An inteview with Asia Weekly

An interview with me from Asia Weekly about the oversight on the online video.

中國網路視頻戲謔成絕響

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　張潔平

中國網上戲謔諷刺成風，衝擊紅色經典，被視為「惡搞」。廣電總局將出臺新規定，網上傳播視頻須有許可證，引發網友質疑與爭議。

中國國家廣電總局日前宣佈，將於八、九月份出臺一個新的針對互聯網視頻的監管規定，其內容主要是對視頻網站放任自流的現象進行整頓。新規定出臺後，只有新浪、搜狐、網易等上市公司網站才擁有開展視頻服務的資格，個人如要傳播視頻，則須向廣電總局申領許可證。這個還沒有正式出臺的規則，已經引起了網友和一些相關利益者的疑慮，在這些人口中，廣電總局的這個規定，還有一個通俗目的，叫做「反對惡搞」。

自從二零零五年底，網路視頻《一個饅頭引發的血案》在中國大陸風行，這部以調侃電影《無極》為目的的搞笑短片在中國掀起一個新的網路娛樂熱點﹕「惡搞」。所謂惡搞，並沒有明確的定義，大多是以娛樂、搞笑為手段，調侃、諷刺權威性的事件，多有顛覆權威和傳統的娛樂效果。

《饅頭》並不是「惡搞」的首創。九十年代末，視頻短片《大史記》就以中央電視臺和蘇聯老電影為元素，在網路上幽默了一把。此後，網路視頻在原創、搞笑的路線上越走越遠，「惡搞」由最初「非常搞笑」的意思，也逐漸增加了「諷刺」、「調侃」的元素。《饅頭》之後，巨大的媒體反應給作者及相關網站帶來了意想不到的商業利益和社會效應，「惡搞」於是更加迅速地在網路上流行起來。

隨著網路視頻越來越成熟的發展，惡搞短片的長度、清晰度以及情節編導，已經足以表達一個完整的故事和意識形態。專家認為，一旦意識形態的傳播能力形成，網路視頻，必然要儘快納入到中國輿論監管的體系中去，政府要考慮的，只是時機和監管方法。

二零零六年四月，一個名為《閃閃的紅星之潘冬子參賽記》的視頻短片在網上流行，短片以經典老電影《閃閃的紅星》為素材，把革命小英雄「惡搞」成了夢想通過選秀比賽得大獎的富家子弟，引起了電影製片方中國八一電影製片廠的強烈抗議。五月開始，八一電影製片廠聯合中央電視臺接連發佈聲明，堅持惡搞革命經典會「傷害一代人的感情」。八月十日，《光明日報》社舉辦「防止網上『惡搞』成風專家座談會」，互聯網專家和官員到會，鄭重聲明「紅色經典不容惡搞」。隨後，國家廣電總局宣佈，近日內出臺監管網路視頻新條例。

在網友的惡搞引發了主流爭議的時候，國家的監管也就應聲而出了。無論線民反應如何，專家向我們解釋，這絕對不是政府一時的「禁令」。早在二零零三年，廣電總局就公佈了《互聯網等資訊網路傳播視聽節目管理辦法》，把經網路傳播的視聽節目納入廣電總局的管理範疇，規定實行許可證管理制度。當時針對的主要是網路點播服務，包括電視節目、網路電臺節目等等。而這次，新的規定將主要針對網路視頻的監管，不僅包括傳統的點播網站，還包括時下流行的P2P（點對點）下載網站。「監管勢在必行，具體操作方法有待解決」──這是多數專家對於新規定的看法。

香港大學新聞與傳媒中心研究員Charles Feng認為，美國的網路視頻也有監管，但與中國不同的是，美國法律明確規定的監管主要只有兩條﹕知識產權保護和未成年人保護。涉及侵權的網路視頻，將被起訴﹔公共圖書館以及學校內，將強制安裝過濾系統，過濾色情、暴力的視頻短片對未成年人的影響。而網路視頻的內容，除了門戶網站自律式的清理之外，政府一般不予干預。

