Saturday 31 July 2010

News: 4,700 students hit space bar

Broken Space bar
Image from http://geekhack.org

Sorry folks, a little late for this posting because I was too busy searching and compiling information for the trip, AND pre-writing some really cool articles which will be automatically posted next Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So, you won't miss my words on this blog!!!  ( I'm hearing some voices of agreement, and they are saying that they won't miss my words because they never visit my blog anyway.)

Whatever.

Okay, so I have something to say about this article here.



4,700 students hit space bar 

More than 4,700 eligible Form Seven students have been denied entry to university due to lack of space - the highest figure in six years. 

Rebecca Yu

Friday, July 30, 2010

More than 4,700 eligible Form Seven students have been denied entry to university due to lack of space - the highest figure in six years.



The University of Hong Kong took in nearly half the top students, including Choi Man-hin - one of the two students to get six As in this year's examination.

The other, Cheng Fuk-wai, has been admitted to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Of the 35,300 Form Seven students who applied to the Joint University Programmes Admissions System, 17,613 met basic admission requirements. However, only 12,908 managed to secure places in the eight local universities.

The remaining 4,705 students may choose to pursue associate degrees or other self-financed degree courses if they wish to continue their studies.

The government will subsidize 6,400 places for associate degrees, a 16 percent rise over 2009.

"Due to the slack labor market and the strong competition for jobs, students are advised to consider pursuing an associate degree or to study overseas if their families can afford it," said Chui Yat-hung, student counseling head at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

HKU took in 173 of the 364 students who scored at least three As.

The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination results are due to be released on Wednesday.


A HKCEE student concern group, Hok Yau Club, yesterday opened 38 counseling hotlines and received more than 300 calls within hours.

Most of the calls were about admission to the Institute of Vocational Education. The number to dial is 2503-3399.


Meanwhile, Education Bureau director Ng Po-shing warned students to think twice before deciding to repeat Form Five as it will "narrow their future." He suggested they opt for vocational courses instead.






Opinions:
You might be asking, "Right, SO WHAT if there are 4,700 eligible Form 7 students not getting a place in the university?"  Well, I guess all parents want their children to do well, so if there was one poor Form 7 student in the family, then I bet the whole family would not be having a good time.

The most difficult time to face is the time when the student get to know that he won't be able to study in a university, it might feel like this is the end of the road and there is no way out.

Well, first, I would say, "If you knew you wanted to study in the university, why didn't you work harder? If you had truly wanted something, I don't believe that you can't achieve it! If you did try but you still couldn't get it, then sorry to say, you didn't trying hard enough!"

But then to comfort the guy, I would say, "Silly! Of course there are other ways other than universities! There are other universities in other parts of the world, you can go outside and experience something different.

If your family cannot afford, then get a job, gain some working experience, earn some cash and while you are saving up the school fees, figure out what you really want to study!

Get some recommended textbooks online from the schools and try to read a few chapters to see if you like it. If not, think carefully to see if this subject really suits you, try another subject if necessary. 

If you think you have no mood for any studying, then focus on your career, maybe you will learn to strengthen the mind, maybe you will think studying in school is much better and so you will return to school one day, maybe you will succeed in your work field and eventually become a rich man. Studying in the university doesn't guarantee success! In fact, it doesn't, in most cases. But something does guarantee success, and that is 'hard-work'.

Can something succeed with pure luck? Yes, but it won't last long. No matter schooling or working, people always have to work hard, really hard to achieve something. In most cases, you work 100%, you gain 0% reward. If you are lucky, you get 10-20%, if you are very lucky, you get 50%, someone will get 100% or 120%, but most likely, it only happens in most people's dreams.

Be practical, use your brain and think things through carefully. Reading people's stories of their hard-fought lives will definitely give inspirations.

Time IS really money, so spend time wisely and think what you want to achieve in your life. Don't waste time on computer games, doing stupid things and regret when you look back at old age."


