News & Opinions: A Big Day (News Digest)

Can't find one particular news or thing that is especially interesting, so I decided to put a few news together and comment on them, like a readers' digest.

Image from BBC News

First, there is another case of Legionnaires' Disease, but this time, it is an imported one, which means it was not originated in Hong Kong. The news of course hasn't attracted much attention from the press or the people of Hong Kong, but seems like there are more reports of this disease worldwide recently. Last month, both the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington and the Playboy Mansion in LA, California, are said to have confirmed cases of the disease. And as I have written before, this disease spreads quickly with water, it seems very hard to stop it from spreading.

The death of Bin Laden have brought about the drop in the Hang Seng Index in the 6th consecutive days, and the 7th might be coming. It may be related as some suspected this is due to the strengthening of the US dollars, and so hot cash is leaving the Asian markets, or it may not be related at all. Anyway, who can tell?

Image from AAStocks

When the market goes up, people say that the price is cheap and confidence is up, investors are optimistic, when the market plunges, people say it has gone up a lot and it is the right time to take profit or that USA is greater threat now that Bin Laden is dead. This always reminds me of my A Level Chemistry, especially the molecular Chemistry, because those theories are almost always the unproven arguments that scholars come up with in order to explain what they see, which means "I see this is true, so I create reasons to make it true. I really didn't buy this concept! I still don't!

Image from Business Insider

Lastly, Donald Trump tried to bring down Barack Obama in the race for the next presidential election by questioning the president's citizenship, and by doing so, he helped in creating a new word in English called "birther", which refers to a person who support this viewpoint.

Image from Wikipedia

Anyway, is there a chance for Donald Trump to win the next election against Obama? The result may not be as one-sided as one may think. Let's not forget that Ronald Reagan, American's 40th President, used to be an actor too!






Resources:
CHP investigates Legionnaires' Disease case @ 7th Space Interactive
http://7thspace.com/headlines/381192/chp_investigates_legionnaires_disease_case.html

Spokane hospital fighting Legionnaires Disease @ The Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014905910_apwahospitallegionnairesdisease.html

Legionnaire's Disease Found at Playboy Mansion @ Ology
http://www.ology.com/celebs-and-gossip/legionnaires-disease-found-playboy-mansion

Medical: Legionnaires' Disease @ QE @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/04/medical-legionnaires-disease-qe.html

Actually, Donald Trump Just Made Himself Look Like A Complete Idiot @ Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-continues-free-fall-2011-4

Birther @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birther

Ronald Reagan @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Regan

News: 'Unpaid toilet time' adds to $28 bitterness

I know the death of Bin Laden is a huge news, but before we get to see the picture, I'm still sceptical about it. So, let's change the topic and come back to Hong Kong.

On today's newspaper, we have a case on a company wanted to cut an employee's wage through the excuse of an 'unpaid toilet time' in order to balance the increase of their wage to meet the $28 minimum. And there are many words to learn.

'Unpaid toilet time' adds to $28 bitterness  The minimum wage controversy took a new twist yesterday with a veteran unionist claiming a manufacturing company refused to pay a worker for time spent in the toilet. Tuesday, May 03, 2011 The minimum wage controversy took a new twist yesterday with a veteran unionist claiming a manufacturing company refused to pay a worker for time spent in the toilet. The flap comes on the heels of rows over meal times and rest days after the hourly minimum rate of HK$28 took effect on Sunday. The complaint was made by a 30-something worker to Federation of Trade Unions vice president Chan Yuen-han on Sunday. Chan said the worker was told that 30 minutes will be counted as toilet time each working day and docked from salaries. "I am furious. In such a situation, does it mean the worker is a slave?" Chan said. She added: "What is the rationale? It's unreasonable. I think the employer is acting way out of line and should be condemned. "If each and every corporation treats employees this way, it will be humiliating to all Hong Kong bosses, not just that employer," she told a radio program. "How can it be acceptable to exploit workers that way?" Chan told The Standard she considered the practice "crazy" and "relentless." She said she has rarely heard of such cases in her decades as a unionist, but she believes more employers will make various excuses to exploit workers' under the minimum wage regime. The complainant, she said, works in a manufacturing company with more than 10 employees. She declined to reveal the worker's salary and daily working hours. Confederation of Trade Unions lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan renewed calls for collective bargaining rights. "To be frank, without collective bargaining rights, how can I possibly plug all the legal loopholes or tricks used by employers?" he said. The Provisional Minimum Wage Commission last year estimated that 40,000 to 50,000 workers could be sacked when the hourly rate goes to HK$28. A 23-year-old kitchen worker attempted suicide in Tsim Sha Tsui early on Sunday morning, three days after being sacked. Rescuers pulled him from the seawall. Meanwhile, a survey has found that 85 percent of flat owners' committees have increased management fees by 5 to 30 percent. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said many committees had cut staff or working hours. DAB community officer Yeung Hok-ming said some residents were against the staff cuts for safety reasons, leading to arguments. Yeung called on the government to strengthen communication with owners' committees. COLLEEN LEE AND SAMSON LEE

Actually, how many people are happy with $28?

