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How Democracy Dies Without Action

Democracy is often pictured as peaceful debates, clean elections, and respectful leaders taking turns to speak. These images are comforting. They give people hope that if a country simply adopts the surface features of democracy, it will become one. But real democracy is not just a system of rules. It is a living promise that must be protected with strength, courage, and action.

Rules and speeches mean nothing if they are not backed by real power. You can hold debates, run mock elections, or quote the constitution. But if you cannot protect your rights when they are under threat, then the procedures become empty. They are like fake currency. The design may look official, but it carries no value if nothing stands behind it.

Even the strongest democracies were not born from calm discussions alone. They were forged through hardship, resistance, and sacrifice. The peaceful systems we admire today are the result of battles fought and freedoms defended. Behind every civil vote and every respectful debate was once a crowd of people who refused to be silent.

I saw this clearly in my home, Hong Kong. For years, people believed in democracy. They followed the rules. They marched peacefully, held candlelight vigils, and studied political science. They believed that acting like a democracy would one day make us one. But in 2019, when millions protested for the right to choose their leaders and hold their government accountable, we learned a hard truth. We had no real power behind our voices. The government controlled the courts, the police, and the military. We had signs, songs, and hope. But hope was not enough. Despite everything we did, democracy slipped further out of reach.

It was painful, but it taught me something important. Democracy is not given. It is not something you earn by being polite. It must be protected with action. Not just once, but again and again, by people who care enough to stand up when it matters most.

Some think that reading about democracy or learning the rules brings them closer to it. But studying the system is not enough. Knowing the rules is like learning the lines of a play. You can pretend to be a king, but pretending does not make you one. Real democracy comes when people are willing to take real risks to protect their freedom.

Democracy is a promise. But that promise only has power if people are willing to back it with action. If no one defends it, then it fades. It becomes an illusion. To make democracy real, we must do more than talk. We must be ready to protect it.

Right now, I want to speak directly to Americans. Your democracy is under pressure. Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the rule of law, the free press, and the peaceful transfer of power. He questions fair elections and encourages distrust in democratic institutions. These are not small issues. These are signs that the foundation of your democracy is cracking.

But it is not too late. You still have a choice. You still have a voice. What you do now matters. If you believe in freedom, equality, and justice, then now is the time to act. Vote like democracy depends on it. Speak up for the truth. Stand together in your communities. Teach your children what it means to be free. Democracy will only survive if you are willing to fight for it.

I watched Hong Kong lose its future. I do not want to see the same happen to you. You have the power to protect what you have. Do not let it slip away.

當民主在沉默中死去

人們常常把民主想像成和平的辯論、乾淨的選舉，以及彼此尊重、輪流發言的領袖。這些畫面令人安心，也讓人相信，只要一個國家模仿這些民主的表面形式，它終將成為民主國家。但真正的民主不只是規則制度，它是一個活生生的承諾，必須靠力量、勇氣和行動來守護。

如果背後沒有真正的權力支持，規則和演說就毫無意義。你可以舉辦辯論、模擬選舉，甚至引用憲法，但如果在權利受到威脅時無法捍衛自己，那麼這些程序就是空洞的。它們就像偽鈔，印刷得再精美，沒有實質的保證也毫無價值。

即使是世界上最穩固的民主制度，也不是靠和平討論誕生的，而是在困難、抵抗與犧牲中鍛造出來的。我們今天所欣賞的和平制度，其背後是一場場捍衛自由的戰鬥。每一次文明的投票、每一次尊重的辯論，背後都曾有群眾拒絕沉默。

我在自己的家鄉香港，看到了這一切的真相。多年來，香港人相信民主，他們遵守規則，和平遊行、燭光守夜，認真學習政治。他們相信，只要像民主國家一樣行動，終有一天我們也會成為民主社會。但到了 2019 年，數百萬人上街爭取選舉權和政府問責，我們卻學到了殘酷的一課：我們的聲音背後沒有真正的力量。政府掌握法院、警察和軍隊，我們只有標語、歌曲和希望。但光靠希望是不夠的。儘管我們盡了一切努力，民主仍然一點一滴地遠離我們。

這是一段痛苦的經歷，但它教會我一件事：民主不是天賜的恩典，也不是靠禮貌換來的，它必須靠行動來守護。不是一次，而是一次又一次，由那些真正關心它的人，在關鍵時刻挺身而出。

有些人以為閱讀民主相關的書籍或熟悉程序就能更接近民主。但光是學習制度還不夠。了解規則就像是熟記劇本的台詞，你可以假扮成國王，但這不代表你就真的有王者的權力。真正的民主來自那些願意冒險保護自由的人。

民主是一個承諾。但這個承諾只有在人民願意用行動支持時，才有力量。若沒有人捍衛它，它就會逐漸消失，成為幻影。要讓民主真正存在，我們必須超越空談，準備好隨時保護它。

現在，我想直接對美國人說：你們的民主正面臨壓力。唐納·川普一再攻擊法治、新聞自由，以及和平交接的原則。他質疑選舉的公平性，鼓吹對民主制度的不信任。這些不是小問題，而是民主根基正在崩裂的徵兆。

但一切還未太晚。你們仍有選擇，仍有聲音。你們現在的行動至關重要。如果你相信自由、平等與正義，那現在就是站出來的時候。投票，用行動保衛民主。為真相發聲。在社區中團結一致。教導你們的孩子什麼是真正的自由。民主只有在人民願意為它而戰時，才能存活。

我親眼看著香港失去了未來。我不想看到同樣的事發生在你們身上。你們擁有保護民主的力量，請不要讓它悄悄地消逝。

How GitHub Copilot Agent Helped Me Fix Python Errors (And What to Watch Out For)

I’ve been using the new GitHub Copilot Agent for a few days, and it already feels like a big upgrade from the older version. This new tool does more than just suggest a few lines of code. It can read your whole project, understand what you're trying to do, and even make changes across different files. It feels like working with a junior developer who helps you get things done faster.

One example really stood out. I had a KeyError in my Python script using pandas. I was trying to compare df["rtn"] > df["threshold"], but it kept breaking. I asked Copilot Agent to fix the error. It looked through the code and noticed that I never created the rtn column. It added a new line: df["rtn"] = df["price"].pct_change(). It even added checks to make sure the required columns were in the DataFrame. That saved me from spending extra time debugging.

But not everything went smoothly. When I asked it to improve how my script handled missing values, it rewrote large parts of the code. Some of my special logic for edge cases was removed. It added a basic fillna() without really thinking about why I had written things the way I did. I had to go back, understand the changes, and fix the new problems. That was frustrating.

From this experience, I learned a few tips. Be clear and specific with your instructions. Instead of saying “fix my code,” say something like “fix the KeyError when accessing 'rtn' column.” Also, give it one small task at a time. Don’t ask it to do too much at once. And always check the changes it makes, just like you would check a pull request from a teammate.

I also tried using another tool called Cursor. It works well for searching through your code and making edits using natural language. But since it's a different version of VS Code, I had to set up my tools again. Replit is another tool I tested. It’s good for writing simple code in the browser, but it’s not powerful enough for large projects.

After trying these tools, I started to wonder if AI agents will replace developers. I don’t think they will. These tools are helpful, but they don’t understand the full picture. They don’t know your business rules or why your code works a certain way. They can write and fix simple code, but they can’t design systems or make smart decisions.

In the end, GitHub Copilot Agent is like a helpful teammate. It makes your work faster and sometimes easier. But just like a teammate, it still needs your guidance, your review, and your experience to really get things right.

GitHub Copilot Agent 如何幫我修復 Python 錯誤（以及你需要注意的事）

這幾天我開始使用新的 GitHub Copilot Agent，感覺它比舊版進步很多。這個新工具不只是建議幾行程式碼而已，它可以閱讀整個專案，理解你想完成的任務，甚至可以跨多個檔案修改程式碼。使用起來就像有個初級開發者在幫你加速完成工作。

有一次的經驗特別令我印象深刻。我在一段使用 pandas 的 Python 程式碼中遇到 KeyError 錯誤。我嘗試執行 df["rtn"] > df["threshold"]，但總是出錯。我請 Copilot Agent 幫我修復這個錯誤。它掃描整段程式碼後發現我根本沒有建立 rtn 這個欄位，於是幫我加了一行：df["rtn"] = df["price"].pct_change()。它還加了檢查，確保所需欄位存在於 DataFrame 中。這幫我省下了不少除錯時間。

不過並不是所有情況都那麼順利。有一次我請它幫我優化處理缺失值的方式，結果它重寫了整段程式碼，還把我針對邊界情況寫的邏輯刪除了。它直接加了一個很基本的 fillna()，但完全沒有考慮我當初的設計原因。我後來還得一行一行看，理解它改了什麼，再把新的問題修好。那真的讓人有點挫折。

