Friday 31 December 2010

New Year Fireworks is a Wei Ting Name Game


Apparently, hordes of mainland Chinese and Taiwanese have organised themselves to meet at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney to watch the New Year Fireworks. The first person in line is someone named Wei Ting (groan).

Here's what the Sydney Morning Herald said:

A Taiwanese student with the fitting name of 'Wei Ting' - pronounced 'waiting' - staked his claim at the front of the queue at 3.20pm (AEDT) yesterday.


"As a foreign student, we think the Australian New Year is very fascinating," Chen Wei Ting said, adding that just sitting in the queue overnight was interesting.


Security staff said that those at the front of the line were mostly from China and Taiwan and had organised to meet through Facebook.



Yes, whether they know it or not, people from China (or greater China) have funny and sometimes novel names. And it's thanks to these people that this blog exists. Thanks again and Happy New Year!!

0706 HKSAR Name of the Day

Young Ng Chun-yeong, chairman of the Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare for male; Creation for female; Phonetic-based

Thursday 30 December 2010

Literature-based Novel Names

Over at China Droll Cecilie, the ever-creative and naturalized-Cantonese "Christian", has a hilarious video taking the mickey out of literature-based names as well as presenting an unusually creative novel name. I think it captures the essence of Hong Kong novel names remarkably well!



Historic Moment: Episode 30 in Cantonese - The Movie



Thank you Cecilie for your fantastic work. Long may you continue!


Just to help clear things up … the novel name Anus is a Creation as well as a Deletion (of the Female name Annus or Male name Janus). So if, in the future, this blog encounters a real-life person with that name, it will be easy to categorize!!!

0705 HKSAR Name of the Day

Verna Yu, reporter, SCMP, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Educating Rita! The Wrong Way To Inspire Young Scientists

Here’s how NOT to inspire young scientists: don’t allow government officials to talk publicly about topics that they know very little about. Granted, this is a very broad and general rule that can usually be applied to most situations involving privileged individuals who are in positions of power that are beyond their competence and comprehension.

Really Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan—Commerce and Economic Development Secretary of the Hong Kong government—do you sincerely believe that asking our students to “be more creative” and to “come up with new icons that are unmistakably Hong Kong” is the best way to motivate them?
(Reference:
Creative cuppa runs over for students from The Standard)

To further demonstrate her ignorance of the way science works, Rita Lau used Hong Kong’s terrible tasting Milk Tea as the prime example to encourage students to be better scientists! That is pathetic and laughable. Telling young scientists here to set up a goal of creating a money-making Hong Kong icon such as Milk Tea is like telling a young Einstein to be creative and aim to make a mega-rich German product that will rule the world! Science doesn't work like that, and nor should scientists!


[Young scientists are told to aspire to create iconic products similar to Hong Kong-style milk tea. Pic Wikipedia]


Without going into detail (here), some useful suggestions on how to inspire young scientists is to first ensure a good teaching environment (i.e. quality science teachers and teaching resources); second nurture curiosity and an enthusiasm to ask questions; and third culture an attitude where business and making money (i.e. Rita’s call to “create a new Hong Kong icon”) is not the priority and instead the emphasis should be on nurturing fun and fascination with how the natural world works.


It seems in addition to educating Hong Kong’s young scientists, educating Rita Lau is warranted too.



Creative cuppa runs over for students (The Standard)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan is calling on young scientists to be more creative and come up with products that are unmistakably Hong Kong.


Lau said although they may face many trials and failures along the way, they should aim at creating a new icon - the way that Hong Kong-style milk tea has become a popular drink.


Invited by milk-tea master Law Tak, Lau and four young scientists - Chan Yik-hei, Stephanie Yeung, Christie Lin and Chan Hoi- yee - gathered to taste Law's signature drink.


Chan Yik-hei, a fourth-year student in electronic and computer engineering at the University of Science and Technology, won an award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2004.


St Paul's Convent School Form Seven student Yeung, Carmel Pak U Secondary School Form Seven student Chan Hoi-yee, and Heep Yunn School student Lin were honored at this year's Awards for Little Scientists of Tomorrow.


Lau said Hong Kong-style milk tea is unique and represents the city's culture. According to the beverage industry, local people consume one billion cups of Hong Kong-style milk tea every year.


Law, who won this year's International KamCha Competition - a milk-tea brewing competition - said the choice of tea leaves, milk, sugar, water temperature, time and blending method all affect the drink's quality.


Most importantly, the maker must be dedicated in attempting to brew the perfect cup, he said.


Lau said there are many young people in Hong Kong who want to develop a career in innovative technology. The passion is there, all they need is encouragement and support.


She said the government, through policy- making, hopes to promote and encourage them to make the best use of their creativity.


Lau said the work of scientists was similar to that of milk-tea brewers - they must endure trials and failures, yet remain innovative. If they persevere, they will succeed.


STAFF REPORTER


0704 HKSAR Name of the Day

Weely Ng (Ms), shopper (quoted in SCMP 11 Sept 2009), Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Tuesday 28 December 2010

Evil Face of Rolex

Jeepers creepers! If only Rolex could turn back time … the luxury watchmaker should have spent more of their time contemplating the freakish giant advertisement that is currently being used to promote their driver’s watch, the cosmograph Daytona.


[Can you see a freaky face? No, a watch face does not count!]


The positions of the black stopwatch timers and the angles of their white single dials bring about an amazingly scary and intimidating illusion of Jack Frost or some malevolent madman. It's enough to make the hairs on the back of one's neck stand up! Coincidentally, over the Christmas period the Hong Kong weather dropped to a chilling, crisp and cold 10 degrees C which is a shivering reminder of Jack Frost, Father Winter or Old Man Winter.



[Evil Jack Frost Snowman (from Fear Fragments blog)]


The full Rolex ad, plastered on the side of the New World Centre on Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, is so huge it can be seen from across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong island.



[Rolex's frightful advertisement looks down menacingly on the public from the New World Centre]


At this time of year hordes of tourists and locals alike, who take the Star Ferry ride from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui to enjoy the harbourfront Christmas lights, will certainly see the evil face of a sinister snowman in the distance looking menacingly down on them.


Is this inadvertent illusion Rolex's creepy Christmas gift to Hong Kong? Lol.


0703 HKSAR Name of the Day

Sunny Yeung Kwong, executive director, Sino Land, Hong Kong
(see 0147 HKSAR Name of the Day and 0572 HKSAR Name of the Day)


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

Monday 27 December 2010

0702 HKSAR Name of the Day

Winkie Yeung (Ms), Instructor in Dental Surgery Assisting, School of Dental Surgery Assistants, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Sunday 26 December 2010

0701 HKSAR Name of the Day

Wyman Li, Hospital administration manager, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Saturday 25 December 2010

Tennis Tic

Well, a habit really. Ever notice what Rafael Nadal usually does just before he serves?


As he bounces the ball on the court with his racquet in his left hand, Rafa uses his right hand to pick his ass and then brings it up to his face or nose and then swipes the hair over his left ear and then over his right ear before catching the ball.


You can see this at 0:38 in this following example:


Rafael Nadal Service




You can see this Nadal habit every time you watch this amazing tennis player play. Most recently, I saw this during the off-season charity matches between Federer and Nadal that were broadcast from Zurich and Madrid.


Since Roger Federer has faced his number one nemesis many times, it must be pretty frustrating for the Fed Express to see Rafa's habit all the time before a Nadal serve. One plus point is that it could be an unconscious nervous tic, which should be positively psychologically exploited by Federer.


Rafa, please stop picking your ass!!!



Other related tennis posts by HKSAR Blog


I Just Had Sex


Federer Proves His Brilliance Yet Again

Will 2010 See a Change of Power in Men’s Tennis?

Baseball Caps Off To China’s Tennis Twosome

I Stand Corrected … Possibly

Do Tennis Players Choose Hong Kong for Australian Open Preparation?

Hefty Yevgeny Kafelnikov

Maria Sharapova Head and Shoulders Above Zheng Jie

Tennis Classics in Hong Kong

Broom Boom Becker Sympathizes With Tiger

Is It A Hard Life?


Supreme Sports Personality Championships: Tiger Woods v Roger Federer

Roger Federer says ‘Hotdog’ was his greatest shot ever. Huh?


Zheng Jie … She’s Got Big … Dijen

Andre Agassi Says Don’t Judge Tiger Woods




0700 HKSAR Name of the Day

Carolayne Lo Lam, winner 1991 Miss Asia Pageant (sponsored by ATV), Hong Kong [also won the Perfect Figure Award]


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Friday 24 December 2010

I Just Had Sex

The reason I took notice of this music video was the cameo by John McEnroe. His appearance and expressions was the only funny bit of the entire I Just Had Sex video (see pics below)! Good ol' Big Mac!!























However, it must be acknowledged that it is pretty amazing for this video to get over 6 million hits in 3 days, and over 12 million in 5 days.



I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon)





Because this song was released one week before Christmas, does it come under the category of being a Christmas hit?




0699 HKSAR Name of the Day

Katty Law, Central, Hong Kong (SCMP letters 9 Sept 2009)


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

Thursday 23 December 2010

Mario Balotelli’s Wrong Trousers

Impudent, insolent and ill-mannered Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has apparently been inspired by a British animated classic, Wallace & Gromit’s The Wrong Trousers.



Feathers McGraw and Mario Balotelli disguise themselves as chickens (pic from The Telegraph)



Sporting such headgear perhaps demonstrates that Balotelli doesn’t care about what others think and also emphasizes his rebellious and defiant streak. The 20-year-old Manchester City striker is infamous for his sulky, spoilt and sparky temperament. There’s no doubting his footballing talent though and, having just won Tuttosport’s 2010 Golden Boy award (for the best European player under the age of 21), he has reiterated his supreme arrogance by stating that out of all the previous winners only Lionel Messi is better than him.


Surely Super Mario will go places.

0698 HKSAR Name of the Day

Alsa Wong Yuk-lun, shop supervisor, Ocean Gold Coins, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Wednesday 22 December 2010

0697 HKSAR Name of the Day

Kanis Lam Tsz-kan, Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong (SCMP letters 10 Oct 2009)



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Fu©k The Dubbing

I caught Pink’s catchy song on the local radio this morning. I knew there were swear words and so listened intently, wondering what would happen. Ultimately, the point of dubbing or deletion of swear words just does not work.


When you know something is deliberately dubbed, it actually induces you to pay more attention to a song (or movie) and then naturally fill in the blanks. The counterintuitive bit is that ... it actually makes you swear more than usual.


Here’s the YouTube version with full lyrics (below):


P!nk - Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)



This YouTube link has a somewhat hilariously-themed music video

Pink - Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely) Freakshow Theater




Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely) lyrics

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you

I love you so

Much more when you're not here

Watchin all the bad shows

Drinking all of my beer


I don't believe Adam and Eve

Spent every goddamn day together

If you give me some room there will be room enough for two


Tonight

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

I'm tired

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely tonight


I don't wanna wake up with another

But I don't wanna always wake up with you either

No you can't hop into my shower

All I ask for is one fu©kin' hour

You taste so sweet

But I can't eat the same thing every day

Cuttin off the phone

Leave me the fu©k alone

Tomorrow I'll be beggin' you to come home


Tonight

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

I'm tired

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely tonight


Go away

Come back

Go away

Come back

Why can't I just have it both ways

Go away

Come back

Go away

Come back

I wish you knew the difference

Go away

Come back


Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you


Tonight

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

I'm tired

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely tonight


Tonight

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

I'm tired

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely tonight


Tonight

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you

I'm tired

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Leave me alone I'm lonely

Alone I'm lonely

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you

Tonight

Go away

Give me a chance to miss you

Say goodbye

It'll make me want to kiss you



0696 HKSAR Name of the Day

Adah Kwan Boon On, solicitor, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Monday 20 December 2010

0695 HKSAR Name of the Day

Bibiana Ng Sze Ting, accountant, Hong Kong

(see 0208 HKSAR Name of the Day)



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Sunday 19 December 2010

0694 HKSAR Name of the Day

Jodis Lam Ting Wa, doctor, Hong Kong


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

Saturday 18 December 2010

Friday 17 December 2010

Quirky Geeky Party Tricks

It’s the party season, so what better than to showcase some fun party tricks. Enjoy!


Top 10 quirky science tricks for parties




These quirkology clips, and other daily posts on quirky mind stuff, originate from Richard Wiseman’s blog.


0692 HKSAR Name of the Day

Siman Ng Man Chung, accountant, Hong Kong

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

Thursday 16 December 2010

0691 HKSAR Name of the Day

Wylie Lam Vuu Luong, doctor, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Wednesday 15 December 2010

0690 HKSAR Name of the Day

Flemy Lee Chi Lan, solicitor, Hong Kong


About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Tuesday 14 December 2010

0689 HKSAR Name of the Day

Weber Lau Kam On, doctor, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Monday 13 December 2010

0688 HKSAR Name of the Day

Blanche Koo Po Shan, solicitor, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Sunday 12 December 2010

0687 HKSAR Name of the Day

Webster Ng Kam Wah, accountant, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Saturday 11 December 2010

0686 HKSAR Name of the Day

Kalida Lee Bon Hung, solicitor, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Friday 10 December 2010

0685 HKSAR Name of the Day

Nesta Mok Siu Ling, accountant, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation

Thursday 9 December 2010

0684 HKSAR Name of the Day

Meriam Lee Man Ying, doctor, Hong Kong



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare

Wednesday 8 December 2010

A Windsor Not Of The Windsor Knot

For any tie aficionados out there, isn’t it odd that Prince William tends to avoid the Windsor knot? Personally, I think the Windsor way of knotting a tie is the “princely” approach. Smart, sophisticated and … er … symmetrical.


Prince William and Kate Middleton (Pic ITV)



Perhaps when Wills becomes King, he will upgrade from his half to a full Windsor knot?


0683 HKSAR Name of the Day

Monita Lau Wai Yee, solicitor, Hong Kong

(see 0415 HKSAR Name of the Day)



About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution

Tuesday 7 December 2010

England 2018 World Cup Bid Team Used Wrong Sex Appeal

Apparently. England’s approach in using The Three Stooges (see Ulaca), or the ‘Holy Trinity’, comprising Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham was the wrong strategy.


Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham at the Hotel Steigenberger in Zurich (Pic EPA)



According to Tottenham boss Harry Rednapp, who has an uncanny tactical knack of looking at things, England should have used sexy eye candy from England’s ‘finest’, and he named Jordan as a prime specimen example. At least this is the story according to the Daily Mail and the Guardian.


Would Jordan have swayed members of FIFA ExCo? (Pic Getty Images)


But then again, in the Land Down Under (where Mr Topsy Turvy lives, I think) they are complaining about the exact opposite, in a Sydney Morning Herald article (Misguided bid proved we're not ready to host the globe). In that article, former Socceroo Craig ‘Fozzie’ Foster whined and complained that:

Holland had Johan Cruyff, Guus Hiddink and Ruud Gullit; the USA had Landon Donovan; Korea had Park Ji-sung; England had David Beckham. We had Elle Macpherson.


Go figure!


Supermodel Elle MacPherson’s support for Australia’s 2022 World Cup bid was unwelcome by some (Pic Wikipedia)



This just goes to show that the FIFA ExCo voting system had apparently been decided all along, and all the superficial machinations and last-minute lobbying was further opportunity for the corrupt men of the moment to continue with their extraordinary power trip.

0682 HKSAR Name of the Day

Kingston Sun Kin Sang, surveyor (since 1996), Hong Kong


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

Monday 6 December 2010

Saturday 4 December 2010

Friday 3 December 2010

0677 HKSAR Name of the Day

Achilles Lee Hoi Kan, doctor, Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Rare; Job-based?; Literature-based

Thursday 2 December 2010

Wednesday 1 December 2010

0675 HKSAR Name of the Day

Kucina So Siu Ting, surveyor (since 2002), Hong Kong

About Novel HKSAR Names
Name Category: Creation; Substitution