0340 HKSAR Name of the Day

Savio Wai Ho Wong, postgraduate student, Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Avatar Doppelganger Caricature

What a visually-stunning movie Avatar is. But this post is not about reviewing the film … others have already done that quite well (a selection of links is included below).

Instead, I just want to say that the best caricature in Avatar has to be Colonel Miles Quaritch. Almost every time he appeared on the 3-D silver screen, I either laughed or shook my head at his clichéd one-liners and screen presence. The actor, Stephen Lang, gave a great performance … “of the, uh, Jarhead clan”.

Colonel Miles Quaritch is such a caricature that the images of Major Chip Hazard from Small Soldiers, and Duke Nukem were brought to mind.

[Chip, Duke, Quaritch; take your pick! Pics courtesy of GoogleImages]

Whilst searching for images from Avatar, I also noticed some of the toy action figures. At first glance, I realized they were not to scale since the alien Na’vi are supposed to be three metres tall. So unless Colonel Miles Quaritch was a towering Jarhead surpassing NBA proportions, I guess the action figures are just made for ease of packaging!

[Colonel Miles Quaritch and Avatar Jake Sully. Pic courtesy Fwoosh.]

Some reviews of Avatar (from the first page results using Google):

Review: Powerful Avatar Stuns the Eye, Seduces the Heart

Review: 'Avatar' delivers on the hype

Avatar -- Film Review

Avatar review: 'James Cameron just got slack'

Avatar (Fox) (2009)

0339 HKSAR Name of the Day

Ares Leung Kwok Ling, professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Self-important

0338 HKSAR Name of the Day

Burnie Chu, clerical officer, Department of Electronic Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0337 HKSAR Name of the Day

Janny Chun Nae Wong, postgraduate student, Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0336 HKSAR Name of the Day

Robina Wong Hoi-chu (Dr), associate professor, Department Of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Suffer Little Children … Literally

A New York Times article shows more Hocus Pocus happenings in Asia. This time, it’s to do with parents' obsession with their children’s height.

SEOUL, South Korea — With acupuncture needles trembling from the corners of her mouth like cat’s whiskers, Moon Bo-in, 5, whined with fear. But the doctor, wearing a yellow gown patterned with cartoon characters, poked more needles into her wrists and scalp. “It’s O.K., dear,” said her mother, Seo Hye-kyong. “It will help make you pretty and tall. It will make you Cinderella.”

[Trainer Choi Hyong-jin helped Kang Hyon-sung, 5, and his sister, Kang Hyon-hee, 7, as they tried a special treadmill during a growth-spurring exercise at the Seojung growth clinic in Seoul. Pic courtesy of Woohae Cho for IHT.]

In the article, there’s the obligatory irrelevant and banal quotes. For example:

“If you think of a child as a tree, what we try to do here is to provide it with the right soil, the right wind, the right sunshine to help it grow. We help kids regain their appetite, sleep well and stay fit so they can grow better.”

Too bad these quacks conveniently avoid looking closely at the “seeds” first. Not every “seed” is a sequoia; some may be willows, cedars, elms or bauhinias, so to speak. You can feed and exercise a child as much as possible, but if the right genes are not present then there’s going to be lots of disappointment and resentment somewhere down the line. Incidentally, children don't photosynthesize either!

Here’s a banal quote:

“My dream is to open growth clinics in North Korea,” said Dr. Park [who recently opened 36 joint-venture growth clinics in China and said the quest to become taller was regionwide], “so that, once we unify, children from both sides will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder, not with one side a head taller than the other.”

Suffer Little Children … Literally.

0335 HKSAR Name of the Day

Loucia Chan Kit Ying (Miss), student, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Insertion

0334 HKSAR Name of the Day

Belton Kwong, research assistant, Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0333 HKSAR Name of the Day

Benise SK Mak, academic, Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Deletion; Substitution

0332 HKSAR Name of the Day

Onyx WH Wai (Dr), associate professor, Department Of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Nature-based

Broom Boom Becker Sympathizes With Tiger

Another “fallen” tennis star has come out in support of Tiger Woods. This time it is Boris Becker, who admitted that a brief tryst in a broom cupboard in 1999 was "five seconds that will haunt me for the rest of my life".

