Friday, October 2, 2009

朱门圆月

昨天云枫谈起,说到他部门月饼泛滥。有同事吃到皱眉。不禁让我想起“朱门酒肉臭”这名句。
月到中秋,今晚就能看到圆不圆。海源原本筹备今晚团聚,围一炉火锅;临时飞去菲律宾当义工一星期,就取消了。世间多灾难,奈何?
想看一部和月有关的电影,就把箱底的APOLLO 13搬出来。看完的感想是:何止 Houston we've got a problem? Problem 到处都有。解决问题的人,永远比不上制造和推卸问题的人多。那三个差点就永远漂游太空的太空人,有一大班人不眠不休设法解决他们的问题,还算是少数的幸运儿。
今月曾经照古人,古人不见今时月。当我们变成古人时,那未来的人们,看到的月亮又是如何的面貌?也许,到时已经移居月球,看不到脚下月球的全貌了。

Thursday, August 13, 2009

无法容忍的残酷

病中随意找戏看,有天挑到这部"Intolerable Cruelty"。看了片头,才欣然发现是科恩 Coen 兄弟的作品。印象中觉得自己是科恩兄弟的粉丝。後来找来清单点算,才知道其实才看过他们5部作品: Raising Arizona, Fargo, The Big Lewboski, O Brother Where Art Thou? , The Ladykillers。其中, Raising Arizona 和 The Big Lewboski 太过古怪,不太喜欢; The Ladykillers 虽然有 Tom Hanks 坐镇,依然是失败之作。O Brother, Where Art Thou? 感觉还不错。真正拍案击节叹赏的是 Fargo。话说回来,这对怪胎兄弟确是奇才,即使是失败的作品,仍然有可观之处。判为”失败“也许太过,不如说”未成功作品“?最低限度,看科恩兄弟的戏,不用担心会忍不住半途关机。

"Intolerable Cruelty"一贯的独特黑色幽默,一贯的精彩离奇转折,确实好看。George Clooney 表现不如在 O Brother, Where Art Thou? 或 Three Kings。却也未失水准。Catherine Zeta Jones 的表现,个人认为可媲美她在Chicago的得奖演出。加上好戏者Geoffrey Rush 和 Billy Bob Thornton 等绿叶的陪衬,实在赏心悦目。其他的小角色如 Cedric The Entertainer 的 私家侦探, Irwin Keyes 的 "Wheezy Joe" 都让人忍俊不住。

这不是科恩兄弟的最佳作品,却也是上乘之作。这部戏票房不过不失,影评亦不佳。IMDB 才 6.4 分。对于这么好看的戏而言,委实是教人"无法容忍的残酷"。

PPH

I used to think that PPH stands for "post-partum haemorrhage"; meaning excessive bleeding after child birth. Hence should have nothing to do with me...especially after I finished my OBGYN posting...18 years ago!

Well, on 6th August this year, I underwent PPH: Procedure for Prolapse and Haemorrhoid, in Lam Wah Ee Hospital, Penang. It is also called "stapled haemorrhoidopexy" or something to that effect. In English:- I went to a general surgeon (Dato Dr Yip Kok Thye), he used a 2 grands stapler (haemorrhoid circular stapler) and stapled my donkey.I am supposed to be able to go back the next day.

The procedure was performed under spinal anaesthesia: the anaesthetist pricked my back, injected Marcaine and knocked out my donkey. I was awake through out. The procedure took about 20 minutes (my feeling, I didn't have stop watch), then I was wheeled to the ward and CRIB (Complete Rest In Bed) for 12 hours. CRIB means I was not supposed to go to toilet and should do everything on my bed.

This prohibition was proven to be redundant, as hours later, I found that I couldn't pee! If you are into medical term: we call it "urinary retention". I was on iv drip and I was drinking water, so my bladder was ballooned up quite fast and threatening to burst. Reluctantly, I pressed the bell and agreed to be catheterized. Again, in English, it means a male nurse will come in, put in a tube to drain out the urine. I was catheterized twice on that evening, and once the next day! And the spinal was wearing off and my donkey was hurting!

