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2020年11月29日星期日

Mental Health of Elderly under COVID-19

疫下長者抑鬱焦慮增加 


香港大學社會工作及社會行政學系於今年2至8月,以電話訪問8,382名60歲或以上長者,發現93%長者減少社交活動,當中10%受訪者更出現抑鬱、焦慮徵狀。若他們要同時照顧認知障礙症患者,患抑鬱機會較其他照顧者高出一倍。

港大社會工作及社會行政學系系主任林一星解釋,疫情期間,長者需要搶購糧食、廁紙和排隊買口罩,可能使他們感到抑鬱、焦慮,引發情緒問題。

「賽馬會樂齡同行計劃」,由港大和多間社福機構合作改善長者晚年抑鬱問題,未來四年將覆蓋18區,讓義工能援助身邊有需要長者。

香港大學. (2020, November 24). 疫下長者抑鬱焦慮增加https://fightcovid19.hku.hk/zh/疫下長者抑鬱焦慮增

2020年11月27日星期五

From James to Samson

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。

2020年11月26日星期四

The Potions Master

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

The First Take

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

AL-Nobody's Home

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.

歷史有情,人間有意

歷史是前輩走過的道路,我們正跟隨他們的步跡向前走︰歷史不遠。

只要我們認知了他們的故事,發現他們的步履,就會產生感情。憑著情,我們著意吾土︰吾土吾情。

《香港文學散步》序

2020年11月25日星期三

抗美援朝的背後

中共政權組織所謂「抗美援朝志願軍」,強迫大量被俘虜或投降的國軍,以戴罪立功的「心情」自願投入朝戰,並且在人海戰術下大量陣亡。其中單單戰死的原國軍人數,就達一百萬左右……結果,中共政權透過韓戰,借聯軍的武力,消滅了其內在的可能反共力量。

薛化元《中國近代史》

Animal farm and cultural revolution

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》

放下

俗世太多戀戀不捨的牽繫,能「捨」所愛,那非大徹大悟者不能。

小思《理想的真世界——新亞教我的》

二零零六年

2020年11月22日星期日

余光中《母難日》

今生今世,我最忘情的哭聲有兩次。一次,在我生命的開始。一次,在你生命的告終。第一次,我不會記得,是聽你說的。第二次,你不會曉得,我說也沒用。但兩次哭聲中間啊,有無窮無盡的笑聲。

為朋友翻譯

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.

2020年11月17日星期二

所謂新科技

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/

反了

《英格蘭的牲畜》這首歌是禁不絕的。

無丑不成戲

主角當不到,成配角也不錯。擔閒角亦不能隨便,做醜角都需要尊嚴。

珍惜書本

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!

2020年11月16日星期一

余光中《抱孫女》

//你會有許多玩具,豪貴而精巧//但人類已經太早熟,並不好玩//童年是愈來愈短,愈不像童年//更不能奢望會像童話//世故催天真趕緊長大//

卞之琳《無題》

百轉千迴都不跟你講,水有愁,水自哀,水願意載你。你的船呢?

讀後感


阿Q精神,自欺欺人

Temple and Shrine

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/

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

食材

可可豆又稱可可亞豆,是指可可樹長出的果實裡的種子。

舒芙蕾,又譯梳乎厘、梳芙厘,或稱作蛋奶酥,是一種源自法國的甜品,經烘焙後質感輕而蓬鬆。主要材料包括蛋黃及經打勻後的蛋白。Soufflé一字來自法語中一個動詞souffler的過去分詞,意思是“使充氣”或簡單地指“蓬鬆地脹起來”-恰如其分地描述烘焙當兒蛋白與奶黃結合時的情況。

https://zh.wikipedia.org

《葉靈鳳日記》

葉靈鳳是內地與香港文化界知名人物,一生傳奇多彩。一九三八年來香港,在這裡度過三十七年時光。此日記一套三冊(兩冊文字與一冊圖集),收錄了他從一九四三年至一九七四年的日記,是經年累月的記憶,是時間的見證,真實展現一位文人大家的讀書、寫作及編輯生活;加上盧瑋鑾及張詠梅老師的箋和注,讓讀者了解到那些年香港的文藝脈絡與社會情態,簡直是本土社會與文化發展變化的縮影。

https://www.mybookone.com.hk

Billion

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

2020年11月12日星期四

gloves (blog for self use)

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。

2020年11月8日星期日

運動時的所思所想

不要只著眼別人的缺點、態度。要認清自己的不足,如溝通方面,並嘗試改善。同時要知道自己的優點,才能做到不卑不亢。分黨分派是毫無作用,更不要煽風點火。緊記要慎言,沉默是金,因為禍從口出,出了口不能收回。

小篆

快樂的竅門

「原來一切苦,來自我們過分局限了自己的心,過分重視自己,狹隘的生命,必然難得圓滿快樂。」

小思《無限心量》

二零零四年

縴夫的腳步

「縴夫是一個很好的象徵。它象徵了什麼?縴夫負責運輸交流,將一個地方的人、事、物運送到第二個地方去,這種傳遞與交流,與老師的教學工作與知與情交流是一樣的。此外,他們都是默默無聞的小人物,在歷史中,他們未必會留下名字,所有縴夫都知道這一點,但他們依舊賣力從事這行業。」

小思

二零零三年

2020年11月2日星期一

The Sorting Hat

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

trifle: a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (such as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream

drown: to suffocate by submersion especially in water

meringue: a dessert topping consisting of a baked mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites and sugar

absurd: extremely silly or ridiculous

sallow: of a grayish greenish yellow color

an awful lot: a large amount

out of bounds: outside the prescribed or conventional boundaries or limits

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

frown: a wrinkling of the brow in displeasure or concentration

scab: a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound

fluff: down

rot: deteriorate

chatter: to utter rapid short sounds suggestive of language but inarticulate and indistinct

portrait: a pictorial representation of a person usually showing the face

tapestry: a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery and characterized by complicated pictorial designs

poltergeist: a noisy usually mischievous ghost held to be responsible for unexplained noises

wicked: morally very bad

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

cackle: to laugh especially in a harsh or sharp manner

armor: : defensive (metal) covering for the body esp. used in combat

reveal: to open up to view

scramble: to move with urgency or panic

cosy: enjoying or affording warmth and ease

squash: to flatten out under pressure or impact

想起沙宣道

「校園風景,人人記取不同。你在看風景,也構成了風景。莫失莫忘。」

小思《校園風景》

二零零三年

Back to calm

別人品格有問題

自己不應為此生氣