Vocabulary:
eligible --  (adj) having the necessary qualities or satisfying the necessary conditions
slack -- (adj) showing little activity; not busy or happening in a positive way
counsel -- (vb) [T] to give advice, especially on social or personal problems
opt for -- (vb) [I] to make a choice, especially for one thing or possibility in preference to any others




Resources:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=101168&sid=28979268&con_type=1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/eligible
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/slack_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/counsel_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/opt

Wednesday 28 July 2010

Event: HKTDC Food Expo

28th July 2010, 2:22pm. I was wandering over the Google News page as usual and realised that they have now added a section on Hong Kong news! Not really. Their server detected which city I'm logging in from and thus searched me related news. Anyway, it led me to a news about the book fair which further led me to news on the upcoming HKTDC Food Expo, from 12 to16th August (Thursday to Monday).

I have never been to a food expo before, although I have always been interested by it. To me, the Food Expo is an event mainly for the entire family to stock up their home with rice, cooking oil, abalone noodles and electric cookers, but seems like what I know was just my wrong impression.

Why?

Well, because the "family-stock-up" happens only in the Public Hall, where members of the public enjoy their shopping sprees, but the Trade Hall allows educated people like you to meet with suppliers and manufacturers. Just make sure you register here first! There is also a Premium Food Zone, where I suppose you can do some special food tasting.

Image from hkteafair

And for those of you who might be looking for something in addition to food, there are two other concurrent events – the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (12-14 August) and the International Conference & Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (12-16 August).

For more details, please visit this page.


Vocabulary:
spree -- (n) [C] a short period of doing a particular, usually enjoyable, activity much more than is usual
concurrent -- (adj) happening or existing at the same time



Resources:
http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hkfoodexpo-en/HKTDC-Food-Expo.html
http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hkfoodexpo-en/s/2028-For_Visitor/HKTDC-Food-Expo/Visitor's-Newsletter.html
http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hkfoodexpo-en/s/2002-General_Information/HKTDC-Food-Expo/Fair-Details.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/spree
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/concurrent

Monday 26 July 2010

Idiom: "Close, but no cigar!"

The day to start my holiday is moving closer and closer, and while I am doing lots of research on Japanese food in Tokyo, I am also researching for a new camera. Since I might be getting sponsors from my parents, I might as well buy a better one.

As usual, I was watching the videos of Kai from DigitalRevTV on Youtube, hoping to get some inspirations when I heard Kai using the phrase, "Close, but no cigar!"


It is actually quite a popular phrase nowadays, there are songs and videos using this idioms. It means

Fall just short of a successful outcome and get nothing for your efforts.

Many websites (including phrases.org.uk) claims that ...

"It is first recorded in print in Sayre and Twist's publishing of the script of the 1935 film version of Annie Oakley"Close, Colonel, but no cigar!"  "


I tried to look for the script on the internet with no success. Well, I guess it doesn't matter, as long as we know how to use this idiom.

Let me give you one example:

Like the Hang Seng Index today, it tries to challenge 21000 point for the 3rd time in two months, but after hitting 20963, it came back down to 20840, missing the 21000 point by just 37 points. If you are reading the finance page tomorrow, you might just see the headline as, "Close, but no cigar!"



Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/06/website-digitalrev-camera-reviews.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ9J24wfd_s
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/close-but-no-cigar.html
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/close,_but_no_cigar
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026073/

Friday 23 July 2010

Song: Can't Smile Without You -- The Carpenters

Friday, time to relax the mind and soul. Bringing to you a beautiful song by the Carpenters. After all that gusty wind and pouring rain, it is time to slow down.

How to relax? You need some kind of hush. One of my all-time-favourites, "Can't Smile Without You".

From the album, 
A Kind of Hush:
Image from American Weekend

Romantic, heart-warming, endearing are just a few words to describe this song, but I'm sure you'll have your  own special feelings when you listen to it. Have a great weekend!

Can't Smile Without You




You know I can't smile without you
I can't smile without you
I can't laugh, and I can't sleep
Finding it hard even to talk
And I feel sad when you're sad
I feel glad when you're glad
And you must know what I'm goin' thru
I just can't smile, without you

You came along just like a song
You brightened my day
Who'd believe you were part of a dream
That only seemed light years away

And you know I can't smile without you
I can't smile without you
And you must know what I'm goin' thru
I just can't smile, without you

Some people say the happiness wave
Is somethin' that's hard to find
Into the new leavin' the old behind me
And I feel sad when you're sad
I feel glad when you're glad
And you must know what I'm goin' thru
I just can't smile, without you

Into the new, leaving the old behind me
And I feel sad when you're sad
I feel glad when you're glad
And you must know what I'm goin' thru
I just can't smile, without you

You must know what I'm goin' thru
I just can't smile, without you


Vocabulary:
hush -- (n) [S or U] a sudden calm silence
gusty -- (adj) with sudden, strong winds
endearing -- (adj) making someone like you
light year -- (n)[C] the distance that light travels in one year (about 9 500 000 000 000 kilometres)
happiness wave -- [metaphorical use] happiness spreads in wave form. Please click here for more details.


