Movie & Vocab: Johnny English (spoke in a unclear way)

Last week, a diligent student asked me the word for describing the action of someone speaking in an unclear way. I couldn't recall the verb or the actual spelling of the word on the spot, so I promised her I would get back to her. Thus my entry today:

The first word which came to my mind that day was the term "talking gibberish", which reminds me of one of my favourite comedies called Johnny English, by my all-time favourite actor, Rowan Atkinson. (I will write the next entry to discover more about him)

Gibberish is a noun which refers to "spoken or written words which are nonsense and have no meaning", and you can watch a hilarious part of the Johnny English movie which uses this word:

Johnny English: (watch from 6:44)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHUXPg6Was

(HMV is now selling it at $55 a DVD!!!)


But gibberish doesn't quite fit the word we wanted, and so I tried to recall and research, and here's what I have to share:


Gibber -- to speak quickly in a way that cannot be understood, usually when you are very frightened or confused
Jabber (away/out) -- to speak or say something quickly in a way that is difficult to understand
Gabble (away) -- to speak quickly and not clearly so that it is difficult to understand
Burble (about sth/on about sth)-- to talk about something continuously and in a way that is not very clear
Waffle (on)-- to talk or write a lot without giving any useful information or any clear answers
Mumble -- to speak quietly and in a way that is not clear so that the words are difficult to understand




What is interesting about these words are that they more or less have the suffix -er or -le in their spellings!!! I found an online book called "The Cambridge History of the English Language, Volume 3 by Richard M. Hogg, Norman Francis Blake, Roger Lass, R. W. Burchfield" which talks about these suffixes on page 406. What it says on the book is that -le expresses small and repeated movements, while -er expresses sound or movements.


After knowing this, I hope you will find memorizing these words a little easier. I have also discussed -en suffix earlier on, so you may take another look if you have forgotten.


http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/06/vocabulary-suffix-en.html


There are many other examples given in this book, so you may also learn them up.





Picture resources:
http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/images/cinema/johnny-english.jpg


Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxfk9qDV3cA
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=32805&dict=CALD
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=32807&dict=CALD
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=42313&dict=CALD
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=10310&dict=CALD
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=31936&dict=CALD
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=88770&dict=CALD
http://books.google.com/books?id=CCvMbntWth8C&pg=PA406&lpg=PA406&dq=suffixes+%22-le%22&source=bl&ots=U-z6YSxDAa&sig=pOiHuLm0pTUx5m4zNNmauUC0gpk&hl=en&ei=Z1gTS5b6CZGTkAXf2ImjBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCMQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=suffixes%20%22-le%22&f=false
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/06/vocabulary-suffix-en.html

Usage: Look or Outlook?

I often have students making this mistakes when describing someone's face or feelings.

1. "Your outlook is good!"
2. "You look like happy today!"

Are you one of them?

It is actually not hard to tell the difference, just don't let your Chinese knowledge mix you up.

In example 1, the correct way to say should be "I like your looks!" Since "look" already means "appearance", which already carries the meaning of external features, thus you don't need to use "out-".

You can also say, "You have good looks!" To praise someone who has good appearance.

In example 2, "like" is wrongly used. The meaning of "You look like..." is "You have a similar appearance as ...", so we say "You look like Brad Pitt", or "You look like a boy", which is usually followed by a noun, ie. "Sb looks like + noun"

The correct way to say should be, "You look happy today!"

You can also say, "He has a happy look on his face."

Do you have anymore doubts now? Do leave me your questions if you do.

Resources:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/results.asp?searchword=outlook&x=0&y=0

Website: Learning Different Languages with BBC

Students have asked me how to learn pronunciation of a brand name correctly in their native languages, and I have been giving shortcut methods in my lessons, but to be truly reliable, there is no better way then learning from native speakers.

However, we know that it is far from easy to get to know these native speakers (unless you have chances to work with them or you often go clubbing), thus an easier way is to LIY (Learn It Yourself).

