While I was away on my Taipei trip, perhaps the most exciting news is the hint of the release of iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Jailbreak. Pwned Apple Pwned!!!
Yesterday, it is finally officially out as cited on reputable Jailbreak website, Redmond Pie. Do note that this jailbreak only works on iPhone 4 / 3GS, iPod touch 4, iPad 1, so don't try this on your iPhone 4S and iPad 2!
Here's the video tutorial.
If you want to read the text, please go to the website below.
But before you start jailbreaking your iPhone, do read my earlier article, Technology: iPhone 4 Failed-Downgrade Rescue Tutorial (without SHSH) and learn how to back up your SHSH blob, just in case.
I went to Taipei for holidays for the first time and it was really fun! First thing I like about going to Taiwan is the duration of the flight. It took only 1.5 hours on a small plane, and 1 hour 15 minutes on a large one! Amazingly quick! I love it!
This is also the first time my Canon 7D-cum-24-105mm f/4.0-5.6 L is travelling with me, so this trip is a real test for its performance. And it turns out that my new camera has not disappointed me. In fact, it performed so well that I actually think my photography skills have improved with the familiarity of this camera.
Image from Locky's English Playground
My first impression of Taipei is that the Taoyuan airport isn't big and it looks pretty old, definitely nothing like the one in Hong Kong; the streets look very much like mainland China; the MRT (train systems) stations have a design which look almost exactly like those in Singapore, kept giving me a deja vu every time I took the trains; cars and motorbikes use low quality petrol or non-catalytic exhaust pipes which stink the place every time a vehicle drives past, despite these, there are many things very charming about Taipei.
Stone at the entrance
Image from Locky's English Playground
Number 1, it is the scenery at the Hot Spring Valley of Beitou.
First glimpse of the Hot Spring Valley
Image from Locky's English Playground
As an island on the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is reasonable to have real hot springs across the entire Taiwan, and thus, the spectacular rush of continuous steam and sulphurous gases from the hot spring.
Image from Locky's English Playground
The hot spring water flows down from the mountain across the entire hot spring hotels region as shown in the photo below.
Hot spring stream
Image from Locky's English Playground
Hot steam
Image from Locky's English Playground
Hot steam and gases rushes through every openings of the sewage! Remarkable!
Hot spring signs
Image from Locky's English Playground
A taste of the Japanese culture can be seen easily from the colonial architectural elements, such as the hot spring symbol above on a bridge across the stream.
Stream of hot spring
Image from Locky's English Playground
Simplistic design of lamp covers
Image from Locky's English Playground
Model of an artist's lodge
Image from Locky's English Playground
There is no reason to be bored as there are museums, a library and parks for you to spend good relaxing time learning the history of Beitou and immerse yourself into the quietness of the natural environment.
Beitou Hot Spring Musuem
Image from Locky's English Playground
Abandoned hot spring inside the Hot Spring Museum
Image from Locky's English Playground
Do note that the museum closes at 5pm, but the library opens till late at night, so if you want to spend more time in the museum, you must not do your shopping first.
Green Natural environment
Image from Locky's English Playground
It was really a great idea to spend the first day of the trip, what's more, the hot spring hotel has a hot comfy hot spring bath waiting for me.
Mites? Bye bye!
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Vocabulary:
deja vu -- (n)[U] the strange feeling that in some way you have experienced already what is happening now
Pacific Ring of Fire -- (n) [U]is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean.
sulphurous -- (adj) from sulphur a pale yellow element which exists in various physical forms. It burns with a blue flame and a strong smell and is used in medicine and industry.
sewage -- (n) [U] the system of carrying away waste water and human waste from houses and other buildings through large underground pipes or passages
remarkable -- (adj) unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning
immerse -- (vb) [R]to become completely involved in something
Christmas is drawing near and everyone is starting to get into their long-waited holiday mood (if not already in this mood since the beginning of December). However, let's not get too lazy before the holidays actually begin, why not learn some vocabulary about Christmas so that you can use them when you are shopping?
Then you should read on in this article for some more festive objects and their history! Would be kind of fun sharing them with your friends.
Christmas Food
Actually, different countries have very different Christmas food [1]. Christmas turkey maybe the most recognised and Mr. Bean's favourite but it is still not the ultimate food eaten in Christmas. In fact, for countries which do celebrate Christmas, I think only one thing is universal, and that is chocolate! But cakes and barbecue meat are not to be forgotten.
One of the words which comes out no matter in Christmas or not, Gingerbread is a wide-known festive food, an animation character and a version of the Android OS. Not to mention that it is also one of my favourite cute objects.
According to Wikipedia,
"Gingerbread dates back to the 15th century, and figural biscuit-making was practiced in the 16th century.[1] The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits appearing was in the court of Elizabeth I of England. She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests.[2]"
And according to the Guiness Book of Records,
"the world’s largest gingerbread man was made on December 2, 2006 by the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce in Smithville, Texas, United States at their annual Festival of Lights celebration. The gingerbread man weighed in at 1,308 lbs, 8 oz,[3] and stood at over 20 feet.
How does it look like?
