這是一個我叫尋覓者的故事。尋覓者就是一個不斷尋覓的人，但他不一定尋找到任何東西。他也不一定知道自己要尋找的是什麼。他只是一個終其一生追尋的人。
有一天，尋覓者覺得他有必要到Kammir卡米兒城走一走。他學會了要跟著他內心的聲音去走。雖然他不知道那個聲音從何而來，他放下一切，開始他的行程。
走了兩天塵土飛揚的路，他慢慢的開始看到，地平在線卡米兒城的側影。還未抵達卡米兒城，他留意到路旁一個小丘，由一圈木圍欄圍起來，丘上鋪滿了綠油油的青草，青蔥的大樹，美麗的花朵，很多小鳥在唱歌，他不其然的被吸引，推開了木圍欄的小門，走了進去。
一下子他就忘了要去的卡米兒城，只想在這裡休息下來。他慢慢的走進小門，發現樹與樹中間鋪滿了一塊一塊白色的石頭。
他的眼睛好像蝴蝶一樣，飛舞在這美妙而充滿色彩的天堂一樣的土地上，每一個小小的細節他都不要遺漏。他尋覓的眼光發現一塊白色石頭上雕刻了一行字：
Abdul Tareg，活了八年，六個月，兩星期三天
他開始明白這塊石頭不是一塊普通的石頭，而是一塊墓碑。他為那個小孩感到悲哀。接著他發現其他石頭都刻了字，於是他一一的停下來細閱：
Yamir Kalib，活了五年，八個月三星期
他感到無比的悲痛與感動。原來這片美麗的小丘是一個墳場，每一塊石頭都是一個墓碑。刻的字都差不多，一個名字，與被埋葬的人活了多久。但最讓他驚詫的，是活得最長的只有十一歲。
他感到巨大的哀慟，一下子跌坐在地上哭了起來。
墳場的守護員走過看到他在哭，安靜的守護在他旁邊一會兒後。問他，是不是為一個親人而哭泣？
尋覓者說不是，「不，不是我的親人。 這個城市怎麼啦？為什麼這裡埋了這麼多孩子？你們受了什麼詛咒？」
墳場的守護員微笑回答：「我的朋友啊，你安靜下來，不用擔心。」
「這個城市沒有受到任何詛咒。只是我們城市有一個習慣。當一個小孩長到十五歲時，他的父母會送給他一本小小的筆記本，好像這個掛在我脖子上的一樣。」
由這天開始，我們每次感到非常開心的時候，就會打開這本筆記本把這個經驗記錄下來。在左面，我們寫下我們享受的是什麼，在右面，我們寫下這個開心的經驗維持多久。你遇到你的女朋友，與她相愛，那熱烈的激情維持了多久？為了找到她而開心的感覺維持了多久？一個星期？兩個星期？三個半星期？然後，你們的初吻又讓你享受了多久？一分鐘？兩天？一個星期？然後是她懷孕了，你的開心又維持了多久？生了一個女兒？朋友結婚？最渴望的一次旅遊終於成行了？一個兄弟從遙遠的國度歸來？這些事情，每件讓你享受的時間是幾個小時？幾天？
就這樣，我們把每一段享受的時光用這個小筆記本一一的記錄下來。
當一個人死了，我們的習俗是打開這本筆記本，把他所有享受過的時光加起來，刻在他的墓碑上。因為對我們來說，這是這個人真正活過的時間。」
* * * * * * * * * *
這故事是出自阿根廷作家 Jorge Bucay 的 Cuentos para Pensar，早幾天讀報時看到的，覺得很有意思。這裡借用文章作者的話：「如果你有這麼一個筆記本，你現在積累下來的時間是多少？有十一年嗎？還是一年不到？
在你離開這個世界的一天，你希望你真正活了多久？
你可以怎樣增加快樂的次數？延長每一次快樂的經驗？
你準備什麼時候開始這樣做呢？
如果不是現？那是什麼時候呢？如何現在不開始？你真的會開始嗎？」
我相信快樂是可以選擇的，你選擇快樂地面對生命中的人和事，你就會快樂。不是說我們不會悲傷，我們依然會悲傷，但只要不讓自己為悲傷所羈絆，所虜獲，我們就可以延長快樂，縮減悲傷，真真正正地「活」着。
祝大家有個快（樂）活（着）的2010年，以及以後的每一年。
星期三, 12月 30, 2009
你活了多久？
星期五, 12月 04, 2009
涼瓜炆排骨
又開始食自己的生涯，又不想餐餐在街吃，唯有出手。其實每次下廚總有些心得，但日子一久每每變成唔記得，不能偷懶，要記下來。今日第一回，涼瓜炆排骨。
材料：
涼瓜１條
排骨（一字排）０．６６５磅（約８兩）
蒜頭１／３粒
豆豉１堆（份量跟蒜頭相約）
煮法：
１．排骨加生抽（１／２湯匙），老抽（１湯匙），白糖（１茶匙）和少許水（約２湯匙）醃了３０分鐘
２．涼瓜去籽斜切成手指尾般粗的條狀
