【震波的一公升眼淚】 / "Blogger Vibratingball's 1 Litre of Tears"

I listened with sadness earlier today the radio interview "訪問震波的一公升眼淚" recorded by Issac Lam and his co-host Doris back in November/December 2006. My tears dropped when I heard this part of his story:

"... (my rough translation into English) Two weeks ago, I was there when my daughter woke up. I asked whether she had known I would be moving out. She said Mom had already told her about the divorce. "But, I will not miss you Dad, because we would still be seeing each other 我地第日重見面家嘛." I was happy to hear her said that. Then she added: "Besides, I would come visit you when I am older. 大過D我可以自己出嚟搵你都得家嘛." So, I figure my departure will not affect her psyche and will not hurt her, as opposed to leaving her later. It's time to leave ..."

Blogger 震波 committed suicide and passed away on September 13, 2009 in Hong Kong.

May you find peace in the Great Beyond.

References:

"訪問震波的一公升眼淚" radio interview 5-part series:

* (一)　http://venus.mocasting.com/p/89383

* (二)　http://venus.mocasting.com/p/90739

* (三)　http://venus.mocasting.com/p/92062

* (四)　http://venus.mocasting.com/p/93309

* (後篇)　http://venus.mocasting.com/p/94591

鮑照【朗月行】的英文翻譯 / An English translation of the "Moon Shine Song" by Bao Zhao 414-466

《朗月行》 鮑照

朗 月 出 東 山
照 我 綺 窗 前
窗 中 多 佳 人
被 服 妖 且 妍
靚 妝 坐 帷 裏
當 戶 弄 清 弦
鬢 奮 衞 女 迅
體 絕 飛 燕 先
為 君 歌 一 曲
當 作 朗 月 篇
酒 至 顏 自 解
聲 和 心 亦 宣
千 金 何 足 重
所 存 意 氣 間

"Moon Shine Song" by Bao Zhao (translated by Haricot)

The bright moon rises from the east mountain
Caressing me by the window in her milky fountain

Behind the window I see many beauties
Hidden in bright quilt and clothes oh so flimsy

Some sit with pretty make-up behind drapes and curtains
Others at the door strike their chords clear and certain

Think of Mme Wei's hairs flying,
..... bemoaning the fall of a dynasty
Think of Empress Feiyan's body dancing,
.... perishing from loss of gravity

May we dedicate this song to you My lord
May we call it "Moon Shine" in our thoughts

Let the wine flow to bring forth our happy faces
Let's sing in harmony to untie our hearts' laces

A thousand taels of gold is not worth its weight
When it's life's essence that needs to be saved

說文解字 / Explanations :

1. With respect to the line "鬢奮衞女迅":

* "衛女": I assume Bao Zhao was not talking abt the brid-woman in the ancient Chinese legend【精衞填海】 which according to 《山海經．北山經卷三》: ... 炎帝之女名曰女娃。女娃游于東海，溺而不返，故為精衞，常銜西山之木石，以堙於東海。
* Instead, I assume he was referring to a woman character closer to his era, also being referred to as 衛女 (Madame Wei) in the Chinese classic【後漢書 卷二十八上‧ 列傳第十八上】.
* Now the verbal translation could have been: "With her side-burn flying, Mme Wei was quick" but I took the liberty of adding the historical context.

2. With respect to the line "體絕飛燕先":

* Just like the previous line, it's hard for me in 2009 trying to guess what Bao Zhao meant to say more than 1,500 years ago. I assume he was talking abt the slender body of Empress Zhao Feiyan趙飛燕 as in the idiom "燕瘦環肥".
* Now, the verbal translation could have been: "Of all the slender bodies, Feiyan's came first" but again I took the liberty of adding in the historical context (the Empress committed suicide after she had lost power and had been demoted to become a commoner).

3. With respect to the line "所存意氣間":

* I find the concluding line the most difficult to interpret. Was the authour talking abt the essence of songs and dance, or the essence of living? I chose the latter because of my decision to add the historical context in 1 and 2 above.

