- 6 May 2016
- Technology
奧地利-克羅埃西亞-斯洛維尼亞-義大利遊 2016 09-21~10-05
想去歐洲玩,其實是心理退休前的計畫,由於中歐有恐怖攻擊,所以選擇了南歐,較為安全些。
Lamigo旅遊團是老婆心中的首選,於是我們就這樣敲定了。
路線 :
行程明細 :克羅埃西亞十六湖國家公園&斯洛維尼亞&義大利秘境健走12日
Google My Maps :
由於使用免費機票,所以在參團上,會有些日期與班機的困擾,為了能配合旅行團(group)行程,我們決定來個自由遊行(FIT...Free Individual Travel),配合旅行團的日期。
1/ Lamigo團為09/22-10/02, 我決定09/21先到維也納(VIE),透過airbnb,定一晚民宿。
先遊市區,吃個當地到處可看到的平民食物,Kebap(如下圖),中東烤肉串漢堡,遊舊城
區。隔天再到機場入境大廳的Starbuck與抵達的lamigo團會合。
2/lamigo團於10/02離開維也納後,我們多待兩天。透過booking.com,住進Hilton Danube Water
Front Hotel,乘船遊多瑙河。
此次寶貴的經驗是:
1/使用網路訂旅館(booking.ocm)與選擇民宿(airbnb)。是不錯的選擇。
2/自己搭乘維也納的交通工具,如火車(train),地鐵(metro)與輕軌(tram)。毫無失誤,對自己日
後的歐洲自由行(FIT),增加信心不少。
3/買單次票,一小時內,可以與多種交通工具混用。使用24票(有24/48/72小時內,可無限次搭
乘)。但必須坐車前,先戳(validate)上時間。
歐洲國家,交通工具無人驗票,採信任制,但若未先在validator(如下圖)上戳上時間,被抓
到,則重罰。
平心而論,納米哥(Lamigo)國際旅遊公司的團,吃、住、行走路線,均屬佳品,無購物累贅。
下次應可再參加。
程】克羅埃西亞十六湖國家公園&斯洛維尼亞&義大利秘境健走12日
花蓮六十石山賞花 2016-08/22-08/23
在2016五月,與光明兄相約去逛高雄旅遊展,購買了花蓮玉里溫泉民宿-紐澳華,光明兄約好阿祿及我,共三對夫妻,於08/22-08/23, 於金針花盛開的季節(八月初﹋九月初),搭自強號火車,前往花蓮玉里鎮。
08/22 10:30火車抵玉里車站,民宿老闆娘來接人,然後前往瓦拉米林道。
先停留玉山國家公園南安遊客中心,簡介。然後驅車至登山口,再步行至山風二
號吊橋,午餐 (便當);觀賞瀑布,折返約4.2公里。泡溫泉。
08/23 04:20 一大早起床,民宿老闆專車前往富里鄉六十石山,觀賞日出與金針花。回來
後,泡溫泉。中午享用有名的玉里麵。
13:40火車返回高雄。
08/22 10:30火車抵玉里車站,民宿老闆娘來接人,然後前往瓦拉米林道。
先停留玉山國家公園南安遊客中心,簡介。然後驅車至登山口,再步行至山風二
號吊橋,午餐 (便當);觀賞瀑布,折返約4.2公里。泡溫泉。
08/23 04:20 一大早起床,民宿老闆專車前往富里鄉六十石山,觀賞日出與金針花。回來
後,泡溫泉。中午享用有名的玉里麵。
13:40火車返回高雄。
皺紋哥的退休生活 2016-07-11
Tim的退休生活...2016-01-01起
【上午】
1/ 05:20 - 07:00 英文導讀,BBC,CNN,USA today.
07:00 - 08:00 早餐,讀報(中文).
08:00 - 09:30 ICRT radio 及 大陸安邦每日經濟(Anbound
Economic Daily).
2/ 10:00 - 12:00 雜事與跑腿
【下午】
1/13:00 – 15:00 Discovery World HD,Discovery Science HD, Nat Geo Wild/People HD.