３．蒜頭豆豉剁成蓉
４．在醃好的排骨加入生油（１湯匙），生粉（２茶匙）攪勻
５．燒紅鑊，加油（約４、５湯匙．．．呱），油滾，爆香蒜頭豆豉，加排骨炒至表面全熟（中火，約４－５分鐘）
６．加涼瓜，炒至其轉深綠色（中火，約３分鐘）
７．加水一碗，冚蓋炆９分鐘
８．試味，再加了生抽（１湯匙）和糖（１茶匙）
８．加生粉水（２茶匙加少許水）埋芡
賽後檢討：
１．在 PK 買的一字排己切好，乾手淨腳
２．１磅＝０．７５斤＝１２兩
３．一個人食４兩排骨有餘
４．４兩排骨應配１條涼瓜
５．涼瓜應再切粗一點，炒的時間少一點，因為實在有點太爛，欠口感
６．較細小的排骨有點鞋
星期一, 10月 26, 2009
沒有最豪華，只有更豪華
終極尊貴地皇，超絕罕有無景觀，更臻完美鑽麗不動大宅，豪宅中的奧斯卡級貴族，Oscar Noble Palace －－Ｏ．Ｎ． 居。
位處市區，交通方便，坐高鐵往返中環只需三粒鐘。名校林立，配套齊備，入夜後鳳凰遍地，如入仙境。
本宅為回應客戶需求，特設「尊尚帝皇昇華」計劃。客戶只需購入本大厦單一層數全層單位，加八萬八千八百八十八個八毫八，即可啟動此前無古人，後不見來者的尊尚計劃。本公司會按客戶要求，更改其購入樓層的層數。參加此計劃的客戶如購入第十層全層，只需加八萬八千八百八十八個八毫八，即可更改其樓層層數為十一樓，再加八萬八千八百八十八個八毫八，即可改為十二樓，如此類推。手續完成後，本公司會更改其相應之門牌號碼及電梯按鈕顯示。配合本公司全球首度引進的宇宙智能電梯系統，電梯按鈕顯示會依照閣下所要求的樓層排列，而非實際樓層。即使問下各所購樓層實際為一樓，一旦參加「尊尚帝皇昇華」計劃並更改樓層為八十八樓，本電梯系統會先停其他八十八層以下之層數，方會到達「八十八」層，讓住戶充滿感受「最遲出 llft 」的尊貴高人一等優越感！為更進一步提昇住客之超凡體驗，最高層數的住客（非實際樓層），更可指定電梯由地面到達住戶指定樓層的乘搭時間，最長可達半小時，讓優越感發揮得更淋漓盡致！
詳情請向各代理商查詢！
星期四, 5月 28, 2009
"Day" after "Mother" - 奧巴馬的白宮記者宴演說
已經是舊聞，不過近日方有餘暇一睹全段演說。委實精彩，前段的「棟篤笑」尤甚。奧巴馬先拿自己的老婆囡囡開涮，接著再把身邊一眾幕僚拍檔、共和黨人、商界名流都串勻了。不過當中不少的「gig」，如果不是熟悉政圈人事的記者，都幾難識笑。其中講及白宮幕僚總長 Rahm Emanuel 的那個 Mother Day gig，我就聽得一頭霧水。後來方知道原來是拐了一個大彎串 Emanuel 爛口。（但，明白之後，真後幾好笑，高章！）
不知何時我們才會有這樣的一個特首．．．。都係算把啦，曾特首連基本的「詞能達意」都做不到，更莫提甚麼「棟篤笑」。
Part I
Part II
演說全文如下：
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 10, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION DINNER
May 9, 2009
Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
9:56 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Good evening. You know, I had an entire speech prepared for this wonderful occasion, but now that I'm here I think I'm going to try something a little different. Tonight I want to speak from the heart. I'm going to speak off the cuff. (Teleprompters rise.) (Laughter and applause.)
Good evening. (Laughter.) Pause for laughter. (Laughter.) Wait a minute, this may not be working as well as I -- (laughter.) Let me try that again.
Good evening, everybody. (Applause.) I would like to welcome you all to the 10-day anniversary of my first 100 days. (Laughter.) I am Barack Obama. Most of you covered me. All of you voted for me. (Laughter and applause.) Apologies to the Fox table. (Laughter.) They're -- where are they? I have to confess I really did not want to be here tonight, but I knew I had to come -- just one more problem that I've inherited from George W. Bush. (Laughter.)
But now that I'm here, it's great to be here. It's great to see all of you. Michelle Obama is here, the First Lady of the United States. (Applause.) Hasn't she been an outstanding First Lady? (Applause.) She's even begun to bridge the differences that have divided us for so long, because no matter which party you belong to we can all agree that Michelle has the right to bare arms. (Laughter and applause.)
Now Sasha and Malia aren't here tonight because they're grounded. You can't just take Air Force One on a joy ride to Manhattan. (Laughter.) I don't care whose kids you are. (Laughter.) We've been setting some ground rules here. They're starting to get a little carried away.
Now, speaking -- when I think about children obviously I think about Michelle and it reminds me that tomorrow is Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the audience. (Applause.) I do have to say, though, that this is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel because he's not used to saying the word "day" after "mother." (Laughter.) That's true. (Laughter.)
David Axelrod is here. You know, David and I have been together for a long time. I can still remember -- I got to sort of -- I tear up a little bit when I think back to that day that I called Ax so many years ago and said, you and I can do wonderful things together. And he said to me the same thing that partners all across America are saying to one another right now: Let's go to Iowa and make it official. (Laughter and applause.)
Michael Steele is in the house tonight. (Applause.) Or as he would say, "in the heezy." (Laughter.) What's up? (Laughter.) Where is Michael? Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. (Laughter.) Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset, I'm sorry. (Laughter.)
Dick Cheney was supposed to be here but he is very busy working on his memoirs, tentatively titled, "How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People." (Laughter.)
You know, it's been a whirlwind of activity these first hundred days. We've enacted a major economic recovery package, we passed a budget, we forged a new path in Iraq, and no President in history has ever named three Commerce Secretaries this quickly. (Laughter.) Which reminds me, if Judd Gregg is here, your business cards are ready now. (Laughter.)
On top of that, I've also reversed the ban on stem cell research, signed an expansion -- (applause) -- signed an expansion of the children's health insurance. Just last week, Car and Driver named me auto executive of the year. (Laughter.) Something I'm very proud of.
We've also begun to change the culture in Washington. We've even made the White House a place where people can learn and can grow. Just recently, Larry Summers asked if he could chair the White House Council on Women and Girls. (Laughter.) And I do appreciate that Larry is here tonight because it is seven hours past his bedtime. (Laughter.) Gibbs liked that one. (Laughter.)
