Let's get ready to rumble!
Here's another fine example of the mainstream media's attempt at hype.
Granted the representation of the riot cop seems accurate but look at the other bloke! They seem to think that a majority of protestors will be violent, brick-throwing mean sons of bitches.
A majority of those protesting on December will be trade unionsts, feminists, scholars, students, farmers, white collars, retirees- all dedicated to bringing change and reform to the autocratic WTO through peaceful democratic means. Which is exactly what the tabloids don't want to show.
Here's a more honest picture:
Hong Kong's CentreStage- Are you white enough?
What's the deal with all the new commercials for these ultra high class real estates? The one pictured above for 'CentreStage' living in Central only featured Caucasians. Not that I have anything against white people but when you have ads like these running on TVB primetime it kind of leaves the 99% Asian community feel left out.
So it is strange that CentreStage's developers, the Henderson Group, is an ethnically Chinese organisation yet their commercial notoriously leaves out Asians of any kind. Are they saying only Caucasians can afford this kind of high class living? That non-Asians are less financially succesfull? Is there a non-Asian elite that is more superior than the Chinese? Or is it just these particular models suited the director and they coincidentally happened to be Caucasian?
Whatever their agenda is the cultural and psychological damage has been done. Granted, a lot of Chinese here may not take much notice to this sham but I fear this media discrimination may become an acceptable norm. Since I arrived in HK over a month ago, I haven't see this ad run at all this week and I hope it's gone for good. But no... cue the hyperbolic 'CEO Living' estate which again features a dominant Caucasian prescence. Is their logo 'Are you Ready' so difficult to say in Cantonese?
Back to square one?
My skin condition now is questionable.. people keep asking me am I getting better but I don't have a straight answer. A few days ago my right foot flared up again, a week before my sole had been completely free of any vesciles. Oh yeah by the way I seem to be diagnosed of a particularly complicated form of Athlete's foot called 'Vesicolor Tinea Pedis,' which has also triggered a similar form on my palms. But this flare up I'm determined to keep under control with better lotions, unlike last time. Man that was horrible!
After going back and forth, and with the recent flare up I'm wondering if I should find a new doctor or treatment. And so I got some new type of Chinese medicine that is designed for my condition and other eczema. It's made by a Chinese herbalist who specialises in skin conditions and I think i'll give him a bell tommorow.
This whole thing is really giving me a hard time. I've been resting at home and haven't been going out much, but I feel as if i've rested too much (or slept too much) that i'm getting a weird form of backward fatigue. Not to mention the lack of exercise and fresh air. And Hong Kong isn't exactly the best place for either.
Main wall design
Slan leat World Cup 2006..
Well it's 5am and i've just returned from a dreary-eyed Delaney's pub in Tsim Sha Tsui. Apart from the boisterous English behind us watching their game (at least they saw some goals), it was good atmosphere in the pub as Scots, Americans, Chinese and other Brits filled tonight's audience.
It was truly a night to forget for all Irish fans as we failed to beat the stubborn Swiss and hence ending our World Cup ambitions next year.
Could Roy Keane and Damien Duff have made a difference if they were on the pitch tonight? Either way the team's performance was once again sub-standard- Morrisson and Keane didn't even make a dent in the Swiss defence, the flanks were poorly supplied by the likes of Harte & Kilbane while the defence was slippery to say the least. And all in Landsdowne Road on such an important event! Even Bertie and the President were there.
By far, the Swiss were the better team with the better chances. The only decent shot by Ireland was a header by Kilbane straight into the keeper's arms.
Looking back on our qualification stages, the Irish team have proven to be world class and yet can spiral down so easily into a shabby disorganised team in other matches. With only one loss against France and predictable wins against Faroes and Cyprus, our constant draw games really costed us.
Brian Kerr's tenure can't last much longer now. Carr and Kilbane have also been dodgy lately and I really want to see them permanently replaced. Harte, Holland and O'Shea need to get their act together as they constantly fail to support the attackers.
Oh well another 4 years..
miscellany furniture
Living room design 2
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Living room design 1
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Gearing up!
One good reason for me to stay in HK for the next few months is to participate in the WTO protest on December 13-18th.
I'm not sure if it's just speculation and media hype, but approximately 10,000 protestors are expected to descend on Hong Kong from around East Asia, most notably South Korean farmers and activists from the Phillipines.
Many fear a repeat of the infamous Seattle '99, and that's what I'm hoping! It will be a testament to Hong Kong's continued democratic freedoms, but also to test Beijing's patience. As you know protests aren't allowed in China, except of course if they're state sponsored such as the backlashes against Japanese property over the text books fiasco. Refresh your memory:
http://edleeblog.blogspot.com/2005/04/sponsored-rioting-in-china_14.htmlPersonally I live to see these mass protests against authority and I'll be there with my mobile media command!
Chinese National Day
Bummer, I wasn't well enough to film any of the events.
But what interests me is how many, especially the media hype up the National Day.
After all when the Communists took power in 1949, Hong Kong was still a British colony and served no purpose in their acension to government.
A particular TV programme tonight featured top Hong Kong singers performing Chinese national songs, and that really disgusted my uncle!
I wonder if it's celebrated in places like Tibet or Taiwan..