The next morning, Dato Yip asked me whether I wanted to go back. I replied that I couldn't pee. So I stayed. And was referred to a urologist. Afternoon, I managed to squeeze out about 100cc after my bladder was filled to the brim. I was rejoiced! After that, I squeezed out about 100c every 15 minutes or so. I felt like having a premature BPH (benigh prostatic hypertrophy). Just before I was wheeled down to see the urologist, I managed to squeeze out 250cc, so happy :-)

The urologist prescribed Hytrin 1mg bd, which worked like wonder (or maybe I was improving anyway). That night, just before I went to sleep, I managed to void my bladder. Phew, what a relief!

Next morning, Dato Yip wanted to send me back home again. But I said, "no shit!" Yes, I haven't passed out anything solid or liquid from my donkey after the procedure, just some gas. So I was given the ultimate purger: Fleet Phospho Soda. I guessed the pain must had been as bad as child birth! Eventually, around 4pm, I "delivered"!

Well,the "post-partum haemorrhage" was minimal, not much bleeding. Dato Yip is a good surgeon. I believed the surgery was well-performed. I am sure that it is not preposterous, for me to look forwards to a speedy recovery (V-shaped or W-shaped) from bottom in foreseeable future.



(Don't watch if you want to have good appetite)

A brief explanation of haemorrhoid surgery


What happened to me about one week ago...

Saturday, June 6, 2009

咖啡论

老爸卖咖啡粉, 原因是老爸的老爸卖咖啡粉。据说老爸的老爸卖咖啡粉卖得很成功,是当年的“咖啡王”。生意做得很大,店屋买了一间又一间,可惜命不长。过后就家道中落了。老爸卖咖啡粉没有他老爸厉害,不过也把我们几个嗷嗷待哺的小瓜们养成大瓜,大瓜们过后自力更生成熟成老瓜。

我在小瓜时期天天喝黑咖啡。中学时放学一回来就打开冰箱取冰块注入老妈子早上泡的黑咖啡,就是“kopi O peng",在我后来移情豆浆水之前,一天喝四大杯。

当年没有”三合一“这样折堕的东西,念大学时,带一包咖啡粉南下。不过,人性之懒。是万年不变的。要自己泡,就没了兴致。咖啡粉收久了,香味就散失了。不想浪费,就问一屋的麻甩佬谁要喝?几个傻子点头後,我就浓浓地泡了一大壶。最贪便宜的胡须佬喝多了几口,结果一夜失眠,次日双目涨红,後来病了几天,据说从此不喝咖啡。

目前这份工作,办公地点离住处远,要早起。每天到办公室,第一件要务就是喝一杯浓咖啡,一般可以应付早晨的工作效率。午后嘛,悬梁刺股也不是办法,注射咖啡因也是要打瞌睡的。开始也有点担心,这样子每天喝咖啡对我这老弱的身体好吗?后来看了Nescafe的广告才释然:哎,原来咖啡和水果是一类的,都有很多很多的抗氧物质。人家雀巢是国际大公司,又找来大美人玛雅卡琳来代言,肯定信得过。

所以刚刚收到健聪的邀请,某年某月的某一天在某处穿某种颜色的衣服喝咖啡,我马上就答应了。还灵机一动创造了”咖啡论“:甭管是黑咖啡白咖啡,让您脑袋清醒的就是好咖啡!

Friday, May 15, 2009

今天新发现

原来FACEBOOK有这么多东西好玩。
原来我是飞天面条神教教主。
原来我像司马迁,而不是司马懿。
原来我还穿得上五年前禁色狗啤送我的禁色T-shirt
原来我很帅。

Friday, May 1, 2009

独臂刀

独臂刀是大导演张彻的经典杰作。
独臂刀由倪匡编剧,明显取材于金庸“神雕侠侣”的杨过。然而张彻拍出了阳刚武侠风格,捧红了王羽,赢得口碑和票房,也为自己奠下王国的基础。

