阿傑故事很秋天
有18,497位球迷入場觀賽的歐洲盃賽，必定讓英格蘭倫敦溫布利球場熱鬧沸騰起來。英格蘭在主要盃賽常常首仗不勝，這次也有球迷擔心會不會歷史重演。
英格蘭教練索斯蓋特篩選出征的球員都交足了功課，下半場開場不久，效力曼市的前鋒拉希姆史特靈(Raheem Sterling)攻破克羅地亞球門，為英格蘭一舉賺進三分。牙買加出生、五歲隨父母移居倫敦的拉希姆史特靈幼時就嶄露天賦，女王公園巡遊者(Queens Park Rangers)簽下他，後來16歲時利物浦招攬他入讀足球學校，他於是慢慢在球會和國家對的青年賽、成人賽中打出名堂。2015年轉會至曼市，近來表現算是有些陷入低潮期的跡象，但是教練依然選擇讓他首發上場征戰。 Continue reading “英格蘭：打響首砲 穩步向前”
Having waited for several months, I received my first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine on May 31. Several months ago, the Malaysian government opened up AstraZeneca for voluntary take-up due to the public’s health concerns. I registered immediately as I knew the chance of developing blood clot is four in one million and I saw the situation in UK started to see a recovery. And I received one of the 260,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine made available for Malaysian citizens, who took up all doses within several hours.
Perhaps I made it a habit since university days to always look at what is going on in overseas, I have always been very confident in English countries such as UK and US. I did not hesitate at all when I was registering for first round of AstraZeneca rollout, because I think that we have nothing to trust, if we don’t even trust UK vaccine. To put it simply, UK and Australia administer AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines for their citizens and both countries have opened matches for on-site viewers. In view of such progress, other countries need not wait anymore.
For the sake of a smooth vaccination, I increased protein and calcium intake one week before my vaccine appointment. And thankfully, I felt pretty mild tiredness and muscle stiffness and I recovered after taking some rest for two days. Continue reading “期望暴雨飄去 便會衝破命運困鎖 Until the storm is gone, we shall shrug off the shackles of destiny”
早前有十二支歐洲球會醞釀籌組「歐洲超級聯賽」，目標就是讓各國的豪門脫離各自國家的聯賽而自立門戶，也就是祇跟自以為豪門的球會玩。
當時輿論普遍反對，並且認為這將摧毀足球運動。以前在本地聯賽表現出色，可能聯賽排名前幾名、奪得盃賽冠軍，這些球隊就可以晉級歐洲級別的聯賽，也就是各球隊有誘因想要在每一季奮鬥做到最好。
若籌組超級聯賽，那些自以為豪門的球隊在國內聯賽就不需要奮鬥了，反正自己每年都參與在那個很多球星的聯賽之中。我最不明白就是，阿森納、托登罕熱刺這一季英超排名在萊斯特市、西罕之後，又憑什麼認為自己擁有豪門球會的永久會籍呢？ Continue reading “自以為永遠是豪門之荒謬”
隨著英美和以色列逐步解封，英格蘭的足球聯賽和美國職業籃球聯賽也可以開放觀眾入場了，我心裏其實愈來愈相信各個經濟體解封是指日可待的事。
這股信心其實來自兩個原因：
第一，英美疫苗施打率相當可觀，中國施打疫苗人數也有增加，星馬地區的疫苗接種人數也是開始增加。目前西方國家正在研究交叉施打疫苗的效果，globalnews.ca報導是效果不錯而且後遺症不算嚴重。若第一劑是阿斯利康、第二劑是輝瑞，或者施打兩劑疫苗的民眾可以在接種第三針的時候補上另一個品牌的疫苗來加強保護力，擁有新冠肺炎的更強抗體的人數持續增加，整個經濟運作的環境就愈安全。 Continue reading “全面解封之妙想天開 Thinking out loud about relaxing restrictions”
The Covid pandemic seems to rage fiercely in recent two weeks. Territories in Asia saw a spike in new Covid cases, and many of the patients are asymptomatic. Even patients who had been inoculated also fell ill.
Many are asking whether there still is a need to get ourselves inoculated, since one will still be infected. And the answer is yes. Why? Simply because vaccination helps us avoid falling seriously ill, and one’s infectivity can be reduced significantly when infected.
Put it this way. Even after inoculation we still wear a mask, we still practice personal hygiene by washing hands with soap and water. When there are big events such as concert and football match, the health authorities check audiences’ vaccination record and rapid test result at the entrance.
Continue reading “目標大概是感冒化 A normal cold is probably the target”
對於伍佰歌迷來說，China Blue 樂團既熟悉又有一些距離，因為他們的訪談並不多，伍佰作為主音歌手常常單槍匹馬接受多數的電台電視台訪問，而其他三位團員一直都是戴著墨鏡扮演著永遠酷炫的樂手。
對China Blue 樂團的印象，就我個人來說，就是覺得他們演出水準一直非常穩定，尤其是鍵盤手大貓和貝斯手小朱。我們這些有福的樂迷，可能真的是被大貓寵壞了，在疫情以前的世界裡每當我在外面看到樂團有鍵盤手，我聽過之後通常都會在心裡想著「這個鍵盤音色的設定搭配其他樂器好像怪怪地」的感覺。然後回到家裡就會重溫伍佰演唱會，大貓老師優遊自在的鍵盤彈奏如行雲流水，那個暢快感是其他鍵盤手很難模仿的技巧。
團長小朱老師的貝斯非常穩健，我印象中的伍佰大型演唱會中，他和大貓看起來很少彈錯，不小心高了或低了半個音階我是無法確定，畢竟我不是一聽音樂就會馬上抓歌的人。身為臺灣音樂文化國際交流協會理事長，他非常照顧後輩樂手，是大家眼中的樂手長輩，真的很敬佩他的熱心與努力。 Continue reading “原來China Blue 樂團這麼健談 Fun talk by China Blue”
一直以來都很想問牙醫：到底牙齒可否用上一生一世？有沒有人終其一生都不需要鑲假牙？祇是早晚刷牙是否足以保護牙齒一生都不會蛀掉？
抱著這些疑問過生活的這些年來，我祇是靠牙線剔除幾顆大牙縫隙之間的食物殘渣、早晚刷牙來維持牙齒衛生。說穿了，我對保持牙齒衛生祇是一知半解，心底比較多的想法可能是期盼自己運氣夠好，希望這些工夫加減做了一些就可以換來一生不需要換假牙。
但是現實總是非常殘酷：這個世界從來沒有白吃的午餐，也沒有什麼東西從天而降而不需要付出代價。哪怕使用牙線從表面上看起來似乎是多麼微不足道，實際上還真的有些學問，看過Dr. Grace這支影片就知道了。 Continue reading “好牙齒原來可以維持一生一世 Lifelong teeth care”
This episode of Sharon Cheung’s talk concluded my viewpoints. I always remember my discussion with two closer friends that nobody decides another person’s destiny, and that everything starts from our thoughts. It is the thoughts that determine our personality and action, which then lead to a choice, while the quality of our choices determines our direction. And action after a decision is made, will determine the outcome.
For example, if you opt not to have light lunch but keep thinking about having fast food, the likely outcome would be the risk of overweight to be borne by you subsequently. Your choice determines the outcome; it is not destiny or your god that determines if you might gain weight. Or, you are always praying for wealth and a lottery strike for handsome prize money, in real life you are reluctant to learn how to spend thriftily and save money, learn new skills to make sure you are still able to earn a living. If these are your choices, the poverty that entails is the outcome of your choice. This is a consequence of your action prior. Continue reading “自律與態度決定高度 沒有天註定這麼一回事 No such thing as destiny: Self-discipline and attitude decide your outcome”
綽號「狐狸」的萊斯特城足球俱樂部這一仗非常重要，因為若打了一場勝仗，就可以鞏固英超榜上第三位的位置。對紅軍利物浦而言，這一仗一定要勝出，以便保住那一絲絲衛冕冠軍的希望。祇是，巴西門將阿里森失誤連連，教人看得啼笑皆非。天啊，上一季的冠軍隊伍的後防到了這一季竟然這般凌亂鬆散、錯誤百出，實在是很難相信。
難怪德國籍教頭克洛普承認，英超冠軍是已經衛冕不了，眼前祇能打一仗算一仗，因為接下來還要應付同城死敵艾佛頓。估計克洛普還不敢完全信任青年隊的後衛直接升上成人隊，畢竟重塑英超隊伍的後防絕對是不能夠輕舉妄動的事情。 Continue reading “萊斯特城：連轟三球 紅軍夢碎”
I have been working as a freelancer for many years. At the start I had no contacts, nor did I register a company. And later on I registered my own company and things started to pick up. There are routines you have to take to maintain your company, such as submitting accounting reports and filing for tax payment, and you need sufficient amount in your bank to keep your current account up and running.
While other freelancers find these routines to be troublesome, I see them as a must to keep my business on track. And there are many advantages too.
Firstly, you will have a systemic way of issuing quotations and invoices. How many invoices you have issued this month, and how much money you are expecting to receive this month and next – all in all, you will have a clear picture.
Some companies accept invoices issued by individual freelancers, but many prefer to work with suppliers which have company status. Stricter client companies only work with private limited or limited companies. If you don’t register your own company, sooner or later your personal invoice is likely to be rejected by bigger companies who mean business. Continue reading “Freelancer should register own company 自由工作者應該註冊個人公司”