He is so sad...

Look at him, he looks so sad, like everything in his live is falling apart; those good days are gone, there is no going back, no way out, no hope at all. No wonder Vincent van Gogh committed suicide, he must have been so depressed.

Blue Octobor's Hate me

The lyrics of Blue October's Hate me is so dark...

The Chinese are picky when it comes to toilet paper

Chinese scholar Yan Zhi Tui (顏之推) mentioned his choice of sanitizing medium in his writing from the 6^th centry:

其故紙有五經詞義及賢達姓名，不敢穢用也

I wouldn't want to use anything with classical text or honorable poeple's names on to wipe myself

What was he thinking? Was he caught going into the stall with his conference proceedings and came out empty handed?

More bars in more places - Cingular

Remember that slogan in Cingular commercials? More bars in more places.It's true, I normally get zero to one bar at my house, now I am getting two, or even more...


... because reception for the Cingular network sucks so badly, my phone actually roams to use the T-mobile network even though I have a Cingular SIM card. It's amazing they thought that up in their commericals.

World clock on Windows Mobile Today screen

I think it will be useful, being able to tell local time of world cities at a single glance, like you are stock broker who has to be on top of the Nikkei in Tokyo, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong, the FTSE in London and then S&P or NYSE in New York... or maybe just being a road warrior having to keep track of whether your partners and customers around the world are in the office or have called it a night already... or perhaps simple as wanting to call a love one at home from a smart phone when you are on the other side of the globe, wondering if they are in bed already...


Are You Up Yet? World clock Windows Mobile Today Item shows local time of cities. It works on all flavors of Pocket PC from Pocket PC 2000 on an iPaq PDA to Windows Mobile 6 on a smart phone.

Free, available at http://markng.net/areyouupyet.aspx

Surreal Hong Kong Architecture of Density

American photographer Michael Wolf's Architecture of Density series depicts residential high risings in Hong Kong as repetitive impersonal honey combs of dwellings imposing and surreal. At first glance I was doubtful and suspected editing, so I've decided to take a few pictures of my own, mimicking his technique:




I was surprised, I just picked some typical condos somewhere and produced similar pictures. The crowded living condition in Hong Kong is staggering, but these pictures certainly exaggerate - same scene, give it a little sky and background, it doesn't look so cramp anymore (see left and right):

Hot Spring Manju

My brother and my sister-in-law brought from Japan several cute little plushes known as Hot Spring Manju (温泉まんじゅうくん). Very interesting steamed buns they are.

Avenue of Stars

Set against the backdrop of awesome Hong Kong skyline, the Victoria Harbor water front at Tsim Sha Tsui has been transformed into Avenue of Stars (星光大道) in 2004, dedicated to the city's vibrant film industry. This is my first visit to the walkway lined with palm prints of local world class actors, directors and other industry contributors, including action stars like Jackie Chan and Jet Li:

Action star Jackie Chan

Action star Jet Li

You've also got Chow Yun Fat, evidence that Hong Kong film industry produces more than just action movie stars:

Chow Yun Fat's (Crouching Tiger) palm print is inexplicably missing, strange

After 30 years, Bruce Lee is still the pride of Hong Kong:

Bruce Lee has got to be the most famous of all

There's even Bruce Lee action figure!

Action figures of Bruce Lee in Game of Death

Arriving Macau - The classical Casino Lisboa

Casino Lisboa, flagship establishment of the once gaming monopoly, is the landmark of Macau. From its gambling business to hotel architecture, it truly embodies everything the town is all about. A classic and must see.

Facing steep competition from Las Vegas and powered by the influx of visitors from the mainland, the hotel has exapnded once again to include a brand new onion like casino floor with a gigantic hotel that sprouts from above (to be completed later this year).

But it is its original building that is of more interest - accented with Portuguese style decors from wavy pavers to parking valet.


The ceiling of its grand lobby is a mosaic of a huge fisher's net spreaded behind a chandelier, surronded by beautifully put together Portuguese warships ready to attack.


This is Fung Shui, a Chinese traditional style of interior design that utilizes symbolical objects and pictures to enhance the fortunes of the occupants; in this case a representation of the capture and defeat of casino patrons.

In fact the same notion is echoed throughout the premise. For example the building itself is shaped like a traditional Chinese bird cage...


... and mysterious shapes (rumored to be bloody bat's mouth) blanket the ceilings of every entrance to the casino.