Thursday, 13 January 2011

News: McDonald’s ‘Texas 2 Burger’: The Spice of the Lone Star State

Look after the customers and the business will take care of itself. - Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's Corporation

I learn this quote from the introduction of the movie, Supersize Me, and I think this is perhaps the biggest irony on this planet and the most sarcastic remark ever in the history of this planet. Well, it wasn't a sarcasm at first, it was sincere and well-meant, then McDonald's got sidetracked from the founder's words......

1954 was the year Ray Kroc changed the world with McDonald's, then which year McDonald's changed its menu? I have no idea, but in Tokyo, there is always something new!

JANUARY 12, 2011, 12:19 PM JST

McDonald’s ‘Texas 2 Burger’: The Spice of the Lone Star State

By Yoree Koh

Clocking in at a sound 645 calories, the Texas 2 Burger is like jumping off the nutritional cliff. But that didn’t prevent slim Japanese men and women of all ages to dive into the chili melt when it hit McDonald’s menus last Friday.

: McDonald’s; Meet the Texas 2 Burger, the first of four burgers from McDonald’s to be sold in Japan as a part of its “Big America 2″ campaign.

“I really loved the Texas Burger last year so I couldn’t wait to try the new one,” said Satoshi Tanaka, a 38-year-old engineer standing outside a McDonald’s outlet in the haute Ginza neighborhood in Tokyo on Jan. 7, the big launch day. Mr. Tanaka was among the many hungry patrons crowded into the pristine long counters during lunch rush hour , with a large silver box stamped with “Texas 2” open before him. One customer had dozed off, having likely surrendered to an inevitable food coma.

McDonald’s Japan launched the Texas 2 Burger as part of its “Big America 2” campaign, an encore to its successful crusade that named beef patties after U.S. locales last year. And among the four-burger series, the Texas Burger was the only one to get a younger brother. The other burgers – the California, Hawaii, and New York — were replaced with equally extravagant creations named Idaho, Miami and Manhattan this year.

If, as they say, everything is indeed bigger in Texas, then this creation inspired by the Lone Star state is no different. The Texas 2 Burger is a towering stack with chili, cheese, bacon, onion and a mustard relish sauce packed between the three buns. Taking a bite of the sandwich is akin to having the entire school lunch buffet on sloppy joe day explode in your mouth. It was a rioting mouthful. But the chili was undoubtedly the lead topping. It was almost too overpowering: the taste of the chili lingered even after two sticks of gum.

: Yoree Koh/The Wall Street Journal; An advertisement of the Texas 2 Burger in the window of a Mcdonald’s outlet located in Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood on Jan. 7.

The chili is what makes this year’s Texas burger different from the original. And it seems the Texas burger part deux has fallen victim to the curse of the sequel. Its attempt to shake things up with the whole bean chili left some excited customers craving the barbecue flavored mustard sauce swirled on top of the original Texas.

“I wouldn’t say I didn’t like it, but it didn’t meet my expectations,” said Mr. Tanaka, adding the chili overpowered the rest of the burger. It was a review echoed by 74-year-old Yasutsuru Mori. “The sauce is what made it great last time,” said the self-described burger lover after he scarfed it down over the weekend.

Perhaps Japan wasn’t yet ready for the spice of Texas.

Vocabulary:

irony -- (n) [U]

a means of expression which suggests a different, usually humorous or angry, meaning for the words used

sarcastic -- (adj) (UK informalsarky)

using sarcasm

sarcasm -- (n) [U]

the use of remarks which clearly mean the opposite of what they say, and which are made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way

well-meant -- (adj) said or done in order to be helpful, but not always achieving this
sidetrack -- (vb) [T usually passive]

to direct a person's attention away from an activity or subject towards another one which is less important

chili melt -- (n) chili and molten cheese
pristine -- (adj) formalapproving

new or almost new, and in very good condition

doze off --

informal

If you doze off, you start to sleep, especially during the day

surrender -- (vb) [I] If you surrender to an experience or emotion, you stop trying to prevent or control it
inevitable -- (adj) certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented
coma -- (n) [C]

a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be woken, which is caused by damage to the brain after an accident or illness

crusade -- (n) [C] a long and determined attempt to achieve something which you believe in strongly
locale -- (n) [C] formal

an area or place, especially one where something special happens, such as the action in a book or a film

patty -- (n) [C]

a piece of food made into a disc shape which is then cooked

extravagant -- (adj) spending too much money, or using too much of something
towering -- (adj) very great
stack -- (n) [C]