2/網球 16:30(星期二)
英文課 13:30(星期三) 長青學苑
網球 16:30(星期四) 胡教練
FYI:
1/首先,感謝老婆陪伴,讓我退休後的生活,進出有據。
2/再來看看這樣的安排,能撐多久? 一年後,再跟各位報告。
虛擬數位貨幣 Bitcoin 2016-05-09
Does Bitcoin still matter?
By Zoe ThomasBBC Business reporter, New York
Image copyrightGetty Images
Craig Wright's assertion that he was the creator of Bitcoin this week occurred at the same time as thousands of members of a growing industry tied to the virtual currency attended the Consensus 2016 conference in New York.
Attendees debated the truth of Wright's claims, but also grappled with the more poignant question of whether Bitcoin still matters?
Bitcoin has come a long way since its start. What was once marketed as a global currency - free from government restrictions - is now seen as a burgeoning technology that can help improve the world's financial system and change how information and assets are stored and shared.
Hundreds of new companies have started that focus on creating blockchains, the underlying ledger system on which Bitcoin is based.
Image copyrightThinkstockBitcoin vs blockchain
The answer to Bitcoin's relevance depends on whether you are talking about the digital currency or the industry.
Because Bitcoin was the first digital currency, the sector as a whole is often referred to as the Bitcoin industry.
It now prefers to be called blockchain - after the technology which underpins Bitcoin.
The currency is struggling because of strains on its technology and persistent doubts about when and if it can become a mainstream form of money.
The blockchain industry however is thriving as new uses for the technology continue to be dreamed up and investors continue to fund them.
"Digital currency is now a misnomer for Bitcoin," says Erik Voorhees, chief executive officer for Shape Shift, a digital currency exchange. "It can be used as currency, but it can be used for many things."
Image copyrightGetty ImagesWhat is blockchain?
Blockchains rely on cryptography to allow a set of computers to make changes to a global record without needing a central actor.
Removing the middleman cuts costs in almost every sector.
The blockchain is a ledger that records everything that happens to a collection of data known as a "block" in a chronological order or "chain".
As a currency this is an important feature because it allows users to be sure their digital money is one of a kind, the same way each note in your wallet is unique.
"Blockchain tech will be the way we create assets because it allows you to transfer digital information without copying," says Adam Ludwin, chief executive of Chain.com, which builds blockchain networks.
Blockchain can be used to track the history of all sorts of information and maintain its value, so, for example, doctors could use it to update medical records.
Since each change to a blockchain is made simultaneously across the whole network, no information is lost and because changes cannot be undone the system maintains its transparency. A special key is needed to make changes to each block, so individuals can keep their records safe by protecting that key.

Bitcoin problems
The original code for Bitcoin was designed to produce a fixed amount. Its popularity has meant the digital currency is coming to its limit faster than many expected.
Among Bitcoin's core engineers there is a division about how to fix this problem.
One group advocates doubling the size of the "blocks" in Bitcoin, something that could help, but may be short-term. Another group advocates rewriting its underlying protocols to have far more blocks - a solution that would make old Bitcoins incompatible with the new ones.
For companies that are thinking of using blockchain tech or digital currency, this schism makes it hard to choose Bitcoin.
"This is sending signals that are making engineers worried," says Jeff Garzik, one of Bitcoin's core developers. "People are waiting to see what happens before launching."
Image copyrightGetty ImagesMore blockchains
Almost since Bitcoin's creation there have been copycats. As more industries warmed to the idea of blockchain these imitators began to look less like virtual currencies and more like digital record keepers.
Some of these are public - allowing anyone to join and grow the chain - while others are private to ensure only trusted parties have access, an approach favoured by banks.
This explosions of new blockchains has created a need for inter-ledger operators. These companies allow people to exchange digital assets from one blockchain to another.
"Blockchain is another database and it's impractical to think of the world working on one database," says Chris Larsen, the chief executive of global financial settlement company Ripple.
Image copyrightGetty ImagesCould Bitcoin be a viable currency?
For believers in a government-free digital currency, Bitcoin is the still the biggest player.
Virtual currencies could still have a place in finance, particularly in countries with less stable governments and economies. Governments though have been looking for ways to add regulation, in an effort to prevent tax dodging, money laundering and other criminal activities that were associated with the early Bitcoin days.
