Wednesday, 2 May 2012

People, Culture & Investment: Master So, Feng Shui and Investment


Image from hk.asia-city.com
Master Peter So, is one of the most respected feng shui master in Hong Kong, or probably in Asia. He is also one of the few feng shui masters who actually has translated feng shui books in English, inside those books, are a great amount of highly formal vocabulary, really worth reading even if you are not interested in feng shui, just for the sake of widening your horizon.

Image from amazon.com

There are many reasons for his success, his long waist-length straight hair, his fashionable look, the sharpness and directness of his criticism, the fluent hyper-speed recitation of the Ba-zhi diagnoses, etc., but his quirk cannot sustain his fame if he is not truthful enough.

And his most truthful quote, is "the highest level of feng shui, is random guessing."

Sounds very demeaning to the great Chinese system, but his words are absolutely true.

Feng shui, as he often says, is statistics, is a collection of statistical knowledge (though impressionised rather than hard number facts) through thousands of years of observations in the human behaviour in relation to the geography of the surroundings in China. Hence feng shui can affect people's living conditions in certain good or bad ways in general, but there are always exceptions.

See what Dr. House has to say about the feng shui of his office (Season 8 Episode 5).



Surprised that westerners care about feng shui too? You'll be even more surprised after Googling English books on feng shui.

Back to my previous point, what Dr. House felt was really no joke. Feng shui is a lot about comfortability.

A Ceiling Beam
Image from idyllwild
For example, a sudden appearance of a ceiling beam tends to make people feel uncomfortable or even sick. Sounds unconvincing, but Master So's explanation is that the beam deflects air movements downwards, thus having your air-conditioner's wind hitting the beam and deflecting to hit directly above your head, will really make you uncomfortable or even sick.

Scared by one's own reflection in the mirror
Image from moviesblog.mtv
Another example is that mirrors should never face any doors or beds as it will cause discomfort, unrest or even poor health. His explanation is that human tends to be scared by sudden moving objects. Whether it is in the day or at night, when you open the door and suddenly you see some unexpected moving object in front of you, you will be frightened by it. That moving object is of course your own reflection in the mirror. Continually suffering from the scare of your own reflection in the middle of the night while you head to the toilet isn't a smart choice.

This, to me, actually makes sense.

Computer and monitor near the bed
Image from seemslegit
But what is even more amazing about Master So, is that he is often caught saying that he is a feng shui master who least believes in feng shui! He explained by saying that many of the teachings from the old feng shui textbooks will not apply in the modern days simply because many things in the modern days never existed in the past, like the electromagnetic influences from the computer and the monitor next to your bed, or the power transmission towers near your home, or the bright signboards in the opposite building which flashes right outside your windows affecting your sleep quality.

"Feng shui isn't foolproof".

Power Transmission Tower
Image from made-in-china
Can feng shui foretell the future? Probably not. Otherwise, Master Peter So will surely try to explain future trends with feng shui when he talks about investment. The fact is, even a feng shui master himself, he hardly discusses his investments in terms of feng shui. What he does share, are his observations through the years of observations of the market movement, supporting it with statistics (or arguably, his own style of feng shui).

"Anything regarding Gods and Demons, I have zero idea! 
Feng shui is statistics, not religious studies." -- Master Peter So. 

Here's an article which demonstrates his firm belief in statistics.