There was once I taught IPA (International Phonetic Alphabets) lessons in Maryknoll Father's in Kowloon Tong, and there was an exchange student from Germany called Jana (a nice and cheerful girl). As there is a big difference in teaching German students and Chinese students, I first learnt the German pronunciations through LIY, then found out similarities between English and German, and then applied what I knew to make it easier for her to understand. I benefitted myself through the learning as I have learnt how to pronounce brand names in German, and which website I used?

No other than the most convenient and interactive BBC Languages. The website has many languages you can choose to learn, and it comes with STEPS, which is a series of interactive walkthrough of the most common situations you face when you go travelling. You have the basic, intermediate and advanced levels at your service, and there are also numerous links for those of you who would like to listen to foreign radio programs to bring your level to an even greater height.

I have spent lots of time on the Italian, Spanish and German sections, and I find answers for around 80% of my pronunciation questions from the Beginner level. The remaining ones, you may need to dig deeper into the intermediate level.

Picture resources:

http://www.webuser.co.uk/imageBank/b/bbc_languages1.jpg

Resources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

Song: You Are Not Alone -- Michael Jackson

Song: You Are Not Alone -- Michael Jackson

While I am still waiting for Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT movie DVD to be out, my sister and I are listening to MJ's albums like mad! The more we listen, the more we appreciate how long-lasting and durable are his songs. Even my childhood songs like "Bad", "Billie Jean", "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal", they still sound so modern and chic!

Today, I want to share another meaningful song, simple-worded, well-written, touching and kind of nostalgic too after he has gone.

Practise more song-listening and singing! It can enhance your listening and speaking skills!

Image from blogspot.com

Lyrics:

Another day has gone

I'm still all alone

How could this be

You're not here with me

You never said goodbye

Someone tell me why

Did you have to go

And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself

How did love slip away

Something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone

For I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

You are not alone

All alone

Why, oh

Just the other night

I thought I heard you cry

Asking me to come

And hold you in my arms

I can hear your prayers

Your burdens I will bear

But first I need your hand

So forever can begin

Everyday I sit and ask myself

How did love slip away

Then something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone

For I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay

For you are not alone

I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

And you are not alone

Whisper three words and I'll come runnin'

And girl you know that I'll be there

I'll be there

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

You are not alone

For I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay

For you are not alone

For I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

For you are not alone

Resources:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=13001&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=54223&dict=CALD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAyKJAtDNCw

****************************************************************************

Video: Save the Leatherback Turtles(Amended)

Leatherback Turtles

Click Here to watch video from New York Times

Facts:

1. It is the largest of all sea turtles.
2. It has no hard bony shell, unlike other sea turtles, and thus the name "leatherback". The plates at the back of the body are embedded under the leather.
3. It has 4 times the metabolism as compared to other reptiles of its size.
4. It can swim actively in cold waters, at a temperature as cold as 4.5 degree Celsius, which is very unusual for a reptile.
5. It is the fastest reptile in record. In the Guiness Book of World Records in 1992, it has achieved the speed of 9.8 meters per second (35.28 kilometers / 21.92 miles per hour) in the water.
6. Leatherbacks are also the reptile world's deepest-divers. Individuals have been discovered to be able to descend deeper than 1,200 meters (3,937 feet).
7. The largest ever found however was over three meters from head to tail and weighed 916 kilograms.
8. The Leatherback's flippers are the largest in proportion to its body among the extant sea turtles. Leatherback's front flippers can grow up to 2.7 meters in large specimens, the largest flippers (even in comparison to its body) of any sea turtle.
9. They are under the Critically Endangered category.

Picture resources:

http://www.turtleprotection.org/support/img/home-turtle.jpg

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/photos/leatherbackhand98.jpeg

Resources:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/environment/1194821066219/index.html#1247465671443

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leatherback_Turtle

News Article: Cleaner China

Cleaner China

Steven Mufson

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Click here for related materials

At a gleaming new research center outside Beijing, about 250 engineers and researchers from the ENN Group are trying to figure out how to make energy use less damaging to the world's climate.

The private company is part of a growing drive by the mainland to work out a way to check the rapid growth of its massive emissions of greenhouse gases. Seeking to transform an economy dependent upon coal for electricity, Beijing has closed down old cement and coal plants, subsidized new wind turbines and taken other measures.

China produces the most carbon emissions in the world, and that is likely to continue growing for two decades. President Hu Jintao's pledge at the United Nations to lower the country's carbon intensity "by a notable margin" is regarded as a step forward.

Yet, in visible and less visible ways, China has begun to address its emissions problem. The steps are driven in part by the concern that climate change could worsen the flooding that plagues the country's low-lying coastal regions and cause water shortages as glaciers in the Himalayas melt away.

But China has also begun to see energy efficiency and renewable energy as ingredients for the type of modern economy it wants to build.

"We think this is a new business for us, not a burden," said Gan Zhongxue, who left a job as a top US scientist for the giant ABB Group to head up research and development at ENN, the Langfang , Hebei, company that made its fortune as the dominant natural gas distributor in 80 mainland cities.

The challenge is immense. On average, a mainlander emits one-fifth as much greenhouse gas as an American; an overwhelming majority do not own cars; and half the population still lacks access to winter heating.

But its economy is growing so quickly and prosperity is spreading so rapidly that China's demand for energy is destined to increase even if it uses less for every dollar of economic output. The State Grid's economic research institute forecasts an 85 percent increase in electricity demand by 2020.

Still, China has taken significant steps in the past five years. It removed subsidies for motor fuel, which now costs more than it does in the United States. It has set high efficiency standards for new coal plants; the United States has none. It has set new energy-efficiency standards for buildings. It has targeted its 1,000 top emitters of greenhouse gases to boost energy efficiency by 20 percent. And it has shut down many older, inefficient industrial boilers and power plants.

"Regardless of whether the US passes its own legislation, China will take positive measures because this is required for our own economy to conserve resources," said Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.

In climate talks, China has argued that industrialized nations should do more to slow the pace of climate change compared with developing nations.

Beijing has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, which is supposed to account for 15 percent of the country's fuel mix by 2020, and for tree planting, to boost forest cover to 20 percent of China's land mass by the end of next year.

China plans to quadruple its nuclear power; by the end of next year, it may have 18 nuclear energy plants under construction, half of the world's total under construction.

Smaller details are getting attention, too. Xie said forcing supermarkets to charge for plastic bags reduced the use of the bags by two-thirds, saving the equivalent of about 30,000 barrels of oil a day.

The International Energy Agency said the efforts are starting to pay off. It lowered the estimate of future mainland greenhouse gas emissions.

Yet, for all of the efforts, China's greenhouse gas emissions are likely to head upward. Hitting its renewable and nuclear energy targets will be challenging. The explosion in the number of wind turbines has created a transmission bottleneck; many turbines stand idle in Inner Mongolia and northeast China, awaiting new transmission lines and connections with the main power grids.

The country lacks the skilled manpower to construct, operate or regulate nuclear power stations. Key components might be in short supply, too.

All that contributes to China's continued reliance on coal and its reluctance to guarantee a ceiling on its emissions at the Copenhagen summit.

In the United States, China's drive to rein in its carbon emissions has prompted people to switch from worrying about "the China threat" to the global climate to worrying about the threat of China soon seizing the lead in clean- energy technology.

"If they invest in 21st-century technologies and we invest in 20th-century technologies, they will win," said David Sandalow, assistant secretary for policy and international affairs at the Energy Department.