Is it even enough? Closure of certain smaller companies who exploit their employees, is it what they deserve? Those who are already underpaid, do they enjoy the continuation of their underpayment or do they enjoy the new 'unpayment' because they get fired or their companies are fried?

Whenever a new policy goes up, some people need to suffer, and this is the so-called 'transition period', a new equilibrium cannot be reached if there is no shift in the old one in first place. The question is, is there a way to help these new sufferers?

The safety net has to be there to help the unfortunate. Otherwise, it could cause more uproars in the society.

But my doubt falls more on the question of, "is $28 enough?" If this is not enough, it will be harder to get the public to up the price even more. It seems like it is easier to start higher, say $38 and then bring it back down. Well, it is just my gut feeling. Of course, if you start from $38, then the shift from the equilibrium would be greater, and more companies will be forced to cut labour or shut down.


Vocabulary:

sceptical -- (adj) doubting that something is true or useful
controversy -- (n) [C or U] a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people
twist -- (n) [C] a change in the way in which something happens
veteran --  (n) [C] a person who has had a lot of experience of a particular activity
flap -- (n) [S] informal a state of nervous excitement
on the heels of sth -- Fig. soon after something
row -- (n) [C] mainly UK a noisy argument or fight
dock -- (vb) [T] to remove part of something, especially money
furious -- (adj) extremely angry
slave -- (n) [C] a person who is legally owned by someone else and has to work for them
rationale -- (n) [C or U] formal the reasons or intentions for a particular set of thoughts or actions
humiliating -- (adj) making you feel ashamed or stupid
relentless -- (adj) continuing in a severe or extreme way
regime -- (n) [C] mainly disapproving a particular government or a system or method of government
complainant -- (n)  [C] legal a person who makes a formal complaint in a court of law
frank -- (adj) honest, sincere and telling the truth, even when this might be awkward or make other people uncomfortable
loopholes -- (n) [C] a small mistake in an agreement or law which gives someone the chance to avoid having to do something

Resources:

'Unpaid toilet time' adds to $28 bitterness @ The Standard

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_print.asp?art_id=110631&sid=32223164

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sceptical#sceptical__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/controversy
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/twist_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/veteran_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/flap_4
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+heels+of
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/row_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/dock_4#dock_4__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/furious_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/slave_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/rationale
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/humiliating
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/relentless
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/regime_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/complainant
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/frank_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/loophole#loophole__3

Song: Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You

Image from usera.imagecave.com

Hey guy, song listening time! Today, I have a great song for you! Glenn Mederios' Nothing Gonna Change My Love For You, an all-time-favourite love song of many, a romantic song which its melody you should know very well, but how about the lyrics? Are you sure you know it?

Let's here the song first. If you want the original MTV, click here.

Try not to look at the lyrics, listen a few times to see if you can get all the words.

Glenn Medeiros is a funny Hawaiian, who does little singing nowadays because he found his love in teaching! He is now 40 years old and teaches History in Hawaii!!

Now, if you think this is too old style melody for your taste, you can also check this one out, by American-born Hong Kong singer Khalil Fong, in his album, Timeless,

Image from Sengkakada

This is an easy song really, from midtempo to slight uptempo. Strength builds up half way through the song,  the key also goes up after chorus, and then the energy releases near the end.

I have underlined the beautiful lines in the lyrics below, try to understand it and see if you can appreciate the beauty.

Happy weekend!!!

Lyrics:
If I had to live my life without you near me
The days would all be empty
The nights would seem so long
With you I see forever oh so clearly
I might have been in love before
But it never felt this strong

Our dreams are young and we both know
They'll take us where we want to go
Hold me now touch me now
I don't want to live without you

Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You oughta know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of
I'll never ask for more than your love
Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You oughta know by now how much I love you
The world may change my whole life through
But nothing's gonna change my love for you

If the road ahead is not so easy
Our love will lead the way for us
Like a guiding star
I'll be there (for you) if you should need me
You don't have to change a thing
I love you just the way you are

So come with me and share the view
I'll help you see forever too
Hold me now touch me now
I don't want to live without you 

Resources:

Glenn Medeiros @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Medeiros

Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna change my love for you @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKo1e0cnWGA

Glenn Mederios - nothing gonna change my love for you (With Original MTV) @ YouTube
http://youtu.be/MLxTEV5vpyg

Khalil Fong @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Fong

方大同 Nothing's gonna change my love for you MV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f9Z1r0HkGU

Slang: Red Hot Hong Kong Slang's English Equivalent (Revisited)

Having written the first entry titled Slang: Red Hot Hong Kong Slang's English Equivalent (Updated) back in July 2009, I think it is time to give it a little update.

You might find some of them offending, but let's accept them as the fact that people do use them nowadays.

HK Slang	Direct Translation	parts of speech	English Equivalent
ciu4	tide	adjective	chic /stylish
taat3 zoek6	spark / light up (oft. past tense)	verb	love is kindled
faan1 taat3	again spark	verb	to rekindle sb's love
daap1 tong4	taste sugar	verb	to dig sb
seon2 pun4	bamboo-shoot  business deal	noun	a great bargain (thing / person)
"chok" joeng6	"chok" look	verb	smoulder /  smouldering look /  purse the lip
daap3 soeng5	ride up	verb	to get connected with sb
hoi1 "P"	open "P"	verb	to throw a party
taan1 paai4	spread cards	verb	have a showdown
co5 zeng3	sit proper	verb	to officially become a girlfriend / wife (often female)
je6 pou4	night rush	verb	to have a night out
sing 1 "le"	up "le"	verb	to level / level up
jiu1 gwat1	waist bone	noun	(to have) backbone
waan2 je5 / waan2 ngo5 / saa2 ngo5	play thing / me	verb / noun	to toy with sb
leng3 mou4	young model	noun	pseudo model / lang mo
si6 jip6 sin3	career line	noun	cleavage
zi1 zing2	beauty fix	adjective	fastidious / fussy

Resources:

Slang: Red Hot Hong Kong Slang's English Equivalent (Updated) @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/07/slang-red-hot-hong-kong-slangs-english.html

'Tangled' Trailer HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSx1dYJlJh4

Tangled @ IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/

粵語審音配詞字庫
http://arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-can/

林語堂《當代漢英詞典》電子版 - Lin Yutang's Chinese-English Dictionary of Modern Usage (CUHK)
http://arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Lindict/

Chinese (Cantonese) Help sheets
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/chic
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/kindle_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/rekindle
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/dig_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/smoulder

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/quotes

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/party_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/showdown
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/night_2#night_2__3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experience_point#Level-based_progression
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/toy-with-sb-sth#toy-with-sb-sth__2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudo-model
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cleavage_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fastidious
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fussy_1

Event: Memories of King Kowloon

The day I returned from the exhibition, I was already filled with enthusiasm to share with everyone how magnificent this exhibition is. After uploading the photos on Facebook, I couldn't help but post and share my own albums and "like" my own albums.

King Kowloon's Calligraphy @ Hung Hom

I'm going crazy with this exhibition and I have already visited it twice (and wept twice)! I will definitely go there many more times.

King Kowloon @ Kwung Tung 1997

It is an exhibition that you must go to see it for yourself so that you will not have regret for the rest of your life!

Construction Site of HK Central Library, Causeway Bay, 1999

It is not only a collection of memories of someone who wrote everywhere around Hong Kong, and he was definitely NOT a lunatic (in fact, through his video interview, you can see that he is much smarter than you think), but of the Hong Kong heritage, 

The wall outside Government House, 30 June 1997 (The Eve of Handover)

the lost culture,

Upper: Chai Wan, 1996
Lower: Des Voeux Road Central near HSBC Main Building, 2002

the disappearance of such unique figure and his calligraphy,

Upper: Kenndy Town Abattoir, 1997
Lower: Kenndy Town Abattoir, 2010 

as well as his influence and inspiration to the future generations of designers, graffiti artist and businessmen, both local and overseas.

West One, head designer of PNB Nation, asked for autograph from King Kowloon

His calligraphy took fashion design into a whole new level, his influence is especially great in Japan!

Be@rbrick (Japan) X King Kowloon

Tokyo Tribe 2 Vol. 1 by Santa Inoue adopted King Kowloon's calligraphy in his comic

His decease was a lost to the world.

Death of King Kowloon, SCMP, 26 Jul, 2007

French editor Gérard Henry of Paroles wrote the above
article following the news of King Kowloon's death

So this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for all of us to learn what we have missed, to see the King Kowloon that we have never got to know.

King Kowloon in a TV commercial

If you don't want to have any regret, YOU MUST GO!!!

King Kowloon in a TV commerical @ Outside The Pennisula

Exhibition Date and Time: 20 April - 31 May, 2011, 10am - 8pm*   (*No admission after 7:30pm. Exhibition closes at 5:30pm on 27 May) Venue: ArtisTree, 1/F Cornwall House, TaikKoo Place FREE ADMISSION Other activities: Student exhibition at the linbridge of Lincoln House, TaiKoo Place Free weekend guided tours Talk series in May (in Cantonese) Visit www.islandeast.com.hk for latest programme details.

Vocabulary:

magnificent -- (adj) very good, beautiful or deserving to be admired

twice -- (predeterminer, adv) two times

weep -- (vb) [I or T] literary to cry tears

regret -- (n) [C or U] a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been different and better

lunatic -- (n) [C] offensive old-fashioned a person who is mentally ill

heritage -- (n) [U] features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages or buildings, which still exist from the past and which have a historical importance

calligraphy -- (n)[U] (the art of producing) beautiful writing, often created with a special pen or brush

graffiti -- (n) plural noun [U] words or drawings, especially humorous, rude or political, on walls, doors, etc. in public places

influence -- (n) [C or U] the power to have an effect on people or things, or a person or thing that is able to do this

decease -- (n) [U] FORMAL  a person's death

once-in-a-lifetime -- from lifetime (n) [C usually singular] the period of time during which someone lives or something exists

Resources:

Island East Official Website
www.islandeast.com.hk


PNB Nation @ Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2266079739

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/magnificent
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/twice
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/weep_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/regret_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lunatic_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/heritage
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/calligraphy
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/graffiti
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/influence_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/decease
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lifetime

Songs & Music: Hugh Laurie -- Let Them Talk the album

Image from livejournal

It's not MIDNIT --  Metabolic, Inflammation, Degenerative, Neoplastic, Infection and Trauma, not psychological, not environmental, not arsenic, not heavy-metal poisoning, but it may well be genetic, it's Dr. House's music! IT'S Huge Laurie Blues!!!!

In the show, we see Dr. House playing many musical instruments -- electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano, harmonica and piano at the same time, he is super talented!!!! Watch the video playlist below:

Many fans are in awe of his musical talent and want to get a hold of some music from him, I'm definitely a fan of Blues and Hugh, and now we have a chance!!!!

Hugh Laurie

Image from Hugh Laurie Blues

The Album is called Let Them Talk, and it will be on sale from the 7th May in the U.K. Not sure when it will arrive in Hong Kong, but you don't have to wait too long to hear it! It is officially on YouTube and can also be found in our English Playground YouTube Channel,

what's more, Hugh is very generous to share with everyone one of his best songs, Guess I'm a Fool, in MP3 format, 100% legal and free! (And the lyrics definitely fit my situation now)

You can download it from his official website: http://www.hughlaurieblues.com/free-downloads/guess-im-a-fool.htm

Can't wait to share my happiness with everyone and thank him on his website! Here's what I wrote

"Hugh, I'm a big fan of you since Blackadder, and you are incredible in House, hope there will be a season 8,9 and 10. You are the coolest! You have my greatest support! Can't wait for your CD. Best wishes from Hong Kong!"

One of my juniors said I sounded 'gay', I don't care! I'm a big fan! Who wouldn't be, with a gift like this?

Lyrics:

Hugh Laurie Guess I'm A Fool lyrics You told me you were leaving After all we've been through Guess I'm fool falling in love with you There ain't no use in crying Do what you have to do Guess I'm a fool falling in love with you. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hugh_laurie/guess_im_a_fool.html ] [Chorus:] You told me that the kind of love we have Will last for a million years I believe everything you said You felt my heart with tears. So long pretty baby Go break some other heart in two Guess I'm a fool falling in love with you. [Chorus:] You told me that the kind of love we have Will last for a million years I believe everything you said You felt my heart with tears. So long pretty baby Go break some other heart in two Guess I'm a fool falling in love with you. Falling in love with you, Falling in love with you Falling, falling in love with you

Vocabulary:
infection -- (n)  [C or U] a disease in a part of your body that is caused by bacteria or a virus
arsenic -- (n)  [U] a very poisonous element, often used to kill rats and able to kill people
genetic -- (n) (adj) belonging or relating to genes (= parts of the DNA in cells) received by each animal or plant from its parents

Resources:
Surgical sieve @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgical_sieve#Use_in_popular_culture

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

Hugh Laurie Blues Official Page
http://hughlaurieblues.com/home.htm?loc=

House playing piano @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtnn6yJqHqM

Legal Free Download @ Hugh Laurie Blues
http://www.hughlaurieblues.com/free-downloads/guess-im-a-fool.htm

Hugh Laurie Blues -- Let Them Talk @ Locky's English Playground YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=870388549C4FD04F

Hugh Laurie -- House MD Music @ Locky's English Playground YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9EF2FF1A63054C15

Guess I'm a Fool lyrics @ Lyrics Mode
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/h/hugh_laurie/guess_im_a_fool.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/infection
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/arsenic
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/genetic