NOTABLE NAMES (Brilliant Funny Weird Monikers): December 2011

Spanish soccer giants Barcelona FC have just thrashed Brazilian champions Santos 4—0. But this is no huge surprise because this blog's favourite anti-Prophet, Pele, predicted that Santos had a good chance of beating Barcelona at the FIFA Club World Cup that was held this Sunday in Japan. The scoreline suggests Santos didn't have a chance!

True to form Pele did not disappoint. A common soccer phrase seems appropriate here: Form is temporary, class is permanent!

Pele is simply amazing. His predictions are pure class because they are an almost dead certainty to be completely and utterly wrong. Predictions associated with Pele typically fall by the wayside (see posts here and there and here) so it is usually sensible to bet against Pele's predictions.

The only 'thing' who has a better track record, albeit spanning only a couple of months, than the prolific Pele is Paul the Octopus (now deceased). Paul the Octopus was an excellent Prophet, and Pele the Man is an incredible Anti-Prophet.

Saturday 17 December 2011

0940 HKSAR Name of the Day

Divion Chan Kwok Keung (Mr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Thursday 15 December 2011

0939 HKSAR Name of the Day

Elvin Chan (Mr), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Why Did The Senior Citizen Sit On The Upper Deck?

No, this is not a joke and there is no catchphrase. This question was my first thought when I read the news story (below) about a 74-year-old man who fell down the stairs of a double-decker bus and subsequently died from his injuries.

Risk Assessment
Leaving aside the unpredictable, unintelligent and incompetent actions of others (like the bus driver, allegedly), why do people put themselves at unnecessary risk? Would it not be sensible for senior citizens to stay on the lower deck of a double-decker bus?

Senior citizens may sit on the upper deck of the Star Ferry, but preferably they should not sit on the upper decks of buses and trams. Is this reasonable to assume in Hong Kong society?

Reference

Senior in fatal fall down stairs of double-decker (The Standard)

Thursday, December 08, 2011

A 74-year-old passenger died after falling down the stairs of a KMB double-decker bus.

The man, surnamed Chan, had a head injury and died upon arrival at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The accident occurred at around 2pm on Wan Wah Street near Tsz Oi Court car park in Tsz Wan Shan.

The Trident bus has been running for eight years, while the driver was on his last trip when the incident occurred.

A KMB spokeswoman said the bus was on its way to Tsz Oi Court when it stopped at traffic lights near a car park.

But after the bus captain resumed driving, he heard a loud bump.

Reports from the scene said Chan was about to go downstairs and was close to the edge of the stairs when he fell.

Chan, who lived in the area, was unconscious when taken to hospital.

The driver, who joined KMB in 1996, has been suspended, which the spokeswoman said is normal until a police investigation is completed.

She said all drivers must pass three weeks of training before serving the public. They need to have at least three years of experience driving private vehicles with satisfactory conduct.

But Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, chairman of the Institute of the Motor Industry Hong Kong, said: "In terms of professional conduct, I suspect bus drivers possibly still lack training on taking passengers' safety into consideration while driving."

He said drivers - through the bus periscope - should make sure no one is standing up on the upper deck before moving off.

ALICE SO

Tuesday 13 December 2011

0938 HKSAR Name of the Day

Pappy Au Yuk Ying (Ms), alumnus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Monday 12 December 2011

Bonehead

Arsenal and Ivory Coast soccer player Gervino (pic from here)

Every time I see a picture of Gervinho, a soccer player for Arsenal Football Club and Ivory Coast, the word bonehead comes to mind.

Or perhaps I'm just a bonehead for thinking this!?

Sunday 11 December 2011

0937 HKSAR Name of the Day

Demon Ng Chi Keung, chief prosecutor (for Commissioner of Police), Hong Kong Police Force

Credit Ulaca

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

Saturday 10 December 2011

Netball Captain Dies After Choking

The ambiguity—or equivocation—of words can sometimes produce misunderstandings, disingenuous statements and even unwitting comedy.

