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By admin, December 20, 2013 11:31 pm

經朋友介紹今天穿了這副新的組合，聽說Wilson Champions Choice Hybrid也是Federer近期的選擇。

這次直穿55磅、橫穿53磅，感覺還真不錯! 尤其底線抽擊很得心應手，線床有彈力也比較軟，所以抽起來像在使用鞭子。但是因為16G比較粗的關係，所以手感沒之前17G的那些天然腸線舒服。

另外就是如同朋友所說，Wilson的這副混線因為材料特別，所以也特別耐用，打完兩個鐘頭後，的確發現線床沒什麼損耗，希望這次可以用上3個月。

It’s all in the name. Wilson Champions Choice is a hybrid of two of the most popular strings on tour: Wilson Natural Gut and Luxilon ALU Power Rough. Combining the ultimate playability of a high quality natural gut with the durability, spin and control of a textured polyester gives the player the best of both worlds. For durability and control, use the Luxilon ALU Power Rough in the mains. For a softer feel and playability, use the Wilson Natural Gut in the mains.

Gauge: Natural Gut 16 / 1.32mm
ALU Power Rough 16L / 1.25mm
Length: Both strings measure 20 feet (6.1 m)
Construction: Natural gut
ALU Power Rough: Co-polymer (nylon) + Fluocarbon resin + aluminum fibers
Color: Natural / Grey

Update Aug 21, 2014:

The string finally broken today, amazingly it lasted for 8 months!!!

Update Sep 7, 2014:

The pro shop I went told me they are out of Wilson Champions, so I selected a closest combination Babolat VS Touch 16 (Main, 53lbs) and Luxilon ALU Power Rough 16L (50 lbs). Also just noticed 16L is a bit thinner than 16 (ie, 1.25mm vs 1.32mm), let’s see how long it will last this time.

Update Apr 24, 2015:

The string broke almost another 8 months, but the last 2 feels awful as I can tell the string bed was dead. So it’s better to change it every 6 months. Nonetheless, I can conclude that I’ve finally found a natural gut + poly combination that provides good hitting experience and most importantly economically sound.

Update May 3, 2015:

Almost got a Yonex VCORE Si 98 G, but give up at the end due to the spec. is almost identical to my Head Extreme Pro but stiffness is even higher (ie, too stiff). So I ended up restrung with the same combination, Babolat VS Touch 16 (Main, 57lbs) and Luxilon ALU Power Rough 16L (53 lbs). This time, it should be able to last till December at least.

Update July 12, 2015:

Strangely, the previous combination only lasted for just a little bit longer than 2 months, probably due to higher tension than usual. So this time, I went for Babolat VS Touch 16 (Main, 55lbs) and Luxilon 4G Rough 16L (53 lbs) to see if the new string (4G Rough) will produce a better touch and feel.

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By admin, November 30, 2013 6:11 pm

秋風起、食生蠔! Yummy!!!

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By admin, November 17, 2013 10:17 pm

林振強作為香港樂壇80年代的靈魂人物，今晚的重溫才令我知道原來他曾經為那麼多首名曲填過詞，簡直就是”鬼才”!

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By admin, November 14, 2013 1:22 pm

6 months ago, I found my Windows 7 C:\ drive (50GB) is almost used up, using WinDirStat (another neat tool), I quickly found out C:\Windows\WinSXS and iPhone Backup took up 20% and 15% of the space respectively.

I’ve been searching for a simply solution to reduce these wasted space especially in C:\Windows\WinSXS without success. It has come to a point that I almost used up my entire C:\ today, my only option is to use Acronis Disk Director to expand C:\, but that involves some risks.

Luckily, I fount out Microsoft has released a nice updated Disk Cleanup tool just about two weeks ago that will solve all the problem at once.

So problem solved for now!

As for changing the default iTunes backup folder location, here is a good link.

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By admin, November 12, 2013 10:20 am

I couldn’t believe my 2TB LaCie Minimus (two of them, 2nd one is for backing up the 1st one) has been filled up so quickly in less than 2 years, probably due to all those 720P MKVs.