•

a pile of things arranged one on top of another

relish -- (n) [C or U] a type of sauce which is eaten with food to add flavour to it
akin (to) -- (adj) [after verb]

similar; having some of the same qualities

sloppy joe -- (n) [C] an American dish of ground beef, onions, sweetened tomato sauce or ketchup and other seasonings, served on ahamburger bun
riot -- (vb) [I]

to take part in a riot -- used as a metaphor in this case

linger -- (vb) [I]

to take a long time to leave or disappear

part deux -- (n) Deux" is "two" in French.
fall victim to sth -- to be hurt, damaged or killed because of something or someone
curse -- (n) [C] magic words which are intended to bring bad luck to someone
sequel -- (n) [C]

•

a book, film or play which continues the story of a previous book, etc.

shake sth up --

[M]

to cause large changes in something such as an organization, usually in order to make improvements

crave -- (vb) [T]

to have a strong or uncontrollable want for something

scarf -- (vb) [T]

US for scoff (EAT) -- [T] (US also scarf) informal to eat something quickly and eagerly

death row -- (n) mainly US

on death row

in prison and waiting to be killed as a punishment for a crime

Opinions:
Okay, who wants to try? I would, trying is fine, but I guess I will only try one new burger a month. It is just too fatty and I wouldn't want to risk my health for the taste of it. What's more, I'm quite sure that fresh steaks taste much better than those hamburgers. Why settle for less? I used to be a Burger King lover, now for health, I hardly ever go for a burger -- heartburn is never easy on me.

As you can see, I'm a logical person with good control, but some aren't. Another news from Guyism reports that a Missouri man armed with a shotgun entered a McDonald’s after closing and demanded burgers!

Image from cdn.guyism.com

Guess the man has trouble figuring out which way is faster to death row.

Resources:
Ray Kroc Quotes | Star Quotes
http://www.quotesstar.com/people-by-nationality/north-americans/americans/ray-kroc-quotes.html

Movie: Supersize Me @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/10/movie-supersize-me.html

Health and Fitness: Supersize Me Add-ons @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/10/health-and-fitness-supersize-me-add-ons.html

Health and Fitness: Manage Your Weight @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/11/health-and-fitness-manage-your-weight.html

Ray Kroc @ Wikipedia

Message: Locky's English Playground is Now on YouTube

Hi playground gamers! Hope you like Locky's English Playground on Twitter and Facebook, well, the next New Year present for you all is Locky's English Playground on YouTube!

On our YouTube channel, you will see the videos that I have bookmarked and added as playlists. If you have lots of time at home and want to find something interesting to learn, yet you have no idea what is interesting and what can help you with your listening practice, just come to our YouTube channel!

I think you are aware of the buttons on the right-hand side of the page, simply click these buttons and they will take you to the places you want to go! Also, RSS Feed is now moved to the top as a button also, so it should be easier for you to subscribe and read my entries with the Readers you like. I personally use Google Reader.

Anyway, hope you like the Locky's English Playground YouTube channel!

Happy New Year once again!

Resources:
Message: Locky's English Playground is Now on Twitter and Facebook @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/01/message-lockys-english-playground-is.html

Locky's English Playground on YouTube @ Locky's English Playground
http://www.youtube.com/user/lx3h1981

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Technology: Where's the iPhone 5?

So, what does the iPhone 5 look like?

Is this iPhone 5?
Image from intomobile.com

Is this iPhone 5?
Image from cnet.com

Looks like only this is the most we'll get to see......

iPhone 5 Antenna Gate Redesign
Image from iphonefaq.org

Rumours said that iPhone 5 / Verizon iPhone was to be announced yesterday. Apple officials were expected to be there, the journalists from various popular gadget websites were invited and everybody had their fingers on the camera shutter.

Then? Oops! As Don Reisinger of eWEEK.com describes it, "it was clear that the hype surrounding the event was far more exciting than the event itself."^[1]

Really? How is that so?

Well, check this out if you don't believe me, but warn you, this can cure insomnia!!!

Great to watch if you want t a good sleep, isn't it?

If you want to wake yourself up, I suggest you 2 remedies:

Watch the video clip of Tony Chan Chun- chuen and tycoon Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum calling themselves "Piggy" and "Daddy Piggy"^[2] (The 3 judges could only stand for 4 minutes; "Who left the fridge open?" -- Ben Stiller in Tropic Thunder)
Check out "the World's Most Powerful Smartphone" -- Motorola Atrix 4G Smartphone!

This year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show) also features a lot of other phones, like

the Motorola 4G Droid Bionic,

the Motorola Cliq 2 for T-Mobile,

the Samsung 4G LTE,

the HTC Thunderbolt,

and the LG Optimus 2X

Looks like Apple will have to make iPhone 5 very much smarter or it will sure lose out to these awesome gadgets! Copycats can do better than the inventors!