In the last hundred days, we've also grown the Democratic Party by infusing it with new energy and bringing in fresh, young faces like Arlen Specter. (Laughter.) Now, Joe Biden rightly deserves a lot of credit for convincing Arlen to make the switch, but Secretary Clinton actually had a lot to do with it too. One day she just pulled him aside and she said, Arlen, you know what I always say -- "if you can't beat them, join them." (Laughter.)
Which brings me to another thing that's changed in this new, warmer, fuzzier White House, and that's my relationship with Hillary. You know, we had been rivals during the campaign, but these days we could not be closer. In fact, the second she got back from Mexico she pulled into a hug and gave me a big kiss. (Laughter.) Told me I'd better get down there myself. (Laughter.) Which I really appreciated. I mean, it was -- it was nice. (Laughter.)
And of course we've also begun to change America's image in the world. We talked about this during this campaign and we're starting to execute. We've renewed alliances with important partners and friends. If you look on the screen there, there I am with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. There I am with Gordon Brown.
But as I said during the campaign, we can't just talk to our friends. As hard as it is, we also have to talk to our enemies, and I've begun to do exactly that. Take a look at the monitor there. (Laughter.) Now, let me be clear, just because he handed me a copy of Peter Pan does not mean that I'm going to read it -- (laughter) -- but it's good diplomatic practice to just accept these gifts.
All this change hasn't been easy. Change never is. So I've cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He's warm, he's cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. You just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble. But enough about Joe Biden. (Laughter.)
All in all, we're proud of the change we've brought to Washington in these first hundred days but we've got a lot of work left to do, as all of you know. So I'd like to talk a little bit about what my administration plans to achieve in the next hundred days.
During the second hundred days, we will design, build and open a library dedicated to my first hundred days. (Laughter.) It's going to be big, folks. (Laughter.) In the next hundred days, I will learn to go off the prompter and Joe Biden will learn to stay on the prompter. (Laughter.)
In the next hundred days, our bipartisan outreach will be so successful that even John Boehner will consider becoming a Democrat. After all, we have a lot in common. He is a person of color. (Laughter.) Although not a color that appears in the natural world. (Laughter.) What's up, John? (Laughter.)
In the next hundred days, I will meet with a leader who rules over millions with an iron fist, who owns the airwaves and uses his power to crush all who would challenge his authority at the ballot box. It's good to see you, Mayor Bloomberg. (Laughter.)
In the next hundred days, we will housetrain our dog, Bo, because the last thing Tim Geithner needs is someone else treating him like a fire hydrant. (Laughter.) In the next hundred days, I will strongly consider losing my cool. (Laughter.)
Finally, I believe that my next hundred days will be so successful I will be able to complete them in 72 days. (Laughter.) And on the 73rd day, I will rest. (Laughter.)
I just -- I want to end by saying a few words about the men and women in this room whose job it is to inform the public and pursue the truth. You know, we meet tonight at a moment of extraordinary challenge for this nation and for the world, but it's also a time of real hardship for the field of journalism. And like so many other businesses in this global age, you've seen sweeping changes and technology and communications that lead to a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about what the future will hold.
Across the country, there are extraordinary, hardworking journalists who have lost their jobs in recent days, recent weeks, recent months. And I know that each newspaper and media outlet is wrestling with how to respond to these changes, and some are struggling simply to stay open. And it won't be easy. Not every ending will be a happy one.
But it's also true that your ultimate success as an industry is essential to the success of our democracy. It's what makes this thing work. You know, Thomas Jefferson once said that if he had the choice between a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, he would not hesitate to choose the latter.
Clearly, Thomas Jefferson never had cable news to contend with -- (laughter) -- but his central point remains: A government without newspapers, a government without a tough and vibrant media of all sorts, is not an option for the United States of America. (Applause.)
