話說中一的時候，老師要求我們改個英文名。有位長輩見我的中文名有個「陽」字，建議我稱自己為 Sunny，不過我就不太喜歡。我揭一揭字典，當時覺得 James 這個名字頗有美感，但沒有想到與邦先生撞名，於是便用上這個英文名。班上另一位同學叫 Sunny，他見我每天都回家吃午餐，覺得我十分幸福，所以幫我改了「劉少」這個花名，之後同學都以此別稱叫我。
升上中二，忽然覺得 James 這個英文名很土。有位同學叫 Samuel，為人風趣幽默，很受同學歡迎。所以，我就傻下傻下叫自己做 Samson. 我還記得那時叫May做阿嫂，我的預言對了，不過在中六我離校時才成真。當時 Ms Lai 對我改英文名的這個舉措有點意外。後來有位教英文的 native speaker 問我把長頭髮去了哪裡，才知道出事。
在聖經故事中，Samson 力大無窮，力量源自那束長頭髮。後來因為一個「色」字，終以悲劇收場。問題其實不大，因為大部分男人都是好色，只是程度不同，我亦不在此扮清高。到了中五的時候人人叫我「鮑魚」，花名的來歷、出處連我自己都弄不清楚，不過有一段時間這個花名有不雅成份。到了大專，大家都叫我 Samson，沿用至今。
tiptoe: the position of being balanced on the balls of the feet and toes with the heels raised —usually used with on
sweeping: moving or extending in a wide curve or over a wide area
rickety: lacking stability or firmness
tickle: to touch or stir gently
armour: defensive covering for the body
poltergeist: a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises
rug: a piece of thick heavy fabric that usually has a nap or pile and is used as a floor covering
pelt: throw
sneak up on: to approach or act on stealthily
screech: to utter a high shrill piercing cry
conk: nose
dungeons: a dark usually underground prison or vault
scrawny: exceptionally thin and slight or meager in body or size
bulging: swelling or thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface
wheeze: to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound
herbology: herbal medicine
dumpy: being short and thick in build
drone on: to speak for a long time in a dull voice without saying anything interesting
scribble: to write or draw hastily or carelessly
charm: the chanting or reciting of a magic spell
squeak: a sharp shrill cry or sound
topple: to fall from or as if from being top-heavy
pointy: coming to a rather sharp point
ward off: to avoid being hit by (something)
zombie: a will-less and speechless human (as in voodoo belief and in fictional stories) held to have died and been supernaturally reanimated
stuff: to fill by packing things in
porridge: a soft food made by boiling meal of grains or legumes in milk or water until thick
nibble: to bite gently
flutter: to flap the wings rapidly
marmalade: a clear sweetened jelly in which pieces of fruit and fruit rind are suspended
scrawl: to write awkwardly or carelessly
awkward: lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands)
quill: something made from or resembling the quill of a feather esp. a pen for writing
creepy: producing a nervous shivery apprehension
snigger: to laugh in a covert or partly suppressed manner
subtle: difficult to understand or perceive
simmer: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point
ensnare: to take in or as if in a snare
snare: something deceptively attractive
dunderhead: a slow-witted or stupid person
sneer: to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt
scorn: open dislike and disrespect
contempt: lack of respect or reverence for something
fame: popular acclaim
bezoar: any of various calculi found chiefly in the gastrointestinal organs and formerly believed to possess magical properties
quiver: to shake or move with a slight trembling motion
wink: to shut one eye briefly as a signal or in teasing
snap: to break suddenly with a sharp sound
rummage: to engage in an undirected or haphazard search
haphazard: marked by lack of plan, order, or direction
fang: a long sharp tooth (snake)
hiss: to make a sharp sibilant sound
seep: to enter or penetrate slowly
drench: to wet thoroughly
idiot: a foolish or stupid person
spit: to utter with a spitting sound or scornful expression
nasty: mean
galoshes: (obsolete) a shoe with a heavy sole
frantic: emotionally out of control
scrabble: to struggle by or as if by scraping or scratching
boarhound: a large dog used in hunting wild boars
boar: an uncastrated male swine
quilt: a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (such as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs
fierce: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament
drool: to let saliva dribble from the mouth
break-in: to enter something (such as a building or computer system) without consent or by force
vault: an arched structure of masonry usually forming a ceiling or roof
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com
This room I've gotten so used to
It's time to leave it now
Setting off on a new journey
still perplexed (困惑的) about it
In the bus headed for the station
I texted my friend
I called from the morning platform
But it felt kind of wrong
Just brought along one old guitar
I left all my photos behind
Let go of something to gain something else
Just a repetition of that?
