Monthly Archives: February 2010

Ethics

Recently, Kevin Smith, a well known Hollywood director, was kicked off a flight for being too fat. He was furious and started a twitter storm. His flamebuoyant communiques aroused media coverage and strong opinions everywhere. Fat people have rights too! … Continue reading

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Ubiquitous Broadband

As a luddite, I did not pay much attention to those 2G, 3G mumble jumble. I turn on my cell phone when I wake up. I would make several phone calls in a day and send/receive some text messages. That’s … Continue reading

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三國: 關羽宰華雄

開始聽三國,總共上百回.有空聽聽,也得年把才聽的完. 曹操聚了各路諸侯,以袁紹為首伐董卓,第一個就碰到華雄.他把袁軍殺的一榻糊塗.終於關羽以馬弓手的低職,一刀取了華雄的首級,揚名立萬. 如果水滸講的是政府腐敗,三國就是政治權謀的黑暗了.曹操有名的”寧教我負天下人,休教天下人負我”. 袁術怕孫監搶功,不發糧草.孫監因此敗陣,差點丟了腦袋.三國的軍事政治鬥爭,於此舖開.

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靈劍

靈劍 鄭丰 978-986-6712-74-6 靈劍是天關雙俠的前集.鄭丰被捧成”女版金庸”.神雕三部是永遠的經典,她的武俠也比的上金庸的二級作品了.靈劍的情節誨暗悽慘,鄭丰兩集都把虎嘯山莊安排的很不幸.其實”醫俠“是個很有詩意的想法,凌霄也有英雄的特質,典型武俠他不左擁右抱,稱霸武林,也至少能贏得美人歸.但鄭丰兩本都給他悲劇黑暗,這是她對武俠的突破嗎?我讀了40年武俠,還不大習慣離開那模式呢. 傳統的武功已經是超能了,鄭丰還加上了靈能及巫毒.天關裏,主角的武功平常(他是百花掌門,下毒的).這部有改善,但被天關中傳頌的大決戰,卻只有一點篇幅帶過.筆墨放在了燕龍偉大的犧牲上.可惜那過程太”成人”,鄭丰不能寫的露骨.遺憾. 武俠就是中國的007,不論如何的公式化,讀者都要能忘了這現實,看完了得不能自及的幻想自己是那英雄主角.天關還行,靈劍看完還真有點失落,沒那期待的滿足感. 鄭丰有個部落格.可以去給她加點人氣.

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Internet Price War

How do you set a price of something that has zero variable cost (it costs nothing to make copies and distribute them to the customers) and a limited set of customers? Well, that’s online media: newspapers, magazines, music, video, and … Continue reading

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Human Rights, Free of Speech, and Privacy

A top Senate Democrat is asking 30 leading technology, Internet and communications companies to provide detailed descriptions of their operations and human rights practices in China. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois sent letters to the companies on Tuesday … Continue reading

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CalTech Kid

“So you went to CalTech?” Asked the bartender, glancing the emblem on my baseball hat. “Oh, no. I am not that smart,” I replied. “My kid did.” “I heard they are, like, #2 or #3 in the world in something.” … Continue reading

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New Light, Old Topics

What the Dog Saw Malcolm Gladwell ISBN: 978-0316075848 This is Malcolm’s best book. I must be a Malcolm fan, having read every books he published so far. Before this one, the best was still the Tipping Point. I read others … Continue reading

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吃的日记

回北京前说要如此这般,飞机六点下地七点多进酒店,外面是刺骨的负5度,两人相望,“你要吃什么?”好像没家可以够值得出门的。商量已毕,全身重冬装备,两人硒硒嗦嗦,走了15分钟,进了亮马河边的印度小厨。点了烧鸡,Masala羊,印度豆腐,当然一堆的Nan及Parota,吃得不亦乐夫。精神和吃饭前完全不同了。 第二早上睡到日头,行步走到Kempinski的面包房,咖啡,面包,汤,甜点,当然是早午饭一起就打发了。下午办完事回到酒店后两人都累了,也没有太多与北京冬天奋战的心情。就下楼到酒店的西餐厅,打五折,不贵。做的挺好,服务也行。是个补充精神的一顿。 一夜无事,起来后中午有个茶宴,朋友问起,“回北京后吃了什么了?”我们厄然以对,头三餐居然没一顿中国菜。于是乎晚上大伙齐集日檀边的宏源涮肉,满桌的菌菜牛羊,一打烧饼,大大过瘾一番。回家一秤,重了4斤。 又个老北京朋友来电要请客,指定我选餐厅。想想说“川办”,居然北京还有我说得出的餐厅他们没吃过的?带了个孩子来,把菜单的都点完了。孩子一面吃一面叫好,一群人吃到撑,还带走了一大口袋。我们又聊到五点才散,回到酒店倒下就睡,八点才起来去鹿港小镇随便吃,加了个冰山。 过了两天,她说,“我们总要吃次鼎泰丰吧。”两人一车到东直门店,当然点了特色小笼,还有素饺,蟹粉小笼,蛋炒饭,芝麻包。这餐厅不是要不要来吃的问题,而是要吃几次的问题。 离京前的最后一餐,定了苏浙汇。目的是鲥鱼,其他菜也美味可口,干拌面尤其爽口。 上了飞机,她说,“你居然没吃烤鸭。” 奇怪,想都没想呢。

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