Eventually blockchains could allow users to exchange the rights to all sorts of assets, like houses or stocks, update records and make payments without relying on a third party to verify the transaction.
But for this to become a reality more users will have to join blockchains.
比特幣的生死問題
2009年誕生的比特幣,被認為是實驗性質濃厚的加密電子貨幣,而其理念上的「去中央化、去管制」─這是一個沒有人管束、發行,全靠「礦工」在電腦上「挖礦」產生,各國政府、央行都管不著的貨幣,這點更是吸引不少烏托邦思想者。但這個「優點」卻也是其致命的缺點。沒有國家支持是缺陷
世界上所有能被廣泛接受、而能在所有國家間流通的貨幣,基本上都有一個負責發行的單位(大部份就是中央銀行)。央行能發行廣被接受與流通的貨幣,靠的則是背後國家力量保證此貨幣的流通、穩定其幣值,央行等於是一個保證最終支付的角色。而除了用作交易的流通功能外,貨幣另一個重要的功能是價值儲藏。
但這些功能,比特幣全部沒有─或是說即使有也是非常弱。全世界接受比特幣作為交易貨幣者幾稀,幾乎只限於特定科技網路領域;缺乏穩定幣值與最後支付者,讓比特幣的幣值起落極大,結果反過來又影響其扮演正常貨幣的角色。
1年暴漲100倍,缺乏貨幣該有的功能
例如2009年比特幣問世時,比特幣與美元的匯率是一美元可兌1309個比特幣,2013年初漲到一個比特幣兌10美元,接著拜中國炒家之賜,11月底飆到超過1200美元─超過了當時的金價,不到1年內就上漲100倍。接著再暴跌4成,一番起伏後去年1月跌到只有170元左右,到9-11月之間2個多月間又爆漲6成,現在回到400多美元。
這種起落無常的行情,與其說是「貨幣」,不如說是一個「炒作標的」。而且比特幣的「衰事」不斷;2014年全球最大的比特幣交易所Mt.Gox 宣告破產,接著又發生有交易所的比特幣被駭客洗劫一空。在比特幣最夯的時候,FED主席葉倫曾在國會表示,「我們無權監管比特幣」。這句話真正的含意應該是:出事也不干FED的事,別找我們哦。因此我們可看到美國的銀行、保險等金融機構出事,美國政府與FED非介入不可,但比特幣呢?死活自己顧吧!
核心成員:比特幣確實已死
比特幣核心開發團隊成員 Mike Hearn 今年初就曾經表態,由於比特幣相關的社群已經失敗,再加上比特幣的網路技術正處在崩潰的邊緣,比特幣的前景恐怕將是不甚樂觀。國際支付機構 TransferWise 總裁 Taavet Hinrikus 則說得更明確:「比特幣確實已死」;原因很簡單,現在市場上根本沒有人透過比特幣作電子商務交易(不論過去曾有多少電商宣稱接受比特幣作交易貨幣)。依照他的說法:「在真實世界裡,我們真的看不到有任何人在使用比特幣進行實體交易。」
就一個貨幣而言,這種情況確實就可判定死亡;至於比特幣仍瘋狂上漲或下跌等情況,則與貨幣功能無關,純是玩家仍懷抱希望的炒作。正如台灣央行2年前公布一份談比特幣的資料時,最後的結論是「比特幣不是貨幣,只是一種供作投資的貴金屬。」其實,情況再惡化可能較此更不堪─如果炒作無望、大家揚棄比特幣後,它連貴金屬都不是,只是「電腦中的一個數字」罷了。
別當最後的老鼠
也許未來比特幣的核心技術區塊鏈可永遠存在並發揚光大,但作為貨幣的比特幣已死,作為投資標的比特幣則是一息尚存;至於這「一息」可撐多久,則可參考當年的鬱金香熱的結果:何時大家集體夢醒,就是何時結束炒作,但千萬別成為最後一隻老鼠哦!三重-京都-大阪 賞櫻記 2016-03-31
日本氣象株式會社http://n-kishou.com/
嚮往日本的櫻花,尤其京都的櫻花,更為聞名.
查了一下日本氣象台,京都櫻花, 開花日是03/25; 滿開日是04/02.