So I’ve decided to look around for something bigger in storage size. This time I was looking for at least 3TB to 4TB, and it turns out 4TB is the one to go for in terms of $ per 1TB, at least this is the case for LaCie Porsche Design P′9230 as it’s the same $ per 1TB for 3TB and 4TB.

Most importantly I wanted to have another Lacie because I can re-use the existing power supplies (ie, 3A plug) instead of adding two extra power supplies which I don’t have room for on the power bar.

Physical dimension is also important, as LaCie Minimus is currently the smallest external disk available and of course not not mention how cool it looks! The only draw back is LaCie Minimus only comes with 1 year warranty.

In fact, I’ve looked at other brands as well such as Seagate and Hitachi (Touro Pro, 7,200RPM), but the size is simply much larger than LaCie and they all look dull in terms of design and style.

Yes, I am well aware of the extra 20% premium I have to pay if I stick to LaCie, but consider all facts and limitations, plus I found out LaCie Porsche Design P′9230 comes with 2 years warranty, so the choice is very clear!

Somehow all LaCie disks are in fact Seagate, my Minimus 2TB is ST2000DL001 and Porsche Design P′9230 is ST4000DM000, both are 5,400 RPM.

People say the best is yet to come and yeah, the shop owner agreed to give me extra 2.5% off as I was buying two at the same time, so here we go, two gigantic 4TB disks sitting in front of my desktop and doing the data transfer now.

The only complain I have is why LaCie couldn’t make the Porsche Design P′9230 to be the same size as Minimus? It’s about 20% larger in dimension and it also uses plastic material with holes instead of metal in the bottom part (that’s why it’s hotter). I thought Seagate harddisk should be the same size, no matter if it’s 2TB or 4TB, or does the bigger brother requires more space to dissipate heat?

Of course, 400GB was wasted after format, leaving only 3.66TB usable, this somehow reminds me the same 3.66TB usable size in my Equallogic PS6000XV (600GB x 16). So think of having all the storage of a PS6000XV in a little LaCie Box, the idea is quite neat and funny.

Finally, there will be 6TB and 8TB to be released in 2014, well, reliability is always another issue of course.

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By admin, November 7, 2013 10:04 pm

外形終極復古的Nikon Df，真身終於現香港！Df配備跟D4相同的1,620萬像素全片幅CMOS、5.5fps、EXPEED3處理器及3.2吋屏幕。最特別是機頂多個可分 別控制快門、光圈、ISO、曝光補償等功能的獨立機械式轉盤，在現場試玩感覺甚有古典攝影趣味。
新機支援一系列包括「非AI」的舊Nikon鏡頭，對鍾情舊式菲林相機的影友來說絕對是喜訊。新機預計11月下旬推出，淨機售價約$22,000，新的50mm f/1.8鏡頭則約售$1,800。

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By admin, November 6, 2013 12:24 pm

從數據中心連線落手　逾億人私隱蕩然無存
美英聯手截取　Google雅虎用戶資料

美國國家安全局（NSA）竊聽和截取網上活動的伎倆，越揭越猖狂。命令科網公司交出資料，也滿足不了NSA想刺探一切的「老大哥」欲望，竟跟英國政府通訊總部（GCHQ）合作，索性秘密直接從Google和雅虎兩大科網公司的數據中心連線，肆意截取數以億計用戶資料。這行徑令用戶私隱蕩然無存，Google和雅虎對此大表震怒。

美國叛諜斯諾登（Edward Snowden）今年較早前向傳媒大爆NSA監控手段，當中的「稜鏡」（PRISM）計劃，是逼九大科網公司交出網上通訊資料，但要外國情報監視法院批出命令。NSA已有這走前門索資料的尚方寶劍，還不心足，另設走後門截取資料的「大力」（MUSCULAR）計劃。
美國《華盛頓郵報》前天（周三）引用斯諾登文件，指「大力」計劃是NSA和GCHQ聯手進行，分別向Google和雅虎的數據中心之間光纖電纜連線入手，在未公開的截取點，完全複製傳送的數據。
數據中心間傳資料沒加密