"Choking" is a term used to describe the physical blockage of the breathing tube or trachea.* It is also used in sporting parlance as a psychological blockage in physical performance. The fact that the news report (see below) linked a person's death by choking to his public sports persona is a tragicomedy.

* The evolution of the structures of the trachea and the oesophagus is but one example demonstrating the absurdity of Intelligent Design. There is nothing intelligent about this "designer", since this "design flaw" has been the cause of death to many people just like this unfortunate male netball captain. Any designer who planned the makings of the same passage for swallowing, breathing and talking is clearly stupid.

Reference

Captain dies after choking (The Standard)

Thursday, December 08, 2011

The captain of New Zealand's men's netball team reportedly choked to death in a freak accident while eating his dinner.

Mike Siave, 35, collapsed in front of his wife Amanda on Friday as he was eating a meal at his Christchurch home, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Paramedics failed to revive him.

"He was one of the best captains we've ever had," men's netball association head David Pala'amo told the Christchurch Press.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Friday 9 December 2011

0936 HKSAR Name of the Day

Hins Cheung King-hin (Mr), Canto-pop idol friend to singer-songwriter Ivana Wong Yuen-chi

see 0935 HKSAR Name of the Day

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

Wednesday 7 December 2011

0935 HKSAR Name of the Day

Ivana Wong Yuen-chi, singer-songwriter, Hong Kong.

Ivana Wong has sticky-out ears and looks like a pixie. Just saying' see also Scott Parker in Big Head Little Body and Remus Choy

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Monday 5 December 2011

0934 HKSAR Name of the Day

Anson Mak Hoi Shan (Ms), Film and Media, Arts Development Council, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation for females; Son-suffix; somewhat common in Hong Kong

Sunday 4 December 2011

Women Waistlines of the World

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
(pic from AFP)

Food for thought: Do the waistlines of nations' top female leaders represent their people's typical or average waistlines?

Reference

Suu Kyi welcomes US role as Clinton visit ends (SCMP; paywall)

MYANMAR
Reuters in Yangon
Dec 03, 2011

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday welcomed US engagement with Myanmar, saying she hoped it would set her long-isolated country on the road to democracy.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton held a final meeting with Suu Kyi as she wrapped up a landmark visit that saw Myanmar's civilian government pledge to forge ahead with political reforms and re-engage with the world community.

Clinton and Suu Kyi held a private dinner on Thursday and met again yesterday at the Nobel laureate's lakeside home, effectively her prison until she was released in November last year after years in detention.

"If we go forward together, I'm confident there will be no turning back from the road to democracy. We are not on that road yet, but we hope to get there as soon as possible with our friends," Suu Kyi said.

The two appeared visibly moved as they embraced after their meeting, and a senior US official said they had established a strong personal rapport. Neither mentioned US sanctions on Myanmar, imposed because of rights abuses and suppression of democracy, but Clinton later said the curbs may end if reforms continue.

"If there is enough progress, obviously we will be considering lifting sanctions. But as I said before we're still at the very early stages of this dialogue," she said.

Suu Kyi said Myanmar needed help on education, health care and strengthening rule of law, and welcomed US support for World Bank and International Monetary Fund assessment missions to help draw up priorities for a country whose economy is increasingly reliant on China.

"We have to find out what our greatest needs are," she said.

Clinton's trip follows a decision by US President Barack Obama last month to open the door to expanded ties, saying he saw the potential for progress in Myanmar, until recently seen as a reclusive military dictatorship firmly aligned with China.

Saturday 3 December 2011

0933 HKSAR Name of the Day

Wyman Wong Wai-man, supporter of local celebrities(?), Hong Kong

See 0701 HKSAR Name of the Day and 0846 HKSAR Name of the Day

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Phonetic-based; somewhat common in Hong Kong

Thursday 1 December 2011

0932 HKSAR Name of the Day

Montgo Chui Tze Hung (Mr), Visual Arts, Arts Development Council, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation