觀影讀書流水賬 8/4/07

觀影：

● Silvio Soldini 《Agata and the Storm/Agata e la tempesta》 (7/10)
● Marie-Anne Chazel 《Last Chance Saloon/Au secours, j'ai trente ans!》 (5/10)
● 羅永昌 《天生一對》 (3/10)

讀書：

● 土屋隆夫 《天國太遠了》
● 土屋隆夫 《盲目的烏鴉》

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Silvio Soldini和Licia Maglietta，一導一演，繼《Bread and Tulips》後，再接再厲，泡製《Agata and the Storm》。Agata是中年風騷書店女東主，戀上年輕一大截的男子。她時有神奇力量能弄壞燈泡和電器，自己的弟弟又剛發現親生父母另有其人...總之，本片故事很難概括交代，因為它其實是一部「魔幻寫實」式電影。值得一看。

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羅永昌的《天生一對》，鬆散求其無趣，爛片一部！可悲的，是《天生一對》乃杜琪峰和銀河映像班底的出品。這個鋼鐵班底，製作過不少出色的電影，《天生一對》的出現，證明製作人認為香港有一大批喜愛爛片的觀眾。有怎樣的觀眾，就有怎樣的電影。

拜託，請勿再提甚麼《天生一對》乃改編自西西的《哀悼乳房》了。

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推理小說一向少接觸，偶然在圖書館發現這兩本新書，姑且借來讀讀，讀後又姑且胡言一番。

土屋隆夫的這兩部作品為本格派推理小說，而且風格屬平鋪直敘式的刑警解謎，感覺頗為老派。

土屋隆夫的創作理念是「事件÷推理＝解决」，對人物性格描寫比較不那麼重視。例如書中查案的刑警／檢查官，佔的篇幅甚多，但書讀完後，他們對我而言仍只是「面目模糊」的角色。

《天國太遠了》和《盲目的烏鴉》為我提供了不錯的閱讀娛樂，但亦僅此而已。兩書以《盲目的烏鴉》較優和文學味道較濃。

真懷念早前讀過的宮部美幸的《理由》。無論如何，務必要把她的《模仿犯》拿來一讀。

--- 曾堯角落：喪逛書店
--- 詹宏志：雪爪追蹤——土屋隆夫會見記

Shitty stuff, once again

I accidentally came across a blog post - Shitty stuff - I wrote more than two years ago.

In it, I quote Slavoj Zizek on toilet designs in different European countries:

In a traditional German toilet, the hole into which shit disappears after we flush is right at the front, so that shit is first laid out for us to sniff and inspect for traces of illness. In the typical French toilet, on the contrary, the hole is at the back, ie shit is supposed to disappear as quickly as possible. Finally, the American (Anglo-Saxon) toilet presents a synthesis, a mediation between these opposites: the toilet basin is full of water, so that the shit floats in it, visible, but not to be inspected.

That was what I wrote back then:

Well, I have never been to Germany, and I regret not having paid much attention to toilet design when I visited France. I always have the impression that there are only two types of toilets in the world: The full-of-water type in the more developed world, and the "no-water-no-hole toilet" in the more underdeveloped, agrarian world. Naive me!

Since then I have visited Germany for the first time and re-visited France. It's a pity that I can't recall anything different about toilet design in these two countries. Either theirs are just the usual Anglo-Saxon type, or I was just too absent-minded (or pre-occupied).

Can anyone enlighten me on this shitty stuff?

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Some googling results:
- German Toilets
- The German Poo-Shelf Toilet
- Hold Your Nose: Toilet Shelf on Trial
- Squat Toilet - with a photo of the French "Squatter" toilet

US-South Korea FTA

The trade two-step: The Bush team has agreed a free-trade deal with South Korea but also slapped tariffs on Chinese paper. Is America's trade policy going backwards or forwards? (The Economist, 4/4/07)

-- joetsang.net: Free Trade Agreements in Asia --

Where there's a will, there's a way

Fraser Island

Photo Album: Fraser Island


Just back from a short trip to Fraser Island (Queensland, Australia), the largest sand island in the world and a World Heritage site.

While Fraser Island looks just like any other big island from afar, the fact that it is a sand island means that there is practically no soil or rock on the island, just sand.

The majority of the east coast is a long beach, and is commonly referred to as the 75 Mile Beach. Only 4WDs are allowed on the island and the 75 Miles Beach is the main thoroughfare. Driving on sand, especially through the dry sandy roads connecting the west and the east coasts of the island, can be quite bumpy.

Looking down from a plane, 95% of the island is covered by forests, rainforests, and fresh water lakes (great swimming spots). The other 5% is occupied by sandblows, which look just like deserts.

- Fraser Island (Tourism Australia)
- Fraser Island (Wikipedia)

Hervey Bay, the mainland gateway for passengers and 4WDs to the island, is around 4 hours drive north of Brisbane. 4WDs can also use Rainbow Beach to get to the southern tip of the island.

To visit Fraser Island, you either drive your own 4WD, or rent one. If you decide not to drive yourself, join a tour.

There are two resorts on the island. The more up-market and family friendly one is called Kingfisher Bay Resort, and is on the west coast. The other, Eurong Bay Resort, is right on the 75 Mile Beach. Camping is popular too.

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We stayed at the Kingfisher Bay Resort for 3 nights, taking advantage of deep room rate discount prior to the Easter school holiday season. Weather was generally fine, with occasional rain and overcast sky, and maximum temperature below 30C.

- Without a doubt, Wotif.com is the best online hotel booking site.

We drove an ordinary vehicle to Hervey Bay, had lunch and walked a bit along the Esplanade and the jetty. We took the 4pm ferry to the resort and did nothing significant for the rest of the day.

- Unsecured parking near the ferry terminal is free. Pay A$8 per day for secured parking.
- The ferry trip takes 45 minutes (shorter on the way back).

The next day was spent on a full-day tour of the island organised by the resort. We did an optional flight with a 6-seater plane.

The third day was a quiet one, spending most of the time at the resort, reading book and dipping occasionally in the pool. Joined a free night walk led by a ranger from the resort.

After another free morning walk, it was time for packing and heading home.

We didn't see any dingos, unfortunately, only footprints on the beach near the jetty.