democracy

Masks are a complete waste of time.

Doctors have consistently insisted that masks do nothing to prevent the spread of flu. Why is it that the Hong Kong Government ignores this advice and even threatens to jail people who don't wear them?
Here is an article from the BBC on the futile use of masks.

Can masks help stop flu spread?
By Nick Triggle
Health reporter, BBC News
One of the abiding images of the swine flu outbreak is the pictures from Mexico of people wandering the streets wearing masks.

And as the disease has spread from country to country, reports have emerged of people purchasing all sorts of products on the internet.

But while the scramble is understandable, experts are sceptical about just how useful they are.

Professor John Oxford, a virologist at leading London hospital, The Barts and the London, said: "Really, there is very little evidence that masks actually offer much protection against flu.

"I think handing them out to the public as has happened in Mexico just destroys confidence."

Health staff

It is these sorts of issues that has prompted officials from groups such as the World Health Organization and England's Health Protection Agency to steer clear of calling for them for general public use.

While Mexico has handed them out to members of the public, most other countries, including the UK, are just reserving them for health staff.

Others, such as Belgium, have bought some for flu patients, while several, including Spain, have handed them out to passengers on planes returning from affected areas.

It is believed there are enough masks for half the NHS workforce, but officials are already in discussion with suppliers about ordering another 30m to help cope if a pandemic develops.

Health workers have been told to wear them, along with special gloves, if they are in contact with potential victims.

“ The problem is that when someone sneezes they tend to take a mask off. I think masks give people a false sense of security ”
Dr Ronald Cutler, of the University of London
Professor Oxford believes this approach is right.

"They are the people who will be most likely to be coming into contact with the virus and the ones who could be passing it on."

The Department of Health has focused on getting what are known as respirator masks. These have filters, which stop a person breathing in some particles in the air.

They are much more effective than the standard surgical masks or dust masks that are sometimes used by builders.

However, none of the masks can stop 100% of the particles getting through and become less effective once they become moist.

Instead, they are better at stopping the virus getting out.

Spread

Dr Ronald Cutler, deputy director of biomedical science at the University of London, said: "If you sneeze with a mask the virus will be contained so from that point of view if everyone wore them it might stop the spread.

"Or you could get the people with flu wearing them, but by the time they are diagnosed it could be too late.

"And the problem is that when someone sneezes they tend to take a mask off. I think masks give people a false sense of security.

"They are not bio-chemical suits. Masks are obviously just covering one part of the body so your hands and clothes could all have the virus on and when you take them off you will infect yourself.

"However, because people are wearing a mask they will think they are protected and may go into crowded areas.

"The best advice is to wash your hands and cover your mouth when sneezing."

Gail Lusardi, an infection control specialist at Glamorgan University, agreed.

"Masks alone will not prevent spread of the influenza virus and basic hygiene measures like hand washing, safe use and disposal of tissues and cleaning of environmental surfaces are key to preventing infection transmission."

She also said it was important they were correctly fitted - some of the more expensive respirator masks are molded to fit the face unlike standard masks that can be bought on the high street.

And she added: "A mask can be worn continuously for up to eight to 10 hours, but must be replaced if it is taken off at any stage."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8024605.stm

Published: 2009/04/29 11:27:43 GMT

© BBC MMIX

New job

Hi All just another quick note to let you all know that I have now changed job and will now be teaching adults instead of kids. It felt like time for a change. New job seems cool-more later.

Going to the dogs

Just thought I'd make a quick post.Not much happening here, except for 1 of my neighbours throwing dogs off the roof at 6am.Boys are fine, and enjoyed their Easter holiday.Teosdee is busy working.

Camping

Driving with the kids

on the way home

Another winter's day.

Winter hike

Gaza shame

A very sad start to the new year indeed. Israel has now killed over 1000 Palestinians, a third of them children. 13 Israelis have lost their lives, mostly soldiers. I heard it expressed it best the other day- If a criminal is holding children hostage, the police do not, and should not shoot the hostages and the criminal.
There can be no justification for the events of this month, and Israel certainly should feel the most shamed.
It is time for the UN to take action, and condemn and initiate punitive sanctions against Israel, and vigorously pursue those guilty of war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Both the Red Cross and various UN agencies have borne witness to these crimes, and only Israel denies them.
It truly is saddening that the agency, that was formed in part to ensure that the suffering of Jews in World War 2 would never happen again, finds itself appealing to Israel to stop its appalling treatment of innocent civilians. The Israeli government should hang its head in shame. China, Russia, France and Britain must act now through the United Nations, even if the US will not.