So I may not -- I may not agree with everything you write or report. I may even complain, or more likely Gibbs will complain, from time to time about how you do your jobs, but I do so with the knowledge that when you are at your best, then you help me be at my best. You help all of us who serve at the pleasure of the American people do our jobs better by holding us accountable, by demanding honesty, by preventing us from taking shortcuts and falling into easy political games that people are so desperately weary of.
And that kind of reporting is worth preserving -- not just for your sake, but for the public's. We count on you to help us make sense of a complex world and tell the stories of our lives the way they happen, and we look for you for truth, even if it's always an approximation, even if -- (laughter.)
This is a season of renewal and reinvention. That is what government must learn to do, that's what businesses must learn to do, and that's what journalism is in the process of doing. And when I look out at this room and think about the dedicated men and women whose questions I've answered over the last few years, I know that for all the challenges this industry faces, it's not short on talent or creativity or passion or commitment. It's not short of young people who are eager to break news or the not-so-young who still manage to ask the tough ones time and time again. These qualities alone will not solve all your problems, but they certainly prove that the problems are worth solving. And that is a good place as any to begin.
So I offer you my thanks, I offer you my support, and I look forward to working with you and answering to you and the American people as we seek a more perfect union in the months and years ahead.
Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
END 10:12 P.M. EDT
星期一, 9月 29, 2008
醫院二三事之出院
一阿婆匆匆地走入病房，直奔護士站。
護士：阿婆未到探病時間喎，你有咩事？
阿婆：我想幫我老公出院。
護士：你老公係邊位？
阿婆：阿陳大文。
護士：（翻查病歷後．．．）你老公未出得院喎。
