(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Sound of Silence

Simon & Garfunkel

Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again,

Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping,

And the vision that was planted in my brain,

Still remains, within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone, Narrow streets of cobblestone,

‘neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light

That split the night, and touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw, Ten thousand people, maybe more.

People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening,

People writing songs, that voices never share.

And no one dared, Disturb the sound of silence.

“Fools” said I, “You do not know, Silence like a cancer grows.

Hear my words that I might teach you, Take my arms that I might reach you.”

But my words like silent raindrops fell,

And echoed, In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed, To the neon god they made.

And the sign flashed out its warning, In the words that it was forming.

And the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls

And tenement halls.” and whisper’d in the sounds of silence.

黑暗, 老朋友, 你好
我又有話跟你說
一個夢幻
在我昏睡時
慢慢滲入
留下種子
這腦海的夢幻
依然存在
在這沈默的音響

不安之夢
我獨步在
狹窄的石板路上
黄暈的街燈下
反起濕冷的衣領
刺眼的霓虹燈的閃光
把黑夜分裂開
觸摸到, 沈默的音響

在赤裸的燈光下
我見到
上萬的人, 或許更多
在説話, 但沒有説出
在聆聴, 但沒有聴到
在寫作, 沒有分享的樂章
不敢打擾, 那沈默的音響

儍瓜, 你是否知道
沈默有如癌病般縵延
請聴我的細訢
請接受我伸出的手
但, 我的忠告
像雨點, 靜靜地
落在沈默的井裡
回應着

人們鞠躬, 祈禱
對着人造的霓虹神像
閃出警告的一句話
它説: 先知的話, 早巳寫在地鐵的牆壁
寫在廉租屋的走廊
耳語着, 沈默的音響

(~ Editor) Here is a vintage video of Simon & Garfunkel’s performance, while enjoying the fabulous translation from FB

有一句話說出就是禍，
有一句話能點得著火
別看五千年沒有說破，
你猜得透火山的緘默？
說不定是突然著了魔，
突然青天裏一個霹靂
　　爆一聲
　　「咱們的中國！」

這話叫我今天怎麼說？
你不信鐵樹開花也可，
那麼有一句話你聽著：
等火山忍不住了緘默，
不要發抖，伸舌頭，頓腳，
等到青天裏一個霹靂
　　爆一聲：
　　「咱們的中國！」

聞一多 的《一句話》

An utterance can cost lives

An utterance can light a fire

Five thousand years of silence

Why the volcano so quiet

One day it may suddenly gone mad

Abrupt thunder from the clear blue sky

     Exploded

“Cry our beloved country”

What can I say today?

Believe it or not

An utterance you have to listen

When the volcano can stand the silence no longer

Don’t tremble, stick out your tongue, stamp your feet

When thunder from the clear blue sky

     Exploded

“Cry our beloved country” 

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

我們這一代, 擁有很多古怪的名堂, 什麼戰後嬰兒, 嬉皮士, 憤怒青年, 失落的一代, 入皮士 (YUPPIES), 夾心世代 (SANDWICH GENERATION), 嬰孩潮兒 (BABY BOOMER) 等。

但我卻認為, 我的人生里程碑, 是可以用各類礶頭湯來代表的。

和罐頭湯結了不解之緣 , 自小巳經開始。

在小孩時代, 母親不善廚藝, 每逢傭人放假, 我們都會到附近商店, 購買金寶 (Campbell) 什菜湯, 罐頭 Del Monte 沙甸魚之類, 維持兩餐。説實話, 年小的我, 是十分喜歡這類菜式的。這就是我的什菜湯時期。

中學時, 參加童子軍活動, 穿上制服威威, 而且特別喜歡露營。野外生活, 三餐都要靠自己動手。由我任大廚的那一餐, 菜單一定是奶油粟米湯, 豆豉鯪魚, 午餐肉, 蒸臘腸與三及底飯。當在發育時期, 精力旺盛, 吃起什麼來, 也覺津津有味。這是粟米湯時期。