這些經驗讓我學到一些實用的技巧。第一，指令要清楚而具體。不要只說「修復我的程式碼」，應該說「修復存取 'rtn' 欄位時發生的 KeyError」。第二，一次只給它一個小任務，不要要求它同時做太多事情。第三，一定要檢查它做的每一個改動，就像你會檢查隊友提交的 Pull Request 一樣。

我也試用了另一個叫 Cursor 的工具，它在搜尋整個程式碼和用自然語言修改程式方面做得不錯。不過因為它是 VS Code 的改版版本，我得重新設定開發環境。Replit 是我測試過的另一個工具，適合在瀏覽器中寫簡單程式，但在大型專案中功能就有點不足。

試用這些工具後，我開始思考 AI 助手是否會取代開發者。我認為不會。這些工具確實很有幫助，但它們不了解全貌，也不知道你的商業規則或背後邏輯。它們可以寫和修復簡單的程式碼，但沒辦法設計系統或做出聰明的決策。

總結來說，GitHub Copilot Agent 就像一個稱職的隊友。它能讓你工作更快、更順利。但就像真正的隊友一樣，它還是需要你的指引、審查與經驗，才能真正把事情做好。

How to Reclaim Your Time and Live a More Fulfilling Life

Sometimes, life feels like a race you didn’t sign up for.

You wake up, rush through the day, jump from task to task, and still feel like you’re falling behind. The truth is, it’s not just about doing more. It’s about doing what truly matters. Many people think success comes from working harder, longer, and faster. But real success comes when you take control of your time and choose to spend it on the things that bring meaning, energy, and growth to your life.

When people learn to buy back their time—by removing or delegating tasks that drain them—they become more alive. They look forward to the future. They reconnect with their work, their families, and themselves. They smile more. They rest better. And everything around them starts to improve—at work and at home.

If you're working 70 hours a week and still struggling to find peace, you’re not alone. Many people live in survival mode, doing everything for everyone, while their own joy quietly disappears. But here’s a secret that can change your life: you don’t have to do it all. In fact, most of what you’re doing right now could be done by someone else—or doesn’t need to be done at all.

Think of your time like gold. You only have so much. Spend it on the few things that bring the biggest return: the things you’re good at, the things you love, and the things that matter most. These might be different for each person—maybe it’s helping others, creating something new, caring for family, or learning a new skill. Whatever it is, those are the things worth protecting on your calendar.

You don’t need to be a business owner to take back control. Whether you're a student, a parent, a teacher, or working a 9-to-5, the principle is the same: your time is valuable. And when you stop giving it away to things that drain your energy, you open up space for what gives you life.

You don’t have to do it all to be worthy. You don’t have to be busy to be important. You just need to be intentional.

Start small. Look at your schedule and ask, “What can I remove, delegate, or say no to?” Free up even just one hour a week to do something that excites you. Then two. Then more. As you focus more time on the things you love, your energy rises. You feel more fulfilled. You show up better for others—and for yourself.

Life isn’t just about surviving. It’s about thriving. It’s about waking up excited, going to bed proud, and knowing you’re living a life that reflects who you are and what you care about.

You don’t need permission to reclaim your time. You just need to decide.

Because in the end, your time is your life. Spend it well.

如何找回你的時間，活出更充實的人生

有時候，人生就像是一場你根本沒報名參加的比賽。

你早上醒來，一整天忙個不停，任務接著任務，卻總覺得自己落後了一步。事實是，人生並不只是做得更多，而是做對的事情。很多人以為成功來自於更努力、更長時間、更快節奏的工作。但真正的成功，是當你掌握了自己的時間，選擇將它花在那些帶來意義、能量和成長的事情上。

當人們學會「買回自己的時間」——也就是移除或委託那些讓自己疲憊的工作時，他們變得更有生命力。他們開始期待未來，重新與自己的工作、家庭和內在連結。他們笑得更多，睡得更好。周圍的一切，也開始變得更好——無論在職場還是家庭中。

如果你一週工作七十小時，卻依然無法找到平靜，你不是唯一一個這樣的人。很多人都活在求生狀態中，為每個人做所有的事，卻漸漸失去了自己的快樂。但這裡有個能改變你人生的祕密：你不需要樣樣都自己來。其實，你現在所做的大部分事，別人也能做，甚至根本不需要做。

把你的時間看作黃金，它是有限的。要花在最能帶來回報的事上：你擅長的、你熱愛的、以及對你而言最重要的事。對每個人來說，這些事可能不同——也許是幫助他人、創造新事物、照顧家人，或學習新技能。不論是什麼，這些才是真正值得你在行事曆上守護的事。

