劉德華 Andy Lau

Last Wednesday, the following article appeared in 港聞 (HK news) section, not 娛樂 (entertainment news) section... In the following days, a lot more articles related to the same subject also appeared in front page of HK newspapers.
Why?

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劉德華正式公開地下情
(明報)2009年8月26日 星期三

【明報專訊】劉德華與朱麗倩的地下情發展長達24年，終於正式浮面。剛受喪父之痛的朱麗倩獲「華仔」相伴前赴大馬奔喪，華仔亦正式公開朱麗倩「你是我的女人」的身分。兩人昨晚穿著白色情侶裝結伴返港，全程十指緊扣。不過，華仔開腔否認會於百日內迎娶朱麗倩「冲喜」。

與朱麗倩十指緊扣抵港


昨晚10時半，華仔興朱麗倩乘坐MH074班機從吉隆坡抵港，兩人跟昨午現身吉隆坡機場一樣，身穿白色T恤及牛仔褲、戴上口罩、十指緊扣。面對逾百香港傳媒追訪，一臉嚴肅的華仔全程拖著朱麗倩，縱使場面如何混亂都沒有放手，朱麗倩則緊緊捉著男友的手，並一度攬著華仔腰部，華仔亦摸著她的手安慰。20多名接機Fans大叫「華仔支持你」，兩人由助手及數名保安護駕，但場面實在太混亂，有人甩鞋、跌倒，短短5分鐘路程，兩人行了15分鐘。

more
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Is this really important HK news?
I AM Andy's fan. I do want to know whether he is married or not, but we should respect him. If he wants to keep it a secret to protect his family, why not?

If you are Andy's fan, you should know that 朱麗倩 and Andy have been together for a long time. Whether they are married or not is their business.
Actors should have a private life too!

Andy is now being called by media as 「大話天王」.
Ok... He lied... He is married but still claims to be single... Does it matter?
If you like Andy, then you'll still like him no matter he is single or married.
If you like Andy, then you'll still like him no matter he has kids or not.

Media is saying that Andy is unfair to 朱麗倩 . How do they know it's unfair?
She is not complaining that it's unfair. May be she wanted it this way so she can avoid HK paparazzis.

The love relationship is between Andy and 朱麗倩... between two people...
It's not a relationship between Andy and 朱麗倩 and the whole world... Andy doesn't need to announce to the whole world if he is not ready.

I like Andy because of his attitude... because of his work... because of his movies... because of his singing... etc... etc.... not because he is single... and not because he is not married...

I'll always support him!! :D

Andy... All your fans will continue to support you!!!

Laptop with two screens

gScreen has announced that it will ship a laptop with dual 15.4-inch widescreens, called the Spacebook, by end of this year.
This laptop is pretty cool with an expensive price tag (USD $3,000).
One monitor is definitely not enough nowadays.
Hopefully, more laptops from different companies will be equipped with two screens.
I can't wait to get one when price eventually drops to an affordable price! ;)


Source:
The Tech Herald
PC Magazine

Worship - Passing on to the next generation

"我們曉得萬事都互相效力、叫愛　神的人得益處、就是按他旨意被召的人。" (羅馬書 Romans 8:28)

At church today, people are sharing their experiences of their short term mission in china

The greatest commandment is love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
"你要盡心、盡性、盡意、愛主你的神。" (馬太福音 Matthew 22:37)

"所以你們要去、使萬民作我的門徒、奉父子聖靈的名、給他們施洗．" (馬太福音 Matthew 28:19)
- We are being called to do God's work
- If you don't love god, you won't spent time doing God's work
- People who don't believe in God can also love other people, but God shows us the sacrificial love
- Are you willing to step out of the comfort zone and the usual habits?

Workship - Rhythm of Life

Everything has a rhythm:
- light and dark
- moon phases
- seasons
- people ages


People's perception of the relationship between work and rest:
- increase work -> you need rest so you can do more work
- work has no meaning
- working is only for salary
- resting/playing is life's target


Today's World:
- living a 24/7 life
- have flexible work hours
- play anytime
- more and more people drink coffee due to lack of sleep
- mixing work and play
- Linus Torvalds describes work is a "serious hobby"
- As a result, work and rest lost balance


On the 7th day of creation, God rests.

