Devastated Gaza

From Reuters.com






To help, please go to World Vision.

Birthday wish came true

One of my birthday wishes came true... on my birthday. =)

Hamas announces ceasefire after Israel declares truce

Liu Xiang again...

From Reuters:

..."Everyone will understand why Liu Xiang had to abandon competition due to injury, and we hope he will cast aside mental burdens and settle his mind on overcoming injury," said Xi, favored to succeed Hu Jintao as president in five years.

...A commentary on the People's Daily website (www.people.com.cn) criticized Internet comments that have speculated Liu folded under pressure on home soil.

"Perhaps a nation of 1.3 billion should not place the burdens of its aspirations on a boy's shoulders," it said.



















I read from today's newspaper, someone said he paid money for the ticket, Liu should "sell his life" for this. This is just unbelievable, are there people who can really say things like this?

And one columnist said if Liu had such severe injury, he should not try to run. Imagine you're Liu, with the burden of 1.3 billion people, and say this again. Do you think he can NOT at least try to run?

Like all, I'm sad. I think it's an opportunity for Liu Xiang and all of the Chinese people to grow up.

Liu Xiang was still just a "boy" maybe before, but after overcoming all these pressure and failure, he will become a better man. It doesn't matter a lot in his life if he will win another gold medal or break another world record. (hey, world records will be broken after a few years, Olympics are held once every 4 years. One can only live his/her life once.) The thing that matters in the long run is being able to learn from life's experiences.

It is also an excellent opportunity for China to really grow up and stop being a kid who just happens to be taller than most, but is still a kid in mind. =P

Feels really sad just to watch how Liu Xiang struggled today

I like the ATV news version more, but can't find it on the web. I just hate to hear these TVB people talk. =P



Wonder if he can still compete in the next Olympics, he'll be 29 next time. And this time it's in Beijing, so it's more significant for a Chinese athlete.

I think he really did his best, struggled to overcome the pain. He'll always be a hero for Chinese people!

District Council Election yesterday...

As expected, Candidate number one won... he got double the number of votes of candidate number two... sigh...

To see the results of all districts, see here. (I don't know why I can't find this page on google... I had to go to other sites and find a link to this site... on google, I can only find the link to the results of the election in 2003!!)

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera may sound foreign to you. What about 卡塔爾半島電視台??

Like most people in Hong Kong, when I think about Al Jazeera, I'll think of Osama bin Laden and a bunch of terrorists...

That is why this program from RTHK surprised me. Everyone should watch it. This channel is not just the enemy of the Americans, it is also the enemy of the Arabs! And many of its staff are recruited from the BBC!!!! (Click on the above link and hear the British accent of the guy (sheikh something, forgot his name) from the TV channel in the middle of the program!!!!)

I did a bit of a search on the web
Official website of Al Jazeera
YouTube page on Al Jazerra (you can actually watch their English programs here!!!)

If you take a look at their programs, it isn't that much different from what we would think of as a "normal" TV channel...

Interesting... I'll certainly watch the next episode on Al Jazeera...

Democracy

I remembered this series of novel I read when I was in secondary school called the Legend of Galactic Heroes. There were these two countries, one with democracy but bad politicians, another controlled by a good emperor who governed justly.

I used to really believe in democracy to be something worth fighting for. Especially while I was in college and in the years 2003-2004. (I joined the first two July the 1st rallies.)

Then as I see all these politicians crazily attacking each other while making all these empty promises for votes. I wonder if universal suffrage will make Hong Kong a better place.

However, recently, my views changed again when I see all the injustices. Now like Yang Wenli in the book- the Legend of the Galactic Heroes, I believe the worst of all democratic countries is still better than the worst of all totalitarian countries.

I don't like the democrats in HK but the DAB is really worse... (I have finally read this famous or infamous essay Martin Lee wrote. And I have to say I can't find any fault with this.)

I think the most important thing for China is not democracy, I don't think the Chinese population is ready for it yet. When will China have the Rule of Law?
(Watch the latest HK Connection documentary on Chinese lawyers if you're interested.)

Without democracy and the rule of Law, even basic human rights can be lost. It's just plain sad to watch the documentary. These lawyers are so courageous.

公盟

Burma

Unlike the protests almost 20 years ago (I don't remember anything from then, I was too young, just heard this from the news), this time there is the internet. (From BBC)


The protests were sparked by the government's decision to double the price of fuel in the impoverished nation.


Dozens of protesters, including Buddhist monks, were injured, and at least 100 people have been arrested.


Some of the monks have reportedly urged civilians not to join in their demonstrations.


But some witnesses said civilians were shielding monks marching elsewhere in the city.

These monks are risking their lives for the people of their country. What are we Christians doing in our own world?? And when are we going to have that kind of influence/respect in any country?

I love this judge!

A pity I can't find a photo... gotta love this judge... Read the whole thing here.

And Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti, known for dispensing unusual sentences, doesn't want one sprouting in his small town.

So Cicconetti ordered three men charged with soliciting sex to take turns dressing in a bright yellow chicken costume while carrying a sign that reads "No Chicken Ranch in Painesville."

...

It's not the first time Cicconetti has used barnyard animals in his sentences. He ordered a man who called a policeman a pig to stand next to a live pig in a pen and hold a sign that read "This Is Not a Police Officer." A couple who stole a baby Jesus statue from a manger were sentenced to dress as Mary and Joseph and walk with a donkey.

Trying to lose weight?? Read this!

Friendship offers support, laughter - what about the occasional spare tire?

A study in this week's New England Journal of Medicine finds that social networks have an even greater effect on chances of becoming obese than genes do. The findings may help explain why obesity is rising in America despite widespread dieting and other weight-loss techniques, and why people's best efforts to slim down on their own are so often short-lived. They also suggest that public health initiatives to fight obesity should take social networks into account, and work with overweight people in groups, as organizations such as Weight Watchers International Inc. have done for years.

A person's chance of becoming obese jumped 57% if he or she also had a friend who became obese during a given time. If one adult sibling became obese, the chance that the other would follow suit increased by 40%. These findings were particularly true if siblings and friends were of the same sex -- since, researchers say, people are more influenced by those they resemble than those they do not. Indeed, the chance of becoming obese rose 71% if it was a same-sex friend who gained the weight.

The study is part of a larger trend in science and social science to examine the effect of networks, from the role that interconnected neurons play in cognition, to even networks of terrorism. There's evidence, for instance, that political attitudes are shaped by social circles, and that when it comes to sexual behavior, teens are more influenced by their immediate friends than by the most popular group at school or by the media.

"Networks are really important for the transmission of ideas and values," says Katherine Stovel, a University of Washington sociology professor who studies networks. "People come to resemble one another." But, she cautioned, "I don't want anybody to read this and think about dropping friends because they're fat."

This is a good comment on this study I read on the web.

White Rabbit

I love White Rabbit Candy...

Today, the official report from China is available, according to them, formaldehyde has not been added, however, it can be produced naturally. Well, I'm sure if you test EVERY thing we eat, you'll find some toxic substance in it, no matter where it is produced... the critical factor is how MUCH toxic substance is there... and what is the limit we can eat before something bad will happen to us...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Since everyone is raving about Harry Potter 7, though I am NOT a great Harry Potter fan, I just did a search on the web to see if I can find the Harry Potter book on the web...

I could not find the photos of the book. I found this link, supposed to be the first 10 chapters of the last book... let's see if it's the true version tomorrow?? though I won't buy the book until the price drops... HAHA!! (told you, I'm not a fan of Harry Potter, though I have read all the Harry Potter books...)

I'm sure if you're really cheap, you can find the whole book on the web in some Chinese website free for downloading a few days later... (Did I underestimate them? Maybe tomorrow even )

I think the photos one is definitely real... coz I just went to the JK Rowling web, she denied it on her website whenever there were some false rumours about her books. This time she did NOT deny it, just asked all the Harry Potter fans to help preserve the secrecy... well... as I have said I am NOT a Harry Potter fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha!

America's best paying job

I remember I have told some of you this story, but here it is... =P And remember that's ONLY in America, so don't ask me for any $$!

Read the story on Forbes here. The job description is misleading though...

Anesthesiologists
Mean Annual Wage: $184,340One-Year Change: 5.8%No. In Employment: 29,890
Top-Paying Industry: Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (>$145,600*) Top-Paying State: Washington (>$145,600*)Top-Paying Metro: Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ (>$145,600*)Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.
* Mean annual wage

Two pieces of news (from Mirror.co.uk)

1. THREE universities have teamed up with the maker of Grand Theft Auto to offer degrees in computer games.

Students will graduate with a Master of Science degree from Bradford, Hull or Sheffield Hallam.

But PlayStation and XBox games addicts need not apply - unless they already have a first class honours degree in physics, maths or computer programming. (!)

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Dr Jon Purdy, director of games studies at Hull University, said: "Those hoping to play lots of games on the course will be disappointed."

2.NEW technology is making us forgetful, a survey has found.

The under-30s, who rely on phones, BlackBerrys and ipods to store information are the worst.

Only one in three could name four telephone numbers of friends before they had to look it up. (Oh!! Me!!)

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And a worrying five per cent of under 30s could not even remember their home address. But the over 50s did the best - recalling six numbers.

Prof Ian Robertson, expert in neuropsychology, said: "People are relying on technology for their memory. But the less you use your memory the poorer it becomes."

Names

In order to decrease the number of people having the exactly the same name, the Chinese government suggested that people can use both their mother and father's last name, well, it sounds normal to English speaking people, because many of them have been doing this.

However, when someone told me a name with two surnames, I'll probably think that is a married woman... weird if a guy have such a name...

Is that such a big problem to have people with the same names???

June 4

Do you need Viagra?

Well, don't panic, this website has NOT been hacked by spammers. =P

I just read this news report here.

You and I probably need Viagra... NOT for obvious reasons...

The male impotence drug Viagra may be useful for treating jet lag as well, according to Argentine researchers who gave it to hamsters made to feel like rodent globe-trotters.

The researchers said the findings suggested that Viagra could be useful to help people cope with jet lag or shift work. They said the dose needed for such uses could be lower than the one used for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Viagra interferes with an enzyme that lowers levels of a naturally occurring compound that plays a role in the regulation of the circadian cycle, the body's internal clock, the researchers said.

Jet lag or shift work, I need it for both if it really does work... but whoever thought of this first and actually did a study on it??

And the best tourists in the world are...

Well, the results are not surprising, of course it's the Japanese who won.

What surprises me is that Chinese were not the worst tourists... The only explanation I have is that the world haven't seen enough of Chinese yet...

The best tourists in the world are the Japanese, followed by Americans and the Swiss, a survey based on views from hoteliers across Europe said Wednesday... the worst tourist nation was France, followed by India, China and Russia.

See the whole report here.

Nasir Abbas

I watched the programme 60 minutes about this guy last week. His story is really fascinating... He's a former terrorist turned police informant.

I doubt he's telling the truth about everything in his interviews though... he really doesn't know these people intended to kill civilians, not just soldiers??!!

He's really brave though, I doubt he'll be able to survive for long though, with the life he's leading.

Read more in this BBC report.

The jihadi who turned has every intention of carrying on.

The problem for the police is keeping him alive as he has made so many enemies.

JI's Noordin Top, now the most wanted man in Indonesia, has made no secret of what he would do to Mr Abbas should he ever get his hands on him.

Mr Abbas believes God will protect him.

Stupid Hongkongers (edited)

I found out something impossible today.

I have UNDERESTIMATED the stupidity of HK people!! Really I thought my opinion on them cannot be lower...

Read this piece of news from Ming Pao.

Edited: (I wrote the above during my lunch hour and added something below.)
Here's the same piece of news from Apple Daily.
理 工 大 學 應 用 社 會 科 學 系 副 授 何 國 良 形 容 ， 投 訴 人 明 顯 以 《 聖 經 》 作 為 武 器 ， 挑 戰 當 局 的 淫 褻 物 品 評 審 制 度 ， 從 而 凸 顯 其 流 弊 ， 「 直 頭 係 審 裁 部 門 危 機 ， 今 次 佢 評 《 中 大 學 生 報 》 做 二 級 （ 不 雅 ） ， 完 全 講 唔 到 個 道 理 出 ， 但 係 冇 可 能 都 將 《 聖 經 》 評 為 二 級 ， 到 時 就 要 搵 方 法 落 台 。 」

Read their page and honestly tell me this is what they wanted to do? Is their purpose REALLY this "noble"?? Or just plain stupid?!

And further to the CU student newspaper incident, this is a touching article by 蔡子強. If we all act like this, how much better our world will be?

現在差不多每一間大學，都說鼓勵學生獨立思考、批判思維，但當學生的看法與我們一模一樣時，哪用 大家多作lip service；相反，正正是當學生的看法與我們南轅北轍，與我們不同的時候，校方仍能表現出的尊重和包容，才真正最能體現出我們對獨立思考和批判思維的 真誠，才最彌足珍貴。
我們都愛自己的學生，但當學生飛黃騰達，名成利就時，我們的愛充其量只是錦上添花；相反，正正是當漫天風雨，壓力鋪天蓋地，學生茫然無助時，我們的愛，我們所表現出的承擔，才是學生最需要的。

And back on to the Bible issue again, when we read the history of Israel, we see so much evil, even incest, rape, mutilation of human bodies, and we see God is with them all the way through everything, even though God must be hurt by all these. Can we do the same thing for our family, our school or EVEN our church??