讀研究院是一種生活態度

剛讀過從前明史tutor Vichy所寫的別浪費時間去讀研究生（一），勾起讀研究生時的種種。

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讀研究院是一種生活，一種態度。

我猶記得，做tutor的時候，不止一次，

上完tutorial，發表過自我感覺良好的偉論，離開後文藝復興風格的main building，乘坐22號小巴到中環天星碼頭。

踏上前往尖沙咀的天星小輪，挑一個近船邊的座位坐下，

放好書包，翹起二郎腳，解開外套鈕扣，展開雙臂在背椅上，朝向對岸的文化中心，迎著微微吹來的海風，撥一撥被海風吹亂了的頭髮，望著維多利亞臉頰上的夕陽，呷一口在碼頭Pacific Coffee買來的Latte。

This is life.

小輪靠岸，安靜地看著人潮爭解纜，慢步離船上岸，沿途聽著輕快的藍色多瑙河，朝向星光行走去。走上星光行的商務，面對朝向維多利亞的風景，打打書釘，消磨一句鐘是常事，買幾本書是責任，十數本是本份。

This is life too.

太陽落山，時候不早，娘親來電，「幾點返黎食飯？」

掃興，不識趣。倖然，歸去。

This is real.

所以說，

研究院的人不是自戀，就是自閉。

Lazy Sunday reading: Japanese South Polar Expedition, 1911-2

In a lazy Sunday I was seating by the window to feel the breeze of winter in Hong Kong with a cup of English Breakfast tea and dark chocolate left from the Christmas.

I picked up something to read, or I should say just to occupy my attention and hands a bit to get along with a cosy afternoon.

Without any difficulty I found an interesting book catalogue in my bag (I love book catalogues!). In the next minute I was consumed by the Royal Geographical Journal catalogue of Henry Sotheran, the oldest antiquarian booksellers in England and the world since 1761.

An entry was intriguing to read and muse for quite a while. It was an article titled "The Japanese South Polar Expedition of 1911-1912" published in 1933.

I am a Chinese historian not Japanese but the expedition came no surprise to me. Having defeated China and Russia in only one decade between the nineteenth century and twentieth century, Japan became the most powerful country in Asia and was a rising power in the world stage. Japan was like China today.

In 1911, when the Chinese revolutionaries were trying to overthrow the Manchu rule in China, the Japanese explorers sailed outside Asian waters for scientific quest. Why Japanese scientists received the first Nobel prize in science in Asia? It explains it all.

The entry provide a brief note of the expedition:

"The 1911-1912 Antarctic Expedition under Nobu Shirase was the first Japanese expedition to the continent, and one of the first outside Asian waters. They sailed abroad the Kainan Maru, a vessel only 100 ft long. The party reached the ice on 26th February 1911, and explored the Ross Sea during their first season. They returned the following season to examine King Edward VII Land, although bad weather held back much of their work. At the Great Ice Barrier they encountered Roald Amundsen's Fram, waiting for the return of his South Pole party. They moved on to the Alexandra Range, before returning to Japan, having travelled a total of 27,000 miles. They hadn't reached the South Pole, their southernmost point being 80o05'S, but their scientific work was of immense importance."

Following Russia and U.S.A to land in the moon after nearly four decades, China is reckoned to join leading developed countries in scientific exploration. Perhaps we should stop a minute and hold our breath.

Over one hundred years after the Japanese expedition, a Chinese icebreaker lately went there to rescue a Russian research ship trapped in Antarctica. To the dismay of over a billion Chinese people the Chinese explorer joined his comrade and got stranded. Finally an American icebreaker came to help out. Ain't the American public through the Cold War happy to see this?

假如......馬料水

每次入馬料水，總會有登山難，落山更難的感覺。
十多年沒有去過崇基圖書館，要事前問同事才能確認方向和位置（謝謝松兄）。
由火車站到崇基的路，不知是變化太大（迴旋處好像被填了），還是相隔太久，周遭的景致似乎一點都沒有留在記憶之中。
記憶很奇妙，這個時間它離開你，霎時間又會回到你的心坎。
循著蜿蜒曲折的山路，經過小溪流水和未圓湖，披上青蔥綠草的氣味，望見一座座新大樓的背影，遠處綠蔭下一座熟悉的矮樓，典型六七十年代的建築，記憶像併圖般一片片重組，牟路思怡圖書館終於映入眼簾。
日未落而作，日入而息。踏出藏書樓，已是入黑，未名湖也睡著了。
不似西營盤的main lib，更不似南山邨的run run shaw，每次離開馬料水的圖書館總會有種仿如隔世的感覺。
抬頭望天，盈月高掛，映照在旁邊的輕紗上，添上幾分浪漫。
昏黃的街燈拉長了身影，牽動了思緒。腦海裏不期然想到，假如當初在這個曾經嚮往的校園讀書，會是怎麼一回事？

記中秋

中秋月圓，上油麻地，看 Before Midnight，裝文藝。
影院內黑暗中，旁邊坐著一對dating的男女。
他們的對話暗示，兩人久別見面，相約在中秋夜約會看戲。
男孩讚美女孩比以前瘦了，女孩有點高興。
男孩和女孩都悉心打扮。佳人的香奈兒四溢，使人陶醉。
看戲途中，男孩接上一通電話，談了一分鐘。
女孩嘴角微微上翹，似有不悅，心想，可不要白白浪費了她的香奈兒。
好戲落幕，兩人分道，相約在門外等候。
男孩對著鏡子打扮，女孩也不忘補妝。
燈光下，男孩高大俊郎，女孩漂亮可人。
門外，女孩撥弄一下頭髮，帶著甜甜的笑容，朝著男孩的方向走過去。
月下，青綠色的色丁長百褶裙左右搖動著，消失於熱鬧的賞月人群之中。

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Before sunset，下午四時多，陽光穿過玻璃窗，透射在影院咖啡館的一角。
一個長髮過肩，齊眉瀏海的女子，手捧著一本書在閱讀，面前是一杯半滿的拿鐵。
陽光照在女子的面頰和書上，讓人看不清楚她的容貌，更令好奇的我看不清楚她在讀甚麼書。
我在正對著咖啡館的小資書店，低著頭打書釘，翻過一本本的雜誌新書。
向著書桌另一端抬頭望過去，佇立著一個陌生又熟悉的面孔。
是她，應該是她。十年茫茫，想不起她的名字。
行近，她放下手上的書，不慌不忙地回到咖啡館的一角，拿起手袋，頭也不回，推開玻璃門，轉身離去。
玻璃牆內，還沒有回過神來的我，凝望著玻璃牆外的她的側面，目送著她遠去。

後記：她是誰？
不是前度。不要瞎猜。
她是一名中途quit莊的莊友。

Why the Humanities and Social Sciences matter?

"An advanced civilization must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future."
- National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S.A.

"The Humanities remind us where we have been and help us envision where we are going. Emphasizing critical perspective and imaginative response, the humanities - including the study of languages, literature, history, film, civics, philosophy, religion, and the arts - foster creativity, appreciation of our commonalities and our differences., and knowledge of all kinds.

"The social science reveal patterns in our lives, over time in the present moment. Employing the observational and experimental methods of the natural sciences, the social sciences - including anthropology, economics, political science and government, sociology, and psychology - examine and predict behavioral and organizational processes.

"Together, they help us understand what it means to be human and connect us with our global community."
- The Heart of the Matter, p. 9.

"We live in a world characterized by change - and therefore a world dependent on the humanities and social sciences. How do we understand and manage change if we have no notion of the past? How do we understand ourselves if we have no notion of a society, culture, or world different from the one in which we live?

"A fully balanced curriculum - including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences - provides opportunities for integrative thinking and imagination, for creativity and discovery, and for good citizenship.

"The humanities and social sciences are not merely elective, nor are they elite or elitist. They go beyond the immediate and instrumental to help us understand the past and the future. They are necessary and they require our support in challenging times as well as in times of prosperity. They are critical to our pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness, as described by our nation's founders. They are The Heart of the Matter."
- The Heart of the Matter, p. 13.

範文＝好成績？

範文＝好成績？

討論重設範文，目的是要提升成績，還是水平？
要提升成績，不見得非範文不可。要提升水平，則非範文不可。
要提升成績，不用重設範文，只要改善評核方法和內容，或者回到高考的大鍋飯年代就是了。

多年來的中文科，都是範文年代。有範文又如何？回想有範文的會考，中文不及格的學生多的是，band 1學生也不例外。在高考中國語文及文化科幾乎人人合格的時代，中文及文化水平很高嗎？

至於說要救band 1學生（科科星但中文科不及格者），為何沒有聽說過為了要救band 2和3學生而降低合格要求？band 1學生轉考IB好了，何苦要剝削其他人合格的機會（或僥倖）？不若聯署要求考評局提升合格率，甚至要求大學取消中文科必須合格的要求（似乎權在UGC，不在大學。既之，向UGE施壓就是了，取消兩文三語的虛偽口號，一文兩語夠了。甚麼文，甚麼語，你知道的）。

重申，範文不是靈丹妙藥，不要一廂情願以為，範文等於好成績。假若範文回歸後，合格率與今日相約，下一步如何？又假若，合格率與今日相約，不過band 1學生通通合格，誰人會為band 2和3學生申寃？

語文不是能力，是知識。範文的意義，不在語文水平，而在知識傳承。難道提倡白話文的魯迅不讀不懂文言文嗎？

女人的咖啡

女性朋友近日改頭換面，抹粉施脂，重拾青春之餘，添上了幾分成熟和自信。

一個月來，引來四個男人，讓久未拍拖的她心猿意馬。
whatspp不停，約會不斷，甜言蜜語不絕。

四個男人，四種性格，四樣嗜好，她拿不定主意。
我問，他們喜歡甚麼的飲料。她奇怪我會這樣問。想一想，
男人A，愛飲紅酒。
男人B，愛飲啤酒。
男人C，愛飲咖啡。
男人D，愛飲檸茶。

我叫妳選男人C。
先說男人D。他特別鍾意飲紙包檸檬茶，不是MK金毛，就是還沒有脫離陽光檸檬茶年代的幼稚男，out。妳和姊妹們聚會，男朋友接送，邊等妳邊含著飲管，妳會不介意姊妹們的眼光嗎？
男人B無啤酒不歡，只要有啤酒女郎介紹，就豪氣地接下一打，和一班兄弟劈酒。妳也愛飲啤酒，但只會在酒吧。
男人A嗜紅酒，RP分數瞭若指掌，愛獨酌，卻也愛晒命。男人在女人面前晒命，不是嚴重自卑，就是以為女人都是北姑。
男人C，喜歡和妳去咖啡室消磨時間。「妳要mocha多cream，對嗎？」知道妳的需要，寵妳疼妳，不會要妳出錢出力，服侍大爺。兩杯咖啡，一件lemon tart，調情聊天，spend some quality time with you。他，才算是一個男人。

她，接受了男人C的追求，拍拖兩年，下個月步入教堂。

讀書

讀書，看時，順地，應人。
時不分早晚，只求興至，一分鐘也是一個故事。
書房是常地，厠所也是與孔子對話的好地方。
讀書，是一個人的事，是學習與孤獨相處。
讀書，也可以是兩個人的事，甚至是眾人的事。
兩個人在咖啡店，一起看雜誌，是樂趣；各看各的，也是情趣。
地鐵上，報紙可以與人分享，有些書則不敢張揚地看。
我看過兩本這樣的書。
看London Call Girl，一是坐著看，二是站著看，但不會站在跟前是OL的位置。現在留在辦公室話旁，美其名為教材。
第二本，是終於讀完幾乎不敢在地鐵上看的《中女解毒》。不論是坐著還是站著，都不要。我試過，甚尷尬，面紅紅的是我。
讀書，還是一個人好。

讀書五失

近讀香港《文匯報》一篇關於讀書的文章，所引用的清代資料，言簡意賅，值得分享。

文章引用清代詩人阮葵生的《茶餘客話》，讀書有「五失」：

一、「泛觀而無所擇，其失博而寡要」；又引用明代理學家蔡清的話：「欲為一世經綸手，止熟數篇緊要書。」

二、「好古人言行，意常退縮不敢望，其失儒而無立」；又引用明代榜眼湯賓尹道：「讀古人書，會古人意，並可不用古語也。」

三、「纂錄故實，一未終而屢更端，其失勞而無功」；又引用明代詩人吳與箕說：「蘇子容聞人說故事，必令檢出處。司馬君實聞人言新事，便抄錄，且必記所言之人。故當時謂：古事莫語子容，新事莫告君實。」

四、「聞人之長，將疾趨而從之，輒出其後，其失欲速而好高」；又引用明代思想家陳獻章說：「以我觀書，隨處得益，以書博我，則釋卷茫然。」

五、「喜學為文，未能蓄其本，其失又甚焉者也」；又引用北宋諫官呂誨說：「讀書不須多，讀得一字，行取一字。」

共勉之。

Mickey Mouse degrees

Here are something I copied from a free literary magazine in Britain some time ago about the Mickey Mouse degrees? Don't have a clue about the degrees? Find it out yourself:

I often hear people grumble about the Mickey Mouse degrees that our young people pursue at university these days. How they have no practical or economic value. How our nation doesn't create enough engineers and how too many students do subjects such as English that can't get you help you find a career except as an English teacher.

After all, Mickey Mouse has done rather well for himself, earning far more than most engineers. The degrees pursued by so many in his name have perhaps not let our economy down as much as people think.

I say this because when you look at our long-term national performance at producing things, we don't do too badly. Sure, we don't make as many cars ad the Germans but we do manufacture more dreams. That's what creativity is all about and we can be proud that we contribute so much of it to the world.

It is important for us all to understand our strength in the creative industries so we don't underrate ourselves. I think too many people do. I not only hear them dismissing university degrees, but I also hear them writing off our entire economy as somehow unworthy of the living standards it has delivered to us. Their tendency is to associate production with physical output. As they observe Britain is not quite the manufacturing powerhouse it once was, they assume that we have somehow been lazy in trying to make ourselves rich without getting our hands dirty.