2020年12月26日 星期六

Expensive Property in HK

Martha’s Vineyard has apparently upped its presidential pedigree. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have purchased a seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home in Edgartown, Massachusetts, according to reports. The price for the 29-acre estate was $11.75 million, public records show. The property was purchased by a trust represented by attorney Ronald Rappaport, a partner at Reynolds, Rappaport, Kaplan and Hackney, according to records made available Wednesday. The trust is reportedly tied to the Obamas, but Mansion Global could not confirm the connection. Hong Kong's top 10 expensive homes By Time Out Hong KongPosted: Wednesday 25 May 2016 1.The Redhill Peninsula, Tai Tam Asking: $880m (2014) Shot of houses sprawled along Tai Tam coastline Introducing the most expensive house in Hong Kong – and it’s currently on the market. For the outrageous price, you can grab this 3,013sq ft Tai Tam townhouse, complete with its four bedrooms, a powder room, three bathrooms, a maid’s room, a garden, a fitted kitchen, a terrace and, of course, the quintessential car park. 2.10 Skyhigh, Pollock’s Path, The Peak Sold: $800m (2011) Money ain’t a thang, just look at my pinky ring – this is the most expensive residential property ever sold in Hong Kong. Located on Pollock’s Path, a road last year ranked as the most expensive street in the world, the 8,300sq ft house at 10 Skyhigh – a joint venture between film doyen Stephen Chow and Ryoden Development – sold in 2011 to an undisclosed owner for a whopping $800m. 3. 8, 28 Barker Rd, The Peak Sold: $740m (2013) Most pricy investments require the involvement of a bank. But not for Chinese lawyer Raymond Li, the owner of this Peak property, who paid $740 million, mostly in cold, hard cash (in suitcases, we wonder?). At three storeys and 6,863sq ft, it includes five bedrooms, two car parks and a rooftop pool with an outstanding view of Victoria Harbour. It has it in spades over the 6,847sq ft House 7, which wealthy philanthropist Qian Fenglei bought for $690m, with a 1,822sq ft garden to boot. Bargain. 4. 3 Gough Hill Rd, The Peak Sold: $650m (2013) In 2013, this 5,145sq ft villa became the third most expensive home in Hong Kong, after garment exporter Peter Law Kin-sang sold the property for $650 million in what some have called 2013’s most notable deal in the luxury residence market. The price translates to a ridiculous $126,336 per square foot! 5. 8 Pollock’s Path, The Peak Sold: $580m (2011) It’s no wonder European diplomats love The Peak – the temperate region must remind them of their digs back home. This patch of land used to belong to the former French Consulate and commands views over Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour. It’s a grade II historic building, measures 11,222sq ft and was sold at an average of $51,684 per square foot. 6. House 3, 28 Barker Rd, The Peak Sold: $538m (2013) Real estate agents know their property – particularly Vivien Chan, the chairwoman of the Estate Agents Authority, who owns this piece of prime real estate on Barker Road. This residence in the seven-storey building measures in at 5,706sq ft and sold for $538m just last year. 7. 11/F, Opus, Stubbs Rd, Mid-Levels Asking: $470m Hong Kong's Top 10 Expensive homes - Shot of Stubbs, Mid Levels This apartment in the famed Frank-Gehry-designed Opus hit headlines last year for the price it couldn’t attract: $470m. If it had sold at this price, it would have made the 5,409sq ft space the most expensive apartment in the city per square foot – a record currently held by, you guessed it, another apartment in Opus, which sold for $455m in 2012. 8. 66/F, 39 Conduit Rd, Mid-Levels Sold: $360m (2011) Hong Kong's Top 10 Expensive homes - View of Central from Conduit Rd, Mid-levels While Conduit Road might only be the second-highest road in Western Mid-Levels, this 66th floor apartment takes you way up into the clouds. In fact, it is the tallest building in the area with glorious views of Victoria Harbour. With 24 units up for sale, the 5,636sq ft Unit A sold the highest for $360.7m back in 2011. 9. Sky House, The Arch, West Kowloon Sold: $226m (2008) Hong Kong's Top 10 Expensive homes - The Arch, Kowloon Hey, it’s Kowloon’s most expensive property! This 5,497sq ft West Kowloon apartment includes the Moon Tower penthouse and the rooftop – essentially, a two-storey pad with a decent view of the moon too. Selling at a mere $41,125 per square foot, it also shows that Kowloon is where the value is at. 10. 51/F, Branksome Crest, Mid-Levels Sold: $203m (2010)

2020年9月26日 星期六

Phrases for daily conversations

在職場和日常生活上常見的慣用語例子,希望大家能好好地掌握。

1.放馬後炮 Wiser after event 例子:You can never predict how the game will end but you’re always wiser after the event. (每次比賽你都不能預計比賽的結果,但當比賽一完,你就放馬後炮了。)

2.一樣米養百樣人 Many men, many minds 例子:Many men, many minds. You can never understand why the client thinks in this way. (正所謂一樣米養百樣人,你永遠都不會明白為何那客戶會這樣想。)

3.三個臭皮匠,勝過一個諸葛亮 Two heads are better than one 例子:I asked the team to get together to brainstorm the project because two heads are better than one. (三個臭皮匠,勝過一個諸葛亮,所以我才叫組員們聚集在一起就這個專案計畫集思廣益。)

4.愛屋及烏 Love me, love my dog 例子:If you love her, you must accept everything about her, even her faults or weaknesses. Love her, love her dog. (如果你愛她,就要接受她的一切,包括她的過錯和缺點。這就是愛屋及烏。)

5.人多好辦事 Many hands make light work 例子:Many hands make light work. The boss gave each of the team members a part and the task was completed in just a few hours. (所謂人多好辦事,老闆給每位組員各分配了一個部分,幾個小時後便把任務完成了。) 除了之前的慣用語,部分英語慣用語喜歡引用食物、植物、動物甚至人體五官,不過若細心留意,便會發覺該慣用的實際意思可能跟牠/它毫無關係。

6.簡直沒有可能 (亦即「豬乸也會上樹」) Pigs might fly 例子:“I’ll return the money tomorrow, I promise.” “Yeah, and pigs might fly.” (「我答應你, 明天一定會還錢。」「是嗎?豬乸也會上樹啦。」)

7.井井有條 In apple-pie order 例子:The secretary kept all his belongings and notes in apple-pie order. (那秘書把他的物件和筆記放得井井有條。)

8.錦上添花 Gild the lily 例子:For such a beautiful lady, to use make-up would be to gild the lily. (如此美麗的女士,化妝亦只是錦上添花。)

9.獨善其身 Keep one’s nose clean 例子:If he doesn’t keep his nose clean, he may be in for trouble again. (如果他不能獨善其身,便可能再次惹上麻煩。) 1.家喻戶曉 On everyone’s lips 例子: Her success story is on everyone’s lips at this moment. (她的成功故事現在已是家喻戶曉了。)

10.膽小如鼠 Timid as a mouse 例子:Shy and quiet, this new receptionist is as timid as a mouse. (這新接待員又怕羞又靜,更是膽小如鼠。) 1.無動於中 Not turn a hair 例子:I was expecting the boss to be furious but she didn’t turn a hair. (我以為老闆會怒氣沖沖,但她卻無動於中。)

1 1.見過世面 Have seen the elephant 例子:The CEO has a range of experiences, good and bad, in her life. She has seen the elephants. 「總裁人生經驗豐富,好的壞的都遇過,是見過世面的人。」

2020年9月11日 星期五

Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn - Gone with the Wind

 

 updates: 2020-09-10 10:02 PM 


 "Can we make classic works like "Gone with the Wind" come back? Please!" President Trump's call in February this year is still in my ears. On June 10, this film, which won 8 Oscars 80 years ago, was removed from the Warner streaming platform (HBO Max). It caused widespread controversy and a huge backlash. The limitations of the times are inevitable. Isn’t it possible that fine art works are not precious ? Both the movie's DVD and the original novel soon topped Amazon's sales charts; the farce of "smashing statues and burning churches" was staged in the United States. The one-size-fits-all "political correctness" not only harmed cultural heritage and creative freedom, but also endangered the foundation of the United States. Stills of "Gone with the Wind".

 On June 25, Gone with the Wind was back on the shelves with an explanatory video "Protested for beautifying slavery". Compared to "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which exposes the crimes of slavery and Faulkner's short stories reflecting racial issues;

 Margaret Mitchell tells the Civil War (1861-1865) from the unique perspective of the daughter of a southern planter. The years of youth and emotional entanglements before and after, there is no lack of nostalgic warmth in the magnificence. The brilliant interpretations of the actors played the characters in the novel. Heidi, who played as a nanny, was the first black to win an Oscar (supporting actress). 

 Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind" filmed in 1939. (Public domain) For more than 20 years, I still remember the scene in the movie where the nanny Black Sister gave the eldest lady a corset, which was quite humorous. She was in charge of Scarlett who was going to show off at the banquet, pulling up her green strapless tube top skirt. Ashley returned after the war. Melanie ran towards her husband happily like a bird. Scarlett was also excited to rush up. The black mother hugged her and said with a grimace, "That's her husband!" The theater audience burst into laughter while drinking the dreamer. When Scarlett (for taxes) seduce her sister's boyfriend, the black mother sitting in the back seat of the carriage was dumbfounded and then turned her lips in contempt.

The conscience of heaven and earth is a scale, the simple and loyal black mother played such a role in the film. On July 26, 104-year-old Olivia de Havilland (Olivia de Havilland) drove west. The most popular screen image of her acting career was Melanie in Gone with the Wind. An unforgettable video of the Oscar awards ceremony. Accompanied by the magnificent "Gone with the Wind" theme song, Olivia in blue and white hair steadily walked to the podium, and the audience stood up to pay tribute to the Hollywood golden age queen, with warm applause. The waves are endless. Looking up at this noble and kind old grandmother, people's hearts are ups and downs, "Ashley" (Lesley Howard), "Brad" (Clark Gable), "Scarlett" (Vivien Leigh)

 As early as half a century ago in the smoke and clouds, "Gone with the wind", and "Melanie", which symbolizes "indestructible spirituality", is still soothing like the sea, sky and the moon... In 2017, the Queen of England awarded the beauty of the century "Mei" Lanni" is a female knight.

 Hollywood golden age classic masterpiece "Gone with the Wind" (Gone with the Wind) stills. (Public domain) Gentle, quiet and rebellious, wild novel "Gone with the Wind" tells the fate and love stories of different types of American Southerners before and after the war in the 1860s. It is a strong homeland under the majestic epic style. feelings. Mitchell created two very different and contrasting female images. When writing Scarlett, he incorporated family traits and personal experience, with a lot of psychological descriptions, fresh and full; while Melanie used the perspective and evaluation of the sidelines. Written, simple and subtle, intriguing.

 Melanie in the original book is not as beautiful in the movie. At the engagement banquet at Twelve Oaks Manor, in Scarlett’s slightly slanted green eyes, the 17-year-old Melanie and her cousin Ashley appeared arm in arm, tender and petite. She is wearing a gray cicada-wing veil dress with cherry red ribbons on her waist and hat. The hair is not messy, the manner is steady and dignified, and the shy smile carries the serenity of the boudoir. 

Scarlett heard Melanie and Ashley talk about the British writer Dickens, and laughed secretly that she was a nerd, she had no tricks to charm men at all, and had a serious air like in a church. How could she lose to such an ordinary girl, who is so glamorous? In the Old South of the United States more than 160 years ago, in the more distant era of admiring gentlemen and ladies, Scarlett was a strange thing. 

Since childhood, he climbed trees, rode horses, and threw stones like a boy. In the 28th year of China, she was keen to be the queen of the prom and fascinated the boys. What makes the girls even more jealous is that she always likes to win love with a sword, and is invincible with her charming and wild style, and Ashley is almost the only young talent who has not fallen under her pomegranate skirt. Scarlett seized the gap to confess to her crush, but was turned down unexpectedly.

Exasperated, she slapped Ashley and dropped a vase. Then, she quickly married Melanie's brother, Charlie, and entangled herself as a relative. Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind". 

 Life and death support and protect the thin Melanie encounters the fiercest love enemy. Different from the jealousy of ordinary women, Melanie liked her youthful vitality very much when she first saw Scarlett. After Scarlett became her sister-in-law, she gave birth to a posthumous son Wade (the role was deleted from the movie) to her only elder brother who had just died in the war. She inherited the blood for the family. Melanie is very grateful and sympathetic to Scarlett. , Invited her to bring her son to live with her aunt in Atlanta. My aunts attended the bazaar together, went to the hospital to take care of the wounded, and went to the central square to wait for the list of the dead.

 In the summer of 1864, the Northern Army approached Atlanta, and the people in the city fled. Even Melanie's aunt ran away. Scarlett wanted to fly home to see her critically ill mother, but she promised to go to the frontline Ashley to take care of May. Lanny's. 

In the deafening sound of guns, the doctor who was busy rescuing the wounded had no time to take care of it, so Scarlett bit her scalp to help deliver the child to her rival in labor. If Melanie and the baby were left behind, then no matter whether she was in the Yang world or in the underworld, she would face the uncertain Ashley. For the first time, this selfish and willful beauty will never leave for others!

In the chaos and the flames, the caravan rushed out of Atlanta’s sea of ​​flames, and in the wind and rain, to avoid military accidents and hid under the bridge of the soaring river, in the car were the wife and children of the sweetheart, little Wade and the maid... Ashley The family's Twelve Oaks Manor has become scorched earth, and the mother and father of the ransacked family stayed dead. The 19-year-old Scarlett wiped away her tears and carried a heavy burden to become the pillar of the family.

She took the lead in farming, digging radishes, picking cotton, and plowing barefoot behind the horse. Her blood-filled hands soon formed thick calluses. She is very carefree and takes care of the mother and the baby. She gave Melanie the only good shoes in the house and gave the thickest bed to the mother and son. Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind". (Public domain) She also shot and killed a Northern soldier who had entered the house. Melanie carried Charlie's saber to help guard, telling her panicked to bury the body and scrub the blood stains, and then the two divided the work to clean the scene. Melanie's calmness and thoroughness made Scarlett amazed: "I didn't expect her to understand my heart!"

 Another group of Northern soldiers swept away, snatching food and poultry that were too late to hide, and the cotton was burned. Melanie was the first to rush to help Scarlett put out the fire, and she was relieved that she had fainted: "Nothing has been lost, we are still together, the baby is fine, and there is a house to live in." She saw Scarlett hiding in a baby diaper. In her wallet with gold coins, she laughed: "You are really my most wonderful sister-in-law!" Scarlett secretly praised this love rival that she often hates, "She is always by my side when needed." In danger, bravely Scarlett is a military commander in charge, and Melanie is calm and steady, like a pin on the sea. 

Blood instinct and character cultivation "Only the land is with the sun and the moon, it is worth fighting for." Tara Manor is Scarlett's source of strength and healing place, "The tranquil atmosphere of the country at dusk It hung around her like the happiness during prayer." The clay is like her rough father of Irish descent, and the white cotton is like a gentle mother's love. In the war, this pretty daughter became a desperate Sanniang who guarded her homeland, the tenacious will to survive and the burden of duty-free, with the brutal and brutality of fighting and fighting in the bloody mud.

Hunger, poverty, exhaustion and despair follow each other. After the defeat, the banknotes of the Southern Union became waste paper. Driven by blood and instinct, Scarlett rushed from left to right, unscrupulous and shocking the world. In order to pay for the tax and insurance of the farm, he moved to the shopping mall, and even robbed his sister's fiancé. As the first female businesswoman in Atlanta, she did not hesitate to show her feminine charm, but she did not hesitate to kill her. In order to earn more profits, hiring prisoners to work has been criticized.

 Although the war destroyed the Garden of Twelve Oaks, and the white cylindrical house on the hill like a Greek temple was wiped out, the scholarly nobleness of the Wilkes family has long been integrated in Melanie’s expression, her noble Education and lady character are completely internalized. She was dying after giving birth, and she did not forget to say thank you. She fled with bumps all the way, she didn't scream bitterly. Melanie takes care of her children at the farm, raises chickens, grows vegetables, and does housework, and she takes care of her in good order. She often even shared her share of food with the soldiers who came back to rest after the war. No matter how hard it is, the kindness from the heart has not diminished.

Regardless of whether it is rich or poor, her love for Ashley will never change. Melanie, who returned to Atlanta, settled in a simple brick house. Apart from a few pieces of furniture, Ashley bought the most books. The basement accommodates the victims who were displaced after the war. Melanie looks happy and contented. Her brown eyes are as clear and cute as when she was a girl. Scarlett, who has "hungry cat eyes", is very envious. How does Melanie keep it?

That silly kindness is like a candlelight lit in the dark. Melanie and Ashley’s cozy home often has guests and friends, noble ladies, generals, poets, priests, priests... Although there are only simple tea and treats, the hostess’s friendly smile makes people feel like a spring breeze. What they appreciate most is Melanie's loyalty to all traditions and disdain for flashy trends. Poor and vigorous, he has gone through hardships without resentment. In the great changes of the times when the old is alternated, people unconsciously regard her as the banner of the southern spirit. Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind".

 Melanie is a wonderful person who can always find and remember the good of others. "No matter how stupid a servant is, she can find loyalty and honesty behind the stupidity; no matter how ugly a woman is, she can find beauty in size, character, or other details; no matter how useless a man is, she They will also say that it may change in the future!" It's not about pretending to be kind and worshipping high and low. In addition to etiquette, there is also respect and sincerity, as well as her measuring ruler. "As long as you have a kind heart and consider others, you are a good person."

This is what she said about Will, a disabled soldier from a poor family. (Later, Will, who had been helping to manage the manor, became Scarlett’s brother-in-law.) Melanie has a pair of eyes that penetrate the surface and penetrate the inside. As long as the evil is hidden and the turbidity is clear, she will be kind to others. The current rejects dissidents. When the speculator Rhett's defeat theory aroused anger and closed doors, she still welcomes Rhett's visit, because Ashley's letter also has the same view.

When the wives contemptuously refused the prostitute Bell to donate to the hospital wounded, only Melanie accepted her sincerely. No influence, no prejudice, generous, and not disappointing every kindness and moment of kindness, this is Melanie! After presenting flowers to her brother Charlie's graveyard, she would also pull the weeds and put some flowers on the nearby barren tombs of the unknown Northern Army. In the tears, there was care and compassion that transcended love and hatred. Rhett, who was slick and sarcastic, only respected Melanie and praised her for being truly noble. 

When Atlanta fell, Rhett got a carriage to send women and children out of the city and join the army. He also teamed up with Bell to help Ashley and the others prevent the catastrophe. Bell lamented that Melanie was a good Christian and the only wife in the city who expressed her gratitude. 

 Melanie has always cherished and cared for her fate with Scarlett. The clam wrapped in sand and became pearls. When Melanie passed away, Scarlett discovered that Melanie was her only female best friend, the only one who really loved her except her mother, and the only pearl-like comfort in her childish love in an empty troubled world. . Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind". 

 Scarlett, who is married to Barrett, has been married for the third time, and still can't let go of her love for Ashley. The two recalled their pre-war youth in the lumber mill and couldn't help but hug each other. They happened to be bumped into by someone, and scandals spread throughout Atlanta.

 Ashley's birthday party was held as usual that night, Scarlett was pushed in by Rhett, who was nervous in her heart. She gathered all her eyes in an instant, and her greetings stopped abruptly. Melanie hurriedly greeted her, as if only Scarlett in her eyes, with a clean and kind face, hugged her and said, "Would you like to be an angel? Come with me to receive guests." The voice was full of love and unabashedly Trust, take her arms, straighten her shoulders to face everyone... "Would you like to be an angel?" Gentle and firm direct guidance, vulgar and simple, pleasant and generous, Melanie opened The wings of an angel protected Scarlett, who was on the cusp of criticism.

 People only saw the evil side of her, and Melanie was grateful for her life and death friends who had shared hardships, and felt sorry for this woman who was overwhelmed with difficulties and desperately supporting her family to help them. 

 Rhett said, "Melanie is stupid, but not what you think. Because she is too noble in her heart and never thinks badly about anyone she loves." Melanie said to Scarlett who came to confess: " My dear, I don’t need any explanation.” 

After all, they have walked through the most difficult years of each other. Needless to say, Melanie understands that they can tolerate, be compassionate and understanding. She knew that Scarlett’s fascination with Ashley was a girlish feeling, limited by her cognition, ignorant and stubborn, unable to see her own heart, and she did not understand sublimation. She said implicitly that she couldn't hear it, and she said that she was rebellious. She and Ashley are confidant loving couples, she understands his inner poetry and trauma, knows his bottom line of principles, she trusts her husband and is not moved by the noise of the outside world.

How can fire and water be together? She knew at a glance that Scarlett would look down on Ashley's depression and inaction, and Ashley would not be able to stand Scarlett's domineering. Brad and Scarlett had a quarrel, Melanie told Rhett clearly: "In fact, Scarlett loves you very much, but she hasn't realized it yet." The onlooker cleared that Scarlett's inner balance had already leaned toward Rhett. Before she died, she also told Scarlett: Captain Bai loves you so much, and treat him well.


 The good and bad aspects of the spiritual angel guarding Scarlett are very popular and down-to-earth; while Melanie is far more intelligent and generous than ordinary people, so it is more difficult to write, but it cannot be because of the high realm that ordinary people cannot reach. , Deny the existence of beauty. The most impressive passage is that under the heavy bereavement of his daughter, Rhett is almost crazy, guarding his daughter not to be buried. Still with Melanie's encouragement, Rhett agreed to hold the funeral the next day. Melanie was tired and serene, with tears flickering on her eyelashes, she watched for the dead girl.

The black mother sang "Hallelujah" in her heart, full of gratitude and curiosity. I really don't know what Melanie used to persuade Rhett, "I guess it was the angels who stood by her and helped her. Yes, Melanie, who has love in her heart and looks to God, has her own angel to help. She is the soul figure in the book, representing the scarce and precious divinity, and the spiritual good fruit of long-term pious belief. 

Benevolence is humble, transparent, and superb insight and understanding. Elegant, graceful and decent, she is an ideal wife and mother, a caring and reliable friend, and a talented woman praised in the Bible. 

 The first time Melanie admired Scarlett was the moment when she raised her saber to help her, her determined eyes and inner will and courage, "no less than a majestic teacher with flags and a loud army." It was with blood. The bravery of different calm and courageous!

 In addition to personal temperament, without the blessing of the gods of the upper world, how can a weak parturient burst out such a shocking energy in an instant? ! The world is sinister and human nature is complicated. Scarlett is such a romantic fairy with evil thoughts. The covetous heart is well known. The time bomb is by her side. Melanie is so nonchalant, gentle and quiet, and unbelievably simple. Don't be jealous, don't struggle, don't fight or grab, the clouds are calm and gentle.

Just thinking about the good and not the bad, Melanie firmly believes in the best in Scarlett. The ensuing blow made Scarlett almost drown in grief and despair, and Melanie became her only support and comfort. In the coma, she heard a soft voice like running clouds and flowing water: "My dear, I am here, always by your side." Melanie's mother-like warmth and unconditional trust nourished the young seedlings in her heart not to wither. She thought: When I make enough money, I will be like my mother and Melanie, and be a respectable lady. Stills from the movie "Gone with the Wind".

 Melanie is an angel on earth who embodies spiritual relatives and friends. Even the most difficult person to deal with, she uses stable compassion and care to tolerate, educate, and redeem as much as possible... moisturizing things are silent, weak and strong , Subtly, the invisible energy is dense and long, and it can make up and reform in a timely and appropriate manner, bringing peace and harmony to the people around. She led the rebellious prodigal son Reid back to tradition. She let Scarlett see who her obsession and true love were. She was Ashley's harbor to rest her old dreams and an indispensable cornerstone for the reconstruction of her spiritual home after the war. 

Scarlett, who insisted on her promise and took responsibility in the fire of war, was so brilliant, she would really not be a beautiful woman if she did not save her life in troubled times.

Regardless of the age, Melanie, who has traditional virtues and pious beliefs, is a beautiful woman who is reminiscent of life. Nowadays, such an angel-like woman is becoming increasingly rare, rare, and precious. If you encounter any luck, please be thankful;

 The guardian angel of Gone with the Wind: Calm

 「我們能讓《亂世佳人》(Gone with the Wind)那樣的經典作品回歸嗎?拜託!」川普(特朗普)總統今年2月的呼喚言猶在耳。6月10日,這部80年前贏得8項奧斯卡大獎的影片從華納流媒體平台(HBO Max)下架,引起了廣泛爭論和巨大反彈,時代局限在所難免,難道瑕不掩瑜的藝術佳作不寶貴嗎?!電影的DVD和原著小說很快雙雙衝上亞馬遜銷售榜首。「砸雕像、燒教堂」的鬧劇又在美國上演,一刀切的「政治正確」,戕害的不僅是文化遺產和創作自由,而且危及美國的立國之本。
(公有領域) 6月25日,《亂世佳人》重新上架,添加了「因美化蓄奴制被抗議的」說明視頻。比起揭露奴隸制罪惡的《湯姆叔叔的小屋》和福克納反映種族問題的短篇小說,瑪格麗特‧米切爾以南方種植園主女兒的獨特視角,講述南北戰爭(1861—1865)前後的青春歲月和情感糾葛,壯闊瑰麗中不乏懷舊溫情的調子。而演員們的精采詮釋,演活了小說中的人物,扮保姆的海蒂是首位獲得奧斯卡(女配角)獎的黑人。 

 1939年拍攝的電影《亂世佳人》劇照。她的露肩抹胸綠裙子。艾希禮戰後歸來,梅蘭妮像小鳥一樣歡快地奔向丈夫,斯嘉麗也激動地要衝上去,黑嬤嬤一把抱住她,虎著臉道:「那可是她的丈夫!」當頭棒喝夢中人,影院觀眾一陣鬨笑。當斯嘉麗(為稅金)勾引妹妹的男友時,坐在馬車後座的黑嬤嬤瞠目結舌,繼而撇嘴鄙夷。

天地良心一桿秤,樸實忠厚的黑嬤嬤在片中就起到這樣的作用。 7月26日,104歲的奧利維婭‧德哈維蘭(Olivia de Havilland)駕鶴西去,其演藝生涯最深入人心的銀幕形象就是《亂世佳人》中的梅蘭妮。難忘奧斯卡頒獎禮的一段視頻,伴隨著恢弘的《亂世佳人》主題曲,藍衣白髮的奧利維婭穩步走到講台前,全場起立向好萊塢黃金時代的影后致敬,熱烈的掌聲像浪濤般經久不息。仰望著這位福壽尊貴的慈祥老祖母,人們心潮起伏,「艾希禮」(萊斯利‧霍華德)、「白瑞德」(克拉克‧蓋博)、「斯嘉麗」(費雯‧麗)早在半個世紀前的煙雲中「隨風而逝」,而象徵「永不泯滅的精神品德」的「梅蘭妮」仍如海天明月般撫慰人心; 2017年英女王授予世紀佳人「梅蘭妮」女爵士稱號。

 好萊塢黃金年代經典巨作《亂世佳人》(Gone with the Wind)劇照。(公有領域) 溫柔嫻靜 與 叛逆野性 長篇小說《飄》(Gone with the Wind)講述19世紀60年代不同類型的美國南方人在戰爭前後的命運和婚戀故事,磅礴的史詩風格下是濃厚的家園情懷。米切爾塑造了兩位截然不同又互相映襯的女性形象,寫斯嘉麗時融入家族特質和個人經歷,有大量的心理描寫,鮮活飽滿;而梅蘭妮則是通過旁觀的視角和評價寫的,簡約含蓄,耐人尋味。

 原著中的梅蘭妮可沒有電影裡美,在十二橡樹莊園的訂婚宴上,在斯嘉麗略微乜斜的綠眼中,17歲的梅蘭妮與表哥艾希禮挽臂出場,柔弱嬌小的她穿著灰色蟬翼紗裙,腰間和帽子都配著櫻桃紅的緞帶。頭髮一絲不亂,舉止穩重端莊,羞怯的笑容帶著閨中的貞淑靜氣。斯嘉麗聽到梅蘭妮與艾希禮談論英國作家狄更斯,暗笑她是書呆子,一點兒魅惑男人的花招都沒有,一本正經的神態跟在教堂裡似的。豔光四射的她怎能輸給這麼個樣貌平平的姑娘?! 

 在160多年前的美國老南方,在更久遠的崇尚紳士淑女的時代,斯嘉麗可是個另類奇葩。從小像男孩一樣爬樹、騎馬、擲石頭,桀驁不馴,不愛讀書,對母親的教誨也是表面應付,骨子裡叛逆不羈。二八年華的她熱衷於當舞會皇后,把小伙子們迷得團團轉。更讓姑娘們妒火中燒的是她總喜歡橫刀奪愛,憑著嬌媚又野性的風情所向披靡,而艾希禮幾乎是唯一沒有拜倒在她石榴裙下的青年才俊。斯嘉麗抓住間隙向暗戀的心上人告白,不料竟被婉拒。

惱羞成怒的她扇了艾希禮一耳光,還摔了個花瓶。接著,她火速嫁給梅蘭妮的哥哥查理,以親戚的身分誓不善罷甘休地糾纏下去。 電影《亂世佳人》劇照。 生死相依 扶持守護 瘦弱的梅蘭妮遭遇最凶猛的情敵。 與一般女子的醋意防範不同,梅蘭妮初見斯嘉麗就很喜歡她的青春活力。斯嘉麗成了她的嫂子後,還給剛一開戰就死去的唯一哥哥生下遺腹子小韋德(電影刪掉了這個角色),為家族傳承了血脈,梅蘭妮十分感激並體諒斯嘉麗,邀她帶兒子來亞特蘭大姑媽家同住。姑嫂一起參加義賣會、去醫院照顧傷員、到市中心廣場等侯陣亡名單。

 1864年夏天,北軍直逼亞特蘭大,城裡人紛紛逃亡,連梅蘭妮的親姑媽都跑了,斯嘉麗恨不得飛回家看病危的母親,可她答應上前線的艾希禮照顧梅蘭妮的。在震耳欲聾的槍炮聲中,忙著救傷兵的大夫無暇顧及,斯嘉麗就硬著頭皮幫難產的情敵接生。

如果拋下梅蘭妮和嬰兒一走了之,那麼無論陽世還是陰間,她都無顏面對生死未卜的艾希禮。這位自私任性的美人兒頭一次為他人不離不棄!

兵荒馬亂,烽火連天,駕蓬車衝出亞特蘭大的烈焰火海,風雨中為避兵禍牽馬躲在河水暴漲的橋下,車內是心上人的妻兒、小韋德和女傭…… 艾希禮家的十二橡樹莊園已成焦土,遭洗劫的家中母死父呆,19歲的斯嘉麗擦乾眼淚,扛起重擔,成了家裡的頂梁柱。

她帶頭種地、挖蘿蔔、摘棉花,赤腳在馬後面犁地,滿是血泡的雙手不久磨出了厚繭。大大咧咧的她也挺照顧產婦和嬰兒的,把家裡唯一的好鞋子給梅蘭妮穿,把最厚的褥子給母子倆。 電影《亂世佳人》劇照。) 她還槍殺了一個進屋行竊的北兵,梅蘭妮提著查理的軍刀援助守護,告訴慌亂的她趕快掩埋屍體、擦洗血跡,接著兩人分工把現場清理乾淨。梅蘭妮這份冷靜周密,令斯嘉麗刮目相看:「想不到她明白我的心!」

 又一群北軍掃蕩,搶走了沒來得及藏起的食物和家禽,棉花也被付之一炬。梅蘭妮第一個衝上來幫斯嘉麗滅火,還寬慰昏倒的她:「沒有失去什麼,我們還在一起,孩子沒事兒,還有房子住。」看到斯嘉麗藏在嬰兒尿布裡的放金幣的皮夾,她開懷大笑:「你真是我最妙不可言的嫂子!」斯嘉麗心裡暗讚這個自己經常嫉恨的情敵,「需要時她總在身邊。」 危難中,勇猛的斯嘉麗是衝鋒陷陣的武將,而梅蘭妮方寸不亂的平和沉穩,則如定海神針。 

(公有領域) 血氣本能 與 人品涵養 「只有土地與日月同在,值得你為之而戰。」塔拉莊園是斯嘉麗的力量源泉、療傷治癒之所,「鄉下黃昏時的寧靜氣氛如祝禱時的幸福感一樣籠罩在她周圍」。紅土就像她愛爾蘭血統的粗獷老爸,而白棉花猶如溫柔的母愛。這個嬌俏千金在戰亂中變成了守衛家園的拚命三娘,那種頑強的求生意志和義無反顧的負重擔當,帶著血腥泥污中搏擊廝殺的粗鄙剽悍。

飢餓貧窮與疲憊絕望如影隨形,戰敗後南部聯盟的鈔票都變成廢紙,憑著一腔血勇和本能慾望驅使,斯嘉麗左衝右突,不擇手段,驚世駭俗。為付稅保農莊、轉戰商場,甚至搶了妹妹的未婚夫。作為亞特蘭大首位女商人,不吝施展女性魅力的同時,殺伐決斷毫不手軟。為賺取更多利潤,僱傭囚犯做工,飽受非議。

 雖然戰火摧毀了十二橡樹園,那高踞山岡像希臘神殿般的白色圓柱房子化為烏有,但是威爾克斯家族的書香貴氣早已融匯在梅蘭妮的言談神情中,她的貴族教養和淑女品格完全內化了。分娩後虛弱得奄奄一息,她也不忘說謝謝。一路顛簸逃亡,她沒叫一聲苦。梅蘭妮在農莊帶孩子、養雞、種菜、做家務,打理得井井有條。她還常把自己的一份食物勻給戰後返鄉來此歇腳的士兵,再怎麼艱難,發自內心的善良並沒有減少。

無論貧富順逆,她對艾希禮的愛始終不渝。重返亞特蘭大的梅蘭妮在簡陋的磚房安了家,除了幾樣家具,最多的還是艾希禮買的書,地下室收留著戰後流離失所的落難者。梅蘭妮看起來幸福又知足,褐色的眼睛還跟做姑娘時一樣清澈可愛,讓「餓貓樣眼神」的斯嘉麗非常羨慕,梅蘭妮怎麼保持的呢?

那種傻乎乎的善良,如同黑暗中點亮的燭光。 梅蘭妮和艾希禮的溫馨之家常有賓朋雲集,貴婦、將軍、詩人、神父、教士……雖然只有簡單的茶水待客,但女主人富有親和力的笑容,讓人如沐春風。最令他們賞識的是,梅蘭妮對一切傳統的忠誠堅守,對浮華潮流的不屑。貧窮而有風骨,歷經苦難,卻一直沒有怨恨。在新舊交替的時代大變遷中,人們不知不覺把她視為南方精神的旗幟。 電影《亂世佳人》劇照。

(公有領域) 心如朗月連天淨 梅蘭妮是個奇妙的人兒,總能發現並記得別人的好。「一個僕人無論如何愚蠢,她都能在愚蠢背後發現忠心和老實;一個女人無論如何醜陋,她都能在體型、性格或者別的什麼細節上發現出美來;一個男人不論多麼無用,她也都會說將來還可能改變呢!」 並非裝乖討好、拜高踩低,除了禮儀習慣,也有尊重誠懇,還有她的衡量標尺。「只要心地善良,為他人著想,就是上等人」。

這是她評價貧民出身的傷殘兵威爾的話。(後來,一直幫著管理莊園的威爾成了斯嘉麗的妹夫。) 梅蘭妮有一雙洞穿表層深透內裡的慧眼,只要邪中藏正、濁裡流清,她就善待人家,不隨大流排斥異己。當投機商瑞德的戰敗論惹眾怒而吃閉門羹時,她依舊歡迎瑞德的到訪,因為艾希禮信中也有同樣的觀點。

當太太們鄙夷地拒絕妓女貝爾為醫院傷員捐款時,只有梅蘭妮真誠地接納了她。不勢力,無偏見,有雅量,不辜負每一顆善心、片刻的好意,這就是梅蘭妮!給哥哥查理墓地獻花後,她也會順便給附近無名北軍的荒冢拔拔草、放上一些花,淚光中有著超越愛憎對立的關照悲憫。 油腔滑調、含譏帶諷的瑞德,只對梅蘭妮畢恭畢敬,讚她真正高貴。亞特蘭大淪陷時,是瑞德弄來馬車把婦孺送出城並半路從軍的。他還和貝爾聯手幫艾希禮等人擋去一劫,貝爾感嘆梅蘭妮是個好基督徒,是城裡唯一向她表達謝意的太太。 

 梅蘭妮一直珍惜呵護著與斯嘉麗的緣分,蚌裹沙礫久成珠。梅蘭妮去世,斯嘉麗才發現:梅蘭妮是她唯一的女性摯友,是除了母親唯一真正愛護她的人,是她竹籃打水一場空的亂世兒女情中僅存的珍珠般的慰藉。 電影《亂世佳人》劇照。 嫁給白瑞德的斯嘉麗已是第三次結婚,仍放不下對艾希禮的愛。兩人在木材廠憶起戰前青春歲月,不禁唏噓擁抱,恰巧被人撞見,緋聞流言傳遍亞特蘭大。

 當晚艾希禮的生日會照常舉行,內心忐忑的斯嘉麗被瑞德推了進來,盛裝的她瞬間聚集了所有的目光,寒暄笑語嘎然而止。梅蘭妮匆匆迎過來,彷彿眼裡只有斯嘉麗,一臉的明淨親切,摟住她道:「你願意做天使嗎?和我一起接待客人。」聲音裡充滿了愛和毫不掩飾的信任,挽起她的手臂,挺直雙肩面對眾人……「你願意做天使嗎?」溫柔又堅定地正向引導,避俗而簡靜,和悅又大方,是梅蘭妮張開天使的羽翼,保護了處於眾矢之的、風口浪尖的斯嘉麗。人們只見其劣跡斑斑的惡魔的一面,而梅蘭妮感念曾共患難的生死之交,心疼這個一路披荊斬棘、拚命養家救助他們的女子。 

 瑞德說:「梅蘭妮是傻,但不是你想的那樣。因為她心地太高尚,從不往壞處想她愛的任何人。」梅蘭妮對前來懺悔的斯嘉麗說:「親愛的,我不需要任何解釋。」畢竟她們相依相攜地走過最艱難的歲月,無需多言,梅蘭妮都明白,能容能化,慈憫諒解。 她知道斯嘉麗對艾希禮的迷戀是一種少女情懷,受認知所限,懵懂又固執,看不清自己的心,也不懂昇華。含蓄說她聽不出來,直白講她逆反的牛勁兒就來了。她和艾希禮是互為知己的恩愛夫妻,她懂他內心的詩意和創傷,知道他的原則底線,她信任丈夫,不為外界的喧囂所動。

火與水怎能在一起呢?她一目了然,斯嘉麗會看不上艾希禮的消沉無為,艾希禮會受不了斯嘉麗的飛揚跋扈。白瑞德與斯嘉麗吵翻天,梅蘭妮明晰地告訴瑞德:「其實,斯嘉麗很愛你,只是她還沒意識到。」旁觀者清,斯嘉麗內心天平早已傾向瑞德這邊。臨終前她還叮囑斯嘉麗:白船長那麼愛你,要好好善待他。


 屬靈神恩 天使守護 斯嘉麗的好與壞都很通俗、接地氣;而梅蘭妮遠超常人的睿智寬厚,就比較難寫,但不能因為境界高,一般人達不到,就否認美好的存在。 印象深的段落是,在喪女之痛的重創下,瑞德幾近瘋狂,守著愛女不讓下葬。還是在梅蘭妮勸慰下,瑞德同意第二天舉行葬禮。梅蘭妮疲倦而安詳,睫毛上閃動著淚珠,她為死去的女孩守夜。

黑嬤嬤心裡唱起了「哈利路亞」,充滿了感激和好奇,真不知梅蘭妮用什麼辦法說服了瑞德,「我猜想準是天使們站在她一邊幫了她的忙。」 是啊,心中有愛、仰望神的梅蘭妮自有天使來助。她才是書中的靈魂人物,代表著稀缺而珍貴的神性,是長期虔誠信仰結出的屬靈善果。仁愛謙遜,通透明達,見識、理解力超然卓群。清雅婉順,端方得體,她是理想的賢妻良母、貼心可靠的朋友、聖經中讚美的才德婦人。 

 梅蘭妮第一次令斯嘉麗肅然起敬的是提軍刀相助的那一刻,堅毅的眼神和內在的意志勇氣,「不下於一支旌旗招展、軍號嘹亮的雄師。」那是與血氣之勇不同的從容自若的神勇!除了個人氣質底蘊外,沒有上界神靈的加持,一個虛弱的產婦怎會瞬間爆發出如此撼人心魄的能量?! 世間險惡,人性複雜。斯嘉麗那麼個惡念翻騰的風流妖精,覬覦之心眾所周知,定時炸彈就在身邊,梅蘭妮竟然若無其事,溫柔安靜,單純到不可思議。不妒嫉,不糾結,不爭不搶,雲淡風輕。

只念人好,不記人歹,梅蘭妮堅定地相信斯嘉麗最好的一面。接踵而來的打擊使斯嘉麗幾乎溺死在悲傷絕望裡,梅蘭妮成了她唯一的依靠與安慰。昏迷中她聽到行雲流水般輕柔的聲音:「親愛的,我在這兒,一直在你身邊。」梅蘭妮母親般的溫暖和無條件的信任,滋潤著她心田裡幼小的善苗不至於枯萎。她想:等賺足了錢,我也要像母親和梅蘭妮那樣,做個人人愛戴敬重的貴婦人。 電影《亂世佳人》劇照。

 梅蘭妮是化身屬靈親友的人間天使,哪怕是最刁蠻難搞的人,也以穩定的慈憫關愛儘可能去包容、教化、救贖……潤物細無聲,柔弱勝剛強,潛移默化,無形的能量綿密悠長,適時恰當地彌補歸正,給周圍人帶來安寧祥和。她引領反叛浪子瑞德回歸傳統,她讓斯嘉麗看清自己的執念、真愛是誰,她是艾希禮靜憩舊夢的港灣,是戰後重建精神家園不可缺少的基石。 戰火中堅守承諾、勇於擔當的斯嘉麗太出彩,如果沒有亂世裡捨命相救的善舉,她還真算不上佳人。

無論什麼時代,具有傳統美德和虔誠信仰的梅蘭妮,才是令人回甘雋永的佳人。如今這樣天使般的女子日益罕見珍稀、難得可貴,如若遇到何其幸運,惜福感恩吧;

 亂世佳人的守護天使 作者:沉靜

 標籤: 亂世佳人, 飄, 奧利維婭·德哈維蘭, 梅蘭妮, 善良

2020年9月9日 星期三

學習成功者的精進思維

更新: 2008-04-18 6:12 PM

         馬英九在這方面有他過人之處,「 四十歲過後,體力之線往上平升,精神之線向上提升。」 年過中年,依然努力以赴地向自己的體力挑戰,試圖不斷超越自我極限,人格操守的精神力量還能持之以恆的維持在高檔,這不是一件容易的事啊!