Resources:

[1]Verizon iPhone Roll Out Fell Short of Hype: 10 Reasons Why @ eWEEK.com
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Verizon-iPhone-Roll-Out-Fell-Short-of-Hype-10-Reasons-Why-728224/

[2]CHAN `PIGGY' AND `DADDY PIGGY' VIDEO CLIP GETS COURT AIRING BUT JUDGES GIVE IT ONLY 4 MINUTES
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=106932&sid=30868118&con_type=1&d_str=20110111&sear_year=2011

Scorcher Movie by Ben Stiller @ Tropic Thunder
http://www.scorchermovie.com/

Motorola Atrix 4G Smartphone with Computer-like Power @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uCpPimaW-c&feature=player_embedded

Motorola 4G Droid Bionic
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027499-283.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6szkDakwGM

Motorola Cliq 2 for T-Mobile
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027511-283.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCfEGZ7Q8oc

HTC Thunderbolt
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027690-283.html

Samsung 4G LTE
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027489-283.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR94jbFC1XQ

LG Optimus 2X
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-32254_1-20027663-283.html

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

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

Message: Mourn for Bluefin Tuna (Updated)

Just in case you are wondering why the background has turned black with tunas, that is to mourn for the poor Bluefin tunas killed recently.

Condemn Bluefin Tuna restaurants, condemn the killing of Bluefin tunas.

Let them swim freely -- fear-free.

Image from sustainablesushi.net

Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzZhSl_00pI

Monday, 10 January 2011

News: What killed the birds, the fish and the crabs?

Anyone aware of the birds above your head? I always do, because I know what will fall down if I walk below them -- whitish yellow, yellowish white, sticky and yucky. And my observation tells me that they poop not when they are flying, but when they are just about to fly or resting.

Anyway, who knows, it might be good for you and your skin?

But what falls from the sky these days, are not the droppings, but the birds. I have posted two articles from The New York Times below so you can read up a little if you have no idea what is happening to the skies of USA and Europe. But as usual, if you come to my blog, you will always find shortcuts to get to learn something. Here's a video summary, great production by kayak1969p.

If you have read my articles on Sherlock Holmes and House M.D., you know I like logics. So, the current evidence is, according to The New York Times articles, these birds didn't die of "viral or bacterial diseases, toxins or poisons"^[1]. Only trauma showed on the birds, but as to what led to the trauma, what level of trauma, was the trauma serious enough to kill the birds? There were no answers.

From the limited evidence we have, we can only think from what we know by common sense, but first, let's look through the claims again.

Can the birds be killed by viruses or bacterias?

The answer should be no, because viruses and bacterias cannot kill all birds at the same time, same moment, there has to be some time delay in between each death. (But what if the birds did actually die at the same time?)

Can the birds be killed by toxins or poisons?

Maybe closer for the time of death, but still can't kill all at the same time. So, unlikely. (But what if the birds did NOT die at the same time?)

How about fireworks as mentioned in the newspaper?

Fireworks could explain their death at the same time, but there has to be either burn marks, traces of gun-powder, or traces of physical trauma on each and every bird. For instance, if the birds collided with each other and died, then there should be different DNAs on each bird; if the birds collided with walls, windows and buildings, then the walls and buildings should have blood or feather DNAs, and there should be walls, windows and buildings nearby in the first place. And because it looks more like "raining birds" and not all the birds dying at the same location, that is right next to the wall. So, unlikely.

How about the possibilities suggested by the National Post of Canada?

Struck by Lightning?

Possible, but if so, then there should be records from the observatories of the towns in the US and Sweden, and lightning is rather easy to be recorded in fact. So, if it was lightning, I guess the news reports will say that it was due to lightning. And burn marks would be obvious if this is the case. So, unlikely.

Sucked up in convection current? Hit by hail?

This is harder to prove, because weather observatories usually monitor wind of large scale, small scale winds are much harder to detect. Still, if the birds are frozen by the cold current or hit by hail, then eyes of the birds should show differences. If the birds were really frozen, their eyes should appear dryer than usual, as compared with trauma deaths.

Could it be a human factor?

Also possible, for example, a mad John Doe hates birds and went catching birds with huge nets. After catching them, murdering them, then use some means to distribute the dead birds from the sky.

Listen to what Arkansa State Veterinarian has to say:

Looks like we still need to wait for more info.

