為什麼喜歡騎車? 2017-01-21

騎自行車有何樂趣?

1/美麗的風景:
    一般風景名勝的景點上,因那裏人多,垃圾也多。
    山上的產業道路,往往有令人意外的自然風光。
    運動、風景與新鮮空氣,讓人流連忘返。
 

竹山山豬湖產業道路上的景觀。                               墾丁小尖山

2/Google Map與 Ride with GPS 的使用:
   它是一個很棒的軟體,事先規劃路線,圖上探路;加上app,可畫出距離與高度表;offline導航,按圖索驥,岔路方向引導;出國自助旅遊,也是很棒的工具。

   路線規劃教學
   1/  Ride With GPS
   2/  http://it-easy.tw/bikemap/
   3/  http://q21160-hunter.blogspot.tw/2013/05/blog-post.html

3/團體活動:
人際交往,人群互動,令人愉悅。


日本賞楓之旅 2016-11-10〜11-15





日本賞楓之旅是車隊年度的重要行程,此次全程委由小魚代為安排,舉凡騎車路線、賞風景點、旅館安排、吃飯地點......等等。
全部團員共14位,再加領隊兼地陪小魚,共15位。
團員分兩梯次於11-10抵大阪機場.
CI166(華航)   ATA KIX 10:00AM
TZ288(酷航)  ATA  KIX 16:00PM

行程 :
大阪關西機場 - Rinku Premier Outlets購物;  大阪京都,移動,by JR。
金閣寺- 高雄町 ; 日本傳統澡堂
鴨川 - 銀閣寺 - 哲學之道 - 南禪寺
京都  大阪,移動,by JR - 夜遊大阪城
奈良 - 春日大社 - 東大寺 - 購物; 溫泉泡湯
搭華航者,機場報到; 搭酷航者,Rinku Premier Outlets購物。

FYI :
1/日本最佳賞楓日期應是在11月下旬。
   媒體說::楓葉這裡最美
   "已進入紅葉全盛期、位於京都市右京區的嵐山,23日湧入大批遊客,現場好不熱鬧。
    山巒間染上楓紅和橘、黃等色彩,呈現猶如拼布般的美景,使得許多民眾不禁讚嘆:「真是
    太美了!」。渡月橋上儘管人潮擁擠,也能看到民眾以自拍棒拍照留念。
    據京都市觀光協會表示,今年的紅葉最佳觀賞時期比往年提早1週左右(2016-11-24),應該到
    本週末為止,都尚可欣賞到紅葉美景。"
2/左側"日本賞楓之旅"相簿,敬請觀賞。

Airbus 350-900 XWB 2016-11-03




A350-900 XWB 客機
全球最新型空中巴士客機 A350-900 XWB 以「最科技、最節能、最環保、最寬敞、最安靜」的綠能客機著稱。
機身 70% 採用全新複合材質,提高飛航安全性;每 2 分鐘換氣的高品質機艙環境,提高搭機舒適度;
搭載最新勞斯萊斯 Rolls-Royce 發動機,節省耗油量及二氧化碳排放量達 25% 以上,預估每架航機一年可為華航節省新台幣 7,000 萬元。
單引擎(雙引擎),越洋機種另外客艙噪音僅 57 分貝,堪稱業界最安靜的客機。
FYI :
1/空中巴士將這項設計突破命名為XWB=EXtra Wide Body(超寬機身)來宣傳。其雙氣泡形(圓形)的機身橫切面最大直徑為5.97公尺(A300至A340系列沿用的為5.64公尺),超越與787的5.91米寬度、接近與777飛機的6.19米。
2/整個A350 XWB家族的航程最少為A350 XWB-800的8,000海里,最長的航程則是A350 XWB-900R的9,500海里。
3/華航波音Beoing公司製造飛機的過程 :




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。


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  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 HDDiscovery 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        
    澄清湖散步   16:15(星期五)  朋友
    自行車           06:00(星期六) 整天活動華航之友鐵馬隊.

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?









Bitcoins don't exist as a physical currency, but instead are traded digitally via the InternetImage 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.








Computer codeImage copyrightThinkstock
Image captionBlockchain data is subject to 256-bit encryption

Bitcoin 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."








Chain on a fenceImage copyrightGetty Images
Image captionBlockchain removes the middleman from transactions by recording each one to a 'block' in a chronological 'chain'

What 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.








Craig Wright
Image captionCraig Wright recently claimed to be the mysterious creator of Bitcoin

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."








Blockchain technology allows users to transfer or changes assets form any connected deviceImage copyrightGetty Images
Image captionBlockchain technology allows users to transfer or changes assets form any connected device

More 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.








Money exchange- Digital currencies could eliminate the need to exchange currenciesImage copyrightGetty Images
Image captionDigital currencies could eliminate the need to exchange currencies

Could 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!