Friday, June 30, 2006

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Friday, May 26, 2006

巴士阿叔衝出香港, 連紐約時報都上埋!!

Video of Grumpy Man an Internet Hit

Published: May 26, 2006
Filed at 12:23 a.m. ET

HONG KONG (AP) -- A six-minute film showing a grumpy man scolding a fellow Hong Kong bus rider for interrupting his phone call has become one of the most popular videos online.

''Bus Uncle,'' as the film is commonly known, has been viewed nearly 1.7 million times on the video Web site Youtube.com -- the second most-viewed video on the site in May as of Thursday -- spawning spoofs and new slang drawn from the ranting subject's emotionally charged soliloquy.

The grainy film was apparently recorded using a mobile phone.

The film starts out when the protagonist, a middle-aged man, reacts strongly when a young man sitting behind him taps his shoulder to ask him to keep his voice down while talking on the phone.

''I don't know you. You don't know me. Why do you do this?'' the infuriated bus rider says, punctuating the sentence by jabbing his right hand downward in the air.

When the young man, who rarely talks back during the lengthy argument, expresses an unwillingness to continue the conversation, the middle-aged man explodes, ''This is not resolved! This is not resolved! This is not resolved!'' -- which has now become a catch phrase in Hong Kong.

He goes on to say, ''I face pressure. You face pressure. Why did you provoke me?''

In another twist, just when the dispute seems to have ended after the young man apologizes and the two shake hands, the young man takes issue with profanity used by the middle-aged man, who then launches into another round of profanities.

The video has inspired numerous spoofs, including a karaoke version and a rap song using the middle-aged man's refrain, ''I face pressure. You face pressure.'' Internet users have also added Chinese and English subtitles to the dialogue, which is in Chinese.

It still isn't clear who shot the film and it isn't certain if the film was staged or not. The middle-aged man hasn't been identified, but a man claiming to be the victim of the verbal abuse has been interviewed on Hong Kong's Commercial Radio.

''Why did I just sit there? I paid to be on the bus. You don't think I would get off the bus and waste my money, do you?'' said the man, identified only as Alvin.

Youtube.com is a Web site that allows users to post videos for sharing. The site ranks the videos by the number of times they have been watched.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

53歲太極派大師吳公儀大戰33歲白鶴派陳克夫 - 1954年於澳門擺下擂台之近代世紀之戰

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Thursday, May 11, 2006

母親節的由來

母親節正式被慶祝的歷史,至今雖然才八十多年,但是,專門找一天來表達對媽媽崇高敬意的觀念,卻可以追溯到很久以前。古代的希臘人和羅馬人都會舉行「春季節日」,以表達他們對「母親神」〈泛指女性神〉的崇敬。

後來,在中古世紀的英國,四旬齋〈為紀念耶穌在荒郊的禁食,而舉行的絕食齋戒或懺悔的宗教活動,時間大致在每年的二月底至四月初〉的第四個星期日,就是所謂的『母親日』。那一天,長大的孩子,必須帶著禮物回家,送給自己的媽媽。

為提倡和平,女作家建議訂定母親節

在美國,以寫「共和國戰歌」而聞名的女作家朱莉亞?瓦德?霍耶,曾建議在六月中選定某一天為「母親節」。由於美國內戰的爆發,許多母親嚐到戰爭的恐怖,及失去愛子的痛苦,朱莉亞極力鼓吹訂定一個節日以提倡和平。她的建議只有少數幾個地方採行而已。

不久,一名叫賈薇絲太太的美國人,在西維吉尼亞州的格拉夫頓家鄉,籌組一個委員會,贊助「母親友誼日」的活動。這個節日的目的是為了把東部各州,那些曾在內戰當中,為南北雙方作戰的家庭結合起來。賈薇絲太太的計劃雖然獲得當地的支持,但是母親節的構想,卻一直到她過世以後才真正實現。

安娜繼承遺志 實現母親理想

賈薇絲太太於一九○五年的五月九日〈當月的第二個星期日〉死於費城;她是一名寡婦,跟著兒子克勞德及兩個女兒─艾爾辛諾和安娜住在一起;克勞德是個成功的商人,艾爾辛諾則幾乎雙眼失明。

安娜一直都很敬愛自己的母親,因此在媽媽死後,她就想找個方法,以表達對母親永恆的敬意,同時延續母親制定母親節的構想。

一九○七年,她寫信給格拉夫頓教堂的牧師,請他為已逝世兩週年的媽媽做個特別的追思禮拜。當天,安娜捐贈了五百朵媽媽生前最喜歡的花─白色的康乃馨,送給所有參加儀式的小孩和母親。