Resources:

Wednesday 21 July 2010

News and Vocabulary: Ruinian's Amino Acid (Chinese Herbs Part 3)


More news on meds! News article from Reuters:




SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Image from Ruinan 

Shares of Ruinian International (2010.HK), the country's largest maker of amino acid health supplements, fell 16 percent on Tuesday after reports one of its products failed a drug quality test earlier this year. Chief financial officer Philip Poon said the product was found to contain much lower levels of amino acids than stated in its packaging.





Why is it all of a sudden that all these tests about Chinese medicines start pouring out? What might be next? Could it be the herbal drinks? The Chinese herbal supplements? Chinese candies? Tortoise Jelly / Guilinggao?


Image from Wikipedia




Image from Today's Motherhood
Dried Longan (桂圆)
Image from Chifond
Red Dates / Jujube (红枣)
Image from LeeAnn
Chinese Hawthorn Fruit (山楂)

Image from Cake
Black Prune (烏梅)

Image from Wing Yip
Tangerine Peel (陳皮)

Image from Chianglong
Grosvenor Momordica Fruit / 
Siraitia Grosvenorii (羅漢果)
Image from 54MD
Selfheal Fruit-Spike (夏枯草)

Image from Essential Oil
Mandarin orange(柑桔)
Pipa / Loquat (枇杷)

Image from Australia Plants
Ballonflower Root /
Chinese Bellflower Root (桔梗)


Vocabulary:
supplement -- (n)[C] something which is added to something else in order to improve it or complete it; something extra

Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/07/drink-hung-fook-tong-herbal-drinks.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/07/news-and-vocabulary-bawang-and-chinese.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/01/health-and-fitness-liquorice-root-2nd.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTOE66K01Y20100721

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujube
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crataegus_pinnatifida
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangerine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siraitia_grosvenorii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_orange
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loquat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycodon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilinggao

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/supplement_1

http://www.hungfooktong.com/products_1_1.php?language=en
http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/lifestyles/chinese_tea_traditional.html

Monday 19 July 2010

News & People: Stephen Fry in Hong Kong

If you are a Dr. House fan, if you are a Hugh Laurie fan, ...
Image from House MD Episodes 

... if you are a Blackadder fan, ...

Image from Free Republic

... you have no reason not to know how his dear Cambridge friend is......

... his name, Stephen Fry, and he is in Hong Kong!!!


Stephen Fry: Humour Should Transcend Language at Book Fair



Internationally celebrated actor and writer Stephen Fry says his style of humour should strike a chord at the open forums he will join with other British authors next month in Hong Kong as part of the 21st edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, 21-27 July.Mr Fry was interviewed in London by entrepreneur and author Sir David Tang ahead of the Hong Kong Book Fair, and their chat is now available on the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) webcast service at www.youtube.com/hktdc.
“I think most human beings have the full range of emotions, and I think it is a
fallacy to imagine that language constrains, confines – or indeed, if you like, is the parent of any modes of thought,” said Mr Fry in the 17 June interview.
Mr Fry, who will join fellow authors Frederick Forsyth and Andrew Roberts at the forums moderated by Sir David, also said he hopes to read excerpts from his upcoming memoirs, which cover his Cambridge University years, when he met his long-time friend and collaborator actress Emma Thompson. The book is due to be released in September.


About Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry is an active player in television, radio, film and writing. He first came to attention in The Cellar Tapes with Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Tony Slattery. With Hugh Laurie, he co-wrote and co-starred in A Bit of Fry and Laurie.
Fry is best known for his role in Blackadder, the lead in the film Wilde, and the host of the quiz show, QI. He also presented a television series Stephen Fry in America in 2008 and frequented radio panel games such as Just a Minute, and as chairman of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. He is also famous for being the narrator of the Harry Potter audio books.

Apart from his work in the television and film industry, Fry is also a very accomplished writer of books as well as newspaper and magazine columns and articles. He has written four novels – The Liar, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Stars’ Tennis Balls, a modern version of The Count of Monte Cristo – and an autobiography, Moab Is My Washpot. His non-fiction titles included Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music, The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within and more.


Don’t miss the chance to meet Mr Fry at the Open Public forum.
Date: 23 July (Friday)
Venue: Theatre 2, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Time: 6pm-8pm (Autograph session to follow)
Click here to register NOW!

Date: 24 July (Saturday)
Venue: Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong
Time: 10am-1pm
Click here to register now!

Here's the interview:


Oh! I would LOVE to, LOVE to go! But I don't think I can go this Friday. Saturday is waiting list... Well, at least I think I finally have my targets in this book fair.



Vocabulary:
Strike a chord -- If something strikes a chord, it causes people to approve of it or agree with it
fallacy -- (n)  [C] formal an idea that a lot of people think is true but which is false
constrain -- (vb)  [T often passiveto control and limit something
confine -- (vb) [T] to limit an activity, person or problem in some way


Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/01/tv-drama-house-with-medical-terms.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/12/tv-drama-black-adder-for-english-lovers.html

http://www.stephenfry.com/
http://www.hkbookfair.com/en/News_FairNewsPage.aspx?id=1792
http://www.hktdc.com/info/webcast/v/en/en/1X04AOEM/Stephen-Fry-speaks-with-Sir-David-Tang-about-the-HKTDC-Hong-Kong-Book-Fair-.htm

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/strike-a-chord#strike-a-chord__1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fallacy
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/constrain
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/confine

Friday 16 July 2010

News and Song: Back For Good & Pray -- Take That

Remember that I recommended a song by Robbie Williams in the past? She's the One? Wanna see Robbie returning to Take That? Now there is a chance!



Take That: From boyband to manband

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams were hailed as Britain's biggest boyband in the 1990s, evoking hysteria reminiscent of The Beatles.

From left: Jason Orange, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Michael Owen and (separate pic) Robbie Williams.
From left: Jason Orange, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Michael Owen and (separate pic) Robbie Williams. Photo: REUTERS - PAUL GROVER
Teenage girls screamed to hit after hit including Back For Good, Pray and A Million Love Songs.
The band had eight number one hits and sold 10 million albums during the 1990s.
But tensions began to show between Barlow, seen as the serious songwriter of the group, and Williams.
Williams walked out in 1995.
The band broke up in February 1996 and fans were so distraught that the Samaritans set up a special helpline.
They reformed a decade later without Williams, after appearing in a tell-all ITV documentary watched by nearly six million viewers.
Barlow confirmed the news with the words: "Thank you very much for giving us the last 10 years off, but unfortunately the rumours are true - Take That are going back on tour."
Take That's comeback anthem Patience went straight to number one and won a Brit Award for best British single.
The band have continued their success and saw their 2009 stadium tour The Circus - Live smashing UK box office records.
Asked about the possibility of rejoining Take That, Williams told GQ previously: "It will happen. But not in the next 18 months, two years.
"There's contracts to fulfil. And then I can do what I want."
Williams has also spoken of a "healing" chat he had with Take That in 2008 while the band were mixing The Circus in Los Angeles.
For his part, Barlow has said it was "inevitable" that Williams would perform with the group again.
Williams was reunited with the band by sharing a stage during a Children In Need concert last year.
The singer has already revealed he is releasing a single, Shame, with Barlow, the first time they have recorded together for 15 years.


Since the article mentioned three songs, I'm picking the better two and let's see what we can learn from their past. Have an easy weekend!



Back For Good -- with lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b960CyRtoyM

"Back For Good" lyrics: 

I guess now it's time for me to give up
I feel it's time
Got a picture of you beside me
Got your lipstick mark still on your coffee cup
Got a fist of pure emotion
Got a head of shattered dreams
Gotta leave it, gotta leave it all behind now

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good 
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood

Unaware but underlined I figured out this story
It wasn't good
But in the corner of my mind I celebrated glory
But that was not to be
In the twist of separation you excelled at being free
Can't you find a little room inside for me

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood

And we'll be together, this time is forever
We'll be fighting and forever we will be
So complete in our love
We will never be uncovered again

Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it
I just want you back for good
Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it
You'll be right and understood

I guess now it's time
that you came back for good

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




"Pray" lyrics

When the time gets near for me to show my love
The longer I stayed away for hiding from a word
I need to hear now don't think I'll hear it again
But the nights were always warm with you
holding you right by my side,
But the morning always comes too soon
Before I even close my eyes

All I do each night is pray
Hoping that I'll be a part of you again someday
All I do each night is think of all the times
I close the door to keep my love within

If you can't forgive the past I'll understand that
Can't understand why I did this to you
And all of the days and the nights ok I'll regret it
I never showed you my love
But the nights were always warm with you
Holding you right by my side
But the morning always comes too soon
Before I even close my eyes

All I do each night is pray
Hoping that I'll be a part of you again someday
All I do each night is think of all the times
I close the door to keep my love within

Surely we must be in sight of the dream we long to live
If you stop and close your eyes you'll picture me inside
I'm so cold and all alone, straight on back to me

All I do each night is pray
Hoping that I'll be a part of you again someday
All I do each night is think of all the times
I close the door to keep my love within


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

Vocabulary:
hail sb/sth as sth --

phrasal verb 

[often passive] 
to praise a person or an achievement by saying that they are similar to someone or something very good
distraught -- (adj) extremely worried, nervous or upset
shatter -- (vb) [T] to end or severely damage something
for good -- forever


Homework: What do the Samaritans do?


Resource:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/05/song-shes-one-robbie-williams.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/7893493/Take-That-From-boyband-to-manband.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzNNF_d3wA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b960CyRtoyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy-Z3LnYh-I

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Pray-lyrics-Take-That/C42BC29DA74ECF6348256897001D0F50
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Back-For-Good-lyrics-Take-That/7B065127AABC1E6248256897001D77F4

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/hail-sb-sth-as-sth#hail-sb-sth-as-sth__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/distraught
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/shatter
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/good_15#good_15__3

Thursday 15 July 2010

News and Vocabulary: Bawang and Chinese Herbs (Chinese Herbs Part 2)


Just as I have posted my previous article 2 days ago, what a news today!

Image from YouTube

What news? This one in Bloomberg:
Bawang International Group Holding Ltd., a Chinese herbal shampoo maker that uses movie star Jackie Chan in its advertising campaigns, tumbled 14 percent to HK$5.05. Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch & Co. said if a report by Hong Kong’s Next magazine that cancer causing element was found in Bawang’s shampoo was true, that could hurt product sales and the market will react “negatively,” according to a research report today.
Image from AAStocks


Hair isn't so bouncy any more now, huh?

And so what Chinese herbs are in the shampoo? Do you know what they are called in English? I did a little research:
Image from Bawang Official Website

Radix Polygoni Multiflori / 
Ganoderma (靈芝)
Image from Mushroom the Journal
Ginseng (人參)Image from Explore Chinatown


Image from Bawang Official Website

Notoginseng (樂道三七 / 田七)
 Image from china-guide

Chinese Honey Locust (皂莢)
Image from Wikimedia
Peppermint (胡椒薄荷)
Arborvitae (側柏)
Image from Earth Forest

Image from Bawang Official Website

Ginseng (人參)Image from Explore Chinatown
Notoginseng (樂道三七 / 田七)
 Image from china-guide
Gingko leaf (銀杏葉)
Image from DailyMail

There are many more products, but I guess there are enough vocabulary for the day.

Happy hair-washing!!


Vocabulary:
tumble -- (vb) to fall a lot in value in a short time
bouncy -- (adj) able to bounce


Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/07/drink-hung-fook-tong-herbal-drinks.html
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-14/hong-kong-s-stock-index-advances-to-two-week-high-lenovo-jumps.html
http://www.bawang.com.cn/English/productinfo.asp?Newid=1
http://www.bawang.com.cn/English/productinfo.asp?Newid=2
http://www.bawang.com.cn/English/productinfo.asp?Newid=3

http://www.traditionalchinesemedicineguide.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonum_multiflorum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganoderma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginseng
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notoginseng
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_honey_locust
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arborvitae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tumble_1#tumble_1__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bouncy