(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

第一次嘗到比薩 (PIZZA), 是在學生時代。

當時,友人説, 比薩是北美的著名食品, 要大開眼界, 大快朶頤。

結果我們一行四人, 来到多倫多最熱鬧的央街, 在一間意大利餐館, 叫来了一大個。

這裡的比薩是圓形的, 出菜時放在一個高高的大鐵盆上, 熱力四射, 也早巳切成三角形的小塊。我們各人拿了一塊,放在碟上, 斯斯文文地用刀叉来進食。

第一次嘗到比薩, 覺得很新奇, 它的味道, 舆其他食品絕然不同。底層是塊烘乾的餅皮,中間是酸中帶點甜味的茄醤, 上層是各穜配料和局焦了的芝士。入口時又軟又硬, 酸酸的, 加上有彈性的芝士, 感覺真是特別, 新鮮。

以後, 比薩就成為我們主要糧食之一。它的主要成份,也包括了加拿大食品指南 (FOOD GUIDE) 之四類組別 (FOOD GROUPS): 疏菜水果, 粮食類, 奶類, 和肉類。所从整天早午晚,都進食比薩,相信也應無大害。上星期多倫多星報, 報導有間餐館, 正嘗試推出, 用雞蛋和煙肉作配料的早餐比薩, 希望以後也不需要吃隔夜冷比薩當早餐了。

當然,製造比薩, 是要有一些技巧的。比薩工人在作底層的餅皮時, 要用力將麵粉團拉開,再向上抛出, 使其在空中旋轉, 而且抛出數次, 達成為一塊圚形薄餅為止。在家裡製作, 也不太難, 不用抛粉團, 只需要把粉團拉開来, 能舖在比薩碟上, 巳經可以。餅皮可以很薄 (THIN CRUST STYLE), 也可以厚如芝加哥的 DEEP DISH PIZZA。

然後, 在薄餅上塗上蕃茄醤。因為食品的味道,主要来自茄醤, 所以用什麼材料, 香料来製造這茄醤, 就十分重要, 也是各比薩店的商業秘密。

再在上面放下各種配料, 例如香腸, 煙肉,青椒,磨菇, 甚至波蘿,火腿等。最後, 也是最重要的, 就是舖上大量芝士。

再放在焗爐內, 烤約二十分鐘, 至餅皮烤得鬆脆, 茄醤滾沸, 而芝士也完全熔化, 焦黄的一層, 舖在餅上, 那就是聞名的意大利薄餅 — 比薩。

但比薩不能焗得太久,不然就會變成為一個, 上面是橡根, 下層是卡紙的, 不能入口的癈物。

北美人認為, 比薩雖来自意大利, 但這裡的貨色, 早巳勝過老家的; 這點我又不能苟同。

有一年, 到歐洲旅行, 在羅馬街頭 WINDOW SHOPPING, 見到一間比薩店 (PIZZERIA), 正出售熱騰騰的比薩。這店的比薩, 都是長方形的, 一盆盆放在廚窗, 顧客要多少, 就切多少, 再過磅以重量付錢。

那塊比薩, 皮厚而且鬆化, 茄醤味道十足, 加上芝士又多, 又夠熱, 真教人齒甲留香, 回味無窮。

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

April, this is the month of “Keep Toronto Reading Festival 2010”, presented by the Toronto Public Library, to promote Torontonian reading habit.

I like to read, popular fictions, mostly.

During my early years, there were 兒童樂園, 唐老鴨 (Walt Disney comics), 財叔 and other 連環圖 (老夫子came much later).

I was introduced to Jean Webster’s Daddy Long-legs by my tutor, and that opened my eyes and heart, wow, such a romantic story. I right away fell in love with this imaginary world of books; and welcomed Enid Blyton (Noody, Famous Five, Secret Seven), Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gable), Charles Dickens (Old Curiosity Shop, Oliver Twist), Jane Austen (Pride & Prejudice), Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Kidnapped) …… throughout my school years.

In high school, I also read the中國學生周報, 青年樂園 every week, and 金镛, 古龍, 梁羽生的武俠小説.

Somewhere between home and school, under the stairway of a building, there was a used book store, which I browsed frequently, buying a Perry Mason or Agatha Christie or a Charlie Brown comic book now and then, especially during the summer holidays. Lying on the crouch and read them all day long. That was the luxury of youth. Later I diversified into other spy action, adventures like Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, read a few 瓊瑤, 衞斯理的科幻, and亦舒的短篇.

During university, my ambition was to read all 80 of the Agatha Christie detective novels, Poirot, Marple and all. Whenever I saw a title I haven’t heard of, I bought the book. But to my dismay, I found out occasionally a publisher simply reprinted a book under a new title name. I could spend whole nights reading; during weekends, of course.

I got acquainted with Dr. Scarpetta, Medical Examiner (Patricia Cornwell) and Dr. Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist (Kathy Reich), even before any CSI, Bone was made and became popular TV series; and read Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park”, “Rising Sun”, “Disclosure”, and later “Timeline”, “State of Fear”, “Next”. Some made into movies. Unfortunately he died early.

I was impressed by the movie “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”, that starred Richard Burton. The unexpected ending sent me sitting straight up in the theatre. So I tried John Le Carre’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, but found it dry. It described the psychological aspect of the spy Smiley in detail, with not much action; it was not for me at that time. Next I tried Elmore Leonard, but his were mainly strange adventure stories, again not the type of mystery and action I was looking for.

As for the Whodunit mystery along the style of Agatha Christie, after finished all the Agatha, I picked up Martha Grimes and P.D. James. Theirs are written in the good old English, and to solve the murders, you have to pay close attention. Grimes specialize in using the name of an inn or tavern for each of her book title. Many of James’s mystery novels take place against the backdrop of the UK’s bureaucracies such as the criminal justice system and the health services.

As for modern day detective stories, Sue Grafton has a series with alphabetical titles, started from A, “A is for Alibi” to up to now, “U is for Undertow”, with PI Kinsey Millhone. There are only 5 more alphabets left for the series, so what titles to name after that? That’s another mystery for the author to solve. The other mystery series I read occasionally is Sara Paretsky’s sexy Chicago investigator V I Warshawski. Nowadays, authors not only develop their storyline, they also like to write about the personal life and mental conflicts of their characters.

I seldom buy any new book now. From the public library, I can borrow all sorts of books; fiction, mystery, action, romance and chick lit, and read them to my heart’s content. On my bookshelves, you won’t be able to find any new book of Robert Ludlum and his franchised writers, of John Grisham, Stephen King, Dan Brown or titles like “Confession of a Shopaholic”, “Twilight”, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, “The Go-To Girl” ……. Once again I am back to this imaginary world of books; and, feeling younger already.

但説到特級燒牛肉, 又作別論.     

吃燒牛肉 (ROAST BEEF), 不要貪平宜, 一定要吃特級牛肉 (PRIME RIB); 因為這種牛肉, 是半肥瘦的, 肥羔和牛肉纖維, 混在一起, 黑 (肉)中帶白(羔), 有如雲石一般, 所以又稱雲石肉 (MARBLE MEAT). 這種肉入口特別香, 細細嘴嚼,又覺柔軟嫩滑.       

提起特級燒牛肉 (PRIME RIB ROAST), 不其然就想起了美國威爾蒙州 (VERMONT) 柏林敦市 (BURLINGTON) 的 WINDJAMMER 飱廳. 那裡的燒牛肉,遠近馳名. 如果碰上餐期, 排隊等位, 可以捱上個多鐘頭, 但岀餐的是一塊有一寸厚, 佔滿全碟的著名特級燒牛肉, 這早巳值回久侯票價.         

這塊燒牛肉, 週圍巳燒得香脆, 中間還是粉紅色的, 芳香撲鼻, 入口又特別鬆軟,滑柔柔的; 一咬之下, 濃香肉汁,浸了出来, 真是別有一番滋味.         

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

巳是很多年以前, 當兒女還小,毎年夏天, 都喜歡驅車,到各地旅遊.

有一年,到過美國東岸,飽嘗那裏的龍蝦餐, 另有一番滋味.

我們從多倫多驅車南下美國, 再向東轉, 横過風景優美的威爾蒙州(VERMONT), 新罕布什爾州(NEW HAMPSHIRE), 和緬因州(MAINE), 到逹東岸面向大西洋的沙洲港(BAR HARBOUR).

沙洲港, 是避暑勝地, 遊客很多, 昂貴酒店林立. 聽説數十年前, 大富翁如洛克斐勒, 都有別墅在此. 它附近的阿加底亞公園, 更吸引了無數熱愛野外的行山人任.

我們在沙洲港海邊漫步, 在一個舊碼頭內, 見到幾間簡單的屋寮, 叧一面是個兩層高的陽臺, 放置了十来張的枱椅, 原来這是一間別具風格的餐館 — FISHERMAN’S WHARF.

客人走進屋寮, 從一個大水池內仕君選擇游水龍蝦, 有大有小,過磅付錢,價格適宜.

招待員把龍蝦放入網袋, 再放入大鍋内用海水煮熟. 顧客領取了煮熟的龍蝦,到陽臺上找到空座位, 就可以安頓下来, 大快朶頣了.

那裏的龍蝦既新鲜,肉又嫩, 再加上是用海水来煮,保存原有鮮味, 而且蝦羔又多, 其味無窮. 我一次就吃了兩隻,加上啤酒一瓶, 真是有點香港大笪地風味.

白焯龍蝦, 在這裹的 RED LOBSTER 也吃過,但風味卻是大不相同.

轉眼間,二十年過去,兒女長大成人,早巳成家立業.很久也沒有驅車遠遊.總是希望有一天,能作舊地重遊, 重嘗那海邊風味,但又恐怕,那早巳是人面全非矣.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

PMO

Government of Canada

To all Ministers (Seniors and Juniors)

No more meltdown at airports xxxxxxThe opposition is threatening work-to-rule action after saying new documents abusexxx boots throwing orxxthat outline previously unknown allegations of Afghan detaineexx tequila xxxwon’t significantly aid a parliamentary probe into the Conservative government and top military officialsxxxx The 2,500 pages of information released this week mainly relate to the work of military police investigators between 2006 and 2009. Their release appears distributing punching bags to re-channel the rage to comply with an ongoing Military Police Complaints Commission probe into detainee abuse in Kandahar working our butts off xx xx xxx xxxx xx xx xx x xx xxxx xx unappreciative basto comply with an ongoing Military Police Complaints Commission probe into detainee abuse in Kandahar compiling a Celebrity GoFly List all xxx xxx xx xx xxx will include government ministers big or small xx xxx xxx guarantee fast-track through airport customs xxx xxxxx xx xx xxxxx in the mean time xxx xxx xxxx for a chat, speech or photo-op over a cup of rolled up the rim Tim Horton coffee xxx xxx xxx xxx use the government jet But the government has still failed to comply with an order by the House of Commons to hand over another slew of sensitive military and diplomatic documents needed to re-calibrating all at arms length federal organizations House Speaker Peter Milliken is expected erhaps next week to rule on whether the Tories are breaking the law sending in our army of new board of directors to redirect policy and management If the government flouts the parliamentary order to release the information, opposition parties say they are planning to go on the attack by stalling the government’s agenda just as the Conservatives are stalling the agenda of the majority in the Commons follow China’s example with Google, to oust the oppositions to the wilderness xxx xxxx xxx xxx xxx xxx repeat and re-repeat Afghan censorship xxx xxx xx xxxx xxx xxx flooded Ottawa with black-out documents xx xxx xxxxx xxx xx x nothing to hide xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx to buy time If the government flouts the parliamentary order to release the information, opposition parties say they are planning to go on the attack by stalling the government’s agenda New Action Plan: Own the political Podium xxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxx New Chinese Model said Bloc Quebecois House leader Pierre Paquette One Party Rule Mentality xxx xx xx xx xxxx xxx xxxx Attention: Opposition in disarry xxx xx xxxx xxxx xxx xxx picking up rocks to hit own feet xx xx xx xx window of opportunity xx xx xx xx xx xx xxxx xx our chance of majorityxx xxxx xx xxx xx xx xxx x xx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx xx xx xx xxx xxx xxx xxxxx xx xx xxxx xxx xxx xxxx xxx xx xx xx xx x xx xxx xxx xxxx xx xxx xx xxx xx xx xx xxx xxxx x xxx xx x xx Liberal MP Marcel Proulx admitted that that could be part of the strategy for the future, but the party’s hopes still lie with the Speaker’s decision to order the government documents released

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Google is out of China.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, cofounder of Google Sergey Brin explained how the situation in China reminded him of his family while in Russia, how the police visited his father, who was a target of anti-Semitism. Mr. Brin said those memories bolstered his opinions on Google’s operations in China. He cited China’s Web censorship and meddling in the company’s affairs, adding that the cyberattack cited by Google was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Actually, in my opinion, 點只檢禁咁簡單

Most importantly, China regarded Information as Knowledge, that will breed Idea, and hence spur Action. Certain information in the wrong hands is just asking for trouble. China’s propaganda machine is tightly controlled and monitored. Its national media doses out only politically correct (read party-line) information that is advantageous to their government. That’s how they ruled for the past 60 years. Unfortunately Google Inc is dealing with the same commodity, and also doing it better and on a massive scale.

In the short history of Google Inc, it has amassed tons of information, that can make any corporation and country salivate. Who can access and control those data become important security and privacy issues. Knowing what people are thinking and doing is the flip side of censorship. Google needs to safe-guard its technological knowhow and trade secrets. Meddling and hacking are warning signals. If you are not careful, the recent case of the Australian tin company Rio Tinto is a sharp reminder. This is obviously in the mind of every China trader.

So the clash of the Titans is inevitable.

But why quit now? Isn’t all capitalist businesses have only one aim, i.e. to make money. China is a vast market with huge potential, why the retreat?

As it was, China accounted for only a small fraction of Google’s US$24 billion in annual revenue. Analysts estimate Google brought in $250 million to $600 million from China (It’s unclear how much of that amount flowed exclusively from Google.cn). In the Chinese market, no matter how hard Google competes, it will always be a poor second to Baidu. It is better to concentrate its effort on the rest of the world. Further due to the very restrictive nature of tight control and censorship of all the Chinese search engines, they will never be able to attain the status of serious competitor at the world stage.

行不得也曲歌

Google moves to the little island of Hong Kong.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

The rain has stopped. It is still misty and chilly outside. The temperature is warming up, with new green mingling with patches of brown on the ground. Flower bulbs are popping up everywhere, eager to get a glimpse of spring.

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed into law a landmark health care reform bill. The law will bring near-universal coverage to the only industralized country in the world, which does not have some form of universal healthcare. A wealthy country with 46 millions of people uninsured, and another 100 millions without adequate coverage. The plan’s provisions will be phased in over four years, and it is expected to expand coverage to about 94 per cent of eligible non-elderly Americans would have coverage, compared with 83 per cent today.

This signals the biggest shift in U.S. domestic policy since the 1960s. The bill was passed after a divisive, yearlong debate and political infighting, with all Republican Representatives voted against. It was passed with a slim margin of 220 vs 211. Although it is law now, but the fight is not over yet. Attorney generals of some Republican states are planning to challenge it in court. Further Obama is risking an upset in the midterm congressional elections in coming Novermber. He already knew the huge risk involved but still pushed ahead, and accomplished something other presidents including Bill Clinton had failed to reform during their own presidencies. There is hope after all. A politician not afraid of triggering an avalanche of defeats, all for the good of his countrymen. This is our first glimpse of spring.

横眉冷对千夫指
俯首甘为孺子牛
Lu Xun (1932)

Just hope our own Canadian politicians will learn from it.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

For us retirees, reading the newspaper is the highlight of our daily life. Every morning, we spend hours going through the newspaper, right there at the kitchen table. But have you ever wondered, how to read a newspaper?

There is actually no proper way to do it, you just develop your own style.

So what kind of reader are you?

First of all, are you a spreader or a folder?

For a Folder, you fold your newspaper in whatever way that suits you, in half or into a quarter page, or just to expose the article that interests you.

For a Spreader, you simply spread the newspaper in front of you, full size. With elbows bend, you hold the newspaper up with both hands, with your face and probably the whole body, hiding behind it. Or if that is too tiring for your arthritis, you can spread the whole newspaper out on the kitchen table, and bend slightly forward to read it.

To lighten the load of a heavy, thick, too-many-pages newspaper like the Sunday New York Times, you can be a Picker. You pick out all the pages that don’t interest you, right from the beginning, discard them, before you settle down to enjoy your morning read, leisurely and effortlessly.

Too much work thinning the newspaper? Try to be a Selector. Scan through the whole newspaper first and make note of those articles that interest you, mark them if you want, then go back and read through them one by one, slowly.

As you read along, if you are a Collector, you may start cutting out those articles or pictures or cartoons or crossword puzzles or whatever you treasure and want for keepsake. By the time you finish this morning exercise, you will be left with another edited newspaper, with holes that are comparable to a redacted Conservative government document.

Many people read the newspaper as a Silent Reader. With a mug of coffee in one hand, you slowly turn the pages, absorbed completely with the content of those ridiculous news and amazing events that are happening all over the world. Or if you are an Announcer, you will broadcast what you have just read to your spouse or anyone within hearing distance. “Another Hollywood couple hit the dirt.” “What is the government hiding.” “Wine is good for you.”

But a word of warning, though, once when you found yourself the Detailer, combing the newspaper from top to bottom, from headlines to obituaries, digesting and regurgitating every single bit of junk news, then you know too much time is on your hands. You better start working out in the gym, book for a Tai Chi or dance class, play a game of friendly ping-pong, and join the senior breakfast club at McDonald. Or, be a blogger.

As the saying goes, no news is good news. Information overload can be hazardous to your health.

(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Back to the future.

“Hello there, Johnny, long time no see. Remember me?”

“Hi, eh…… How wonderful to run into you. Let’s get a picture of you to celebrate this moment?”

“Oh, sure.”

Johnny pulled out his iPhone and snapped a picture of the stranger.

He opened his App page, chose Facebook – Face Recognition option and clicked send. A second later, there was a match, out popped the info:

Jane Doyle, female, born 2031.

“Hi Jane, how are you?”

“Excellent. And you? Still working hard?”

“No choice, can’t retire yet.”

“Are you still working in the same old place?”

What place was she talking about? Johnny keyed into his Google Personal Timeline Map: Intersection: Jane Doyle and Johnny Who. Right away it spitted out the answer, displayed on the screen: Co-workers of Universal Enterprise 2055-7.

“No, not at UE any more. I am with the Japanese company, Recalls In Motion for the past few years.”

“Have you seen Freddie Jetson lately?”

Who is Freddie? Once again, Johnny typed in Google Advance Search: Freddie Jetson & Jane Doyle & Johnny Who ….. Robots from the same lot #13385, manufactured by the China Robotics Company.

“Haven’t seen Freddie for ages. We should get together sometime.”

“That is a good idea.”

“Let’s arrange it now.”

Johnny pulled up his Personal Appointment Book, typed in Jane Doyle and Freddie Jetson; the apps checked all participants’ schedules automatically, and suggested a time slot that was convenient to all. Johnny clicked OK.

“It’s done, see you again soon, Jane, online.”

“Bye, nice to see you again, Johnny.”

“Ditto.”

The future is friendly. No more embarrassing moments.