[Boris Becker, aged 17, became the youngest Wimbledon Men’s Singles Champion in 1985. Pic courtesy BBC News]

Tennis ace rallies to Tiger aid

Andre Agassi Says Don’t Judge Tiger Woods

Supreme Sports Personality Championships: Tiger Woods v Roger Federer

0331 HKSAR Name of the Day

Wynnie Chiu Lam Wai Man, Professor, Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Organ Imaging, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Somewhat common in Hong Kong

0330 HKSAR Name of the Day

Gibson Lam (Mr), Instructor, Dept. Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0329 HKSAR Name of the Day

Peran L F Chan, clerk, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

0328 HKSAR Name of the Day

Persia Lai (Ms), senior clerical officer, Department of Building Services Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Geography-based

0327 HKSAR Name of the Day

Fredrik Fan Cheung-fung, external vice-president of the student union, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0326 HKSAR Name of the Day

Hamilton Chan W S (Mr), clerical officer, Dept. Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Is It A Hard Life?

To be true lovers together? To love and live forever in each other’s hearts?

Is it a long hard fight?
To learn to care for each other? To trust in one another right from the start?

These questions (liberally taken from the classic Queen song It’s a Hard Life) should strike a chord with anyone who has faced, or is facing, the Infidelity Issue.

A comment by Ulaca about Miroslava "Mirka" Federer, who is Roger Federer’s wife, being someone “to cross at your own peril” reveals what is long believed to be essential in relationships. HKSARblog believes it is rational and reasonable to expect that equality and mutual respect forms the basis of a successful relationship.

Superficially, if we look at the marriages of Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, it is likely that most people will regard Mirka Federer to be “more or less equal” to her husband, whereas Elin Woods is likely to be seen as “less equal” to her husband. That’s basically the point of Ulaca’s comment, and assuming that he does not personally know Mirka, I would say Ulaca’s comment is based solely on his distant impression of Mirka as someone not to “cross swords” with. That is, Mirka gives the impression of being a bit “ballsy” (thanks to Gweipo for bringing up 'balls'). And if you take Mirka's background in to account, she was also a professional tennis player (her highest singles ranking is 76th) and she is a few years older than Roger, then it is perhaps not surprising that Mirka and Roger’s relationship has a healthy dose of equality and mutual respect.

[Mirka and Roger on court; Roger and Mirka off court. Photos courtesy FedererMagic Blog]

Can the same be said of Elin and Tiger’s relationship? Does Elin have any “professional” understanding of golf? Does she have any experience of being an independent, strong-willed woman (prior to being betrayed)? Is she “ballsy”? Looking at her background, she has worked as a supermarket cashier, retail shop girl, model, and a nanny. Are these job experiences challenging, or helpful with building character and in developing a sense about the world? How does she see her achievements, especially when compared with the achievements of her professional golfer husband? Is this relevant?

[Tiger and Elin Woods. Photos from GoogleImages]

It is perhaps unfair to take a superficial look at these two “celebrity” marriages, and then apply this "principle" to all relationships. However, the main point is that whenever one person in a relationship is, or thinks s/he is, “more equal" than the other, then problems will inevitably occur. And if, for any reason, these issues can not be discussed and resolved then the Infidelity Issue will likely arise (providing separation doesn’t kick in first). Both sides play a part in how the relationship develops. After all, It’s a hard life and it’s a long hard fight ... but if you’re with the right person then it is definitely worthwhile.

QUEEN-It's A Hard Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFwOe0EPOJs&feature=related




Lyrics: It's A Hard Life

I don't want my freedom
There's no reason for living with a broken heart

This is a tricky situation
I've only got myself to blame
It's just a simple fact of life
It can happen to anyone

You win - you lose
It's a chance you have to take with love
Oh yeah - I fell in love
And now you say it's over and I'm falling apart

It's a hard life
To be true lovers together
To love and live forever in each others hearts
It's a long hard fight
To learn to care for each other
To trust in one another right from the start
When you're in love

I try to mend the broken pieces
I try to fight back the tears
They say it's just a state of mind
But it happens to everyone

How it hurts - deep inside
When your love has cut you down to size
Life is tough - on your own
Now I'm waiting for something to fall from the skies
And I'm waiting for love

Yes it's a hard life
Two lovers together
To love and live forever in each others hearts
It's a long hard fight
To learn to care for each other
To trust in one another - right from the start
When you're in love