Feng shui masters hit the investment trail

By Li Tao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-22 10:52


HONG KONG: While financial analysts read all sorts of indexes to form a picture of the economy, feng shui experts in Hong Kong are applying their art to a similar end.
Peter So, a popular local feng shui master, is trying to convince undecided investors not to purchase property in Hong Kong until 2015.
So said past experience showed the city's property prices rising continuously for five years and then falling over the next six. He said prices peaked in 2009, the final year of the last cycle, and were now due to tumble.
"The theory has never been wrong in the past," said So. "Apartment prices fell in value almost 50 percent between 1986 and 1991 and then rebounded to another high in 1997. They slumped again in 2003 because of the breakout of SARS, and it is acknowledged that property prices have been way up over the past few years, even though the city's economy was damaged severely by the global financial crisis."
So said the next bottoming of the property market would occur in 2015 and he had now started saving money ahead of the eventuality.
As to stocks, So eschewed predicting whether it would be a lucrative market or not this year, but advised investors to differentiate odd years from even ones when buying, a tactic he said was effective eight times of 10.
"Though the stock market is volatile, rough fluctuations still can be determined. Generally, the market rises high initially but ends low in odd years. The trend reverses in even years. This is an even year, so investors should consider buying stocks in May or June, when the market will be at the year's bottom," said So.
However, just like the mercurial markets, predictions from different feng shui masters vary, sometimes considerably.
Edwin Ma, another local feng shui master, disagrees with So about the city's property market.
"If I am to make a suggestion to my clients, I will definitely advise them to pour money into the property market this year," Ma said.
Ma anticipates a flat year in housing prices, but he said it was still worth investing since "in comparison with stocks, property prices are de facto guaranteed to make a fortune, while most stocks were not".
He added: "The stock market seemed exuberant last year, but it has become the playground only for rich people because profitable stocks were no longer affordable to most ordinary investors."
Ma said although the Hang Seng Index ended high in 2009, most investors were unhappy because star stocks such as HSBC had surged to more than HK$80 a share - far beyond their affordability. However, any cheap stocks they were holding barely made money, or even dwindled in value over the year.
Ma also warned people born in the years of the tiger, monkey or snake to be extra cautious with money in 2010.
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese aesthetics system believed to apply the laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help people improve their lives. Cynics say it is based solely on anecdote or guesswork and lacks plausibility. However, feng shui is extremely popular in China and is growing in popularity in many foreign countries.

After reading the above article, I did some research myself. I found this article dated Dec 3rd, 2008, and it shows a chart and 2 tables.

Image from fundsupermart

From the above chart, and the table below obtained from Hang Seng Indexes,

Month-end weighted average P/E Ratio (Table 1)
Image from hsi.com.hk
if you are thinking about investing in stocks, when the current Price-to-Earning ratio (PE) is around 6.78 to 10, it is considered as a good bargain. But what about timing?

Image from fundsupermart
Looking at the table above, it is fair to say that roughly every 3 or 6 years (depending on how you want to see it) something disastrous will happen, the recent one is 2009, so either if history will repeat itself in a different way, then 2012 or 2015 would be the danger years, which matches what Master So said in the above article.

Image from fundsupermart
The duration it took to rebound seems to vary greatly from the above table, so if you read the above article on the 3rd Dec 2008, and decided to buy in stocks after the month-end weighted average PE was published in Jan 2009, this is what should have happened...

Month-end weighted average P/E Ratio (Table 2)
Image from hsi.com.hk
Which means that your investment should have lost roughly 10% till Feb 2009, but then you should have earned double by Jul 2009. Back to the feng shui issue, if feng shui is statistics, then feng shui is just the Chinese name for "Data Analysis". Master So's data analysis concludes that this year's May and June is the bottom of the market, but according to my own analysis using the data from Hang Seng Indexes...

Since 1973 till today,
Image from Locky's English Playground

  • January and March each have 7 times being the lowest PE month, while other months are quite even, this could mean January and March are likely to be the best time to buy stocks in Hong Kong. 
  • At the same time, December has 12 times being the highest PE month, followed by February with 8 times, then January and July with 5 times, meaning that these months are likely to be the months at which the stocks in Hong Kong are the most expensive.
But the questions are, 
  1. How do I know which January is the highest PE or the lowest PE month? 
  2. Should I buy in January and then sell in February?

These are questions which need more analysis to be done, after I have found out, it will be my feng shui.

More on that later.

Please "Like" this entry and the English Playground if you want more of this kind. 

Vocabulary:
recitation -- (n) [C] saying a piece of writing aloud from memory
quirk -- (n) [C] an unusual part of someone's personality or habit, or something that is strange and unexpected
fame -- (n) [U] when you are known or recognized by many people because of your achievements, skills, etc
demeaning -- (adj) causing someone to become or feel less respected
comfortability -- (n) [U] how comfortable one's is about something or someone
ceiling beam -- (n)[C] A beam is a horizontal structural element that is capable of withstanding load primarily by resisting bending.
power transmission tower -- (n) [C] a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line.
foretell -- (vb)  [T] (foretoldforetoldliterary to state what is going to happen in the future
tumble -- (vb)[I] to fall a lot in value in a short time
slump -- (vb) [I] (of prices, values or sales) to fall suddenly
breakout -- (n) [C] a violent escape, especially by a group, from prison
bottom out-- (phrasal verb)  to have reached the lowest point in a continuously changing situation and to be about to improve
eschew -- (vb)  [T] formal to avoid something intentionally, or to give something up
lucrative -- (adj) (especially of a business, job or activity) producing a lot of money
differentiate -- (vb) [I or T] to show or find the difference between things which are compared
mercurial -- (adj) changing suddenly and often
aesthetics -- (US also esthetics) (n)[U] the formal study of art, especially in relation to the idea of beauty
cynic -- (n) [C] disapproving a person who believes that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere
plausibility -- (n)[U] seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed



Resources:
Feng shui masters hit the investment trail @China Daily
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-02/22/content_9483738.htm

Transmission Tower @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_tower

Feng Shui @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

House MD - "Feng Shui" @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyKp9QgapIg

Hong Kong Market At Huge Discount! @ fundsupermart.com
http://www.fundsupermart.com.hk/hk/main/research/viewHTML.tpl?lang=en&articleNo=3104

Peter So Man-fung @ HK Asia City
http://hk.asia-city.com/events/article/peter-so-man-fung-renowned-fortune-teller

Master SoTurning the wheel of fortune @ CUHK
http://www.com.cuhk.edu.hk/varsity/0012/people/masterso.htm

@ Master So Classroom
http://masterso.com/classroom/classroom4_02.php

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTE2MDgzMzI=.html

Hang Seng Indexes
http://www.hsi.com.hk/HSI-Net/HSI-Net

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/recitation?q=recitation+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/quirk?q=quirk
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fame?q=fame+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/demeaning?q=demeaning+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beam_(structure)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transmission_tower
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/foretell?q=foretell+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tumble_1?q=tumble
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/slump_1?q=slump+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/breakout?q=breakout
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bottom-out?q=bottoming#bottom-out__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/eschew?q=eschew+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lucrative?q=lucrative+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/differentiate_1?q=differentiate+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/aesthetics?q=aesthetics+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cynic?q=cynics+#cynic__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/plausible?q=plausibility+

Monday, 30 April 2012

TV & Quotes: House M.D. Season 8 Finale & The End (With Cool Quotes)


Series Finale on 21st May 2012
Image from cdn2-b.examiner

When there's a beginning, there's an end.

One of my very favourite TV dramas of all time, House M.D., will end on the 21st May, 2012. This is really sad for me as this terrific show has inspired me a lot both in terms of philosophy and psychology. 

Season 1 to 3 Team
Image from FOX

Let's not forget the entries that this show, Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) has inspired me to write, including:
  1. Speaking: Learning an Accent? 
  2. TV Drama: House with Medical Terms 
  3. Books & Movie & Drama: Sherlock Holmes VS House M.D.
  4. Medical: Thrombosis VS Embolism VS Atherosclerosis
  5. Songs & Music: Hugh Laurie -- Let Them Talk the album
  6. Song & People & TV: You Can't Always Get What You Want -- Band from TV & The Rolling Stone
  7. Idiom & Slang: Colors, Tool, Lightning & Sexy!
  8. TV & Medical : Monsters Inside Me x House M.D.
  9. Song: Passing Afternoon -- Iron & Wine
  10. Song: No Surprises -- Radiohead & Why Try to Change Me Now -- Fiona Apple
  11. Song: Are You Alright? -- Lucinda Williams
  12. Songs: House M.D. Unofficial Sound Tracks
  13. Medical & News: New polio outbreak hits China
  14. Song: Colours -- Amos Lee
House is a phenomenal character in the history of TV drama, he's rude, he's direct, he's puzzle-oriented, he's bitter, he's sarcastic, he cares little about others, he's a maverick! Yet he is the most hated-and-respected character in the show. He's saved numerous lives, yet he has been set up, divorced, shot twice, concussed in a car crash, admitted to a psychiatric hospital, dumped by his lovers, jailed, suspended from medicine, released on parole, involved in a fake marriage; he has faced deaths of his subordinate, his best friend's girlfriend and his own father, as well as the departures of his colleagues. He has a life full of ups and downs, yet his philosophy never changes.

His famous quotes can be found in almost any episodes, sarcastically witty!

On Lies:
  • Everybody lies.
  • Truth begins in lies
  • It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what.
  • Even fetuses lie.
  • Dying people lie too, wish they worked less, been nicer, they opened orphanages for kittens
  • If you can fake sincerity, you can fake pretty much anything.
  • According to the statistics, the most successful marriages are based on lies. You're off to a great start.
  • Lies are like children: they're hard work, but it's worth it because the future depends on them.
  • What they don't confess to is almost always more interesting.
  • Amazing. A man with only two words at his disposal can still lie.
  • I've found that when you want to know the truth about someone that someone is probably the last person you should ask.
On Life:
  • Humanity is overrated 
  • Hope's for sissies.
  • Adjectives matter: Hate nurses, love naughty nurses.
  • Disappointment is anger for wimps
  • Gorgeous women do not go to medical school. Unless they're as damaged as they are beautiful.
  • We can live with dignity - we can't die with it.
  • People interest me. Conversations don't.
  • You are a woman, you can do anything.
  • Read less, more TV.
  • Work smart, not hard. That's my philosophy, boss.
  • When have teachers ever known how to motivate their students?
  • Words can hurt, you know.
  • Reality is almost always wrong.
  • If her DNA was off by one percentage point, she'd be a dolphin.
  • You want to make things right? Too bad. Nothing's ever right.
  • Mistakes are as serious as the results they cause!
  • Successes only last until someone screws them up. Failures are forever.
  • Silent and unhappy is better than vocal and unhelpful.
  • Arrogance has to be earned.
  • We are who people think we are.
  • You're nuts. Which makes me nuts for arguing with you.
  • For evil to succeed, all it takes is for good men to do nothing.
  • ...Everything is conditional. You just can't always anticipate the conditions.
  • The only value of that trust is that you can manipulate them.
  • You know what's worse than useless? Useless and oblivious.
  • People don't change.
  • People don't change. For example, I'm gonna keep on repeating 'people don't change.
  • People don't learn; people don't change. But you did. You're a freak.
  • People don't get what they deserve. They just get what they get. There`s nothing any of us can do about it.
  • Things change, doesn't mean they get better.
  • Someone's gonna be miserable sometime. Accept it. That's how I stay so happy.
  • Of course I'm self-interested. We all are. We're born that way. The rest of us are born with consciences.
  • I'm a jerk to everyone. Best way to protect yourself from lawsuits.
  • I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like you. It's nothing personal, I don't like anybody.
  • There's no unconditional love, only unconditional need. Don't make a child a victim of your biological clock.
  • He's irrational. So are most people. Unfortunately, doesn't make them sane.
  • Just because you can't feel pleasure doesn't mean you don't want it.
  • You gave birth to a freak of nature, doesn't mean it's a good idea to treat him like one.
  • If you wanna do something, you do it, you don't save it for soundbite.
  • Dr. Cuddy: "You'll figure something out. The two of you have a combined IQ north of 300" 
  • House: "That's also true of five morons.
  • “LIFE is pain!” House roars, his voice at a pitch never heard from him before. “I wake up every morning, I’m in pain. I go to work in pain. You know how many times I wanted to just give up, how many times I’ve thought about ending it?”
  • The concept you have about me won't change who I am, but it can change my concept about you.
Season 5 to 6 team
Image from FOX

On Death:
  • You'd be surprised what you can live without
  • Almost dying changes nothing. Dying changes everything.
  • If you're dying, suddenly everybody loves you.