Putting on a bold front
always leads to dreams
If you become afraid it ends there
In a train that's started to move
I became a little teary
This town, continuing beyond the window
I prayed it would stay unchanged
The one that gave me that old guitar
Said Tokyo is a scary place
I've decided to quit searching for answers
I'm fine with doing it all wrong
Buildings cut off the red sunset
Though I hold back the tears
Every time a new morning arrives
There are times when we're still in doubt, right?
There are times when we're still in doubt, right?
That much I know
Well, I couldn't tell you
Why she felt that way,
She felt it every day.
And I couldn't help her,
I just watched her make
The same mistakes again.
What's wrong, what's wrong now?
Too many, too many problems.
Don't know where she belongs,
Where she belongs.
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home.
It's where she lies
Broken inside.
With no place to go,
No place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
Open your eyes
And look outside,
Find the reasons why.
You've been rejected,
And now you can't find
What you've left behind.
Be strong, be strong now.
Too many, too many problems.
Don't know where she belongs,
Where she belongs.
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home.
It's where she lies
Broken inside.
With no place to go,
No place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
Her feelings she hides.
Her dreams she can't find.
She's losing her mind.
She's fallen behind.
She can't find her place.
She's losing her faith.
She's fallen from grace.
She's all over the place.
She wants to go home,
But nobody's home.
It's where she lies,
Broken inside.
With no place to go,
No place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
She's lost inside, lost inside, oh oh oh.
She's lost inside, lost inside, oh oh oh.
拿破崙讓人看來反對興建風車，那是因為這是除掉雪球的一種手段。
Napoleon had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence.
毛澤東號召這一場革命的心理狀態至今仍令人費解……中共政權第一代黨政軍領導人除總理周恩來外，幾乎全數在這一波大整肅中遭到波及。
薛化元《中國近代史》
情緒為主導的應對方法可以改變一個人對壓力源的感覺，減少了壓力源帶來的情緒影響，並有可能有效地解決問題。
Emotion-focused coping is a strategy that involves changing the way a person feels or emotionally reacts to a stressor. This reduces the emotional impact of the stressor and makes it possible to deal with the problem effectively.
有時候，問題為中心的應對方法無法控制壓力源。情緒為主導的應對方法便是另類方案。
Emotion-focused coping also works for stressors that are uncontrollable and for which problem-focused coping is not possible.
當一個人可以積極地解決問題時，忽略問題並不是一個好策略。 但是，當無法更改或消除壓力源時，或者擔心壓力源本身就是一個問題時，忽略該問題並不是一個壞主意。
Ignoring a problem is not a good strategy when there is something a person can actively do about solving the problem. But when it is not possible to change or eliminate the stressor, or when worrying about the stressor can be a problem itself, ignoring the problem is not a bad idea.
俗話說「笑是最好的藥」，使用幽默也可以是一種以情緒為中心的應對方式。 在一項研究中，觀看幽默視頻可以增強免疫系統的防禦。
Using humor can also be a form of emotion-focused coping, as the old saying "laughter is the best medicine" suggests. In a study, watching humor video can boost the action of the immune system.
Ciccarelli, S. K. (2006). Psychology. Pearson.
In a new support document posted to its website last week, Apple told users they should always make sure to remove any wallet accessories from the back of their phones before using the new MagSafe charger. The connection could damage your credit card, passport, work badge or any other item with a radio chip or magnetic strip, Apple said.
"Before you place your iPhone on your MagSafe Charger, make sure that no objects (like credit cards, hotel key cards, or transit cards) or debris are between them. If your device has a metal case or if it's very thick, remove it. Also remove iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe," Apple said in its support document. "If you have a MagSafe case, you can leave it in place."
Sherr, I. (2020, October 26). Apple's iPhone MagSafe charger could ruin your credit card, passport or security badge. https://www.cnet.com/news/magsafe-on-iphone-12-i-still-want-usb-c-but-i-was-wrong-about-apple-magnetic-charger/
曾經有一位中學歷史科老師對我們說︰「我手執的書本已用上七、八年，外觀比你們的還要新淨。」
曾經有一位店長要求我們不可直接在書本上墊紙書寫，不經不覺成為自己的習慣。
曾經在貨倉工作時，看到同事坐在一疊書本上看手機，自己心有不滿。
有另一個同事，自小受父親薰陶，愛上閱讀，家中藏書甚多。他見書如見剛去世的父親。別的分店遭破壞，多個月後，我、他和裝修阿頭傾開，他竟然說書比人重要。我和裝修阿頭都正路地覺得沒有一樣東西比人命更珍貴，他便哭起來。師父安慰他，人生歷練較淺的我沒有多說半句。
最近我在社區店工作，發覺到小朋友對於書本的破壞力不容忽視。物質太豐富，多獨生子女，家長不懂教，教不到，或者根本不想教。我們唯有用膠袋包高危書籍，地球生病了！
In the simplest terms, temples are Buddhist, while shrines are Shinto (神道). Temples have a large incense burner and many Buddhist statues, and may or may not have a graveyard attached to them, while shrines have a large, often vermilion red (朱紅的), torii (鳥居), or sacred gate, standing in front of them.
https://matcha-jp.com/
The old UK meaning of a billion was a million million, or one followed by twelve noughts (1,000,000,000,000). The USA meaning of a billion is a thousand million, or one followed by nine noughts (1,000,000,000)...The UK government has been using the American meaning of billion since 1974 for the numbers it gives out.