Vocabulary:
trauma -- (n) [C or U]

specialized (a) severe injury, usually caused by a violent attack or an accident

trace -- (n) [C] a very slight amount

Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzjLlqIuVhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8n6EU0bSB4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3CSaD_QuO0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qzv1jqIA4w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSvTskKanBY&feature=related

For Arkansas Blackbirds, the New Year Never Came @ The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04beebe.html

[1] Mass Animal Deaths: An Environmental Whodunit @ The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/weekinreview/09gorman.html

Books & Movie & Drama: Sherlock Holmes VS House M.D. @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/03/books-movie-drama-sherlock-holmes-vs.html

Loud noises may have caused Arkansas bird deaths @ National Post of Canada
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/01/03/mass-bird-deaths-puzzle-arkansas-town/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/trauma_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/trace_4

Friday, 7 January 2011

News & Animal: STOP EATING Bluefin Tunas NOW!!!!!

Dead Eyes Open
A bluefin tuna is is displayed after the first trading of the year at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market on January 5. (GETTY IMAGES)

Every year, year after year, I write about how cruel people have been to the sea animals, such as the sharks and the tunas, but year after year, Hong Kong people keep eating. Who is to blame? Ricky Cheng, the owner of Itamae and Itacho Sushi restaurant? Or the blue-fin tuna lovers? For HK$3.07M and an over 20-year-old long-lived, rare-aged tuna fish is dead, eyes opened.

CNNGo reports that 'Taste of Japan chief Ricky Cheng said that he "does pay much attention to protecting the environment"^[1]'.

Protecting the environment? My foot!

People are too short-sighted when it comes to money, and too money-minded when it comes to tunas. Care none about the extinctions of other species. The slicing and the chopping, head and tail, it is almost unbearable to watch!

People do not realise or want to admit that taking away big fish from the ocean will only harm human beings one day. They do not want to stop the killing.

Fishermen do not want to admit that the tunas are dying out fast!

For Mr Yamamoto. the tuna
breeding project is a labour of love
Image from BBC News

Akito Yamamoto, a Japanese businessman, realises this and quickly moved to farming bluefins as a mean to make money as well as saving the wild bluefin populations -- killing two birds with one stone. He started his work of bluefin farming even before 2006 and even though breeding the fish is 'a labour of love', he continues with the business. Likewise the Sojitz Corporation of Japan runs a similar but much larger scale project since September 2008 in "Takashima in Matsuura City, site of Genkainada, one of the world’s
leading fishing grounds,"^[2]in Nagasaki Prefecture where the bluefin tunas have been grown "over the course of two years with the cooperation of local residents, fishing cooperatives, and the local government."^[2]Both Mr. Yamamoto and Sojitz deserve praises and I do hope that they succeed big time for this project! The first batch of farmed bluefins has already been shipped out on the 8th Dec 2010, let's hope that the public accepts it well!

Image from Sojitz Corporation

Starting a wild bluefin saving project is one milestone indeed, but the next big obstacle is the fish-eaters' stereotypical perception of farm fish. Farmed fish aren’t as tasty as the wild ones they say, so why stop catching them in the oceans. Putting it in Mr Yamamoto's opinion, "Farmed fish aren’t as tasty as the wild ones they say, so why stop catching them in the oceans." ^[3]

A Bloody Shame
Image from www.sustainablesushi.net

Image from WWF

What is the difference between wild-catch and farmed bluefin tuna? In Judith Yang's opinion, there is almost none! Then why can't there be more farmed bluefin tunas? Time and money.

Fishermen do not want to wait and neither do the tuna-lovers. As a normal citizen, what we can do is really boycott restaurants which sell these poor, on-the-verge-of-extinction bluefin tunas for now as proposed by the WWF.

Anyway, Itacho and Itamae Sushi aren't tasty anyway in my opinions. I like Sen-ryo much better and they don't sell Bluefins anymore and I don't eat the Yellowfins either! Thumbs up!

I have been a Bluefin Saver for a long time, what about you?

Click here to pledge as a Bluefin Saver too!

"Fish Can't Speak, But You Can!" -- WWF

Actually, FISH CAN TALK!!! They understand how humans are treating them, just that few are listening to them.

If you want to learn more about Tunas and their sustainability, YouTube has a whole channel by the TunaSustainability and there is a website called Sustainable Sushi by ICCAT, both are excellent resources for both knowledge and English learning. Learn them and teach your friends, families and the young generations! This is what I have been doing!

Vocabulary:

My foot! -- informal old-fashioned

used to mean that you do not believe what another person has just told you

unbearable -- (adj) too painful or unpleasant for you to continue to experience
milestone -- (n) [C] (UK also milepost)

an important event in the development or history of something or in someone's life

obstacle -- (n) [C]

something that blocks you so that movement, going forward or action are prevented or made more difficult

stereotypical -- (adj) disapproving

having the qualities that you expect a particular type of person to have

perception -- (n) [C] a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem
boycott -- (vb) [T]

to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval