瘋人瘋語

「我離港前到過一間精神科醫院。當時有位病人禮貌地問,一個以作為世上最悠久民主政體而自傲的國家,如何能夠將此地交給一個政治制度非常不同的國家,且既沒諮詢當地公民,又沒給予他們民主的前景,好讓他們捍衞自己的將來。一個隨行同事說,奇怪,香港提出最理智問題的人,竟在精神科醫院。」彭定康 金融時報

“During a visit to a mental hospital before I left Hong Kong, a patient politely asked me how a country that prided itself on being the oldest democracy in the world had come to be handing over his city to another country with a very different system of government, without either consulting the citizens or giving them the prospect of democracy to safeguard their future. Strange, said one of my aides, that the man with the sanest question in Hong Kong is in a mental hospital.”Chris Patten Financial Times

Non Chinese literate friends, please simply switch to English Version provided by LOUSY Google Translation

Please participate in the unregistered demography survey of visitors at the right hand side bar. You are: ?

敬請參與在右下方的不記名訪客分佈調查問卷,你是: ?

Friday, May 06, 2011

Riverdance 大河之舞

Riverdance 大河之舞



十年前去美國加拿大探親,適逢九一一事件被困多日,連外出都不敢,百無聊賴的日子裡,在電視上聽到一段哀怨的笛子演奏,跟著就是一首首悅耳的歌,之後跟著是一段雙人舞和一段群舞,把我的目光吸引著,打發了三個多小時光陰。


在“你喉”找到了,但可惜都沒有 embedded code,無法移植過來。


Listen to 收聽 Lift The Wings alternate Lift The Wings
Listen to 收聽 The Heart's Cry alternate The Heart's Cry
Listen to 收聽 Home and the Heartland
Listen to 收聽 Cloud Song


之後知道這就是 Riverdance 。。。。


【維基百科】舞起狂瀾海報。《舞起狂瀾》(Riverdance,又譯《大河之舞》)是愛爾蘭的傳統的踢踏舞,規模很大,氣勢磅礴。

《舞起狂瀾》起源於1994年4月30日,歐洲歌唱大賽節目過場時段有一段7分鐘的踢踏舞蹈表演,深受觀眾喜愛。繼而改編為一場約2小時的劇場秀,內容除愛爾蘭的踢踏舞外,又融合了西班牙佛朗明哥、俄羅斯芭蕾舞及美國紐約風格的的爵士踢踏舞等。

Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant watershed in Irish culture. Riverdance is, in essential, the story of the Irish culture and of the Irish immigration to America.



在 youtube 再找到幾段較清楚的舞蹈片段,可惜這些片段在 youtube 都是沒有 embedded codes 的,所以若要收看,請點擊 Riverdance 1 看看。還有以下的一段也是沒有 embedded code 的,請再點擊 Riverdance 2 and Riverdance 3


【演藝學院】觸動您的心靈,撩動您的雙腿。原創的國際現象《舞起狂瀾》重臨香江,於五月三日至十五日期間,隆重演出十六場。


《舞起狂瀾》集愛爾蘭音樂、歌曲和舞蹈於一身,喜慶熱鬧,歡聲如雷,自成一格。從1994年起,以獨特的舞步一路登上世界舞台,舞遍四大洲上的四十個國家,在超過三百五十個場地進行表演,令超過二千二百萬觀眾情緒高昂澎湃,全球總收入至今超過一億六千萬美元。


舉世矚目的《舞起狂瀾》,其原創性和充沛的活力無與倫比,卻從不故步自封。它一直專注愛爾蘭舞蹈的發展,發掘它與其他文化的同通點和受到的影響。《舞起狂瀾》的現象建基於愛爾蘭傳統,然後將舞蹈中的性感和魔幻元素融入豐沃的音樂,再發揮光大。


《舞起狂瀾》雲集三十一位傑出表演者,他們分別來自享負盛名的愛爾蘭舞蹈團、愛爾蘭音樂精英及世界各地的優秀藝人。鼎盛的演出陣容,於舞台上合力呈現著名作曲家 Bill Whelan 榮獲格林美音樂大獎的優美曲詞。


誠邀您親身體驗《舞起狂瀾》的獨特壯觀,了解它風靡全球,一票難求的因由。《舞起狂瀾》娛樂性豐富,您絕對不容錯過。



Riverdance 演出後,在歐美大受歡迎,繼而之後發展有 Lord of the dance,請點擊 Here 收看。



後記:
Riverdance 由五月三日至十五日,在演藝學院劇場,作出巡迴演出,票價其高奇貴,是包裝成標誌著上等人的社交聚會。在 YOUTUBE 看看免費的無礙,要給錢就不用預我 not my cup of TEA!


