Hummingbird
X. J. Kennedy
Cried a scientist watching this creature dart by,
'Why its wings are too small for it! How dare it fly?'
So he figured and figured and finally found
That it just couldn't possibly get off the ground,
And they made him Professor. But still, hummingbird
Kept on flying to flowerbeds. It hadn't heard.
(Moonlight, Seas, and Chocolate Trees, p. 92)
Marine iguanas don't eat coconut, but no one had ever told Fred.
(Nim' Island, p. 6)
兩段文字，一種心情──別理會別人說甚麼，只要相信自己便行！
雖然米希亞預告，今次的演唱會以跳舞為主，但栗子妹還是很渴望聽她的抒情慢歌
眠れぬ夜は君のせい
歌詞請按此：http://misian.blogspot.com/2007/12/ja_30.html
歌詞請按此：http://misian.blogspot.com/2007/01/j_9374.html
還有五個星期......
84, Charing Cross Road was no bestseller, you understand; it didn't make me rich or famous. It just got me hundreds of letters and phone calls from people I never knew existed; it got me wonderful reviews; it restored a self-confidence and self-esteem I'd lost somewhere along the way, God knows how many years ago. --- Helene Hanff
你知道，《查令十字街84號》並非一紙風行。這本書沒讓我一夜富貴或一舉成名，它只是讓我收到數以百計的讀者來函和來電；這些人，我從不知道他們存在。別人對這本書的好評，讓我重拾失落已久的自信和自尊，天曉得我在多久以前把它們遺落在路上。(海蓮‧漢芙)
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譯得不好，但細佬該明白我想跟他說甚麼？
不明也別留言問我。
Face and tradition outweigh ecology when it comes to wedding banquets, according to the manager of a top restaurant chain.
"Only a few couples have requested we change the menu due to environmental concerns," Maxim's Group Cantonese Cuisine senior operations manager Raymond Wong Tat-fai said yesterday.
Wong said most newlyweds still asked for a traditional menu not only to accommodate the requests of parents, but also because they fear they will lose face if shark's fin soup and steamed coral fish are not on the tables during the banquet.
Shark's fin and coral fish represent extravagance and are considered a must for banquets despite the fact both are on the list of endangered species.
In February 2007, 20.4 percent of all sharks and related species were included in the World Conservation Union red list as being threatened with extinction.
Sharks are difficult to replenish because they grow slowly and their breeding rate cannot keep up with demand. In addition, it is hard to breed sharks in captivity as they are solitary hunters and prefer to act alone.
Although specially bred coral fish are now more common on banquet tables, it may be too late to preserve the wild coral fish. According to research conducted by Hong Kong University in June, the once-abundant yellow croaker has now disappeared from local waters.
"It is very difficult to change traditional concepts and we can only do it slowly," Eco Association supervisor Ivan Wu Chan-kin said.
