Google Friend Connect

Recently we discover some google friend follower disappear, originally we thought it's because of technical issue that blogging site do happen very often. Today, I spend some time to review our whole blog......omg! Google Friend Connect retired in March already for non-bloggers, that's the reason why they've gone. What then?

We have to use google+ , hmm...another new stuff (not new to others but me) that I did try to find a minute to figure out, but simply want to pick up a bit later! Now, no more choice and wish me luck :D

Be yourself

If you can't fit in, be yourself, no big deal!

Pinterest - love it or hate it?

link here

I believe some of you know what it is or already is a fans of Pinterest.  Truly speaking, it is a very attractive & fast growing platform that everyone can create their own pin board, easy to use, lots of nice stuff and full of fun. You can "pin" any of your favorite image found in the internet world to make your collective booklet, original source link will be attached automatically so if other people want to view it or re-pin it, they will be linked to the author's web page directly. So the overall process is not only share beautiful image within the community but also create traffic to the web page of the image owner......what a lovely idea.

But eventually problems raised, some photographer or blogger or artist just don't want this "sharing", they think it is a violation of copyright = to share their photo or artwork online (although which is already being viewed online thru' their own web site) without asking their permission is unacceptable, even the image will link back to them at last or even it's because of people love it so they want to share with others. Well, we can't say it is anything wrong because the author do have their right to what they've  posted, and it's true that there are a small group of people do make use of this channel to promote their own blog or even make money. So.......someone do hate it!

How can we get a balance? Use an html code to prevent "PIN" button work? Complain to Pinterest whenever discover your image being pinned? It seems it's more easy to do another way round, for author who don't mind this sharing that can bring them traffic as a benefit, put a "PIN IT" button in page, so "Pin fans" will know they are welcome to share what they like. In another word, "Pin fan" just don't pin if this button is not appear in the page you are viewing, respect the author's or simply send an email to ask for a sharing permission, a bit complicated, but every one will be happy.

Coffee Cupping ???

剛剛收到一個電郵，是Hunter Douglas Designer Club 同 Caffe Habitu 搞一個Coffee Cupping 的通知．令我想起月初“拉衫尾”跟一位好友參加了人生第一次Cupping，足足搞了三個小時，除了覺得新鮮有趣，見識了不少之外，也令我更加肯定自己是BB班水準．

 十多名參加者當中，有咖啡從業員，單品及紅酒愛好者，一般都頗年輕；導師是個正積極考取這專業資格的少年人．相比他們的認真，我倆實在有點hea!

由簡單的咖啡介紹，認識什麼是Cupping，基礎味道的分辨，如何在咖啡乾濕狀態下比較它的各種表現，以其平衡度決定評級．．．等等，實在是一門頗專業的學問．如果真的對咖啡品賞渴望有更深體會的朋友，我絕對推薦這些體驗講座．至於我自己呢？暫時還是想享受一下BB班的自由，hea住飲咖啡，畢竟專業是要認真對待的啊！

Just received an email from Hunter Douglas Designer Club, originally I thought it must be another new product launch or discount week...well, what a surprise of "Coffee Cupping" invitation! A talk presented by Caffe Habitu. This reminds me I did join one in early July, by a kind invitation from my friend, truly speaking, the very first time in my life. Thanks Julianna.

It took a total 3 hours time for this exercise, around 10 persons gathered in a small room full of coffee aroma, some were already a barista, some are red wine or coffee addict, fairly young but serious, compare with us two, ha ha ! a bit hea ! The lecturer was a young man who is going to have this professional qualification after some more examinations, cool!

Started by a brief introduction to coffee type & origin, followed by what is the meaning of Cupping, what are the basic aroma (up to at least 36 types), how to "feel" the behavior of coffee in dry & wet condition, what is the proper cupping manner, what are the concern of overall balance to dictate the final grading...etc, etc. A really professional era, I have to say.

If you do wish to taste "deeper" to your cup of coffee and know more in the coffee world, I shall highly recommend you to attend these Cupping gathering, which are quite hot and shall become more popular in Hong Kong now. 

And myself ? I tend to stay in my junior stage at this moment, to taste my "Hea" style coffee, because professional is professional, it must take time & heart to treat it sincerely.