你不需要成為企業主才能掌控自己的時間。不論你是學生、家長、老師，或是朝九晚五的上班族，這個原則都一樣：你的時間很珍貴。當你不再把時間花在讓你疲憊的事情上，你就能為真正讓你充實的事騰出空間。

你不需要做得很多才有價值，不需要很忙才算重要。你只需要有意識地選擇。

從小處開始。看看你的行程，問問自己：「我可以移除什麼？委託什麼？拒絕什麼？」就算每週只釋放出一個小時，去做一件讓你興奮的事，那也是開始。然後慢慢增加，兩個小時，更多。當你把更多時間放在你熱愛的事上，你會感受到能量上升，內心充實，你也會更好地對待他人與自己。

人生不只是為了生存而已，而是為了活得精彩。是早晨醒來感到期待，晚上入睡時感到驕傲，知道自己正活出一個與自己價值相符的人生。

你不需要別人的允許來找回自己的時間。你只需要下定決心。

因為到頭來，你的時間，就是你的人生。好好運用它。

How to Succeed in Competitive Careers

If you want to succeed in a highly competitive field—like academia, performing arts, business, journalism, or music—talent and passion are just the beginning. What really matters is understanding how your industry actually works.

Let’s look at academia as an example. A study of successful professors shows something surprising: when choosing a university or graduate school, the most important factor isn’t location, scholarship amount, or even the professor’s research area. The number one factor is the school’s ranking.

If you want to become a top professor, go to the best-ranked school you can. Even if it’s not the perfect fit, it gives you the best shot at success.

Professor Brennan shares this powerful advice: “Don’t spend all your time trying to be the perfect teacher.” Many students focus too much on teaching and forget that in academia, success often comes from publishing papers, building a reputation, and having a well-known advisor.

And here’s a hard truth: your advisor’s reputation matters. Brennan says, “If your advisor can’t get a job at a top university like Princeton, you probably can’t either.” It may seem unfair, but it reflects how the system works—opportunities often come from who you know and where you studied.

This lesson applies to many careers. In every elite field, the path to the top is narrow. It’s not enough to love what you do—you must also learn how the game is played.

So, what can you do?

1. Do your homework. Study the career paths of people who made it.

2. Choose mentors wisely. Their network can open doors for you.

3. Be strategic. Understand what really matters in your field.

4. Focus on what moves the needle. Don’t just work hard—work smart.

Success isn’t only about being the best. It’s about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right guidance. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to prepare with purpose.

Believe in yourself, learn how the system works, and play to win.

在競爭激烈的職涯中脫穎而出的關鍵

如果你想在一個高度競爭的領域中取得成功——像是學術界、表演藝術、創業、新聞業、音樂界，或是高階管理職——那麼光有才華與熱情是不夠的。真正重要的是，你是否了解這個產業實際是如何運作的。

以學術界為例。對成功學者的背景研究揭示了一個驚人的事實：在選擇大學或研究所時，最重要的因素不是地點、獎學金，甚至不是教授的研究領域，而是學校的排名。

如果你想成為頂尖的教授，就要盡可能進入排名最好的學校。即使這間學校並不完全符合你的興趣，它仍能給你帶來最大的成功機會。

布倫南教授分享了這句強而有力的建議：「不要花太多時間想把教學做到完美。」 很多研究生過度專注於教學，卻忘了在學術界中，成功往往來自於發表論文、建立聲望，以及有一位聲譽卓著的指導教授。

還有一個殘酷的事實是：你指導教授的名聲，對你的未來影響極大。布倫南說：「如果你的指導教授連普林斯頓的職位都拿不到，那你也很難拿到。」這或許讓人覺得不公平，但這就是現實——機會經常取決於你的人脈與學經歷。

這樣的道理不只適用於學術界。事實上，幾乎所有的頂尖職涯路徑都是狹窄且競爭激烈的。光是熱愛你的工作還不夠——你還需要了解這個行業的規則。

那麼，你可以怎麼做？

1. 做足功課。 研究那些成功人士的職涯路徑。

2. 選擇好的導師。 他們的網絡與推薦能為你打開大門。

3. 有策略地規劃。 了解在你的行業中，真正重要的是什麼。 4.