Charles Feng認為，網路視頻監管，存在幾個現實問題﹕

一是經濟因素。網路視頻背後的巨大商機，很可能帶動新媒體的革命，甚至逐漸改變現有的電影音樂工業的格局，這股力量既不能小看，也不能扼殺。「所以從這次的新規定可以看出，國家監管對上市公司是另當別論的。因為上市公司的收益影響到國際聲譽，也影響到中國在互聯網產業的經濟收益。經濟第一的原則之下，只要上市公司有嚴格的自我審查，國家規定是可以相對寬容的。」

視頻比文字難監管

二是操作的難度。「這次監管，仍然只能從管理網站、管理人來下手，但是對於網路中隨時流散的短片，比如流傳在論壇裏的，個人之間通過網路傳播的，管理難度很大。」視頻不同於文字，不可能像使用關鍵字過濾監控文字資訊一樣監控視頻，這樣的技術幾年內都不可能實現。而如果對短片無法有效管理，這個監管辦法的實際意義也就不大了。

三是監管的標準。什麼是惡搞﹖惡搞本身沒有一個標準。國家相應的監管標準也會很模糊。Charles Feng認為，從視頻的時間長度上會設置限制，而從內容上，只能限制一些「影響公眾利益」的視頻傳播。「因為定義模糊，尺度也會比較寬，這種娛樂為主的視頻，只要不影響主流意識形態，不需要嚴厲監管。」「至於實施效果，還是主要看各個網站的自我審查，相比監管，新條例的威懾作用更大。」

□ 《亞洲週刊》二○○六年第三十五期

P2P引爆中國媒體革命

This article which talks about the impact of the P2P technology on Chinese media was published on Media Dgiest (Hong Kong).


P2P網絡下載技術引發數碼娛樂革命。

　　曾幾何時，Napster讓世界第一次認識了Ｐ２Ｐ的威力，Bit Torrent（ＢＴ）讓香港領教了Ｐ２Ｐ下載的法律後果；而今夏的世界盃，PPStream和TVants讓香港人又知道除了有線電視，他們還可以選擇Ｐ２Ｐ電視去免費享用這道四年才一次的「大餐」。
　　Ｐ２Ｐ名曰對等網絡（Peer To Peer，簡稱Ｐ２Ｐ），它是一種非中心化的分散式網絡技術。Ｐ２Ｐ網絡中的參與者既是資源（內容）提供者（伺服器），又是資源使用者（客戶機），資源分散在所有的節點（nodes）上，資訊的傳輸和服務的實現都直接在節點之間進行，因此提供資源線索的Index Server至關重要。早期以Napster為代表的Ｐ２Ｐ技術仍然有一個中心Index Server，所以不但效能有限，而且法院的一紙禁令就可以關閉整個網絡。現在的大部份Ｐ２Ｐ技術已經去除了這個中心Index Server，沒有中心數據庫的Ｐ２Ｐ網絡由用戶互相獲取Index資訊，這樣不但避免了傳輸負載量的瓶頸，而且也保證了整個網絡不可能被封鎖。

突破串流媒體瓶頸
　　我們都知道傳統的以伺服器為中心的模式中，服務質素受網絡帶寬和伺服器自身的硬體條件限制極大，同時間訪問的人數（客戶機）越多，伺服器的負荷就越重，當超過一定限額，伺服器就會癱瘓。因此，雖然網絡上的串流媒體（Streaming Media）服務發展很早，內容也很豐富，但是因為觀看效果還不盡如人意，所以並沒有形成氣候。雖然像YouTube和Google Video這些新興視頻服務借助Flash技術風靡全球，但是對於大型視頻以及直播的視頻來講，它們仍然不是好的選擇。基於Ｐ２Ｐ的串流媒體正好解決了傳統串流媒體服務的帶寬瓶頸問題，訪問某個視頻內容的人數越多，這個內容反倒會越流暢。
　　在中國大陸，因為知識產權保護的缺位，豐富的內容來源催生了這些Ｐ２Ｐ電視軟件。這些播放軟件雖然都是面向公眾免費使用，但都企圖針對商業團體和廣播電視台銷售他們的軟件和服務，所以並沒有像ＢＴ那樣開放製作軟件程式。這些Ｐ２Ｐ電視軟件都要依賴他們自己去製作內容及其索引，Ｐ２Ｐ的效用並沒有完全釋放出來。當用戶過多的時候，也同樣會出現傳統串流媒體經常出現的延遲緩衝播放的現象。即使如此，鑒於Ｐ２Ｐ電視已經影響了中央電視台（ＣＣＴＶ）的受眾群和市場收益，ＣＣＴＶ日前已經明令禁止各Ｐ２Ｐ電視轉播其體育頻道。