趁著今年退休,享受一下唯二的兩張可定位機票(一張日本,一張歐洲).
於是決訂了這樣的行程:
(一) 03/31 CI150 TPE-NGO 17:05 台北起飛,夜抵名古屋(Nagoya),又稱"中部機場".
大兒子家,三重縣朝日町,小住兩天
(二) 04/02 三重縣...媳婦Aki帶路,親家母,元翰,AOI同遊.
伊勢神宮,珍珠海女館,夫婦岩
三重特產: 伊勢神宮、松阪牛、忍者、海女與珍珠.
伊勢神宮拜的是"天照大神",他是日本總地方守護神,也是日本天皇先祖神.
是日本最重高的神宮(神社).
(三) 04/03 京都...媳婦Aki帶路
一路均是"滿開"的吉野櫻,甚是漂亮!
醍醐寺,宇治抹茶(綠茶).平等院...親家母,AOI先回三重;
夜遊二條城.
04/04 金閣寺,平安神宮, "哲學之道"賞櫻,銀閣寺,清水寺....Aki,元翰返回三重.
"哲學之道"是京都最美的賞花地方
(四) 04/05 大阪...Tim帶路,與老婆同遊
大阪城(Osaka Castle)...JR line(日本鐵道)
大阪城櫻花與古城對映,十分美麗
豐臣秀吉於1583統一日本後,在此重建大阪城,作為他居住的宮殿.
04/06 姬路城(Himeji Castle),大阪博物館...JR line與subway(地鐵)
姬路城的櫻花,花團錦簇,集中、壯觀.
姬路城是日本第一大城,與大阪城,熊本城共列日本三大名城.
(五) 04/07 由大阪關西機場, Kansai Airport, CI167 KIX-KHH 12:00 返回高雄.
離開廈門 返台退休 2015-12-08
2015-12-08,是我離開廈門的日子,在同事,友人的送行下,搭AE992飛回台灣.
當年於2013-01-24初任廈門,到現在剛好三年.想起剛到任的生澀,直至現今離去的圓滿;心懷感恩.
特別要感謝廈門同事、朋友以及台灣華航同仁的幫忙、寬容與支持;車友(自行車)、朋友的包容與厚愛.
期間,除了工作的順利完成外,也對中國的共產社會制度,一黨運作,企業文化與大陸人民實際生活的溶入,接觸頗多,有所了解.
中國全國由下到上,全無守法觀念;處處辦事講求關係,雖習近平4年來全力打擊貪腐,但依然"頂風違紀", "鍊條式,團伙式"的上下集體貪汙; "不願窮死,寧可坐牢老死"; 商人無誠信,不尊重契約;人民不守法,處處可見.
當年於2013-01-24初任廈門,到現在剛好三年.想起剛到任的生澀,直至現今離去的圓滿;心懷感恩.
特別要感謝廈門同事、朋友以及台灣華航同仁的幫忙、寬容與支持;車友(自行車)、朋友的包容與厚愛.
期間,除了工作的順利完成外,也對中國的共產社會制度,一黨運作,企業文化與大陸人民實際生活的溶入,接觸頗多,有所了解.
中國全國由下到上,全無守法觀念;處處辦事講求關係,雖習近平4年來全力打擊貪腐,但依然"頂風違紀", "鍊條式,團伙式"的上下集體貪汙; "不願窮死,寧可坐牢老死"; 商人無誠信,不尊重契約;人民不守法,處處可見.
【中國距離一個真正商業文明社會,可能还有很长的路要走】......
鲁迅, (文学家、思想家)曾写到:“中国人用瞒和骗而自以为正路。”
王石,中國房地產領跑者,万科創始人,在哈佛访问时也曾感概,中国人最缺乏契约精神;
前美國駐華大使駱家輝(2011-2014駐華)的一句話做結論, "祖國,連根都爛了".真是感觸良多
我於飛機抵桃園機場後,逕往華航園區投管處報到,辭行; 人事處辦理退休手續; 貨服處跟長官告別.
揮別了40年的華航職場歲月,踏入退休的生涯. 從2016-01-01開始.
揮別了40年的華航職場歲月,踏入退休的生涯. 從2016-01-01開始.
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