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, October 08, 2010

星巴克 Starbucks

星巴克 Starbucks



等緊睇 世界杯的決賽賽事:荷蘭 對 西班牙,上網滑浪 surfing the net,讀維基百科有關 星巴克 Starbucks 咁嘅資料:


【維基百科】星巴克是一家喜好賣弄文字的公司,容量表示為「short」、「tall」、「grande」和「venti」(義大利文的20), 其實分別代表 小、中、大、特大。


咖啡調理師(星巴克用語:Barista;源自義大利文)每一間店有一個監督、一個助理經理及一個店經理。有2-4位穿黑色圍裙的 Baristas 被稱為「Coffee Master 咖啡大師」。



香港及澳門的星巴克,都是由美心集團,及美國星巴克合資的 Coffee Concepts HK Ltd 經營。


星巴克於二零零零年五月,正式進軍香港,首間星巴克咖啡店位於中環交易廣場。至二零零八年五月,第一百家分店亦於中環荷李活道開幕。至今香港的分店數目已超過一百家,遍及各商業區、購物娛樂區及住宅地帶。



星巴克的飲料 分三大類,精選咖啡飲品包括如下:
(另有 Cold 凍飲和 Tea茶類,不贅了)


【星巴克 官方網頁 Starbucks official page】
Brewed Coffee 滴濾咖啡
Exquisite whole bean selections as fresh, hot coffee. Signature blends, exotic country varieties, and decaf. 每一日選出其中一款咖啡豆,調製出新鮮、熱騰騰的咖啡。無論是我們馳名的綜合咖啡、源自世界各地的特式品種,甚致提供低咖啡因的選擇。

Espresso 特濃咖啡
This is the very essence of coffee, in its most concentrated form. Starbucks espresso is rich and wonderfully caramel-like. 這是咖啡的精粹,以最濃縮的方式顯現。星巴克特濃咖啡帶點焦糖味道,濃厚馥郁。

Caffè Americano 美式咖啡
Despite the name, this is actually a European way to enjoy coffee: espresso with hot water. 雖然名為美式咖啡,其實這飲品以特濃咖啡加入熱水是歐洲人享受咖啡的方式。

Caffè Latte 鮮奶咖啡
Traditional classic – steamed milk and espresso, lightly topped with foam. Try it with a syrup of your choice (like vanilla, caramel or almond) for a special treat. 傳統的經典 -- 特濃咖啡加入熱牛奶,再覆上薄薄一層泡沫。想嘗試更具特式的味道,加添加云尼拿、焦糖或杏仁等風味糖漿。

Cappuccino 泡沫咖啡
Honoring a tradition that goes back generations, skilled baristas carefully pour hand-foamed milk over espresso. 熟手的咖啡吧服務員將親手打起的牛奶泡沫倒進特濃咖啡裡,造出這一款經歷世代推崇的傳統的飲品。

Caffè Mocha 朱古力咖啡
Delicious Starbucks mocha chocolate, espresso, steamed milk and whipped cream. No cold or sad day can resist its power. 以美味的星巴克朱古力、特濃咖啡、熱牛奶及忌廉製成,可以抵擋任何寒冷天氣或低落的情緒。

Caramel Macchiato 焦糖咖啡
A Starbucks original. Foamed milk marked with espresso and vanilla, then topped with a distinctive caramel pattern. Sweet, buttery and intense. 星巴克首創的焦糖咖啡,牛奶及泡沫加入特濃咖啡及雲呢拿糖漿,再覆上特式焦糖印記,味道香甜濃郁。



攪咁多嘢,都是想提升 Starbucks 的形象,睇來睇落高級啲,High Class 啲,專業啲,PRO 啲,最後 Starbucks 咁又可以賣貴啲,這些營商手法在香港,顯然十分得到香港人非常受落,星巴克的分店愈開愈多,就是最佳證據。


最近才發覺在公立醫院~~屯門醫院 及 瑪麗醫院,連私家醫院~~
聖德肋撒醫院,都有開設分店,睇來醫護界,也非常接受“星巴克”,可以提升佢地的專業地位,又或者啲留院休養的專業人士,有這個需求罷。


啲人飲咗,就會高級啲,High Class 啲,專業啲,PRO 啲呱!!!


嗌!應該是飲咗啲人自覺高級啲,High Class 啲,專業啲,PRO 啲!!!


哈!哈哈!哈哈哈!