突破電信市場壟斷
　　與串流媒體服務一樣，基於Ｐ２Ｐ的語音服務有著同樣的特性和優異表現，這在Skype等網絡電話軟件中已經得到充份證明。中國電信市場長期以來由電信、網通和聯通等幾家大型國企壟斷經營，中國消費者不得不要比國外消費者多付幾倍、甚至幾十倍的國際長途電話費用，這些電信公司由此聚斂了巨額的壟斷財富。Ｐ２Ｐ電話軟件讓中國人以低廉的成本享受到優質通訊服務，這也難怪有些地區的電信公司會封殺Skype。
　　除此之外，基於Ｐ２Ｐ的電話軟件已經成為一個多媒體通訊平台，它可以讓用戶安全地打電話、開視頻會議、發送即時消息（Instant Message）和電子郵件。即使與有媒體審查的地區通訊，它也很難被監聽和審查。因此，對於媒體來說，它們已經成為記者和編輯有效而安全的辦公助手。

突破廣電媒體審查
　　中國政府長期以來實行嚴厲的高壓媒體審查政策，普通民眾不能閱讀境外「違禁」報刊書籍，不能收看境外衛星電視頻道，ＢＢＣ、ＶＯＡ等許多國外新聞電台被干擾。撇除版權等法律因素，在純技術考量下，Ｐ２Ｐ軟件可以讓用戶觀看到任何優質的國外電視廣播。譬如現在中國用戶通過有些Ｐ２Ｐ電視軟件，不但能觀看到不太敏感的Discovery、ＥＳＰＮ、ＨＢＯ等娛樂、文化和體育類外國衛星頻道，也能看到過去一般只能在廣東地區看到的香港無扨翡翠台和亞視本港台，還可以收看到ＣＮＮ、ＡＢＣ、ＢＢＣ等傳統管道被禁止「落地」的國外衛星電視新聞節目。
　　中國政府已經意識到了這個新的潛在威脅，大部份的商業Ｐ２Ｐ電視軟件都已經應政府要求，撤除了國外新聞類電視服務。傳統的串流媒體服務都有集中的伺服器提供，如果涉及敏感內容很容易被封掉。而開放的Ｐ２Ｐ電視與ＢＴ下載一樣，內容分佈在節點中，每個用戶就是一個節點，每個用戶都可以成為內容源，審查者根本無從封殺。但遺憾的是，現在的這些商業Ｐ２Ｐ電視軟體公司大部份不允許用戶自己添加、提供節目，Ｐ２Ｐ技術的優勢並沒有完全運用和釋放。

突破網絡封鎖
　　作為媒體審查和監控政策的一部份，中國政府封鎖了大量國外媒體的網站。眾所周知，中國以極大資源投入建立了技術複雜的「金盾工程」，以此封鎖、過濾了大量海外網站。雖然有很多人也知道透過一些海外的代理伺服器能夠繞過封鎖，但是這些代理伺服器也會被發現，從而被封。針對集中式代理服務很容易被封鎖而失效的情況，早期國外一些駭客和自由軟件組織醞釀、開發了基於Ｐ２Ｐ的動態加密的代理伺服器，譬如Freenet和早期由美國中央情報局（ＣＩＡ）資助的「三角男孩」（Triangle Boy）。這種技術仍然與ＢＴ下載一樣，用戶通過加密訪問國外的節點，有些超級節點（Super Nodes）可以隨時被搜索到，而每當用戶連接成功也加入進去後，它就會也成為一個節點，成為其他人的訪問代理。同樣，這種技術也是越多人使用，訪問速度越快。現在，法輪功和自由軟件組織成為了反網絡封鎖技術的主角，這當中的有些技術也得到美國政府和德國政府的資助。正是因為Ｐ２Ｐ代理服務很難被有效地封掉，中國政府就仿造這些軟件並散佈到網上，或者他們控制的電腦也加入到Ｐ２Ｐ代理網絡進去，成為虛假的節點誘騙用戶。而不管怎樣，Ｐ２Ｐ代理服務是迄今為止最為有效的反網絡封鎖技術。　
　　不可否認，影響Ｐ２Ｐ產業健康發展的是猖獗的盜版行為，這也可能會成為未來中國政府封掉所有Ｐ２Ｐ埠和服務的藉口。但不管怎樣，Ｐ２Ｐ技術已經顯示了其魅力和影響力。Ｐ２Ｐ引發的數碼娛樂革命是現實的，而我們關注Ｐ２Ｐ更重要的是它對資訊自由暢通傳播的貢獻。
　　中國媒體的局勢也許很難因為一個技術創新，迅速地產生革命性的變化，但它已經促使中國媒體市場和管制現狀產生了不大不小的震盪。震盪產生的缺口也許還不是很令人矚目，但它是促使中國媒體這灘死水變革的星星之火。

How journalists protect themselves under internet censorship and surveillance

I just finished the draft version of this report. When I have time, I'll add those images in it. I also have all of those software and tools mentioned in this report; if you need it, I might give them to you whenever possible.

We probably understand Internet censorship is just to block websites. It is true, but that is only part of it. The more important part of internet censorship is to totally block the free flow of information, and track, monitor and torture people who dare influence such goal.

As journalists, we use and exchange much information. Information security is crucial to journalists’ work. We shall talk about the issue of information security journalists are confronted with mainly from the perspectives of internet browsing, system security and security on communication of information.

1 Internet browsing

1.1 Choose safer browsers

In view of the fact that most virus and malicious programs direct at Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser, using Firefox which is developed and maintained by a non-profit foundation might be a better choice. Besides, you should install some security extensions for Firefox at https://addons.mozilla.org.

1.2 Anonymous proxies

Remember, never use unsafe proxy servers unscrupulously, as some free proxy servers which might be baits can record your IP address and other important system information and hence track you based on those information you provided. You must choose safer anonymous proxy tools.

1.2.1 Web based proxies

There are lots of anonymous safe proxy tools you can choose. The first is web based proxies. Such proxies have Proxify, Proxyweb.net, unipeak.com, Anonymouse.org, Google language tools and so on. If you simply visit web pages, you can just use those services safely.

1.2.2 Software based proxies

However, those web based proxies might have been blocked as well. Therefore, you need software based anonymous proxies. There are also lots of such tools as Hide IP Platinum, Anonymizer, Circumventor, and HTTP-Tunnel whose version of high bandwidth needs to pay. In addition, P2P based proxy programs as Freenet, Tor (better used with Proxify), JAP, and Freegate could be safer and more stable. Moreover, you should download them from official websites, because faked proxy tools are able to trace you.

1.2.3 VPN service

If your corporation has VPN (Virtual Public Network) service, it will be very convenient and safe for you to use the internet when you work in censored countries. Even if your corporation does not have such service, you still can use some free VPN service like secureix.com, iPIG which can encrypt all the Internet communications including WiFi, and HotSpotVPN which needs to pay. Besides, if you have an additional computer on hand, you could install OpenVPN service or SoftEther on this computer before you leave. In that case, both you and the friends who you correspond with will be safe over the internet.

1.3 Beware of viruses, phishers and hackers

More and more spyware, adware and Trojan Horse programs are concealed in the web pages. That means if you visit a website containing those programs; your computer would be infected. More fatally, anti-virus programs usually do not help at this time.

To prevent that from happening, you should keep a good habit not to download illegal software, MP3 files, or visit unknown websites. A good remedy is to use McAfee Site-advisor (siteadvisor.com), which gives hints and suggestions on many websites. If you are not sure whether or not you could visit some websites you searched, to follow advisor’s advice.

1.4 Cache and cookies

Some programs like Web Cache Illuminator can find what websites you ever visited by analyzing your cache. Therefore, be sure to delete the cache completely. Cookies are some files that record user’s system and web accessing information. It is usually safe and useful, but it could be exploited by hackers and censors. Therefore, you either turn off cookies in the browser, or delete them after browsing every time.

2 Computer system security

2.1 Password protection

It is the easiest way to protest you to set up strong passwords which are as long and complex enough as possible for your system, and BIOS. Moreover, you should set up startup, supervisor and hard disk passwords respectively in the BIOS configuration. What is more important, even if your hard disk is taken away by other people, they cannot see the contents in your hard disk with hard disk password. However, not all computers support hard disk password protection. In this regard, you can use some special software as PGP (pretty Good Privacy) elaborated in the below to lock your hard disk.

2.2 Encrypt hard disks and files

You must have your own ways to protect your documents, such as to encrypt them with Winrar, sending them to your E-mail accounts and etc. They are not safe enough actually, because simple encryption could be decrypted, and E-mail account could be intruded. PGP which has been commercialized, OpenPGP and True Crypt both of which are free software, are the best solutions every since. They can encrypt your hard disks, removable disks, flash memory and documents with algorithms as high as 4096 bit. Except you, nobody could open your hard disk and documents under such circumstances.

2.3 Delete files completely

You can delete files on the computer easily using your mouse. However, they can also be recovered easily, even if you have formatted or re-partitionized your hard disk. Finadata, Easy Recovery, Disk Genius and such tools are data recovery experts. Therefore, if you do not want your files to be recovered by other people, you should encrypt them with tools mentioned above, or use some tools as PGP, Eraser and Shredder which can truly delete files completely.

2.4 Firewall, anti-virus and anti-malicious-programs tools

2.4.1 BlackIce and Norton

If you do not install a firewall on your computer, that means you do not have a door in your house. The firewall as BlackIce is very important to protect your computer from intruding. You should configure it carefully. In addition, anti-virus software is also very important without doubt. You can choose software which you trust. Norton corporate version is a nice choice as it has good performance in the anti-virus and anti-hackers. Remember to scan your system periodically in the “safe mode”.

2.4.2 Microsoft Windows defender, Spybot- search &Destroy, System repair engineer

If you are suspicious that your computer might have been infected by some spyware and ad-ware, you should use some specialized tools as Microsoft’s Windows Defender, Spybot- search &Destroy to detect and clean them. Besides, System Repair Engineer can recover your registry, browser and system configurations to be normal.

2.5 Beware of loopholes of system

2.5.1 Turn off unnecessary services

Service in the Windows is very crucial to the normal operation of system. However, there are still many services that ordinary people seldom use. Moreover, they might become the loopholes that hackers exploit. Therefore, you need to turn off some services like “Server”, “Remote Registry”, “Terminal Services” and etc. in the service configuration. You thereby can save precious memory, and decrease the chance to be attacked.

2.5.2 Update patches

As we all know, Windows has many bugs and loopholes. So we should update patches as we update virus definitions frequently. If possible, the best way is to let Windows update automatically (turn on “Automatic Updates” in the Service mentioned above). Otherwise, you can install Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, and scan your computer frequently.

2.5.3 Shadow systems or virtual machines

If you need to visit many dangerous websites and test many programs for the working purpose, you can install shadow system like Power Shadow. With them, all the viruses will disappear and that everything will be recovered to be normal after you restart your system. Otherwise, you can install virtual machines like Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Workstation and VMWare. Even if the virtual system is damaged by viruses, or intruded by hackers, you can delete this system as you delete a document on you computer.

3 Communication security

3.1 E-mail

E-mail is probably the most popular application people use. As a journalist, you might need to contact a person inside a country censored, or you are doing interview in that country. Beware of your E-mail communication, as it might make you or your interviewees in the very dangerous situation.

3.1.1 Free and anonymous e-mail services

First of all, you should choose safe E-mail services. Generally speaking, Gmail and Hotmail have been safe enough to use. However, if you are not sure, you can use Hushmail. It uses Java technology and very high level encryption algorithms, so that nobody including Hushmail itself is able to crack your E-mails.

If you send you E-mails, yet do not want other people to see your address, you need anonymous E-mail accounts. MyTrashMail provides such service, which let you receive mails normally while leaving fake E-mail accounts publicly. AnonymousSpeech.com is able to let people send secure E-mails totally anonymously. Besides, some remailers as Cypherpunk, Mixmaster and Mixminion allow anyone to post to a newsgroup or send an E-mail while remaining anonymous.

3.1.2 Encryption

As such, you should use PGP, or OpenPGP (www.gpg4win.org) to encrypt every important E-mail message. They can make your messages to be seen only by people who you informed the decryption keys. Even if the encrypted emails are intercepted and accessed, its contents are meaningless without the decryption key.

3.1.3 Strong passwords and change frequently.

Password for your E-mail account should be strong enough (as long and complex as you can remember) and change frequently. Comparatively speaking, using client E-mail tools is safer than to check mails on the web, because some Trojan Horse programs can record and steal your web based E-mail account information. Furthermore, seeing that Outlook is usually the target of attack, you might as well use alternative E-mail client tools as Thunderbird developed by the same organization as Firefox and Sylpheed-Claws which has been well integrated with OpenPGP.

3.1.4 Un-identified and phishing mails

Some E-mails you received could steal your important system information as IP address. This could be a start of premeditated attack. Therefore, you had better refuse to receive HTML mails and not let E-mails including images display automatically.

3.2 Instant messaging applications

We might know instant messaging applications as MSN, IM, ICQ and etc. can be wiretapped. You should be aware of encrypting your communication in your IM communications.

3.2.1 Encryption

There are some tools as MSNshell can encrypt communication on MSN. With such programs, even if your communication has been wiretapped, they are not able to understand what you imputed.

3.3 Martus-Human Rights Bulletin System

At the end of this part, I would like to introduce a publication system named Martus which renders people to publish high confidential information safely. For example, your source providers who are in the censored countries can report stories via this system to your organization very safely. When users wish to store information, they create a bulletin which, by default, is kept secret and available only to the group who generated that Martus account. The Martus software automatically records information in the bulletin. The user then types in a subject, keywords, the date of the incident, a short summary and a more extended description. This data is then saved as a bulletin which can be updated. Martus automatically copies and backs up bulletins that have been saved to a designated Martus Server.

3.3.1 Un-identified invitations

Besides, you should refuse any un-identified invitations in the instant messagers. If they are malicious hackers, your IP address will be exposed to them after you accept them. And then you will be vulnerable to attack.

3.4 VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

VOIP applications like Skype actually have been very safe as opposed to traditional telephone communication. However, some evidences have shown VOIP communication can also be intercepted and wiretapped. PGP and Zfone created by the inventor of PGP can encrypt VOIP communication. It would be much safer than before.

3.5 Smart cell phones

Smart phones are actually a kind of mini computer, which can run lots of software program including viruses. Therefore, you need to install some protective tools to keep your mobile communication safe.

3.5.1 Pointsec for Symbian

The biggest threat is that your mobile communication could be listened in. Some equipment can wiretap cell phone communication within certain distance, and even listen in to your background sound around your cell phone. Therefore, you had better cut your cell phone’s power off when you talk about important things. Do not just press the button of “power off”, while you should take the battery out. Besides, you can install some encryption software like Pointsec.

3.5.2 Anti-viruses and firewalls

As such, you should also install some tools of anti-viruses and firewalls as you do on the computer. McAfee has rolled out its anti-viruses and firewall products for mobile platform.

