C Me Each Day
November 29-30, 2008
北角馬寶道 Marble Road, North Point Karen Chan
據健力士世界紀錄大全記載，港島區的北角在50年代曾是全球人口最稠密的地區。時至今日，北角早已失去了當年“小上海”的風光。退下車水馬龍的英皇道向内街進發，舊區的歷史痕跡更見一斑。走在馬寶道，很有點時光倒流的感覺。這個自成一角的市集，綠色的鐡皮小鋪和露天攤檔所賣的成衣貨品，款式好像都絲毫不受所謂的“潮流”氣息影響，而且價錢平得驚人。
街道兩旁的舊樓群下，靜靜地屹立著一間間街坊店鋪。在這裡開業近六十載的德興隆豆品店，仿佛見證著這舊區的興衰。無論是店鋪裝潢、經營手法、還是食物花款，幾乎都是五十年如一天。微涼的天氣，坐下來吃一碗香滑的熱豆花，實在是賞心樂事。來這小小的老鋪的客人，有多少還知道它在70年代曾是港島東最大的豆腐供應商，更被行内稱為「豆腐四小龍」之一？
Accounted in the Guinness World Record, North Point at Hong Kong Island was once the world’s most densely populated area in the 1950s. Being no longer the blossom “Little Shanghai”, it is now one of the oldest districts in Hong Kong. Behind the busy King’s Road, traces of age are more obvious. Walk along Marble Road, you will find garment goods at the street market selling in amazingly cheap prices. Witnessing the aging of this place, De Xing Long bean curd house has opened for more than 50 years. This old little shop was once the largest bean curd supplier in the Eastern district during the 70s. It still persists to maintain its business in an old fashion style.
November 28, 2008
感恩節迷思The Myth of Thanksgiving Day
美國自1941年起便在每年11月的第四個星期四休假兩天慶祝感恩節，原意是感謝上天賜予的好收成。其由來要追溯到1620年 ，“ 五月花號 ”船滿載被英國宗教迫害的清教徒 102人逃到美洲，因肌荒只有50人在一年後仍活着。當地的印第安人基於「來者是客」的觀念送來他們生活必需品，並且教導他們狩獵、捕魚和耕種方法。 漸漸這班歐陸新移民入鄉隨俗，跟隨當地人一樣，感謝上天的賜予豐收，而與原住民一同慶祝感恩節。所以「美國的第一個感恩節」並非英國人登陸美洲後才出現。而且，這個說法，往往強調雙方的友好關係，容易令人忘記後新移民對印第安人的剝削與屠殺的歷史。 事實友好的關係隨着歐洲新移民不斷湧入消失，也淡忘了印第安人當初對他們救命之恩，而導致了後來的「 菲力浦國王之戰 」。
延伸閱讀Reading：Judy Dow (Abenaki) and Beverly Slapin , Deconstructing the Myths of “The First Thanksgiving” http://www.oyate.org/resources/shortthanks.html
November 27, 2008
國際間諜博物館 International Spy Museum
位於華盛頓F街800號，與FBI聯邦調查局相毗鄰的國際間諜博物館，是世界上最大的間諜博物館。當中有電影院、互動式展台、及間諜用品展覽。展品從世界各地收集而來，有蘇聯藏在鞋跟裡的竊聽設備，名叫“死亡之吻”的口紅。它其實是一把微型手槍，是很多女間諜隨身必備。 詳情瀏覽http://www.spymuseum.org
The International Spy Museum locating in 800F Street NW, Washington DC is the biggest Spy Museum in the world which exhibited over 6,000pcs. of spy’s tool. It includes a bug fixed inside the heel of shoe and “Kiss of Death”, a mini gun which looks like a lip stick is the favorite tool to female spies.