阿婆：唔係丫姑娘，我有急事要我老公出院。
護士：有咩急事丫？
阿婆：我要同老公出院去銀行排隊攞錢。
一片死寂之後．．．
護士：呢樣野我話唔到事，我幫你問醫生啦。
．．．
這日正是謠傳東亞銀行會倒閉的那天。不過就算如是，以阿婆那個騎呢的出院理由，恐怕搵顧問醫生亦幫不到她老公出院．．．
醫院二三事之神婆
轉了工，要經常在醫院出入，有時都會遇上一些奇人奇事．．．
．．．
在物理治療前，醫護人員會先做一問卷調查，以瞭解病人的身體狀況。
護士：阿婆有冇中過風丫？
阿婆：冇中風。
護士：有冇糖尿病或者高血壓？
阿婆：冇糖尿，冇血壓。
護士：咁大小便有冇問題？
阿婆：冇大便、冇小便。
「阿婆，你真係答得好順口，囉．．．」我心想。
星期一, 9月 17, 2007
蟋蟀與皇后
近日開始清理堆積如山的舊報紙，偶有拾遺。
《信報》這陣子改動不斷，週六版亦有不少新欄目出現。除了前些時日那抵死啜核的《求知者日記》系列和曇花一現的讀書版，其中兩個新開的專欄《逍遙「法」外》和《蘭開夏道》亦甚合口味。
八月十八日的《逍遙「法」外》，談的是巴黎蟋蟀。
蟋蟀嘛自然不會陌生，小時候居處附近有一大片草叢，夜幕一至，蟬鳴蟋蟀叫隨之而起。但巴黎的蟋蟀卻不是棲身叢林，而是在地鐵站內。蟋蟀本是在南部較熱的地方生活，後來有部份蟋蟀隨著貨運來到巴黎，早期愛住在麵包店的焗爐或住宅的火爐旁，因為這些地方較暖。後來又找到新居所，就是巴黎的地鐵。蟋蟀要求不高，人們吸煙後棄下的煙頭，內裏的煙絲正是牠們的主要食糧。報道又說，由於巴黎地鐵一天運行十八小時，車輪與路軌的磨擦所產生高溫，比自然環境還要熱，因此地鐵蟋蟀的性生活比自然環境的蟋蟀還要活躍，交配特多，繁殖速度更高。
很難想像香港的地鐵會有蟋蟀生存，還要在晚上讓乘客有「清脆的蟋蟀鳴聲相伴」。如果有的話，等待牠們的，恐怕不是特多的性生活，而是不少的殺蟲水。
更難想像的是，有人為這些蟋蟀成立了一個「保護巴黎地鐵蟋蟀聯盟」，旨在維護蟋蟀們的「權益」。．．．在地鐵職工罷工期間，提醒勞方就算拒載乘客，也要繼續讓列車運行，否則路軌會因缺乏磨擦而變冷，令蟋蟀慘被凍死；此外是爭取司法部放寬實施一條在地鐵內禁煙的法例，因為人們不吸煙，就不會有煙頭棄下，蟋蟀因此會斷糧。
作者最後說「我很欣賞他們的勇氣，他們維護的不單是一些小昆蟲，還有一種人生觀。」蟋蟀是外來居民，生活於社會底層，靠人棄我取的資源維生，但仍能快活地過活。
我想作者對蟋蟀的維護，亦包含著一種自我的投射吧！
偶拾的另一篇文章，是八月九日陳雲的《皇后》。
陳雲的文章，並非篇篇都是我杯茶，但其月旦時事的，每每能切中要害，讀之人心大快。粉碎天星、拆散皇后，有道理講嗎？有！用最粗淺的俚語村言，也可將事情攤開，講個明白：「你估拆碼頭，起馬路起商場，賣地ｄ錢落我袋㗎？你地住公屋、讀官校、攞綜援、睇公家醫生，唔使錢㗎？唔賣地，唔通加稅呀？中環ｄ業務集中，半山有錢佬多，點解要離開中環另外搵地起商場寫字樓呢？ｄ大老闆唔同人迫車㗎，佢地一定要坐私家車入中環㗎。點解有成錢唔賺盡ｄ先？香港淨係得番金融呢瓣嘢，係大陸佬點都搞唔掂，要靠香港幫手。冇咗金融中心呢個『食』力，大陸畀條毛你呀？香港人仲有碇企呀？呢ｄ嘢，你地不嬲都明㗎？仲嚟抗議，懵Ｘ咗呀？」應一時一地之所需，當然可以談笑風生，口沫橫飛，但當有市民翻舊賬，問「添馬艦笪地咁貴，地產商都睺住晒，你點解又唔賣Ｑ咗佢，政府留番畀自己起寫字樓托炮呀？」那就無言以對了。
陳雲行文，能文能白，想不到連「粗淺的俚語村言」在他筆下亦能粗鄙得嚟又言之有物，怎生一個「服」字了得？
蟋蟀與皇后並在一起，不禁令人思緒翻飛。多少美好的事物，往往在消失了之後，人們才會驚覺其可貴。其時，除了緬懷，只有嘆息。
官字兩個口，不提也罷，但市民大眾對不同的觀點，為何不可多點包容？難到香港這個「和諧」社會就容不下一點聲音？那怕你覺得那是噪音。
如果有一天，香港出現為蟋蟀爭取「權益」的事情，想必有人會大叫「你地食法國大餐食到懵Ｘ咗呀？」其實，法國大餐未必餐餐都是多舊魚的。
（P.S. 友人的母親已無大礙，感謝各位的關心。）
星期二, 8月 21, 2007
「仁」「濟」
朋友母親因胃部不適，入院照胃鏡，結果胃本來沒問題，卻照出了問題。
照胃鏡後醫生說一切正常，但其母親卻一直胃痛。情況持續了三天，醫生們的說法一時一樣：有說可能腸部甚麼酵過多引致；有說是之前可能已經在痛（？？）；更有說可能是肝炎（！？），總之，所有可能，無一是跟照胃鏡有關。有痛，只是給一粒止痛藥，完事，然後就是無止境的觀察。結果其母出院往私家醫院求診，診斷結果其胃「穿」了！
雖然不太嚴重，但，這是甚麼醫院？這是甚麼醫生？這是甚麼醫德？
這是怎麼的一種「仁」，「濟」的，又是甚麼？