第二年,教堂便正式宣布,賈薇絲太太逝世的三週年忌日為母親節。但是當天她卻沒有出席,因為她正在費城忙著組織一個母親節委員會。

發起寫信運動 制定母親節為國定假日

在該委員會的協助下,安娜開始發動大規模的寫信運動。她寫信給數以百計的教堂、商業領袖、報紙編輯、政治家等,要求他們加入制定母親節為國定假日的活動。

一九一○年,西維吉尼亞州州長回應了她的請求,並發表第一個母親節的宣言,要求所有的西維吉尼亞人,在五月的第二個星期日,佩帶白色的康乃馨上教堂。而奧克拉荷馬州及華盛頓州,也在那一年開始慶祝母親節。到一九一一年,母親節的禮拜活動便在全美各州舉行。

國會通過決議 訂五月第二個星期日為母親節

欣喜萬分的安娜,決定組織「母親節國際協會」,於是從一九一二年開始,她把全部的時間和精力,全部奉獻在提倡母親節的活動上。她的努力,終於在一九一四年的五月八日開花結果,因為國會通過一項聯合決議,要求美國人在那一年五月的第二個星期日懸掛國旗,以表達對全美國母親無比的尊敬和愛意。第二天早上,安娜成為美國白宮的客人,親眼看著威爾遜總統簽署這項決議,總統同時還把那隻簽署的筆送給安娜。

到了一九二○年代,安娜已經把母親節這個觀念,深植在其他的四十三個國家。

友人為安娜解決晚年困境

安娜一直跟哥哥克勞德住在費城,兩人一起照顧雙目已經完全失明的愛爾辛諾。克勞德在一九二六年去世時,把全部的財產留給兩個姊妹。她原本以為,這些財產足夠讓他們度過餘生,但是三○年代的經濟大恐慌,卻使那些財產的價值貶得所剩無幾。

到了一九四○年代,安娜已經一文不名,而且,像愛爾辛諾一樣,幾乎全盲,她再也沒有力氣和視力來寫信了。一九四三年十一月的某一天,她來到費城的大眾醫院,要求醫院以慈善的名義收容她。安娜的朋友聽到她的困境後,立刻安排她住進一家私人療養院,接受妥善的照顧。

那一年稍後,安娜的朋友,又寫信給各州州長,要求他們再次宣佈母親節的慶典儀式。許多州長都有所回應,並且還答應每年母親節的時候,他們都會特別宣告一次,以表示對這個節日的重視。

一九四八年十一月二十四日,八十四歲的安娜死於療養院內。今天,每年的母親節,美國總統都會重新宣告這個節日的重要性,以紀念這位幾乎是獨自創立這個國際性節日的偉大女性──安娜瑪莉薇絲;而其他各國,也在當天紛紛舉辦各種節目活動,慶祝母親節。

祝全天下的母親節日快樂

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Ajax: What is it Good For? - Another AJAX tutorial

Friday, April 21, 2006

Never buy from usaphotonation.com!!!!

I never have experience like this. I received an email from them this morning and they wanted me to call them. I thought that it should be related to my credit card issue since this is usual for some companies. First of all, the sales guy mentioned that the price in his website is the after-rebate price, I have to pay $100 more up front. That's fine. I noticed that already, and I am going to get that $100 back anyway. And then he asked me that I would like to have an upgrade or not. Well.... okay, that's not a big problem, and I thought may be I could get some special discounts or something on the lens or asscessories. However, he told me that the price I paid was just the camera itself with the lens. There will be no battery, no charger, no cables, no CD, no manual... I got nothing expect the body! If I want to have all those, I have to paid about $300 more. He said that he could provide me another $100 off, a "special discount" from him! What the hell is that!? I asked him why this piece of information is not on his site. Then he asked me to go to his site and search for "350dusa". (I won't get the result if I entered "350d usa".) Click on one of the search results and then I was brought to a page which looks exactly the same as I had seen before except the price! He asked me to click on the content link and asked me to compare those 2 pages. At that point, I finally figure out the problem. If they say camera, then that's just the camera. You won't know that until you call them! If you want to have the battery or something else, you must use their special keyword to search for the usa kit! Otherwise, you are out of luck! I argued with him immediately! Are they suppose to provide all the information right there? Am I suppose to know and search with that keyword? Am I suppose to click on all those "hidden" links with unclear contents and figure out the differences? He said that I was harassing him! What? He then said that my shipping address is a suite address, and should I argue with him with that $100 something!? This is ridiculous! Yes, I can afford that, but so what? Even if I am richer than Bill Gates, I still care how I spend my every single dollar!!! In addition, it's not just money problem, they cheated!!! Obviously at last I cancelled the order. I swear I won't do any business with them, and I strongly recommend anyone who is reading this NOT to buy from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, April 20, 2006

西方曆法的演變

古羅馬曆法(Roman Calendar)

