來到十月，不少人都懷著興奮的心情迎接萬聖節來臨，香港兩大主題公園一如往年，各自舉行萬聖節特別節目。小記用了兩晚時間，分別去了迪士尼樂園和海洋公園，參與兩個截然不同的Halloween Party。只能說，海洋公園的表現更勝以前，但迪士尼就真的太令人失望了。
海洋公園的「十月全城哈囉喂」已踏入第十年，活動似乎愈做愈好，鬼屋數量多之餘，每年都一定有新的主題故事、佈置和演員，連演員的嚇人方式亦見新意，絕不會把舊元素「翻炒」。除了鬼屋內面，海洋公園也十分注重整體的樂園氣氛，公園大街小巷都有不同造型的「厲鬼」到處遊蕩，還有多個配合萬聖節主題的音樂、舞蹈和話劇表演，整個公園變了個大型派對，節目類型多元化之餘，亦盡顯樂園娛樂大眾的心思，令人耳目一新。
相比之下，迪士尼就遜色不少。今年黑色世界只有兩間鬼屋，分別以酒店和森林為主題，鬼屋佈置尚算可以，內面的演員們也算賣力嚇人。除了鬼屋，也有巡遊表演、街頭舞蹈、與卡通人物合照等活動，節目種類也勉強足夠。看到這裡，你大抵覺得迪士尼的萬聖節活動看上去也還可以，怎樣也不至於令人失望吧！對，它的鬼屋和巡遊等等活動的確有一定娛樂性，但卻有一個致命傷：大部分節目與去年萬聖節活動一樣。是真的完全沒有改變，把上年的東西搬回來再做一次。例如，那間以酒店為主題的鬼屋由入口，以致內部裝飾、路線、鬼角色等等原素都跟去年相同。如果你之前來過，而記憶力又不算太差，大抵都不會感受到任何驚喜。除此之外，連巡遊的花車、演員舞蹈和服飾也是跟去年完全無分別。所以簡單來說，之前已經來過的遊客們，今次只會覺得所有東西都重覆一次，無半點新意。
其實，迪士尼輸不在它的佈置或演員質素，而是誠意。大家都明白，迪士尼對象主要是小朋友，即使辦萬聖節活動，也總不能太過恐怖，以免嚇怕小孩子；而由於樂園面積有限，鬼屋數量較少也是能理解的。之不過，把舊元素直接搬出來再做一次，就絕對令付錢入場的遊客覺得樂園亳無誠意。萬聖節活動一年一次，某些遊客可能去年來過，覺得活動不錯，所以今年再來，但十二個月時間不算太長，舊客對上年的活動記憶猶新，這次來到看到相同的東西，只會覺得浪費金錢，來年亦恐怕無興趣再來。反正都要付錢，與其重溫一次舊年看過的東西，倒不如到另一個樂園體驗全新的活動！
迪士尼樂園若想與本地的海洋公園平分秋色，必須花多點心思去設計節日活動。某程度上，迪士尼今次是自己不爭氣了。人家海洋公園只是個本地樂園，也肯每年搞搞新意思，換換主題；迪士尼是個國際主題樂園，論財力論經驗應該不比海洋公園差，但卻為何敷衍了事呢？非不能也，實不為也。是否知道海洋公園的「哈囉喂」節目十分受歡迎，所以自動棄權，不打算競爭？其實兩個公園對象不同，迪士尼大可行另一條路線，用家喻戶曉的經典卡通人物搞個可愛有趣的萬聖派對，效果可能更好。現在迪士尼那些想賣恐怖，但又不算十分驚嚇的鬼屋跟原本可愛有趣的卡通主題根本格格不入，兩者似乎有點矛盾。想來看卡通人物的遊客覺得童話元素不夠，追求刺激的遊客又或許覺得鬼屋驚嚇度遠比不上海洋公園。與其搞得「兩頭唔到岸」，何不專心做好自己老本行，來個適合一家大小的歡樂卡通萬聖節目？香港人喜歡娛樂，亦負擔得起，香港絕對能容下兩個主題公園。但若連一個萬聖節活動都不肯花心思去辦好，他日上海迪士尼樂園落成，香港迪士尼的經營恐怕會面對更大威脅。希望香港迪士尼樂園能早日認清自己的定位，在將來的節日活動中奉上更多誠意和新意，不要再令花真金白銀入場的遊客失望。
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Top 10 Reasons Why Girls Love Edward Cullen
~ Top 10 Reasons Why Girls Love Edward Cullen ~
1. He's a vampire who doesn't bite. Having him as a boyfriend is like keeping the rarest pet on the planet.
2. He reads mind. That makes him the best tool for you to identify genuine friends and bitches among all the people around you.
3. He's super rich, and will happily buy you anything, from a race car to a place at a university like Dartmouth.
4. He's got a psychic sister. Befriend her and ask her about the stock market trend. You'll soon become the next Bill Gates (female version, of course).
5. He runs very fast and doesn't mind carrying a girlfriend on his back. That saves you a lot of traveling time and expenditure.
6. He doesn't sleep. You'll never feel helpless or alone when you wake up from a nightmare and want somebody to talk to 3A.M. in the morning.
7. He's 109 years old. Mature enough to help you handle any problems that you haven't experienced yet. Can probably help you get an A in History exams.
8. He's unbelievably handsome. Has "God-like features", as described by Bella Swan. And the best thing is, his face stays like this forever. You can enjoy the same beautiful face every single day of forever.
9. He's bizarrely moral (for a vampire). Refuses to change you into a vampire as he doesn't want you to become a "soulless monster" like him. Cares about your virginity even more than you do. Extremely loyal and faithful. Ready to marry you and stay with you forever (literally, as he's immortal).
10. He makes you realize that there's no such perfect creature like him in the human world. Wake up and face the reality. You should be really thankful if your human boyfriend has any of the above qualities.
1. He's a vampire who doesn't bite. Having him as a boyfriend is like keeping the rarest pet on the planet.
2. He reads mind. That makes him the best tool for you to identify genuine friends and bitches among all the people around you.
3. He's super rich, and will happily buy you anything, from a race car to a place at a university like Dartmouth.
4. He's got a psychic sister. Befriend her and ask her about the stock market trend. You'll soon become the next Bill Gates (female version, of course).
5. He runs very fast and doesn't mind carrying a girlfriend on his back. That saves you a lot of traveling time and expenditure.
6. He doesn't sleep. You'll never feel helpless or alone when you wake up from a nightmare and want somebody to talk to 3A.M. in the morning.
7. He's 109 years old. Mature enough to help you handle any problems that you haven't experienced yet. Can probably help you get an A in History exams.
8. He's unbelievably handsome. Has "God-like features", as described by Bella Swan. And the best thing is, his face stays like this forever. You can enjoy the same beautiful face every single day of forever.
9. He's bizarrely moral (for a vampire). Refuses to change you into a vampire as he doesn't want you to become a "soulless monster" like him. Cares about your virginity even more than you do. Extremely loyal and faithful. Ready to marry you and stay with you forever (literally, as he's immortal).
10. He makes you realize that there's no such perfect creature like him in the human world. Wake up and face the reality. You should be really thankful if your human boyfriend has any of the above qualities.
Friday, September 10, 2010
我不是iPhone! 但我也有Multi-tasking功能!
今時今日的智能電話功能多多，能發電郵、無線上網、玩遊戲、聽音樂、看電影、拍高清影片......而近來蘋果推出的iPhone 4，又標榜「multi-tasking」的功能, 即同一時間處理不同任務。「Multi-tasking」在智能電話市場上並非新玩意，只是蘋果推介的功能總會特別引人注目。看到這些產品報導，我忽發奇想，其實我們香港人又何嘗不是善於multi-tasking的「智能人」呢?
在香港，生活節奏急速，「得閒死唔得閒病」這句說話就充分反映出時間有多珍貴。在這環境下，我們人人都間接被訓練成multi-tasker了!
做學生，要懂得multi-tasking。雖說求學不是求分數，但要入大學，要有好前途，仍是要靠一張成績表。為了在公開試中取得佳績，不少學生除了上學，放學後還補讀多個補習班，每月給補習名師奉獻好幾百元，就是要取得「雞精Notes」，全力催谷成績。不過，這樣還未夠! 因為求學並不只是求分數，而是要求學生有豐富的生活經驗。為了令學生紀錄表上的「課外學習」一欄更加精采，學生在課餘時間還要參與各種課外活動，務求做到琴棋書畫樣樣皆精，而最終目標，當然是成為個文武兼備的高材生，爭取一個大學學位(最好當然是「名牌大學」了)，完成爹娘心願，光宗耀祖。除了以上的「正經事」，求學時期的青少年都處於青春期，對愛情充滿好奇心和憧憬，在數年求學生涯中，情情愛愛的小插曲通常都少不了。又要顧好成績，又要發掘讀書以外的個人潛能，緣份來到時更要上寶貴的愛情第一課，以上種種加起來，學生不懂multi-tasking又怎能應付?
做打工仔，更加要學曉multi-tasking。要有升職機會、要爭取更高人工，當然要出盡己力「做好呢份工」。但這通常都是說易行難，每日面對一堆又一堆的沉悶至極的工作，人的隋性便會開始誘惑你去找機會「蛇王」。老闆一走開，大家便以九秒九的速度收起電腦屏幕上的Microsoft Office工具，取而代之的當然是Facebook、MSN等版面了!一邊工作，一邊娛樂，相信也是multi-tasking的一種吧!除此之外，在爾虞我詐的社會工作，實在要一心幾用，除了做好本份，還要一眼關七，提防身邊小人，以防墮入現實版的「宮心計」!下班後，雖然暫時擺脫了工作負擔，但仍要花精神與家人維繫感情、花時間溝通溝通，處理各項家族大小事務。俱俱一個打工仔，身上的職務卻往往比職銜大得多，在這種環境下仍能生存至今的打工仔們，不是multi-tasking達人又是什麼呢?
在香港，連家庭主婦都是一等一的multi-tasker!何以見得?因為她們每日要處理的事務，可能比學生或打工仔更多!作為家庭主婦，做家務是例行動作。千萬別小看「做家務」這職責!即使是煮一頓飯，也需要經過精心計劃才能成功。這頓飯疏菜和肉的比例平衡嗎?太多肉又不健康，只有疏菜小朋友又未必喜歡。菜式夠新穎嗎?如果前兩天已煮過，家人大抵會吃厭吧!好了，想好菜式，下一步又要考慮怎樣煮。只得兩個爐，如何煮才能在同一時間完成幾道餸菜呢?這鑊用來蒸魚，便不能炒菜了。那大煲用了來煲湯，那如何炆牛腩呢?以上一切一切，都是準備飯菜的人要考慮的事，而不少主婦們在買材料前還要精心計算支出，要以最低價錢買到最好的食材，這就叫精打細算了!單單煮一頓飯都要花這麼多心機，你可以想想所有家務加起來有多難應付!現今很多家庭主婦實在知識淵博，有些在閒時精心研究股市，孖展藍籌皆有鑽研，投資心得拍得住電視上的股市專家；有些則為了協助子女讀書，自己也讀起來，中英數常各種科目也略讀一二，是名副其實的「通識」－「通通都識」。每天要完成這麼多不同性質的任務，仍能把整個家打理得井井有條、照顧好每一個家人的家庭主婦們，multi-tasking的能力相信比iPhone 4還要厲害!
在香港生存的你，不論是學生、打工仔、家庭主婦，或是屬於其他界別，想必都有一定程度的multi-tasking能力！Multi-tasking的確是我們香港人的強項，令我們工作起來又有質素又有效率。但各位multi-taskers也要好好注意身體健康啊，長時期無休止地處理事務，再先進的智能電話也會無電，何況我們只是血肉之驅?每天花一點點時間放低所有工作，放鬆一下，為自己叉好電，明天再繼續做「智能人」吧!
在香港，生活節奏急速，「得閒死唔得閒病」這句說話就充分反映出時間有多珍貴。在這環境下，我們人人都間接被訓練成multi-tasker了!
做學生，要懂得multi-tasking。雖說求學不是求分數，但要入大學，要有好前途，仍是要靠一張成績表。為了在公開試中取得佳績，不少學生除了上學，放學後還補讀多個補習班，每月給補習名師奉獻好幾百元，就是要取得「雞精Notes」，全力催谷成績。不過，這樣還未夠! 因為求學並不只是求分數，而是要求學生有豐富的生活經驗。為了令學生紀錄表上的「課外學習」一欄更加精采，學生在課餘時間還要參與各種課外活動，務求做到琴棋書畫樣樣皆精，而最終目標，當然是成為個文武兼備的高材生，爭取一個大學學位(最好當然是「名牌大學」了)，完成爹娘心願，光宗耀祖。除了以上的「正經事」，求學時期的青少年都處於青春期，對愛情充滿好奇心和憧憬，在數年求學生涯中，情情愛愛的小插曲通常都少不了。又要顧好成績，又要發掘讀書以外的個人潛能，緣份來到時更要上寶貴的愛情第一課，以上種種加起來，學生不懂multi-tasking又怎能應付?
做打工仔，更加要學曉multi-tasking。要有升職機會、要爭取更高人工，當然要出盡己力「做好呢份工」。但這通常都是說易行難，每日面對一堆又一堆的沉悶至極的工作，人的隋性便會開始誘惑你去找機會「蛇王」。老闆一走開，大家便以九秒九的速度收起電腦屏幕上的Microsoft Office工具，取而代之的當然是Facebook、MSN等版面了!一邊工作，一邊娛樂，相信也是multi-tasking的一種吧!除此之外，在爾虞我詐的社會工作，實在要一心幾用，除了做好本份，還要一眼關七，提防身邊小人，以防墮入現實版的「宮心計」!下班後，雖然暫時擺脫了工作負擔，但仍要花精神與家人維繫感情、花時間溝通溝通，處理各項家族大小事務。俱俱一個打工仔，身上的職務卻往往比職銜大得多，在這種環境下仍能生存至今的打工仔們，不是multi-tasking達人又是什麼呢?
在香港，連家庭主婦都是一等一的multi-tasker!何以見得?因為她們每日要處理的事務，可能比學生或打工仔更多!作為家庭主婦，做家務是例行動作。千萬別小看「做家務」這職責!即使是煮一頓飯，也需要經過精心計劃才能成功。這頓飯疏菜和肉的比例平衡嗎?太多肉又不健康，只有疏菜小朋友又未必喜歡。菜式夠新穎嗎?如果前兩天已煮過，家人大抵會吃厭吧!好了，想好菜式，下一步又要考慮怎樣煮。只得兩個爐，如何煮才能在同一時間完成幾道餸菜呢?這鑊用來蒸魚，便不能炒菜了。那大煲用了來煲湯，那如何炆牛腩呢?以上一切一切，都是準備飯菜的人要考慮的事，而不少主婦們在買材料前還要精心計算支出，要以最低價錢買到最好的食材，這就叫精打細算了!單單煮一頓飯都要花這麼多心機，你可以想想所有家務加起來有多難應付!現今很多家庭主婦實在知識淵博，有些在閒時精心研究股市，孖展藍籌皆有鑽研，投資心得拍得住電視上的股市專家；有些則為了協助子女讀書，自己也讀起來，中英數常各種科目也略讀一二，是名副其實的「通識」－「通通都識」。每天要完成這麼多不同性質的任務，仍能把整個家打理得井井有條、照顧好每一個家人的家庭主婦們，multi-tasking的能力相信比iPhone 4還要厲害!
在香港生存的你，不論是學生、打工仔、家庭主婦，或是屬於其他界別，想必都有一定程度的multi-tasking能力！Multi-tasking的確是我們香港人的強項，令我們工作起來又有質素又有效率。但各位multi-taskers也要好好注意身體健康啊，長時期無休止地處理事務，再先進的智能電話也會無電，何況我們只是血肉之驅?每天花一點點時間放低所有工作，放鬆一下，為自己叉好電，明天再繼續做「智能人」吧!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Notable YouTube Channels
Youtube is a place where people can develop and share their creativity with the whole world by posting interesting videos to the site. Ordinary people get a chance to be famous by doing this and internet celebrities emerge. Some big corporations also make use of this platform to broadcast their news or online shows. Here are some interesting Youtube channels.
WhatTheBuckShow
Michael Buckley talks about hot topics in the entertainment industry, often making parodies of celebrities and pop cultures like TV shows, movies and pop stars etc. Apart from the amusing content of the show itself, his high-energy and fast-talking presentation style also grabs the viewers' attention. The channel now has more than 920, 000 subscribers.
NQTV
Remi Gaillard became famous among French media for playing a series of hilarious pranks on random targets, from innocent passer-by to policemen. He often disguises himself as cartoon characters or animals by wearing costumes. Remi played lots of different characters in his videos, like Super Mario, Pac Man, chef, beaver, butterfly, snail, astronaut and more. I wonder how many times has he been caught by the police?
Mondo Mini Shows
Mondo Mini Shows broadcasts the popular flash cartoon series Happy Tree Friends. Despite its childish title and cute appearances of the animal characters, the content of the cartoon is in fact very violent, often showing bloodsheds and scenes in which the characters are killed in a cruel and painful way.
Will It Blend?
This channel is actually a marketing campaign by Blendtec, a company that sells home blenders. Tom Dickson, the CEO of the company, demonstrate the powerful blending abilities of their products by putting non-food stuff into the machine. He has already successfully destroyed a Nike shoe, a baseball, an iPad, several iPhones, a glow stick, a Wii remote and loads of other products which are not supposed to blend.
WhatTheBuckShow
Michael Buckley talks about hot topics in the entertainment industry, often making parodies of celebrities and pop cultures like TV shows, movies and pop stars etc. Apart from the amusing content of the show itself, his high-energy and fast-talking presentation style also grabs the viewers' attention. The channel now has more than 920, 000 subscribers.
NQTV
Remi Gaillard became famous among French media for playing a series of hilarious pranks on random targets, from innocent passer-by to policemen. He often disguises himself as cartoon characters or animals by wearing costumes. Remi played lots of different characters in his videos, like Super Mario, Pac Man, chef, beaver, butterfly, snail, astronaut and more. I wonder how many times has he been caught by the police?
Mondo Mini Shows
Mondo Mini Shows broadcasts the popular flash cartoon series Happy Tree Friends. Despite its childish title and cute appearances of the animal characters, the content of the cartoon is in fact very violent, often showing bloodsheds and scenes in which the characters are killed in a cruel and painful way.
Will It Blend?
This channel is actually a marketing campaign by Blendtec, a company that sells home blenders. Tom Dickson, the CEO of the company, demonstrate the powerful blending abilities of their products by putting non-food stuff into the machine. He has already successfully destroyed a Nike shoe, a baseball, an iPad, several iPhones, a glow stick, a Wii remote and loads of other products which are not supposed to blend.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
可悲的態度
「2010年8月23日」，相信在很多香港人心中都會成為一個悲痛的日子。一個在菲律賓的康泰旅行團在離開黎剎紀念公園時，被一名持有M16步槍的前菲律賓警員上車挾持，旅遊車上的團友都成為人質。事件擾攘十一小時，最終流血收場，八名港人被殺。
對於菲警拙劣的表現，甚至拯救行動中誤殺港人的傳聞和討論，相信大家已接觸不少，亦有很多專家作過討論，在此暫且不談。我反倒想說說自己對以下人士的行為的感覺。
首先，菲律賓總統阿奎諾三世對整件事的態度，實在令人氣憤。當本港政府得悉挾持事件，曾特首已多次主動聯絡菲總統，希望確保香港人質的安全，但菲總統卻未有即時回覆。發生這樣一件關乎人命的大事，香港最高領導人已親自打電話聯絡，菲總統卻愛理不理，沒有作出回應，這是一位總統應有的表現嗎? 事件最終變成悲劇，當大家都期望菲總統會嚴肅地作出一個合理的回應時，他卻笑容滿臉地出來回見傳媒，把責任推卸到「傳媒進行直播」上，又拿俄羅斯歌劇院人質挾持事件來比較，暗示今次死傷已不算嚴重，並以輕鬆的語氣笑著說:「沒有人能保證一定可以救出人質」。總統先生，請問您笑什麼? 笑這次只是死了八個人，而非全團喪生? 還是覺得大家小題大造，過分緊張? 很明顯是次悲劇本可避免。 槍手既不是瘋狂殺人犯也不是恐怖組織，只是一個對政府有訴求的前警員，他本身亦無意要殺害人質。是菲警拯救行動連番出錯、不停刺激槍手，才會把原本可解決的事件釀成慘劇。總統在記者會上是否當著全世界的面把責任一笑置之? 即使慘劇與政府無關，作為一個正常人，也絕對無理由笑笑口地回應關於死亡的嚴肅話題吧。
除了菲律賓總統，部分菲律賓國民的態度亦令人側目。在報紙或網絡中都流傳一些當地人士在涉事康泰旅遊巴士前拍攝的合照。令人感到不解的是，相中人都並非神色哀傷，反而是開開心心笑著拍照，把案發現場當成旅遊景點一樣。他們有想過對死者及所有港人的尊重嗎? 發生一件奪去八人性命的悲劇，難道這些人都沒有同情心? 難免為他們感到可悲。這些人根本沒有情感、不明白性命的可貴、不懂珍惜和尊重生命。
此文章並非指所有菲律賓人都是這樣無情冷血，我相信不少菲律賓國民(包括在港工作的人)都與港人一樣為事件感到痛心。只是，某些人的態度和表現實在令人覺得他們沒什麼人性可言。如果面對這樣一件流血慘劇仍可若無其事地笑出來，便是沒有人類應有的情感，你說可不可悲?
在此，希望所有遇難的靈魂早日安息。康泰領隊謝先生，感謝您英勇、專業的表現，您是位英雄，港人以您為榮。一路好走。
最後，希望死裡逃生的傷者早日康復，走出陰霾，並祝願死傷者的家屬及朋友能度過難關，勇敢生存下去。本人在此送上最深切的祝福。
對於菲警拙劣的表現，甚至拯救行動中誤殺港人的傳聞和討論，相信大家已接觸不少，亦有很多專家作過討論，在此暫且不談。我反倒想說說自己對以下人士的行為的感覺。
首先，菲律賓總統阿奎諾三世對整件事的態度，實在令人氣憤。當本港政府得悉挾持事件，曾特首已多次主動聯絡菲總統，希望確保香港人質的安全，但菲總統卻未有即時回覆。發生這樣一件關乎人命的大事，香港最高領導人已親自打電話聯絡，菲總統卻愛理不理，沒有作出回應，這是一位總統應有的表現嗎? 事件最終變成悲劇，當大家都期望菲總統會嚴肅地作出一個合理的回應時，他卻笑容滿臉地出來回見傳媒，把責任推卸到「傳媒進行直播」上，又拿俄羅斯歌劇院人質挾持事件來比較，暗示今次死傷已不算嚴重，並以輕鬆的語氣笑著說:「沒有人能保證一定可以救出人質」。總統先生，請問您笑什麼? 笑這次只是死了八個人，而非全團喪生? 還是覺得大家小題大造，過分緊張? 很明顯是次悲劇本可避免。 槍手既不是瘋狂殺人犯也不是恐怖組織，只是一個對政府有訴求的前警員，他本身亦無意要殺害人質。是菲警拯救行動連番出錯、不停刺激槍手，才會把原本可解決的事件釀成慘劇。總統在記者會上是否當著全世界的面把責任一笑置之? 即使慘劇與政府無關，作為一個正常人，也絕對無理由笑笑口地回應關於死亡的嚴肅話題吧。
除了菲律賓總統，部分菲律賓國民的態度亦令人側目。在報紙或網絡中都流傳一些當地人士在涉事康泰旅遊巴士前拍攝的合照。令人感到不解的是，相中人都並非神色哀傷，反而是開開心心笑著拍照，把案發現場當成旅遊景點一樣。他們有想過對死者及所有港人的尊重嗎? 發生一件奪去八人性命的悲劇，難道這些人都沒有同情心? 難免為他們感到可悲。這些人根本沒有情感、不明白性命的可貴、不懂珍惜和尊重生命。
此文章並非指所有菲律賓人都是這樣無情冷血，我相信不少菲律賓國民(包括在港工作的人)都與港人一樣為事件感到痛心。只是，某些人的態度和表現實在令人覺得他們沒什麼人性可言。如果面對這樣一件流血慘劇仍可若無其事地笑出來，便是沒有人類應有的情感，你說可不可悲?
在此，希望所有遇難的靈魂早日安息。康泰領隊謝先生，感謝您英勇、專業的表現，您是位英雄，港人以您為榮。一路好走。
最後，希望死裡逃生的傷者早日康復，走出陰霾，並祝願死傷者的家屬及朋友能度過難關，勇敢生存下去。本人在此送上最深切的祝福。
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Bullfighting - A Barbaric Sport In A Civilized World
BBC News - Rampaging Bull Injures 40 in Spanish Arena
40 people were injured when a bull suddenly jumped out of the arena and leaped into a crowd of Spanish spectators. The bull was taken under control after running wild on the stands for several minutes and was later killed. The accident brings up the controversy about bullfighting again.
Some believe that bullfighting is a valuable cultural tradition that shouldn't be banned. Bullfighting was developed more than two hundred years ago and it indeed has a very long history. However, in the civilized world of the 21st Century where we can have almost every entertainment we want, is it still necessary to keep such a tradition that takes away the lives of innocent animals to please ourselves?
According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, around 250,000 bulls were killed in the rings every year. That means 250,000 innocent bulls were stabbed by the lance and tortured to death while the excited spectators applause for the brave matador's glorious victory. Is this a kind of sports that we "civilized" humans should appreciate? Some may say the deaths of those bulls are nothing compared to the deaths of commercial cattle for our consumption. That might be true, but at least cattle in commercial farms won't need to endure unnecessary pain before dying, and there won't be a pack of excited crowd cheering for their deaths. Moreover, even if the situation of animal welfare is just as worse in commercial farms, does that give us a justified reason to keep this kind of cruel sport running?
The accident shows that bullfighting doesn't only cause problems in the aspect of animal welfare, but also endanger the spectators' safety. So why continue this kind of entertainment? Do we really have to see somebody risking his life to combat with a raged animal or a wild animal being slaughtered to be satisfied? All living things created by Mother Nature are equal and no intelligence or technology can put us in a higher position than the rest of other lives. We don't have the right to torture innocent animals to death just for our own pleasure. This is brutal and barbaric. "Civilized" humans, let's all stop this kind of selfish act and learn to respect lives.
40 people were injured when a bull suddenly jumped out of the arena and leaped into a crowd of Spanish spectators. The bull was taken under control after running wild on the stands for several minutes and was later killed. The accident brings up the controversy about bullfighting again.
Some believe that bullfighting is a valuable cultural tradition that shouldn't be banned. Bullfighting was developed more than two hundred years ago and it indeed has a very long history. However, in the civilized world of the 21st Century where we can have almost every entertainment we want, is it still necessary to keep such a tradition that takes away the lives of innocent animals to please ourselves?
According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, around 250,000 bulls were killed in the rings every year. That means 250,000 innocent bulls were stabbed by the lance and tortured to death while the excited spectators applause for the brave matador's glorious victory. Is this a kind of sports that we "civilized" humans should appreciate? Some may say the deaths of those bulls are nothing compared to the deaths of commercial cattle for our consumption. That might be true, but at least cattle in commercial farms won't need to endure unnecessary pain before dying, and there won't be a pack of excited crowd cheering for their deaths. Moreover, even if the situation of animal welfare is just as worse in commercial farms, does that give us a justified reason to keep this kind of cruel sport running?
The accident shows that bullfighting doesn't only cause problems in the aspect of animal welfare, but also endanger the spectators' safety. So why continue this kind of entertainment? Do we really have to see somebody risking his life to combat with a raged animal or a wild animal being slaughtered to be satisfied? All living things created by Mother Nature are equal and no intelligence or technology can put us in a higher position than the rest of other lives. We don't have the right to torture innocent animals to death just for our own pleasure. This is brutal and barbaric. "Civilized" humans, let's all stop this kind of selfish act and learn to respect lives.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Nothing was ever accomplished with tears?
Alice in Wonderland中, 毛毛蟲對Alice說過一句: Nothing was ever accomplished with tears.
的確, 面對問題時, 眼淚通常幫不上忙.
但是否沒有實際幫助便不可做?
流眼淚, 某程度上是給予自己一個發洩情感的空間.
你可以選擇禁示自己哭, 但你能保證那些淚不會在心裡流嗎?
為何不可哭? 不想接受自己也有脆弱的一面這個事實? 還是怕其他人會看低自己?
哭其實也可以是勇敢的表現啊.
去承認自己心靈也有脆弱的時候, 難道不需要勇氣?
去放低每天戴著的面具, 給自己幾分鐘, 真真正正做一隻有感覺, 有情感的動物, 也不是人人做得到.
流淚時, 我們才能接觸到心中最真的感覺呢... (有心裝哭搏同情的當然另作別論了)
流過淚, 釋放了一直被壓抑的情緒, 才有力氣繼續走前面的路.
Nothing was ever accomplished with tears. 可能吧. 但 without tears, can you be tough enough to live through all the ups and downs in life and accomplish anything at all?
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