4. 專注於能產生成果的事。 別只是努力，更要聰明地努力。

成功並不只是關於能力，而是關於是否站對了位置。你不需要完美無缺，但你需要有目標、有準備地前進。

相信自己，搞懂規則，然後全力以赴。

Customer First - Why Prioritizing Customer Needs Beats Chasing Resources

In today’s fast-moving world, companies often face a fundamental question: Should we prioritize resources or customers? For many, the answer seems obvious—resources drive innovation, scale, and growth. But in reality, neglecting customer needs is one of the fastest ways for a business to lose relevance.

Many companies that once thrived eventually plateau—not because they stop innovating, but because they stop innovating for the customer. They shift their attention toward internal efficiency, competitor benchmarking, or stakeholder management. In doing so, they lose sight of the very people who fuel their business: their customers. One classic example is when businesses continue investing in new features or technologies that seem impressive but fail to meet what their customers actually want—whether that’s better entertainment, smoother communication, or easier access to information. This disconnect is what decoupling theory refers to. It shows us that stagnation isn’t a symptom of lacking creativity—it’s often the result of a company turning inward instead of outward.

Let’s be clear: putting customers first doesn’t mean blindly giving in to every request. It means making strategic decisions with the customer at the core. When leaders prioritize customer insight over internal politics, or long-term satisfaction over short-term gains, they create solutions that resonate. Being customer-centric means asking: What pain point are we really solving? How will this decision enhance the customer’s experience or outcome? Are we building loyalty or just checking boxes?

Most successful startups begin with a deep understanding of their customers' unmet needs. This empathy drives their initial growth and adoption. But as they scale, many fall into the same trap as incumbents—focusing on partnerships, processes, or prestige rather than people. The antidote? Never lose that connection to your customer.

At its core, this is a conversation about priority and purpose, not compliance. When customer value becomes the North Star, every other decision—resource allocation, technology investment, marketing strategy—falls into place. So ask yourself: Is your company listening to customers or just surveying them? Are your priorities aligned with what your customers truly need? Are you building for them—or building around them?

The companies that win aren’t just the ones with the most capital or the best technology. They’re the ones who never forget who they’re building for. In the choice between resources and customers, always bet on the customer.

顧客至上 - 為什麼優先考慮顧客需求比追逐資源更重要

在這個瞬息萬變的時代，企業經常面對一個根本性的問題：我們應該優先考慮資源，還是顧客？對許多人來說，答案似乎顯而易見——資源驅動創新、擴展與成長。但事實上，忽略顧客需求是企業最容易失去市場相關性的方法之一。

許多曾經成功的公司最終陷入停滯，不是因為他們停止創新，而是因為他們停止為顧客而創新。他們的注意力轉向內部效率、競爭對手分析，或利益關係人的需求，結果反而忽視了企業最重要的力量來源：顧客。經典的例子包括企業持續投入看似炫目的新功能或技術，但這些東西卻無法真正滿足顧客的實際需求，例如更好的娛樂體驗、更順暢的溝通或更容易取得資訊。這種脫節正是「脫鉤理論」所指出的問題。它告訴我們，企業停滯的原因往往不是缺乏創意，而是企業的關注點從外轉向了內部。

當然，把顧客放在首位並不代表要盲目地滿足他們的每一個要求。它的真正含義是在做出關鍵決策時，始終以顧客為核心。當領導者能夠將顧客洞察置於內部政治之上，並優先考慮長期滿意度而非短期利益時，他們就能創造真正有共鳴的解決方案。以顧客為中心，意味著我們應該不斷反問自己：我們真正解決的是什麼痛點？這個決策是否能改善顧客的體驗或結果？我們是在建立忠誠，還是在敷衍了事？

多數成功的新創企業，都是從深刻理解顧客的未被滿足需求出發的。正是這種同理心，推動了它們早期的成長與擴展。但隨著企業規模壯大，許多公司卻掉入與傳統企業相同的陷阱——將焦點從顧客轉移到合作夥伴、流程或企業聲望。要避免這種情況，唯一的方法就是：永遠不要失去與顧客的連結。

本質上，這是一個關於「優先順序與目標」的問題，而不是「服從與否」的問題。當顧客價值成為企業的北極星時，所有其他決策——資源配置、技術投資、市場策略——都會自然地排列到正確的位置。所以你應該問問自己：你的公司是在傾聽顧客，還是只是例行調查？你的優先事項是否與顧客真正的需求一致？你是在為顧客建構價值，還是繞著他們在運作？

最終，真正成功的企業，從來不只是那些資本最多、技術最先進的，而是那些永遠不會忘記自己為誰而建的企業。在資源與顧客之間，請永遠選擇顧客。