New Year's Day

Stupid Bush

The 'misunderestimated' president?

All politicians are prone to make slips of the tongue in the heat of the moment - and President George W Bush has made more than most.

The word "Bushism" has been coined to label his occasional verbal lapses during eight years in office, which come to an end on 20 January.

Here are some of his most memorable pronouncements.

ON HIMSELF

"They misunderestimated me."
Bentonville, Arkansas, 6 November, 2000

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again."
Nashville, Tennessee, 17 September, 2002

"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead."
Washington DC, 11 May, 2001

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."
Nashville, Tennessee, 27 May, 2004

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times."
Tokyo, 18 February, 2002

"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself."
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 29 January, 2003
"I think war is a dangerous place." Washington DC, 7 May, 2003

"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the - the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."
Washington DC, 27 October, 2003

"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat."
Washington DC, 17 September, 2004

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."
CBS News, Washington DC, 6 September, 2006

EDUCATION

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
Florence, South Carolina, 11 January, 2000

"Reading is the basics for all learning."
Reston, Virginia, 28 March, 2000

"As governor of Texas, I have set high standards for our public schools, and I have met those standards."
CNN, 30 August, 2000

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''
Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

ECONOMICS

"I understand small business growth. I was one."
New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
Reuters, 5 May, 2000

"I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine Labour Secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified."
Austin, Texas, 8 January, 2001

"First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."
Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

HEALTHCARE

"I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on prescription drugs."
Orlando, Florida, 12 September, 2000

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."
Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 6 September, 2004

TECHNOLOGY

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?"
Concord, New Hampshire, 29 January, 2000

"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber."
Washington DC, 10 April, 2002

"Information is moving. You know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets."
Washington DC, 2 May, 2007

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Saginaw, Michigan, 29 September, 2000

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, 18 October, 2000

"Those who enter the country illegally violate the law."
Tucson, Arizona, 28 November, 2005

"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three - three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting?"
Speaking to reporter Kai Diekmann, Washington DC, 5 May, 2006

ON GOVERNING

"I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together."
Bartlett, Tennessee, 18 August, 2000

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."
Washington DC, 18 April, 2006

"And truth of the matter is, a lot of reports in Washington are never read by anybody. To show you how important this one is, I read it, and [Tony Blair] read it."
On the publication of the Baker-Hamilton Report, Washington DC, 7 December, 2006

"All I can tell you is when the governor calls, I answer his phone."
San Diego, California, 25 October, 2007

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

BBQ

Lantau to Tai Po via Tsing Ma bridge

Mermaid

Barack Obama is IRISH!

The worst boyfriend in the world- Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung

This was published by the Hong Kong Standard yesterday. it is about one of Hong Kong's richest men-Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung. I hope his girlfriend has the guts to drop him like a stone, and take him to court for every penny he has, to pay for child support(they have one child together). His family should also ostricise him until he starts to behave like a real man.Joseph Lau Luen-hung is my 'wanker of the week'.


Lau chastises `brainless, foolish' girlfriend

Adele Wong

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung ridiculed his longtime girlfriend Yvonne Lui Lai- kwan, calling her both "brainless" and "foolish" for issuing a public statement claiming neither she nor Lau knows who the father of his assistant Chan Ho-wan's baby girl is.

There has been feverish speculation since the baby was born at Matilda International Hospital two weeks ago, with numerous reports alleging Lau, 57, to be the father.

Lui issued the statement on Friday, saying the father was unknown, but that both she and Lau would do all they can to help the 28-year-old Chan.

"She has studied so much, but still doesn't have a brain," Lau said in an exclusive interview with Eastweek magazine, a sister publication of The Standard. "But sometimes, those who study a lot don't think about the consequences when they do things."

Lui, 32, a former beauty pageant finalist, holds a doctorate in chemistry.

