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Vocabulary: Jargons With A Hong Kong Flavour

Building Inspector Jim lies on an oversized bay in an apartment of
Crown by the Sea (海譽), developed by Cheung Kong
Image from iCable

Typhoon 8 is the best time to stay at home and learn something.

Several words came to my attention these days and they are all crucially important to our lives. The first one came from a news that Jim, a famous building Inspector, was shown on one of my friend's Facebook lying on an oversized bay in an apartment by Crown by the Sea developed by Cheung Kong.

Now rich people get tricked, what about poor people? Poor people get Froebel Gifts?

"Froebel Gifts of the Poor" in Tsuen Wan
Image from Discuss.com.hk

"Property tyranny" is this new term reflecting this huge monopoly in the real estate market in Hong Kong, situation has gone so bad that many people cannot afford to buy an apartment even if they relive their life 20 times, and the fact that the real estate developers are also the creators of "Chinese panel buildings", air-tight buildings after buildings which resemble the Chinese panels.

Chinese Screen Building
Image from Locky's English Playground

Chinese panel
Image from poandpo

Froebel Gifts was not even supposed to be used in this situation, but as a metaphor, there is no restriction of course.

I love metaphors myself because they can be so much fun and highly creative, TIME magazine too played creative this time. Putting an animated GIF on the website for the Asia cover, so that it will flash from the "Revolution that wasn't" cover to the "Can Hong Kong Trust This Man?" cover. If you don't pay attention to it, you will miss it.

"Wolfman"
Image from TIME Magazine

In Hong Kong, the current Chief Executive is given the name "Wolfman" as The Standard cleverly translated it. Why? Because of his illegal structures / constructions at his home.

Due to the seriousness of the social polarization, any mistakes committed by any government officials will be reprimanded by the society.

Many think that pushing civil and moral education classes in primary school is a mistake, and many parents have lost faith in the local education system. Those parents who can afford the money will send their children overseas, those who cannot afford will send their children to tutorial centres, a form of education which shadows the official one, hence the term "shadow education".

Image from The Standard

Hong Kong is just behind South Korea (or maybe Japan) in terms of cash devoted in shadow education, meaning that Hong Kong parents are very much willing to spend money on private tuition. This willingness is exactly the key to making the "Tutor Kings" and "Tutor Queens" millionaires in Hong Kong.

If I was not so into real teaching, I should have gone to make millions of dollars a year.

Vocabulary:
Bay (window) -- (n)[C] a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan.
Froebel Gifts  -- (n)[C] are a range of educational materials designed by Friedrich Fröbel. They were first used in the original Kindergarten at Bad Blankenburg.
Property Tyranny -- (n)[C] the monopoly in the real estate market in Hong Kong
Chinese screen -- (n)[C] a type of free-standing furniture. It consists of several frames or panels, which are often connected by hinges or by other means. It can be made in a variety of designs and with different kinds of materials. Folding screens have many practical and decorative uses. It originated from ancient China, eventually spreading to East Asia, Europe, and other regions of the world.
illegal structure / construction -- (n)[C] 
social polarization -- (n)[C] is associated with the segregation within a society that may emerge from income inequality, real-estate fluctuations, economic displacements etc. and result in such differentiation that would consist of various social groups, from high-income to low-income.
reprimand -- (vb) [T] formal to express to someone your strong official disapproval of them
civil and moral education -- (n)[U]
shadow education -- (n)[C] private tutoring, in other words





Resources:
Bay Window @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_window

Froebel Gifts @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froebel_Gifts

TIME Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/asia/0,9263,501120709,00.html

Home Truth @ The Standard
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=12&art_id=124081&sid=36946095&con_type=3&d_str=20120706&fc=7

Chinese screen @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_screen

Tutors: a question of value @ The Standard
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=124071&sid=36937643&con_type=1&d_str=20120705&fc=4

Kim, M. (2007). School choice and private supplementary educationin South Korea. Paper presented at the IIEP policy forum onconfronting the shadow education system: What governmentpolicies for what private tutoring? Paris: IIEP-UNESCO


Bray, TM (2010). Researching Shadow Education: Methodological Challenges and Direction


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/reprimand?q=reprimand

Techonology: iPad 3 VS NEXUS 7 Drop Test

Hi folks, it's time to update you with the latest drop test by SquareTrade first-hand!!! This time, it is the iPad 3 VS the NEXUS 7, what's even more special is that they will not only jump from high, they will go for a swim this time!

See what words you can pick out from the video. Enjoy!