若沒有崇高的理想,是很難達到這種中年過後「體力與精神之線均向上提升的。」 看一個人會不會成功,從他堅持、熱衷地持之以恆的處事態度,「小事累積久了就是大事,細節影響久了決定成敗。」

學習成功者永往直前的精進思維,成大事不在力量大小,而在於堅持多久。道雖邇,不行不至;事雖小,不為不成。嚮往成功者鋼鐵般的意志和決定性的力量,一般人容易意志消沉之後,同時也失去了運轉的動力。

不可動搖的決心和當機立斷的氣概是學習成功者的內心激勵,托爾斯泰說:「決心就是力量,信心就是成功。」莎士比亞說:「自信是走向成功之路的第一步;缺乏自信乃失敗之主要原因。」

成功一定有方法,失敗也一定有原因。成功是一把梯子,雙手插在口袋裡的人是爬不上去的。現實是此岸,理想是彼岸,中間有湍急的河流,行動則是架在河上的橋。 馬英九之所以馬到成功,在於熱誠心也誠的行動力,為了追求人生的理想實現而努力以赴,奮戰不懈。

最後笑的人昰笑得最美好燦爛的,表面上,在去年二月馬英九總統因為特別費事件辭去國民黨主席,許多人看來馬英九先生簡直就陷入絕境,再也無路可走了!

不少人就在這種時候敗下陣來!我當時剛好持相反的看法,因為失敗挫折的內在因素,包含著累積能量,東山再起,反敗為勝的真正內涵成功。

謙和、感恩、包容、熱誠與溫良,使他以橫掃千軍的開票結果,淨贏對手兩百多萬票! 選戰如戰場,千古不變的【孫子兵法】信條:「驕者必敗,哀者勝也。」

這是我在去年三四月間寫給馬英九工作室,請他們轉達馬英九先生自己的一點拙見,越是謙卑越飽滿,越有實力越溫順,越能承擔越高明。

曾國藩說的:「高明由於天份,精明由於學問。」可見,馬英九先生成為總統,乃是偶然亦必然的高明天份的因果。

老子所云:「天網恢恢,疏而不漏。」俄國大文豪托爾斯泰說:「上天有眼,暫時不語。」 老天會給最謙和最熱誠最溫良最感恩最高明的人最大的掌聲!

  標籤: tags: 巫石吉

Action star Jackie has filed lawsuit concerning seized Beijing apartments

 Published: 2020/9/7

Chinese martial arts star Jackie Chan issued a statement through his agency on Sunday concerning the status of the star's two apartments in central Beijing which were seized and are set to go up for auction. The statement noted that the star has already filed a lawsuit concerning the properties and that since this litigation is still ongoing it was not convenient for him to disclose more details to the public.

The statement came after news hit the internet that his two luxury Beijing apartments worth a total of 100 million yuan ($14.6 million) were set to go up for auction for about 71.91 million yuan.

According to reports, Chan bought the two apartments in 2006 for 33.6 million yuan, but actually only paid 13 million yuan after he became the spokesman of the developer Yujia Real Estate for an endorsement fee of 20.6 million yuan, which he waived in exchange for the property.

The dispute over ownership of the properties stems from the fact that developer never actually completed the transfer of ownership for the properties. According to a report from ifeng.com's business channel, it is believed that ownership was not transferred because the developer would have had to publicly reveal when processing the property rights certificate that Chan actually only paid nearly one-third the properties' price.

Some Chinese netizens commented on social media that Jackie Chan did not hurry to get the ownership in order to escape paying tax on his endorsement fee of 20.6 million yuan.

"Since Chan did not have a real estate certificate, he probably hasn't paid the tax for purchasing the apartments, so some details need to be confirmed," Shen Binti, a lawyer based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.

The two properties were seized for auction to pay debts owed by Yujia.

In 2018, the Beijing's tax administration audited the company and found that it had evaded paying 7.699 million yuan in taxes from 2008 to 2015. It was then fined 93.35 million yuan by the administration.

Meanwhile, the developer also became tied up in a dispute over payments with another developer Tenhong Real Estate.

In July, a court ordered the seizure of Yujia's assets and ordered them to be sold.

Since the transfer of ownership never occurred, the two disputed apartments were seized by the government as part of the Yujia asset sales.

According to the ifeng.com report, Chan is most likely seeking to use the private transaction contract he signed with Yujia in 2006 as proof that he is the legal owner of the properties.

The two apartments are located in Dongcheng district, Beijing. After their purchase Chan renovated the neighboring properties into a 1,217 square meter residence with three living rooms and six bedrooms.

The 66-year-old superstar and his family have been living at the residence since 2007. His son Jaycee Chan was caught at the residence with another star Ko Chen-tung from Taiwan island in 2014 while in possession of more than three ounces of marijuana, and was sentenced to six months in jail, according to reports.

Zhang Qihuai, a lawyer who has previously handled cases for many Chinese celebrities, told the Global Times on Monday that the failure to transfer ownership rights to Chan may not have been solely Yujia Real Estate's decision.

"It is possible that Jackie Chan was also unwilling to make public the fact that he had bought the real estate at such a low price due to his public image," said Zhang.

He suggested that since the two parties signed a real estate purchase contract, Chan could apply for a property ownership certificate. However, in view of the fact that the real estate has been seized for auction, Chan will have to first file a breach of contract lawsuit against Yujia Real Estate.


Martial arts star Jackie Chan and his wife Joan Lin and son Jaycee Chan have lived in the high-end properties since 2007.
Reuters file photo             Martial arts star Jackie Chan

   Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak started earlier this year, the family has been based primarily in Hongkong, so the fact that they have no home in Beijing for the time being hasn’t affected them at all.


Source: Global Times

2020年9月8日 星期二

Frogmore Cottage renovation

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle repaid money for Frogmore Cottage renovation
  • Couple paid back the £2.4million after they secured the £75million Netflix deal 
  • They are 'relieved and pleased' to pay money back, a source has claimed


  • On Monday it was revealed that the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39 – who had been paying back the cash in monthly instalments – announced that they had totally refunded the Sovereign Grant for the redevelopment of five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage on the Queen's Berkshire estate.  
     
    'They are 'very relieved and very pleased' to have been able to pay off the debt so quickly,' a source close to the couple told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl. 'This has been a pro-active step and something they wanted to do from the outset.
     
    'There was no requirement [from the Queen] for them to pay the money back but it was important to them that they did, and after the Netflix deal they were in a position to do so. I think this is quite a significant moment for them.'
     
    Prince Charles has cut off his private funding support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they secured a £75million Netflix deal and paid back £2.4million for Frogmore Cottage (pictured)
    The source added: 'They're now in their forever home, it's the start of their new life and they're very much looking forward to everything that's about to come.'   
     
    It comes after sources close to the couple claimed that they would no longer be receiving handouts from Prince Charles as they sought to establish 'financial independence'.
     

    2020年9月7日 星期一

    為什麼他們的癌細胞沒有造成身體的病痛?

    日本曾解剖研究幾十位無病痛往生的 90-103歲老人,發現他們每一位體內都有不少癌細胞。但,為什麼他們的癌細胞沒有造成身體的病痛?

    休眠期越長,病人能存活的時間就越長,甚至不發生令人害怕的轉移。現在醫學界積極的在研究拖延癌細胞休眠期的方法,包括利用藥物和飲食。


     預防細胞癌化提到幾種天然物,可藉由控制癌細胞內訊息傳導 ( signal transduction ) 的路徑進入休眠期,請大家多吃含有有效成份的食物,讓身體內蠢蠢欲動的癌細胞多多睡覺。

    1.咖哩(抗癌成份是薑黃素)

    2.辣椒(抗癌成份是辣椒素)

    3.薑(抗癌成份是薑油)

    4.綠茶(抗癌成份是兒茶素)

    5.大豆(抗癌成份是異黃酮)

    6.蕃茄(抗癌成份是茄紅素)

    7.葡萄(抗癌成份是白黎蘆醇)

    8.大蒜(抗癌成份是硫化物)

    9.高麗菜(抗癌成份是indole)

    10.花椰菜(抗癌成份是硫化物)

    多吃這些食物!讓體內蠢蠢欲動的癌細胞永遠睡著不要醒來

    2020年9月6日 星期日

    岳少搞一帶一路 公司買英國酒店

    自從林建岳於2012年挖來思捷(0330)CFO周福安加盟,麗新就加快涉足內地和英國地產,套用官媒攻擊香港首富的邏輯,少不免要警惕一下,在賺內地錢的同時,「勿讓岳少跑了」;公司自2014年起更頻頻收購倫敦寫字樓物業,物業均位於金融城核心地段黃金地段,緊鄰「重慶李嘉誠」張松橋所持有的利德賀大樓(Leadenhall Building)。

    事實上,香港富豪押注英國已成主旋律,去年其他香港富豪也早已密密掃貨,合共至少購下200億元等值物業,例如「大劉」劉鑾雄的華人置業(0127)也在積極拓展海外收入,尤其英國收租業務。

    而麗展的倫敦收租生意也愈做愈大,集中投資Leadenhall Street,周福安早前向傳媒透露,會視乎租約於2023年到期及英國脱歐情況,才落實重建計劃。若落實重建,總樓面面積會由目前的30多萬平方呎,增至130萬平方呎,估計現價建築費約4.5億英鎊。

    倫敦物業租金回報率較穩定,也是香港人考量投資的重要因素,倫敦住宅租金回報約為3.5%至4.5%,商舖租金回報約4%,金融城寫字樓租金回報約4%,新金融城寫字樓租金收益回報則約5%。相比香港,現時住宅租金回報約1%至1.5%,旺區商舖回報為1%至2%,寫字樓租金回報已跌穿2%。

    至於今次收購的「聖安德魯斯費爾蒙酒店(Fairmont St Andrews)」,根據麗新的新聞稿,聖安德魯斯費爾蒙酒店乃佔地520畝之五星級酒店,位於「高爾夫誕生地」,擁有The Kittocks及The Torrance兩座錦標賽高爾夫球場, 周邊環境豪華、優雅,非常合乎岳少識玩識食的品味,又有10間水療房、5間餐館及酒吧、 3000平方米之會議室及賽事場地,以及兩個私人莊園(各擁有4間臥房)外,招呼政商朋友一流。

    但諷刺的是,在麗展年薪超過3000萬的林建岳,出名公職多多,其擔任主席的貿發局在9月才主辦「邁向亞洲,首選香港」峰會,自己在3個月後就悄悄用腳投票,加大歐洲投資,似乎就令到大家很尷尬了。

    大灣區國舅

    http://fb.com/royal.bro.in.law

    2020年9月3日 星期四

    FBI解密:來自金星的科學家

    FBI最新解密檔案說,史上最偉大的天才發明家尼古拉·特斯拉(Nikola Tesla)來自金星

     


