randamu with ah-kam

The world has lost a genius

                                                                                                                                            Image source: Apple home page

The first image that struck me this morning as I turned on my browser.

Through this man and his vision came products that revolutionalized industries and changed the world. Through this man and his vision inspired many including me to challenge the conventions and think different.  The world has indeed lost a genius.

I truly hope Apple will continue to challenge our imagination and wow us the way Steve had in his short but amazingly legendary life.

香港人嘅悲哀 anti-stigma pls...

Have been following this case over the last couple of days. Zheng sheng College (正生), a school devoted for kids who went astray when they were young (drug abuse and etc.). Recently to cope with more kids, the school wanted to move into Mui Wo in Lantau Island, to allow kids to get back on track in a more peaceful environment. But residents there strongly rejected that, protesting that "local school for local people". All these times, residents had been sending their children to the city instead of attending "local schools". The worst thing is these adults also brought their children to the protest. It's really sad that these kids will probably inherit this kind of "labeling" and think that's ok. What's wrong with HK people? Is that the kind of thinking you want to pass on to our next generation, that it's ok to stigmatize and isolate others. These students are only kids, and they well deserve a second chance. Open up HK people...for a better world and a better next generation...PLEASE!

20 years ago

6.4.1989. A traumatic day in China history.  Chinese all over the world were devastated watching the massacre footage from the news.

Last night I watched a local documentary about the June 4th movement.  It covers the view of today's young generation (HK high school and university students) on the massacre.  It's sad to learn how ignorant they are about this important piece of China history.  But it's even sadder for me to realize their twisted values.  

"There wasn't a drop of blood shed on June 4, 1989."

"Maybe the students could have had made smarter decision and retreated on May 30.  Then maybe the massacre could have had been avoided."

"If the democracy movement have had been successful, maybe China won't be that prosperous today."

Ignorance I can tolerate because it's the responsibility of our school system and the parents to educate these kids about this unerasable history, which only deserves a 1-page mentioning in their history textbooks.  Distorted values I can't tolerate.  Because it's not about whether the students had done everything right; and it's certainly not about how prosperous China is today.  Unarmed students were mown down by gunshots and tanks!! That's an undeniable crime!!!

June of 1989. The first year I immigrated to Vancouver, I was 13.  That year, my uncle, who's a top executive from TVB, was visiting us and staying at our place.  My uncle would receive fax updates of the Tiananmen Square protest from the news team.  During the critical hours of June 4, our fax machine didn't stop ringing.  Breaking news were sent to our home by minutes.  I was stunned by fear every time I heard the fax machine rang even though I was several thousand miles away from Beijing. That fear I can never and will never forget.

To my friends and cousins who had turned parents recently, and those who have young kids, hope you can pass on the truth of 6.4.1989 to the little ones.  They need to know.  They need to care.

Hats off to The Economist

In Hong Kong, a publication will get into trouble for doing this. Hope there are places in the world that truly practice freedom of expression allowing intelligent folks like those at the Economist do their magic.  

The spoof magazine cover of the September 2008 issue.  Two words, enough to capture the feeling of many about the recent financial crisis.  My hats off to you folks!

Top 10 from the Beijing Olympics

My personal review of the Beijing Olympics...

ah kam's Top 10:

10. Closing Ceremony - can't beat the opening ceremony but still way better than the hand-over 8 min show

(Photos: Getty Images)

9. "Ping pong (whiff whaff) is coming home." - Boris Johnson (just plain funny)

(Photo from The Sydney Morning Herald)

8. U.S.A. Dream Team 8 redeemed Gold

(Photo: AFP)

7. U.S.A. Women's Volleyball team beat Cuba 3-0

(Photo: The Associated Press)

6. The spectacular opening ceremony

(Photos: Getty Images,The Associated Press)

5. Zou gave China its first boxing gold

(Photo from Associated Press)

4. Liu Xiang pulled out of 110 m hurdles

(Photo from People's Daily Online)

3. Phelps - 8 Golds

(Photo from Trendhunter Magazine)

2. Lightning Bolt

(Photo from BBC Sport)

1. Medal Tally by my colleague - Andrew

Just admired his passion in updating it by the hour, no by the minute. And of course, the fact that China tops the list with 51 GOLDS.