alone, as dictated by his own judgment and inclination. He must take cognizance of important price movements, for otherwise his judgment will have nothing to work on. Conceivably they may give him a warning signal which he will do well to heed - this in plain English means that he is to sell his shares because the price has gone down, foreboding worse things to come. In our view such signals are misleading at least as often as they are helpful. Basically, price fluctuations have only one significant meaning for the true investor. They provide him with an opportunity to buy wisely when prices fall sharply and to sell wisely when they advance a great deal. At other times he will do better if he forgets about the stock market and pays attention to his dividend returns and to the operating results of his companies.

Self-Marketing Could Blind Our Eyes

2006-10-12T11:17:00.000+08:00

Recently I am involved a troublesome email war in office. S is pretty blunt and she's feeling unhappy for the salary she got paid and I know she wants to leave for a while. She used to leave sharp at 6pm and she might have some internal 'fight' with others.

D is another guy who joined us with the company my company acquired lately. He looks ok and at least normal and he's the kind of person, at least he appears to be, someone who would avoid quarrel. To me quarreling is nothing really bad, but to many people, quarrelling equals to impoliteness, not co-operating.

Obviously S would quarrel with some others and doesn't seem co-operating. But to my understanding she knows what she's doing and she is more capable at work. D is not, though. D is trying to 'stick' to some other departments and always claimed that (s)he needs S's info to complete something and all things are stuck at her.

D tries to help with different people and I believe that its with the intention to get some chances to switch to other departments. Some management people trust him, or at least, they didn't show disagreement with him... although, to my 'professional' judgement he's not very capable. I got confirmed my thought with my team members but still 'cos of D's good attitude he got the trust he needs although he hasn't got the chance to switch yet.

P said that being not nasty is to help the boss. That might be true. But to me if I'm a manager I'd think being fair is more important. I'd rather sacrifice stability. 'cos in the future people would tend to find a more stable solution then to find a right and good solution which might require a lot of changes.

Probably I still have passion to contribute to a company where I work at. Also, I might have some in-born character of striking for fairness and thus eventhough someone appears to be kind and nice but stayed silent under unfair situation, I'd rather (s)he being nasty always but would stand up and fight against unfairness.

指插肛門止嗝醫獎得主﹕無下次

2006-10-08T20:15:00.000+08:00

(明報) 10月 07日星期六 05:10AM

http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061006/12/1u8r0.html

【明報專訊】在獲悉自己的論文得到搞笑醫學獎時，美國田納西醫學院的費斯米爾直言也不知應感光榮還是尷尬。他的論文題為《以手指按摩直腸制止不受控打嗝》。

學者奧登、奧利文和巴森，憑研究用手指頭插進肛門加以按摩，可以阻止惱人的不斷打嗝停止，贏得「殊榮」。他說﹕「我是個嚴肅的人，估不到一篇我在1987年寫的論文，今天忽然又重來纏住我。」他強調自己是個醫生，「寧可人們日後因為其心臟研究而記得我」。

費氏是於20年前首次（也是最後一次）親試此法。當時一名病人找他，表示已連續3天打嗝。費氏試過各種標準法子如拉病人的舌頭、令他感到作嘔窒息等，但都失敗，他最後使出此手段，因為他明白能透過此按摩方法刺激迷走神經減慢快速心跳，而刺激同一迷走神經也能令人停止打嗝。「最後我把手指塞進去（他的肛門）」作慢動作式按摩，30秒後打嗝就停了。費氏說﹕「我會否再這樣做﹖不﹗」

You have to tell money how you want them to go into your pocket - I

2006-10-04T12:00:00.000+08:00

My frenz should know that I always want $$ could go into my pocket while I'm sleeping. From the morality perspective, I have been thinking hard whether its kinda 好逸惡勞 but it is absolutely not. I guess many of us has to change our mindset. On the contrary, it is a responsible act for your family.

You would hear from news that some people's wives and children feel very upset because their husbands / fathers passed away in accidents and they do not know how they could live afterwards. Probably these men have been very diligent and earn $$ for their family by working extremely hard. But all these have gone when they passed away. Esp. when people in grassroot.

Some other people do earn a lot of moeny but you could hardly find that them working very hard. Others would seldom praise them publicly (but the world has been changing, I admit) except the real typcoons. On the contrary, some one would even 'red eye' these people. Its obviously some kind of jealousy. If these people are given the chance of having $$ easily, I could hardly believe that they would refuse this offer.

Then it comes to the most important point here: who give these people these opportunities? To my understanding, there are only 2 possibilities: luck and diligence. I mentioned that some people work really hard to earn a living with minute wages and it seems that I tried to imply that it is of no use to work diligently. It is not right.

There is a difference between (merely) working hard and working hard after you have thoroughly thought about what you are doing.

Some people work really hard and earned handsome money because they have decided to put their effort in an efficient way and get what they want. Some people, also work diligently, for other initiatives, such as some strong desire and wish. It is still ok because to them the value is not inclined to money. Yet quite a number of us would simply work hard and ‘pray’or ‘wish’ for handsome return without thinking carefully whether it is a good way to spend their effort. It sounds pretty utilitarian but it is very true. Our time is limited. We could not do all the things we want and we have to choose carefully.

I always think that it is not something being taught in classrooms, and even not really grasped by school teachers. So when students were taught they have to work hard, they would work hard ONLY.

It really resembles the Rich Dad, Poor Dad story. The well-educated dad got debts with him even when his life ended but the other dad simply has his assets grow and grow intelligently.

Its just like when we work hard for our companies and got some salary and you felt satisfied for the pay cheques. That’s your instruction to the money outside and you are trying to prevent them to rush into your pocket because you felt satisfied.

Think: your boss earned $$ from the deals and gave you part of the margin and he got the rest. So that $$ must be larger than your pay cheques.

Why don’t we get that $$ but only the pay cheques? ‘cos we are satisfied with our current situation, although sometimes we still have the strong wish to become wealthy, you are doing nothing except having that strong wish. If you feel hungry, your stomach sounds but the food can’t listen unless you put them into your mouth. Its just like money. You have to do something which might not be difficult to get them into your pocket.

There are some little ways of which you could place your instruction and money could came in:

Investment: stocks, funds, bonds

Deposit in banks

Buying an apartment and rent it out etc...

Some people simply are afraid of getting lost in investments. Then you’d just buy some secured funds (although after deducting the admin fee you might not have any return), or buying an apartment and rent it out. Or we could just learn how to invest and avoid mistakes. Some investments like buying HSBC stocks could have better return than putting your money in banks, although there are really some minute opportunities that the stock would drop dramatically.

Every day we are facing different challenges and we do not know what would happen tomorrow. Then why we are so worrying about getting lost in investment? It makes no sense to predict the future and its the challenge we are encountering every second. At least from buying stocks you could see some pattern and there are some data of which you could do some analysis. I’d better say, the fear of drop is the fear of taking responsibilities.

(To be continued)

視有若無，視盈若虛

2006-10-01T00:25:00.000+08:00

I've been a (big?) TVB fans and P always laughed at me on that... haha. Lately I'm watching 《匯通天下》 of TVB and in one of its episodes 喬本業 (姜大偉飾), the owner of 鼎豐盛票號, a reputed 'bank' in Shanxi, taught 范子齊 (陳豪飾) this eight-word phrase: 視有若無，視盈若虛. I guess its the usual practice that Chinese would luv to use phrases like this to generalize something. They'd say this phrase out without detailed explanation and hope that the ones whom they taught would understand it bit by bit themselves.

I checked where 視有若無，視盈若虛 came from and its not something written from the plot writer. Its a famous quote from 常萬達, a famous Shanxi banker of the Qing Dynasty. The quote implies that if you are wealthy, you should live as if you are not. That means you should not have luxurious life even though you are wealthy and you have to keep assertive even if your business is already profitable.

The Shang (常) family, to my surprise, is doing a real big business during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. Their banks are opened not just within Shanxi and China, it also has branches from Mongolia to Moscow. In fact, it seems that it is not merely a bank, its a conglomerate. For further info please refer to http://www.windosi.com/bbs/Browers.aspx?FID=3157.

I know this principle for quite a while esp. when I moved into this new home. Wealthy people most of the time do not dress rich. They might be similar to those who stay in parks Yaumatei, wander around and join the Chinese chess with other men there. When you have nurtured the habit of thinking of different ways in earning money, it is the first step of success of being a wealthy man.

After you have that habit, you have to keep it and become assertive and diligent. Diligence is always regarded a very important characteristic of being wealthy and successful, although it does not mean that you would benefit if you are hardworking. It would only increase your chance of being successful. What's more important is that you have chosen the right direction where you could put your effort in.

I hope that we are all in the right direction and putting our efforts in farming the seed of success.

Mind Brick Building Project

The objective has been met

Hong Kong Police covering up 火炬護衛手?

食蟲蟲救世界 泰國高峰會 倡吃昆蟲紓糧荒

安濟橋 Zhaozhou Bridge

Duty to stop in case of accidents - Road Traffic Ordinance (CAP 374) Section 56

一粒藥丸薯條任食 阻腸臟吸收脂肪 新藥便宜兼防癌

Diversity of opinions is a good thing

Another form of selection process

Putin - Person of the Year vs Maslow Hierarchy

看看過去的香港

The fall of democractic parties in Hong Kong

Home Rule from the new Australian PM Kevin Rudd

Its why we need democracy

貴州窮鄉推五合一民主公章

笑裏藏刀打擊對手

Astrology for Pisces - Oct 29

靠生意發達不足四成

Monks and China Rising

You have to ask

Pisces Daily Horoscope - Jul 20

Many owners of SMEs have a mission

Successful Factors

三字頭

My Scratch Book & Snowman

Life is Simple - The Art of Escape

God

硬漢子的大智慧

無論雨怎麼打，自由仍是會開花

En Primeur

愛在漫天風雨時

啡王騰達

The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.

老師誤指抄作文 資優生稱遭打壓

A Photo Trove, a Mounting Challenge

五窮六絕七翻身

五窮六絕七翻身

维基百科，自由的百科全书

嚴守止蝕

That's Encouraging!

2 additional tests for picking stocks

Piotroski's 9-step method of picking stocks

Lawyers might need to be jailed 'cos they are defending for the clients?

Is it a good sign?

2 Good Read from Web

[Quote]: 網絡實名要小心

將軍澳厚德街市

Mr Darcy was autistic?

Check it out

直播臭芝士發酵 80萬網民爭看

Why a pet in Paris could be the perfect tax dodge

Honour of Hong Kong - the Symbol of Ethnic Division

'True or Fall'

醫院滋事講粗口可被檢控

10 Reasons of Not Yet Having USD1m

百萬蝴蝶搬家 台封公路 既保蝶身安全 亦防交通意外

Reinhold Niebuhr - quoted by Donald Tsang

Return To Innocence

一次半次大調整，根本不算甚麼

曹仁超: 唔懂節流，無藥可救

Why Indians need to walk on aircrafts

Economy class syndrome

盼與他再活100年

Air Sahara and Spirit of Hong Kong

Mysteries - The New Trend

Pictures from Seoul

Ginseng Chicken Soup

Human Rights and Money

To be a millionaire

Kaspar Hauser

Some Wedding Music

My Wedding Place - Bethanie

Baking for Britain

"This is an extremely tough duck with a lot of spirit to live," he said. "This shows how tough and adaptable wildlife are."

Battle between Morality and Money: 鐘南山警告:人流感和禽流感可能同時爆發!

Should Our Sons and Daughters Move to Cooler Places?

World results

Global temperature change

Regional temperature changes from around the world

偏高水平入市代價高

食蟲蟲救世界泰國高峰會倡吃昆蟲紓糧荒

一粒藥丸薯條任食阻腸臟吸收脂肪新藥便宜兼防癌

老師誤指抄作文資優生稱遭打壓

百萬蝴蝶搬家台封公路既保蝶身安全亦防交通意外

事前做足功課人人皆可致富

指插肛門止嗝醫獎得主﹕無下次