利益申報:本人沒有持有 Starbucks 星巴克股票,也沒有家人親戚是 星巴克的員工。今次的文字純屬滿足自己的好奇心!特此聲明。


後記:
Pacific Coffee 近年積極發展,擁有的分店不會比 星巴克 Starbucks 少, 而且很多時會取代佔有原來 星巴克 的舖位。加上 麥當勞的 Mc Cafe 也企圖分一杯羹,加入市場,拓展業務。香港除了傳統茶餐廳賣的港式咖啡和絲襪奶茶,咖啡市場受到外來和新加入者的競爭,各出奇謀。



伸延閱覽:
星巴克 維基百科
星巴克分店 starbucks.com.hk
星巴克精選飲品 starbucks.com.hk
SBUX‎~Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ) 谷歌財經網
4337‎~Starbucks Corporation (香港交易所) 谷歌財經網



Wednesday, October 06, 2010

老嫰兩段情

老嫰兩段情



早前在港公映的《Letters To Juliet 茱麗葉愛情信箱》,當時沒有衝動入戲院欣賞,等到出影碟就買了來看。



圖片來源:維基百科



【維基百科】Sophie Hall (Amanda Seyfried) is a fact checker at The New Yorker magazine who dreams of becoming a writer, but her boss, Bobby, does not share her wishes.

Sophie's fiancé, Victor (Gael García Bernal), is about to open an Italian restaurant in downtown New York. To celebrate, the two go on a "pre-honeymoon" to Verona, Italy.

However, Victor is very enthusiastic about, and busy with, finding the best wines and cheeses for his restaurant and, to Sophie's disappointment, hardly has time for her.

While he is out one day, Sophie goes sightseeing and comes across the house where Juliet Capulet supposedly lived and watches in awe as numerous people gather to write letters to Juliet about their loves and post them on Juliet's Wall.

Sophie writes of this in her journal and sits on a bench for a few hours, waiting for closing time, to see what becomes of the letters. A young Italian woman comes to collect the letters, putting them all into a straw basket, and Sophie follows her to a restaurant where the woman meets with three other women, who reveal themselves to be "Juliet's secretaries", writing back to each of the letters.

The next day, Sophie helps Isabel, one of the secretaries, take the letters. A loose brick falls, and behind it is a crumpled envelope. Sophie discovers it is a 1957 letter written by Claire, an English woman who, while in Italy studying art, fell in love with Lorenzo Bartolini. When he asked her to run away with him, she did not show up and wrote to Juliet about it. Sophie writes back.

A few days later, a young English man arrives, Charlie (Chris Egan), revealing that because Sophie responded his grandmother is now here to find her love. When Sophie asks to meet Claire, Charlie says no, but Sophie follows him and is introduced to Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) who is more than happy to meet "Juliet".

Together, the three decide to embark on a journey to find all the Lorenzo Bartolinis near Siena, Italy a place that Claire says Lorenzo always enjoyed. The three meet many Lorenzo Bartolinis, but none of them seem to be the right one, as Claire says she’ll be able to see who Lorenzo is through his blue eyes.

Traveling, Sophie and the grandmother and grandson learn about each others’ lives like that Charlie has an ex-girlfriend he hasn't seen in a year, named Patricia, with Claire learning that Sophie's mother abandoned her when she was nine and Sophie learning that Charlie's parents died in a car crash when he was ten.

Charlie, at first rude, is now attracted to her, but Sophie is standoffish. The three meet many men named Lorenzo Bartolini, and also visit the grave of one who has died. Seeing his grandmother cry, Charlie blames Sophie, telling her she doesn't know what real loss feels like.

Claire berates her grandson and tells him about Sophie's mother, then she visits Sophie in her hotel room and comforts her. Charlie apologizes to Sophie who has gone out and laid down on the grass next to Charlie, and they kiss under the stars.

The next day, while driving back, Claire asks that they stop at a vineyard when she notices it is the vineyard that makes their favorite wine. There, she sees a young Italian man who looks exactly like Lorenzo.

Insisting it's him, Sophie and Charlie go and ask him of his name, which he says is indeed Lorenzo Bartolini. Deciding it must be Lorenzo's grandson, they ask to speak to the young man's father, whose name is also Lorenzo. The middle-aged man says his elderly father is also Lorenzo Bartolini, and he was out riding his horse.

Charlie urges his grandmother to see if it's the right Lorenzo, but Claire decides she doesn’t want to. Just then, the elder Lorenzo (Franco Nero) arrives and is indeed Claire's long-lost love. The two reunite in a heartfelt embrace.

Lorenzo introduces the three to his family. Later, Sophie leaves to go back to Verona and Victor. Claire tells Charlie "not to wait fifty years" as he discovers there is only one girl he loves, Sophie. Charlie races after her but, seeing her embrace Victor, he leaves.

Back in New York, Sophie presents a story to her boss identical to Claire's tale, and he tells her he is going to publish it. Excited, she rushes home. The next day at work, she gets an invitation to Claire and Lorenzo's wedding that Saturday.

She breaks up with Victor at the kitchen of his Italian restaurant, as their relationship is going nowhere. Sophie flies to Italy alone, hoping to meet Charlie there. However on arrival he is with Patricia, who Sophie presumes is his ex and after Claire reads out the letter Sophie originally wrote to her she runs away.

Charlie chases and finds her on a balcony, where she tells him she's in love with him but he should go back to Patricia. Charlie reveals that there are in fact two Patricias and this one is his cousin and that he is in love with Sophie also.

He climbs up the balcony to kiss Sophie (as Romeo was supposed to have done) but falls. She rushes down to see if he's all right and kisses him as Claire and Lorenzo look on happily followed by the other guests.



整部電影講的是兩段情緣,年長兩輩的爺爺嫲嫲組成一對,和年輕孫兒的一輩二男一女,組成個一個嬲字。年長的一對,分開了五十年,各自婚嫁之後,五十年後再在年輕的一輩幫忙下,原來冥冥自有主宰,命運是由天鑄定的,兩人再一次走在一起,剛巧雙方的配偶,都已經不在,卒之修成正果,在兒孫們見證下完成婚禮,老來有一個伴。


而年輕的一對,女方本來是和未婚夫到意大利渡假,可惜未婚夫卻沉迷於工作,放下未婚妻不顧,讓她於無聊之中,寫了封信給年老一對的女方。結果年老一對的女方夥同孫兒,由英國來到意大利尋訪,五十年前因她把心不定,而捨棄了的一段情,尋找年老一對的男方。


無所事事的年輕女方,就陪伴著年老女方和她的孫兒,一起出發去尋訪年老的男方。結果是年輕的一對,由闘氣冤家,到互雙認識對方。而男的又剛巧和女友分手,女方卻因未婚夫未暇陪伴,竟然和剛剛相識的男方,產生了感覺,一吻定情。


年老的一對,經過了五十年,結果是命運把他們倆再綁紮在一起:尋訪!重逢!再遇!結婚! 而年輕的一對的女方,竟然決定拋棄未婚夫,回家後老遠由紐約跑回意大利,希望可以和年輕的男方,再續情緣。


究竟導演和編劇想說明些甚麽呢?年老的一輩重情?五十年前的情緣,五十年來默默的懷在心頭,五十年後重逢再遇上,五十年後再續未了緣。而年輕的一輩多重感覺?於再沒有了愛的感覺,要分開就要分開,沒留半點餘地,僅僅幾天的相處,竟不及幾年的互雙廝守,要留也留不著!


後記:
根據《石琪影評》,演出年老的一對 羅蘭素(法蘭高尼路)和 嘉麗兒(雲妮莎烈姬芙) 的兩位老演員,原來是真實生活中的一對夫婦!


【石琪影評】也要提提後段出現的正牌「羅蘭素」——意大利老牌男星法蘭高尼路,他在六十年代曾與雲妮莎烈姬芙合演圓桌武士巨片《英雄肝膽美人心》(Camelot),結成真正長期愛侶,2006年正式結婚。今次他和她合演隔別五十年的情人,其實戲假情真,正是這對影星情證四十多年的紀念作。





伸延閱覽:
Letters to Juliet 維基百科
茱麗葉愛情信箱 香港雅虎電影
《石琪影評》茱麗葉愛情信箱


有關愛情電影的舊文:
Expired 過了限期!《Crazy Heart 港譯:聲聲相識》
《魂斷藍橋 Waterloo Bridge》
兩代不了情《不了情 新不了情》
《An Officer and a Gentleman 衝上雲霄》
It was like .... magic 像著了魔!《緣分的天空 Sleepless in Seattle》
啊 。。。習慣了!《My Fair Lady 窈窕淑女》
孤獨的金融阻擊手《Pretty Woman 港譯:風月俏佳人》
忠于你的伴侶?《 He's Just Not That Into You 港譯:收錯愛情風》
淡淡的哀愁《情書 Love Letter 日文:ラヴレター》
《Hancock 港譯:街頭超人》



Sunday, October 03, 2010





外婆有句常在飯桌說的口頭僤:『唔食菜,個人會乾嘅!』


年幼時有時不肯吃菜蔬瓜類,外婆就會搬出來,敦促我要吃菜(包括瓜類)。舊時在外婆家寄住,一日三餐都是吃飯的,早飯、午飯、晚飯;蔬菜瓜類一定不會缺少。


《愛菜詞》 唐寅

菜 之 味 兮 不 可 輕,

人 無 此 味 將 何 行?

士 知 此 味 事 業 成,

農 知 此 味 食 廩 盈,

技 知 此 味 藝 業 精,

商 知 此 味 貨 利 增。

但 願 人 人 知 此 味,

此 味 安 能 別 蒼 生?

我 愛 菜,人 愛 肉,

肉 多 不 入 賢 人 腹。

廚 中 有 碗 黃 齏 粥,

三 生 自 有 清 閑 福。



廩(音凜,即糧食)
齏(音擠,切碎的醃菜或醬菜)



蔬菜種類繁多:

【維基百科】蔬菜,是指可以做菜、烹飪成為食品的,除了穀物以外的其他植物(多屬於草本)及食用菌類。生活中所指的的蔬菜,常和「水果」分開討論。另外,和「野菜」不同的地方,在於蔬菜經過人類長時間的育種,提高了口感、營養價值,甚至抗病力等特徵,和原本的野生種已有明顯差異,人類食用的頻率也高得多;而野菜則多半未經過人類馴化,幾乎均為野生種,人類也較不常食用。


種類
十字花科類綠葉類蔥蒜類瓜果類茄果類薯芋類根菜類豆莢類多年生菜類水生菜類食用菌類海洋蔬菜、and 其他類



顯然蔬菜,已包含葉菜、莖菜、根菜、瓜類,和菇菌類等等了。


全球貿易往還,外來的蔬菜瓜類,現今在香港都有得買,很多調高了級數的超市,有外國入口的蔬菜瓜類售賣,一般的超市卻都是由國內供應。西方的蔬菜,已經多移植到中國種植。但由外國種植,經用飛機運來的,說是沒有過高農藥,甚至是有幾種植的,還是上等人們熱衷購買的。


西洋菜 和 西蘭花 顧名思義是西洋來的,番茄、番薯,和番瓜都是外國品種,荷蘭豆是不是真的由荷蘭移植過來的呢?以前新界有農民種稻米,種蔬菜瓜菓。年幼時隨外婆行濕街市,都有見到標榜新界菜芯售賣,現在到超市購買,祇見到有”寧夏菜芯“。


新界的農地都改變用途,成為廢車場,貨櫃場,或是荒廢了,再沒有本地生產的蔬菜瓜菓了,就算有的話,祇是極少量,需要入新界購買,可遇不可求也。今時今日,香港的蔬菜瓜菓,都絕絕絕大部份從內地輸入,不過上等人們還是吃外國輸入的,甚至要吃”有機菜“,至算是高級香港人。


唐伯虎寫的《愛菜詞》說:吃蔬菜對 士、農、工(技)、商,都有益處,就他個人而說,吃蔬菜:『三 生 自 有 清 閑 福!』


予除了愛吃豬牛羊肉類,雞鴨鵝家禽類,也愛吃魚蝦蟹海河湖產類,不過每餐蔬菜更是不可少不可缺,尤其是在晚餐,多會買回約一磅菜(十二両),除去了不良的枝葉,剩下來的會約有10安士罷,外出晚膳一定有點蔬菜類,就算吃快餐都加碟菜。顧此飲食尚算平均平衡,沒有偏食的惡習慣。


平日為了方便,都經由超市購買,愛吃菜芯、小棠菜、莧菜、甕菜(青骨)、椰菜(捲心菜 cabbage)、中國生菜、玻璃生菜、油麥菜、紹菜(肥的叫:nappa/ chinese cabbage,瘦得叫:chinese lettuce)、西蘭花、椰菜花、節瓜(毛瓜)、冬瓜、絲瓜,矮瓜(茄子)等等。


有暇的週末,才會去遠些的濕街市買蔬菜,不過一般菜販,都有呃秤的惡習,有時還夾雜壞掉的菜在中間,真是買的一把火,無怪漸漸受到超市的淘汰。


不過,有些菜因為較少人買,超市有些時候是買不到的,例如:蓎蒿,就多要去濕街市去買了,蓎蒿用鹽油來炒已經不錯,冬天用來打邊爐火窩,更是不可缺少。不過不是很多人能夠接受,她的一股”木蝨“味,我年幼時都不愛不會不肯吃蓎蒿,這就和吃榴槤一樣,等到年長了,才懂欣賞罷。


後記:
【明報專訊】今日是世界心臟日,醫院管理局主席胡定旭表示,香港心臟病有年輕化趨勢。

胡定旭說,心臟病是香港的第二號殺手,當局關注心臟病有年輕化的趨勢,呼籲市民,尤其是年青人,注意飲食,保持身體健康。

香港心臟病近年有年輕化趨勢.每年大約新增500名40歲以下的患者,較10年前約增加一倍。有心臟科醫生指,心臟病年輕化與不健康飲食習慣有關,文職人員是高危人士。



多菜少肉有助減少心髒病,身為文職天天坐辦公室,沒有體能的勞動,更要注重飲食,有暇更是要多做運動。近幾年來迷上了寫博,連晚上都是坐在電腦前,寫博回覆回應欄,又遊去網友的博,留下意見,自問是高危一族!!!


伸延閱覽:
蔬菜 維基百科
唐伯虎詩詞 國學寶庫
唐寅 《愛菜詞》賞析 谷歌搜尋網
世界心臟日 新浪新聞網



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