"你豈不曾知道麼、你豈不曾聽見麼、永在的神耶和華、創造地極的主、並不疲乏、也不困倦．他的智慧無法測度。" 以賽亞書 Isaiah 40:28

- God rests not because of tiredness
- God wants to show "I take control"
- Christ's "rest" is not a "rest" from work, but in work, "not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections, of will, heart, imagination, conscience, because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development" (J. Patrick Hastings bible dictionary)


Rest is God's design.
Rest:
- release us from the cruelty of work
- release us from work satisfaction -> turning into a workaholic
- release us from money -> earn more money to buy more luxury things

We are not work slave.


Rest from world's point of view:
- it's my right
- rest and vacation is my enjoyment
- want to use to fullness... Squeeze our time... Often more tired than work
- long weekend syndrome -> people are turning from workaholic to vacaholic

Rest from God's point of view:
- it's God's gift
- rest is day off with god but not day off from god
- "不要效法這個世界．只要心意更新而變化、叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全可喜悅的旨意。" 羅馬書 Romans 12:2
- Eugene H. Peterson has said, "if you cannot afford to take one day a week for rest, you are taking yourself too seriously."
- "所以我告訴你們、不要為生命憂慮、吃甚麼、喝甚麼．為身體憂慮穿甚麼．生命不勝於飲食麼、身體不勝於衣裳麼。你們看那天上的飛鳥、也不種、也不收、也不積蓄在倉裏、你們的天父尚且養活他．你們不比飛鳥貴重得多麼。你們那一個能用思慮、使壽數多加一刻呢。何必為衣裳憂慮呢．你想野地裏的百合花、怎麼長起來、他也不勞苦、也不紡線． 然而我告訴你們、就是所羅門極榮華的時候、他所穿戴的、還不如這花一朵呢。你們這小信的人哪、野地裏的草、今天還在、明天就丟在爐裏、　神還給他這樣的妝飾、何況你們呢。" 馬太福音 Matthew 6:25-30
- we need a break to come before god


Keeping sabbath and being kept by sabbath
1) everyday sabbath (安息)
- breaks
- sleep is also serving God -> Ministry of rest
"你們清早起來，很晚才歇息，吃勞碌得來的飯，都是徒然；因為主必使他所愛的安睡。" 詩篇 Psalms 127:2
- serenity (寧靜)

2) weekly sabbath (安息)
- aware god's presence

3) ultimate sabbath (安息)
- new heaven and earth


Life as a cycle of work and renewal!

Tornado in Toronto (August 20, 2009)

Yesterday was just like any other work day. I did notice the rain and the thunderstorm, but just like any other thunderstorm, I was not too worried. The only thing that worried me was the traffic jam going back home.

Due to the heavy rain, I waited until 6:30pm to leave office. Then, I realized this storm was not like the other storms. 680News kept reporting about Tornado warnings and Tornado touchdowns.

A tornado had been reported near Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre. In the meantime, Environment Canada had issued a tornado warning for Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Georgina. Tornado warnings were also in effect for Uxbridge, Beaverton, Northern Durham Region.

"Wow... Tornado?!
When was the last time we had tornados in Toronto areas? Never!
Oh well, I still have to drive home."

To avoid traffic, I took Hwy 407.
While driving, I could see tons of lightnings on both left and right hand side of the highway. The rain wasn't bad.
I didn't see anything that looked like a tornado.

While driving, I heard that there was another touchdown at Bayview and Elgin Mills.

"This is the first time hearing tornado touchdown at places so close to my area! It's scary, but... I am also excited. I've never seen a tornado in real life... only in TV and videos..."

Here is what I have noticed about this storm:
(1)
Lightning appeared very frequently.

(2)
For other storms, lightning usually happens randomly at different location. However, the lightning in this storm did occur repeatedly in the same locations. It's easy to catch lightnings in video.

I took this video at Warden and 14th:


(3)
Either the funnel clouds changed colours or I've drove past different areas of the funnel clouds.
The clouds were grey colour in most areas.
When I was driving down McCowan, the clouds turned greenish grey in colour.

I took this video at McCowan and Finch:


Here is a video capturing a tornado touchdown in Vaughan area. I found this on youtube:

Ping Pong Tournament

I've organized a Ping Pong Tournament at work today...
It's not something big... just a small team building event...
I've invited everyone under my manager to join.

The participation rate of 61% is good considering that we are busy at work and that not all people know how to play ping pong.

A person in my team became the Ping Pong Champion. :)
He was presented a 1st place medal... too bad I didn't take any photos....