November 26, 2008
帽子的文化政治 Cultural Politics of a hat
長襯衫和寬鬆的褲子，頭戴卡臘庫爾羊皮帽是阿富汗普什圖人服裝。但當這種服裝穿在阿富汗過渡政府領導人卡爾扎伊身上時便變得非常政治性。英國廣播公司報導印度保護動物組織「動物保護者（People for Animals）」說，羊皮帽的製作方式極為殘忍，建議卡爾扎伊摘掉頭上的卡臘庫爾羊皮帽。為了獲得製作羊皮，首先要毆打懷孕的母羊直至牠流產。羊胎內的小羊羔會在活著的時候被剝去皮，製成皮帽，而母羊也在流產後死亡。
這種製作法之殘暴是不用置疑，但為甚麼對西方傳媒來說，戴到東方人卡爾扎伊頭上變成了大問題？如果要製止這種殘暴行為，是否想辨法禁止出口更有效？而當中又應如何考慮阿富汗的文化背景？
November 25, 2008
杯葛與杯葛先生Boycott and boycott
查爾斯·肯寧漢·杯葛（Charles Cunningham Boycott），英國人，是貴族在愛爾蘭的土地代理人。19世紀70年代，愛爾蘭連年飢荒，但他卻拒絕飢荒的佃戶減地租，且以殘暴手段對付他們，引起了農民不滿。於是他們發起抵制杯葛先生行動：工人拒絕為他的莊稼，商人拒絕跟他做買賣，連郵差也拒絕替他送信。最後他只好遷回英國，就那一年，《泰晤士報》的一篇文章開始將他的名字活用作動詞，來表示抵制行動。
Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott (March 12, 1832 — June 19, 1897) was a British land agent for Lord Erne in Ireland. To protect the tenants from exploitation, there is a campaign for agrarian tenants’rights (fair rent, fixity of tenure and free sale) in 1880. Mr. Boycott tried to undermine it and was ostracized by the local community in Ireland：local labors would not talk to him. Shops would not
November 24, 2008
昨天(11月22日)跟朋友參加了香港肌建協會的塔門一天遊，一位患有小腦萎縮症的男性朋友在復康巴士坦言在車上跟我談他的情形(即有耳者都聽到)。他年屆40，很想找個伴侶，與他「結婚生仔」，建立自己的家庭。有這樣的想法當然是人之常情，試想一想，如果對方都是傷建人士，就算大家不能互相照顧，也可在運用香港政府給他們有限的金錢援助「合資」聘請一個家庭傭工，在自已建立的家中照料他們。這總比他現在雖年紀只有40但已獨個兒住到老人院舍，一個遠離死亡不遠的環境下「過日子」。但說話間，我想這位朋友是想找一個「健全」人為伴，坦白說，在香港這個可能不大，除非他北望神州，找個內地姑娘回港成親。我直接把提議告訢他，但奉勸他一句不要想生孩子了。我不太懂說話，也不能完全為他逆地而處，所以以下的說話不敢跟他說，也怕車上其他傷健人士聽了心有不舒服。傷殘人士的小孩的成長多會受到社會一定程度的歧視，他們童年甚至一生，比一般小孩會更多波折。而且患小腦萎縮症者活在世上的時間大部份比要比一般人短得多，如果他早逝，他的孩子只能靠毋親一力把他/她養大。突然間，車上的一位被文康署上司調派來「當義工」的職員打叉說：「不要上大陸「找老婆」，她們為了到來香港一定會生孩子，那豈不是要政府養孩子。找不到老婆便算吧!」真懂得為公司着想。可能一早對她派來「當義工」的態度已有點看法，我即時回她一句：「但香港人人都有權利結婚和生孩子的。」我再想一想，那我也不應給這位男性朋友太多的個人意見，不想「當」「義工」的位置。
November 22, 2008
遊客景觀(1)Tourist Spectacle(1)
提到希臘的愛琴海，想必令大家想起蔚藍的天空與米克諾斯(Mykonos)島上排成一列的白色小屋，相映成趣，令人對希臘文化產生一種浪漫的想像。但其實那只是希臘政府專為遊客而設的「特別效果」。小島上的居民並非偏愛把小屋塗白色，而只是政府為發展旅遊而要規定居民把屋子都塗成白色的「文化政策」。When we talk about Aegean Sea in Greece, we will think about a beautiful picture: the blue blue sky make harmony with many little white houses in the Mykonos Island. However, you might not know that it is just a ‘special effect’ designed for tourist. It is not the citizens favorite for painting their houses in white, but a rule from Greek government. All citizens have to paint their houses in solid what, then tourists were attracted and have a romantic imagination about Greek culture. Then people will be there to consume and confirm what they imagine about ‘Greek’. What a ‘wonderful’ cultural policy.
November 21, 2008
當奧巴馬(Barack Obama)勝出下屆美國總統選舉後， ‘O’ 世代一新名詞即出現，意指支持奧巴馬之選民，當中又以18-29歲的年青選民在1972年至今的總統選舉中最積極參予投票。他們亦即Glencoe.com中所說的，近這30年出生的「Y」世代。「Y」世代變身「O」 世代，是要求一「變」，對前景充滿希望，要摒棄舊有美國在中東出軍主張，但不知對過度推動消費主義的經濟又如何求變。
November 20, 2008
W.T.O.在澳門？W.T.O. in Macau?
是W.T.O.不過並非世界貿易組織，而是世界廁所組織(World Toilet Organization)。創辦人沈瑞華（Jack Sim）是新加坡建築商。不准吃香口膠的新加坡予人清潔城市之印象，但並其實十多年前仍有很多新加坡人喜歡隨處(尤其公屋電梯內小便)。他亦有感世界(尤其第三世界)廁所簡陋與不足引致很多疫症與影响個人健康。 於是沈瑞華便在1998年成立「新加坡洗手間協會」（Singapore Restrooms Association)，與政府合作推動「快快樂樂上廁運動」（Happy Toilet Programme），改變坡人的惡習。他對「廁學」的推動，引起不少的發展中國家興趣，於是便在2001年起每年11月19日，自己的生日那天舉行「世界廁所峯會（World Toilet Summit），至今己是第八屆，後更以定為聯合國的「世界廁所日」〔 World Toilet Day〕。
W.T.O. is not for World Trade Organization, but for World Toilet Organization. Mr. Jack Sim, the founder of alternative W.T.O., was a Singaporean builder. Although Singapore such a clean city (chewing gum is prohibited), certain Singaporean liked ‘pe-peing’ in the public elevator or public space during 90’s. Also, he found that poor condition of toilet affected the health of people especially in the third world, so that he found the Singapore Restrooms Association in 1998 and promote “Happy Toilet Programme” to get ride of this poor habit of Singaporean. In 2001, he found World Toilet Organization and set November, 19 his birthday of every year to hold the World Toilet Summit. And now, it also became the World Toilet Day.
November 19, 2008
卡拉OK發明者推銷蟑螂藥
卡拉OK發明者，日本人井上祐補原是樂團成員。為使客人也能高歌一曲，也藉此賺外快而，便把米高風、擴大器和放音機組成了卡拉OK。但他沒想到自己的發明如此受歡迎，而沒有註冊專利，失去真正賺大錢的機會。聽說他現在以推銷蟑螂藥維生。
The Karaoke (カラオケ)means empty orchestra, invented by Japanese Daisuke Inoue. He worked in a band and invented Karaoke just for making some money from his customers by offering them singing like a singer in stage. So he had never applied as intellectual property for gaining big amount of money. Now, he is a seller of insecticide.
November 18, 2008
麥當勞(2)：社會的麥當勞化
McDonald(2)：The McDonaldization of Society
麥當勞化（McDonaldization）是由社會學家George Ritzer在其著作《社會的麥當勞化》首創，意指一個社會經歷著速食餐廳之特色的過程。麥當勞化是理性化(rationalization)的再概念化說法。 Ritzer認為速食餐廳可作為一個典範（paradigm）去審視當代社會的形態。書中提到四個麥當勞化最主要的元素：任何生活都講求效率(Efficiency)：以最少時間滿足需求、可計算性(Calculability)、可斷定性(Predictability)的單一標準化效果、控制(Control)：盡量以標準機器代替人手，以達至標準化。 而這種麥當勞化的過程正從多個層面支配美國和全球社會 (Ritzer, 1993:1)。
延伸閱讀Further reading：
-Ritzer George，林祐聖、葉欣怡譯，《社會的麥當勞化》台灣弘智2002
-The McDonaldization of Society by George Ritzer, Pine Forge Press, 2007
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-Documentary Directed by Morgan Spurlock, Super Size Me, , 2004
McDonaldization is a term created by sociologist George Ritzer in his book The McDonaldization of Society (1995). He describes it as the process by which a society takes on the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant, and he sees the fast-food restaurant as having become a more representative contemporary paradigm (Ritzer, 2004:553).
He highlighted four primary components of McDonaldization: Efficiency – every aspect of the organization is geared toward the minimization of time. Calculability –McDonaldization developed the notion that quantity equals quality. Predictability – No matter where a person goes, they will receive the same service and receive the same product every time when interacting with the McDonaldized organization. Control – Replacement of human by non-human technologies
November 17, 2008
麥當勞(1) ：牛油薯條賠款1000萬
Mc Donald(1)：Penalty for butter French Fries
漢堡包與薯條是麥當勞的弛名食品，在它要拓展的其全球性版圖時，如何把產品本土化(localization)是其促銷策略之關鍵，而當中必涉文化層面的問題。當地球村村民意識到吃得健康的重要時，1990年麥當勞也宣佈所有炸薯條不再採用牛油而改用純植物油炸製。而當帝國企業想在印度着陸，必須考慮文化的差異：印度教徒禁止吃牛的，因為牛是濕婆大神的坐騎，神聖無比。麥當勞於是推出雞肉漢堡與特式印度麥當勞食品。但印度教徒一樣佈滿全球，一名美國印度教徒的消費者卻發現薯條含牛油成份而控告麥當勞提供誤導訊息。而據美國有線新聞於2002年6月5日報導，麥當勞對紏纏年多的「薯條事件」終表示歉意並賠償1000萬美元。
Hamburger and French fries are the famous food of Mc Donald. For its global extension, culture is a consideration of its marketing strategy. While global citizens recognized the important of healthy food, Mc Donald declared that they will use 100% pure vegetable oil instead of butter in 1990. And when its empire expended to India, they put chicken instead of beef into their hamburgers. They know Hindu is prohibited to eat beef, but they ignored the global power of Hindu. A Hindu sued Mc Donald in U.S, as he/she found butter in their French Fries. Finally, McDonald admitted their mis-leading (no butter in French firies), and paid 10 millon U.S. dollars in 2002.
November 16, 2008
世界上擁有最多帽子款式的人是誰?
Who have the most significant styles of hat in the world?
英女皇伊利沙伯二世吧！她在位50年，佩載超過5,000頂不同款式的帽子。她出行時，甚至會預留一格特定坐位放她的帽子，因而引起不少非議。但他的一位帽子設計師卻盛讚「老闆」節儉，50年只佩載5,000頂，即每頂重覆使用20至30次。現在很多人一套衫也穿不同10次便丟到衣物回收箱了。
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. She worn over 5,000pcs. of hat duing these 50years, and she will reserve a special seat for her hat when she has trip. So some people argue that she waste money on luxury life. But her hat designer thinks that ‘his boss’ is not, as Elizabeth II only worn 5,000pcs. of hat these 50years. That means, she re-use every hat 20-30times averagly.
November 15, 2008
眾所皆之美國前總統布殊喜歡放牧，故在其收到的禮物中有很多都是美國牛仔服飾，由牛仔帽、馬鞍至韁繩也有。牛仔靴，他先後墨西哥總統手中收過3對，鴕鳥皮靴前後兩對，還有一對用蜥蜴皮造的。至於澳大利總理霍華德則比他高招，他所送的也是牛仔皮靴，不過是用「澳洲三寶」：袋鼠、鱷魚和鴯鶓皮製成的。Fell well, cow boy Bush, the U.S ex-president！Now, Bush Junior can go back to Texas and play his cowboy game. When he was president, he got a lot of gifts which are cowboy’s wear. Like Vicente Fox Quesada , the ex-president of Mexico, sent him 3 pairs of cowboy boots totally. Two pairs’ are made of ostrich leather, and another one are made of lizard. But it seems that the John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia is wiser, as he also sent a pair of genuine leather boots to Bush, but it is made of “Australia Special”: kangaroo, crocodile and érmiáo, a kind of special ostrich from Australia.