The world's largest gingerbread man cooked over an open fire Dec. 1 2006 in Smithville, Texas, USA
Image from franlan.com
Candy cane originated in Germany in 1670s and it was first made to keep the children from making noises when the choir is practising. it was made into a stick to remind the children of the shepherds who paid visits to baby Jesus [2].
It is also one of the sweet food I dislike but I really don't know why.
The drink for Christmas, apple cider is the most original, most natural seasonal drink, foggy brown in colour made from fresh apples, untreated and unfiltered. "Hot apple cider" or "mulled cider" is made after heating with cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg, cloves or other spices[3], depending on personal preferences.
One of my favourite cakes when I am exceptionally hungry, the Christstollen is said to be a German cake made from orange and lemon peels, raisins, dried fruits, nuts, rum and cinnamon. The English version is called Christmas cake and the difference is the use of icing sugar on the cake top (they love icing on everything basically).
According to Wikipedia, Stollen was baked for the first time as Christmas pastry at the Saxon Royal Court in 1427 and was made with flour, yeast, oil and water [4].
Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, chicken, pork, beef, mutton, fruits, etc. Basically, anything! Depends on what you prefer, mince pie is one presentable yet easy to make Christmas food. My favourite? Apple pie!
The history of the mince pie traces back to the 11th to the 13th Century at the time of the Crusades [5] [6].
Alright, that's all for today!
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Google is famous for its innovation and fun. This year's Christmas they have prepared a lovely snow cold "Easter Egg" for their users to play with!
Starting to get frosty
Merry X'mas Locky's English Playground
If you want to stop playing it, just press "Defrost".
You will need Google Chrome to play.
Do "Like" this article and our English Playground.
Vocabulary: Easter Egg -- (n)[C] a gift, used to be for Easter only, now the word is no longer restricted for just that day. defrost -- (vb) [I or T] to (cause to) become free of ice, or to (cause to) become no longer frozen
Movie fans have been waiting for this Christmas for a long long time. Sure enough there are many brilliant movies to anticipate for, but there are also some that are not as spectacular or mega which still worth watching! So, here's my guide to the must-watch and can-watch movies this year and next year.
First, 50/50, a movie which has already shown in Hong Kong and didn't raise too much attention. Based on a true story, it talks about a man who lives a normal life has been diagnosed with cancer, and his chances of surviving from it was 50/50. The story talks about how calm this man was at first, but grows to fear of death eventually, how his friendships and relationships develops after cancer and how he faces his treatment. It is not a big production but definitely worth watching. The movie finds a balance between comedy, love, friendship, life and death. Definitely more than a can-watch!
Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows has been on my waiting list since the prequel. I highly appreciate the use of high-definition high-speed cameras in filming actions but showing them as slow-motions. Such technique has become a signature of Sherlock Holmes movies by director Guy Ritchie. The running scene in the forest with bullets flying around is one of the best and most spectacular scenes which took Ritchie 5 days to film.
"The bullets you see in the air are real bullets -- that's the speed at which they fly," the director said.[1]
That's amazing! From what he said, it is already worth watching! Sherlock Holmes 2 (starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law), definitely a must-watch! It's already on cinema! Catch it now!
No more "Bourne", Matt Damon stars in a non-action family movie as a father of two kids, who bought a zoo. Sounds ridiculous? It is based on a true story. It is fun, adventurous, and heart-warming for the cold winter. One point worth noting, I think Matt acts like Tom Hanks in the movie. Fans of Scarlett Johansson will not want to miss it. We Bought a Zoo, showing on the 29th December 2011.[2] A Can-watch I say.
Fans of MIB are back in the hunt for more disobedient aliens because Men In Black 3 is back with agents no other than Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones!! What are they up to this time? Time Jumping!!! Opening on the 24th May 2012.[3] More than a Can-watch, but I need more info to confirm.
Another remake of Spiderman? Well, yeah, maybe the advancement in technology has allowed better movies to be made and so we will be seeing another original Spiderman movie, called The Amazing Spider-man which will be on cinema some time next year (does that mean the last one was not amazing enough?) A Can-watch if there is no better ones to watch by then.[4]
But wait, talking about better ones, Marvel's The Avengers is definitely the one to catch, with the class of superheroes such as Captain America, Ironman, the Incredible Hulk, Thor and the new addition of Black Widow, this action-packed movie is one that you won't want to miss! Coming to the cinema some time in 2012.[5]
Use these trailers to practice your listening skills, and see if you are interested in any of them.
Happy weekend! Don't forget to "Like" the entry and "Like" the English Playground.
A quick message on the Google Map update. Google has rolled out an update showing photographs of the post-tsunami Japan for users to see the images of even the most devastated Fukushima up close.
Here are some of the photos I captured from the website.
No Photos near Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants
Images from Google
Although it is not a pleasant view, it is worthwhile to understand the power of nature and see how people continue their lives in the areas.
The website is listed in the resources below.
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Vocabulary: devastated -- (adj) completely destroyed worthwhile -- (adj) useful, important or good enough to be a suitable reward for the money or time spent or the effort made
