If you're having trouble comprehending this week's title, then you might have some problems yourself.
The long and the short of it is that Carina and I have spent almost the entirety of this past week self-quarantined due to illness. Although we're still not sure exactly what we were suffering from, I can tell you that it was not pleasant. My symptoms included congestion, sinus pain, and a fever so bad it made my muscles ache. Carina has been dealing with much the same thing, plus a sore throat (although I suspect I would have also had this problem had I not been sucking down lozenges the entire time). The good news is that we are on the up and up. The bad news is that our recovery phase has been marked by what seem like indestructible walls of mucus gumming up our chests. Well, I'll just keep exercising and making spicy food and hope that does the trick.
That really does make up the majority of the week. In fact, I think yesterday was actually the most eventful and productive day we've had. Sheesh, when Saturday is your most productive day of the week you know something's really off.
Anyway, as many of you (by which I mean "all of you") are aware, I've been sitting on a completed thesis for several months now, biding my time until given permission to submit. I finally received that permission last week and I've been scrambling to get everything put together ASAP so I can go ahead and submit the blasted thing. Yesterday I finally achieved a major milestone: temporary binding. I finally managed to get the entire thesis printed off and bound for examination purposes (and it only cost about USD 7 for four copies). All in all, not a bad haul. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I feel better, happier, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the picture.
I imagine my feeling better is also partially attributable to two other events as well. First, I've finally changed my running route. I've decided that the automobiles of Hong Kong are just too much of a pain to deal with. Even when they aren't trying to kill me, they pollute the air with smells and sounds that just make me ache. I am averse to all of it, and so I have decided to distance myself as much as possible from them. How have I accomplished this? I finally got around to calculating distances over at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, and I found a decent 2K loop. Awesome, so I just run that 2.5 times and I'm solid for my morning dose of speed (pun intended). It's really nice: the walkways are smoother but more porous, so not as slick; being near the harbor means a constant cool breeze; finally, and most importantly, no car can hit me. Ah, bliss.
The other event was our (much needed) quarterly room cleaning. Since Carina and I are both better, we figured it was time to purge the room of as many infection vectors as possible. I had already made a pass at this a few times previous (our walls were covered in mold and needed to be cleaned), and I think that may have been what got me sick to begin with, or at least contributed to it. Due to the room's small size and the fact that I needed to get my thesis bound, I asked Carina if she'd be willing to clean up. Wonderful being that she is, she consented and set to work bleaching the crap out of as much as she could. When I got back from the bindery the flat smelled like cleaning supplies. All I could think was, "Thank the stars, the nightmare's almost over." I have never been so happy to smell Febreeze in my life. Of course, it came as no surprise to learn that pretty much everything had been covered in mold and that an army of dehumidifiers probably wouldn't be enough to save us. Still, Carina really cleaned up as best she could and I'm glad she did. I think it will really help us keep alive and healthy (relatively speaking) over the next few months. I made sure to cook a really good lunch as a way of thanking her.
Other than that, not much has happened. I continue to remain vigilant for mold, but I'm aware that there's only so much we can do. Doubtless mold has crept into some places we just can't get to, but hopefully that's okay. Right now I'm just glad to be almost done with my MPhil. I'm ready to come home. WE are ready to come home.
Missing you all,
Colin
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
It's Loud
This past week has been relatively uneventful. Yes, I count being "potentially" involved in a book deal "uneventful". If I get the book deal I'll consider it an event. Until then, things are just dull. What does a dull week mean? A dull week means I have little motivation to post about anything in particular. Instead, I have decided to fixate on the most conspicuous thing around at the moment: the little old lady hawking her wares on the street corner adjacent to our flat.
What are her wares, you ask? Well, when I glanced yesterday they appeared to be knock-off designer handbags. Huh, and I was wondering why it sounded like she kept saying "Coco Chanel" over and over again. Of course, with older Cantonese speakers it sounds more like someone saying "Coco Shawna" after a few drinks, but I'll let that go. The fact that I really want to attend to, though, is not that she's selling counterfeit merchandise. The thing I want to point out is that she has been down there for the past few days and WON'T. SHUT. UP.
