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: ?

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Not suitable for Under 16

Not suitable for Under 16




鹹濕阿伯間條衫起帳篷(並留意背後坐着的黑白間條衫的阿伯手部。)



只欠一層外衣



No No



Push Up



葷謎素猜五則




後記:

What really happened that night on Late Show






有冇證據還 regis philbin 清白呢?




我的舊文:
人到中年要驗眼





Thursday, March 01, 2012

First Blood

First Blood



林書豪在 NBA 的第一滴血!



在影片的 0:31 Jeremy 被撞至流鼻血!




籃球是一項人與人對抗,近驅離接觸拼搏的運動,肢體衝撞在所難免,只得六呎三吋的林書豪,面對NBA比他高大粗壯的黑人球員,平排掙球時他的頭,正好在他們的膊頭位置,在運球中身位座低,就剛剛在他們手肘位置,就算是無心侵犯,都較容易受傷。





因此林書豪在爭取表現上位,必須小心保護自己,尤其當跳起互相爭奪時就更加危險,防守的一方幾個黑人球員圍著你,在書豪仔升起時,一個廊你,一個撞你,等你是平衡,低落地板瞓低,再一個跌落嚟,坐在你的頸項,坐落你的頭上。


暫時雖然未到,但隨時會到,真替林樹豪的父母擔憂!


今場比賽最終尼克隊在上半場落後 61-49,憑後勁在下半場反勝騎士隊 103-120。




後記:The handshake




伸延閱覽:
NBA 紐約尼克隊 NBA.com
Knicks 尼克隊 Jeremy Lin NBA.com



我的舊文:
林書豪可以捱得幾多次粗野攔截




Wednesday, February 29, 2012

孫旭忘恩負義?

孫旭忘恩負義?



中國留學生說:「新加坡狗比人多」,被批評是忘恩負義!


【BBC中文網】新加坡南洋理工大學黃金輝傳播與信息學院,副教授契連·喬治對BBC中文網說,如果作出評論的是來自其他地方如蒙古學生,人們或許不會有太強烈的反應。

25歲的孫旭是新加坡政府保送到該國唸書的中國學生,持全額獎學金在新加坡修讀高中以及大學課程,目前是新加坡國立大學機械工程系四年級的學生。

他日前在微博上留言,指他不小心撞到新加坡人後,總會被人瞪:「最煩的就是新加坡那些不小心碰一下就在那邊瞪著你或者嘴裏絮絮叨叨的中年老癟三了,在新加坡狗比人多啊!」

孫旭的留言被轉貼到新加坡的公民記者網站以及社交網站後,立即引起網民炮轟,指他花新加坡納稅人的錢來讀書,卻反過來侮辱人。新加坡的一名電視藝人也在他的推特上指這名中國學生「忘恩負義」。

有網民也將此事拿來與早前北大教授大罵「香港人是狗,新加坡人賤」的風波做比較,指香港人在報章上刊登大篇幅「蝗蟲」廣告回應,但新加坡人卻得忍受這種辱罵。

據新加坡媒體報道,一名國會議員發表看法時,表示並非所有留學生都如此,但另一方面也希望新加坡人反思,自己的行為是否如這名學生所形容的那樣。不過,這名議員的言論也遭到網民的抨擊。

孫旭後來解釋,他「只是在網絡上發牢騷,不認為是什麼嚴重的事情,而且已經刪除言論」。但網民覺得他並無誠意,他之後在Facebook上以中英文留言道歉。

據報道,國大表明,已經開導這名學生,並表示學校的紀律委員會將開會商討對他的處分。頒發獎學金的教育部也對孫旭的言論感到失望,指出當局會參考國大的紀律處分,再考慮是否採取其他行動。

留學新加坡的中國學生出言不遜引起廣泛關注並非第一次。去年,一名自稱「新加坡妖嬈哥」的中國學生自拍視頻,以女性化的打扮和腔調譏諷新加坡人。視頻傳開後,引起人們反感,他事後被所就讀的私立學校開除。

約8年前也有中國學生因辱罵「新加坡人是吃豬食物長大的」而引起熱烈討論。新加坡南洋理工大學黃金輝傳播與信息學院副教授契連·喬治針說,如果作出評論的是來自其他地方如蒙古學生,人們或許不會有太強烈的反應。

他說:「由於來自中國的移民相當多,而新加坡人本身也遇到過這些歧視本地人的中國新移民,因此對這名學生的言論感到冒犯,並認為一些來自中國的新移民並沒有興趣融入當地社會。」

不過他不認為網民是在針對中國移民,真正的靶子是新加坡政府,因為人們認為政府的一些政策偏袒外國人而忽略了對公民的照顧,因此網民的呼聲,其實是對政府政策的反應,希望政府能更好地維護公民的權益。



首先研究這個指控,究竟是 Libel Slander 還是 Defamation 呢?並且要知道在新加坡是否真的「狗比人多」,若成事實那麼何來爭議呢?將會是一個很好的辯護。例子:紐西蘭島國羊的數字是居民的倍數。


新加坡人當然不承認:他們愛瞪人!否則就沒有這場風波。另外,孫旭是因為見過新加坡人有這個瞪人的習慣,才在網上提出,他是想新加坡人改善吧。

最後是:新加坡狗比人多!孫旭沒有說星加坡人是狗。若新加坡人自認是狗,這一句才能成立,若星加坡人不認是狗,那就不是事實喇。怎末會被叫忘恩負義呢?


後記:
【世界日報】由於在網上發表侮辱新加坡人的言論,中國留學生孫旭被校方罰款3000元新幣(約1萬5059元人民幣),並被要求履行三個月的社區服務,同時其最後一個學期的獎學金也被中止。


伸延閱覽:
新加坡狗比人多引起的爭議 BBC 中文網
中留學生失言 被罰3000新幣 世界新娥溫網



魔球 Moneyball

魔球 Moneyball




The Show
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go
I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why

Slow it down Make it stop
Or else my heart is going to pop
'Cause it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot
To be something I'm not
I'm a fool Out of love
'Cause I just can't get enough

Yeah I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go
I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why

I am just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show


NBA 和 NHL 的球季,每年的 preseason 熱身賽,都要等到八九月份才開展,所以夏季去到北美洲旅遊,若晚上沒有飯局,留在親友家中無所事事等眼瞓,TV Networks 可供觀看的體育,只有 Base Ball 棒球!


初初看來,棒球是很緩慢的比賽,由其是投球手 pitcher,不斷把球兒投向 first or second baseman 一壘手或二壘手處,防止經已上一壘的對方 runner 球員企圖 steal base 盜壘上二壘。


不過,一有球兒被擊出,兩球隊便立即互動起來了。由其是當進攻一隊已造成滿壘 bases loaded 時,大滿貫 grand slam 將要發生又未能發生時,兩隊十幾個球員便會互動起來,球員即時的爆發力,要求卻是很高,可說是:不動如山,動若脫兔!


經過親友解讀,再加上在網閱覽有關棒球的資料,發覺棒球比賽是一回又一回的闘智和闘力的表現,漸漸就看得津津有味。需要注意的就是隊與隊,總教練對總教練,擊球教練對投球教練,擊球球員對投球球員,右手將對右手將,左手將對左手將,左手將對右手將,相互 match up 的 statistics 統計數據。


可惜回港後,就很難看到即時轉播的棒球賽,由其是 MLB 季後賽 playoffs,最終極的 美聯冠軍 對 國聯冠軍 的 World Series,是七場終極決賽,誰先取四場勝仗,就是 World Series 冠軍。


近日有棒球電影, Moneyball 港譯:魔球 上映,嗜悲恭逢其會,那會不去捧場呢?


Starring:
Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics
Jonah Hill as Peter Brand, Beane's assistant general manager
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Art Howe, the manager of the Oakland Athletics
Chris Pratt as Scott Hatteberg, A's first baseman
Casey Bond as Chad Bradford, A's submarine relief pitcher
Stephen Bishop as David Justice, A's outfielder







【維基百科】Moneyball is a 2011 biographical sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller and distributed by Columbia Pictures.

The film is based on Michael Lewis's 2003 book of the same name, an account of the Oakland Athletics baseball team's 2002 season and their general manager Billy Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team.



In the film, Beane (Brad Pitt) and assistant GM Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), faced with the franchise's unfavorable financial situation, take a sophisticated sabermetric approach towards scouting and analyzing players, acquiring "submarine" pitcher Chad Bradford (Casey Bond) and former catcher Scott Hatteberg (Chris Pratt), and winning 20 consecutive games, an American League record.






【雅虎電影】《魔球》改編自近年美國職業棒球界的真實神話。奧克蘭運動家隊總經理比利曾是棒球界新星,可惜鬱鬱不得志,黯然退役後轉任球會管理層。02年,球隊主力一如以往被勁旅挖角,班主又大削重整旗鼓的資金。運籌帷握的比利打破常規,運用數據分析挑選球員,與傳統智慧背水一戰,過程被球迷、傳媒甚至球員教練等人抨擊,直到球隊表演谷底反彈,上演奇蹟一幕 。。。。。



故事:
看戲前以為有很多比賽時段,兩隊在球場上互相闘戰略鬪智闘力,但原來重點放在 Brad Pitt 飾演的球隊 General Manager Beane,面對被富豪球會挖角後,如何和他新請回來的副手 Peter Brand,根據統計數字 statistics,利用有限的資金重新組建球隊。


【維基百科】Rather than relying on the scouts' experience and intuition, Brand selects players based almost exclusively on their on base percentage (OBP). By finding players with a high OBP but with characteristics that lead scouts to dismiss them, Brand assembles a team of undervalued players with far more potential than the A's hamstrung finances would otherwise allow.


可惜主教練並不同意這個方式,到了正式比賽時,沒有派出原先計劃的球員上陣,反而利用存統方式,派總教練的愛將作重心出去比賽,結果球隊成績低落。Beane 唯有釜底抽薪,把總教練的愛將交換到別隊,逼令總教練利用餘下的球員繼續出賽。




【維基百科】Beane finds that he also faces opposition from Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the Athletics' manager. With tensions already high between them because of a contract dispute, Howe disregards Beane and Brand's strategy and plays the team in a traditional style despite their unsuitability. Beane is eventually forced to trade away the lone traditional star player (Carlos Peña) to force Howe to use the new recruits.

Early in the season, the Athletics fare poorly, leading critics within and outside the team to dismiss the new method as a dismal failure. Beane convinces the owner to stay the course, and eventually the team's record begins to improve. Ultimately, the Athletics win an unprecedented 20 consecutive games, setting the American League record.




奇蹟出現了,根據統計數字 statistics 購買返來的新球員,經過磨合後創出了 American League 美聯的新紀錄,便是連勝二十場比賽。其後,雖然球隊能夠進入 2002年度的季後賽 playoffs,卻未能進入第二圈的季後賽。


【維基百科】In closing, the film notes that Beane passed up the opportunity to become the general manager of the Boston Red Sox, despite an offer of a $12.5 million salary, which would have made him the highest paid general manager in baseball history (the implication being that his decision ultimately came down to not wanting to move away from his daughter). Also noted in the postscript is Boston's World Series victory soon after in 2004, based on the theories that Beane pioneered.


功虧一簣未竟全功,但 Brad Pitt 飾演的球隊 General Manager Beane,被邀請到富豪球隊 Boston Red Sox,波士頓紅襪隊的球場 Fenway Park,商談加盟的可能性,球隊出價年薪一千二百五十萬美元,前所未有的高薪,希望打動 Beane 轉會。


雖然 Beane 沒有離開本來球會,但紅襪隊利用同樣的 concept 概念重組球隊,卒之在 2004年度,在先輸三場後連贏四場,打敗了宿敵 New York Yankees 紐約洋基隊,代表 American League 美聯進軍 World Series 季後總決賽。紅襪隊並輕易四場連勝,橫掃 National League 國聯的冠軍 St. Louis Cardinals 聖路易紅雀隊,取得世界系列 World Series 總冠軍。





我見:
我不覺得故事很吸引,整部戲平鋪直敘沒有高潮,因為觀眾早知會有二十連勝,球隊沒有打到入 World Series 總決賽,Beane 也沒有轉會去波士頓紅襪。


還有男主角 Brad Pitt 沒有一場戲令我留下深刻印象,畢比特只是演返自己一向幹乾淨淨的靚樣,父女情的幾幕戲也不感人。金球獎有提名但沒有進賬,看來在金像獎得到提名已經盡了,要得到獎還需看看週一的結果,總的來說機會應該不高。(結果同一命運四大皆空。)


可以一提的是 Brad Pitt 飾演的 Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics,與他的副手由 Jonah Hill 飾演的 Peter Brand, Beane's assistant general manager 的一段對話:


Billy Beane: I want you to go on the road with the team.
Peter Brand: You don't go on the road with the team.
Billy Beane: That's why I want you to do it.
Peter Brand: Why don't you?
Billy Beane: I can't develop personal relationships with these guys. I gotta be able to trade 'em, send 'em down, sometimes cut them. Which is something you should learn to do, by the way.

Beane 手起刀落,把總教練的愛將賣掉,和買賣其他球員,在講價還價中,要錢又要人來交換,好像香港師奶在街市講價差不多,最後沒有忘記要求送稞蔥。球員在球會管理層眼中,好像買賣魚和鮮肉講價還價,說得過份些就像買賣奴隸,很現實沒有半點人情 involved 存在。


對於球迷的我,還可以靜靜坐下來看戲,就像看紀錄片一般,重溫一次 奧克蘭運動家隊,在 2002年球季創出連勝20場的創舉。不是球迷的當然根本沒有興趣入座,至於 Brad Pitt 畢比特影迷當然另計!


後記:
無獨有偶也有這位先生的影評


The Real Billy Beane Talk


The Moneyball 20th Win Scott Hatteberg's homerun



伸延閱覽:
Moneyball 維基百科
Moneyball 魔球 雅虎電影香港




我的舊文:
淺談美國體育產業(3.1)




Monday, February 27, 2012

2012 金球獎 and 金像獎

2012 金球獎 and 金像獎



一向金球獎的得主,都有機會入圍 Academy Awards 金像獎,就讓我們先看看 2012金球獎的 提名名單 和得獎者(in Red),供各位參考。之後,就有金像獎的入圍名單和得獎者(in Red)。



Cecil B. DeMille Award
Morgan Freeman


Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Descendants
Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Help
DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media; Touchstone Pictures
Hugo
Paramount Pictures presents a GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
The Ides Of March
Columbia Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Crystal City Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing
Moneyball
Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing International
War Horse
DreamWorks Pictures; Touchstone Pictures


Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help
Rooney Mara – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep – Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton – We Need To Talk About Kevin


Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
George Clooney – The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Ryan Gosling – The Ides Of March
Brad Pitt – Moneyball


Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
50/50
Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures; Summit Entertainment
The Artist
a La Petite Reine - Studio 37 - La Classe Americaine - JD Prod- France3 Cinema - Jouror Production-uFilms coproduction; The Weinstein Company
Bridesmaids
Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures
Midnight In Paris
A Mediapro, Versatil Cinema & Gravier Production; Sony Pictures Classics
My Week With Marilyn
The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company


Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Jodie Foster – Carnage
Charlize Theron – Young Adult
Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn
Kate Winslet – Carnage


Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Brendan Gleeson – The Guard
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 50/50
Ryan Gosling – Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Owen Wilson – Midnight In Paris


Best Animated Feature Film
The Adventures Of Tintin
Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/ Hemisphere Capital/Amblin Entertainment/Wingnut Films Production/ Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven Spielberg Film; Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures

Arthur Christmas
Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman; Sony Pictures Releasing International

Cars 2
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures

Puss In Boots
DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures

Rango
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink / GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures


Best Foreign Language Film
The Flowers Of War (China)
The Country of China
(Jing Ling Shi San Chai) New Pictures Film Company; Wrekin Hill Entertainment

In The Land Of Blood And Honey (United States)
The Country of United States
GK Films; FilmDistrict

The Kid With A Bike (Belgium)
The Country of Belgium
(Le Gamin au Velo) Les Films du Fleuve; Sundance Selects

A Separation (Iran)
The Country of Iran
(Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics

The Skin I Live In (Spain)
The Country of Spain
(La piel que habito) El Deseo D.A., S.L.U.; Sony Pictures Classics


Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer – The Help
Shailene Woodley – The Descendants


Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks – Drive
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Viggo Mortensen – A Dangerous Method
Christopher Plummer – Beginners



Best Director - Motion Picture
Woody Allen – Midnight In Paris
George Clooney – The Ides Of March
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Martin Scorsese – Hugo


咁金像獎有甚麽提名呢?揭曉咗嘞:


Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close


Best Actor
Demian Bichir - A Better Life
George Clooney - The Descendants
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt - Moneyball


Best Actress
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn


Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh - My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Nick Nolte - Warrior
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close


Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help



Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist
Alexander Payne - The Descendants
Martin Scorsese - Hugo
Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life


Best Animated Feature Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango


Best Foreign Language Film
Bullhead (Belgium)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)


Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy


Best Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
A Separation


兩個電影界大獎都沒甚麽驚喜,加上對入圍的最佳電影都沒任何期待,我想我唯一會等看的是“The Iron Lady 鐵娘子”,只是為了向 梅麗史翠普 致敬。其他真的提不起興趣入場看。噢!需要申報:我看了“Moneyball 魔球”,不過這只是我喜歡這個球類運動,並不是對電影有特別鍾愛。




伸延閱覽:
2012年 金球獎提名及得獎名單
2012年 金像獎提名及得獎名單