The Reds and Whites

SD300 and wallet in my left pocket, A780 and the ticket in my right. I rolled up the flyer in my hand and stuffed it in my left. I leaned by the rails to avoid getting trampled over by the hardcore fans while an officer shouted in the megaphone to urge us to wait on the other side of the stadium. We ignored him and soon enough, he gave up. While waiting for Oliver, I noticed a blue bus passing around a corner but did not care enough to inspect the bus until someone yelled "They're here!!!".

I was squirming for the SD300 when the bus began to pass by in front of me. I halted and looked up to see the whole team staring at us. Their facial expressions were blank. Rio Ferdinand looked like he just woke up, while Rooney was gazing at the hardcore fans standing in the middle of the entrance.







The Hong Kong team was bleak. Bad formation, clearance, and handling. They did impress me from time to time with their short turnover bursts but they always failed to deliver to the end. Au Wai Lun's curling shot from the first half was really impressive though.





Park Ji-sung was excellent on the field. Agile and tactical, he has convinced me that he will be able to prove his position in Manchester United.



So the turnout was 2-0 for Manchester United. The first goal from Rossi wasn't a great goal, but a goal is a goal. Dong's goal on the other hand, was something worth commending.



Way off-topic, but Vitasoy in a can tastes better. Bottle > Can > Juicebox. Any alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage tastes better in bottle form rather than in juicebox form. Just my 2 cents.

"Who's that team they call United?,

Who's that team they all adore?

They're the boys in red and white

And they play with all their might,

And they're out to show the world how they can score!
So bring on Sunderland and Arsenal,

Bring on Spaniards by the score,

Barcelona, Real Madrid,

They may make a gallant bid,

But they'll only find the reason why we roar."

Hong Kong Vogue C2

Tsek O, Deep Water Bay, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay...

Highlights:

i. Mountain sprint
ii. Bloody nose
iii. Piao Yi
iv. Kid's squirt gun
v. Coco underwear swap

Sink it in... I spent a whole day in the heat taking these... :)

Hong Kong Vogue C.

Not remembering the PIN# to your account prohibits you from spending your income... for awhile longer. Two One more day(s) until the materialistic side of me goes ga-ga over that XXXXXXX XXXX I can finally afford! I was very satisfied yesterday, being able to finally treat some friends to a Japanese dinner in Causeway Bay.



Tai Koo Can-Teen

At Wanchai



Dinosaur museum at the mall

In return, Oliver handed me a ticket to the Manchester United vs. Hong Kong game on the 23rd of July. Do you think Park Ji-Sung is another marketing tactic? or is he the real deal? I think he would make a great addition to the team though, most likely adding some oomph to the team.

Make your own Soft-Shell Crab Cone

Charlie's Golden Wrapper... :)

Games ratings board probing Grand Theft Auto:SA

By Lisa Baertlein
Sat Jul 9, 7:40 AM ET

The industry group that sets ratings for video games is probing whether hidden features within the blockbuster title "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" allows players to make their characters engage in simulated explicit sex acts. (Not surprised.)

The series of criminal adventure games from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. subsidiary Rockstar Games has been among the best selling in history, while drawing sharp criticism for encouraging gratuitous violence.

If the investigation were to lead to a rating change from M (Mature 17+) to AO (Adult Only), it could limit sales from major retail outlets. ([1] Evidence that Rockstar is in it for the $. [2] Its bullshit if ESRB changes the rating from M to AO. Kids are cunning enough these days to obtain even a legit copy of GTA:SA while ESRB will change the rating just to "do its job" and avoid lawsuits.)

The Entertainment Software Rating Board "has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 'Hot Coffee' modification for (the game) ... to determine if there has been a violation of ESRB Rules and Regulations requiring full disclosure of pertinent content," ratings group President Patricia Vance said in a statement.

The move from the ESRB comes just days after California lawmaker Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, blasted the game for its violent and sexually explicit content.

The legislator, also a child psychologist, wants the game's rating changed to AO. In the past he has pushed for restrictions on sales of violent video games to minors.

Of the 1,036 game ratings assigned by the ESRB in 2004, fewer than 1 percent received an AO rating.

The PlayStation2 version of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" was the No. 1 game of 2004, selling just over 5 million copies, according to NPD Funworld.

http://InitialDthemovie.com

Not going to spoil the fun for you. :)

Aftermath: Mike drove us to The Peak. Felt like Mt.Akina. On the way up, some Taxi looked as if it were trying to drift down and smashed against the guard rails. *sigh* I miss Skyla...

images courtesy of hk.InitialDthemovie.com

ESA Methods STILL not Foolproof

As the level of explicit material has grown over the past few decades in the entertainment industry, it is shameful to see a declining level of media control exercised to protect young children. Do not begin to point your fingers at the government yet. While the pluralistic and permissive systems of government do let their citizens choose what they believe is "best" for them, the authoritarian and paternalistic systems work hard to ban and exclude material that conflicts with their values. This problem is also fuelled by your "Big Buck" Derry Tonovan and tag-team partner "Discipline D-fect" Beggy Pundy.

Don't get my drift? Imprudent profit acquisition methods accompanied by lousy parenting techniques pose a threat in present day society.

From a business perspective, money is money. Some small businesses could care less if a 10-year old came in to purchase a copy of Resident Evil 4. Businesses only stiffen up when it comes to the underage purchase of a hot copy such as GTA: San Andreas to avoid the effects of the media light. Even if EB does tighten their ID policy, kids who are shafted manage to outsmart the whole rating system by coming back with their mums and pops.

So how effective is the ESRB Rating System? Not effective at all. M (Mature) rated games restrict as much access as eC (Early Childhood) rated games. It is not difficult for children to expose themselves to blood and gore, nudity, sexual violence, drugs and alcohol references, and crude humour. As an exception to protect its name, Silvercity Metropolis may give you the thumbs down if you tried to enter Cinema 6 for Sin City underage… but struggling competitors Station Square and Dolphin Cinema have already saved you front row seats while you ordered your ticket online to save the hassle of dealing with the services counter. Movies with an R or NC-17 Rating are no big deal nowadays. China agrees while continuing to rapidly produce a large amount of CAT IIb and III movies.

Now what about television shows? Television as we all know have a great potential in impacting children during their development stage seeing that the average time a child spends watching TV is about four hours/day. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, or simply CBC, has already done a great job in monitoring and approving the appropriate television programs that are being screened to the kids. Although "Just for Laughs" can be lame at times (I meant to say all the time), CBC does at least broadcast educational programs such as Venture and Street Cents.

Unlike CBC, CTV network is a private-owned corporation that broadcasts nothing but sitcoms, drama and reality shows. Children who have the misfortune of tuning into the CTV network are bounded by programs such a Punk'd, Pimp my Ride, and Simple Life 3, that may subliminally alter their psychological behaviour.

Canada is in pertty bad shape in terms of the types of programs being broadcasted, making it impossible to revert back to the old days. With new generations emerging, tastes are expected to change. Much of the entertainment originates from the U.S, which is and will be inevitable. I am sure the government is doing its best to come up with various tactics to employ the right amount of social control to protect the young children. From broadcasting current advertisements that emphasize the value of "enjoying TV as a family" to blocking certain cable channels to late broadcasts, only businessmen and parents can tie loose ends by steering the market into another direction and for once actually CARE about their own children instead of jumping to make a quick buck.

FYI:
Terry Donovan, C.E.O of Rockstar Games
Peggy Bundy, Married… with Children

"Little Ronaldinho"

They called Ronaldinho Gaúcho "Little Ronaldo", and now I call Martin "Little Ronaldinho". Born in Africa, this kid does not speak any English while his Canto is very fluent. This kid is really amazing and energetic. Little Ronaldinho was headbutting men with bellies all night, leaning on anything that moved and whacking cameramen with straws.

Little #10, the African prodigy.

By the way, should I bother having a Critiques (Comments) Section at the end of my blog? Any suggestions?