Sarcasm:
  • If he had a brain, he wouldn't be tending bar.
  • So you called ME? The guy with 1 good leg and zero leverage.
  • If I were kidding, I'd dress like you.
  • You are a wuss: part wimp, part puss.
  • A psychic once told me that I'm psychic.
  • Relax, your nose isn't big, it's just conspicuous.
  • Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?
  • I'm not deflecting because I'm avoiding something deep. I'm deflecting because I'm avoiding something shallow.
  • You know how they say, "you can't live without love"? Well, oxygen is even more important.
  • Love to hear more of your theory, but I don't give a crap.
  • I want to deal with my problems some place where I can get a decent cappuccino.
  • Yeah! I wanna save her. I'm morally bankrupt.
  • They didn't break me. I am broken. Now stop worshipping me and go worry about your own loser life.
  • Dr. Jaime Conway: I've heard your name. 
  • House: Most people have. It's also a noun.
  • Sebastian: "Nah, TB's my disease." 
  • House: "You own a disease? Well, I'm sorry I missed the IPO on dengue fever".
Jokes:
  • I had a heart attack this morning. I can't do any more drugs 'til at least lunch.
  • Do I have to spell it out for you? Pheochromocytoma. Actually, I'm not sure how you spell it.
  • Is it still illegal to perform an autopsy on a living person?
  • House: "[knocking on Wilson's office door] I know you're in there! I can hear you caring!"
  • I'd like to date her. In the sense that I'd like to jump her repeatedly
  • Good news is, he's running out of organs to fail.
  • Make it fast; I don't want to miss the anal cavity search.
  • She dumped me after I lost those last eighty-five pounds. Said there was less of me to love.
  • I know head and heart start with the same three letters, but you've got to read all the way to the end.
  • I'm trying to decide which is riskier; taking crazy risks, or taking advice on crazy risks from a crazed risk-taker.
  • Other than throwing off the Feng Shui with her ass that faces all eight sides of the ba gua at once?
  • He's only agreeing with you because he wants to have sex with you. And by the way, I also agree with you.
  • What’s the opposite of ‘Thank you’? I’m pretty sure it ends in ‘you.
  • House:"Leg hurts. Would you mind getting me a coffee?" Doctor: "How does coffee help your leg?" House:"It will prevent me from walking to get the coffee."
Season 7 Team
Image from FOX

On Treating Patients:
  • Confirmation is for wimps and alter boys.
  • You are either perfect or sick.
  • Tests take time. Treatment's quicker.
  • Take a stand. Either do something or shut up.
  • Better a murder than a misdiagnosis.
  • Who needs med school when you got Wi-Fi?
  • Forget it! That battle's over. His rising creatnine is the kidneys' way of saying "go on without me."
  • Treating for wrong diagnoses can result in side effects, like death.
  • I noticed a trend: if no one does anything, sick people often get sicker.
  • Yes, feel free to exclude any symptom if it makes your job easier.
  • The treatments don't always work. Symptoms never lie.
  • You're right about me being wrong and wrong about you being right.
  • Hey, I don't care where an idea comes from, as long as it makes sense and embarrasses someone.
  • I teach you to lie, cheat, and steal, and as soon as my back's turned you wait in line?
  • I'm a doctor; when someone tries to call you three times, it's code for pick up the damn phone before someone dies.
  • I was never that great at math, but next to nothing is higher than nothing, right?
  • I take risks, sometimes patients die. But no taking risks causes more patients to die. So I guess my biggest problem is I've been cursed with the ability to do the math.
  • If he gets better, I'm right. If he dies, you're right.
  • It is the nature of medicine that you are going to screw up.
  • Treating illness is why we became doctors. Treating patients is actually what makes most doctors miserable.
  • Seizures are fun to watch, but boring to diagnose.
  • Livers are important, Cuddy, can't live without them, hence the name.
  • She needed to be hurt. I wanted to hurt her. Win-win.
  • Let her vomit through the MRI, that's what nurses are for.
  • I'm skipping steps because our patient is skipping steps on her way to being dead.
  • Sorry. I already met this month's quota of useless tests for stubborn idiots.
  • I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual.
  • To do what I always do in these situations. Treat my patient behind his back and make him better.
  • Just because we call something 'poison,' doesn't mean it's bad for you.
  • If you want fair, you picked the wrong job, and the wrong profession. And the wrong species. Treat this patient just like he's just another really, really, ugly kid.
  • Treatment tends to be hit and miss once you're at the sweating blood stage.
  • Our job is to find what's killing patients, not treat them for chronic idiocy.
  • You know what would calm the nausea? Vicodin. Marijuana. A coma.
  • Cancer's boring.
On Observations:
  • The eyes can mislead, the smile can lie, but the shoes always tell the truth.
  • Bizarre is good! Common has hundreds of explanations. Bizarre has hardly any.
  • Labs, schmabs. A good diagnostician reads between the labs.
On Management:
  • Conflict breeds creativity.
House Season 8
Image from www-tvline-com.vimg.net

On God:
  • If you talk to God, you are religious. If God talks to you, you're psychotic. 
  • How come God gets credit whenever something good happens? Where was he when her heart stopped?
  • Nun: "Sister Augustine believes in things that aren't real." House: "I thought that was a job requirement for you people."
  • Isn't it interesting? Religious behaviour so close to being crazy we can't tell them apart?
  • Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people.
  • Shockingly, not all religious leaders are honest.
  • If you believe in God, pray that this works. Also you might want to ask him why he blew off your arm.
  • Religion is not the opiate of the masses; religion is the placebo of the masses.
  • The fact that I was wrong is NOT a proof of God.
  • Religion is not the opiate of the masses; religion is the placebo of the masses.
  • Eve: "... every life matters to god". House: "Not to me, not to you. Judging by the number of natural disasters, not to god either."
On Pain:
  • If I'm in a buttload of pain, I need a buttload of pills.
  • Pain changes things.
  • Too bitter. I have plenty of bitter already.
On Sex:
  • Don't blame me, blame my gender. 
  • The problem with sleeping with strangers is ... they're strange.
  • Sex can be dismissed as hormonal or emotional and be genuinely regretted. Money is always a calculated decision.
  • Wow. Muscles and curves. My penis is so confused.
  • I think my penis stopped breathing; Do you know CPR?
  • Surprisingly, hookers are cheaper. And don't sue for sexual harassment.
  • If you're here to kill me and rape me, please do it in that order.


And the above is just a few of many many great lines. I will keep updating this list and write more entries related to the drama, especially on the slang and sarcasm which appeared in the show, but as it comes to an end, if I want more quotes of wisdom, I don't think I will be able to find them any more from any other TV shows.

4 more episodes to go. May it be a great ending!

Official Website of House M.D.
Image from fox



Vocabulary:
finale -- (n)  [C usually singularthe last part of especially a musical or theatrical performance, which is often very exciting or emotional
terrific -- (adj) informal very good
phenomenal -- (adj) extremely successful or special, especially in a surprising way
sarcastic -- (adj) (UK informal sarkyusing sarcasm
maverick --(n) a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way
concussed --(adj) suffering from concussion
parole -- (n) [U] when a prisoner is released before their period in prison is finished, with the agreement that they will behave well
humanity -- (n) [U] understanding and kindness towards other people
sissy -- (n) [C] (also cissyinformal disapproving a boy who other boys dislike and laugh at because they think he is weak or interested in activities girls usually like, or a person who is weak and cowardly (= not brave)
wimp --(n)  [C] informal disapproving a person who is not strong, brave or confident
dignity -- (n) [U] calm, serious and controlled behaviour that makes people respect you
arrogance --(adj) unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people
manipulate -- (vb) [T] mainly disapproving to control something or someone to your advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly
oblivious -- (adj) not conscious of something, especially what is happening around you
freak --(n) [C] a thing, person, animal or event that is extremely unusual or unlikely and not like any other of its type
moron -- (n)  [C] informal a very stupid person
tending bar -- from bartender --(n) [C] mainly US (UK also male barmansomeone who makes and serves drinks in a bar
psychic -- (n) [C] a person who has a special mental ability, for example being able to know what will happen in the future or what people are thinking
conspicuous -- (adj) very noticeable or attracting attention, often in a way that is not wanted
crap -- (n) [S or U] offensive solid waste, or when an animal or person produces solid waste
dengue fever -- (n)[U] also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles.
autopsy --(n) [C or U] the cutting open and examination of a dead body in order to discover the cause of death
jump sb -- (vb)[T] to want to have sex with sb
alter -- from  alter ego [C] (plural alter egosthe part of someone's personality which is not usually seen by other people
screw up -- (adj) 
informal 
unhappy and worried because of bad experiences
seizure -- (n) [C or U] the action of seizing something by force or with legal authority
mock -- (vb) slightly formal to laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind way
embrace -- (vb) [T] formal to accept something enthusiastically
bizarre -- (adj) very strange and unusual
buttload -- from -load suffix all the people or goods in the stated type of vehicle or container


Resources:
House MD Episodes @ Wikipedia

Speaking: Learning an Accent? @ Locky's English Playground

TV Drama: House with Medical Terms @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/01/tv-drama-house-with-medical-terms.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

Medical: Thrombosis VS Embolism VS Atherosclerosis @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/05/medical-thrombosis-vs-embolism-vs.html

Songs & Music: Hugh Laurie -- Let Them Talk the album @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/04/songs-music-hugh-laurie-let-them-talk.html

Song & People & TV: You Can't Always Get What You Want -- Band from TV & The Rolling Stone @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/08/song-people-tv-you-cant-always-get-what.html

Idiom & Slang: Colors, Tool, Lightning & Sexy! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/09/idiom-slang-colors-tool-lightning-sexy.html

TV & Medical : Monsters Inside Me x House M.D. @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/07/tv-medical-monsters-inside-me-x-house.html

Song: Passing Afternoon -- Iron & Wine @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/08/song-passing-afternoon-iron-wine.html

Song: No Surprises -- Radiohead & Why Try to Change Me Now -- Fiona Apple @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/08/song-no-surprises-radiohead-why-try-to.html

Song: Are You Alright? -- Lucinda Williams @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/09/song-are-you-alright-lucinda-williams.html

Songs: House M.D. Unofficial Sound Tracks @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/09/songs-house-md-unofficial-sound-tracks.html

Medical & News: New polio outbreak hits China @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/09/medical-news-new-polio-outbreak-hits.html

Song: Colours -- Amos Lee @ Locky's English Playground @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/11/song-colours-amos-lee.html

House MD Quotes
http://www.housemdquotes.com/index.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/finale?q=finale
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/terrific_1?q=terrific+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/phenomenal?q=phenomenal+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/maverick?q=maverick+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/concussed?q=concussed+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/parole?q=parole+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/humanity_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sissy?q=sissy
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/wimp?q=wimp
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/dignity?q=dignity
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/arrogant?q=arrogance
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/manipulate_1?q=manipulate
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/oblivious?q=oblivious
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/freak_1?q=freak+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/moron?q=moron
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bartender?q=bartender
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/psychic_3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/conspicuous?q=conspicuous+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/crap_1?q=crap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/autopsy?q=autopsy+
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jump+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/alter-ego
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/screw-sb-up?q=screw+up#screw-sb-up__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/seizure_1?q=seizure
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/mock_1?q=mock+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/embrace_1?q=embrace+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/bizarre?q=bizarre+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/load_5