來加拿大升學, 在校園外租房閒住宿, 為了忙於功課, 或是咪書考試, 那會有心情來煮食? 結果, 每天都是靠雞麵湯, 麵包頭, 公仔麵渡日, 而且營養還是過得去, 精力還是十分旺盛, 成績也馬馬夫夫的。這是我的雞麵湯時期。

結婚初期, 两口子每日的家常便飯, 當然十分簡單, 但購買的罐頭湯種類, 卻多了起來。在超級市場架上出售的品種, 例如牛尾湯, 法式洋葱湯, 新英倫蜆周打, 萬克頓周打等, 都一一買回來品嘗。這是多樣化時期。

後來, 夫妻俩都忙於工作。每晩回到家裏, 都很疲倦, 巳沒有多餘精力來煑飯, 罐頭湯又大派用場。妻先把雞(或豬扒) 先摲件調味, 放在大碗內, 再倒下一礶奶油磨姑湯, 不加水, 就放進微波爐煑二十分鐘。上枱前把雞塊及白汁倒在每碟飯面, 就是一餐美味快捷的奶油雞飯, 真是經濟實惠, 慳水慳力。這就是奶油磨姑湯時期。

現狀, 戰後嬰兒老化, 嬰孩潮兒大軍殺到, 各國政府, 惶恐老年人醫療費用, 將會急劇上增, 國庫都會吃過不消。想到有一天, 牙齒脱落, 再不能嘴嚼食物, 就要用湯泡着飯来吃, 那時, 又要回到什菜湯時期了。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

• McDonald gives you senior discount coffee automatically
• Kids give you their seats on public transit respectfully
• Spent hours every morning reading the newspaper from headlines to obuitary
• Spent more time surfing the Internet than watching reality shows
• Diagnosed with Repetitive Injury of wrist tweetting or using mouse
• Forwarding all interesting articles and tipbits to all your email friends/groups
• Keep losing your car in the shopping mall parking lots
• Need two or more pill boxes to hold your daily pills
• Keep on travel before arthritis and cataract kick in
• The designated baby/pet sitter
• Go to more re-union gatherings than the past 30 years total
• Who do you see more frequent: your doctor and pharmacist
• Sleep less and pee more
• Sudoku and dancing are your preferred  exercises, for a beautiful mind and body
• Keep repeating yourself, like a broken record
• Busier than ever before, with fully booked activities every single day
• ___________________________ (Fill in your own blank)

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

北美人愛車如命。

在加拿大, 地大人少, 出門都要以車代歩。如果要靠两條腿走路, 大半天也不能走到; 乘搭巴士, 一等就是半個鐘頭, 又要轉車數次, 很是麻煩。汽車巳是北美生活的必需公具。

北美人 (尤其是男任們) 談到汽車, 卻又眉飛色舞, 列舉各種名牌車, 如數家珍; 由引擎的各種汔缸, 到馬力的勁差, 再加上各類車呔, 汽車新歷聲, 都是津津有味。嚴然又是另一種文化。

每到周末, 總得花上半天時間, 把汽車內外, 洗刷乾淨, 再重新打蠟。愛護之情, 比自家孩子, 有過之而無不及。

但另方面, 有一奇怪現象, 又令我百思不得其解。

拿我家附近一區来説, 全是獨立房屋, 各家都有两個車房; 但到了晚上, 每家門前就停放了两三輛車, 棄車房而不用。

長年累月, 汔車是丢在外邊, 在屋前通道, 甚至在街上, 日曬雨淋, 下雪時更被埋在雪堆。

在一些天氣寒冷的城市, 在嚴冬時, 汔車引擎還要插電保暖, 才可保正能啟動發動機, 但汽車還是停放在外邊。

拉開車房門一看, 都堆滿了傢俬雜物, 變成為一個額外儲物室。

朋友花了數千元購買了一隻小型摩打艇, 打算夏天出海鈎魚, 游泳。也把艇放進車房, 而其名牌座架車卻停放屋外, 吸收日月精華。

笑問: 汽車, 小艇, 究竟那樣昂貴!?

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

第一次上圖書館, 在中學時代。中一那年, 學校剛成立了一個小型圖書室, 趁大隊走去拿了張圖書証, 還借了一本書回家。結果那本書, 一放在櫃頭就整整一年, 原封不動, 連書也沒有打開過, 到學期尾, 唯有硬着頭皮去還書, 給圖書館長教訓了一大頓, 還好, 沒有罸錢。

以後就一直再沒有踏足圖書館。到中五, 為了會考衝綫, 臨渴掘井; 但在家裏讀書, 因為天氣炎熱, 邊讀邊抹汗, 很不方便, 便又上公立圖書館, 嘆其冷氣。

上大學, 每晚都往圖書館跑, 抱着厚厚的教科書, 講義, 美其名是讀書, 趕功課, 其實花上大部份的時間, 在咖啡室和同學們打牙較。有時, 夜車開得太多, 實在太累了, 就伏在書桌上, 打起噸来。

卅多年前, 在加拿大的華人還是不多。這裡的公立圖書館對中文書並不重視, 收藏極少。有位朋友郤想出一個妙法来, 他每星期都到他附近那間圖書館, 不論是那類的中文書, 都大批地借回来, 一星期後, 連看也末看, 就拿回去還, 又從新再借一批, 周而復始。結果圖書館的記錄, 就顯示到中文圖書的借出率很高, 一定是很受歡迎; 圖書館也就撥款購置一批又一批新的中文書了。

漸漸移民多了, 對中文圖書的要求高漲, 再不需要人為的提高。各圖書館紛紛設立中文圖書部。成為我們平時閲覽中文書, 報章, 雜誌的好去處。

曾記得, 多年以前, 圖書館又有過新的妙用。有一位先生, 從美國回港, 登報誠徴女友, 先友後婚。聲明每天長駐大會堂公立圖書館, 歡迎有意的女士前来”單睇”, 看過夠飽。如合心意, 才上前應徴。

書中自有顏如玉, 此君一定是熟讀聖言書者也。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

A drug war is raging, in Ontario.

It started as a cost cutting exercise. The Ontario government wants to cut the health care budget by limiting the cost of generic drugs to 25% of their brand names (now at 50%). The government pin-pointed the expensive cost of the generic drugs, as compared with other countries like US and UK, is due to the “professional allowances” fee paid by the generic drug companies to the pharmacies for stocking their drugs on their shelf space. This professional fee will be outlawed.

The government says the “professional allowances” inflate the cost of drugs up to 82 per cent higher than in other jurisdictions, and increase the money spent on prescriptions for seniors and social assistance recipients under the publicly funded Ontario Drug Benefit program, which amounts to $800 million annually. It also insists the “professional allowances” paid to pharmacists have been abused because the money doesn’t always go directly to patient care, as required by law.

Generic drug companies warned that such cut could make it difficult for them to afford the development and production of some medications.

Shoppers Drug Mart warned this cut in income will lead to stores closing, pharmacists laid off and store hours shortened. This protest was joined in by the the other big chain, Rexall, the next day. The war is on.

As expected, we the ordinary citizens are the immediate collateral damages. Before any benefit of this cost cutting measure even dribbles down to us consumers, if it ever will, we are already facing shortened store hours, cutting of services, increase of dispensing fees, delivery charges and the whole nine yard.

How come in any war between the big government and big coporation/unions, we ordinary citizens are as usual, be the first casualty and were left holding the bag?

We are left scratching our heads. For sure the arguments put forward by both sides are all valid, 公説公有理, 婆説婆有理, but here we are, always ended up the real losers.

This reminds me of a popular puzzle that circulates around on Internet.

Three guys walk into town. They go into a hotel and ask for a room they can share. The clerk has just the thing they want for thirty dollars. The clerk sends them to the room, takes out the ledger, and realizes that he made a mistake. The room costs only twenty-five dollars. Now he has to divide five dollars evenly three ways. Can’t be done. So the clerk pockets two dollars, tells the guys that he made a three dollar mistake and gives them each a single. Now, each man paid only nine dollars for his share of the room. Nine times three equals twenty seven, plus the two in the clerk’s pocket equals twenty nine. Where’s the other dollar?

While you are trying to figure out where did the other dollar go, you have already lost track of the fact that the clerk pocketed your toonie. You are already the real loser.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

報載, 在美國田納西州, 有位末婚女士, 收養了一名八歲蘇聯男童, 但數月後, 因那孩子天性暴烈, 恐嚇要將養母及其家人燒死, 急急買了張單程機票, 令他獨自坐機回返蘇聯。退貨。世界輿論哇然, 蘇聯當局更要停止美國人收養蘇聯兒童。

收養外國兒童, 是個時麾事儀, 出名的明星如 MADONNA, ANGELINA JOLIE, 都收養了一大批, 我們升斗凡民, 當然都要相爭效法。再加上在電視屏幕經常上演 JON & KATE PLUS 8 , 媒界不時都報道 OCTOMOM, 成為風頭人物, 真教人羡慕。最近 KATE GOSSELIN 還有時間參加跳舞比賽, 還會有自己的電視節目, 至令一般人都以為, 教養孩子, 是件輕而易舉之事。况且我們只收養一两個, 就心滿意足了。

北美電視盛行真人秀節目 (REALITY SHOWS), 簡化了我們日常生活上的問題, 什麼難題都能給你解决。個人及家庭問題, 請收睇 DR. PHIL, 健康及美容有 DR. OZ, 上癮問題找 DR. DREW, 什麼難題, 都有真人秀專家, 能為你解答, 一切都可迎紉而解。

致於孩童教養問題, 我們又有真人秀節目“超人保姆”(SUPERNANNY) 。不論是任何問題兒童, 一經超人保姆的指導, 都變為模範小公民。為人父母也該不會太難吧。

其實, 専家指出, 收養兒童, 並非容易。尤其是年紀較大的孤兒, 他們早期的人生經驗, 可能是非常悽慘痛苦的, 教養他們, 需要更多的耐性和 TLC (Tender Loving Care) 。再加上語言, 文化, 習俗的不同, 又突然移居到地球另一邊, 面對一批陌生人, 問題肯定多多, 不是收看真人秀就可以想象得到。

這次事件, 是美國商品社會的極端表現。人與人之間的交往, 都轉化成商品交易, 連收養兒童, 不稱心滿意, 也想原貨奉還, 真是天下奇聞, 令人震驚不焉, 嗟嘆世風日下, 世態炎涼。

據蘇聯兒童權利專員宣稱, 已有三戸蘇聯家庭, 願意收養該男童。這至少有個比較滿意的結局, 若將孩童再送美國, 難免那女士不會把他放在 E-BAY, 公開拍賣。這是美國嘛, AFTER ALL.

最後以白居易的燕詩, 與為人父母者, 大家共勉。也希望那位女士, 有一天能明白到, 為人父母, 是個犧牲, 又是光榮。

梁上有雙燕，翩翩雄與雌

泥銜兩椽間，一巢生四兒

四兒日夜長， 索食聲孜孜

青蟲不易捕，黃口無飽期

嘴爪雖欲弊，心力不知疲

須臾十來往，猶恐巢中飢

辛勤三十日，母瘦雛漸肥

喃喃教言語，一一刷毛衣

一旦羽翼成，引上庭樹枝

舉翅不回顧，隨風四散飛

雌雄空中鳴，聲盡呼不歸

卻入空巢裡，啁啾終夜悲

燕燕爾勿悲，爾當反自思

思爾為雛日，高飛背母時

當時父母念，今日爾應知

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

It is nauseatingly pathetic. Tiger, please stop bombarding us with your sorry puppy images of a born again reformer. Just go and play golf, and let your ego be massaged by the applauds and cheers of your fans. Leave us, the rest of the world, alone.

A controversial new ad from Nike has just been released, featuring Tiger and his late dad. It is creepy. Here is the actual ad on YouTube and what Jimmy Kimmel said about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hf1WALHmNk

Tiger, you recruited your mother’s help in your last press conference. Now this time you channeled the spirit of your father, Earl Woods. (Don’t be silly, not that Elle Woods, Reese Witherspoon’s character in Legally Blonde. Mmm, blonde, eh, there may be a hidden message somewhere.) At the end of the day, it is the support from your wife that counts. Are you really been forgiven, or still rehabilitating?

It is creepy. Just like in the TV series “Ghost Whisperer”, but in black and white, Tiger staring into emptiness, with blinking eyes, seemed to be listening to a scolding by the voice of a ghost, his  father, “What are you thinking, son!?” And just like all of the ghosts in Ghost Whisperer, Earl has unfinished business with his son gone rogue, that prevented him to step into the Light, to crossover.  Not yet anyway.  死唔眼閉。Spooky.

Hey wait, Earl, don’t be too harsh on the boy. He is only following the 12 steps program of the Sex-Addiction Anonymous (and the advice of his media consultants). First, called a mea culpa press conference, with hand over his heart and apologized, then apologized more, and then some more, then turned religious. Viola, 立地成佛, and a bland new Tiger, fit for a new ad.

有相為証 (see photo below), catch the similarities?

P.S .   Step aside, Jennifer Love Hewitt. Coming soon to a channel near you, a new realty show: Tiger, the New Ghost Whisperer.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

舞臺西 (STAGE WEST), 顧名思義, 是在加拿大西部發展起来的晚宴劇場 (DINNER THEATRE)。它在卡技利和多倫多, 都有劇場, 而且還是這類晚宴劇場的表表者。

它最吸引人的地方, 就是娛樂成份特別高。晚餐與表演都是十分精彩的。各觀衆在視覺, 聴覺, 和味覺上, 都得到最高的享受。

在戲劇啟幕前两小時, 就是進膳時間。

場地本身就是一間大餐廰, 一圍圍的枱椅, 也有一些卡座, 分佈在場地內, 都是面向前邊大舞臺。

在劇場邊一間大房內, 放置了一行行的食品, 是自助餐形式。客人就排隊輪着去選擇, 拿回座位来進食。

菜式包括了各種沙律, 冷肉, 麵飽, 還有一些經常轉換的熱盆, 例如奶油魚柳, 海鮮大會, 檸檬雞柳, 火腿豬肉卷, 焗三文魚, 蛋奄列, 青口, 凍蝦等, 真是琳榔滿目, 非常豐富。而且經常供應的, 還有燒牛肉, 可惜不是特級牛肉 (PRIME RIB), 所以評價平平而焉。在卡技利劇場, 還有壽司供應。

飯後, 甜品枱就更加目不睱給了。各類蛋糕甜點, 任君品嘗, 例如黑森林蛋糕, 模士蛋糕, 天使蛋糕, 蘋果批, 紅蘿蔔蛋糕, 朱古力蛋糕, 芝士蛋糕, 各類小點, 布甸和生果等。很多人都選擇了滿滿的一碟, 拿回座位, 邊看戲邊吃, 又一樂也。

劇場上演的劇目, 以白話劇居多; 演員很多時也包括了一些熟識的名字, 例如米奇隆利 (MICKEY ROONEY), 唐尼奥斯蒙(DONNY OSMOND) 等。

有時也會上演一些輕鬆的歌劇 (MUSICALS) 。在卡技利, 我就看過著名的有関六十年代嬉皮士生活的毛髪 (HAIR) 。在多倫多劇場也看過因拍成電影而出名的油脂 (GREASE), 窈窕淑女(MY FAIR LADY), 屋頂上的提琴手(FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), 約瑟夫與神奇彩衣(JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT) 等。

製作和演出, 都是一流水凖。這都是超值的娛樂。