独臂刀在1966年面世,后来王羽和张彻在1967年又推出续集“独臂刀王”。之後王羽离开邵氏。邵氏用旗下的大将姜大卫和狄龙,在1971年推出“新独臂刀”。张彻同样走回阳刚的路线,又下一城。
姜大卫和狄龙是我童年时最喜爱的明星。尤其喜欢姜大卫。刚刚看了“新独臂刀”,忽然觉得年轻时代的姜大卫有七分像周杰伦。姜大卫和狄龙比较,狄龙比较高大威猛,具有大侠风范,像长得英俊的郭靖。姜大卫比狄龙矮了半个头,身形也没那么魁梧,不过眉宇间多了忧郁气质,神情也比较酷,是杨过的真人版本。“新独臂刀”剧情没怎么样,拍摄手法,现在看来也没什么大不了。不过看明星,重温童年回忆与经验,还是很过瘾。

张彻用姜大卫和狄龙拍了很多影片。1973年推出“刺马”,以清末四大奇案之一的‘张文祥行刺马新贻案’为蓝本,狄龙演马新贻,姜大卫饰张文祥,得亚洲影帝奖。2007年陈可辛以“刺马”改编拍“投名状”,李连杰演狄龙的角色,金城武演姜大卫的角色。李连杰演得比当年的狄龙稍好,金城武远不如当年的姜大卫,刘德华则远胜当年的陈观泰。总结来说,“投名状”好过“刺马”,新未必不如故。

1966年的“独臂刀”,近三十年後被徐克改编重拍成1995年的“刀”。徐克是改编重拍的高手,黄飞鸿被他注入新生命,在好莱坞流行Reboot前就Reboot了黄飞鸿,倩女幽魂,新龙门客栈等。1995年的“刀”,是在香港电影和徐克的低潮时期的挣扎力作。虽非没有缺点,我觉得是徐克的精采成功作品之一,拍得比原作好。可惜票房并不成功。徐克虽然早已经不在顶峰,缺少了徐克的香港电影,始终还是感觉得到缺憾。

Sunday, April 12, 2009

根管治疗

为了写这篇东西,谷歌了一下,才知道Root Canal Treatment 中文叫“根管治疗”。

昨天冒雨赴牙医之约,完成了一颗牙的根管治疗。牙医是同学的弟弟,收费已经大手笔折扣,依然让人牙痛。

第一次做根管治疗是学生时代,让同年的牙科系学生当实验。像给实习的理发学生剪头发一样:做一下,要让老师检查,一颗牙齿做了很久,很多次。又没有打麻醉针。有一次老师检查时把仪器往内一探,直探神经末梢,痛得我眼泪马上喷射出来,毒咒她老娘祖宗十八代。第二天还发炎生脓。@#%&× 话说回来,这颗牙根管治疗过程随苦,但效果不错,这么多年了,牙齿还在。只是颜色泛黑,不像首相皮肤白里透红。

学生时代挨义气给牙科系学生当实验白老鼠,把牙齿,该补的补,该拔的拔,该镶金的镶金,该带银的带银。。。结果好多年牙齿都没事儿。算是善有善报吧?

好多年後,又有牙齿要做根管治疗了。这次轮到芙蓉的另一位牙医朋友挨义气,免费帮我动工。这位台湾毕业的朋友经验老到,手艺亦佳。虽然那次是比较复杂的後牙,去了三次就搞掂了。效果也很好。只是他生意很好,麻烦他不好意思。所以,後来读硕士离开芙蓉後,就找另一个牙医,帮我修补另一颗大牙。那牙医看完x 光片,说我那颗牙病情复杂,样子又长得衰,要介绍我去找牙医专科。我只好又飞车会芙蓉找老朋友,结果一样是去三次搞掂。只是又欠他一屁股的人情。

这次的牙病,不想再去芙蓉。想起有一次去慈济义诊时曾经遇到同学的弟弟,就向朋友拿电话去找他。朋友弟弟的诊所在快乐花园。外表不起眼,设备却一流。他做根管治疗,有用到价格不菲的Endodontic Microscope。费用只收我接近一半。所以,这次又欠他半屁股人情债。

总而言之,每一次做根管治疗,都是医好牙齿,欠人屁股。回头想想,吾三十而不立,四十而惑,人到中年,依然有朋友肯卖我面子,赊我人情,也算我为人不坏,不算失败。感觉还是温暖的。