Monday 26 August 2013

I am from Hong Kong

前些日子閱讀了陶傑專欄的一篇文章「海嘯來了」,文中有一句“I am from Hong Kong”真是可圈可點。六十年代在歐美演唱時,每每在台上或台下遇見洋人時嘴邊掛着的那一句,可不就是“I am Chinese from Hong Kong”。一身旗袍打扮的我在台上自我介紹時,心態是──「好吧!讓你們見識一下中國娃娃的歌藝,『玫瑰玫瑰我愛你』、『Ding Dong Song』中英文歌詞,獨家播唱。」我的傲氣不經意顯露在臉上,祖先教曉的儀態、氣派都用上了,絕不能令自己國家民族丟臉。
但在台下為何仍要表明身份呢?因為我不願意被人誤認為日本人。五、六十年代的日本人很是風騷,到處也有他們的蹤跡。年輕真好,不順耳,不順眼,非爭個明白不可。當有人誤認我是日本人時,我就會理直氣壯地大聲跟他們說:「I am Chinese from Hong Kong」。有時甚至直嚷:「喂喂!你沒有看見嗎?我這麼高,眼睛這麼大,那點像日本人喔?」現在回想起來也覺得好笑,年輕就會有這種傻勁,民族意識爆棚,也不知天高地厚。
現在如果說“I am from Hong Kong”就好像要跟強國人劃清界線,心中總覺得有些疙瘩。本是同根生,再討厭,也是自己兄弟,不要放棄這些不爭氣的同胞吧!唯有懇求老祖宗管教管教他們。
唉!老祖宗啊!我們都是您的子孫,您不要偏心放縱親生兒在外面丟臉闖禍。俗語有云:「棒頭出孝子,筷頭出逆子!」(上海人成語)事實勝於雄辯,您把他們養得白白胖胖,胖得思維也阻塞了。腦袋注滿了銅臭,認為討人厭也沒所謂,最重要是老子袋裏有錢。老祖宗呀!老祖宗,您老人家快些出手整頓整頓他們,否則殃及池魚。那怕我們說一百次一千次“I am from Hong Kong”都沒用了。
咦!忽然我異想天開,這會是強國人政府特別政策嗎?多年來受到欺壓,白種人總是覺得自己的民族優秀,自己的子民珍貴,養尊處優,所以把認為低劣的工作以廉價工資外判給黃種人。為了保護自己國家的優良環境,不惜將工程搬去他人的土壤上發展,才不管那會破壞了別人的山明水秀。而一班唯利是圖的商人不知利害,同流合污,剝削自己同胞、損害自己家園。幾十年過去,金錢與自私把當初別人眼中的窮小子變成今天的強國人。強國人心裏樂着:「好哇!現在老子有錢了,可以跑到那些文明國家去威風花費吧!」那些文明國家剛開始嘗到甜頭時還沾沾自喜,往後受到蝗蟲般的滋擾時才知味道,這可說是「咎由自取」的一種吧!
我相信因果報應。歷史往往只是記載大事,瑣碎小事如不是親歷其境不會清楚箇中原委。
回憶1962年有機會去超級大國──英國倫敦表演,第一次遠征西方社會,單人匹馬,獨自闖關,帶着一大箱繡龍繡鳳的旗袍和一堆中西交流的歌譜。在倫敦扎根,跟着法國、意大利、西班牙、葡萄牙等歐洲地區,以及美國等大國打轉,無論去任何地方工作總是自己一個人,那像現代藝人那麼幸運,即使小星也有人陪伴,巨星更是大隊人馬。當年雖說辛苦,但也令我成長,不但學習歌藝,也學曉做人之道,吸收各處良好的文化。不是每個人都有這種機會,所以我很珍惜那段日子。那年代中國人在他鄉生存,因為種族歧視,不平等的待遇到處可見,中國人也只好埋堆在唐人街。雖然我在接觸的圈子中並未受過委屈,但見到同胞受氣,一樣難過。現在聽到強國人在外乞人憎,討人厭時,我也不值他們所為,但就是禁不住心裏頭會有絲絲涼快。我想這也算是報應吧!不過同胞們啊!千萬別再繼續橫行霸道,要自律自愛,才是愛國。優秀民族應由自己開始培養。
當然我也贊成陶傑以“I am from Hong Kong”表態自己,可是現在的香港真有那麼好嗎?我只感覺香港在我的記憶裏越來越陌生了,五十年前我會很驕傲的說“I am Chinese from Hong Kong”。現在嚒?……希望有生之年會再用上“I am from Hong Kong”。

作者:潘迪華 

Thursday 22 August 2013

40 Maps That Will Help You Make Sense of the World

If you’re a visual learner like myself, then you know maps, charts and infographics can really help bring data and information to life. Maps can make a point resonate with readers and this collection aims to do just that.
Hopefully some of these maps will surprise you and you’ll learn something new. A few are important to know, some interpret and display data in a beautiful or creative way, and a few may even make you chuckle or shake your head.
If you enjoy this collection of maps, the Sifter highly recommends the r/MapPorn sub reddit. You should also check out ChartsBin.com. There were also fantastic posts on Business Insider andBored Panda earlier this year that are worth checking out. Enjoy!

1. Where Google Street View is Available

map-of-the-world-where-google-street-view-is-available
Map by Google


2. Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System

map-of-countires-that-use-metric-system-vs-imperial


3. The Only 22 Countries in the World Britain Has Not Invaded (not shown: Sao Tome and Principe)

the-only-countries-britain-has-not-invaded


4. Map of ‘Pangea’ with Current International Borders

map-of-pangea-with-current-internatoinal-borders
Map by eatrio.net via Reddit

Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, forming about 300 million years ago. It began to break apart around 200 million years ago. The single global ocean which surrounded Pangaea is accordingly named Panthalassa.

5. McDonald’s Across the World

map-of-countries-with-mcdonalds


6. Paid Maternal Leave Around the World

 
paid-maternal-leave-by-country


7. The Most Common Surnames in Europe by Country

map-of-most-common-surnames-in-europe


8. Worldwide Driving Orientation by Country

Worldwide_Driving_Orientation_by_Country-(1)
Map by ChartsBin.com


9. Map of Time Zones in Antarctica

Map-of-time-zones-in-Anarctica


10. Global Internet Usage Based on Time of Day

internet-usage-of-the-world-based-on-time-of-day_2
Map by Carna Botnet via Reddit


11. The World’s Busiest Air Routes in 2012

 
top-10-busiest-air-travel-routes-of-2012


12. Visualizing Global Population Density

there-are-more-people-living-inside-this-circle-than-outside-of-it


13. Flag Map of the World

Flag-Map-denmark-puerto


14. Map of Alcohol Consumption Around the World

 
map-of-alocohol-consumption-around-the-world


15. Map of Alcoholic Drink Popularity by Country

 
drink-popularity-by-country


16. Map of Rivers in the Contiguous United States

map-of-united-states-rivers
Map by Nelson Minar


17. US Map of the Highest Paid Public Employees by State

highest-paid-US-public-employees-by-state
Map by Deadspin.com


18. World Map of Earthquakes Since 1898

earthquakes-by-magnitude-since-1898
Map by John M Nelson


19. Map of Where 29,000 Rubber Duckies Made Landfall After Falling off a Cargo Ship in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

where-rubber-ducks-made-landfall-after-being-dumped-in-pacific-ocean


20. Map of Countries with the Most Violations of Bribery

 
bribery-nigeria-is-the-worst


21. World Map of Vegetation on Earth

map-of-vegetation-on-earth
Map by NASA/NOAA


22. Average Age of First Sexual Intercourse by Country

Average_Age_at_first_sex_by_Country-(1)
Map by ChartsBin.com


23. If the World’s Population Lived in One City

the-worlds-population-concentrated


24. The Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants
Around the World

Number_of_Researchers_per_million_inhabitants_by_Country
Map by ChartsBin.com


25. Worldwide Map of Oil Import And Export Flows

worldwide-oil-import-and-export-flows


26. The 7000 Rivers that Feed into the Mississippi River

map-of-rivers-that-feed-into-the-mississippi-river


27. World Map of the Different Writing Systems

map-of-the-writing-systems-of-the-world


28. Worldwide Annual Coffee Consumption Per Capita

Coffee_Consumption-(3)
Map by ChartsBin.com


29. The Economic Center of Gravity Since 1 AD

 
evolution-of-the-earth's-economic-center-of-gravity


30. The World Divided Into 7 Regions,
Each with a Population of 1 Billion

population-of-the-world-split-into-equal-sections-of-one-billion


31. Earth’s Population by Latitude and Longitude

 
the-worlds-population-by-latitue-and-longitude
Photograph by mrgeng on Reddit


32. Map of Contiguous United States
Overlaid on the Moon

map-of-united-states-overlaid-on-the-moon


33. Frequency of Lightning Strikes Throughout the World

 
frequency-of-lightning-strikes-in-the-world


34. Overall Water Risk Around the World

drought-risk-its-not-just-isolated-around-the-equator


35. The Most Dangerous Areas in the World
To Ship Due to Pirates

riskiest-areas-to-ship-where-the-pirates-rule-the-seas
Map by Control Risks


36. Area Codes in Which Ludacris Claims to Have H*es
(song reference)

area-codes-in-which-ludracris-claims-to-have-hoes


37. Where 2% of Australia’s Population Lives

where-2-percent-of-australia-lives


38. The Longest Straight Line You Can Sail on Earth
(Pakistan to Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia – 20000 miles)

the-longest-straight-line-you-can-sail-in-the-world



39. Map of Europe Showing Literal
Chinese Translations for Country Names

literal-map-of-europe-by-chinese-name


40. Reversed Map with Southern Hemisphere at Top of Map (because position of North is arbitrary)

map-of-world-upside-down-south-pole-on-top
Map via nnm.me