Digital TV broadcasting was launched in Hong Kong in December 2007, with its first signal transmittor gone online in Tze Wan Shan Station.

To receive digital TV signals, people do one of the followings:  (1) buy an HDTV with embedded receiver, (2) buy a signal-decoder ("set-top box") for connecting to existing TV sets, or (3) other kinds of decoder for connecting to a computer and playing TV on it.

I chose (3).  I spent HK$280 for a USB--digital-TV decoder.  The decoder comes with the necessary software.  I also pay $120 for an indoor antenna with amplifier for better receiption of the TV signals.  (I need an antenna because my building has not yet equipped with a good public antenna for the new digital signals.  When a public antenna is properly installed, my indoor antenna can be retired.)

Now I can watch all 13 digital channels on my computer! smooth and clear!

Severe Tropical Storm Nuri is leaving us.  Thanks to Nuri, we all have a relaxing Friday at home!

My colleagues always say a tropical storm would bring us a free, non-accountable leave --- meaning I don't have to report to my employer the actual usage of the leave (otherwise, we have annual leave, sick leave, maternal leave, compassionate leave, study leave, no-pay leave....etc).

Last night the Observatory said the chances that a storm signal No.8 will be hoisted in the early morning was not high, but then it eventually hoisted a No.8 signal at around 7:40am this morning.  Thanks for Meow's SMS in early morning, notifying me of the typhoon signal, so I can sleep in until 9am.

My parents and I went to a Chinese restaurant to have brunch (飲早茶) at around 11am, during which the outside was blowing gusty wind intermittently.  The rain was sometimes heavy.  Gusty winds + rain = hectic.  I was all wet when I got to the Chinese restaurant.

In the Chinese restaurant, it was soooo crowded.  I saw not only the elderly patrons but also the families (mom,dad,children,grannies)!!!  I learned that a tropical storm no.8 is the best time for family gathering, since everyone doesn't have to work/go to school.

This is quite to the contrary of my understanding:  shouldn't people be staying at home in this severe weather?  The answer is No.

Everyone is "foreseeing" a typhoon arriving tomorrow morning, which will result in a Typhoon Signal 8 and therefore a free holiday.

When my colleagues and other friends are all expecting the typhoon to come in tomorrow early morning, the Hong Kong Observatory said "the typhoon will be rather close to Hong Kong in tomorrow's afternoon and evening."

We all are disappointed, because the typhoon was once forecasted to be coming in early morning.  Now it says the typhoon is coming in the afternoon, that would mean we have to go back to work in the morning.

Hong Kong has the most sophisticated system for forecasting typhoon movements.  However, forecast is a forecast; we can never be sure.  All these are showing us that God is in control of the nature and the weather.  I came across the following verse: 

詩篇107:25, 29   "因 他 一 吩 咐 、 狂 風 就 起 來 、 海 中 的 波 浪 也 揚 起 ......他 使 狂 風 止 息 、 波 浪 就 平 靜 。"

We will only provide limited services during the period of Beijing Olympic.

於奧運期間只提供有限度服務。

The above is my motto of the week.  I will leave the office at 6:30pm the latest.  Where possible, I will leave at 5:30pm (official time off).  I'm heading home to watch Olympics!

My church's worship team once led this song in a Sunday service.  I'm kinda addicted to it since then.  Lyrics below.  Whatever it says in the main verse, I am more into the chorus:

我有喜樂
主的恩膏在運行，我感覺就在這裡
我心充滿了能力，要高舉主聖名
聽見聖靈的聲音，如風吹進我的心
我靈已被更新，生命已被復興

(Chorus)
我有喜樂，我有平安的心
你聖靈每天充滿我，賜給了我信心
我的生命，充滿讚美旋律
因主耶穌，你的話語，釋放我心

If I'm a software, I was like installed an "Olympic Add-on" to myself since last Friday.  I am full of Olympic mood now!  So excited for China's team in different arenas, especially the basketball and archery.

It is very spectecular to see Bush (and the senior Bush) coming to an Olympic opening.  It's even stunning to see them watching other games --- didn't Bush need to go back to work?  (做總統...唔使做呀？咁輕鬆留低睇奧運？人地福田康夫星期六都已經返日本做野啦！hahah)

After church our worship team practiced from 3 to 4pm.  I did some homework yesterday --- watching how other teams in Taiwan would play this song (below).  For sure I paid most attention to how the keyboard girl played, so I can learn from her.  I watched this for over 30 times (..bad ears..need to isolate the piano sound from guitar/drum/vocals).  I like her styles --- both slow at the beginning and lively thereafter.  This WIN 樂團 from Taiwan is pretty good.  There are many things to learn from them.

有沒有人看過下面一則(YouTube)新聞片段？這是昨天颱風時在機場對旅客作出的訪問。有位說普通話的，相信是在機場滯留的旅客說：『排了一個多小時隊了，然後呢，排到以後呢，又要到十八號去排；十八號你看又排到那麼長，亂七八糟的。我已經講了———香港呀‥‥香港真的‥‥香港要不是中央政府照顧你們香港呀‥‥你們完蛋了。』

就這位旅客所發的言論，我感到有點遺撼。他的「完蛋」言論對排長龍的事件根本拉不上關係。從他這衝口而出的言論，你可以看透他心中的香港和中國是甚麼的一個關係了。

Tin Shui Wai

Last night 3 colleagues and I went to Tin Shui Wai for dinner.  We went to TSW on purpose.  While most people hold that the City of TSW is a saddened place, we believe it's not that bad.  We found a Thai restaurant there, and we spent around HK$70 for sirloin steak / lamb served on sizzling plate.  It also came with soup, hot/cold drink, and ice cream!

We concluded that TSW is not that bad.  We cannot generalize TSW's welfare on the basis of its restaurants, but we must admit that TSW is a nice place to live in.  Its amenities might be boring, but the environment (e.g. clean air, extensive light-rail network, small parks) is an attractive residential area.  We cannot blame TSW for its lack of job opportunities, because TSW is meant for living, not working.  You gotta commute to work if you decide to live in TSW!  (e.g. you won't blame Tsing Yi for its lack of job opportunities; people in Tsing Yi take MTR to work elsewhere.  So why blame TSW for "hey, there's no job here!")

We understand the concern of TSW is more than transportation/food, but we'll further explore other places of TSW when we have time.

Typhoon

Tropical Storm Kammuri visited Hong Kong today.  Typhoon Signal no.8 was hoisted at around 5:45am today and it last for almost 12 hours.  Actually, I am very confident that I would have a whole day off today.  I trust the projection of the Hong Kong Observatory.  So here we go! --- a day off!!!!

I woke up at 6am and checked online to confirm that the Typhoon no.8 was hoisted.  After confirmation, I started my day-off by sleeping in until noon!  I ate breakfast...went online..watched some videos online..played piano...and sleep again from 4-5pm.  I felt like I haven't slept enough!

After much excitement, it's time to work tomorrow...