Now, you've all heard me complain about the noise levels of Hong Kong in the past. I'll complain about the loud traffic, earth-shaking construction, and drunken school kids I have to deal with early in the morning. This lady on the microphone, MC Hawker as I have come to think of her, is by far the most obnoxious cacophony I've had to deal with. Sure, the out-dated trucks and construction equipment tend to be louder and more consistent, but these are common, repetitive sounds that you can come to drown out after a while, especially with a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
MC Hawker is different.
MC Hawker wants you to buy her crap. She wants you to know that she's selling crap, she wants you to know that it's there, and she wants you to listen to her rather than actually look at the merchandise itself. MC Hawker thinks that the entire world needs to know that her little corner shop is open to sell cheap garbage and that, rather than use a sign or other means of advertisement, the best way to get attention is to be as loud as possible.
MC Hawker should have gone to business school.
Even in my own language I find people talking on loudspeakers, megaphones, or sound systems to be rather annoying. The only exception to this rule is when I'm at a concert for a band I particularly like or listening to a significant political speech (the latter of which, I suspect, has probably happened a grand total of at most five times in the history of the United States). Other than that, I find such noise utterly painful. In Hong Kong, this sort of noise is the norm. In Hong Kong, I am in agony. Why would I want to buy something from someone who perpetuates this?
Of course, as we know from our experiences with salespeople in Hong Kong, advertising and moving product are not their specialty (you start high and work your way down, geniuses...). Still, it's really no excuse for the nuisance that it causes. Unfortunately, most Hong Kongers seem to be half-deaf at birth. This means speaking volume is UP TO THE STRATOSPHERE no matter where you are. I often wonder how loudly Hong Kong aircraft technicians speak on the job. Can voices get any louder than the "screaming bloody murder" level?
I had to look up the possibility of getting anything done about the hawkers. Unfortunately, it seems that they're within their rights to do what they're doing. According to the government website on noise ordinances:
The nature of the noise sources covered by these provisions in sections 4 and 5 of the ordinance is such that it is not possible to specify fixed acceptable noise levels or noise measurement procedures to be used in assessing the acceptability of the noise. As is the case in other countries, noise from domestic premises and public places is to be dealt with by the police on a subjective nuisance basis.
Bummer that. The fact is that I can't do anything as an individual, especially not an individual non-citizen. What's hilarious though, in a very sad way, is the way Hong Kong approaches noise pollution more broadly...kinda' like how they approach air pollution: It's there...Okay, and...what? Way to go, guys, way to go. Here are some select quotes from the government page on noise pollution.
On construction noise: "Hong Kong is renowned for its city skyline, which is the result of a very active construction industry. "
What, really? No, no it's not. The beautiful sights of Hong Kong result from its natural geography. Nice try, though.
On traffic noise: " Vehicle noise is managed under the Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation, which stipulates that new vehicles for use in Hong Kong must meet European Union and Japanese noise control standards before registration."
Really? If that's the case then they sure haven't been good about enforcing the regulations. That or the EU and Japan have really lax standards...which I find hard to believe.
Also, apparently part of the plan to deal with traffic noise? More construction.
On "other" noise sources: "Neighbourhood noise from domestic premises and public places is restricted under the Noise Control Ordinance. As this type of noise is occasional and brief, it can be reported to the police for immediate assistance. But the important thing is to be considerate of others so that the noise you make won't be a bother."
Okay, first of all? No one in Hong Kong seems to read or care about these ordinances. They throw their garbage on the ground without a second thought and police do nothing to enforce the basic statutes. They jump in when they have to, but that's rare to never. Also, "occasional and brief"? This noise is constant and prolonged! That's the opposite of occasional and brief! Yet, somehow, it is permitted to continue. I know I'm not the only one who complains about it, but what does it matter what I say? I'm just a crazy gwailo, right?
Still, I have to say, it's funny despite how sad it all is. Anyway, that's it from me for now.
