Event & Opinions: Occupy Central Day 2 @ Admiralty

Cross harbour tunnel has never been smoother
Image from Locky's English Playground

I have been more active on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ these days, as live reporting spreads faster and wider. Now is time to get back to my blog.

Flooded with people who wanted to contribute
Image from Locky's English Playground

Day 2 of Occupy Central,  the day after what happened to be peaceful demonstration turned tear gas horror. Knowing that my very own students were smoked,  I decided to step out my classroom half an hour earlier and took MR to Admiralty to support. It is a struggle started by students, now it's time for adults to play their part.

The moment I hoped onto the MTR in Hung Hom, I could already see students carrying large large boxes of bottled water heading to the venue.

When I stepped out of the train, I was immediately surrounded by other black shirts with yellow ribbons. At first, I was slightly worried by the number of people leaving, but that did not mean the up-escalator was not congested.

When I stepped out of the building, this was what I saw,

I thought it was a marvellous view but I was wrong, not until I saw this,

This is not the whole picture
Image from Locky's English Playground

and then this,

This is no joke
Image from Locky's English Playground

I was truly amazed by the determination demonstrated by this group of students. It was almost 10pm and there they were, packed together like bees in a hive, extremely crowded, but traffic never looked congested.

Supply station was well-organised
Image from Locky's English Playground

Demonstrators were highly organised, each having their role, their own way of contributing to the event. Some volunteered to help at various stations, a few spoke of their aims over the speaker system,

Phenomenal!
Image from Locky's English Playground

some initiated street cleaning, others walked up and down supplying water. At some points, everyone cheered, sang and applauded. All these supportive effort for one another was done in a strictly obedient manner.

For love and peace
Image from Locky's English Playground

Everyone seemed to know the rules, the code of ethics. No one was talking any chances of giving excuses of any kind for the opposition to ruin the name of event.

Can't see the end of the crowd, thus hope
Image from Locky's English Playground

They actually kinaesthetically realised "love and peace"!

View from the bridge
Image from Locky's English Playground

Has Hong Kong ever seen this kind of unity? Yes, but never went so far and so great in terms of scale and mentality,

Act of determination
Image from Locky's English Playground

and definitely for the first time ever for such huge scale event initiated and dominated by youths and young adults.

Action speaks louder than words
Image from Locky's English Playground

I was hoping to find some of my secondary school students, but instead, I found a student from my previous learning centre job.

My student's way of contribution
Image from Locky's English Playground

And there I was, for about an hour, helping her make giveaway yellow ribbons as we discussed the future of Hong Kong and the direction demonstrators are heading.

Atmosphere speaks, "Don't worry,  I got your back!"
Image from Locky's English Playground

Of course, most are just guesses, but what we know for sure, is that this tear-gas stupidity of the Hong Kong government has permanently scorched memories onto each one of these young people's mind.

And the message has spread across Hong Kong
Image from Locky's English Playground

And this fight for freedom and democracy shall go very far in many more future generations to come.

Resources:

Event & Opinions: Stunning Images and Videos of Occupy Central @ Hong Kong @Locky's English Playground

http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/09/event-opinions-stunning-images-and.html

Occupy Central @ Admiralty Day 2 +YouTube
http://youtu.be/Mf02JgGeWu8

Event & Opinions: Stunning Images and Videos of Occupy Central @ Hong Kong

Hands in the air umbrellas as anti-pepper spray measures
Image from huffingtonpost

Love is silly, for it drives people to attempt the impossible.
Love is powerful, for it gives undefeatable strength to protect what you treasure.
Love is fearless, for it never shies away from a victoryless struggle.
Love knows no compromise, for it never dims to fight for what's right.

When 'crowd' and 'order' become synonymous
Image from huffingtonpost

They came in peace
Image from mcclatchyinteractive

Touched by what HongKongers have done for Hong Kong and our future generations! All day and night long, dare to put hands in the air to defense not just pepper sprays, tear gas and batons but our freedom of demonstration, speech, press, choice, and many more. Hong Kong protesters are world-class! Peaceful and highly organised! I'm proud of you all!

Image from Alan Wong

Tear gas for peaceful demonstrators
Image from huffingtonpost

Image from Alan Wong

Resources:
Crackdown on Protests by Hong Kong Police Draws More to the Streets +The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/world/asia/clashes-in-hong-kong.html?_r=0

CNN crew gassed during Hong Kong protests @YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq2ifvcw6KQ#t=95

Riot police fire tear gas at protesters @YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Arh0bVCJI

Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters Clash With Police In Surreal Scenes @Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/28/hong-kong-pro-democracy-protests_n_5896408.html

Pro-democracy protests expand in Hong Kong @The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article2282161.html

Food & Dining: Greyhound Cafe @ Cityplaza

Greyhound Cafe @ Cityplaza
Image from Locky's English Playground

And it's almost Saturday again! Looking for a new place to dine? A couple of months ago, Greyhoud Cafe has opened a branch in Cityplaza, Tai Koo, and for the sake of gathering material for this post, I took my wife and baby for a try.

Panoramic view
Image from Locky's English Playground

The decor is pretty, though not the same degree of openness as the IFC mall branch, it looks to accommodate more diners than its fellow cafe.

Desserts on display
Image from Locky's English Playground

The queue is generally long during food-rush hours, so be prepared for at least 45 mins waiting time without reservation. Too long? Other restaurants in this mall easily clock up to 1.5 to 2 hours.

Some sort of cookies
Image from Locky's English Playground

And after 45 mins, we got our seats and were ready to devour the menu even before we could even order, but first, we received the cafe's challenge to solve the issue of "high-chairlessness", and then dehydration due to the lack of manpower.

Thai - Italian fusion seafood squid ink spaghetti
Image from Locky's English Playground

Food-wise, I personally think they are gorgeous and presentable! Just look at my photos! They may not look so great as to be classified as an art piece,

From another angle
Image from Locky's English Playground

but surely they are colourful and tempting enough to make you realise that the presentation has been thought out.

Signature chicken wings
Image from Locky's English Playground

The food did come really quick, and for a two-person table with a grab-it-quick baby in front, either opposite side of the table had to be vacated, making the situation worse than an undersized BBQ campsite in Hong Kong during public holidays.

King prawn noodles in Tom Yum Goong
Image from Locky's English Playground

Spaciousness aside, the dinner was mostly enjoyable. I would highly recommend this King prawn noodles in Tom Yum Goong. I love the generous amount of lemongrass used, giving the soup truly refreshing aroma.

Mini burger set
Image from Locky's English Playground

The burger was unique because 1) it comes with Thai sauce and 2) you have to add the sauce yourself. Since the sauce is very runny, how to top it tidily is a mystery for me.

A low angle close up
Image from Locky's English Playground

Time for dessert, should be the best part!

The dessert menu
Image from Locky's English Playground

Delicious-looking pixels behind lousy plastic sleeves was quite a mismatch,

Chocolate lover
Image from Locky's English Playground

but few will pay attention to these details because reality kept appearing on the neighbouring tables.

Coconut crepe cake
Image from Locky's English Playground

It was hard not noticing the rare high quality replica of the menu images came arriving at your table before your eyes. I dare say very few eateries are capable of maintaining this standard. Why can't all restaurants serve food this way? Why can't the food all be "what you see is what you get"?

Chocolate lover for real
Image from Locky's English Playground

Unsurprisingly, its taste was as good as its looks.



Resources:
Greyhound Cafe
http://www.greyhoundcafe.com.hk/branch.php?branchid=16&cat=0

Living & Science: Magical Home Science of Range Hood Cleaning

What can Baking soda, dishwashing detergent and hot water do?
Image from Locky's English Playground

Feeling upset by the greasy range hood in the kitchen but too scared by the foreseeable elbow grease you have to put into the cleaning job? I have a magic to share with you today! I have been wanting to try this out for awhile, and I finally mustered enough courage (hm... actually, I was  just lazy) to try it. 

This is nothing new and have been widely shared on the internet, but the first time to be reported to you from my personal experience. 

Sink terms 1
Image from techques.com

Sink terms 2
Image from Visual Dictionary.com

Range hood terms
Image from rona.ca

You will need

1. Baking soda / Bicarbonate of soda / sodium bicarbonate. I bought this from ParkNShop for about $18. I am sure this is a rip-off but it is the only way I can get hold of it.
2. A good dishwashing detergent (DWD). I use AXE.
3. Boiling water, freshly boiled!
4. Gloves, make sure it can protect you from the hot boiling water
5. A sponge 
6. A piece of kitchen cloth
7. The terms involving a sink and range hood (see images above).

Effervescence once baking soda meets hot water and detergent
Image from Locky's English Playground

(I should have taken a photo of the greasy, dusty, black and crazy hood filters, but I was over-excited that I have completely forgotten about it. I will probably take the missing photos again in the future to perfect this article, but as for now, these are all I have.)

Step 1:
Make sure you have the stopper firmly pressed down.

Step 2:
Add a generous amount of DWD and 1/4 cup of baking soda into the sink.

Step 3:
Add boiling water. You will see an exciting display of effervescence once the hot water comes into contact with the baking soda.

Step 4:
Stir the mixture gently to mix the solution well, then let it sit there for 10 minutes, although from my observation, the filters were actually immediately cleaned within 10 seconds, but you don't have to rush, right?

Step 5:
While your filters are being auto-cleaned, put on your gloves and wet the kitchen cloth with the hot hot hot solution and clean everything else in the kitchen, such as...

Don't waste the solvent, clean everything else! Good as new!
Image from Locky's English Playground

 ... the faucet, the handle, the escutcheon, the water filter,...

Look at this range hood!
Image from Locky's English Playground

 ... the motors...

Range hood never looked better!
Image from Locky's English Playground

... the fans, the hood body, the kitchen walls, etc.

Cleaned! Very clean!
Image from Locky's English Playground

By the time you have completed the other stuff, your filters should be grease and dirt-free!!! Exactly how effective is this method?

Shiny without dirt or dust!
Image from Locky's English Playground

 You can easily see it from my photos, can't you?

Wanna bet this is more effective than scrubbing hard with elbow grease?
Image from Locky's English Playground

 Simply put it, they are as good as new!

There's more! A very clean sink!
Image from Locky's English Playground

And you have a beautifully polished-like metallic sink once more!

Huge success!!!! Have a go yourself!

Difference between baking soda and baking powder

According to About Education, baking soda is the pure sodium bicarbonate / sodium hydrogen carbonate form  NaHCO₃, while baking powder contains an acidifying agent and so you are not getting 100% of the sodium bicarbonate you pay for. For cooking it is fine, but for cleaning, it is the pure form you want.

Baking soda is an amphoteric compound -- reacts with both acid and base, and this allows it to remove different kind of stains, dirt, proteins and grease. Since there are too many to be listed here, maybe you can check out this A-Z Stain Removal Guide, HowStuffWorks and Wikipedia for more details.

Vocabulary:

greasy -- (adj) covered with or full of fat or oil

foreseeable -- (adj) A foreseeable event or situation is one that can be known about or guessed before it happens.

elbow grease -- (n) informal a lot of physical effort

Resources:

How To Clean a Greasy Range Hood Filter — Cleaning Lessons from The Kitchn @The Kitchn

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-a-greasy-range-hood-filter-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203844

The Chemistry of Cleaning Clothes +HowStuffWorks 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/the-chemistry-of-cleaning-clothes-info.htm

What Is the Difference Between Baking Soda & Baking Powder? +About.com

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/foodchemistry/f/blbaking.htm

Sodium bicarbonate @ Wikipedia

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

A-Z Stain Removal Guide: Instructions For Over 100 Types Of Stains 

http://www.stain-removal-101.com/stain-removal-guide.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/greasy

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/foreseeable?q=foreseeable+

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/elbow-grease

Technology & Opinions: iPhone 6 iReserve HK, ISP, Android, PC & Browsers

Image from reserveiphone

I admit, I am a newbie in reserving and ordering iPhones. I have one-year of experience and practically learned very little about this. I mean, everything from 'Available' to 'Sold out' happens in a matter of 1 to 2 minutes only, what's there to learn? Getting up before 6am every day was the lesson.

Yet, I was very wrong, there are tonnes to learn indeed. Touts are really really professional! It is the first time I have ever heard that someone can usually order 80 iPhones within minutes using fake accounts, and it is also my first time to hear someone actually loaded up their webpage sharp at 8:00am, received their SMS reply from Apple and had their orders confirmed before 8:01am! He even succeeded in his second round!

Sign-in page
Image from ringhk

As for me, my Note 3 on one2Free (CSL) using Android browser was the fastest, loaded up before 8:01am. My PC on ISP Hong Kong Broadband (HKBN) using Google Chrome was not able to load up the sign-in page till 8:05am!!! Hong Kong Broadband sucks at connecting to Apple, having to route to HKIX at CUHK.

tracert reserve.cdn-apple.com takes such a long time to get to the CTI HKBN Gateway
Image from Locky's English Playground

But that's not the end, because all my data was prepared on my PC for copy-and-paste while there is nothing on my Note 3 (even if there were, copying and pasting will take even longer time), my only choice was to type in all information one by one, that slowed the progress down very much. To make the situation even worse, the SMS I sent out at 8:03am, did not receive a reply until 8:05am. A complete waste of 2 minutes!

My SMS send and receive time
Image from Locky's English Playground

Mistakes keep happening as I keyed in the wrong verification code twice and was shown the line,
"You are allowed to login only once per minute. Please wait for a minute before you try again". And I did not wait that one minute and it worked. By the time I finally reached the phone selection page, and having wasted even more time checking store after store for available phones, only iPhone 6 4.7" 16Gb Grey was left, adding another typo at the Hong Kong ID field and just as I reached the selection of timeslot and pressed that final confirm button, a message told me that my slot was no longer available, and nothing was left.

Images from ringhk

I looked at my time, it was 8:10am, and I was dumbfounded. Had it really been 10 minutes? It felt more like 5.

The loading and the SMS should not have taken so long! I blame HKBN and one2Free (CSL) for their slow connections with everything they have got to do with Apple, and I blame them even more because they have some of the best connectivity in Hong Kong any other times!

My complaints do not come out of thin air. This poll said it all!

Poll till 2:27pm, Sep 16 2014
Image from unwire.hk

As I and many other disappointed new iPhone miners look on as the fruit farmers collect their iPhones on the 19th September, the next ray of light will shine at 8am, 20th September. The problem is, professionals will have their bots ready for the hunt. With my worst of the worst combo of HKBN+CSL+hand-typing, the chance of me successfully getting a phone through the claws of iReserve is next to nothing.

Still, I will give it a go, be sleep-deprived and be like a lamb to the slaughter.



Vocabulary:
dumbfounded -- also dumbstruck (adj) so shocked that you cannot speak
out of thin air -- from nothing
look on -- slightly formal (phrasal verb) to watch something happen but not become involved in it
deprived -- (adj) not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life, such as enough money, food or good living conditions
like a lamb to the slaughter -- (idiom) If a person does something or goes somewhere like a lamb to the slaughter, they do it without knowing that something bad is going to happen and therefore act calmly and without fighting against the situation.


Resources:
HKIX
http://www.hkix.net/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/dumbfounded
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/out-of-thin-air
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/look-on
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/look-on
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/deprived
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/like-a-lamb-to-the-slaughter