Just in case you haven't seen the drop test for the iPad 2 VS the New iPad, here's the video!

Vocabulary:

first-hand (adv) If you experience something first-hand, you experience it yourself

scuff -- (n) (vb)[T] to make a rough mark on a smooth surface, especially on a shoe or floor

thud -- (n) [C] the sound that is made when something heavy falls or hits something else
shatter -- (vb) [I or T] to (cause something to) break suddenly into very small pieces

Resources:

SquareTrade's Face-off: Nexus 7 vs. iPad @ YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKaPmrXKfO0

New iPad vs. iPad 2 Drop Test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfbMlM4upsw

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/first-hand?q=first+hand

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/scuff?q=scuff
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/thud?q=thud
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/shatter?q=shatter

Opinion: Apple's New Product -- MacBook Wheel!!!

Remember that in the entry News: Amazing Stuff From Last Week -- Part 1, Bill Gates said tablets won't work in classrooms because there is no keyboard? Well, here's something to prove him wrong! Wait till he sees Apple's revolutionary product!

"I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple." -- Alex Zalban, Apple User

Locky's English Playground always bring you fun in learning English!


Resources:
News: Amazing Stuff From Last Week -- Part 1 @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2012/07/news-amazing-stuff-from-last-week-part-1.html

Vocabulary: Random Words This Week

Dessert! Yum!
Image from Locky's English Playground

Sorry, I'm not going to teach you how to make desserts like this one, because it is actually really easy, just cut some fruits, mix them together, and there you get it. But can you see those little jelly behind the mangoes?

No???

Okay, how about this one?

Image from seriouseats

Do you know the name for this? or in fact, what it is? Looks like some seeds from the dragonfruit?

Dragonfruit
Image from Wikipedia

This is a kind of seed, seed of a plant, but it is not from the dragonfruit, it is from basil.

Image from burpee

Basil seed is the name! Remember that!


Next, what do we call the following air-conditioners?

Split Type
Image from energyland.emsd.gov.hk

Window Type
Image from diytrade

Yes, you are right! They are called Split type and Window type air-conditioners.


Then I was re-re-rewatching House M.D. from Season 1 again this week, and every time I watch I pick up something new.

Gabe tells Doctor Chase that he is cursed
Image from photobucket / FOX

In season 1 episode 13, a boy named Gabe was involved in some kind of séance activity,

A  séance
Image from Google

Gabe was asked to out his hand on a pointer together with the other kids on a spirit board / ouija board

spirit board / ouija board
Image from epicparanormal

Gabe was then told by the spirit(?) that he was going to die within a year, and he really did get really sick.

What happened at the end? You'll have to watch it!



Vocabulary:

basil seed -- (n)[C]
spilt type & window type air-conditioner -- (n)[C]
séance -- (n) [U]  is an attempt to communicate with spirits.
spirit board / ouija board -- (n)[U] 


Resources:
Basil Seed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_seed#Basil_seeds

Spilt, Window type Air-conditioner @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioner#Split

Séance @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9ance

Bulimia nervosa @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulimia

Photography: Galaxyography VS iPhoneography

Law and Money (2012) -- Locky Law
Shot with Galaxy S2
Image from Locky's English Playground

Hello, I am a Galaxyographer.


A Galaxyographer is, of course, is into Galaxyography -- the photography of the Galaxy phones. This is a relatively new term as compared to iPhoneography -- the photography of the iPhones. 
Maybe it's because the first Samsung Galaxy smartphone was launched after the first iPhone, but the iPhones definitely have a larger photography fan base.

Shot with iPhone 4
Image from Maxim Leung

In what ways are iPhoneography and Galaxyography similar? Since both on-phone cameras are pretty wide, it is ideal for landscape photography, together with the panorama functions, the landscape photos can cover even wider angles. 

Shot with iPhone 4
Image by Maxim Leung

These small cameras also come with macro ability, allowing their users to shoot close up shots with a fair amount of magnification. 

Shot with iPhone 4
Image by Maxim Leung

However, the most typical yet amazing advantage of the two types of photography is the ability to carry out on-phone post-processing, that is to tune colours, add filters and effects immediately on the phones without the need to connect to a computer.

Shot with iPhone 4
Image by Maxim Leung

Both the iPhone 4S and the Galaxy S2 and S3 can take photos up to 3264x2448 pixels, meaning that they are supposed to work just as well / as noisy in terms of picture quality.


Then of course, due to the small JPG sizes of the photos taken with these smartphone cameras, sharing on social networks like Facebook is quick and easy.

Then what about the differences between the two?

Other than the fact that the two cameras are used by two very different groups of people, I think the attitude is slightly different.

Maybe the getting filter apps on the App Store is easier, maybe there are really better performing apps for the iPhones and so iPhoneographers tend to process their photos more heavily then Galaxyographers.

(Edited via TiltShiftGen, PlasticBullet & PicGrunger) Image from KateHailey

Image from KateHailey

iPhoneographers can be photographers and also artists or painters, they can jump from one filter app to another, cross-processing their photos multiple times to achieve the desired artistic pieces. The results, as you can see from the above images, can be spectacular!  iPhoneographers  can become a painter without knowing how to dilute their paints, they can create that textures without actually using canvases. Everything can be done, if they are expert enough, in matter of minutes. It is a unique form of art! Amazing indeed!

Mingling At Night (2012) -- Locky Law
Shot with Galaxy S2
Image from Locky's English Playground

But for Galaxyographers, we do not enjoy as much photo-manipulations as the iPhoneographers do. We may have filter apps too, but they are not as well-developed as those in the App Store. Even if we decided to pay and buy some apps, they are simply not good enough. We Galaxyographers are stuck with some a few basic filters which won't degrade the photo quality.

We are stuck with just the on-phone cameras.


Blessed or cursed?

Without the help of all these filters which I, at one time, tried very hard to search for on the Android Market (Now called Google Play), I began to focus more on the techniques of taking a good picture. Learning to compose an image (composition: the ways to arrange subjects and objects in a photograph) is very important indeed but it is not as nearly as critical as "feeling the image".

The Tetons and the Snake River (1942) -- Ansel Adams
Image from Wikipedia

One of THE MOST world-renowned photographer Ansel Adams once said, 

"A photograph is usually looked at -- seldom looked into." 

With this he meant two points, 

1. since "there are always two people: the photographer and the viewer", many viewers simply look at how beautiful a photo is and ignore what is conveyed in the image.
2. the photographers themselves forget to look into the image that they are composing and simply look at the what is presented to them.

Reclaiming? Is It Yours? (2012) -- Locky Law

Shot with Galaxy S2 from the front row of a bus

Image from Locky's English Playground

In order words, does an image have a story in it? What is the story? If a photograph has no story, it has no meaning.


“Life is your art. An open, aware heart is your camera. A oneness with your world is your film. Your bright eyes and easy smile is your museum.” -- Ansel Adams


As such, are you able to capture that deep image?


Skills are always more important than the cameras you have, but the best way to master the skills of a photographer is to be in a situation which the equipment is limited, because only then will one learn to think hard with their brain.


My Galaxy S2 has helped me become a better photographer, that's why I love it.


PS:
If you like my photos, please visit my Digitalrev page at http://www.digitalrev.com/lockyep.
If you like Maxim's photos, please visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/maximle.


Vocabulary:

Galaxyography -- (n)[U] the photography of the Galaxy phones.
iPhoneography -- (n)[U] the photography of the iPhones.
panorama -- (n)[C] a view of a wide area
magnification -- (n)[U] the process of making something look bigger than it is, for example by using a magnifying glass
post-processing -- (n) processing an image after it has been taken with a camera
manipulation -- (n)[C or U] mainly disapproving controlling someone or something to your own advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly
are stuck with -- from stick (vb) [I or T] to cause something to become fixed, for example with glue or another similar substance
blessed or cursed? -- is it good or bad?
composition --(n)[C] [C] the way that people or things are arranged in a painting or photograph
renowned -- (adj) famous for something



Resources:
iPhoneography
http://www.iphoneography.com/

iPhoneography @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphoneography

Locky's EP @ Digitalrev
http://www.digitalrev.com/lockyep

Locky's EP photos @ Digitalrev
http://www.digitalrev.com/lockyep/photos

Maxim Leung @ Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/maximle

An Introduction to iPhoneography @ CreativeLIVE
http://www.creativelive.com/blog/introduction-iphoneography/

Ansel Adams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams


Locky's English Playground @ Digitalrev
http://www.digitalrev.com/lockyep

Maxim Leung @ Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/maximle

Photography: Welding Glass Photography (WGP) Result 2012 @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2012/05/photography-welding-glass-photography.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/panorama?q=panorama
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/magnification?q=magnification+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-processing
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/manipulation_1?q=manipulation
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stick_4
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/composition_1?q=composition
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/renowned?q=renowned+