References:

* 【月】: 網友 Space 兄 http://mindnecessity.blogspot.com/2009/10/414466424453-hinet.html

* "鮑照" 維基百科Wikipedia:
"... 鮑照（414年－466年），字明遠，人稱鮑參軍，東海（今江蘇漣水縣北）人，中國南北朝詩人。宋元嘉（424年—453年）中，劉義慶以他為國侍郎。其後成為太學博士、中書舍人。臨海王劉子頊鎮荊州時，由於任前軍參軍，世稱鮑參軍。劉子頊作亂，為亂兵所殺。上集六朝精華，下啟唐八風氣的文學家是鮑照。
鮑照的詩主要學習張協和張華，善於摹寫形狀。宋顏延之問己與謝靈運優劣於鮑照，照曰：「謝五言如初發芙蓉，自然可愛；君詩鋪錦列繡，亦雕繢滿眼。」胡應麟《詩藪》稱其「上挽曹、劉之逸步，下開李、杜之先鞭」著有《鮑參軍集》。與謝靈運、顏延之並稱「元嘉三大家」。鮑照有個妹妹叫鮑令暉，是著名女詩人。.."
(Source: http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AE%91%E7%85%A7 )

* "Bao Zhao 鮑照" 香港中文大學Renditions Magazine 譯樷:
"... Bao Zhao (Pao Chao) 414?-466
The most important yuefu poet in the Southern Dynasties (420-589). A native of Donghai, Bao served as an Attendant Gentleman to Liu Yiqing, the Prince of Linchuan and the author of Shishuo xinyu [A New Account of Tales of the World]. He was an Adjutant in the army of Liu Zixu, Prince of Linhai, when a revolt broke out and he was killed in the upheaval. His works were well-received by and quite influential to Tang poets. In addition to yuefu, Bao also excelled in fu and prose, among which 'Wucheng Fu' [The Ruined City] is the most famous. His extant works include some three dozen essays and over 200 poems collected in Bao Canjun ji [Collection of Attendant Bao]...."
(Source: http://www.renditions.org/renditions/authors/baozhao.html )

* 【衞女 / 後漢書 卷二十八上‧ 列傳第十八上】: "..... 宗正臨境，莫之能援。兵威屈辱，國權日損，三王背畔，赤眉害主，未見兼行倍道之赴，若墨翟累繭救宋，申包胥重胝存楚，衞女馳歸唁兄之志。衞女，衞宣公庶子頑之女，為許穆公夫人，其兄即戴公。弔失國曰唁。衞懿公為狄所滅，戴公乃立廬于曹邑。許穆夫人閔衞亡，思歸唁之，不得，乃賦載馳之詩。事見左傳。主亡一歲，莫知定所，虛冀妄言，苟肆鄙塞。未能事生，安能事死？未知為臣，焉知為主？豈厭為臣子，思為君父乎！欲搖太山而蕩北海，言不可也。孟子曰「挾太山而超北海」也。事敗身危，要思邑言。....."
(Source: http://www.sidneyluo.net/a/a03/028a.htm )

* 【趙飛燕】: "... 趙飛燕（前32年－前1年），原名宜主，是西漢漢成帝的皇后和漢哀帝時的皇太后。趙飛燕是一位在中國歷史上傳奇的人物。在《漢書》中對她的描述僅僅只有少數幾句，但關於她的野史卻有許多。在中國民間和歷史上，她以美貌著稱，所謂「環肥燕瘦」講的便是她和楊玉環，而燕瘦也通常用以比喻體態輕盈瘦弱的美女。... 趙飛燕出生卑賤，... 在陽阿公主那兒，被訓練為一個歌舞妓。... 像飛燕一樣靈巧，每每舞動時有翩然欲飛之勢，故改名「飛燕」。此後，人皆以「飛燕」稱之。..... 漢平帝登基，趙飛燕喪失了依靠，先由「皇太后」貶為孝成皇后，後來不久又被廢為庶人，最後還被派到成帝墳前守陵，趙飛燕難忍羞辱終以自殺收場。..."
(Source: Wikipedia http://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E8%B5%B5%E9%A3%9E%E7%87%95 )

港女大鬧連鎖店: 「狗尾續貂」数字謎 / HK Woman's Incident at a Chain-store: Made-up Story of the Missing $20

話說某小姐慘經人肉搜索一役,再不敢帶手机入商場,但仍需要買面盤,於是帶了兩位朋友倍同作伴及見証,往另一間連鎖店再次購物。

小姐: 請問個面盤几多錢?
店員: 原價每個480大元。
朋友: 如果我地每人買一個,一共三個,可以平D啦?
店員: 實價無得減呀!!
小姐: 唉!雖然價錢比上次貴D,但牌子質素有分別,原價都算啦,我地就買三個。
店員: 3乘480,多謝1440大元。

(於是3人每人掏480元交給店員,他拿著1440大元入內交給老板及包貨)

老板: 出边個位小姐好面善,好似係YouTube見過,你收佢几多錢?
店員: 3乘480,一共收1440大元。
老板: 唉!無謂多事,我收順D,就計少40蚊算啦!

(店員將3個面盤及40元交給小姐)

小姐: 咦?點解有40蚊?
店員: 老板話收順D。

(小姐大喜,給店員10元貼士,給自己10元,及兩個朋友每人10元。但是出了連鎖店,朋友屈指一算,立刻面色不悅。)

朋友: D數字又有問題!!
小姐: 點解呀?
朋友: 我地每人買咗470蚊貨, 3乘470等於1410蚊,店員收咗10蚊貼士,一共1420蚊,但係原價係1440元,咁個20蚊去咗边!!!

喊呀,大事不好!!各位網友,請您們趕快幫忙,解釋這20元的差別!!

(以上全是搞笑数字謎,「狗尾續貂」故事,請不要太認真!!)

Reference:
* 反”反趙燕萍” 5pointsorless http://5pointsorless.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/%e5%8f%8d%e5%8f%8d%e8%b6%99%e7%87%95%e5%b9%b3/

三星期內跑兩個「半馬拉松」賽 / Running two Half-marathons in 3 Weeks

I have committed to running a second half-marathon within abt 21 days. The last one was the Canada Army Run on September 20. I usually run two full-marathons each year, one in May and another in October. But due to lack of training this summer, I figure I better play it safe this fall by running just a "half".

Well, I can always make it up with the Ottawa Winterman marathon in February 2010. However, one has to really keep warm running for many hours in possibly -20 deg C and windy, snowstorm conditions. I speak from personal experience, as a winter runner and previous ice-climber !!!

Freezing could be blissfully slow and uneventful (I guess that's how climbers die up on Mount Everest, hallucinating and losing consciousness after severe hypothermia), but defrosting is sudden and painful (the coming back to life/feeling part) !!!

愛の鳥 / Love Bird

Love is like a little birdie

Hold it too tight and you will kill it

Hold it too loose and it will fly away !!!

望秋葉懷父有感 / The Autumn Leaves (and my Dad)

For many years, when the leaves turned red around this time of the season, my father would come and help rake all the fallen leaves in the backyard into nice little piles, then tirelessly put them into paper bags for pick-up by the city's yard-waste truck. I miss you Dad !!!

初秋楓樹紅燦燦
屋前屋後落葉飄
当年老父忙打掃

今朝耙子靜悄悄

孤葉扶枝難自去
南柯夢醒莫感懷
中秋月圓逢佳節
遊子影獨心無為

松鼠繞道抬頭看
秋收冬藏為子忙
明年今日黃土葬
但望家園孫滿堂

北國晚風寒朔朔
落葉無根歲月疏
回頭仰望紅楓樹
松兒松嫂暖窩窩

2009年中華人民共和國國慶 / PRC's National Day 2009

I watched China's celebration of its 60th National Day on the CBC National News this evening right after the report on the possible extradition of Polanski back to the US, which leads me to believe there is no immediate plan for our PM to visit China. The most striking scene, of course, was the parade of China's military might. The internal message of the Chinese government to its people seems to be quite clear: "We are strong and powerful!!" But what is the intended external message to the rest of the world watching? In my opinion, the flexing of military muscle will no doubt give ammunition to those who want to portray China as a threat. Since the Beijing Olmpic, I have read enough on the net abt "communist China's plan to take over the world".

As expected, this military show by China appears to have reinforced this fear in the minds of some Americans. Throughout the evening, the US media spent quite a bit of time reporting and analyzing China's miliatary capacity (not that the Pentagon doesn't have the info already). CNN even had an "expert" going over the paraded arsenal hardware one-by-one and concluded seriously that China's anti-ship missiles pose a serious threat to US carriers patrolling the Pacific Ocean.

Given that China's economy still depends very much on its export to the US and other foreign markets, I am not so sure if flexing its military muscle is the best way to beat other BRIC competitors in the global trade. But again, the population in China seems to like the show and perhaps that is what counts most for a country celebrating its national day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Updated 20091003 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

貼堂佳作

(感謝網友Space兄千里來鴻)

故國慶壽熱烘烘
花甲六十賀昌隆
遊子隔岸懷故國
甲子未圓民主夢

科技是否必需之魔法道具? / Is Science and Technology a Necessary Evil?

Hevangel 在「哲子戲」網誌說: 『 ... 任何超越時代的先進科技與魔法沒有分別 ... 其實我們已經生活在一個魔法世界﹐這個世界的魔法系統是牛頓三大定律﹐愛因斯坦的相對論﹐科學家是魔法師﹐而我們習以為常的高科技產品便是魔法道具。 ... 』

我留言曰: 『... 佩服天師指點, 魔法超能並非同出一轍之理論無懈可擊!!! ... So, should we continue to develop and apply nanotechnology (e.g. injecting nano device into our blood-stream), biotechnology (e.g. genetically modified salmon and other foods that are being introduced into the ecosystem), genetic engineering (e.g. “super” race or gender selection), etc ... 』

以下是我再加的少少愚見:

還記得美國來福槍協会NRA反对禁械的道理是: 槍械不殺人,是人殺人,所以無需要立令禁止擁有槍械 (this is apart from the First Amendment's right to bear arm)。沒錯,炸藥創製者諾貝爾和核子能發現人愛因斯坦都只是科學家,實不能怨咎他們導至人類戰爭死亡,但是借用NRA的邏輯,如此類推,豈不是所有海洛英丶鴉片丶Weapons of Mass Destruction等都不用立令控制禁止,因為這些產品是intrinsically / inherently neutral,物質本身沒有利弊正誤,好与壞是在乎应用者的出發點,和啟用之後有意或無意發生的後果和嚴重情度。換句話說,科技是道具,致於是善方還是魔法,那就完全在乎我們怎樣客覌定斷「利」benefits 与「險」risks 之間的平衡了。

Reference:
* 哲子戲」網誌說 "兩週一聚﹕假如我有魔法或超能力/ " http://www.horace.org/blog/2009/09/30/

Please also click here to read my previous blog article on this subject:
* 兩週一聚 (二十三期) 「假如我有魔法或超能力....」 / 2weeks1gather (#23)「If I have magic or super power....」http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/09/2weeks1gather-23if-i-have-magic-or.html

兩週一聚 (二十三期) 「假如我有魔法或超能力....」 / 2weeks1gather (#23)「If I have magic or super power....」

和住在世界其它戰火漫延丶有天災人禍地方的人比較,我們在香港戰後出世長大的一代算是夠運了,在最近六十多年中,除了發生過兩次暴動,一次和平易手之外,這東方之珠仍燦爍著相当的繁榮光采,大部份市民都有瓦遮頭,日有兩歺或三歺,沒有像一些非洲貧國那樣慘受飢荒的蹂躪,或如中東地區軍隊和恐怖份子對歭火拼。所以如果我有無边法術,我会用它來濟世為懷,滅絕人類向惡好戰之心,帶來世界和平,又会幫助國際健康机構,尋找萬应良方,医療例如乳腺癌等不治之症 (註*)。不過,話得說回來,在現實社会中,我們每人都有「無边法術」,那就是叫做「付諸行動」,因為:
Vision without action is just an illusion // 沒有行動的夢想只会永遠是個幻想。

註*: 每年10月是國際乳腺癌症防治月,請參閱上一篇網誌【粉紅絲帶】http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/09/national-breast-cancer-awareness-month.html

Please also read my next article on the same subject:
* 科技是否必需之魔法道具? / Is Science and Technology a Necessary Evil? http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-science-and-technology-necessary.html

又: 請到「兩週一聚」總部師奶亭処參閱其它網友的魔法或超能力: http://www.2weeks1gather.wordpress.com/

國際乳腺癌症防治月: 粉紅絲帶 / National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Pink Ribbon

每年十月是國際乳腺癌症防治月,加拿大和很多國家都舉辦各種支持的活動和比賽,例如穿戴上粉紅絲帶或衣著,賽跑或競步募捐籌款。但各位可知道粉紅絲帶的由來嗎? 根據【維基百科】:

"... 歷史上第一次將絲帶作為有意義的象徵是在美國軍隊行軍歌曲中曾經提及到的一條黃絲帶。1917年 George A Norton 第一次將這首歌的版權購買下來。這首歌曲的名字是「黃色的絲帶在她的頸上環繞」 。1940年，許多音樂家都嘗試著改寫這首歌曲。 1970年的早期，歌曲系條黃絲帶在老橡 (Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree)被發行了。在這首歌曲中，一個被困在伊朗的人質的妻子，Penney Laingen, 是第一個將黃色的絲帶作為有意義的象徵物的人。她將黃色的絲帶系在樹枝上來表達她盼望丈夫早日歸來的心情。她的朋友和家人也因為她的忠貞而跟隨效仿。當所有的美國人都看到這絲帶所表達的信息後，絲帶成為了一件傳遞感情的媒介。 1990年，受到絲帶可以作為傳遞感情和信息的媒介的啟發，愛滋病防治的活躍分子決定開始將絲帶作為他們對抗愛滋病毒的標誌。他們將絲帶的顏色定為紅色來表達他們的熱情。在東尼獎頒獎典禮上，著名影星 Jeremy Irons將一條紅色絲帶別在胸口的照片被永遠的定格下來。 托尼頒獎典禮後，絲帶成功地抓住了所有人的眼球並紅遍了美國。美國時代雜誌更將1992年稱作是"絲帶年" Alexandra Penney,1992年女性健康雜誌"Self"的主編，開始著手編輯新一期全國防治乳腺癌運動的年刊。Evelyn Lauder, 雅詩蘭黛Estee Lauder的副總裁，被邀請成為全國防治乳腺癌運動1992年年刊的客串編輯。 Penney和Lauder一起提出一個想法，那就是徵募所有化妝品集團巨頭，說服他們將絲帶在美國紐約每個化妝品商店內發送。 Evelyn Lauder當時還承諾她將會把絲帶成功地傳播到全國各個角落。

Charlotte Hayley,一名和乳腺癌搏鬥了多年的患者，生產了一種桃紅色的絲帶。她在隨售的卡片上說道，」 全國癌症協會每年的資金預算是18億美金，百分之5用作癌症的防治。讓我們戴著這絲帶來喚醒我們的立法者吧。她的留言傳播的非常快，並迅速地引起Penney和Evelyn Lauder的關注。她們主動提出要和Hayley一起合作來拓展她的想法。但是Hayley拒絕了她們的建議並認為她們的建議太過出於商業目的了。
在和Lauder商妥合作機遇後， Hayley和她的律師一起提出了新的絲帶的顏色。新的顏色被定為粉紅色。而粉紅色的絲帶成為了全球防治乳腺癌標誌。..."

十月是加拿大乳腺癌基金会The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation 籌款的日子,在未來數星期,將会有很多步行和賽跑Run/Walk for the Cure,在我住的城巿舉行。而其它國家地方的政府健康部門丶非盈利性組織丶和一些商業机構,亦会同時以各種方法,吸引公眾對乳房健康丶早期乳腺癌診斷丶和治療預防乳腺癌研究的注意力,宣揚這一個年度的國際健康運動。例如在中國,《时尚健康》雜誌將会在2009年10月出版的封面，以毛阿敏、宁静、郝蕾三位女星來打出“粉红丝带，改变生命的力量”的主题 (見攝影图片)。
根據【維基百科】有關癌症的資料,平均每10位女性中就有1位女性受到乳腺癌的影響,在預防勝於治療方面來看,女仕們在日常生活飲食,一定要有一個健康的習慣和規律。但是天生因子亦是引起乳癌主要因素之一,故此為安全計,每年全身檢驗,也应包括早期乳腺癌診斷為妙。我不是医學界專家,所以懇請各位讀者和您們的家庭医生或專科部門相討詳談,亦要將這有關乳腺癌防治的訊息傳播給更多的女性,讓大家得到更大的愛心和支持。事在人為,終於有一天,我們是可以解答到預防和治療癌症的全部答案。

References:
* Pink Ribbon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_ribbon
* 粉紅絲帶 http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%B2%89%E7%BA%A2%E4%B8%9D%E5%B8%A6
* National Breast Cancer Awareness Month http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month

*** Updated 20091008 *** More references from Kempton's blog entitled "加拿大研究更新乳房腫瘤的認識 (Canadian researchers show how a breast tumor evolves)":
* B.C. research alters view of breast tumours (CBC News)
* Genetic `typos’ open new doors in breast cancer research (Canada.com)
* Canadian researchers show how a breast tumor evolves (LA Times)
* A cancer evolves: heterogeneity and mutational evolution in a breast tumour (source Nature magazine article)

Photo Credit 攝影图片:
* End Women's Cancers http://ot10.endcancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ot10_homepage
* 《时尚健康》2009粉红丝带乳腺癌防治运动启动
http://www.trends-health.com.cn/home/news/2009-09/223167.shtml