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk
手套分很多種，今日想討論的主要是即棄乳膠手套 (latex gloves)，是市民於新冠肺炎當道下最常使用，商舖、食肆收銀員對它絕對不陌生。雖然我今天探討不是醫用無菌手套，但它的某些使用守則能應用在乳膠手套上。重點在除手套時應盡量避免碰到 bare hand，除手套後必須洗手，但都不是萬能。讓我簡單說明三個步驟︰
i) 將手套逐一除下，首先用一隻手抓住另一隻手套的外層 (手腕位)，然後將手套從手上剝下，將手套 inside out。
ii) 用仍然戴手套的一隻手持續握住另一隻已取出的手套
iii) 將無手套的手之三兩隻手指插入未脫的手套之袖口內層，然後從內部剝離，形成由兩隻手套 create 的袋子
當然，除手套後要妥善棄掉，之後以肥皂或含甘油的酒精洗手。話說我自己當學護的時候，導師曾批評救護員常戴著乳膠手套四處碰，又見不到他們常換手套，搶救緊急不是藉口吧！這一批評同樣適用於收銀員上，不能用到破才換新的，相信雇主不會在風頭火勢的時候吝嗇。而且，收銀員又豈只碰錢，不更換都應該定時消毒一下。不更換不消毒的結果是員工受保護，顧客受災。
stern: having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner
drone: a deep sustained or monotonous sound
peer: to look narrowly or curiously
banquet: an elaborate and often ceremonious meal for numerous people often in honor of a person
dormitory: a room for sleeping
linger: to be slow in parting or in quitting something
cloak: a loose outer garment
smudge: to soil as if by smudging
jolt: an abrupt, sharp, jerky blow or movement
wig: a manufactured covering of natural or synthetic hair for the head
doom: a judicial condemnation or sentence
glide: to move smoothly, continuously, and effortlessly
glance: to take a quick look at something
ruff: a large round collar of pleated muslin or linen worn by men and women of the late 16th and early 17th centuries
glittering: shining with many bright points of light
velvety: having the character of velvet as in being soft, smooth, thick, or richly hued
velvet: a clothing and upholstery fabric (as of silk, rayon, or wool) characterized by a short soft dense warp pile
hued: colored—usually used in combination
patch: to mend, cover, or fill up a hole or weak spot in
mend: to free from faults or defects
frayed: worn or shredded at the ends or edges
twitch: to move jerkily
rip: to tear or split apart or open
brim: an upper or outer margin
sleek: smooth and glossy as if polished
dwell: to remain for a time
chivalry: the qualities of the ideal knight
toil: long strenuous fatiguing labor
wit: the ability to relate seemingly disparate things so as to illuminate or amuse
cunning: dexterous or crafty in the use of special resources (such as skill or knowledge) or in attaining an end
dexterous: mentally adroit and skillful
adroit: having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations
applause: marked commendation
wrestle: to move, maneuver, or force with difficulty
queasy: causing uneasiness
parchment: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on
pigtail: a lock of hair that has been gathered and banded or braided together at the back or side of the head
stumble: to walk unsteadily or clumsily
scuttle: scurry: to move in or as if in a brisk pace
catcall: the act or an instance of loudly or raucously expressing disapproval (as at a sports event)
groan: to utter a deep moan indicative of pain, grief, or annoyance
gale: an emotional outburst
swagger: to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner
hiss: to make a sharp sibilant sound
sibilant: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash
crane: to stretch toward an object of attention
plunge: to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly into something
peculiar: different from the usual or normal
turban: a headdress worn chiefly in countries of the eastern Mediterranean and southern Asia consisting of a long cloth that is wrapped around a cap (as by Muslims) or directly around the head (as by Sikhs and Hindus)
pompous: excessively elevated or ornate
scroll: a roll (as of papyrus, leather, or parchment) for writing a document
Yorkshire pudding: a puffy bread dish made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk that is baked in meat drippings
gravy: a sauce made from the thickened and seasoned juices of cooked meat
humbug: hard usually peppermint-flavored candy
miff: to put into an ill humor
behead: to cut off the head of
gaunt: excessively thin and angular
treacle: a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup
éclair: a usually chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard
