春神

當地球23.5 度頃斜角從南回歸線慢慢歸零的時候,春天之神也靜悄悄的來臨. 記起兒時的歌: 

春神來了怎知道? 梅花黃鶯報告! ....

這裡的初春,可是櫻花藍雀報信. 再加莫更鳥反覆回唱,織成一副協奏交響,錦繡大地. 這是大地自然之美. 人類幾千年來,面對這可愛的春天,能不動情? 於是詩歌,文學,繪畫,音樂,舞蹈,一一湧現,嘔歌春神之來臨. 再再顯示,讚嘆春神之秀麗. 在這些文化遺產中,翡翠鑽石,俯拾皆是. 現在略取其中之一,與大家共賞這春之來臨:春之聲, Voices of Spring!  這裡我們可以看到春神來臨的雀躍,她曼妙的舞姿也讓我們感染了春之喜悅和歡欣.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3Kwp81ksqfMTkpJSE8wSnZwS2M/edit?usp=sharing

春神在空中的凌波曼步,优雅而輕盈,堪稱一絕. 當她妙手空灑花櫻,凌空而去時,花落人家,讓人間充滿了新希望.

我的學思歷程

The power point presentation at EE Department of National Taiwan University March 13, 2013, by 洪敏弘.  (Posted per request from 洪敏弘)

蜂蜜品賞

Sometime ago, AhMo bought some 大崗山 蜂蜜 in LA and claimed it the Absolutely Best Honey in the world. After some exchanges of argument, he decided to give anyone interested in the honey a free bottle. It just happened that he got a new born granddaughter in Northern California. So everyone of us here in the Bay Area gets a free bottle of 大崗山蜂蜜. Under this circumstance, we should of course get together to hash our good old days. I came up with an idea of Honey Contest to settle whether this 大崗山 蜂蜜 is absolutely the best honey. This is really for fun, not a serious event. The real test is which honey is our favorite, no more, no less. Strictly speaking, the Absolutely Best Honey in the world is undefined or not very meaningful.

We held a honey tasting contest in Los Altos Hills on 3/10/2013 at the residence of Charles Hung. It was a '別開生面' 的 party. Here is our setup and rule of the contest: 

1. Get 5 bowls (normal dinner size) label with 1,2,3,4,5. 

2. Peggy (Charles Hung's wife) is assigned as the referee who randomly assign 1,2,3,4,5 to each bottle of honey and put label at the bottom the bottle.

3. Peggy then pours some amount of the honey to the bowls with number one-to-one correspondence, ie #1 bottle to #1 bowl.

The steps 1,2,3 are performed in the kitchen not seen by any participants.

4. Put the bowls outside (dining room) for everyone to try and taste, with cracker, tea or coffee or just hot water. 

5. I prepare a sheet listed with names (vertical) & ranking (horizontal).

6. Everyone put down his tasting result in his boxes with ranking A,B,C,D,E (A is the best)

7. After we finish the test, we then sum up the score (with A=5, B=4... E=1).

8. The highest score is the one that is our favorite. 

9. Check the number with the label of bottle, then we get the winner.

Peggy was in charge. She prepared all the sampled bread, tea, coffee, crackers and hot water etc. The following bottles of honey are selected for sampling: 

大崗山龍眼 蜂蜜, 崗山, Taiwan

Breitsamer Honig, Acacia ( 洋槐) Blossom Honey, 100% Natural, Munich, Germany

Hungary Bees, Wild Acacia Honey, Raw Honey, Hungary

Pacific Northwest, Clover (苜蓿) Glory Bee, Organic, 100% Pure Honey, Eugene, Oregon, US

White Gold Honey, Red Clover, Canada:

The honey selected gives us some international flavor that covers three continents. When everything was ready, Ahmo was nervous, anxious & agitated as he had no idea which bowl contains his Absolutely Best Honey. Instead of trusting his taste, he entered the kitchen and poured some of 大崗山蜂蜜 in his plate and tried to match the color of the honey in the bowls. This is the violation of the contest rule and only AhMo dared to do this. He somehow zeroed in to #3 as his honey by examining the color before tasting. We sure had good time, everyone sampled the honey, smell the aroma and tasted the quality of the sweetness of the honey. Then one by one, we filled in our ranking on the score sheet. Just before the final tally for score, I found that two rows of data were changed, one is mine, the other is Ben Hu. I found that it was AhMo trying to doctor the data and changed the ranking of #3 to 'A' for me and Ben Hu. Of course, this is an outright violation of the contest rule. He also put Z to all numbers except #3 with 'A'. So the contest is really invalid at this point. However, nothing is perfect in our life anyway, I decided to disqualify AhMo's data and correct the doctored data. After all the confusion, we got the final results: #1:19; #2:17; #3:27; #4:25, #5:22. As to which honey corresponding to what #, here is the finding from the kitchen (randomly assigned by Peggy): #1: Hungary, #2: Canada, #3: Taiwan; #4: Germany, #5: United States. Indeed our favorite is 大崗山龍眼 蜂蜜 from Taiwan. So all the worry and nervousness of AhMo actually were unnecessary. He should have just followed the rule and let the real data speak for itself. Here we try to decide which honey is the best. But somehow we forget the best policy to lead our life is honesty. Perhaps AhMo considered the whole thing was a joke and treated as such. 

Honey is like wine in a smaller sense as there are many species of bees and flowers. The combination is limitless. To compare 龍眼 蜂蜜 to 洋槐 (Acacia) honey is like Cabernet Sauvignon to Chardonnay. It is not very meaningful to say Which one is better. It is proper to say I like Chardonnay with fillet of sole and Cabernet Sauvignon with steak. It is more meaningful to compare same kind of honey such as acacia, clover etc. In our test, the honey White Gold from Canada has the lowest score. This is perhaps due to its highly concentrated creamy form. It is actually best for bread as it is like butter, spread and melt immediately. We are just not accustomed to this way of eating honey. 龍眼 蜂蜜 has plenty of sweet aroma that might tip our decision toward it. I actually found that Acacia honey has a very light and pleasant aroma (一股淡淡的清香). It enhances but not overwhelms the taste of the food or drink it applies. Life is a many-splendored thing. If we just focus on the best one and ignore all the rest, we will miss a lot in the pursuit of happiness.

看台新銀與彰銀合併的感想

Per 洪敏弘's request, I post his essay in our blog.

觀念平台－超然且宏觀地看待金融合併

一個金融退役老兵，看台新銀與彰銀合併的感想

 2013-02-26 01:44 

工商時報 政經八百 A7 觀念平台 

洪敏弘前建華金控董事長

最近台新金控旗下兩家銀行，台新銀與彰銀合併的事情，年後成為所有財經媒體的焦點，金融界頓時議論紛紛沸沸揚揚，雖然目前已是退休的旁觀者，但由於過去有幸參與了籌組金融控股公司的合併過程，仍想從金融業發展的角度，發表一些過來人的觀察與淺見，謹請社會各界不吝指正與賜教。 

首先，如果大家記憶猶新，國內由於金融自由化下，共開放了十六家新銀行執照，新銀行的成立，雖然豐沛了國內的融資管道，但大量的銀行游資瘋狂追逐企業放貸的結果，國內淺碟的經濟結構，一下子無法負荷，銀行利差快速下降，放貸品質急劇惡化，超貸案頻傳，終導致銀行呆帳率快速飆升，尤以官股銀行甚至達到8.2％，銀行不得不開始緊縮放貸，融通管道頓時失能，產業及新興產業發展因而受限，遂有一次金改的緣起。

 一次金改後，雖然呆帳已有改善，但利差萎縮的狀況卻不見好轉。同期間，國際間因Glass-Steagall Act法案的修正，吹起金融大型化的整併風潮，讓國內原本不大的金融機構國際能見度更形渺小，於是為解決金融業過度競爭（Over-Banking）的問題，財政部遂開始為國內金融同業整併營造客觀條件，包括制定「金融控股公司法」等，都是符合當時國內金融產業發展的需要，以及迎向國際金融環境變遷的必要作為。 

接著，2008年全球發生金融海嘯，2010年吹起歐債風暴，美國與歐洲釀成金融危機，全球金融機構瀕臨倒閉而搖搖欲墜，還好美國與歐洲擁有全球最有經驗的金融監管機關擔任救火隊，扭轉了數百年知名金融機構一夕倒閉的股牌效應，使歐美及全球安然渡過金融危機。 

這兩波金融風暴，國內金融機構也受到波及，間接印證了金改的成果，雖然坊間有一些未證實的傳聞，卻沒有聽說有金融控股公司向政府請求輸困，真是天佑台灣，國內碰巧在歷經了兩次金融改革後，歪打正著強壯健全了國內的金融體質，真難想像，若沒有這兩次金融改革的台灣會是如何？這樣的成績當然要歸功於所有在競技場中，每天兢兢業業的主管監理機關、金融業者、以及不離不棄的客戶。

儘管如此，我們沒有自滿的條件，因為鄰居中國大陸，1989年才重啟上海、深圳證券市場，1993年國營銀行都還有三成以上的呆帳，短短二十年間，市值排名全球前十大銀行中，中國已占了四家。 