Riverdance 是英文演繹的,不過鬼佬大戲 opera 歌劇,大都是多是用意大利文唱出。時常在街上車上地鐵上聽到啲小姐阿太,話去文化中心看歌劇芭蕾舞劇。又有說去倫敦旅行,絕不會錯過倫敦皇家歌劇院 Royal Opera House, Royal Albert Hall,意大利的羅馬 Teatro dell'Opera di Roma,奧地利的薩爾斯堡維也納等等文化之都,看過歌劇芭蕾舞劇。原來香港人學習意大利文,是這麽普遍普及,此料不及!當然上等人若去過紐約,不會漏了補加,曾經看過百老匯的名劇,很多次多多次,無數次。


至於懂看、好看、值得看與否,尚屬其次,因為有些人視看聽歌劇,欣賞芭蕾舞劇等等鬼佬文化,是身份象徵,而更重要最重要是“品味”,有 class 嘛。也等如我常說:阿一 阿翁 的“鮑魚”不好吃,“福臨門”的菜式難吃,只會被視為是不懂得吃,不懂得欣賞,冇 class! 吃不到的鮑魚是韌的,哈哈哈!



伸延閱覽:
大河之舞(舞起狂瀾) 維基百科
Riverdance 維基百科
大河之舞~北京 優酷網站
大河之舞~香港 官方網頁



我的舊文:
星巴克 Starbucks



Tuesday, May 03, 2011

美萊村

美萊村




【維基百科】The My Lai Massacre (Vietnamese: thảm sát Mỹ Lai) was the mass murder of 347–504 unarmed citizens in South Vietnam on March 16, 1968, conducted by a unit of the United States Army. All of the victims were civilians and most were women, children (including babies), and elderly people. Many of the victims were raped, beaten, tortured, and some of the bodies were found mutilated.

The massacre took place in the hamlets of Mỹ Lai and My Khe of Sơn Mỹ village during the Vietnam War. While 26 US soldiers were initially charged with criminal offenses for their actions at My Lai, only William Calley was convicted of killing 22 villagers. Originally given a life sentence, he served three and a half years under house arrest.

When the incident became public knowledge in 1969, it prompted widespread outrage around the world. The massacre also increased domestic opposition to the US involvement in the Vietnam War.

Three US servicemen who made an effort to halt the massacre and protect the wounded were later denounced by US Congressmen. They received hate mail, death threats and found mutilated animals on their doorsteps. It would take 30 years before they were honored for their efforts.

Initial investigations of the My Lai operation were undertaken by the 11th Light Infantry Brigade's commanding officer, Colonel Henderson, under orders from the Americal Division's executive officer, Brigadier General George H. Young.

Henderson interviewed several soldiers involved in the incident, then issued a written report in late April claiming that some 20 civilians were inadvertently killed during the operation. The army at this time was still describing the events at My Lai as a military victory that had resulted in the deaths of 128 enemy combatants.

Six months later, Tom Glen, a 21-year-old soldier of the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, wrote a letter to General Creighton Abrams, the new overall commander of US forces in Vietnam, accusing the American Division (and other entire units of the US military) of routine and pervasive brutality against Vietnamese civilians. The letter was detailed and its contents echoed complaints received from other soldiers.

Colin Powell, then a 31-year-old Army Major, was charged with investigating the letter, which did not specifically reference My Lai (Glen had limited knowledge of the events there).

In his report, Powell wrote, "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between Americalsoldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Powell's handling of the assignment was later characterized by some observers as "whitewashing" the atrocities of My Lai.

In May 2004, Powell, then United States Secretary of State, told CNN's Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."

Independently of Glen a former member of Charlie Company, Ronald Ridenhour, sent a letter in March 1969 detailing the events at My Lai to President Richard M. Nixon, the Pentagon, the State Department, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and numerous members of Congress.

Most recipients of Ridenhour's letter ignored it, with the exception of Congressman Morris Udall(D-Arizona) and Senators Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona) and Edward Brooke (R-Massachusetts). Ridenhour learned about the events at My Lai secondhand, by talking to members of Charlie Company while he was still enlisted.

Eventually, Calley was charged with several counts of premeditated murder in September 1969, and 25 other officers and enlisted men were later charged with related crimes. It was another two months before the American public learned about the massacre and trials.

Independent investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, after extensive conversations with Calley, broke the My Lai story on November 12, 1969; on November 20, Time, Life and Newsweek magazines all covered the story, and CBS televised an interview with Paul Meadlo. The The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio) published explicit photographs of dead villagers killed at My Lai.

In November 1969, General William R. Peers was appointed to conduct a thorough investigation into the My Lai incident and its subsequent cover-up. Peers' final report, published in March 1970, was highly critical of top officers for participation in a cover-up and the Charlie Company officers for their actions at My Lai.



【維基百科】美萊村屠殺(My Lai massacre,越南文:Thảm sát Mỹ Lai),是越戰期間美軍老虎部隊由於懷疑村民掩護越共逃亡,於1968年3月16日在越南廣南省的美萊村(My Lai)進行屠殺。男女老幼都被槍殺,亦有女性被輪姦和屍體被肢解。隔天美國陸軍部的官方報紙《星條旗報》(Stars and Stripes)頭條新聞登出:「美軍包圍赤色分子,殺死128人」。

即將被屠殺的老幼婦孺有美軍偵察直升機目擊屠殺經過。機師休斯·湯普森 (Hugh Thompson Jr.)發現美萊村血流成河,於是降落查看。直升機於一條壕溝旁降落,湯普森發現整條壕溝都是屍體和傷者。湯普森請一名陸軍中士大衞·米契爾 (David Mitchell)幫忙把傷者從壕溝抬出,米契爾卻表示會幫傷者解脫。

湯普森感到震驚,並向中尉威廉·卡利(William Calley)查詢。卡利表示只是跟從指令。湯普森駕走直升機時,見到有美軍向壕溝開槍。其後,在上空,湯普森見有美軍正向平民靠近。湯普森連忙降落並指示機員,如果美軍向平民開火,他們就要向美軍開火。湯普森則把平民分兩批用直升機載走。

美萊村屠殺的消息被美國陸軍封鎖了一年,後來由美國記者西摩·赫希(Seymont Hersh)所揭發,1969年11月12日《紐約客》(New Yorker)雜誌刊出屠殺新聞,導致美國境內反戰情緒高漲,國際社會譁然,一致以「道德破產」加以責難。赫希於1970年獲得普利茲國際報道獎。

1969年美國國會對事件展開調查。湯普森作證時被國會議員猛烈抨擊。國會主席李華斯 (L. Mendel Rivers)更表示湯普森應是唯一受罰的美軍,因為他下令向美軍瞄準。

1971年3月31日美國軍事法庭因美國陸軍中尉威廉·卡利下令開火而判處終身監禁,然而經上訴後被減刑至四個半月。另有二十五人被起訴,但全部無罪釋放。



伸延閱覽:
美萊村屠殺事件 維基百科
My Lai Massacre 維基百科
紅翼行動 維基百科
US unmanned aerial warfare 維基百科
格殺拉登難言氣壯 雅虎新聞網





Sunday, May 01, 2011

力高 vs 曾灶財

力高 vs 曾灶財



太古城中心的 Podium,每在大節期間,都有專題的展覽或表演,由復活節到五一勞動節假期之間,有“力高” Lego 積木的大型展覽。展品全是由 Lego 砌成的全世界地標景觀,由香港文化中心,長洲搶飽山,到中國的故宮長城高鐵,以至英國倫敦橋,法國巴黎鐵塔凱旋門,澳洲雪尼歌劇院等等!


我有去過參觀,但沒有癡情到和人逼人,爭相攝影展品,不過各位可以 到此 人家的網頁欣賞,是我從網上找到的最好最多圖片。


遊人很多是一家大細,拖男帶女,爸爸媽媽仔仔女女,甚至爺爺嫲嫲或是公公婆婆,遠遠由香港九龍新界各區,前來欣賞,人山人海,他她們當然不會謙讓,每一處景點都要拍照留念,也不顧塞著會場內其他的遊人,但如我者當然發揮最大的容忍度,禮讓一番。


而另一邊廂,在太古坊商廈“康和大廈” Artis Tree,就展出“九龍皇帝”曾灶財的書法。


Artis Tree 場地不大,但利用布幕的分隔,迂迴間出了展覽的迴廊,展出了九龍皇帝的相片,用過的筆墨,穿過的衣物,和其他的日常用品。當然沒有少得,大量的書法 collection,還有曾灶財替某時裝系列大筆一揮的圖案。


我去 Artis Tree 參觀的時候,冷冷清清,遊人斷斷續續有三幾個,但不至於斷流,由於不容許攝影,遊人大都是駐足,慢慢細讀九龍皇帝,究竟在寫些甚麽呢?


我初時還睜大眼睛,在陰暗的燈光下細讀,但有些作品實在掛得太高了,我想需要拿著望遠鏡才看得到。不過經過四五度展覽板塊後,我卒之要放棄了,匆匆跳過,去到有電視熒幕的介紹區,但講解的聲音很低,相信主辦機構,存著博物館的考慮,希望在不騷擾其他遊人的情況下,作出了取捨。


有興趣的朋友,可以在五月三十一日,前往參觀,若碰啱是週末的下午,
2:00pm 和 4:00pm 有粵語的導赏團,而 3:00pm 則是英語的導賞團。



伸延閱覽:
Lego 展覽 別人的網誌
曾灶財墨寶重現港島東 頭條日報