2009年11月26日星期四

六虎與牙牌籤

電鋸來郵問我曉不曉客家六虎牌。我這個生於斯長於斯的香港人,雖然於九七後無奈地覺得自己變了客家,可是卻不懂客家牌。本着好奇心,我翻書看看有無有關記載,誰知六虎牌翻不着,反而意外地解開了之前一個有關牙牌籤的謎團。

我以前提過牙牌籤的歌訣:
全副牙牌一字排,中間看有幾多開,
連排三次分明記,上下中平內取裁。
此歌訣最令人不解的地方,在於如何將排成一行的天九牌分組。原來有舊文獻曾解釋這點,詳見經過大幅修改後的《也談張愛玲的牙牌籤》。

2009年11月24日星期二

神牛棧道

近年很少看報紙,除了因為新聞可以從網上看之外,報紙的副刊愈來愈乏味也是一個原因。以人言報為例,以前它的副刊起碼有一半會令我感興趣,現在卻連找一篇有看頭的也難。

相比之下,網誌雖然都是看過就忘掉的多,但不時仍有令人驚喜的佳作。今個月我覺得很幸運,月頭找到這一篇,現在又有另一篇。像我等去書店也只會打書釘的 cheap 精,足不出戶就可以滿足閱讀的需要,真幸福。

2009年11月18日星期三

Re: constitutional reform

Dear Donald,

>>> Donald Tsang <http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/administration/091118/html/091118en01004.htm> 18/11/2009 >>>

> We must take the Hong Kong people's aspirations to heart.

Agree. Please tell Beijing to do the same.

> This is time for all of us to focus on the overall interests and long-term development of Hong Kong.

Overall interests ... defined by whom?
You are being ambiguous here.

> This is a time for seeking consensus, not differences.

If you really want to convey consensus, why don't you organise a referendum (or a vote of preference, if that matters)? Constitutional reform is no ordinary subject. Twelve years have passed. We still don't see any sign of getting a genuine universal suffrage of Chief Executive (and Legco members). The people of Hong Kong deserve the right to express their preferences in this matter.

> This is a time to abandon impractical demands.

Why is universal suffrage of CE in 2012 impractical? Is it because
by then the apocalypse will arrive and we will be busy rushing into the arks built by People's Liberation Army but have no leisure time to play election games?

Please don't disguise the decision of the Standing Committee of NPC as an explanation. That Beijing doesn't like it is one thing, whether it is practical is another. As the chief executive of HK government, you should demand Beijing to explain why universal suffrage in 2012 is impractical.

> This is a time for rational and open discussions.

Asking for universal suffrage in the near term is not irrational. Banning it without any reason is. Just stop playing rhetoric and tell Beijing to become more rational.

> This is a time that we move forward.

The people of Hong Kong always try to do that. But Beijing prevents us from doing so. Now it is time for you to step forward and convince Beijing to move forward.

Best regards,
The suffocated