"She must've thought there wasn't a downside [to doing this]," Lau said. "But in actual fact, the damage caused by this incident cannot be reversed, cannot be salvaged. Even if she were to kneel [and apologize] a hundred times, it would be useless."

Lau said Lui has made him look like a clown in public.

Although Lau did not confirm or deny the paternity of Chan's daughter, he said the child's birth is a private matter. "Whether or not this girl is mine is a personal issue. I do not have to announce it to the public. There is no need in the first place to let people know. What's the big deal?" he asked.

Lau said there is also no need for Lui to discuss private matters in the public arena.

"These things should have been dealt with behind closed doors. Even if they can't be resolved, or even if [Lui] doesn't agree, [she] can leave anytime!"

To add to the drama, Lui was recently spotted at a brand-name shop with all her credit cards canceled.

When prompted by the Eastweek reporter on whether this was his doing, Lau retorted: "As a man, if you were me, would you do the same?"

Lau said he is always wary of women.

"There was a time that I was very sick, in serious condition, and fearing for the worst, I gave the woman [Lui] a large sum of money," Lau confessed.

"Some women itch [to cause trouble] when they have money in their hands. The less money they have, the less itchy they will become."

Nevertheless, Lau has faith that matters between him and Lui will improve and that she has simply listened to the wrong advice.

"After the wind and the rain, the family will be reunited, the moon will be full again," he said.

Lau said he also has reasons to suspect the actions of the media and the way they behave toward him and those around him. There have been two major clashes to date: one when Lau was hit in the face by a reporter's microphone, and another where photographers claimed they were hurt by an unidentified man outside Lui's mother's home.

"Some of [the media] might have been intentionally wanting to make news," he said.

Lau complained his cars have been scratched by photographers who got too close when trying to take his picture.

Yesterday, Lui was spotted by photographers in Lau's plated "I Love U" Mercedes between their home and her mother's residence.

Stanley loves to joke with reporters, claims tycoon

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun must have been joking when he said Joseph Lau Luen-hung was the father of Chan Ho-wan's newborn daughter, Lau said.

"He normally likes to joke. He always has a sense of humor and loves to joke with reporters," Lau said.

This is the reason, Lau believes, Ho said Lau had admitted the baby girl was his.

"I have never admitted it to his face that the baby was mine, nor did I say it wasn't, so I'm very confused why he said the baby was mine," Lau added.

At an Italian restaurant in Causeway Bay on Saturday, Ho and his family bumped into Lau and the casino king congratulated Lau on "getting a precious jewel of a daughter."

After leaving the restaurant, Ho told reporters that Lau had been sitting at a table behind him and he turned around to congratulate the fellow tycoon.

"Lau admitted out of his own mouth, `the girl is mine!"' Ho told reporters without prompting.

Lau has a daughter, born in 2002, with girlfriend Yvonne Lui Lai-kwan.

Chan was a newspaper entertainment reporter before she quit to become Lau's assistant about six years ago.

Goodbye and good riddance

Who would you invite for dinner?





To have a more humane 'real' person at the helm of the most powerful nation, must be a good thing. Miracles don't happen overnight, but let's hope after 4/8 years of Obama, he will be remembered in the same esteem and respect as other great leaders throughout history.Those same leaders that strove to improve the lives of all men, and left a legacy of peace such as..(insert the name of great leaders you admire).

Chinese people are too stupid for democracy!

Chinese people are too stupid for democracy!
Well, that is what the Chinese government says. Here in Hong Kong, according to the basic law that came into effect in 1997, Hong Kong should have a directly elected government.
That is not the case, China said that Hong Kong people ae not mature enough!
Today, the day that we witnessed U.S. democracy at its best, I was approached on the streets of Central, Hong KONG by a French couple. The guy told me that he was a photographer, and that he had a photo of me at the march for universal suffrage 5 years ago.
That march was the biggest in Hong Kong's history. I joined the same march every July 1st, but to no avail!
China believes its people are still too stupid to choose their leaders,and until the people here refuse to accept that, it will continue.
Congratulations to Obama and the U.S.A, but don't forget, we don't all have the right to self determination.

Views of Lantau