久違了的煙仔檔 The Lost Cigarette Stall

也許真的有朋友從未見過這東西,已不記得這是那個年代的自家製作? 雖然我不吸煙, 但仍覺得這個小檔很精緻, 尤其當它放滿了五顏六色的煙仔盒時. 還記得當時比較盛行的有555, 萬寶路, 駱駝, 紅雙喜, 健牌, 還夾雜着一些可自行包裝的煙葉及煙紙...等.

當時的煙販檔沒有太多其它東西售賣, 似乎這小小的一盤生意巳經可養活一家. 煙仔盒上也沒有所謂的"吸煙危害健康"標貼, 是人民沒有這個意識呢? 還是根本煙民全都一早明白但他們需要的卻只是一刻鐘的自由自在, 於願足矣!

看着這個早巳身處填田區的木檔口,  對比着現今我們在街上看見大得足可比娓一間小型便利店的報紙+汽水+煙檔時, 應該驚歎生活的進步? 還是慨歎心靈的退步?!

I am sure there must be some people who don't ever have a chance to see this stuff in their life in H.K., a DIY cigarette stall...I wonder which century it belongs to? Although I am a non-smoker, as far as I've remembered, this tiny stall always attracts me, especially when it was fully displayed with colorful cigarette packages. 555, Marlboro, Camel, Double Happiness, Kent, even with some small yellowish paper for customers to fill in their favorite tobacco leaves, then roll up to form a interesting "tobacco stick".

Besides of the above + matches / lighter, there are not many variety of products you can find here, but it seems the hawker can still earn a living for their family through this small business. Also, you will not find any "Government Warning" of "SMOKING CAUSES XXXXX DISEASES" on the cigarette package, guess whether the smokers don't have any idea of health care or simply they are willing to exchange for a moment of mentally freedom?

This stall should have already been crashed in the landfill, compare to what we can see on the street now a day, those "full-function" newspaper stall , not only cigarette, but soft drinks, snacks, umbrella..etc, etc. what a tiny 7/11 they are. Should we amazed by our improvement of living ? or regret to our "black-hole" that can never be fulfilled deep into our heart!

May I have one, please?

In Tokyo after dark, you can easily meet this kind of tiny mobile cart, usually they were operated by one chef; oden, ramen, deep fry snack...are what they've sold. They are "heaven" for late night pals especially in Winter time.

Tiny light bulb in paper lantern spreading a warm atmosphere all over this small corner, steam rises from hot dishes; chatting with the chef or even have a drink of hot sake is the most relaxing moment. Or, if you want to enjoy your private minute..."be my guest", this lonely stranger will sincerely prepare your food behind the scene.

This may not be a perfect job for most of us, it earns little, lonely, working late night, no prospect in most people's eye...but it keep oneself survive with dignity.

Wherever there is free air in the country, we can have our choice, there is no need to live in others measure or in another way round, being follow the majority below pressure. Will it be only a dream? to some country, Yes! If we don't have to live in threat, we are so lucky...and it's always my pleasure to have another night here.

May God bless Hong Kong.

做個無悔的設計師

個題目好似沉重咗啲，不過適逢七一將至，實在不得不令我又再思考係呢十五年國家“領導”下，身為設計師嘅我哋，究竟做口咗啲咩？

設計需要有自由嘅土壤去作為基礎，如果冇，世上就唔會有創作空間，我唸呢樣大家都好明白．以往我哋呢類人多數都對政治冇咩興趣，無論係辦公室政治或者係社會上嘅政治，總覺得只要冇人限制我哋做咩同唸咩就得啦．．．真係冇？

“基本法廿三條”，“網絡廿三條”，電視新聞／報紙嘅選擇性報導，高鐵事件，領匯事件，谷歌事件，普選問題，人權問題，各式各樣嘅壟斷情況，禁呢樣禁嗰樣．．．幾時我哋變得咁無知，咩嘢都要“人”管，要“人”教，連辛苦搵番嚟嘅錢都強迫要比人扣起，係要你去“投資”！

你仲覺得我哋嘅自由土壤好穩陣？如果你覺得只要仲係設計行而又搵到食就懶理週圍發生緊咩事的話，又或者覺得用七一遊行去提醒國家我哋係有自由意志嘅人＝無聊搞事；咁我寧願任你話都要係香港仲有機會發聲嘅時候行出一步，做個無悔的設計師(香港人)．