現時所用的西方曆法,源於古羅馬的太陽曆。 據估計,古羅馬城是由傳奇的領袖Romulus大約建於公元前753年。初期是承繼希臘曆法,在公元前738年實行。羅馬曆法可以說是非常混亂,無人了解其法則,現時的知識很多都是來自估計。羅馬曆法定一年有304日, 分10個月(六個月30日及4個月31日),以三月份(March)作為新年及一年之始。這十個月的名稱分別是Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November 及 December,最後的六個字是表示五至十的拉丁文。但與一太陽年約365日相比相差了61日,當時的羅馬人似乎忽略這些日子,只把它當成無名稱及不定期的月份,成為年與年之間無一定規律的冬日。

後來為了補償這少了的日數,第二任的羅馬領袖Numa Pompilius (公元前715-673),於公元前713年,在年之前加上January及年開尾加上February兩個月份造成一年12個月共355日。至西元前452年,羅馬人將February移至January及March之間。雖然加了兩個月成355日 但仍與回歸年不吻合。為了調整至回歸年,Numa Pompilius 每隔一年下令在February之後加上一個特別月Intercalaris或Mercedinus,Mercedinus一般有22或23日。

儒略曆(Julian Calendar)

到公元前46 年,情況非常混亂,古羅馬儒略凱撒(Julius Caesar)要在Mercedinus的特別月加入90日,才能恢復月份的季節。他根據埃及亞歷山大狄天文家索西琴(Sosigenes)建議,修訂古羅馬曆而制定儒略曆(Julian Calendar)。將一年分為十二個月,規定單數月為31日,雙數月為30日,通常二月是29日(平年),每四年設置一閏年,閏年的二月加多一日成為 30日。因此平年有6*31+5*30+29=365日,二閏年有6*31+6*30=366。四年總共有365*3+366=1461日,平均每年日數為1461/4=365.25,較準確回歸年365.2422相差0.0078日,即是每128年會有一日偏差。

至公元前8 年,羅馬議會將八月改成奧古斯都皇帝(Augustus Caesar)之名,稱為August。同時將八月改為大月而成31日,使它和紀念凱撒(Julius Caesar)的七月(July)日數相同,以顯示他和凱撒的功業同等偉大。而八月後的大小月全都反過來,即將九月和十一月改為30日,而十月和十二月則改為31日,八月所增的一日由二月裡扣減,因此平年二月變成28日,閏年二月變成29日。每年平均日數不變即365.25日。

凱撒死後,羅馬當局曾錯誤地在一段時間入面每三年置一閏,後來奧古斯都皇帝(Emperor Augustus)在至公元前8年至至公元後4年間取消閏年設置,使儒略曆恢復原先的規劃。

格勒哥里曆(Gregorian calendar)

由於儒略曆(Julian Calendar)平均每年日數為365.25,較準確回歸年365.2422相差0.0078日,即每100年會有0.78日偏差。到公元後16世紀,偏差已經累積至十多天。曆法偏差使到宗教節日亦有錯誤。

早在13世紀時,培根(Roger Bacon)及其他人已指出曆法錯誤,須要收改。但教會廷多年來都無任何行動。到16世紀,復活節有時在春分之前到來,而不是根據公元後325年Council of Nicaea 所定的日子出現。至1563 AD,Pope Pius V召開彌撒議會(Council of Trent)上嘗試修正春分及復活節日期問題。目的是重新確立春分點不能遲過3月21日及確立復活節前的滿月的日期。

格勒哥里十三世(Gregory XIII)是繼任Pope Pius V成為天主教教皇。他也是彌撒議會的成員。根據天文學家Aloysius Lilius及Christopher Clavius建議,從現有曆法中減去十天使春分出現在3月21日,因為他們觀察到春分點發生在3月11日。格勒哥里十三世接受建議。執行以下改革並稱為格勒哥里曆。

1.將1582年10月5日至1582年10月14日這10日取消。

2.每個可被 4 整除的年份是一個閏年。

3.但00結尾的年份一定要被 400 整除,才能算是閏年。否則不是閏年。因此,1700,1800,1900,2100 和 2200 年都不是閏年。而1600,2000,和 2400年是閏年。

由以上可知,格勒哥里曆以400年為一循環。400年共有365 * 400 + 97 = 146097日,平均每年有146097 / 400 = 365.2425日。與準確回歸年365.2422相比只差0.0003日。因此3千3百多年才會產生一日的偏差。

各國執行格勒哥里曆時間表

羅馬教廷宣佈1852年10月4日後面緊跟著就是15日。其他天主教國家也很快跟著這麼做了,例如意大利,波蘭,葡萄牙和西班牙等等。但是新教國家不願意追隨。由其是希臘等東正教國家直到20世紀初才修改。英國及其殖民地(包括現在的美國)在1752年執行。所以1752年9月2日後面跟著1752年9月14日。中國則在辛亥革命後才修改。