Adios, hasta luego,
Colin
What are her wares, you ask? Well, when I glanced yesterday they appeared to be knock-off designer handbags. Huh, and I was wondering why it sounded like she kept saying "Coco Chanel" over and over again. Of course, with older Cantonese speakers it sounds more like someone saying "Coco Shawna" after a few drinks, but I'll let that go. The fact that I really want to attend to, though, is not that she's selling counterfeit merchandise. The thing I want to point out is that she has been down there for the past few days and WON'T. SHUT. UP.
Now, you've all heard me complain about the noise levels of Hong Kong in the past. I'll complain about the loud traffic, earth-shaking construction, and drunken school kids I have to deal with early in the morning. This lady on the microphone, MC Hawker as I have come to think of her, is by far the most obnoxious cacophony I've had to deal with. Sure, the out-dated trucks and construction equipment tend to be louder and more consistent, but these are common, repetitive sounds that you can come to drown out after a while, especially with a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
MC Hawker is different.
MC Hawker wants you to buy her crap. She wants you to know that she's selling crap, she wants you to know that it's there, and she wants you to listen to her rather than actually look at the merchandise itself. MC Hawker thinks that the entire world needs to know that her little corner shop is open to sell cheap garbage and that, rather than use a sign or other means of advertisement, the best way to get attention is to be as loud as possible.
MC Hawker should have gone to business school.
Even in my own language I find people talking on loudspeakers, megaphones, or sound systems to be rather annoying. The only exception to this rule is when I'm at a concert for a band I particularly like or listening to a significant political speech (the latter of which, I suspect, has probably happened a grand total of at most five times in the history of the United States). Other than that, I find such noise utterly painful. In Hong Kong, this sort of noise is the norm. In Hong Kong, I am in agony. Why would I want to buy something from someone who perpetuates this?
Of course, as we know from our experiences with salespeople in Hong Kong, advertising and moving product are not their specialty (you start high and work your way down, geniuses...). Still, it's really no excuse for the nuisance that it causes. Unfortunately, most Hong Kongers seem to be half-deaf at birth. This means speaking volume is UP TO THE STRATOSPHERE no matter where you are. I often wonder how loudly Hong Kong aircraft technicians speak on the job. Can voices get any louder than the "screaming bloody murder" level?
I had to look up the possibility of getting anything done about the hawkers. Unfortunately, it seems that they're within their rights to do what they're doing. According to the government website on noise ordinances:
The nature of the noise sources covered by these provisions in sections 4 and 5 of the ordinance is such that it is not possible to specify fixed acceptable noise levels or noise measurement procedures to be used in assessing the acceptability of the noise. As is the case in other countries, noise from domestic premises and public places is to be dealt with by the police on a subjective nuisance basis.
Bummer that. The fact is that I can't do anything as an individual, especially not an individual non-citizen. What's hilarious though, in a very sad way, is the way Hong Kong approaches noise pollution more broadly...kinda' like how they approach air pollution: It's there...Okay, and...what? Way to go, guys, way to go. Here are some select quotes from the government page on noise pollution.
On construction noise: "Hong Kong is renowned for its city skyline, which is the result of a very active construction industry. "
What, really? No, no it's not. The beautiful sights of Hong Kong result from its natural geography. Nice try, though.
On traffic noise: " Vehicle noise is managed under the Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation, which stipulates that new vehicles for use in Hong Kong must meet European Union and Japanese noise control standards before registration."
Really? If that's the case then they sure haven't been good about enforcing the regulations. That or the EU and Japan have really lax standards...which I find hard to believe.
Also, apparently part of the plan to deal with traffic noise? More construction.
On "other" noise sources: "Neighbourhood noise from domestic premises and public places is restricted under the Noise Control Ordinance. As this type of noise is occasional and brief, it can be reported to the police for immediate assistance. But the important thing is to be considerate of others so that the noise you make won't be a bother."
Okay, first of all? No one in Hong Kong seems to read or care about these ordinances. They throw their garbage on the ground without a second thought and police do nothing to enforce the basic statutes. They jump in when they have to, but that's rare to never. Also, "occasional and brief"? This noise is constant and prolonged! That's the opposite of occasional and brief! Yet, somehow, it is permitted to continue. I know I'm not the only one who complains about it, but what does it matter what I say? I'm just a crazy gwailo, right?
Still, I have to say, it's funny despite how sad it all is. Anyway, that's it from me for now.
Adios, hasta luego,
Colin
Friday, February 10, 2012
Try the Tuna
Don't ask. It's an inside joke. You know what's not an inside joke, though? My thesis.
I finally received the final round of edit suggestions from my supervisor on Wednesday and I've been pedal to the metal, nose to the grindstone, cheese to the pizza about getting it done ever since. I actually finished my first round of edits on Thursday, after which I sent a copy to Carina for her thoughts on how well I've patched things up. So far she seems impressed. That's saying something, as she has probably been the harshest critic of my writing since, oh, day one. By the way, that's day one of knowing me, not day one of this thesis.
Seriously though, I love her and I really appreciate her helping me with this. If her boss doesn't acknowledge her for all the work she puts into her job as a research assistant, then she can at least count on getting a major mention in my acknowledgement section. Thanks, hon.
Other than that things haven't been too busy and, frankly, that's a good feeling. We went out Wednesday night with some friends to a nice Thai restaurant over in Wan Chai. The place is called Koh Thai and, although fairly expensive, it was definitely a fantastic meal. Decent drinks, excellent food, and some of the tastiest coconut sorbet I've ever had. If, for some bizarre reason, you ever end up over in Hong Kong and have some cash to blow (and you can tolerate some spice), give it a shot...just make sure you book your table in advance!
What else is new? Eh, not too much. I think Carina has been able to take it easy with regard to her work as of late. She hasn't even asked for me to help out with anything which is, frankly, something I enjoy doing. I like working with Carina. Even when I get frustrated, I still prefer working with her to pretty much anyone else. Although we may not always understand one another, there's a connection that we have developed over the past decade that lets us function really well as a team. I'm not sure she'd agree with me on that, but I really do feel that way. That's why I trust her with my work as much as my actual advisors...at least with regard to the quality of writing and argumentation.
I didn't mean for this to turn into a "Carina is Awesome" piece, but that is a fact.
I guess the only other news is (and I hope I'm not jinxing this) that I might have a book deal in the works. Mind you, it wouldn't be a book deal for me or any of the work I've currently completed, but it would be relevant to the kind of work I do. I won't go into too much detail, but I can say that if I am allowed to join this project I gain the ability to strike a serious blow for the kind of interdisciplinary work that I've been advocating for a long time now. Specifically, I'd get to carry over my work about the connection between language and ethics, possibly with further implications for moral psychology. I don't know how much free reign I would be given for my section, but I'm hopeful that it would be enough to bring in some good content.
Also, I'd be co-author on a book. How cool is that!?
All right, I think that about sums it up for now. We've been trying to watch Star Wars, Episode I for almost three hours now. Maybe it finally finished buffering. Ah, a nice and relaxing Saturday...
Ya'll come back now, hear?
Colin
I finally received the final round of edit suggestions from my supervisor on Wednesday and I've been pedal to the metal, nose to the grindstone, cheese to the pizza about getting it done ever since. I actually finished my first round of edits on Thursday, after which I sent a copy to Carina for her thoughts on how well I've patched things up. So far she seems impressed. That's saying something, as she has probably been the harshest critic of my writing since, oh, day one. By the way, that's day one of knowing me, not day one of this thesis.
Seriously though, I love her and I really appreciate her helping me with this. If her boss doesn't acknowledge her for all the work she puts into her job as a research assistant, then she can at least count on getting a major mention in my acknowledgement section. Thanks, hon.
Other than that things haven't been too busy and, frankly, that's a good feeling. We went out Wednesday night with some friends to a nice Thai restaurant over in Wan Chai. The place is called Koh Thai and, although fairly expensive, it was definitely a fantastic meal. Decent drinks, excellent food, and some of the tastiest coconut sorbet I've ever had. If, for some bizarre reason, you ever end up over in Hong Kong and have some cash to blow (and you can tolerate some spice), give it a shot...just make sure you book your table in advance!