Yes it's a hard life
In a world that's filled with sorrow
There are people searching for love in ev'ry way
It's a long hard fight
But I'll always live for tomorrow
I'll look back on myself and say I did it for love
Yes I did it for love - for love - oh I did it for love

0325 HKSAR Name of the Day

Prentice Koo Wai- muk, Greenpeace campaigner, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0324 HKSAR Name of the Day

Juno Mak Chun-lung (Mr), singer, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0323 HKSAR Name of the Day

Yoyo Leung Kwan-ling, nurse, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

0322 HKSAR Name of the Day

Bunny Chan Chung-bun (Mr), BBS, JP, member (2008-09), Commission on Youth, Hong Kong [Note: Phonetically inspired]

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

0321 HKSAR Name of the Day

Fox Yi Hu , reporter, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Trouble with Alopecia? Try a Breast Massage!

Do you suffer from hair loss? Are you desperate? Have money? Gullible?
Then try this amazingly astonishing alternative treatment (free for women)!!
It’s the Brilliant Breast Massage Treatment Program For Hair Loss!
No medicine. No pills. No bitter-tasting Chinese concoctions.
RESULTS GUARANTEED!!
Sign up here today!!

A 28-year-old woman in Hong Kong who suffers from hair loss (cause unknown; cause unverified) was introduced to an “alternative doctor” (read “quack”) by a priest back in 2005. This 68-year-old quack charged the woman HK$2,000 (US$256) for 10 massage sessions. The sessions allegedly involved the quack fondling the woman’s breasts and private parts to "stimulate her lotus". Quite what effect stimulating one’s lotus has on one’s hair growth is a hitherto unknown position in the medical world … but hey, it sure sounds like it’ll be fun once clinical trials are approved!

If this really was true (massaging breasts to induce hair growth), would it be reasonable to expect that in a sexually-liberated society utopia all the beautiful women would have healthy, long, luscious locks of hair and the men would have silly grins on their silly faces?

And, considering what the pharmaceutical companies have done with marketing Viagra for women (i.e. reciprocal treatments for the other sex), one would think that men would jump at the legitimate chance of having their man boobs breasts fondled (not to mention their “lotus” stimulated) in a desperate attempt to throw money at this “alternative treatment” to avoid hair loss.

If only it was true!!

About Hong Kong Hocus Pocus


From The Standard
`Sex therapy' cure for hair loss, court told (Dec 10, 2009)
Porn videos seen as cure for hair loss, court hears (Dec 11, 2009)

The court had earlier been told the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, met Chan for the first time in his Sheung Wan clinic in September 2005. He was recommended to her by a priest.

He first persuaded her to buy a pack of 10 massage treatments for HK$2,000.

A few months later, at a massage in the middle of winter, Chan told her to strip. During "treatment" sessions, he allegedly fondled her private parts to "stimulate her lotus."

As part of the next round of treatment in 2006, Chan allegedly fondled her breasts and said she needed more intensive "sex therapy" to help her hair grow.

0320 HKSAR Name of the Day

Jimson Chan Wing-tai, JP, Professor, member (2008-09), Commission on Youth, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Son suffix

Andre Agassi Says Don’t Judge Tiger Woods

Crystal meth user Andre Agassi tries to make a point when he says don’t be so quick to judge adulterer Tiger Woods. Is this anything to do with Agassi disliking being judged himself?

Don't judge Tiger Woods - Andre Agassi (BBC video news clip)

HKSARblog believes people can be quick to condemn but not quick to understand.

A note about judging others (from Life of Brian).

Brian: Don't pass judgment on other people, or else you might get judged, too.
Colin: Who me?
Brian: Yes.
Colin: Oh. Ooh. Thank you very much.
Brian: Well, not just you. All of you.

Monty Python - Life of Brian - The Prophet




Related Posts
Understanding Unfaithfulness For Your Own Good
Supreme Sports Personality Championships: Tiger Woods v Roger Federer

0319 HKSAR Name of the Day

Curly Wong Fan-tai, director of the Hong Kong Underwater Association, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Supreme Sports Personality Championships: Tiger Woods v Roger Federer

Roger Federer is simply the best. He has the best Grand Slam persona. He is a Supreme Sports Personality Champion. He is the perfect role model to inspire others in how to behave decently. This view is qualified by contrasting Roger Federer with Tiger Woods.

These two supremely talented sportsmen and champions have been in society’s collective consciousness for a decade or more and have left impressions on many of us in general (not just on avid golf or tennis fans). From time to time, we have all looked in from the outside at these two great sportsmen of our time, who are both considered the greatest of their generation, and the greatest of all time (true in the case of Federer; in-waiting for Woods). I wish to blog a little about these impressions formed in society’s collective consciousness (some different, some similar) and explain why Federer is so much greater and supreme than Woods.

Talent In Their Chosen Sport
Both Federer and Woods excel in their respective sports. Federer has a record 22 consecutive Grand Slam semi-final appearances, and has won 15 Grand Slam titles. Woods has 14 Major titles. The manner of their domination is what’s interesting.

Federer has always played to his ability and let the results speak for themselves. Jimmy Connors has been quoted: "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist ... or you're Roger Federer." Federer does not look down on or disrespect his peers. He does not engage in any noticeable gamesmanship. In fact, he is the most likeable and popular player on tour.
In contrast, Woods dominated his peers only in the early years of his career. Between 1999 and 2002, there was simply no one near fitter, more talented or plain better than Woods. Gradually, as his peers improved and caught up to Woods’ high standards, Woods has had to modify the way he “dominates”. There is no longer a “level playing field” because Woods demands certain “conditions” from his peers, and also from his spectators. Woods is simply treated (and demands to be treated) differently than other golfers. Woods is also not the most popular amongst his peers.
Federer 1, Woods 0

Personality In Their Chosen Sport
Federer has an early childhood history of being rebellious and of smashing up his racquets on court. Fortunately, he learned to control his temper and rage and has gone on to become the greatest tennis player of all time, as well as the nicest champion of all time. He is the most likeable and popular player on tour.
Woods has a history of swearing and of gamesmanship. He growls and snarls and ignores everyone (some might say he is just “being focused”; others might say he is being arrogant and disrespectful). His attitude when he makes a bad shot or when he loses a tournament is not good for kids to see. Woods can be short with people, and condescending. He is not the most popular amongst his peers.
Federer 2, Woods 0

Personality Outside Their Chosen Sport
Woods’ “transgressions” has revealed that he is not the “clean Mr Nice Guy” that his management company would like to have everyone believe. Signs of his “dark side” surfaced during his mid-20s, when Woods hung out with The Brothers (consisting of basketball players Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley American footballer Ahmad Rashad, and baseball player Alex Rodriguez). In 2001, they travelled to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas where Jordan gambled, placing up to $5,000 on a single card. Woods exhibited his rebellious side by bleaching his hair blond. Woods eventually married in 2004 (which is a similar age to when Federer married) but revelations have since appeared that show Tiger has been promiscuous before and after he was married.

Federer is simply a nice guy; an all round top bloke. However compared with Woods, Federer is still relatively young (he is 28 and recently married) so there is a danger that he may find himself in a situation with a mistress. In terms of age in years, Federer is about 5 years younger than Woods. However, the way Federer conducts himself, both on and off the court, demonstrates that he is a mature responsible professional and suggests that he has a good head on his shoulders and has a fantastic support group. Let’s hope Federer does not succumb to any “transgressions” in his future life.
Federer 3, Woods 0

In HKSARblog's humble opinion, Roger Federer is the true Supreme Sports Personality Champion.


Related Posts
Understanding Unfaithfulness For Your Own Good
Roger Federer says ‘Hotdog’ was his greatest shot ever. Huh?

0318 HKSAR Name of the Day

Elvin Lee Ka-kui, secretary, Educational Publishers Association, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Substitution

Understanding Unfaithfulness For Your Own Good

Tiger Woods is just another idiot in a long line of celebrities (e.g. David Beckham, any number of movie stars) who have infidelity issues. However, it is not because they are celebrities that infidelity occurs. It is because they are human, like the rest of us, which means there is always potential to be fallible.

Infidelity exists. Condemn by all means, but First, accept that it exists; Second, try to understand why this occurs; Third, apply this knowledge to your own life to enrich and safeguard your own relationship(s).

I started thinking more about this because Hong Kong’s online Gweipo recently discussed “the age of betrayal” and suggested that infidelity perhaps occurs at a certain age. Another blogger added to the post by saying it is to do with the mindset of the cheater.
To a point these are both correct, but are really only partial answers. If we look at the bigger picture, it is more reasonable to consider the mindset of all parties involved … rather than analyzing only one party and of a particular age bracket. Although superficially it is easy to simply blame the cheater or adulterer, it is more reasonable to consider all parties involved because it is a dynamic situation where parties interact and can modify or influence their own behaviour and the behaviour of others.