報道指，今年1月9日一份NSA內部報告，指NSA每日從兩家公司截取的數據送給總部分析，之前的30日就總共送了1.81億個紀錄到馬里蘭州總部，包括電郵收發兩方是誰的「元資料」，以至文字影音內容。簡報文件指這些紀錄為敵對國家動向提供重要線索。
Google和雅虎分散世界各地的數據中心，存放了無數用戶的通訊紀錄和資料，為加強運算速度和備份以防萬一，各地數據中心會互傳用戶資料，將資料同步，有時連整個電郵資料庫也傳送，如能中途截取，就可將即時通訊和過往紀錄都一覽無遺。
《華郵》指文件未說明NSA是如何截取數據中心連線通訊，一個可能是NSA技高一籌，能擊破科網公司私人聯網的嚴密保安，直接從連線截取資料，但知情者指兩公司都相信他們的內部網絡安全，所以數據中心間傳資料並沒有加密。

不過他們的私有海底光纖電纜駁上陸地網絡，是要經第三者營運的海纜登陸站，他們有時亦會向其他機構租用聯網設施，或者共用同一座數據中心，NSA和GCHQ有可能威逼利誘第三者在聯網裝上截取裝置。一份文件顯示截取是在美國境外進行，由一家沒公開名字的電訊服務供應商提供協助。
《華郵》指「稜鏡」計劃受法例約束，不能隨意蒐集美國公民資料，「大力」計劃則在海外進行，可假設使用海外連線的都是外國人，就算蒐集到美國公民資料也可當「誤中副車」，而且不用通知科網公司。NSA前首席分析員欣德勒說：「NSA大隊律師的工作，就是利用漏洞，在法律容許內蒐集最多資料。」電子私隱資訊中心則指「大力」計劃很可能是「非法監控」。
Google稱不知情　大表震怒

「大力」計劃曝光令兩公司難向用戶交代，Google法務總監德拉蒙德表示對計劃不知情，「對政府從我們的私有光纖網絡截取資料而震怒」，並說會加緊將數據中心間資料傳送加密。雅虎發言人指他們的數據中心都受到嚴密保護，沒有讓NSA和其他政府部門進入。
NSA發言人否認報道屬實，局長亞歷山大（Keith Alexander）稱NSA沒入侵Google和雅虎的伺服器，但沒說明有否截取傳送中資料。
美國《華盛頓郵報》/路透社

美國竊聽風波越鬧越大，意大利傳媒指NSA連梵蒂岡也不放過，在教廷樞機團召開前後曾竊聽有關選新教宗的事宜。澳洲報紙爆料，指美國利用駐亞太區的本國及澳洲大使館從事秘密電子刺探行動，中國和東南亞多國政府都非常憤怒，要求美國解畫。
意 大利雜誌《全景》周刊前天（周三）報道，NSA去年12月10日至今年1月8日期間，竊聽意大利多達4,600萬電話通話，包括梵蒂岡的通訊，據稱情報分 為四大類，包括領導意向、對財金系統的威脅、外交政策目標和人權，報道更擔心連3月選新教宗的閉門樞機團會議也可能被竊聽。NSA隨即否認竊聽梵蒂岡，批 評報道失實，梵蒂岡發言人隆巴爾迪神父說：「我們對這事全不知情，也沒有擔心過。」
一波未平，一波又起，澳洲Fairfax媒體昨天報道，美國利 用在駐耶加達、曼谷、河內、北京、吉隆坡等地的美國和澳洲大使館作為監聽站，截取亞洲各國的電話通訊和網絡資料。中國外交部發言人華春瑩說中方非常關注事 件，要求美國澄清和解釋。印尼提出強烈抗議，馬來西亞和泰國都非常關注事件。
美國白宮高層和NSA局長亞歷山大則分別跟德國情報官員和歐洲議員會面解釋，希望可消除對方疑慮，重建互信。美國還向聯合國保證，現在和以後也不會監控聯合國總部的通訊。
法新社/美聯社