As journalists, we might have got used to different kind of threats, and yet information security could be usually ignored. Therefore, in order to protect ourselves, good habits and consciousness are more important than those tools we introduced. Moreover, technology is always in the paradox, which means that there is no absolute security even if you have equipped all those tools. We are aware there is a threat, and the wisest way is to keep the threat as minimal as possible.

lament "Freezing Point"

This poem was written by me when "freezing Point" was shut down. Although it has been permitted to resume publishment, the soul of "freezing point" has been gone. It isn't permitted to die gracefully.

此文是《冰点》被禁后有感而发。虽然现在《冰点》已经复刊，但是创办《冰点》的李大同、卢跃刚被清理。《冰点》连光明正大地死的机会都没有，只能活着被凌辱。

《冰点》祭

千年神州的华容，唯残存一滴菁华，潺潺流淌。十载苦寒，成就一点，蕴化苍生。

天地之前，万物皆刍狗。不仁当道，窦娥丛现。冰心情溢，不惜点滴己力，智对威逼，坚拒利诱，匡不正、扶浩义。冰壶大如海，却只盛民意。冰清比玉洁，只因处淤泥而不染。

值寒冬之时，冰点却溶化。浩浩汤汤，冲破长城，越过九鼎，腾向宇宙的最高方。不留一丝污痕，在这阴间。

那是浴火啊，但她不学那凤凰涅磐，只呻吟无痛的鸟歌，还要落地之后，用它的爪牙，钳我手[1]。冰点飞天，是为了催生更强大的自己啊,也为了革新这腐朽的尘世。

冰啊，你这尘世的最后一点冰啊，没有了你，这群豺狼们啊，更要去发狂。冰啊，你这尘世的最后一点冰啊，没有了你，这井中的人们啊，即要滑入深渊。冰啊，你这尘世的最后一点冰啊，没有了你，我这个毛人啊，就要去嗜血。

看啊，天都在结冰。看吧，看吧！这世界都要结冰！

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[1] 《凤凰涅磐》是郭沫若1920年代的作品。郭沫若通过《凤歌》、《凰歌》、《群鸟歌》及《凤凰更生歌》来诅咒当时腐朽的中国军阀政权。郭沫若也从当时北伐革命的参与者、独裁政府的反对者，一步步兑变为毛泽东的爪牙。

Elite or grassroot for blog service providers?

I really don't have the time to translate my article which was written days ago.

这是老掉牙的问题，也是仁者见仁，智者见智的问题。
今天，凤凰卫视的闾秋露微来给本科生做讲座，讲完，还不忘宣传她的Blog。我问她跟新浪是怎么合作的，她说新浪只是提供空间，没有其他任何利益交换。她说她非常重视网友的留言。这让我又捡起这个争议，重新思考它。
Blog 在国外被认为草根民主的代表革新，在中国，Blog在普通民众中到底会有什么影响力？会有多大的影响力？对中国社会会有什么影响？这些问题也许不值得问， 因为这不是一句话能说清的，而是一个大的社会科学的命题。但我，在我没有做科学的研究之前，通过一些事例和Blog出现前的情况对比，也许可以有一个初步 的回答。
我的第一个主页是98年做的，自学了很多软件，做完再用电话线拨号、通过FTP工具传到免费主页空间。我还记得以前给学生讲用HTML、 ASP语言，用Dreamweaver、Prontpage、Coldfusion、PS、Flash等工具做网站，学生尤其是女生听得头大，我讲得也很 辛苦。Blog就是替代个人主页的应用，几岁孩子的都会应用。看Sohu的一个Blogger调查，中国的Blogger女生比男生还多。看，这就是 Blog的社会影响力。有人说，Blog实在不能算是什么发明，因为很多功能以前的个人主页都可以提供。这话一点没错。98年之前的个人主页空间已经可以 提供模版、评论等功能。但是区别是确实存在的，而且差别还不小。个人主页是让你既是建筑师、工程师、艺术家、文学家，又是什么其他的什么家，并且当时的社 会、知识、技术基础决定了一才多能类型的人是中心。我记得我原来认识的一个台湾女孩，人长得漂亮，也很有才气，但天天抱着计算机书看。这是什么样的反差。 而Blog到现在是应运而生，需要大家各就位、司其职了。这时候，网络本身与报纸、杂志、黑板报、街头涂鸦一样，工具本身不再重要，重要的是之上的内容 了。（得罪先知麦克卢汉先生了）所以当你觉得自己写日记藏在枕头下对于父母的检查不再保险、也不方便与你好友分享的时候，当你在厕所墙上乱涂还不过瘾的时 候，当你激情洋溢地宣扬个人理想被人骂作神经病的时候，当你要贴大字报表达你的主张而被处罚的时候，你发现Blog，是一个不错的替代品。
精英，首先也是个人。他也有除了让他出名的职业之外的情趣。Blog同样对于他们很重要。一些商业网站邀请一些精英写Blog，正是以一个正式的理想满足了自己的愿望。
草根，正因为互联网这个低成本的高效率媒体，所以不会永远是草根。所以，Blog不是精英的，也不是草根的，它是任何人的。
对于Blog服务商来说，精英只是广告，根本不存在精英路线。