Grace Tsoi
The Standard, 28 August 2008
一向很怕看一些暴力、血腥的電影。試想想，我連看【無頭谷】人頭落地的場面，也要用雙手蓋著眼，又怎敢去看如【瘋殺遊戲】、【恐懼鬥室】之類的電影？
不過，凡事總有例外，有一齣電影，雖然我明知很暴力、很灰暗，但還是鼓起了無比的勇氣，一個人跑了看，那就是朴贊郁導演的【原罪犯】。
忘了是甚麼原因，誘使自己去看【原罪犯】；只記得電影甫開場，便讓自己感到震撼──怎麼一個人可以無緣無故，讓人囚禁了十五年，然後還能存活下來？
隨著劇情推展，讓栗子妹感到意外的事情愈來愈多。與女孩的「偶遇」，重遇昔日同窗，想起那段黑暗往事，最後就是殘酷的真相。兩小時的電影，好像晃眼便過；但在心靈深處的激盪，卻至今不散。甚麼是復仇的極致？這齣電影會讓閣下找到答案。
(印象難忘‧之二
忘不了，原罪犯的綿長恨意
(按：【原罪犯】是朴贊郁「復仇三部曲」的第二部，另外兩部分別是【復仇】和【親切的金子】。)
讀完方老師這篇書評，忽然很想分享一下自己的見聞。
話說栗子妹有一位朋友當書籍設計師。某次茶聚，她抱怨說公司推出了一項「非常」政策。細問下，原來是該公司要求員工記錄自己每天的工作時間分配，譬如上午九時至十時，設計甲書的封面；十時至十一時，替乙書排版等。
站在公司的立場，這項政策無可厚非；因為老板要計算項目成本效益，自是要收集相關數據。但從顧員的角度看來，這項政策卻是十分擾人。首先，朋友的日常工作非常繁瑣，偏她又是個沒記性的人；要她按小時記錄工作內容，實非易事。其次，有時遇上腦便秘，朋友愛到茶水間歇一歇，等待靈感，你叫她把那些時間寫在甚麼項目才好？有人會覺得朋友是在躲懶，但從事創作行業的人，那些「歇一歇」實在不能避免。
朋友現已離職，不用再做那些討厭的紀錄。只是我們偶然聊起，還是覺得該公司很麻煩很沒人情味。那些工作記錄，要顧員據實填報根本就不可能；若大家也只填個大約，收集所得的數據會變得沒意義，那又何必擾人工作呢？
大概就如方老師所言，這個制度和社會，根本就不把人當人；老板永遠只從利益和效益出發，遺忘了人性種種。
More than 10 percent of Hong Kong households switch on air conditioners regardless of the temperature, according to a survey by the Energy Saving Concern Alliance.
University of Hong Kong professor of mechanical engineering Dennis Leung Yiu-cheung said yesterday that though more than 80 percent of the 3,000 households surveyed consistently or occasionally preferred to use electric fans, people were not using their air conditioners wisely.
"Keeping an air-con at 25 degrees Celsius and 80 percent of humidity is best, but not many people know about this," Leung said.
In addition, the survey found, shutting doors and windows and switching air conditioners to 25.5 degrees, as suggested by the government, was still not a habit for about 20 percent of the respondents.
An average household can save between HK@1,680 and HK$ 4,400 a year in power and gas consumption if it follows energy-saving tips, Leung said.
But the survey showed 30 percent of households used dehumidifiers even when the humidity was at 80 percent and seldom if ever used rechargeable batteries. Forty-five percent said they would not reuse water from washing rice.
Leung said households can take small steps to save energy efficiently, such as maintaining the water heater setting at 40-43 degrees and using a vacuum cleaner less often. People can also simply turn off their air conditioners half an hour before leaving home.
"While fewer than half the respondents do not follow the energy-saving tips, the government should further promote the Green Hong Kong concept, such as the mandatory Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme," said the alliance's president, Elizabeth Quat.
To help the commercial sector implement energy-saving plans, Quat suggested the government offer tax exemptions or subsidies to help buy energy-saving appliances. (留意suggest的句式)
Apart from saving money, the group estimated the release of carbon dioxide could be reduced by up to 161 million tones – 4 percent of Hong Kong's annual carbon dioxide emission – if more energy saving takes hold.
Beatrice Siu
The Standard, 26 August 2008
說一個人發瘋，英文可用 mad 或 crazy，例：Hitler is a crazy man. (希特拉是一個狂人。)
說自己惱一個人，英文可用 mad at/with somebody，例：I am mad at my friend for being late. (我惱朋友遲到。) 注意 mad 不能以 crazy 取代。
說自己瘋狂地愛上一個人或一些事物，英文可用 mad about 或 crazy about。如果我跟你說 I am crazy about you，我不是對著你發狂，我只是瘋狂地愛上了你。
這幾個英文字，不知跟「愛生狂」此一說法有沒有關連呢？我只知道，若不是 mad about you，我才沒空去 mad at you。
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容祖兒：Mad about you
因為一個不負責任的人，栗子妹決定重投金市。
早幾天黃金急跌，跌穿了800美元。於是栗子妹便抱著搏反彈的心態，以 HK$15,000 買了二両金，目標是賺 HK$1,000。看美匯走勢，黃金應該有力由 800美元反彈至 900美元的。會否回到 1,000美元？我看不會。認同曹仁超的看法，早前黃金升穿 1,000美元，應該已經見頂。
今次算是考考自己的眼光，如果看得準，栗子妹便轉行做財經演員！
本期《經濟學人》關於商品市場的報導：
http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11985956
Parents who allow children unchecked use of computers are exposing them to the threat of online pedophiles.
That is the warning from Tsang Kwok-leung, leader of the online project at Hong Kong Christian Service.
Tsang said parents must remember that children today are far more computer literate than them.
They should also not forget that youngsters engaged in hobbies and sports are also statistically less likely to become delinquents and drug abusers.
He said banning internet use is a common mistake made by parents, after all children can easily access the web at cyber cafes, schools and libraries.
"The best way to protect your children is to create a positive internet surfing environment at home, to reach an understanding over its dangers and make yourself approachable so they will come to you for guidance," Tsang said.
Leo Chan, McAfee regional manager for Hong Kong and Taiwan, said there are products with parental controls that prevent children from entering dubious websites.
However they do not cover webcams, ICQ, or social networking websites, such as Facebook.
"There's basically no way technology can prevent a children from meeting people online," Chan said.
Software that records key strokes and words entered in a computer may be seen as an invasion of privacy, he added.
Internet Society chairman Charles Mok Nai-kwong said while the threat of pedophiles is not isolated to the online world, their anonymity poses a significant problem.
"It's about who your children are talking to, what they're doing and who they are meeting online." But snooping is not the way to find out, Mok said.
Tsang also said the answer does not lie in parents checking the history of websites visited.
"It will just make youngsters angry over their perceived invasion of privacy. That can destroy a relationship and rule out effective communication.
"Parents need to educate their kids in common sense such as not talking to strangers. Parents often don't want to talk about sensitive subjects like sex with their kids, but it is very important for them to talk maturely about the consequences."
Timothy Chui
The Standard, 21 August 2008
發生了一件極不愉快的事情，令自己發了一輪脾氣。不過最後決定收拾心情，繼續期待米希亞的演唱會。
今天仍然是聽舊歌，先來「忘れない日々」：
(片段來自 Tour of Misia 2004)
歌詞請按此：http://www.utamap.com/showkasi.php?surl=65524
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不喜歡抒情歌？不要緊！米希亞有很多快歌可供選擇，譬如來自她第一張專輯的「K.I.T」：
(片段來自 Tour of Misia 2005)
歌詞請按此：http://musico.jp/contents/words.aspx?id=r7SOI
還有六個星期......
因為「屈機」一詞，令栗子妹毫不猶豫地，把以下這本書買回家
《香港潮語話齋》是彭志銘先生的新作，書中搜羅了很多本地流行語，例如「去hea」、「冇得揮」等。雖然我們時常將這些說話掛在嘴邊，但對於它們的來源和解釋，其實未必清楚。譬如hea，原來可以寫作「迆」或「迤」；至於「阿燦」一詞，可知是誰成就【網中人】程燦一角？
彭先生認為，對於一些詞彙的正確來源，須有人把相關資料，作有聞必錄，留給後人參考。很高興得知有人願意承擔此項艱鉅任務，願彭先生後繼有人。
後話：
1) 彭先生在書中指出，現在年輕人說話詞彙貧乏，於是栗子妹便想，若以後大家說話時，只用「超勁喪爆頹」五個字 (印在書背上)，中文會變得多麼乏味啊！
2) 在《翻譯，愈推敲，愈有趣》中看了一篇文章，才知道原來「架步」是 club 的音譯！有趣。
(學習重點：加了黃色螢光標記的詞組)
More and more underaged girls go into "compensated dating" (緩助交際) because they have a choice of clients and it does not involve sex, according to a study by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. (民建聯)
The girls, some as young as 15, are not aware of the consequences, the study says, and can suffer from physical and psychological harm should they be forced to serve violent clients.
Family debts, it was found, drive some to the sex trade.
Compensated dating originated in Japan in 1994 and it involves older men give money and luxury gifts to young women, working individually or with agents, for their companionship.
The DAB collaborated with the Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service, which investigated six women aged between 16-18. The DAB also interviewed some of the women involved.
The investigation showed most of the girls involved in compensated dating were not from underprivileged families although most had personal financial problems or poor family relationships. In addition, the young women believed that compensated dating differed from sex work because they had a choice of clients.
Beatrice Siu
The Standard, 18 August 2008
(學習重點：加了黃色螢光標記的詞組；學習英語的態度)
The man chosen to train volunteers to speak English at the Olympics says Beijing lags behind cities like Shanghai when it comes to speaking the language. "Beijing is still bad at English, the taxi drivers do a terrible job, they are too lazy," said Li Yang, founder of the popular language school Crazy English (瘋狂英語). "According to our government, the level of English has improved a lot, with five million [more] speaking it."
Li insists the problem can't be solved by a campaign or a single course. "It has to be a comprehensive project," he said.
Li was invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee to train 20,000 of the 100,000 key volunteers as part of an ambitious project to educate people to speak English.
In three-day intensive language training camps from 6.30am to 11pm, up to 200 sporting terms, venue names and phrases were drilled into students, including: "Can I help you? Don't worry. I'll find someone to help you."
Li said confidence was the biggest obstacle as most students fear losing face.
"Yell it," he told more than 300 students at a training session in Beijing. As students stood up and raised textbooks high above their heads, Li asked them to yell repeated: "Today I truly believe this unique journey will completely change my life."
Printed in bold letters on T-shirts worn by teachers is the slogan: "I enjoy losing face, I enjoy making mistakes, I enjoy meeting challenges, because I enjoy being a success, just follow teacher Li Yang." (失敗乃成功之母，自己錯過的，記得以後也不能再錯)
Describing himself as a businessman and not a teacher, Li has turned his own success into the running of over 100 summer camps a year, charging 3,388 yuan (HK$3,858) for an eight-day training camp in Bejing and up to 18,000 yuan in Guangdong.
"I never went abroad … I even failed in my college English exam," confessed the 38-year-old Jiangsu native.
Carol Chung in Beijing
The Standard, 14 August 2008
栗子妹素來直腸直肚，心裡藏不住話；但有一句話，無論我怎樣努力也說不出口。
是「我愛你」嗎？(當然不是，我不是在練習場說了千萬遍了嗎？
是「我好靚」嗎？(更加不可能！我很有自知之明的。
好，別故弄玄虛了。其實我說不出口的一句，就是以下這首歌的歌名：
很想對甲君說：「別再那樣婆婆媽媽了，You make me sick！」
很想對乙君說：「別再做那些奇怪的小動作了，You make me sick！」
很想對丙君說：「別再扮作懶體諒別人了，You make me sick！」
不過，在那句話衝口而出以前，忽然想起──
原來我做事也很婆婆媽媽；
原來我也會做一些奇怪的小動作；
原來我也愛懶體諒別人。
既然自己也是這樣，我有甚麼資格說別人 You make me sick 呢？
這句話，還是留待我成為一粒完美無瑕的栗子時才說吧。
Most cooks would perhaps acknowledge that salmon pairs with almost anything. Yes, even with raita – just cucumber and yoghurt. One could grill the moist fish, high in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids beneficial to health, with even a sprinkling of curry powder, and it would taste just fine.
For those used to tucking into salmon at sushi restaurants around Hong Kong, a Norwegian salmon fest is offering the chance to sample the fish in a variety of cuisine. Until next Friday, 10 fine dining restaurants are offering a special salmon menu highlighting their ethnic cuisines.
Ashild Nakken, the director of Norwegian Seafood Export Council, points out that Norwegian salmon has been available in Hong Kong for more than 20 years mainly in Japanese restaurants, and "we thought it appropriate to showcase it in other ethnic cuisines."