美國叛諜斯諾登（圖）揭發NSA對全球的監控工程，有如一石激起千重浪，引起極大迴響，除了當局要向全球多國政府解畫外，國會議員都認為情報機構的所為太過份，呼籲立法收緊情報部門竊聽能力，但情報界人士認為難望短期內有改變。
已 退休的中情局秘密行動處副處長薩諾（John Sano）直言，政客批評得有道理，但「指出需要改變規則，跟實際創立機制以便有效改變規則、好讓國會監察，是完全兩回事」；尤其是目前監聽計劃都是自 911之後實施的反恐工具，證明相當有效，而且對美國的利益非常重要，令情報機關不願放棄，真正的改變很可能根本不會發生。
情報界與政界唯一共識，就是齊聲譴責斯諾登是出賣美國的叛徒、罪犯。司法部前日宣佈，已經向為美國政府做僱員背景審核、包括斯諾登背景審核的USIS公司，提出起訴，控告該公司審查不力。
美國廣播公司/路透社

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By admin, October 30, 2013 12:24 pm

這是另一套緊接著Rush的傳奇賽車手大片，熱切期待中。

去年離世的Carroll Shelby，既是F1車手也是汽車設計師，一生貢獻給賽車，由他創立的公司專門改裝Ford及出售賽車配件，是美國車壇舉足輕重的大人物。自傳式電影 《Go Like Hell》便是以Carroll Shelby為主角，回顧60年代Ford及Ferrari車隊在24小時勒芒（24 Hours of Le Mans）的比賽事迹。最近剛落實由萬人迷湯告魯斯飾演Carroll Shelby一角，並預定明年開始拍攝，令人期待。

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By admin, October 24, 2013 1:08 pm

今天讀了一篇引人深思的文章，爸爸今年已經80幾歲，我2011年中跟姐姐商量，不如搞一個世紀Reunion，再不去就真的沒機會了。

就這樣由我籌備了幾個月，終於一家人聖誕前夕排除萬難(媽媽當時不幸還得了急性肺炎)，一齊去了泰國布吉度過了難忘的5天。

當時爸媽由溫哥華飛去布吉，姐由吉隆坡，我們則由香港飛去。一家8口住在一間6千尺的大Villa，好開心好難忘。

香港人的平均壽命很長，太長了，容易教人產生某種錯覺︰父母雖然早晚會走，但是時間還有的是，反正隨時都可以見面，見面時再聊好了。最近在看的一本書，書名無法一口氣唸完，叫作《別以為你還有 20年──你跟父母相處的時間其實只剩下 55天》，裡頭有這樣的一條算式──

20年﹙父母剩餘的壽命﹚× 26天﹙每兩周回家吃個飯﹚× 2小時﹙每次吃飯花的時間﹚× 2天﹙除夕．初一﹚× 7小時﹙除夕．初一這兩個特別日子見面的時間﹚= 1320小時
算式的假設還算忠實。對大部分成年子女來說，頭一趟有意識地把「父母」和「死亡」看出關連時，兩老已逾六十了﹙人人都知道死亡，但理性上知道和在感性上準備，十萬個不一樣﹚。當然誰也說不準死神是否就在轉角處等着，但大膽假設他們的壽命跟平均數相去不遠，前望大概有二十年。二十年乍聽不短，可是若只算上親子相聚的時間，事情就變得很不一樣了。譬如說，每兩週來一次「旋風式」聚餐，一年只有除夕夜才在老家逗留得較久……七除八扣剩下 1320小時，即是短短五十五天。

這輩子只剩五十五天，還不到兩個月？﹗而我們打算怎樣善用這些正在指縫間悄悄溜走的日子？同桌吃飯但在小小屏幕上各自修行？說好回來飲湯，卻在夜幕下滯留辦公室？

為《死在香港──流眼淚》訪問社工系學者周燕雯，聽她分享一段經驗︰周爸爸是中風死亡的，說走便走，但她慶幸自己竟然把握了他最後一年的日子，辦了一趟家族祭祖行。

事情始於某次輔導，有病人向她說了一樁樂事︰女兒排除萬難帶他坐輪椅回鄉探親，跟兄弟姊妹久別重逢。周燕雯聽着，心裡想︰我爸行得走得，不如現在就去。她坐言起行，得到爸爸同意後，便聯絡早就散落在世界各地的親友。神奇的是，大家竟然都能抽空，於是一行四十人浩浩蕩蕩上順德。

周燕雯記得，那些嘗盡人生五味的老人，一個個變回兄弟幫姊妹淘，日間重遊祖屋寫族譜，晚上則在酒店沒完沒了聊到天亮。當時大家怎樣也想不到，排行最小的周爸爸翌年竟會猝死，這趟旅程成為最後的溫暖回憶。

放下書，我馬上打電話給我老爸瞎聊﹙當然找了個不着痕迹的借口）。我們雖然沒本錢跟死神討價還價，卻有本事在算式上動手腳──把五十五天活得不留遺憾，又或者，甚至把它們活成一百天、二百天。趁還可以。

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By admin, October 21, 2013 9:40 pm

Today I got a chance to play with Ubuntu Linux Distro.

1. The latest compatible release for ESX 4.1 is 10.04 64bits, on the download page, it says ubuntu-10.04.4-server-amd64, and there is no version for intel 64bits, it turns out the iso will also work on Intel platform.

I suspect you can of course install the latest Ubuntu 13, but you may not able to install Vmware Tools, which is very important.

2. The bare server iso does not come with a GUI, so the following steps will help you to install a nice GUI.

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop –no-install-recommends

3. I noticed the security is much better and fine tuned in Ubuntu than Redhat or CentOS, as root is diabled by default completely, every time you will need to issue command ’sudo’ to start with when changing something in system configuration.

If you want to enable root ssh, then edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config and change the line PermitRootLogin to yes.

4. Enabling snmp is similar to CentOS, by adding rocommunity community_string mrtg.yourhost.com to /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf, but you will also need to modify /etc/default/snmpd, the line SNMPDOPTS=’-Lsd -Lf /dev/null -u snmp -I -smux -p /var/run/snmpd.pid -c /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf’

5. To configure Ubuntu firewall, you need to install gufw, the rest is a piece of cake, same as in CentOS. In fact, you can also use ufw to block DDOS IP address.

e.g.,
sudo ufw deny proto tcp from 12.34.56.78 to any port 22

6. After deploy a vm from Ubuntu template, I found eth0 has gone missing (reminds me w2k8 VMXNET 3 issue ), eventually I found this VMware KB. Or even easier, simply delete /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules will do the trick.

7. ‘gksudo gedit /etc/hostname’ is the command to graphically edit any file, no more vi, which is very useful for many new Ubuntu or Linux users.

8. Finally regarding extending disk in Ubuntu, the method is similar, but with some twist.

9. There is a very good link for installing VMware Tools, one specific thing is you need to create a special directory ’sudo mkdir /usr/lib64′ in order to successfully install VMware Tools. Just make sure you download the latest VMware Tools (latest is 10.04) as the older one comes with ESX 4.1 (8.0.x) doesn’t work in latest Ubuntu 16.x. I also noticed VMware Tools status shows as “Unmanaged”!  That’s actually ok, as the tools is installed from an individual package instead of using the default attached CD-ROM (which the version doesn’t work anyway), so you can safely ignore it.

Update: Oct 23, 2013

It turns out even the latest release 12.04 worked perfectly on ESX4.1.

Update: Oct 28, 2015

Tested the latest 14.04 also worked perfectly on ESX4.1.

Update: Nov 14, 2016

Tested the latest 16.04 also worked perfectly on ESX4.1.