港澳街头掠影

在星光大道里，还活着的巨星们都留下手印，唯独王家卫不留。原因不详，大概他要表现出一种遗世独立的态度，不想被简单地贴上巨星的标签。



二十年后，重庆森林依然是外劳的天地。 林青霞的芳踪何在?


在澳门一条陋巷，看见一个酷似星爷的人在吃云吞面。

港澳喜欢cute cute 的字眼，竟然有"温馨提示"这种话语，英文翻译更可爱: Warm Suggestion. 左思右想，我认为没有合适的英译。最接近的应该是Lovely Tips (也是怪怪的)。

金庸修订碧血剑的原稿。难以想象字字句句竟然都是写出来的。

地铁看书

地铁内许多人都有看书的习惯。根据我这半年来的观察，一般上，书本可以分为四类

一是跟学校有关的书。(学生）

二是俗气的中文言情小说 （一定是马来西亚人，单身来这里工作，非常郁闷，需要一个想象空间。）

三是厚厚的畅销英文小说（新加坡时髦的OL)

四是大陆的文艺书（中国人）

当然，也有些非常另类的。比如说，我曾经目睹一个中年妇女，目不专盯地在看佛经(大纲经)。她一页页地翻阅，饶有趣味，好像在读小说，怎么会有人看懂佛经呢? 真是奇人。

日本的地铁内，都是铺天盖地的漫画本。这里的人们不好此物，我根本不记得有人在地铁看漫画。

遗憾的是，至今未能看到任何人手持余秋雨的霜冷长河。更不用说 The Great Gatsby 或者 The New Yorker。

李光耀在回忆录写道: “However, it will take another generation before our arts, culture and social standards can match the First World infrastructure we have installed". 如果他有空搭一趟地铁，感叹必定更深。

Ban it

Even in an advanced nation such as Singapore, some acts that seem inappropriate are tolerated in the public. Take, for instance, burning the incense for some kinds of festivals. The incenses are enormous. Burning them in public generates lots of smoke, heat, and ashes. A few times I walked by these burning incenses, I almost got chocked. Such act is so environmental unfriendly. I am sure it increases global warming by a few celcious.

It seems the Singapore government tries to be tolerant and sensitive to religious rituals. But it is a known fact that the government disallows muslim ladies from wearing headscarfs in school. (I think this makes sense too). Hence, it should be equally cold on this issue, and ban incense burning in public. Carry out whatever religious rituals you have at home. Just don't do it in the public.

In my view, incense burning has far more harm than headscarf or chewing gum.

Singlish 101

My colleague Ken was talking on the speaker phone. He is a white boy from Texas.

"Can? Can?"

"Yes I am"

"I mean can or not?"

The female colleague sitting next to me burst into uncontrollable laughter.

The most unlikely dinner

President Clinton : How are you sir?

Kim : Not too bad.

Clinton : So um.. I am glad we finally meet. By the way, "Axis of Evil" is a term coined by my successor, George W Bush, not by me. I did not regard you very highly back then but let me make this clear, I did not label anybody as evil.

Kim : So, we are cool?

Clinton : We are dining together now, aren't we?

Kim : So you want me to free the girls?

Clinton : If it's not too much of a trouble.

Kim : So you apologize?

Clinton : Now, let's define apology. Suppose the apology is in the context of "Sorry for causing you put up with the American cuisine, which I know you are not exactly fond of", I would like to apologize. But other than that, I am not authorized to issue any apology with regards to these two wonderful female journalists. And certainly it is beyond my power to accept any responsibility that you might think I need to accept. I am not in Washington anymore.

[Kim's translator was at a loss of words for a while, because he was not exactly sure what Clinton has said. Eventually the translator said : He apologized]

Kim smiled : Well, that's all I want to hear. The girls are free to go.

Clinton : Thanks.

Kim said : Do you want some wine?

Clinton : No, thanks. I would give it a pass, because I have done a by-pass two years ago. By the way, you look pretty good, despite all the rumors.

Kim : Suit yourself. You wouldn't mind taking a photo with me together, would you?

Clinton : No sir. It would be an honor for me to take a photo with the last communist leader in the world.

Kim : Yeah Castro retired last year. And Hu JinTao is a capitalist in disguise. I am the last authentic communist leader.

Clinton : I do not disagree. By the way, is there any chance that you could stop making the nuclear bomb?

Kim : Sure, ask Obama to come see me.

Clinton : I would convey your invitation to Obama, but you know, he is a very busy man these days.

Kim : Ask your wife to come see me.

Clinton : You know how much authority I have over her after that little incident in White House. I do dishes these days at home.

Kim : Ladies need to be taught a lesson.

Clinton : Thanks for the inspiring words. Look, I think this is an interesting dinner. But I have a plane to catch. Let's do the photo, shall we?

The earth is my home.

I believe that everyone has a right to choose the country of citizenship. And so, when Jet Li decided to be a Singaporean, I think that is neither honorable nor shameful. It is simply his personal choice.

But what troubles me is his reluctance to admit the fact, like a man.

When asked where his home is, he answered that the earth is his home. Yeah right, so if the earth is your home, you could belong to anywhere on earth right? So why go through all the troubles (or spend a lot of money) to change your citizenship from Republic's of china to Singapore? Does it mean Singapore is more earthly than China?

I would have more respect for him if he said "None of your fucking business" or "Yes, Singapore is my home now, and you have a problem with that?"

By the way, I have no shame in admitting that I am ashamed to be holding the passport of the country of my present citizenship. I would very much love to become an American. I would not blink for one second to ditch my current passport, if U.S.A decides to give me a U.S passport.

No, the earth is not my home. I would love my home to be somewhere in Beverly Hills and I want to be neighbor to Paris Hilton.