Anyway, here is a picture of the medal:

It's not bad considering I pay less than $4 at Party Packagers. :P

珍珍's 章魚小丸子味薯片& 三文魚壽司味薯片 review

I have tried both salmon sushi flavour and takoyaki flavour potato chips before.
Even though the package looks big, but there aren't many chips inside.
I don't really like the takoyaki flavour, because I can't taste the sauce.

For the salmon sushi flavour, it tastes good, but remember don't put the whole bag of wasabi powder inside. If you put the whole bag, then all you can taste is wasabi flavour.

I still prefer Calbee chips, because for the price, I get more chips with Calbee potato chips. ;)

Calbee Korean Cuttlefish Potato Chips review

I would give it a 4 out of 5.
The chips are very crispy and crunchy in wave shape. :)
It's good. I can taste the cuttlefish flavour.

My favourite Calbee chip is still Okonomiyaki flavoured potato chips. ;)

2nd Time Donating Blood

Once a while, Canadian Blood Services would setup blood donor clinic at my workplace.
I've tried to donate blood many times... Yes... TRIED many times!
Finally... Today is my 2nd time donating blood!!! :D
I've actually donated a whole bag of blood!

First time I was there... I didn't drink enough water... My blood was not moving... I only donated 1/3 of a bag... This time, I was well prepared... I had forced myself to drink 1.5 L of water last night and then 1L of water this morning...

Here is the usual process:
1) When we go to the reception desk, we will be given a number and a folder with a few pages to read
2) After that, a nurse will call the number to do a simple blood test... Needle puncture to the middle finger... Ouch!
3) Then, we'll be given a long list of questions.
4) After filling out all required questions, we'll need to see another nurse. This time, blood pressure and body temperature are taken. The nurse will go through the questions with us.

This is the point where I kept getting kicked out... :( One time I had recovered recently from a cold... One time I had visited Thailand within past 12 months... etc... etc...

Today... I finally got past this stage to the final stage... giving blood...
I guess the nurse noticed that I was very nervous. She gave me a first time donor sticker even though this is my 2nd time. :P

My heart was beating very fast when I lie down on bed waiting for the needle. I hate needles! :(

It took 14 mins to fill the whole bag (approx. 1/2 L in size) with blood. It did seems longer to me... The nurse said I had a big heart but small veins. I asked her to see whether I have a problem, but she told me that it's normal. I only had a glimpse of the puffy blood bag before the nurse took it away. I wonder what it feels like holding that bag. Does it feel like a warm water bottle? ;)

I had to wait 10 mins. (I think I had to wait an extra 5 mins because my hand was cold.) After that, I was taken to the cookies and juice table for goodies. :D

Even though the actual blood donation part only took 14 mins, but the whole process took approx. 1 hour and 45 mins. There was a lot of waiting in between steps. :(

Calbee Honey BBQ Chicken Wing Potato Chips review

Calbee Honey BBQ Chicken Wing Potato Chips Review

I would give it a 2 out of 5.
The chips are very crispy and crunchy. :)
In terms of flavours, I can taste the smokey and a little bit of honey. However, I don't taste the chicken wing flavour. It's more like smokey honey chips to me.

Lotte Banana Crepe Koala Biscuit

Just feel like to be a kid today...
So, I brought a box of Lotte Koala Biscuit during grocery shopping...
I used to love Koala Biscuit when I was little... and I found a special favour today... The Banana Crepe favour....

Here is what I have for afternoon tea:
- Lotte Banana Crepe Koala Biscuit
- Mango soda (mango puree + club soda)

Yummy Yummy!!


Lotte Banana Crepe Koala Biscuit tastes more like banana than banana crepe, but it doesn't matter... It is still good! :D

Look at the baby koala with the crepe in his/her hand... Sooooo cute!

Worship - Happiness

I normally take notes during worship at Church using the Church bulletin. After I get home, papers are flying all over the place. A thought occurs to me today that I can use my blackberry to take notes and post it here.

Today's topic: Where to find happiness?
Bible: 腓利比書 Philippians 4:4-9

"你們要靠主常常喜樂．我再說、你們要喜樂。 當叫眾人知道你們謙讓的心。主已經近了。 應當一無挂慮、只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求、和感謝、將你們所要的告訴神。 神所賜出人意外的平安、必在基督耶穌裏、保守你們的心懷意念。 弟兄們、我還有未盡的話．凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的．若有甚麼德行、若有甚麼稱讚、這些事你們都要思念。 你們在我身上所學習的、所領受的、所聽見的、所看見的、這些事你們都要去行．賜平安的神、就必與你們同在。"


Key to find rejoice / happiness

1) Our own choice (verse 4)

Things that take away happiness:
--> selfishness.
"在何處有嫉妒分爭、就在何處有擾亂、和各樣的壞事。" 雅各書 James 3:16

--> angry.
"又要謹慎、恐怕有人失了　神的恩．恐怕有毒根生出來擾亂你們、因此叫眾人沾染污穢．" 希伯來書 Hebrews 12:15

--> Others might have hurt you once... But if you keep thinking and thinking, then you are hurting yourself many many times... Is it worth it?


2) Treat people with kindness (verse 5)

--> Don't keep calculating people (e.g. people don't say hi back or don't buy us dinner back, etc.)
--> People are not born optimistic. They just choose to be happy and not let other people affect them. It's a choice!


3) Pray to God (verses 6-7)

--> ask in Jesus' name and you'll receive
"向來你們沒有奉我的名求甚麼、如今你們求就必得著、叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。" 約翰福音 John 16:24


4) Stress more on giving than receiving (verses 8-9)

--> It's more blessed to give than to receive.
"我凡事給你們作榜樣、叫你們知道、應當這樣勞苦、扶助軟弱的人、又當記念主耶穌的話、說、施比受更為有福。" 使徒行傳 Acts 20:35

--> Care for other people... Make an effort to remember new people's name... Don't ask for return

--> A lot of people have based marriage on returns... What can the husband/wife give me back in return? That's what there are lots of complains or divorces...
--> Sometimes, wife complains that her husband is a different person before and after marriage. Well, North American is target based culture. Before marriage, his target is getting a girl to become wife. After marriage, his target is getting money for house, car, kids, etc. Husband is the same person. It's just a misunderstanding.

5) Rely on god's power more than our own difficulties. (verses 4, 9, 13)


I found out one more thing today... Pastor Yung has serve god for 30 years next year!

親子丼 (Oyako Don)

I went to JTown today for lunch and ordered 親子丼.


It is good... but a bit too sweet for my taste...
Since this dish looks very easy to make, I've decided to look for a recipe to try it at home...

What is 親子丼?
It's chicken, onion, eggs with rice.

I've found a cooking video at youtube:


Ingredients:
(serves 1)

50ml Dashi Soup (柴魚高湯)
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 tbsp Sake
1/2 tbsp Sugar
1/2 tbsp Mirin (味醂)
1/2 Small Onion
85g Chicken Meat (3 oz)
2 Eggs
10 Japanese Wild Parsley (Mitsuba)
200g Rice (7 oz)


I've also found another web site with photos teaching people how to make Oyako Don.

I have most of the ingredients... I am going to try it out this week... :D

Fruits Basket 生肖奇緣

I've just finished the "Fruits Basket" anime series (26 eposides in total) online at Megavideo. This anime series is based on the Japanese manga series "Fruits Basket" by Natsuki Takaya 高屋奈月.

"Fruits Basket" has many chinese names: 幻影天使, 魔法水果籃, 水果籃子, 生肖奇緣


The series is about an optimistic and selfless high school girl, Tohru Honda 本田透. After her mother's accidental death, 透 has to live with her grandfather and her aunt, but when her aunt's house needs remodeling, 透 decides to live in a tent in a forest. One day, she enters a house in the same forest and meets her classmate Yuki Sohma 草摩由希. She learns that the forest is owned by the Sohma family. Yuki Sohma 草摩由希, Kyo Sohma 草摩夾, and Shigure Sohma 草摩紫吳 live together in that house.

A landslide has destroyed 透's tent, so she begins to live with 由希, 夾, and 紫吳. She later learns that 13 members of the Sohma family are possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac and are cursed to turn into their animal forms if they are hug by the opposite sex.

草摩由希 will transform into a rat.
草摩夾 will transform into a cat (the only one not part of the Chinese zodiac).
草摩紫吳 will transform into a dog.

This anime series is pretty good. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5. I took .5 away because of the overall sadness in the series.

In general, this series does have the regular Japanese anime silliness and exaggerations. However, it does bring out some good points that require deeper thinking. For example...

In Eposide 3, 草摩紫吳 to 草摩夾:
我們同其他人相處, 就會學到比人傷害或我們傷害人, 如果我們逃避其中一種, 我們就無法學到如何去體諒人或同人相處.

本田透 to 草摩由希 and 透的母親 to 本田透:
做人應該要相信人, 不要用懷疑的態度去待人...
人一出生是沒有帶同心地好來的...
人天生只有食慾和物質慾... 這是我們生存的需要...
心地好是同我們的身體一樣, 是慢慢長大的... 這就是良心...
只是每個人的良心不同...
因為慾望是每個人天生就有的, 所以每個人很容易理解和接近個人慾望...
心地好是由不同的人長成不同程度..
所以很容易被誤解，一個好人的好心是偽善...

要不信任人...每個人都很容易做到...
要信任人... 不是每個人都做到...
你要做一個信任人的人...

In Eposide 7, 本田透's 飯糰和酸梅 Theory：
這個世界上所有人的背後都有著各式個樣，不同顏色，不同味道的酸梅。可是因為都附在背後，所以就無法看到酸梅。當你羨慕他人，只是因為你可以看到別人背後的酸梅而已吧了，自己會以為一無所有，只是白米而已，其實不是這樣的，你的背後也有屬於自己的酸梅。

In Eposide 18, 花島咲 was jealous because 本田透 is always with 草摩由希 and 草摩夾. At the end, 花島咲 realizes that:
If the people that I like always care about me... even if we don't see each other a lot, it doesn't matter... If they still care about you, then you should be very happy...

In Epsoide 21, 本田透 to 草摩燈路:
世界上有很多人為了逃避成長, 所以在思想上無時無刻都當自己是細路, 但是你肯面對和接受自己長大, 是需要很大的勇氣!

林峰 - 峯．情無限演唱會

Raymond's Let's Get Wet concert DVD is out!!!
I've brought the special edition which also included a 84 pages photo book.


DVD 1
01. ILLUSION
02. 如果時間來到
03. 赤地轉機
04. 忘記傷害
05. 明天以後 (林峯/泳兒)
06. 王祖藍Talk Show
07. 浮誇 (王祖藍)
08. 風山水起 (農夫/王祖藍)
09. 千里之外 (林峯/王祖藍)
10. 浮生若水
11. 霍元甲
12. 愛 愛 愛
13. 你不在
14. 月亮代表誰的心
15. 愛在記憶中找你
16. 原罪
17. Tonight
18. 為你鍾情
19. 我真的受傷了
20. 我願意

DVD 2
01. 值得流淚
02. 影子的愛情故事
03. 換個方式愛你
04. In Love With You (林峯/蔡卓妍)
05. 二缺一 (蔡卓妍)
06. 記得忘記
07. Dance Battle 1 (林峯vs謝天華)
08. 女校男生 (林峯/謝天華)
09. 酷愛 (謝天華)
10. Dance Battle 2 (林峯vs謝天華)
11. Let's Get Wet Medley: Let's Get Wet/頭髮亂了/本草綱目/Let's Get Wet
12. 愛人與海
13. 朋友，請不要傷悲
14. 愛不疚

Raymond has sang a lot of other people's songs... 鄧麗君的"月亮代表誰的心", 張國榮的"為你鍾情", 張學友的"我真的受傷了", 周杰倫的"霍元甲", 方大同的"愛 愛 愛", 王力宏的"你不在", and 王菲的"我願意"...

I wish he could have sang more of his TVB series songs... He only sang 6 out of 16 TVB series songs...

• 記得忘記 from 再生緣 (sang)
  
• 真愛難共 from 雲海玉弓緣
• 忘記傷害 from 律政新人王 (sang)
• 雙子龍 from 大唐雙龍傳
• 心呼吸 from 天涯俠醫
• 與朋友共 from Yummy Yummy
• 出鞘 from 覆雨翻雲
• 領會 from 覆雨翻雲
• 游劍江湖 from 游劍江湖
• 披荊斬刺 from 布衣神相
• 心領 from 溏心風暴
• 愛在記憶中找你 from 歲月風雲 (sang)
• 浮生若水 from 太極 (sang)
• 愛不疚 from 溏心風暴之家好月圓 (sang)
• 風暴 from 少年四大名捕
• 值得流淚 from 包青天 (sang)

I've only finished watching the first DVD...
I guess I'll have more comments after watching the whole concert... especially the wet part in DVD2.. ;)

Twitter

People had predicted that Twitter will be the next big thing...
David McCandless has done a visual graph of the Twitter community...

I am definitely one of the 20 dead pink people... didn't find Twitter that exciting...

Source:
Gizmodo