November 14, 2008
David Nash環保雕塑家David Nash, environmental sculptor
November 13, 2008
「洋」紫荊、紫荊與「金」紫荊廣場
Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Chinese Red Bud and Golden Bauhinia Square
November 12, 2008
領帶。「成人口水肩」
Donald Tsang and Bow Tie has been combined as “Bow Tie Tsang”, the icon of our Chief Executive. He said that he is not very tall, and tie is always a bite long to him. On the contrast, wearing Bow Tie makes him looking good. He also explained that bow tie is easier to keep clean than regular tie while eating. But Donald, do you know the function of tie (bow tie is transformed from tie) is the tool of cleaning your mouth and face? In the middle age, there is no ‘civilized’ table manner for eating. So the British men always clean their faces by their sleeves while eating. It brings headache to their wives as they always have to clean their cloths, so that wives stitched a piece of cloth like tie on their collars for cleansing use. That means, tie is just like baby bib but for man use only, and its signification does not goes with expression of civilized or education gentlemen.
今日小貼士：
打煲呔或四正蝴蝶結方法
November 11, 2008
法國男人與高跟鞋
世界上第一個穿高跟鞋的男人不是張國榮，而是路易十四。高跟鞋其實最初是為法國「第一男人」而設的，他就是法皇路易十四的御用衣飾。他因個子矮細，有感與群臣說話時失威勢，遂想出這忽然增高之妙法。後來貴族男女視為高雅而爭相仿效成風，再在整個歐洲流行。在廿二世紀的今天，自尊心作怪的，還有法國總統薩科齊娶了個比自己高的模特兒太太，常常在公開場合與太太合照時要用腳尖站着「扮高」，而被傳媒嘲笑。他應該效法自己法國的國皇路易十四創新先河，如果改變不到你的思想。
Who is the first man with high heels? Not Leslie Cheung, but Louis XIV. Actually high heels is specially design for him. He was short and he felt he lost the sense of power when he talked with his people. Wearing high heels made him feel proud and elegant, I suggest the President in France to think about this idea. President Sarkozy always felt embarrassing when media taking photo with him and his wife, as his wife is taller than him. Follow your King, Sarkozy, high heels makes you proud!
November 10, 2008
「大魚食細魚」：一味兩食 Big Fish Eat Little Fish：Proverb and News
左Left：荷蘭畫家Pieter van der Heyden after Pieter Bruegel the Elder，大魚食細魚 Big Fish Eat Little Fish, 1557, 板刻畫Engraving 22.9 x 29.6 cm 「大魚食細魚」是意大利諺語 ‘Big fish eat little fish’ is an Italian proverb.
右 Right：「點石齋畫報」中的「巨魚駭聞」1892年冬，澎胡有條大魚擱淺。魚長50餘丈，腹內還有兩條大魚各數百斤。沿海居民紛紛前來割肉，鎮守澎湖的王蘭亭把大魚的一顆牙送給巡撫。Illustration on Chinese newspaper described a news that a giant fish died in a lake. Hundreds of people cut its meat and a secure picked a tooth from the giant fish, and gave the tooth to the governor.
November 9, 2008
November 8, 2008
香港文化一天遊
November 7, 2008
太陽之下三件事
November 6, 2008
時裝設計師 Maison Martin Margiela
Certainly it is the best dressing of Halloween Party. Well, it is also a good reference if you think about how to make a ‘soft’ sculpture and fashion design. Not only putting on a head, fake hair piece could be transformed as the wings of angel. No! it is in black! Then, it could be the armature of a warrior. So weird!
Just like his masked model. Martin Margiela is a low profile fashion designer. He’d never exposed himself in any grand fashion show. And he even did not put any fabric label on his design till his customers asked for that. Then, he just made a simple stamping on a piece of small cotton cloth temporally stitching inside the cloths. He involved recycle fashion design recently. His staffs collected many cloths from flee markets, and he redesign them as new design.
November 5, 2008
「大頭」與「大舊」：係Cultazine的夥伴漫/插畫家，處女作快將於vDiscuz上載，敬請留意。
November 4, 2008
香港墳場Hong Kong Cemetery來源：http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/
廿世紀東華醫院 來源：http://www.tungwah.hk/publish/image/pic_01.jpg
香港最早設立的墳場是位於跑馬地的香港墳場。設於1845年的香港墳場早年只安葬官商名流和傳教士，而快活谷之名也是對人的最終歸宿的喻意，與跑馬活動無關。而當時的香港普羅大眾大都是中國南來的難民，死後往往以竹蓆包裹隨意埋在山邊，或由同鄉會設立義塚集中安葬。後來人口不斷增加，城市不斷發展，山邊墳地便被清走置於今日是東華醫院的亂葬罔。對市民安葬問題，港府在1856年才有對華人安葬的立例管制，幾年後才有撥地與市民安葬。
Hong Kong Cemetery, was opened in 1845, is the first Cemetery in Hong Kong, and was only exclusive to government officers, preachers and the rich. Naming of Happy Valley does not goes with horse racing, but the place that people wish to go after died. A lot of Hong Kong people were refugees came from China during 1840’s, so that people died will simply buried in the hillside or the burial sites provided by native-place associations. However, the government has to clear land for city development when the population grew rapidly. So that their graves was relocated to the Chinese burial ground which is Tung Wah Hospital now. And the law regulating Chinese Burial was passed in 1856.
November 3, 2008
今 夕 吾 軀 歸 故 土．他 朝 君 體 也 相 同
I WAS ONCE WHAT YOU ARE: AND WHAT I AM YOU WILL BECOME.
IO.FU.GIA.QUEL.CHE.VOI.SIETE:E.QUEL.CHI SON VOI.ANCOR.SARETE
上左：意大利畫家Masaccio, Trinity《三位一體》,Fresco(濕壁畫), 1401-1428
上右：香港跑馬地天主教墳場大門對聯 St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Happy Velley
下左：皇后碼頭Queen's Pier (1925－31.07.2007)
下右︰兩屆香港特區政府特首 Chief Executives of HKSAR
November 2, 2008
圖片取自：http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21676/21676-h/images/shaw2.png
1950年的今日，著名現實主義愛爾蘭劇作家戲劇家蕭伯納(George Bernard Shaw)逝世，享年94歲。作品有其喜劇作品《賣花女》（Pygmalion）因被 Alan Lerner 改編為音樂劇《窈窕淑女》（My Fair Lady），該音樂劇又被好萊塢改編為同名賣座電影而家喻戶曉。從小就愛好音樂和繪畫的他，中學畢業後，便一邊當抄寫員一邊在報章寫劇評和樂評、從事新聞工作。他刻苦自學，工餘愛進出於倫敦美術館、國家畫廊和大英博物館圖書館。他編了不少小冊子、演說和劇本，控訴資本主義社會的黑暗和帝國主義侵略政策的不義。
他主張藝術應當反映迫切的社會問題，反對「為藝術而藝術」。其思想深受馬克思、叔本華及尼采的影響，主張用漸進的方法改變資本主義制度，反對暴力革命。1925年獲得諾貝爾文學獎後把獎金七千英鎊捐作創立英國瑞典文學基金會之用。一九三三年到訪過中國和香港，曾會見魯迅、蔡元培等人。
劇作包括《鰥夫的房產》（Widowers' Houses）、歷史劇《聖女貞德》（Saint Joan）、《賣花女》（Pygmalion） 、《魔鬼的門徒》（The Devil's Disciple）、《人與超人》（Man and Superman）、《傷心之家》（Heartbreak House）、 《華倫夫人的職業》（Mrs Warren's Profession）、 《巴巴拉少校》（Major Barbara） 、《蘋果車》（The Apple Cart） 、《醫生的兩難選擇》(The Doctor's Dilemma）。
November 1, 2008
香港風貎 (二)
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今天Cultazine五位成員與一位獨立藝評人談談Cultazine的方向與內容，他對我們的批評句句一針見血，獲益良多，在此要感謝他一聲。
另外，他亦提到自己撰文批評一份文化雜誌，不久這雜誌編輯即致電與他問過究竟。
昨天我把對一個香港藝術家的講座看法，以e-mail告訴了幾位成員時，不慎轉寄給了主辦講座的機構，而帶給了成員不便。因為成員即被相關人等追問此事，對此帶給成員，是這位成員的不便，深表抱歉。
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