此外，中國大陸的銀行前進世界金融中心，在紐約、倫敦、及香港購置區域總部的消息時有所聞，二十一世紀全球的金融版圖中，中國銀行業者的關鍵地位已經確立。過去近二十年來的改革開放，取經於全球領導業者，參考台灣相關法令與經驗，都構成快速崛起的關鍵因素。 

回過頭來看台灣，針對台新銀和彰銀合併這一事件的新發展，財政部以劇烈指責回應，金管會噤聲不表態支持，個人深感訝然。當年財政部本來規劃要彰銀出售給新加坡淡馬錫，沒想到台新金出更高價。既然已依相關程序完成簽約，明訂彰銀特別股的標售是附帶經營權條件，在簽約的那一刻起，台新金的財務狀況已與彰銀緊緊相扣，如果彰銀倒閉必然遭到拖累，現在台新金已協助彰銀渡過難關，且增加持股，官股股東卻忘了約定，當初向隅的外國股東必然覺得賽翁失馬，這樣的結果，將讓政府失信於業界與國際金融界。 

最後，台新金的提案的確令我相當佩服，因為它解決了1.金控法規定一家金控下同類子公司三年內必須合併，台新銀與彰銀已共同存在超過七年，金管會很頭疼；2.台灣over-banking可再減少一家，同時擴大銀行規模，可到海外發展，也協助台灣產業海外擴充的財務需求。 

個人自1980年起投入金融事業三十年，身歷兩次金改，到數年前自金控退休，仍甚關心台灣經濟發展，甚望院長，甚至總統，都能超然且更宏觀地容納績極正向的民間企業成長。

Valentine and Poem

I was looking for something related to Valentine's Day two weeks ago & encountered something interesting that I'd like to share with you. However, before doing this, I'd like to talk about Valentine's Day. When we were young, we used to buy flowers, chocolates or fancy cards with many hearts to our love one. When time goes by, we may gradually lose the enthusiasm or passion. Now we are all hovering around 70's. If "人生七十才開始" is true, we must revisit & find a new meaning of the Valentine's Day. Most people agree that we must at least try something new in every decade of our life. I am sure most of you have some idea about the new meaning of Valentine's Day & I encourage you to write it & share with our classmates. I remember one event during our last reunion. After everyone got a five-minute time slot on the bus to talk about his achievements or anything worth mentioning, 陳正一夫人,吳紀珠很感性的說了一句話,'你們說了這麼多成就,可是你們都沒有提到你們的另外一半'. It is well said. We all take this as granted after so many years of marriage. It is time for us to invigorate, strengthen and enhance our wedding vow. 

Now here is the thing I'd like to share with you. It is a poem, well written and unique with its technical jargon. I read a few times and found it hard to translate into Mandarin. I know some of our classmates have talents in literature. They are welcome to give it a try. Before I tell you who was the author of the poem, I copy the whole text here for you to appreciate. 

Valentine by a Telegraph Clerk 

The tendrils of my soul are twined 

With thine, though many a mile apart.

And thine in close coiled circuits wind

Around the needle of my heart.

Constant as Daniel, strong as Grove. 

Ebullient throughout its depths like Smee,

My heart puts forth its tide of love,

And all its circuits close in thee.

O tell me, when along the line 

From my full heart the message flows,

What currents are induced in thine?

One click from thee will end my woes.

Through many a volt the weber flew, 

And clicked this answer back to me;

I am thy farad staunch and true, 

Charged to a volt with love for thee. 

In this poem, the author uses several terms we are all familiar with. They are circuit, coil, current, induced, weber (magnetic flux), volt, farad etc. Please use your imagination to understand the true meaning of this poem and try to translate it into Mandarin. Also spend at least a few minutes to figure out who wrote this poem. If you can't figure it out within 5 minutes, you may read my comment in the 'Comments' section. 

小學與我

在我們小學的時代中,最能夠影響我們的是什麼呢? 在那動亂的時代,能夠倖存下來巳經很不容易. 除了幾位比較和善的老所外,幾乎沒有什麼好記憶. 有的是痛苦的回憶和不盡的補習,加上体罰盛行,老師幾乎有虐待狂,導至學生也不尊敬老師. 現在回想起來,小學教育是一場惡夢,不堪回首. 在那場惡夢中,卻有幾許星光,直到現在,還在暗處發亮,讓我低迥不已. 從'來來來,來上學' 到 '小麥,大麥',所有小學課本皆索然無味. 也不知當時怎麼捱過那些日子. 可是在三年級時,忽然間找到一本 "學友" 月刊. 從此以後,每月暢讀學友,愛不釋手. 記得有一期寫了一些有關獵戶星座的故事和天象圖畫. 當時小心靈大開眼界,從那時以後,天空再也不是無聊的東西,反倒是一個很有趣的世界. 有一期寫了有關蘇遠赫定 (Sven Hedin) 的亞洲腹地旅行和洪保德 (Alexander von Humboldt) 的亞馬遜 (Amazon) 森林探秘. 從此以後,不但天空,連地球也是五光十色,生趣盎然. 一直到小學畢業,學友是陪著我長大,我的幻想,夢想,遐想皆有'學友'的影子. 它對我的影響可真不小. 

在小學五六年級時,又有另一種刊物出現,非常合小學生口味,那是國語日報. 這報紙是以國語標榜,加上注音,真是別出心材. 光是印刷就是一門學問. 我現在還認識注音符號可真是國語曰報的功勞. 每週末還有副刊,有一期居然詳述一些恐龍及畫片,真是洋洋大觀,目不接暇,美不勝收. 從此以後,我對地球及生物大感興趣.  國語日報尚有小亨利漫畫. 這一生看過幾百種漫畫,能夠讓我印家深刻的沒有幾種,小亨利可是其中之一.  小亨利是一個啞巴又禿頭的孩子,長相有點滑稽但很可愛. 他童心未泯,雖然淘氣卻常常做一些意想不到的好事. 看了小亨利的漫畫,常常哈哈大笑. 但事後卻回味無窮.這是漫畫的一大功用. 童言無忌,常常一語道破人間真理,令人莞爾.  來美國以後才知道小亨利原來是美國的漫畫,由何凡向美國洽購,加上中文說明. 何凡本名夏承楹,是林海音的先生. 至於小亨利,是 Carl Anderson 的創作,在 Saturday Evening Post 連載兩年 (1932).  Carl Anderson 乃挪威移民後裔,生於 Madison Wisconsin.

國語日報尚有一大德政,那是 '古今文選',是梁容若主編. 從 1951 年起,刊載古今中外好文章,讓大家共賞.其註解詳盡,皆一時之選. 從小學畢業以後,它還一直影響著我. 我在1972年買了一套八大冊 '古今文選',至今受用不盡. 每年中秋時節,總是不忘翻開 '古今文選',重溫蘇軾的 '水調歌頭'. 最近偶而翻到一頁 '最後一課',是都德 (Alphonse Daudet) 的散文,寫一位法國老師教最後的法文課. 襯托出 Alsace 割讓德國的慘痛經驗. 中小學時看到這文章,很受感動. 現在年紀大了,知道 Alsace 的歷史和德法之間的恩怨,真是一筆糊塗帳. 不過時隔那麼多年,再看到這文章,心頭還是震顫不巳.

雖然小學時期很不快樂,但這幾許星光卻能補償那逝去的時光,不讓我覺得索然無味,浪費生命. 想到這兒,真要感謝前人孜孜不懈,創作一些有價值的東西,深深影響了我們.

New Year's Resolution

At the beginning of each year, people talk about the "New Year's Resolution". In other words, it is the time of year to remind people of acting on something to achieve some goal in the year ahead. Remember the adage: "一年之際在於..." Most people start earnestly, but then slip to oblivion. It takes some will power to do something tenaciously. One resolution is better than no resolution. Nobody is perfect. We always feel that we need to improve ourselves somehow. No wonder there are tons of books in the shelf section of "Self Improvement" in bookstore. 

The top 10 New Year's Resolutions this year are something like Spend More Time with Family, Fit in Fitness, Tame the Bulge, Enjoy Life More, Learn Something New, Quit Smoking, Quit Drinking, etc etc etc. Except the last two, all others are hard to quantify. They are just too loose or vague to enforce, let alone achieving the goal.

As usual I have something that I want to improve & some goal I want to achieve. But it is personal & I don't want to list it here. However, I also found that it is always come in handy to have something available in your pocket you'd like to use whenever you feel like it. For me it is a bonus on top of the resolution. That something is "日行一善", no matter how insignificant it is. But first what is "善"? It is something good. What is the criterion of good? Well, "己所不欲,勿施於人" is close. But it is passive. The active side of this is "己所欲,施於人". "日行一善" is in between as I see it. For example, if you don't like someone bumping on you in the street, you don't do the same to others. If you like people say 'good morning' to you, say the same to others first. Of course in human behavior, there is no strict & hard rule that "放諸四海皆準". To be more flexible & practical, I add "Common Sense" in my pocket. "日行一善" is the guideline & "Common Sense" is the first order correction to the guideline whenever I think things don't make sense. 

"日行一善" is not the purpose or the meaning of life.  However, it is a noble deed and good universal guideline of behavior to our society. I find that I feel better and happier if I use it everyday.  It is truly an act we do something good to others and also good to ourselves.