What else is new? Eh, not too much. I think Carina has been able to take it easy with regard to her work as of late. She hasn't even asked for me to help out with anything which is, frankly, something I enjoy doing. I like working with Carina. Even when I get frustrated, I still prefer working with her to pretty much anyone else. Although we may not always understand one another, there's a connection that we have developed over the past decade that lets us function really well as a team. I'm not sure she'd agree with me on that, but I really do feel that way. That's why I trust her with my work as much as my actual advisors...at least with regard to the quality of writing and argumentation.
I didn't mean for this to turn into a "Carina is Awesome" piece, but that is a fact.
I guess the only other news is (and I hope I'm not jinxing this) that I might have a book deal in the works. Mind you, it wouldn't be a book deal for me or any of the work I've currently completed, but it would be relevant to the kind of work I do. I won't go into too much detail, but I can say that if I am allowed to join this project I gain the ability to strike a serious blow for the kind of interdisciplinary work that I've been advocating for a long time now. Specifically, I'd get to carry over my work about the connection between language and ethics, possibly with further implications for moral psychology. I don't know how much free reign I would be given for my section, but I'm hopeful that it would be enough to bring in some good content.
Also, I'd be co-author on a book. How cool is that!?
All right, I think that about sums it up for now. We've been trying to watch Star Wars, Episode I for almost three hours now. Maybe it finally finished buffering. Ah, a nice and relaxing Saturday...
Ya'll come back now, hear?
Colin
Monday, February 6, 2012
Hong Kong Smog
I don't know if I've ever done an update specifically about the smog problem that Hong Kong has, but something I saw this morning inspired me to write one.
I haven't seen the moon in a month. That is to say, I haven't seen the moon since leaving the US for this last stint in Hong Kong. At first I assumed it was because the winter is typically Hong Kong's rainy season and, in true form, it has been overcast-to-drizzly about seventy-five percent of the time since our arrival (NOTE: I emphasize "drizzly" because, as I've said in the past, it seldom really rains in Hong Kong in any manner recognizable to the rest of the world). During my morning run, however, I looked up and, through an extremely thick veil of what looked like smoke, I saw a faint but familiar pale, illuminated disc in the sky. Oh, so Hong Kong does have an excuse for calling it "Lunar" New Year.
Now, you might ask: "Well, Colin, how do you know that the sky didn't just clear up for a change? Why assume what you were peering through was smog instead of cloud cover?"
Look, I'm not an expert nephologist (yes, there actually is a science that studies clouds), but I can tell the difference between artificial and non-artificial haze. If the facts that the air smells of diesel and that I feel like my lungs are on fire every morning aren't clues enough, the HK EP reports (no doubt biased but, even then, still dire) provide sufficient evidence of the problem. Hong Kong is blanketed in a smog composed of countless pollutants, many of which have significant deleterious effects on both organic and inorganic structures alike, including the human body. Frankly, you couldn't pay me enough to stay in Hong Kong. That's saying something, as I may or may not be about to face a serious financial dilemma upon completion of my master's degree here. I'm not about to cut my lifespan any shorter for the sake of money.
Naturally, this might beg the question of why anyone bothers to stay in Hong Kong, and I answer that their priorities clearly differ from mine. Consider this quote from HK CEO, Bowtie Tsang:
"The life expectancy in Hong Kong is among the highest in the world ... you can come to only one conclusion: we have the most environmentally friendly place for people, for executives, for Hong Kong people to live."
BEEPBEEPBEEP!
Oh, I'm sorry, that's the sound of my BS detector. It goes off all the time in Hong Kong, so it might be giving me a false reading but, wait, no, I'm pretty sure it's dead-on for this one. The fact is that some people really do just cling to lies like this. For what? For the sake of making money...but not just money, a $#!*-ton of money! Well, that's great, they can use that cash to buy up artificial body parts...just as soon as they approve human cloning.
I know it's nothing new to report on the atrocity that is Hong Kong air pollution, but it's just been so bad lately that I couldn't help but bring it up. Also, if you haven't figured it out, this is me responding personally, and after much consideration, to all the suggestions that I remain in Hong Kong if my PhD applications don't pan out: No, we're not staying. That's my decision and, frankly, it's non-negotiable. Everyday I can literally feel my body decaying at an accelerated rate. It's not a pleasant feeling. Even if you converted me into a cyborg I probably wouldn't stay, if for no other reason because the living conditions and social scene here are abysmal. I'm sorry, it's just not worth it; no amount of money is.
Anyway, that's the topical update for now. I'm meeting with Chris again today to hash out some paperwork for my thesis submission. It turns out you need to submit a submission to submit...to submit the thesis. We're going to try to get around that as much as possible, I think. More bureaucratic rubbish, a different kind of smokescreen.
Cheers,
Colin
I haven't seen the moon in a month. That is to say, I haven't seen the moon since leaving the US for this last stint in Hong Kong. At first I assumed it was because the winter is typically Hong Kong's rainy season and, in true form, it has been overcast-to-drizzly about seventy-five percent of the time since our arrival (NOTE: I emphasize "drizzly" because, as I've said in the past, it seldom really rains in Hong Kong in any manner recognizable to the rest of the world). During my morning run, however, I looked up and, through an extremely thick veil of what looked like smoke, I saw a faint but familiar pale, illuminated disc in the sky. Oh, so Hong Kong does have an excuse for calling it "Lunar" New Year.
Now, you might ask: "Well, Colin, how do you know that the sky didn't just clear up for a change? Why assume what you were peering through was smog instead of cloud cover?"
Look, I'm not an expert nephologist (yes, there actually is a science that studies clouds), but I can tell the difference between artificial and non-artificial haze. If the facts that the air smells of diesel and that I feel like my lungs are on fire every morning aren't clues enough, the HK EP reports (no doubt biased but, even then, still dire) provide sufficient evidence of the problem. Hong Kong is blanketed in a smog composed of countless pollutants, many of which have significant deleterious effects on both organic and inorganic structures alike, including the human body. Frankly, you couldn't pay me enough to stay in Hong Kong. That's saying something, as I may or may not be about to face a serious financial dilemma upon completion of my master's degree here. I'm not about to cut my lifespan any shorter for the sake of money.
Naturally, this might beg the question of why anyone bothers to stay in Hong Kong, and I answer that their priorities clearly differ from mine. Consider this quote from HK CEO, Bowtie Tsang:
"The life expectancy in Hong Kong is among the highest in the world ... you can come to only one conclusion: we have the most environmentally friendly place for people, for executives, for Hong Kong people to live."
BEEPBEEPBEEP!
Oh, I'm sorry, that's the sound of my BS detector. It goes off all the time in Hong Kong, so it might be giving me a false reading but, wait, no, I'm pretty sure it's dead-on for this one. The fact is that some people really do just cling to lies like this. For what? For the sake of making money...but not just money, a $#!*-ton of money! Well, that's great, they can use that cash to buy up artificial body parts...just as soon as they approve human cloning.
I know it's nothing new to report on the atrocity that is Hong Kong air pollution, but it's just been so bad lately that I couldn't help but bring it up. Also, if you haven't figured it out, this is me responding personally, and after much consideration, to all the suggestions that I remain in Hong Kong if my PhD applications don't pan out: No, we're not staying. That's my decision and, frankly, it's non-negotiable. Everyday I can literally feel my body decaying at an accelerated rate. It's not a pleasant feeling. Even if you converted me into a cyborg I probably wouldn't stay, if for no other reason because the living conditions and social scene here are abysmal. I'm sorry, it's just not worth it; no amount of money is.
Anyway, that's the topical update for now. I'm meeting with Chris again today to hash out some paperwork for my thesis submission. It turns out you need to submit a submission to submit...to submit the thesis. We're going to try to get around that as much as possible, I think. More bureaucratic rubbish, a different kind of smokescreen.
Cheers,
Colin
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