Being able to understand all these perspectives should be the basis for understanding and strengthening one’s own relationship with their loved one(s). I think this is only logical, rational and common sense (This may be at odds with what Gweipo believes when she says: “But perhaps it isn't rational, perhaps it isn't about understanding and logic and thinking”.).

There are reasons why the:
a) Cheater does it;
b) Mistress / Male mistress does it; and
c) Wife / Husband experiences “betrayal”.

It appears there are already lots of anecdotes and research about the first two groups (i.e. Cheaters and Mistresses). Researchers and social commentators have compiled long lists of their characteristics to explain why they do it (i.e. have affairs).

However, I don’t believe much has been written about the perspective of those who have been betrayed. Therefore, the “Expat Infidelity Support Group” (mentioned by Gweipo) is exactly the kind of interesting “focus group” study that may reveal some common themes in the mindset of those who have been betrayed. Although this kind of group is not primarily there to identify and understand any “mistakes” made by themselves (it’s a support group, not a self-criticism exercise group!), I hope there will be future literature about what this group of people share in common. For example, do people who have been betrayed by their partners tend to be passive, or passive-aggressive types? Inhibited? Insensitive? Whatever. What are their common characteristics, if any?

I believe understanding what common characteristics these people (mostly women, I presume) possess can shed more light in to why the Infidelity Issue occurs in relationships.

Being rational and skeptical (which is HKSARblog’s trait, I hope), I took a deep breath when people who sympathize with those betrayed “argue” that the betrayed are “wonderful and beautiful people”. Really? I wonder if this is a legitimate trait shared by this group of people? But don’t forget that it is also subjective to say that someone is wonderful and beautiful, right? Is there more to this than meets the eye? Going back to Tiger Woods (note: I do not condone what Woods has done), is his wife a wonderful and beautiful person, or is there more to her than meets the eye? If possible, a reasonable question would be to to ask her (as well as her cheating husband) what effort has been put in to the relationship? Relationships, like anything else of value, require work, time and effort (as I have previously mentioned).

I hope some researchers and social commentators can develop a list of characteristics that may define “people who have been betrayed”. Perhaps this has already been done? We must not so readily dismiss these people as being “innocent victims” because their part in the Infidelity Issue may well be quite significant too.


Related Post
Deluded Christian Values

0317 HKSAR Name of the Day

Camoes Tam Chi-keung, chairman of the media group, Hong Kong Journalists Association, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Vanity Plate: KHAN

KHAAAN!!

KHAAAAAAN!



About car plate, licence plate, number plate, registration plate, vanity plate

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Stand Out Face

Tsing Tao Beer Spans the Galaxy

Captain, There Be Whales Here!

About HK Doppelgangers

HK Doppelganger 2

0316 HKSAR Name of the Day

Fenella Ng Gar-loc, ex-Hong Kong rower (finished sixth in women's lightweight singles in the 'A' final of the 1998 World Championships in Cologne, Germany), Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Deluded Christian Values

Kimmie Wong Lai-chu, the political assistant caught in a sexual harassment case with legislator Kam Nai-wai, is obviously a Christian not too unlike hoards of other “not-so-young” single Christian women who have set themselves up on a hopeless pedestal.

Christians are told that they are born sinners and are somehow taught to be “good”. And those who have traditional and cultural mindsets interpret "good" to mean no premarital sex, no premarital living arrangements, and definitely no adultery. As single Christian women who supposedly follow the Bible's "teachings", what they fail to realize is that it is not they who are breaking the seventh commandment (i.e. committing adultery), and it is not they who are dissing the tenth commandment (i.e. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or house, or ox or donkey”). It should be obvious that the ten commandments are man-made; specifically, male-made.

Isn’t it time for single Christian women to realize that fairytale knights in shining armour don’t exist? Just as Santa Claus, good fairies of the South and of the Tooth, and angels don’t exist. While we’re at it, yes, also this supernatural deity some call Dog doesn’t exist either. Eternal love? Why not just be happy with and appreciative of whomever you’re with in this one-and-only life?

Why do deluded Christians set themselves up on a hopeless pedestal? People can be good without God.

From The Standard

Wongs [sic] statement continued: I am serious about love. I strongly believe in eternal love and the life commitment of marriage. From the beginning, I have done only one thing which was to reject my superior Kam Nai-wai, a politician who has a standing under the constitutional system.

Besides, he also has a wife and a daughter.

She concluded: In the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, I am willing to end this incident with forgiveness. Forgiveness can cure hurt feelings and dissolve disputes. It is also a way for me to ease my burden and to release myself.

Related Posts
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Biblical Maths Tries To Keep Noah’s Ark Afloat

0315 HKSAR Name of the Day

Remus Choy Yat-kit, member of Grasshopper a "long-lived" Hong Kong boy band (other members are Edmond So Chi-wai and Calvin Choy Yat-chi), Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

The Matrix 10th Anniversary

Has it been 10 years already since Nokia’s stylish banana phone made it on to the silver screen?

This comment just so sets up Groucho Marx’s hilarious quote:
Times flies like an arrow
Fruit flies like a banana

Anyways, in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of The Matrix, here’s an excellent take, in stop-motion Lego, of a pivotal scene from the ground-breaking movie. Pity the two sequels (Reloaded and Revolutions) sucked in terms of story direction, creativity and imagination. The Matrix universe could have been so much more. Enjoy:

Lego Matrix Trinity Help

0314 HKSAR Name of the Day

Monit Kam-fong Cheung (Ms), Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Professor at the Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, and a Board Member of End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Chubby Table Tennis Player From Guam

There’s a chubby table tennis player from Guam participating in the 2009 East Asian Games. His name is Edwin San Nicolas Cadag, and he is possibly the worst competitive table tennis player I have ever seen.

[Edwin San Nicolas Cadag]

His first match (Men's Singles 1st Round Match 3) was on Friday Dec 4 2009, which he promptly lost to Li Ching of Hong Kong. He lost in four straight sets: 2-11, 2-11, 4-11, 3-11.

Cadag’s fellow doubles partner, Arman Ruwen Acabado Burgos, also lost in four straight sets in singles. He lost to Jike Zhang of China: 3-11, 3-11, 3-11, 3-11. If it means anything, Burgos managed to get one more point than Cadag ... plus his opponent is supposedly better than Cadag's.

Is Guam the worst country/territory in the table tennis event of the 2009 East Asian Games?

Or, looking at other results, perhaps Macau?

Monster Novel Name Grabs Media Spotlight

When native-English speakers choose their own novel name, much attention and fanfare is given to the fact that the name is odd, strange, weird, funny and just plain silly. Take the case of Mr Monster Munch, plumber, Evington, Leicestershire, England.

[Plumber Chris Hunt, now Plumber Monster Munch (photo courtesy Daily Telegraph)]

In this sad case, Chris Hunt has decided to go with a Brand-based novel name. Hong Kong people are already three steps ahead and have latched on to brands as one of several ways in setting themselves apart from the rest of the population (search HKSARblog for “brand-based”).

About Novel HKSAR Names

0313 HKSAR Name of the Day

Johnson Lam Man-hon, Judge, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

0312 HKSAR Name of the Day

Thomas Jefferson Wu, managing director of Hopewell Holdings, Hong Kong [Note: the real Thomas Jefferson is a "hero" of HKSARblog]

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Self-important

0311 HKSAR Name of the Day

Hendena Yu Hoi-ping, chief operating officer, Mandatory Provident Fund Authority, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Hocus Pocus For Premiership Players Revealed

So much for the “super housewife healer” and her horse placenta miracle massage treatment of elite sport stars. Frank Lampard of Chelsea FC did not accept her controversial alternative therapy … and within three weeks following standard massage treatment mainly performed by his own medical team, he was fit enough for last Saturday’s showdown visit to Arsenal.

[Robin van Persie; photo courtesy BBC sport]

Unsurprisingly, Robin van Persie of Arsenal was not present for his team’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea. In desperation, he had also sought the services of Serbian housewife Mariana Kovacevic. She could not help, and now van Persie has revealed that his initial diagnosis was wrong and would now be out for up to five months.

One reason why alternative health treatments receive some credibility (some would say more than they deserve) is due to desperation.

Related Post
Hocus Pocus For Premiership Players

0310 HKSAR Name of the Day

Helios Lau Kar-cho, chief clinical psychologist, Social Welfare Department, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation [Edit: Literature-based; Rare; Self-important]