"In this promotion, we're featuring not only western and Japanese but also Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and Chinese."
Diners also have a chance to enter a lucky draw offering a round-trip ticket to Norway by Finnair, as the first prize. The second prize is dinner for two at the famous Scandinavian restaurant, FINDS, and the third prize, a lifestyle plus cookbook, Scapas Dining by FINDS executive chef Jaakko Sorsa.
最近在看 Helene Hanff1 的《The Duchess of Bloomsbury2》，當中一篇日記，提到英式和美式用語的差別，雖然年代久遠3，但實在寫得可愛，不妨一讀：
Ena just phoned, they're back. They want me to have dinner with them tomorrow night and then see their flat in Ealing. She and Leo will pick me up here at hoppuseven. Nobody over here says 'six-thirty' or 'seven-thirty,' they say 'hoppusix' and 'hoppuseven.' (= half past six/seven) And 'in' at home is 'trendy' (時髦) here and 'give it up' is 'pack it in' (放棄) and 'never mind!' is 'not to worry!' (沒相干)
And when they pronounce it the same they spell it differently. A curb's a kerb (管制), a check's a cheque, a racket's a racquet – and just to confuse you further, jail is spelled 'gaol' and pronounced 'jail.'
And a newsstand's a kiosk (報紙檔), a subway's the tube (地下鐵), a cigar store's a tobacconist's (售賣香菸的商店), a drug store's a chemist's (藥房), a bus is a coach, a truck is a lorry, buying on time is hire purchase (分期付款), cash and carry is cash and wrap (買賣方式，指顧客跟批發商以廉價購入貨品，並自己提貨) and as Shaw once observed, we are two countries divided by a common language. I am now going to bed because it's quataposstwelve. (= a quarter past twelve/twelve fifteen)
(按：棕色字為美式用語；綠色字為英式用語；至於淺藍色的字，當然是栗子妹自己加的。
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1 Helen Hanff 是美國人，她是《84, Charing Cross Road》的作者。
2 這是作者自封的頭銜，Bloomsbury 指 Bloomsbury Street。
3 該書於1974年初版。
一想起可以聽米希亞的演唱會，心情異常興奮
歌詞請按此：http://www.wretch.cc/blog/yuki0523/7955931
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如果嫌「恋する季節」太舊，不如聽聽近期熱播的【我的機械人女友】主題曲「約束の翼」吧！以下片段穿插電影情節：
歌詞請按此：http://www.uta-net.com/user/phplib/Link.php?ID=65692
(延續昨天的悠閒心情
(學習重點：加了黃色螢光標記的詞組)
The name of seven-year-old Yang Peiyi is splashed around the world a few days after the Beijing Olympic's gala grand opening.
While one could only speculate whether it was an official decision whereby musical director Chen Qigang disclosed the truth to Beijing Radio that the hymn Ode to the Motherland during the opening was in fact lip-synched, it s heartwarming to see the recognition bestowed on the little girl whose beautiful voice won international acclaim.
It turns out that Peiyi did the actual singing behind the scenes after she was deemed not to be attractive enough to be put on stage because of her chubby face and crooked teeth.
In her place, the more photogenic Lin Miaoke was rolled out, with her cute pig-tails and bright red party dress, but she was miming the song.
The barrage of questions following Chen's revelation is only predictable as anyone would love to receive assurance that neither Peiyi or Miaoke would be hurt by the organizers’ questionable judgement.
Mary Ma
The Standard, 14 August 2008
今早起牀，扭開收音機，意外聽見 The End of the World 這首老歌。新版本的歌者唱得不錯，但自己還是較喜歡 Skeeter Davis 的演繹：
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world,
'cause you don't love me anymore?
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love.
I wake up in the morning and I wonder why ev'rything's the same as it was.
I can't understand, no I can't understand, how life goes on the way it does!
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when you said good-bye.
(歌詞來源按此)
細讀歌詞，發覺內容其實挺灰暗，但 Skeeter Davis 唱得甜美，聽起來也不大傷感。
不過說到底，還是自己心情不錯吧？
(學習重點：加了黃色螢光標記的詞組)
A young woman seeking help for uncontrollable spending urges bought a HK$3,000 scarf on her way to see her debt counselor.
A car aficionado (車迷) bought a sports car and is now HK$ 200,000 in debt after he was forced to accept a lower-paying job.
These are just two of the cases the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Healthy Budgeting Family Debt Counselling Center deals with daily.
"The young lady [with the scarf] has more than 10 credit cards," said Vivian Lai Siu-han, a social worker at the center. "She is more than HK$1 million in debt." Her monthly salary is about HK$50,000 and her family is well off, Lai said.
"But in cases like these, we don't encourage full family support," Lai said, adding it would only give a sense of false security and not resolve the underlying issue of overspending.
In another case, a housewife with a monthly allowance of HK$6,000 needed to pay HK$ 2,000 a month for storage space to keep items she bought. She has racked up HK$ 130,000 in debt.
Then there was a young male flight attendant who loved to bar hop (蒲酒吧) and treat friends to drinks. He owed HK$300,000 and tried to use new credit cards to pay off existing credit card bills.
Compulsive spending might be a symptom – and not result – of more serious issues such as depression or bipolar disorder, Lai said.
People who overspend are encouraged to reach out for help. The center has set up a free hotline for those in need: 2548 0803, and a website for reference: http://fdcc.tungwahcsd.org.
Adele Wong
The Standard, 11 August, 2008
開始覺得，自己應該辭掉目前的工作，專心致志地去當補習老師。
事源某天收到一個升中學生的電話，問我何時有空替她補習──
栗妹：吓，現在不是在放暑假嗎？(很明顯我當時已工作到頭昏腦脹
學生：不，已經回學校補了兩週的課，那些數學很深呢！
栗妹：好，從長計議......
栗妹很敬重一班犧牲暑假回校工作的老師，但有必要讓學生那麼早回去上課嗎？記得從前剛升中時，只在八月最後一個星期，回學校上了幾課圖書館課，另加一日迎新日和一個分班試。那幾課只是簡單說說，甚麼筆記也沒有的。現在嘛，筆記練習一大疊，另加小測！絕對是「未入校門先打五十大板」。可憐的學生，她還會對學校產生好感和歸屬感嗎？
在方老師那邊，讀到中學開始殺校的消息。我想，這大概便是問題根源。學校為求自保，便不住催谷學生；學生吃不消，便向外求援 (找補習)。君不見「十五個會考狀元，有十個補xxxx」這樣的宣傳口號嗎？既然狀元也要補習，成績只屬一般的學生又豈能怠慢？
雖然栗妹以補習為生，但我不得不問，當補習成了必然，這個教育制度培育出來的，會是怎樣的「人才」？
(學習重點：加了黃色螢光標記的詞組；火災的不同叫法；Defining and non-defining relative clauses)
These are the two hero firemen who perished (死) trying to save others from the top of an inferno (嚴重火災) in Mong Kok yesterday.
Seniro fireman Siu Wing-fong, 46, and Chan Siu-lung, 25, were trying to reach two women trapped (被困) on the upper floors.
Siu was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Chan to Kwong Wah Hospital , where they were certified dead.
Siu, who was married with a 12-year-old daughter, had served in the fire services for 24 years.
Chan joined just a year ago.
Two others were killed and 55 injured in the blaze (嚴重火災) that raged through the 15-story residential building.
A 77-year-old woman who was badly burned (留意有逗號和沒有逗號的分別) died of her injuries.
Another charred body was found on the mezzanine floor and had not been identified at press time.
Of the injured, three of whom were firefighters, a 26-year-old man was listed as being in critical condition, three others are in serious condition and 36 listed as stable.
The remaining 15 were allowed to leave after treatment.
The fire, which broke out at 9.20 a .m., was upgraded to No. 4 alarm around 10.25 a .m. and to a No. 5 alarm at 12.18 p.m.
The fire was believed to have started in a nightclub and karaoke bar on the first floor of Cornwall Court (嘉禾大厦), a commercial and residential building on Nathan Road. Most of the road was blanketed in thick smoke.
Director of Fire Services Lo Chun-hung said there were no suspicious circumstances and that both the dead firemen had worn protective clothing.
"We believe Chan died of smoke inhalation as no serious external injuries were found," Kwong Wah Hospital chief of services of department of accident and emergency Tung Wai-kit said.
"The condition of most of the patients [in the four hospitals] is stable and some have been discharged,” Hospital Authority director of quality and safety Dr Leung Pak-yin said.
And investigation team headed by the Speaking to reporters at the scene, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong expressed his condolences (表達慰問) to the families of the two firefighters. Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang Ying-yen praised their professional spirit.
Director of Fire Services Lo Chun-hung said the rescue operation was difficult because of the intense heat, heavy smoke and narrow passages within the affected premises.
At the height of the blaze entire families and their children on the upper floors were seen waving towels to attract the attention of firefighters.
Many of those who were saved required oxygen on reaching the street.
More than 200 firemen were dispatched to the scene.
Beatrice Siu and Adele Wong
The Standard, 11 August, 2008
很久沒看過一本讓自己很有衝動去介紹的書1：
顧名思義，這是一本介紹中英文書的書。栗子妹覺得這本書在以下幾方面，比同類型的書籍做得更出色2：
1. 旁徵博引：每篇文章不會只寫一本書，而是環繞某個主題，引述相關的書籍、電影等。之前自己寫【查令十字路84號】，就是因為在書中讀到一篇很引人的介紹3。
2. 毫不硬銷：文章不以介紹 (推銷) 書籍為目的，而是作者就某些議題，引用書本中精彩的段落；或是就某些詩歌和段落作簡評。正因書本成了「配角」，令文章讀起來少了一份指南的味道，多了一種與朋友分享好書的親切感。(之前我在另一篇網誌中，有提及過這點的重要性。)
3. 解釋詳盡：在討論英文書籍時，作者會就某些成語和片語作詳盡解釋，譬如apple of discord4、dog-in-the-mangerish5 等。
現時手頭上的書，是從圖書館借來的。如果在書店看見，一定第一時間買下！
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1 寫完才發現，原來我近日看了不少好書，也寫了不少書介。
2 可惜此系列到了第三和第四集時，題材已不及從前的吸引。(大概是不合自己的口味吧？)
3〈愛書情緣Tread softly on my dreams〉，頁137至139。
4 源自希臘羅馬神話，指「爭議的焦點」。
5 語出《伊索寓言》，解作「損人不利己」。
讀大學的時候，選修了一科英國文學 (好像是叫「文學與社會」)，讀了Things Fall Apart (瓦解) 一書1。讀的時候沒覺甚麼，但出來社會做事後，卻對此書念念不忘，因為每次工作到快要散開的時候，腦海中最先出現的，就是 things fall apart 三個字。
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自以為工作比從前忙碌，但同事說工作量跟從前差不多，那栗子妹就不得不承認，自己真是老了。
初入行時，精力十分旺盛。在辦工時間做不完的工作，往往帶回家做；更可以連續兩晚通宵，第二天還替別人補習！現在嘛，每到晚上七時便已呵欠連連。
下班回家，最想與家中那張床擁抱，好好地睡它三五七個小時。偏各位姐妹告戒，為免身體膨脹，吃了晚飯後，請活動最少兩小時！想不吃晚飯，栗媽又不批准，好苦耶~~~
我不是衛斯理迷，但偶爾會想起這位先生說，人類總有一天，會進化成只餘下一束腦電波。這樣似乎也不錯。想想我們為這副臭皮囊，花了多少時間和精力？能與之分家，栗妹一定舉腳贊成！[內心獨白：你這粒懶栗，只不過是想找個借口，來支持自己不修邊幅罷了。
1 我另外還讀了狄更斯的Hard Times (艱難時世) 和赫胥黎的Brave New World (勇敢新世界)。我就是在那時候愛上狄更斯的。