THE WASHINGTON POST

*************************************************************************

Vocabulary:

gleaming -- shiny

subsidized -- paid a part of the cost

wind turbines -- a tall structure like a fan and uses wind to produce power

decade -- 10 years

pledge -- a formal promise

notable -- large and obvious

plagues -- to cause worry, pain or difficulty to someone or something over a period of time

glaciers -- a large mass of ice which moves slowly

immense -- extremely large

industrialized -- having developed a lot of industry

quadruple -- to become four times as big, or to multiply a number or amount by four

barrel -- 159 litres of oil

bottleneck -- a problem that delays progress

reluctance -- an unwillingness to do something

ceiling --[C usually singular] an upper limit

rein sth in -- (also rein sth back ) to control an emotion, activity or situation to prevent it from becoming too powerful, like pulling the rein (rope) around a racing horse's neck.

prompt sb to do sth -- to make someone decide to say or do something

*************************************************************************

Opinions:

It seems that there are a lot of articles about renewable energy these days and the fact is "You are right, that's the truth". With the Obama visit to China, the media is fuelling websites and newspapers with all available information.

The Golden Sun project is a big step ahead for China and should the result be satisfactory, more government subsidies and investments are expected to come. The first round is RMB$20 billions[1], but Forbes.com stated that "it was estimated that China would need to invest $398 billion to meet its renewable energy targets ($33 billion per year during 2009-20)"[2], and it might have already been underestimated. Reuters also stated that "China is expected to raise its 2020 solar power generation target more than fivefold to at least 10 gigawatts (GW). With incentives, analysts expect over 2 GW in new solar capacity will be installed as early as 2011, up from just over 100 MW in 2008. China has more than 800 GW of power generating capacity, and around three quarters of them are fired by coal."[3]

How soon can we see the result? You should know how fast Chinese people can work -- construction of the Olympic stadiums, production of the H1N1 vaccines, over-production of the cement, iron, wind turbines.

They are lightning fast!

*************************************************************************

Resources:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=16&art_id=90296&sid=26024627&con_type=5&d_str=20091110&fc=2

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=33117&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=79461&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=90691&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=19999&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=60761&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=54242&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=60396&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=33020&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=40419&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=64689&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=6071&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=9038&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=66750&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=1090075&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=95655&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=63380&dict=CALD

Further readings:

[1] http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/here-comes-chinas-3b-golden-sun-projects

[2] http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/16/china-beijing-renewable-energy-business-oxford-analytica.html

[3] http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5AF0L420091116

News Article: China strategy holds key to climate deal

China strategy holds key to climate deal

Mary Ann Benitez

Thursday, November 12, 2009

China and Japan's strategy of reducing emissions by increasing efficiency should serve as a model for a global climate deal, international experts say.

The United Nations wants the December 7-18 Copenhagen meeting to yield a legally binding agreement by all nations to fight climate change, but negotiations have stalled.

Copenhagen "is dead on arrival," said Professor Gwyn Prins, of the London School of Economics, at a meeting of the Hong Kong-based debating forum Intelligence Squared Asia yesterday.

"There will be no agreement on legally enforceable targets," said Prins, who has been following climate politics since 1976.

Co-author of the much-read Nature scientific journal article Time to Ditch Kyoto, Prins said the diplomatic negotiation approach used for Kyoto has made no "discernible difference" in emissions reduction.

After the meeting Prins said he believed the Asian approach of focusing on reducing emissions by improving efficiency is "a win-win situation."

"Japan is the world's second largest economy (but) it is the most energy- efficient economy. It is the only one which has produced a real plan for reducing emissions that could work, without at the same time, doing damage to its economy," he said.

Prins said the Chinese government was using the same strategy to make a real difference.

The choice for nations at the Copenhagen summit is very simple, he said.

"If you think that politics is just about words, stick with Kyoto and Copenhagen. If you think that politics is about action, look at the approach of the Chinese, Indian and Japanese governments."

Civic Exchange chief executive Christine Loh Kung-wai said she expected negotiations would continue next year until the next summit in Mexico in December 2010.

But she is hopeful that Copenhagen might see agreements being reached on forest management and minor issues such as reporting verifications.

Loh said sending the Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah to Copenhagen as part of the Chinese delegation was appropriate.

Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said: "The West can't reduce their emissions. Their emissions are actually increasing and they are looking for all ways out of it. China is basically arguing that they have the right to development. They are not asking for the right to pollute."

There will be no climate change deal "if we do not understand the voices of China and India", Narain said.

**********************************************************************

Vocabulary:

binding agreement -- an agreement which cannot be legally avoided or stopped

have stalled -- have stopped, like an engine.

enforceable -- making people obey a law

discernible -- also to be seen or understood

summit -- an important formal meeting between leaders of government from two or more countries

verifications -- making certain that something is correct

**********************************************************************

Opinion:

It really bothers me when people are still thinking about how to talk and negotiate when lower sea-level countries are already facing the loss of their home and their land. Poor Maldives citizens. It is so sad to see the president of a country pleading the world to do something good, when in fact we should know that doing our Earth good is our born-responsibility.

Focus on his words at 2 mins 31 sec of the following movie clip.

What is in your mind right now? Are you already doing your best to save the environment by using less of everything, and recycling everything possible? Water, electricity, gas, plastic, paper, which one of these are you working on? I don't understand why my school's office is still using air-con when the temperature is just 18 degrees outside.

You can be doing big things or small things to save the world, as for me, I will do everything I can, at least on my part I have contributed. I wish you can do the same.

"Don't wait for the leaders of the countries to decide, because your future is yours to decide." -- Locky

To save the world, to support the world-healing campaigns, to be part of other people's saving-the-world programs, I will invest on more green energy companies. Because when you are the shareholder of the company, and the company is working hard on saving the world and the business grows to save the world even more, you are partially saving this world too.

God Bless You!

Resources:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=90476&sid=26057030&con_type=1&d_str=20091112&fc=7

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=7520&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=77407&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=25657&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=79782&dict=CALD

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=88031&dict=CALD

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 3

DISTANCING with MODAL VERBS

The Modal verbs can be really wide as it can be used in many different ways to show different mood, time as well as possibilities (particularly in the conditionals, see earlier entries under the "Grammar" label).

There are 9 modal verbs in English:

Can & Could

Will & Would

Shall & Should

May & Might

Must

While the followings are often regarded as semi-modals or auxiliary verbs, which can be used in similar ways:

ought to & had better

used to

dare & need

do

going to

have to

One of the uses of modal verbs is to show politeness:

1. Can you help me open the door? I have no spare hands (Speaker is holding onto a pile of files).
2. Will you come with me? (Speaker turns around) This way please (speaker shows the way with his hand).

Examples 1 and 2 use the 'present' form, which implies that that distancing is not present, thus the speakers do expect a "Yes" as the response.

To show more politeness than the previous examples, we tend to use the 'past' version of the modal verbs: (Note that they are not really talking about the past)

1. Could you give me a hand?
2. Would you let me know your phone number, please? (add 'please' to make it even more polite)
3. Would you mind offering your seat to this lady ?(Speaking on behalf or a lady who is pregnant, even more polite when using "would you mind")
4. Could you possibly allow me to offer you a cappuccino? (Even more polite than "Could you allow" by using possibly)

With the exception of May:

1. May I offer you my jacket? (Cannot say "Might I offer")

Must is completely out of our concern here because it has nothing to do with politeness.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_modal_auxiliary_verb

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 2

DISTANCING with the CONTINUOUS TENSES

The continuous tenses can be used to show distancing because it sounds more casual, as they suggest something temporary and unfinished.

With present continuous:

1. I'm hoping that you can give me a chance. (More unsure than I hope)
2. I'm looking forward to seeing you again. (more casual than I look)
3. I'm afraid we must be going.

Note than the distancing here is not exactly to show politeness, but to make the situations sound less serious.

For politeness, the past continuous give TWICE the level of distancing:

1. "Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?" -- Hermione to Professor McGonagall
2. "Were you looking for someone?" said the waitress.
3. I was thinking -- maybe we should just forget about it.

Resources:

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 1

DISTANCING

Sorry, I haven't been keeping my blog updated as promised. This is due to my busy schedule (that the school is making full use of my time), as well as the time needed to do the research in this topic.

Again, some of you have already heard me mentioning this topic in class, but I would like to go a little deeper this time, so I will break this topic into a few entries, so that I can answer as many doubts as possible.

First, let me state that, in general, past tenses are more polite than present tense, as many of you might have already known, which further implies that past tenses are not only used for telling actions happened in the past.

Past tenses play a very important part in Distancing.

The main reason is that past tenses give people a 'distance' from 'now', thus the listener will feel less 'pushed' by the speaker because it sounds less direct.

eg. At a high-end brand shop, a salesperson might say...

1. "How many handbags did you want to buy? (more polite)" to a customer who speaks Mandarin
2. "How many handbags do you want to buy? (less polite)" to a customer who speaks Cantonese

eg. At a jewelery shop, a salesperson might say...

1. "How much did you intend to spend? (more polite)" to a customer who wears gold all over the body
2. "How much do you intend to spend? (less polite)" to a customer who wears T-shirt and flip-flops.

eg. When a boy sees a girl he likes ...

1. I wondered if you were free this evening.

When a girl sees the boy she doesn't like...

1. I wonder if you have ever looked at yourself in the mirror.

So much for today, think over and digest a bit! See you in a few days! (My time for bed)

Picture resources:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rma/lowres/rman202l.jpg

Resources:

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

News Article: If You Must Know: How Did the Chinese Create Snow?

Quoting entirely from the original website:

If You Must Know: How Did the Chinese Create Snow?

By DAN FLETCHER – Tue Nov 3, 9:55 am ET

"Everybody complains about the weather," the old saying goes, "But nobody does anything about it." That is, until now. A Nov. 1 snowfall in Beijing - the city's earliest since 1987 - is due, Chinese scientists say to a campaign of "cloud-seeding" to encourage precipitation. If true, it's the wettest success yet in a long-standing effort to bring moisture artificially to the parched northern regions of China. So how'd they do it? (See pictures of the science of snowflakes.)

AFP – Pedestrians make their way across the snow in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on November 1. Chinese …

For those who haven't had a meteorology class since middle school, a quick review of Weather 101: Colder air encourages precipitation, so when the temperature drops at high altitude, water naturally condenses out of the air. Clouds are formed when this moisture, suspended in tiny droplets or crystals, meets a condensation nuclei - small particles of dust or ice that are blown about the upper atmosphere. Without these small particles, clouds can't form.

The method of cloud-seeding used by the Chinese involves dosing the atmosphere with silver iodide, a chemical solution either dropped from planes or shot up from the ground. (Other methods use salt or dry ice.) The silver iodide particles supercharge cloud formation, as they act as excellent condensation nuclei. Once clouds form, they also start a positive feedback effect. As droplets freeze and are added to the cloud, they release their heat, creating an updraft which draws additional moisture from the ground into the atmosphere.

That's the theory, anyway. The effectiveness of cloud-seeding is still disputed, because it's difficult to say with any certainty that cloud-seeding is responsible for a storm rather than Mother Nature. But if you choose to believe in cloud-seeding, the Chinese scientists may have even overdone it. The snowstorm lasted for 11 hours, disrupting flights in and out of Beijing and hampering shipping off the Chinese coast. Still, expect few complaints from the generally dry region; it's the most accumulation the city's seen in a decade, and further proof the Chinese may be becoming the world's best at managing weather. In a 2008 experiment, scientists seeded clouds in advance of the Beijing Olympics, successfully ensuring clear skies for the opening ceremony.

************************************************************************

Vocabulary:

cloud-seeding (n) -- producing clouds by using chemicals

precipitation (n) -- rain or snow

long-standing (adj) -- long-time

parched (adj) -- (of land or crops) very dry

disputed (adj) -- disagreed

accumulation (n) -- collection of water from rain or snow

************************************************************************

If you have been paying attention to the weather these days, you would have realised that this year, the rainfall in Hong Kong has been very little. In fact, we are soon facing a very bad drought due to 14% less rainfall in the first 10 months of the year in the entire Guangdong[1]. As you should know, most of our drinking water comes from Dongjiang and that is provided by the Guangdong provincial government under contract signed, but when there is not enough for the people in Guangdong, there won't be enough for people in Hong Kong. Sooner or later, Hong Kong may also need to ration (to limit the use of) water.

I was actually hoping for the previous two typhoons to hit Hong Kong, because that could have brought us a lot of water (and hitting concrete city like Hong Kong is better than hitting other less storm-protected countries), but unfortunately, they never came. If silver iodide(AgI) works for Beijing[2], we might still have a chance to improve the situation, but it all looks bleak (almost hopeless) when dry wind is blowing from the north during our winter time. I guess we will need to see what happens when spring comes, when the air gets a little wetter.

So you see how much global warming can change the planet? We must do our parts and heal the world!

Resources:

[1] http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-10/30/content_8871215.htm

[2]http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/time/wl_time/storytext/08599193409000/33952691/SIG=12o685kou/*http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1934090,00.html?xid=rss-fullworld-yahoo

Website: Time.com Online

Found this marvellous website www.time.com while reading an article on weather control by China. I think it is a great thing to share. Article later, check out the website first! It has articles to read and videos to watch! Yet another great website for first hand news!

Resources:

http://www.time.com

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1934090,00.html?xid=rss-fullworld-yahoo

Movie & Song: This is it & Earth Song

Image from blogspot.com

Recalling an entry I wrote about Michael Jackson, I think I have learnt more about him and have higher praise for him after watching his latest movie, THIS IS IT.

First of all, I do like Michael Jackson, but I was once bothered by this throwing-his-son-out-of-the-balcony incident and sleeping-with-children-is-a-wonderful-thing interview. However, after watching this movie, I have a totally new impression of the King of Pop. I truly believe that the media largely distorted his words and doings in the past, and this movie has spoken out for the real him.

If you are looking for wonderful MJ moonwalk, 45 degree lean and powerful dances, then I am sorry, you won't see any of these. Well, he was 50 years old. But at 50 years old, he still had the best body flexibility and lightning fast feet, now that's not easy!! His voice was still brilliant, a voice lying in between masculine and feminine, changed from warmth and smoothness to his typical burst yells, he still had all those.

But what absolutely stunned me, was that I got to see, for the first time, that he actually knew much more than these. At one point of the movie, he was doing his rehearsal dance on stage, when suddenly I saw him doing some steps that I had never seen before, and all those young and top professional dancers were all yelling and cheering MJ from below the stage. When MJ finally ended his dance, saying "I like that, I like that too," I then realised MJ had not planned for this part at all! He was create new steps and moves right on the spot just by dancing according to his feelings!! And that was completely unbelievable because it was as smooth and lithe as if he had been practising for a thousand times.

Image from news.msn.com.tw

He also impressed me a lot when he was giving the professional guitarist and pianists advice on how to improve their music, taking their music to a new height. MJ also knew every single note of his songs, and he could hear music that seemed so perfect to me but turned out to be "(emotions/feelings) it's not there" for him. He IS a real genius!

I was most touched by the part he introduced the video opening of his song, Earth Song, which he talked about how bothered he was by knowing the speed of which the rainforests are being destroyed. He mentioned that he loved greens, he loved the animals, and that was a really true-hearted speech. Even when he was thanking the team for their painstaking rehearsal, he voiced out that "heal the world" message, saying that the world must be healed within 4 years or there will be no way back. At these parts, seeing the green forest being destroyed by a log harvester, I almost burst out in tears. MJ and I are both green, animals and peace-loving people.

He was always gentle with his co-workers, even when he was upset with someone, he would still say "God Bless You" to them. This may sound ironic, but there is no better punishment than to God Bless the person he actually felt upset with. He was so kind!

Rest in peace, Michael.

****************************************************************************

Here's the song and lyrics for you to feel his love for nature:

Earth Song

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain.. .
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah

What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far

Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about the bleeding Earth
(What about us)
Can't we feel its wounds
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo,ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Resources:

http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/06/vocabulary-news-article-jackson-friends.html

Earth Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM

Earth Song Lyrics:

http://www.lyrics007.com/Michael%20Jackson%20Lyrics/Earth%20Song%20Lyrics.html