The letters from no one

trip: to catch the foot against something so as to stumble

stumble: to walk unsteadily or clumsily

parade: to cause to maneuver or march

maneuver: a military or naval movement

maroon: a dark red

knickerbockers: knickers: loose-fitting short pants gathered at the knee

knobbly: having very small knobs

gruffly (gruff): being deep and harsh

rags: clothes usually in poor or ragged condition

snap: to utter sharp biting words

utter: carried to the utmost point or highest degree

poke: hit, punch

twang: to throb or twitch with pain or tension

throb: to beat or vibrate rhythmically

twitch: to move jerkily

parchment: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

emerald: a rich green variety of beryl prized as a gemstone

gemstone: a mineral or petrified material that when cut and polished can be used in jewelry

petrify: to convert (organic matter) into stone or a substance of stony hardness by the infiltration of water and the deposition of dissolved mineral matter

badger: any of various burrowing mammals

burrow: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal for shelter and habitation

chuckle: to laugh inwardly or quietly

rip: to tear or split apart or open

snort: to force air violently through the nose with a rough harsh sound

whelk: any of numerous large marine snails

snatch: to attempt to seize something suddenly

sneer: to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt

contort: to twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression

scorn: open dislike and disrespect or mockery often mixed with indignation

indignation: anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean

contempt: lack of respect or reverence for something

reverence: honor or respect felt or shown

glance: to take a quick look at something

porridge: a soft food made by boiling meal of grains or legumes in milk or water until thick

gasp: to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)

grab: to take or seize by or as if by a sudden motion or grasp

grasp: to make the motion of seizing

clutch: to grasp or hold with or as if with the hand or claws usually strongly, tightly, or suddenly

furious: exhibiting or goaded by anger

goad: to incite or rouse as if with a goad

incite: to move to action

rouse: to arouse from or as if from sleep or repose

croak: to make a deep harsh sound

stuff: to fill by packing things in

scruff: the back of the neck

slam: to shut forcibly and noisily

mutter: to utter sounds or words indistinctly or with a low voice and with the lips partly closed

stamp out: to stop or destroy (something bad)

cine: motion picture

swap: to give in trade

bawl: to cry out loudly and unrestrainedly

whack: to strike with a smart or resounding blow

strangle: to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (such as a hand or rope)

wrestle: to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance

wheeze: to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound

creep: to move along with the body prone and close to the ground

tread: to step or walk on or over

squashy: softly wet

miserable: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness

nail: to fasten with or as if with a nail

hum: to utter a sound like that of the speech sound \m\ prolonged

tiptoe: the position of being balanced on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised

shred: a long narrow strip cut or torn off

marmalade: a clear sweetened jelly in which pieces of fruit and fruit rind are suspended

whiz: to hum, whir, or hiss like a speeding object (such as an arrow or ball) passing through air

moustache: the hair growing on the human upper lip

nightfall: the close of the day

outskirts: a part remote from the center : border — usually used in plural

musty: tasting of mold

sill: the horizontal member at the base of a window

stale: tasteless

cornflakes: toasted flakes made from the coarse meal of hulled corn for use as a breakfast cereal

timid: lacking in courage or self-confidence

snivel: to cry or whine with snuffling

gleeful: merry

amble: to go at or as if at an easy gait

wicked: dangerously aggressive

grin: a facial expression produced by grinning especially in pleasure or amusement

shrivel: to draw into wrinkles especially with a loss of moisture

splatter: to scatter or fall in or as if in drops

fierce: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament

rattle: to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises

ragged: roughly unkempt

unkempt: deficient in order or neatness

ferocious: exhibiting or given to extreme fierceness and unrestrained violence and brutality

rumble: to make a low heavy rolling sound

tick: the time taken by the tick of a clock

creak: to make a prolonged grating or squeaking sound often as a result of being worn-out

slap: to strike sharply with or as if with the open hand

crumble: to break into small pieces

shack: hut

Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com

正義社會提綱

「一個人的自主意識愈強，便愈感受到自由對他/她的重要，也愈體會到不自由帶給他/她的痛苦。這些痛苦，不僅有加諸身體和意志上的桎梏，還有與生活世界的斷裂和個人尊嚴的喪失。」

暴力是仇恨的種子

勇武認為暴力才能為港人爭取更多自由，但他們的境地是多麼的險要。躁動的警方，同時是執法者，他們先以暴力宣洩內心抑壓的情緒，再捉拿懷疑示威者，繼而押往警署審問。相反，警員沒有號碼，犯了人道罪行，不需要上身，打得兇狠。其中一個致命武器---汽油彈---出場已久。警方講明可因應情況實彈還擊，不希望有第一粒子彈射向示威人群。

Geopolitics

地緣政治(Geopolitics)是指在特定區域的地理位置內，國與國的各種政治角力，並形成的政治格局，當中涉及政治、外交、經濟、軍事戰略等互動關係。地緣政治強調地理因素，包括地理空間、地形、氣候、人口、天然資源等，對政治和外交決策的影響，促使相關國家從地理決定原則出發，制定外交政策的優先次序。

http://www.liberalstudies.hk/daily_concepts/?word=790

中卜十

告訴
折扣
拆卸
迅速
訊息
斥責
斤兩

紅太陽

延安整風運動是深刻影響二十世紀中國歷史進程的重大事件，這是由毛澤東自領導的中共黨內第一次大規模政治運動，也是建國後歷史政治運動的濫觴。毛澤東在延安整風中運用他所創造的思想改造和審幹、肅反兩種手段，全面清除了中共黨內存留的五四自由民主思想的影響，徹底轉換了中共的「俄化」氣質，重建了以毛澤東為絕對主宰的上層結構，奠定了黨的全盤毛澤東化的基礎，其間所產生的一系列概念、範式在1949年後改變了億萬中國人的生活和命運。

https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ics/rcccc/publish/pub_contemp_main_redsun.html

The term "late"

The term "late" is used where there is a possible confusion between a living person and the one who is dead. Fathers and sons often have the same name. If the father is dead, you may well refer to him as the late John Smith to show that you do not mean his living son also called John Smith.

quora.com

果而勿強

依照「道」的原則輔佐君主的人，不以兵力逞強於天下。窮兵黷武這種事必然會得到報應。軍隊所到的地方，荊棘橫生，大戰之後，一定會出現荒年。善於用兵的人，只要達到用兵的目的也就可以了，並不以兵力強大而逞強好鬥。達到目的了卻不自我矜持，達到目的了也不去誇耀驕傲，達到目的了也不要自以為是，達到目的卻出於不得已，達到目的卻不逞強。事物過於強大就會走向衰朽，這就說明它不符合於「道」，不符合於「道」的，就會很快死亡。

daodejing.org

以道佐人主者，不以兵強天下；其事好還。師之所處，荊棘生焉！大軍之後，必有凶年。善者果而已，不敢以取強。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。果而不得已，果而勿強。物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。

Those who apply the doctrine (學說) of Dao to help the ruler will oppose all conquest (征服) by military force. War being so destructive will, as law of cause and effect, bring harm to the Maker. With the station of soldiers, thorny bushes might grow, thus affecting the livelihood of peasants. Great wars are always followed by famines. Therefore, a good general will not use force to carry out invasion. After the war, he does not think it an act of glory. Despite the effect he does not boast (誇耀) of his merit. Despite the effect he does not take pride in it. Because he considers the force so used is only a regrettably necessity. After the war, he does not love violence. When things reach their prime, they will decay and become old. Violence by the use of force is against the nature of Dao.

--- Chapter Thirty, Daodejing, Lao Zi, 6^th Century B.C.

Chan, S.J. (2014). East River Column -- Hong Kong Guerrillas in the Second World War and After. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Talcum powder and carcinoma

Executives at Johnson & Johnson repeatedly discussed their worries about the potential health effects of asbestos (石棉) contamination of their talcum Baby Powder even as they told regulators and the public that all their tests were finding none, investigations by Reuters and the New York Times show.

Reuters reported on 14 December that it had examined thousands of pages of company memos and other internal documents provided to plaintiffs’ (原告) lawyers in ongoing talcum powder litigation (訴訟). Many of the documents have not yet been used in court or were designated (定為) confidential by court order, it said.

Dyer, O. (2018). Johnson & Johnson knew for decades talcum powder contained asbestos, reports allege. The BMJ, 363. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k5430

Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as baby powder and adult body and facial powders, as well as in a number of other consumer products.

In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled.

When talking about whether or not talcum powder is linked to cancer, it is important to distinguish between talc that contains asbestos and talc that is asbestos-free. Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear.

It is not clear if consumer products containing talcum powder increase cancer risk. Studies of personal use of talcum powder have had mixed results, although there is some suggestion of a possible increase in ovarian cancer risk. There is very little evidence at this time that any other forms of cancer are linked with consumer use of talcum powder.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html

Do You Hear The People Sing?

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade (運動)?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade (路障)
Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs (烈士)
Will water the meadows (草甸) of France!

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

審判

本人暫無任何宗教信仰。
假如世界真有最後審判，
人類的良知會否被彰顯？

鳳凰花朵下的蕭紅

Date: 29 Oct 2015

Shot: 1/125 sec. f/3.5 16mm

ISO 200

Device: Fujifilm X-A2

煲呔時期民主停滯原因以及回歸後中史書內容増減

Tsang enjoys the support of the business magnates (巨頭) who urged Beijing to remove Tung. Like the PRC leaders, these tycoons oppose greater democratic reform in Hong Kong. The PRC leaders fears that democratization in Hong Kong might fuel demands for the same on the mainland, while both PRC leaders and the local business mogul (大亨) worry that democratization would result in higher taxes and in demands for more government spending. Thus, Tsang will have to perform a very careful balancing act: not alienating (疏遠) his business supporters, proving his loyalty to China after so many years of dedicated service to the British, and satisfying the ordinary people who are fed up with government and business elites colluding (共謀) to determine Hong Kong's future without popular input.

When school began in September 1997, the Chinese history textbooks in Hong Kong were noticeably thinner than in previous years. In late 1995, Beijing had called for (要求) general changes in Hong Kong textbooks, but in early 1997 Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen (錢其琛) declared that history textbooks should be rewritten "to suit the changes after 1997." Responding to appeals from Beijing, local publishers deleted or reduced topics that might be offensive or controversial: for example, Taiwan and Tibet history, the famine caused by the Great Leap Forward, and the democracy movements in China during the late 1970s and in 1989. The Tiananmen Square Massacre [ˋmæsəkə] was rephrased as merely an "incident" rather than a "crackdown." The new textbooks devoted considerably more space to the Opium Wars, which in pre-1997 textbooks had often been described as little more than a trade conflict, and to the Cultural Revolution, which had affected several of China's leaders.

Carroll, J.M. (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

contain

1. 容納
2. 阻止

樹

戴望舒︰「路上的列樹已斬伐盡了，疏疏朗朗地殘留著可憐的樹根。路顯得寬闊了一點，短了一點，天和人的距離似乎更接近了。太陽直射到頭頂上，雨直淋到身上……是的，我們需要陽光，但是我們也需要陰蔭啊。早晨鳥雀的啁啾聲沒有了，傍晚舒徐的散步沒有了。空虛的路，寂寞的路！」

落花

小思︰「美夢和愛戀，往往墜落如櫻花，燦爛中就飄落了，是這樣的叫人冷不提防，你剛回過頭來，它已經去遠。」

中國心而不是中國夢

盧︰當年日本阪神大地震後，安藤忠雄放下所有外國的工作，立即回到日本，為神戶設計避震城市。他能有日本心，有大和心，為什麼我們不能有中國心？我很少說這些，但二十年來，我一直在想，每一個人都可以西化，但如何在現代化的東西裡，栽種自己最優秀的心思呢？這是我們最需要追尋的東西。

撕裂的良方是包容？

盧︰利害關係令人際少了包容……我們應該採取同理心去理解對方的處境……
樊︰對，包容是重要的，而且應該是雙向的，即我包容你，你也包容我。不論在甚麼情況下，兩個人一旦靠近，就必然影響對方。問題是在這個時候，制度和環境怎樣解決問題。

為親者諱

「為尊者諱，為親者諱，為賢者諱」這句話出自《春秋公羊傳》，原意是指孔子在處理一些難以定論的歷史史實時，用的多是一種諱而不言的態度，即便提起，也是三言兩語一筆帶過。那究竟「諱」些什麼呢？《春秋穀梁傳》中說「為尊者諱恥，為賢者諱過，為親者諱疾」，也就是說凡是尊者、賢者、親者的恥辱、過失、不足，都最好少說，對那些有失三者體面的事，知道得人越少越好。

mjlsh.usc.cuhk.edu.hk

antibiotics: mechanisms of action

Antibacterial action generally falls within one of four mechanisms, three of which involve the inhibition or regulation of enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis, nucleic acid metabolism and repair, or protein synthesis, respectively. The fourth mechanism involves the disruption of membrane structure.

www.sigmaaldrich.com

麥理浩功過

..Anna Wu (胡紅玉), a lawyer who in 1975 helped found the Hong Kong Observers, a pressure group dedicated to discussing contemporary issue, and who was appointed by Patten to the Legislative Council in 1992, argues that Murray MacLehose's refusal to introduce elections to the Legislative Council during his tenure (任期) as "disastrous" for Hong Kong. Such reforms would have given Hong Kong a "much more stable and more mature alternative" to colonial rule and would have prepared Hong Kong much better for the post-1997 HKSAR government. Politics, Wu maintains, would have "been part of our lives and culture, not a new concept." By not introducing democracy until the 1990s, the colonial government actually legitimized (合理化) the PRC government's opposition to political changes. Thus, it is not only Beijing that is to blame for the HKSAR's problems.

Rather, argues Ming Chan, "the inadequate foundation, unhealthy political culture, flawed legal-administrative framework and questionable bureaucratic practices inherited from the British --- together with the inability of the Hong Kong people to stand firmly to defend their much cherished freedom, democracy and high degree of autonomy because of their colonial deprivation --- ought to be blamed as well."

The end of British rule did not give Hong Kong a fresh start. On the contrary, Beijing is committed to keeping Hong Kong's political structure in the form it had assumed by the last years of the colonial era, especially the functional constituency (功能界別) model for the new Legislative Council because legislators from these constituencies consistently vote against any measures to promote democratic reforms, civil liberties, or political accountability.

Carroll, J.M. (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Falun Gong and Article 23

Considering that the one country, two systems model was originally designed for Taiwan, ensuring a smooth reversion is also crucial for reunification with Taiwan: a failed reversion would both hurt economic relations with Taiwan and lead to stronger demands for independence there.

單非、雙非案︰The overwhelming majority, it seemed, preferred the overall welfare of society to the preservation (保持) of law. Accepting the ultimate authority of the Standing Committee to interpret the Basic Law, in January 2002 the Court of Final Appeal reversed its earlier decision by ruling against some claimants on the right-of abode issue.

Although freedom of press is guaranteed by the Basic Law, the PRC government has shown since the years leading up to the handover that it has its own view of what this freedom meant...In January 1994, local television station TVB decided not to broadcast a BBC documentary of Mao Zedong that the PRC government had criticized as being biased...In 1997, the Hong Kong Journalists Association predicted that self-censorship, rather than direct government intervention, would be more likely to undermine freedom of expression in Hong Kong.

After Chen Shui-bian of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party was elected president of Taiwan in spring 2000, Wang Fengchao (王鳳超), deputy director of the Beijing liaison office in Hong Kong, warned the Hong Kong media not to report on pro-independence activities in Taiwan.

In May 2001, the HKSAR government formally announced its intention to draft an anti-cult (反異教團體) law, the presumed target being the Falun Gong...In late June, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang abruptly withdrew the anti-cult proposal...In September 2002, during his second term, Tung Chee-hwa tried to introduce an anti-sedition (反煽動叛亂) and anti-subversion (反顛覆) bill, at the insistence of Beijing and as stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law...On July 1 (2003), more than five hundred thousand people staged the largest public demonstration in the young HKSAR's history...After pressure from critics of the bill and even from his own supporters, Tung withdrew the bill in early September.

In late 2003, President Hu Jintao warned Tung Chee-hwa that the issue of electoral reforms could not move ahead without prior consultation from Beijing.

Carroll, J.M. (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Physical exercise and metabolism

Muscle cells need a lot of energy, which means they burn a lot of calories. In fact, they burn more calories than fat cells, even when you're not exercising.

Exercise becomes even more important as you get older. You naturally lose muscle mass with age, which slows down your metabolism. Working out can stop that slide.

Source: webmd.com

Breastfeeding and influenza

A mother with suspected or confirmed flu should take all possible precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant while continuing to provide breast milk to her infant.

Flu is not spread to infants through breast milk. The flu is spread mainly from person-to-person via respiratory droplets when people cough, sneeze, or talk, or possibly, when a person touches a surface or object that has the flu virus on it and then touches their own mouth or nose.

A mother’s breast milk contains antibodies and other immunological factors that can help protect her infant from flu and is the recommended source of nutrition for the infant, even while the mother is ill.

If a mother is too sick to feed her infant at the breast and another healthy caregiver is caring for the infant, the breastfeeding mother should be encouraged and supported to regularly express her milk so that the infant continues to receive her breast milk.

Prior to expressing breast milk, mothers should wash their hands well with soap and water and, if using a pump, follow recommendations for proper cleaning.

Source: cdc.gov/breastfeeding

Dark matter

We are much more certain what dark matter is not than we are what it is.

First, it is dark, meaning that it is not in the form of stars and planets that we see. Observations show that there is far too little visible matter in the universe to make up the 27% required by the observations. (Theoretical model of the composition of the universe: ~68% dark energy, ~27% dark matter, ~5% normal matter)

Second, it is not in the form of dark clouds of normal matter, matter made up of particles called baryons. (Baryon is a composite subatomic particle) We know this because we would be able to detect baryonic clouds by their absorption of radiation passing through them.

Third, dark matter is not antimatter, because we do not see the unique gamma rays that are produced when antimatter annihilates (摧毀) with matter.

Finally, we can rule out large galaxy-sized black holes on the basis of how many gravitational lenses we see. High concentrations of matter bend light passing near them from objects further away, but we do not see enough lensing events to suggest that such objects to make up the required 25% dark matter contribution.

Source: science.nasa.gov

內部事務

Journal Frank Ching stated in 1999, "China's promise not to interfere in Hong Kong's internal affairs is similar to a left-handed person promising only to use his right hand. The promise may very well be sincere but, in the absence of restraints, the left-handed person will sooner or later forget and, without even realizing it, start using his left hand."

The HKSAR government has also faced the problem of keeping Hong Kong economically competitive in a rapidly globalizing world and in the face of increased competition from mainland China, especially since China's entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 has diminished Hong Kong's traditional position as a doorway to China.

Some scholars fault Chris Patten's last-minute reforms that, however well-intentioned (出於好意的), appointed a bureaucratic elite that was committed to promoting democracy but unable to handle Hong Kong's transition from colony to HKSAR.

...The HKSAR's new rulers have the unenviable (不值得羨慕的) challenge of satisfying not only the central government in Beijing but also the powerful business interests and the local population within Hong Kong, which, partly because of the changes in the years leading up to 1997, now expect and demand more of their government.

Carroll, J.M. (2007). A Concise History of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

spelling

sovereignty
DJ[ˋsɔvrənti]

foreign