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wrap up of Democractic Demonstration on Dec.4th

Legco of Hong Kong voted down government's proposal, which involved the new procedure of electing Chief Executive and Legislator. This made the democratic destiny of HK be stranded again into the uncertainties. Last night, I was watching the live coverage of Legco's vote. The final result was not suspensive on the last day, because the people who were hesitant seemed to be determined. I am thinking what most matters after all about the whole process.
Government officials blamed Bishop Zen and Legislator Martin Lee that they should be responsible for the standoff. In other words, are the two persons who influenced the final results and turned the scales? Otherwise, is it like what MingPao said today, that is, it was because of the Three Bundle of Cigarettes including Bishop Zen, former chief secretary, Anson Chan and Next Media's Chairman, Jimmy Lai. We should remember the advertising war waged by Jimmy Lai in the late October. We also remember Bishop summoned all the pan-democratic members and called on his followers to protest on Dec.4th. We must remember Anson Chan joined the big march, and also held the press conference later to publicly express the disapproval of government's proposal. It seems to be so. However, can they influence those legislators? If it's in the western countries, we gotta say of course it is; because constituencies' will influence legislators'. HK doesn't embrace full democracy yet, who on earth influences whom? I'd like to anatomize the vote behind the scene next.
The total number of 60 legislators in HK composes of 30 persons by direction election in the respective constituencies and of the rest by functional constituencies. In the Legco election in 2004, pro-democratic camp won the 60% of the votes in the direct election, while pro-Beijing camp won the 77% of the votes in the election of functional constituencies. Before the vote on the proposals, government can definitely get 11 votes from pro-Beijing legislators who come from direct election, plus 23 votes from pro-Beijing legislators who come from functional constituencies. The eight independent legislators without party background had become the determinant factor. But the four who come from direct election won't definitely vote for the proposal, because they knew what their constituencies thought. The result is that one of them abstained (I think he took both his political wisdom and risk). Until now, there has been not any chance for government to win the 2/3 votes to pass the proposal. The rest in the functional constituencies hadn't mattered to the whole situation. The media in Hk said the legislator from the Accountant field is the miss democracy. That's too sensational, too much to say that. We can see a reality from the vote, there are seven fields in the functional constituencies are the democratic power, which represents 25% of the total number of 28 functional fields. The government's proposal about the Legco increased the total seats from 60 to 70, and five of them are from direct election; the rest of them are from district council members. However, 102 of the total 529 district council members are appointed by Chief Executive. That is why many people oppose to the proposal and call for universal suffrage. I dare say Beijing would compromise, and HK government would give the new proposal which both sides can accept. When will be the universal suffrage for HK? 2007/2008? 2012? Judged by the current information, 2012 seems to be more possible. You bet? I just hope so.