    從1940年代晚期開始,人們慢慢相信外星生物曾經造訪地球。1947年,美國發生了轟動全球的羅斯威爾事件(Roswell incident),疑似有飛碟墜毀新墨西哥州,並造成外星人死亡。但是這個事件的真相至今始終沒有公布。

    但是有關外星人的證據,已經越來越多地被公布。今天我想跟大家說一個跟外星人相關的有趣的事情。

    近年來,由於保密年限到期,FBI在它的官網上公布了許多解密文件,其中一份文件提到著名發明家尼古拉·特斯拉(Nikola Tesla)來自「金星」,是一個「外星人」。

    事實上,美國與外星人的傳聞一直沸沸揚揚,有人說美國的科技之所以遙遙領先,是因為美國得到了外星人的技術。有意思的是,川普總統之前在接受兒子小川普採訪時,被問到了外星人的問題,他意味深長地說:「我知道一些有趣的事情,但我不能說。」

    FBI公布的一份解密文件名為「Nikola Tesla Part03 of03」,它是FBI解密的關於尼古拉‧特斯拉的第三份文件,一共有64頁,其中有部分內容被塗黑無法辨別。剩下的沒有被塗黑的內容中有這樣一段話:「宇宙人曾多次接觸尼古拉·特斯拉,並且告訴FBI特斯拉來自金星,1856年時特斯拉被帶到地球,交給一對南斯拉夫的夫妻撫養。」

    這份文件公布後使世界震驚,面對網友如潮般的討論和質疑,FBI未做出任何回應和解釋,這更加令人好奇。如果文件內容屬實,意味著美國一直與外星人有著密切聯繫。那麼特斯拉為什麼要從金星來到地球呢?外星人多次接觸特斯拉,又有什麼用意?為什麼外星人要告訴美國FBI特斯拉的真實身分?

    我們來看看特斯拉在地球上都做了什麼。特斯拉被認為是人類歷史上最偉大的天才發明家,沒有之一。他的科學創造超出了同期水平的300年,甚至是1000年以上。人們一般了解的是他40歲以前的作品,他晚年的作品全部被列入絕對機密。

    他對於人類文明的貢獻是不可磨滅的,他改進的現代交流電系統至今仍然惠及著幾十億人類,當今科學界的發明體系也是建立在他的發明體系之上。有人曾說過這樣一句話:如果世界上沒有愛迪生的出現,那麼電燈和電報依舊會被發明出來,而如果沒有特斯拉的出現,那麼整個世界的發展至少延緩半個世紀的時間。

    這句話看似誇張其實一點也不誇張,因為特斯拉光是有記錄的發明專利就有1000多項,如果加上他已經出售或者沒有記錄的專利,那麼數字應該能夠達到1500多項。也就是說,特斯拉每年的發明有20多個,平均20多天就發明一個。有人認為,從這一點上來看,特斯拉來自金星很有幾分可信度,發明創造是很費腦和時間的,有人窮其一生可能連一項發明都創造不出來,而特斯拉一生至少創造了1000個作品。

    特斯拉第二項重要發明是無線電技術。智能手機、電腦、電視機、導彈、地圖導航、衛星、宇宙飛船、輪船……這些設備都需要使用無線電技術。另外,他還是霓虹燈、收音機、變電站、感應電動機、遠程自動化系統、變壓器、放大發射機、人造閃電、世界系統、粒子束能、X射線的發明者。

    是不是太厲害了?簡直不像人類。有人說,特斯拉很可能不是在發明創造,而是把金星的科技帶到地球上來,傳授給了人類。除了發明創造,特斯拉還曾做出過許多驚人的預言,而這些預言在今天都成了現實。

    特斯拉在1926年的時候就成功預言了智能手機的出現。他當時認為,當人類能夠完美運用無線技術的時候,整個地球將成為一個整體,無論相隔多遠處於何地,我們都能夠瞬間聯絡到彼此,並且我們還能看到和聽到對方的容貌及聲音。而具有這樣功能的設備體積極小,我們可以輕易地將它放在衣服口袋裡。

    這不就是智能手機嗎,人類1993年才製造出世界上第一台智能手機,特斯拉等於提前74年就知道了智能手機的存在。更不可思議的是,特斯拉在1911年就開始研究顛覆認知的「反重力飛行器」。根據特斯拉的口述,他正在研究的飛行器不用推進器也沒有翅膀,並且能夠在空中保持絕對靜止,即便是在大風的環境中也能夠相對平穩地飛行。

    因為流傳出來的資料過少,很多人認為特斯拉並沒有成功研製出這種飛行器,但是也有人認為特斯拉已經完成了這種飛行器的研究工作,美國頻頻出現的不明飛行物,很可能就是這種飛行器。雖然沒法證實特斯拉的「反重力飛行器」有沒有成功,不過讓人懷疑的是,特斯拉1945年去世以後,他晚年的發明作品全部被FBI列入最高機密。

    特斯拉來自金星這種文件,還只是一般機密,50年後就要解密。而最高機密要100年,甚至100年以後也不能解封。特斯拉到底發明了什麼,美國為什麼不能讓人類知道?而且特斯拉死後,美國有意抹去特斯拉的一些信息,似乎不希望人們知道世界上有一位比愛迪生更厲害的發明家的存在。

    根據記載,特斯拉還是核武器關鍵技術的掌握者,人們知道的原子彈之父奧本海默實際上是特斯拉的一個弟子,希特勒曾經希望特斯拉把核武技術給德國,但最終特斯拉把核武技術給了美國。還有一個是太陽能電力無線傳輸,如果人類真的掌握這個技術,意味著手機等設備隨時隨地都可以遠程充電,人類的能源產業將被徹底顛覆。有人認為,特斯拉的太陽能電力無線傳輸技術已經成功了。

    1908年6月,在現在俄羅斯的西伯利亞地區,發生了20世紀最大的不解之謎之一的通古斯大爆炸,當時發現這個大爆炸的威力相當於2000萬噸炸藥,相當於1000顆投到廣島的原子彈,當時周邊的2000多平方公里範圍內的8000萬棵樹被焚毀倒下,科學家發現這個爆炸類似於一個氫彈的爆炸。在此後幾十年的調查中,科學家們都沒有搞明白這個大爆炸是怎麼回事,有人說是隕石墜落,當地卻沒有發現隕石坑,後來起碼有100多種說法來解釋通古斯大爆炸。

    美國FBI之後查到,在通古斯大爆炸發生前,特斯拉經常出入圖書館,並大量查閱通古斯大爆炸所在地西伯利亞地區的機密資料。外界猜測,通古斯大爆炸有可能是特斯拉遠程操控的一次爆炸試驗。說到這裡,大家是不是都覺得太神奇了?一個對人類影響如此之大的科學家,居然是來自金星,這讓人匪夷所思。其實這些年,有關火星男孩、還有金星人奧妮克(Omnec Onec)的傳聞也引起了人們的關注。

    2014年的挪威國際UFO會議上,奧妮克發表演說,她說自己出生在金星的高緯度空間,金星的星光層,也就是金星的另一個空間,人類還無法接觸到的空間。奧妮克在小女孩的時候,被安排來到了地球。她乘坐飛行器和飛船首先來到西藏,在一間寺廟裡用了一年時間來適應物質身體和重力,隨後她來到了美國。

    那麼到底有多少外星人來到地球,他們來到地球的最終目的究竟是什麼?是否還有更高層的生命和技術也來到地球,只是人類還不知道?這些都是值得探索的話題。至少打開我們的大腦思維,讓我們知道,在神祕的宇宙中,人並不是唯一存在的智慧生命,還有我們所未知的、科學也探索不到的時空和物質。

    就像牛頓在接受記者採訪的時候,曾經說,你看這杯子是誰生產的?記者回答說,是工人。牛頓說,是啊,小小的杯子都要工人生產才會存在,那麼這些運轉精密完美的星球和這個宇宙,會自己就在那裡嗎?他認為是神造了這個宇宙。牛頓是一個偉大的科學家,他用真正的科學的態度對待未知的領域,這應該能給大家一些啟示吧。

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    土瓜灣道



















    香港土瓜灣。 2020-03-21 8:17 AM         
             
    香港人有多愛香港?過去幾個月來發生的事,已經說明一切。《我香港,我街道》這本書,會讓你也愛上香港,愛她的歷史,她的氣味,她的榮光。——張曼娟

    當夜空籠罩我城,皎潔月光沿著彌敦道漫流,流入維多利亞港灣,粼粼照耀海水,每個在天星小輪回望我城的人都不免有個錯覺,是的,香港屬於我。此刻當下,將進入永恆。——胡晴舫

    當初發生了什麼事?我來到土瓜灣住的時候,一切已經完成。我說的完成,指的是一條並不長的街道,叫土瓜灣道。它是橫空出世的,從哪裡來,到哪裡去?去的地方很清楚,它一直延伸到啟德機場,然後飛走了。

    那麼它的來路呢?原來是從另一條街馬頭圍道長出來的。馬頭圍道的誕生地是紅磡蕪湖街,這條街浩浩湯湯一直走,一直走,走到啟明街竟不見了。忽然,向前一踏步,已經進入了土瓜灣道。兩條街道平行,街道名稱並置,一左一右。

    曾有新移民問我的朋友,土瓜灣道一號在哪裡?

    答:在馬頭圍道一二七號旁邊。

    她以為開玩笑,就帶她去看。啟明街轉角的一家半邊鋪位就是土瓜灣道一號。多年來,店鋪換過許多手,如今是賣蔬菜的攤檔。

    土瓜灣道一號的對面,是一個小小的三角形休憩公園,在四條交通要道的中心,車來車往,它兀自悠然安靜,還打理得秩序井然,樹木葱綠,許多印巴家庭的一眾大小常在草地上野餐。

    如今,寸草不見,因為地鐵工程的緣故,小公園已成施工堆貨場,用木板團團圍住,圍板上畫了宣傳畫,圍板挺直頂伸出十二棵高大的椰樹。三角花園成倒三角形,底邊已成橫向的浙江街。如果在浙江街朝海的方向走,十分鐘吧,就是海心公園。這公園大得多了,旁邊有球場,裡面有露天的舞台,有亭,樹木茂盛,小山丘上的大石,它自己也一定覺得奇怪,本來是在海心的。

    土瓜灣道和馬頭圍道,好像吵過架,一氣之下各走各路,可又尷尬地不能老死不相往來,只好由另一條浙江街疏通。浙江街是兩條街的走廊,角色很吃重,而且,它接下漆咸道北的棒,大車小車,也朝舊啟德機場昂然前進。沿途經過蘋果屋啦、新亞中學啦、自高自大的豪宅啦,等等。

    土瓜灣道的門牌號碼也是排列成單數和雙數,啟明街這邊都是單數,由1開始到最後的變電站,一共四六五號。而馬路對街則為雙數,由六○號領頭,因為一至六○號分給了三角小公園。可是到了街尾宋皇臺道,只是一六○號,街號並不平衡,而且相差那麼遠?

    我唯有切實去數數,原來落山道和上鄉道之間的一段路,是定安大廈的建築群,整幢樓群都用同一號碼,然後以A、B、C、D分別,一直數到L、M、N、O、P,真是舊區的怪現象。
    回到浙江街上。它旁邊是一座工業大廈,也算相貌堂堂,樓下的賽馬會往往擠滿了人,許多人沒有忘記,有一年大廈的平臺忽然倒塌,傷亡慘重。可有什麼辦法呢,生活還不是同樣的過。不過,因此附近的樓房紛紛拆卸了僭建物,招牌、鐵籠、盆栽、曬衣物少了。近年一連串的樓房,都掛出大字樓宇更新大行動的條幅。

    從啟明街北行,過了浙江街就是益豐大廈,這地方本來是塘瓷廠和熱水瓶廠,以相關語「一味靠滾」和「認真好膽」著名。如今廠房早已搬走,但大廈其實值得參觀,因為那是已經罕見的「回」字形建築。大廈四周都是窗子,每一戶的大門都朝向中心的院子,四面是四通八達的走廊,每幅牆都與隔鄰共用。

    從街外向上望,當然看不出它彷彿北方四合院的格局。
    這裡曾有一家電影院。當然,在土瓜灣道,另一類型的樓房也很特別,從街外看,也是家家戶戶的窗子連接一起,但不是「回」字形,而是「非」字形,住戶門口對門口,長廊在樓宇中間,兩邊是住戶,窗子向街。

    土瓜灣道的起點在啟明街,看來還算寬闊的街道,冷冷清清,有點落難荒蕪的樣子,可誰見過它昔日的繁華?在蘋果屋的室內街市沒有建成之前,本地的菜市場就在啟明街。當年,真是車水馬龍哪,人禽爭路。那是一地鮮雞鮮鴨的日子。

    街道的另一半,也絕不遜色,因為街尾接連榮光街,曾是著名的梅真尼製衣廠,當年可說是無人不識,盛時員工二千多人,老闆Manoj梅真尼是印度人。

    喜歡喝茶的人都知道名牌TWGTea,即是梅真尼的家族生意,從製衣變製茶,從香港遷到新加坡。啟明街經歷過熱鬧的歲月。附近又山寨工廠林立,帶旺了這一帶的飲食業,大眾化的粥、粉、麵、飯齊全。其中最受歡迎的,是榮興茶餐室,老闆沖得一手地道的絲襪奶茶。
    內地開放後,製衣廠北移,街市搬入落山道,啟明街從此黯淡,據說成為了一條一條劏房街。

    土瓜灣道的第一條橫街是啟明街,第二條是鴻福街,街內有一間「土家」,是區內社區團體聚腳之處,都是關心生活,有朝氣的年輕人。因此,有人自稱「土友」。

    我呢?我是「土人」,或者「土著」,不是「著名」的「著」,而是「著地」的「著」,張岱在《夜航船》解說過。土瓜灣的「灣」,粵人不照書本上說的,並不唸作「海灣」的「灣」,而是「環繞」的「環」,把陰平灣當陽平環。灣仔、牛池灣才讀「海灣」的「灣」。

    第三條街是銀漢街,名字不好記,但總會認得這裡的恆生銀行分行,更有坐滿夏天嘆冷氣打瞌睡的常客天天出席的麥記漢堡飽,或者埋頭馬報,有了研究心得就跑過馬路到對面的馬會報到。

    這一連三小街,都是短短的,封閉的,車子開進去,只能兜個小圈,出口仍在土瓜灣道。真正頭尾暢通的是第四條街:落山道。四座結構特別的大廈出現了,占了整整半條路,一至十五樓,由網布包裹起來,像克里斯托的雕塑。

    從第五條橫街到第六條,是商業區,各種店鋪如花盛放,而且隨著年代的步伐而變化,鐘錶鋪變了手機店,國貨店變了時裝鋪,皮鞋店改為運動鞋店,木傢俬店改為家居用品、辦公室鋼電腦枱。理髮店不單理髮,還美容。雜貨店成為超市。嬰兒用品變成寵物樂園。

    然後是壽司店、許許多多的食肆。但定安大廈的確定安,堅持不變,整段街的樓層也被面膜覆蓋,再揭開,可能又稍稍年輕起來。它是本區的第三種樓房形式,從窗子可以辦別,面街的窗子不是連綿不斷,牆壁之間有了空隙,房間三面有窗。

    到了第六條橫街了,那是貴州街。到了這裡,土瓜灣道已過了一半,熱鬧繁華彷彿已開到荼蘼。再向前走,一邊是偉恆昌的建築群,前身是偉崙紗廠,後來和恆生銀行合資,建了三排十五層的樓房,剛做過翻新的工程,果然明淨了許多,水管之類重新裝置,應不用再喝鹽水吧。

    由貴州街到另一條橫街,這一段路只有一列連成一體的十幢十五層高的西式樓房,每層各有六或八個單位。有電梯,浴室有浴缸。令人驚訝的是一廳兩房的設計特別,兩房是打通的。若要分隔,不用砌牆,做個大衣櫃不就行了嗎,兩室共用,門扇獨立,一九七八年落成,參觀者無不羨慕。地皮本是偉倫紗廠物業,後來與恆生銀行、大昌建築合資,建成偉景閣、恆景閣、昌景閣,合稱偉恆昌新村。偉倫紗廠的「偉倫」,英文是Wyler,所以偉恆昌新邨的英文名字是「Wyler」。

    這三家村共占三條街,即美景街、美光街、偉景街。偉景閣是填海而成的浮城。各大廈底層,除了小商店、涼茶店,還有茶樓,兩家超市隔街對峙,兩間銀行吸納客戶,還有一間郵局,開在恆景閣樓下一條暢通兩街的隧道之中。這一帶,本來清潔寧靜,交通和購物,也算方便,街道種植樹木,當年,一個單位只售十六萬。由於隣近啟德機場,吸引許多空姐租用。

    但好景不常,兩間銀行都搬走了,徇眾多次要求,只在翔龍灣商場中各擺了一臺櫃員機。常常喝茶的酒樓,不再接待本地茶客,變了旅行團的飯堂。忽然之間,新村之內出現了三間巧克力店,附近至少還有三、四間,藥鋪、鐘錶店,標明政府註冊、免稅。看來都是集團的連鎖經營。而原有的,小本的,為土人服務的,消失了。每天充滿人潮,逛店的逛店,抽煙的抽煙,小童隨地小便。大人大聲喊叫,留下一地垃圾。海邊的小店,生意差,整個底層變了護老院。牆邊蹲著男女青蛙似的遊客。

    偉恆昌在土瓜灣道占了三十個號碼,始於三二九號,終於三六一號的嬰兒用品鋪。這裡已經是土瓜灣道的第七條街,名新碼頭街。的確,在這裡一站,就可以感受到碼頭勁吹的海風,可以看見前往北角的渡海輪。船只往北角,北角來的,卻分別往九龍城和黃埔花園,別上錯。

    怎麼稱為九龍城碼頭,而不是土瓜灣碼頭呢?土人都明白,香港分為十八區,土瓜灣只是九龍城大區內的一個小區,其他區員還包括紅磡、何文田、九龍塘。

    怎麼還包括無論空間和心理都很遙遠的九龍塘?可見分得並不精確。也許人口不足以獨立成區吧,所以連選舉獨立的區議員也算不上,要歸入海心區。

    九龍城和紅磡區內有警署,土瓜灣就沒有。其實,九龍城碼頭本稱龍津渡,遠道而來的船隻,運貨上岸,然後運去九龍城寨。九龍城寨本來也是個神秘的地方,三不管,神祕的面紗除去,成為寨城公園了。

    碼頭如今寫著「新渡輪」,在海底隧道建成之前,也曾風光了好一陣子,因為它不單載人,還載汽車,駕車的人在船上泊了車,走下來,歇息一回,吃個簡單的早餐,公仔麵、咖啡,看看報,鬆弛二三十分鐘的神經。

    汽車碼頭還留下架空的車道,天橋下是小小的收費停車場。不載車以後,平日坐船過海的人已不多了,每小時兩班,晚上七時停航。水手都日漸老去,這變成式微的行業。碼頭也有碼頭的命運。◇(節錄完)

    ——節錄自《我香港,我街道》/ 木馬文化出版公司

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    西環・高街 (High street) & 科隆高街(Hohe Straze)






    住在德國科隆已滿一年,也不知何故跟這座城市結下緣份,起初只打算短留三星期,怎料一放下行李箱,四季就悄然而過。

    初來之時不認識任何人,室友是個只懂說德語的女人,我的目標只有一個:把德語學好。幸運剛到達時正值初夏,科隆的夏天,晚上九時五十分的夕陽,曬得溫熱的石屎地,徐徐送來萊茵河溫煦的風,瀰漫著大麻的氣味,人群踱在河邊或坐在大教堂前,談天唱歌跳舞,無所事事。這城市,這季節,適合虛耗時光。

    大概我是被夏天的景象欺騙而留下的,當然再美好也是異鄉,偶會想家。奇怪是我在此地總碰不著香港人,有時想暢快地講講粵語,也只能獨言自語。於是我開始找尋這城市與香港的關連之處,無聊地發現,德國第二大藥房屬於香港某大集團,亦曾在街上看到姜大維的海報。後來德語學多了一點點,才發現那條我每星期都會走過的大街 Hohe Straße,中文譯名正是「高街」。

    在科隆無人不懂高街,它歷史悠久,羅馬時期已是市中心最重要的街道,當時名為Strata lapidea(鋪好的街道),顧名思義,高街是當時城內唯一一條鋪好的街道,其後多次易名,直至歷經拿破崙帝國時期,才命名為高街。這也是名副其實的,雖然科隆市地勢平坦,但高街連接著大教堂那一段的確比河畔高出了一小截,不過對於香港人來說,這「高度」確實有點小兒科。

    從中央車站走出來,聞名於世的科隆主教堂即映入眼簾,相傳東方三博士的遺骨就供奉在裡頭,連接著教堂旁邊Wallrafplatz的行人道,就是高街。白天走在高街,別妄想可自如地漫步,路上擠滿兩手拿著紙袋的行人,也有不少旅客,手拿地圖在人潮中東張西望鑽來鑽去。

    沿街一直往南走,會發現兩旁盡是H&M、Mediamarkt這類毫無特色的連鎖商店,自然有點無聊。比起白天,我更喜歡晚上的高街。有好多次,商店早已打烊,我和一位德國朋友從南面的電影院,沿著長長的高街,一直走到北面的中央車站。朋友在德國火車公司工作,只要有火車站的鄉村城鎮,他都曾到訪過,由是他甚為暸解德國各省各城市的建築風格。

    幾乎每一次我們經過高街,他都會強調這條街如何讓人生厭、新建的商店與大廈有多醜,直至我們走到北面大教堂附近,他才會停下來說:「晚上的大教堂和中央車站好美。看,雖然中央車站的大堂是在七十年代建成的,但那設計到了今天也絕不過時。這就是科隆了,好看的建築總被極醜陋的樓房包圍著,多討人厭。但這就是科隆了。每次提起高街,我總想起他這段話。

    灰黑的主教堂建築精細,氣勢磅礡,附近佇立著的卻幾乎都是四四方方全無線條的石屎平房,與精緻優雅無關,兩者實在是天壤之別。後來才知道,二戰時盟軍曾狠狠轟炸科隆市,高街以至附近所有街道只剩一堆頹坦爛瓦。古舊建築不復存在,只有大教堂幾乎完好無缺,雙塔依舊肅穆地聳立著。然而教堂得以倖存,並非因為它的美麗與莊嚴震攝盟軍,而是盟軍需要一幢顯目的建築物作座標,方便空襲行動。重建後的科隆面目全非,難怪生於科隆的作家Heinrich Böll,戰後始終無法再適應這座城市,於他來說這是故鄉也是異鄉。

    萬里之外,香港的高街對我來說,也是極為陌生的。大抵我走科隆高街的次數,已遠遠超於我走香港高街的次數了。

    許多香港人認識高街是因為鬼屋,但提起高街,我齒頰先湧來西多士的黏甜。

    小時候家住牛頭角,那時我們幾乎不「過海」,是不折不扣的九龍人,九十年代初舅父在高街附近開了家茶餐廳(年代有點久遠,舅父早已移民,事實上我不太確定茶餐廳是否正正開在高街,還是附近的街道上)。每年農曆正月,我們會搭101號巴士, 顛簸地從牛頭角一直坐到正街。下車後,往斜路走,第一街、第二街、第三街,阿媽走得上氣不接下氣道:「香港的路,為甚麼!總是,那麼斜。」

    「是竹園邨外的斜路斜,還是這裡斜?」一次我姐這樣問,我們一家只搖頭表示不知道。
    我們通常在下午茶時間探訪舅父,客人不多,舅父端來幾客西多士,兩片夾著花生醬沾著蛋糊炸得金黃的多士,浸在牛油糖漿之中,閃閃發亮。那是茶餐廳裡我最愛的食物,偏偏我媽從來不點這種不是早餐又不是午飯的多餘食品,故此也只那一年一次,我才能一人獨享一客西多士,那幸福絕得無可比擬。吃得滿口香膩黏甜後,我跟姐姐就跑出去看「城堡」。對,我們的「城堡」,就是別人眼中的「鬼屋」,舅父也實在從沒跟我們提過那是鬼屋。那時高街的店舖也平平無奇,都是士多、車房、餐廳、洗衣店之類,實在沒甚麼好看,但我們每次都要跑去看「城堡」,就好像經過獅子山隧道也想看看望夫石一樣,這一望,見到它安在,才放心。巨大的建築立在我們跟前,拐一個角,摸摸那經琢磨的石牆,粗皺不平的紋理洋溢著氣派,像一位老國王的手,還有我只曾在童話圖書中見過的拱門與長廊,不陰森不恐怖,磊磊落落,分明是一座城堡。

    西多士的甜香,英姿勃勃的城堡,那是我認識的高街。香港的高街。

    雖無戰火摧殘,我所認識的大概也不復存在。面目全非——或者這也算是兩條高街的共同命運吧。

    在又一個穿行科隆高街的初冬,走至街北,昂起頭,看到大教堂已亮起燈,燈光透亮肅靜的夜色,一群不知名的鳥在空中盤旋。驀然想到,在德語當中,上帝即「Heiliger Geist」(神聖的靈體),也就是我們中文的聖靈,有趣是這個「Geist」除解作靈魂或精神外,本身也解作鬼。只是此Geist 不同香港高街的Geist ,前者以光明正派的姿態,七百年以來,吸引世界各地的信眾膜拜,乃神聖之地。而我們的高街呢?

    因一座鬧鬼的前精神病院聞名,是歷奇尋鬼之處,過了百年,最後被拆卸摒棄,古典雅致只剩下外牆,後方則突兀地安插一幢石屎大樓,甩皮甩骨,正正不像人也不像鬼。殊途不同歸,不知這是否正邪兩派之下場?



    作者簡介

    黃愛華

    生於二月香港,曾旅居奧斯陸、斯德哥爾摩等地,偏愛熊與魚。兩度獲得香港青年文學獎(小說組)獎項,香港中文大學新聞與傳播學院畢業,奧斯陸大學媒體研究碩士。小說、評論及詩作散見於《明報》世紀版、 META等報章雜誌。首本著作為《城市的長頸鹿》。
     

    《僱傭條例》及《資助則例》的解明條例

    李東海小學校長被解僱 入稟追薪金至退休遭官斥不合理
     
    天水圍東華三院李東海小學教師林麗棠去年3月疑不堪工作壓力墮樓身亡,該校法團校董會事後決定解僱時任校長羅婉儀,指其管理方式不理想。羅入稟勞資審裁處,指學校法團校董會無理解僱,向其追討直至退休為止的薪金,以及要求復職。案件今日(3日)進行聆訊。審裁官在庭上直指羅的要求不合理,表明僱傭條例沒有列明須聘用員工直至退休,並將案件押後至死因庭有結果再訊。

    時任校長羅婉儀稱自己是常額教師,理應可以工作至退休為止,學校亦必須根據《僱傭條例》及《資助則例》列明的解僱程序,認為學校法團校董會沒有事先警告而即時解僱是不合理,羅入稟要求復職,並追討「終止僱傭金」,金額為被解僱當日起計直至退休為止的薪金。

    審裁官潘弘翰在庭上反指「僱傭條例無講明要請你到退休為止」,解釋即使解僱理由不充分,但日後僱主仍能以支付代通知金或以3個月通知期形式解僱員工,因此羅提出的申索金額不合理。

    學校法團校董會代表指,由於死因庭會在本月29日起就林的死因召開研訊,預料死因庭裁決會提及羅擔任校長時有否管理失當,是能否構成合理解僱的一大「關鍵事實」,因此提出呈請,希望勞審處可將案件押後至死因庭有結果再訊。

    審裁官接納其呈請,同意林的死因研訊將觸及討論羅有否行為不當。審裁官同時要求雙方提供在《資助則例》中合理解僱程序的資料,以及要求羅重新提交欲追討的薪金。
     
    【on.cc東網專訊】

    2020年8月30日 星期日

    中國最有權力的五人

    在十九大來臨之前,CNN對10名中國問題專家進行民調,選出了中國最有權力的五人。這其中包括政界人物,也包括商界人物。

    第五名:李克強

    國務院總理李克強。(Feng Li/Getty Images)
    國務院總理李克強。(Feng Li/Getty Images)

    理論上,總理李克強應該是中國權力結構的二號人物,但是他的影響力遠遠不是那麼確定。
    在2012年,他被指定為中共國務院總理,在政治局常委當中僅次於習近平。

    那麼他為甚麼在CNN的權力榜單上排名這麼靠後呢?

    倫敦國王學院政治學教授布朗(Kerry Brown)說:「他被視為比較低調,交際不是特別廣泛的一個總理。」

    李克強擁有經濟學博士學位,曾經擔任河南省省長。

    布朗說:「他掌管著國務院,當然他是有影響力的,他所做的事情,不是一種政治權力,而是行政權力。」

    「權力在於啟動計劃、建立框架、制定議程⋯⋯但是李克強更多的是一個管理者。」

    第四名:馬化騰

    騰訊創辦人馬化騰。(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
    騰訊創辦人馬化騰。(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

    在中國,只有一款應用程式是人人必須在手機上安裝的,那就是騰訊的微信。
    騰訊的創辦人馬化騰是中國排名第三的富豪,僅次於馬雲和王健林。

    經濟學人情報單位中國地區經理拉法提(Tom Rafferty)說:「由於微信的普遍使用,馬化騰擁有巨大的影響力。近年一些有權勢的企業領袖受到打壓,但是科技領域相對來說毫髮無損。」

    馬化騰在1998年創建了騰訊。二十年之後,他現在是公司的董事長。微信目前是世界上用戶最多的短信系統,擁有10億用戶。

    牛津大學中國中心主任米特(Rana Mitter)說,中國的互聯網大佬在一定程度上可以影響中共當局,中共的封網措施也嚴重限制著這些公司的發展。

    拉法提說,像馬化騰這樣的科技巨頭未來面臨的一個挑戰是,隨著他們的財富和影響力持續擴張,中共當局是否會繼續支持他們。

    第三名:王岐山

    中紀委書記王岐山。(Feng Li/Getty Images)
    中紀委書記王岐山。(Feng Li/Getty Images)

    在2012年掌權之後,習近平大膽啟動反腐行動,「蒼蠅」、「老虎」一起打。而打虎的獵人就是王岐山。王岐山成為中共官場令人心驚膽戰的人物。

    他拿下了曾經無人敢動的安全沙皇周永康,最近又拿下了政治局委員孫政才。

    拉法提說,王岐山常常被形容為中共政壇的「第二號人物」。「他基本上是習近平的副手。」

    第二名:馬雲

    阿里巴巴主席馬雲。(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
    阿里巴巴主席馬雲。(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

    表面上,馬雲是一個個性張揚而平易近人的前英文老師,但是他無疑是中國最有權力的人之一,並且可能是中國僅次於習近平的國際公共面孔。

    馬雲是阿里巴巴的董事長。他的網絡平台市值數千億美元,使得他成為中國首富。
    馬雲曾經跟兩位美國總統單獨會晤,包括奧巴馬和特朗普。

    「馬雲在擴張電子商務帝國方面展現了遠見卓識。」香港中文大學中國研究中心兼職教授林和立告訴CNN。

    但是在中國,沒有人是不可觸碰的。最近,億萬富翁王健林在受到北京的審查之後,就不得不放棄一系列重大國際交易。

    悉尼大學中國研究中心講師陳明璐告訴CNN:「在黨國,政治權力凌駕於一切之上。」

    第一名:習近平

    國家主席習近平。(Feng Li – Pool/Getty Images)
    國家主席習近平。(Feng Li – Pool/Getty Images)

    分析家說,習近平已經是自從鄧小平以來中國最有權力的領導人。
    現在隨著十九大即將召開,習近平的權力只會進一步增加。所有十名受訪者都將習近平排在權力榜的第一名。

    米特說:「未來幾年將顯示,他(習近平)將多大程度地利用他積累的權力。」

    不過普林斯頓大學東亞研究名譽教授林培瑞告訴CNN,不可能挑選出中國最有權力的五個人。將西方民主的模式套在中共頭上是錯誤的。中共的權力棋局就像一個穿不透的黑匣子。

    Source:  CNN