Golden News
Volume
14 No 28 17th January, 2001
The Weekly Bulletin of the Rotary Club of
Kowloon Golden Mile
www.rckgm.org
JANUARY IS ROTARY
AWARENESS MONTH
Birthday Girl
Jane Singer - 21st
January
Get ready for more Choir
Practice!!
Last
Meeting
Visiting Rotarian
Classification
From
PP George Harilela
Hospitality
Kowloon
PP Mike Harilela
Hospitality
Kowloon
Stephen Chan
Optical
Lenses Hong
Kong
Guest
of Rtn
From
Tim
Wong David Hong
Kong
Peggy
Hui David
Hong Kong
Jim Gibson
David
UK
Mabel
Ng David
Hong Kong
The Meeting I'm sure began on time, (I was fined for being late) and was
held in a rear compartment (which I am assured had nothing to do with the
speakers topic) of the Crystal Ballroom. Assorted Dim Sum, Sweet and Sour
Fish and Pea Sprouts with Garlic.... and so on!!
After the usual business, fines, choir practice etc we proceeded to the first
of two speakers, Ms Angela KY Chong, Public Relations Manager, Service
Department of Schindler Lifts Hong Kong Ltd. Her topic was to do with the safety
of using Escalators aka Moving Staircases. The brief but spirited address was to
encourage the sensible and safe use of these potentially harmful items of our
modern lives, particularly in view of a recent accident in Star House
involving a young child who lost two fingers. It seems that we should never walk
on an escalator, either going up or going down, which strikes me as rather
strange for I can see absolutely no reason to stand still when going down and I
can think of lots of reasons why it is better for you to walk up. We must
ofcourse supervise and train our children when they use these
devices (hopefully always with us) when they are very young. I
understand the subject may be raised with us again some time in the future!
The main Speaker of the day was Dr Wayne WY Kwong who spoke mainly to the
male Rotarians present on Prostate Cancer. I regret that what I can accurately
recall of the talk is what most of us males already know, ie the symptoms and
broadly what you should do if you suspect you might have it. So for those
who were not present who would like to benefit from the talk, I have asked Dr
Kwong for some notes, or a source to download them and will report back
soonest.
Since this is inevitably a serious subject, I feel I have to let you in on my
quick question to the Doctor after the meeting. I asked whether if faced with
the daunting prospect of a digital examination one could opt for an anal-log one
instead. He laughed and said that I shouldn't give up my day time job.
I'm sorry this is late, not entirely my doing!! .. and I'm sure Ive left some
things out. But must publish now!!
Next Meeting
17th January - Ms Aileen Bridgewater - Suject to be
announced
(See various emails from Acting Programme Chairman)
Chinese Fellowship Night in
the Luk Yu Restaurant
Oh "What a night it was!!" Singing, Dancing, Carry Oh K K, and
an incredibly tasty Chinese feast in one the most famous Restaurants in Hong
Kong, housed in the Welsh Embassy Building in Stanley Street.. and going from
the sublime to the ridiculous also where the scribe of this publication
spends most of his day!
Truly a night to remember, and on behalf of the Nincs see above,
I express sincere thanks for super food and entertainment.
On
Vocation!
With Rotarian Christopher Carroll
Classification
- Computer Whiz
Once upon a time,
the world was made of people and wizards - who are really people but often wore
pointy hats to disguise that fact. Most people believe that wizards no longer
exist, like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, but the reality is that wizards are
now called computer experts. How is it that you cannot get your copy of Windows
98 to work, yet it is a mind numbingly simple matter for we select few? You
obviously do not know the inner and arcane workings. Wizards have the ability to
create something out of nothing, can destroy when they get peeved or for the
hell of it, and have no concept of time. We are not gods, even though Bill Gates
might try to
have you believe otherwise. If one applies numerology to his
full name, it results in 666, which is a famous trademark, or something. We
create by writing software programs that help us improve our lives in many ways;
black wizards destroy when they write viruses; and you all know my sense of
time!
My first
introduction to computers was when the subject was introduced at my school in my
final year. This was when they took up whole buildings, and could only be talked
to with punch cards. The one my school used was at a government institute
several miles away, and as I had a motorbike, it was my task each week to
deliver new programmes on the punch cards and to retrieve the print-outs from
our efforts the previous week. This was heaven to me as I could go trail-riding
for an afternoon during school time! Needless to say, I also got an A.
My
other introduction to this strange world was at university. One lecturer in
computers (male, white) had taught for several years at the university in Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea and had 'gone troppo'. When he became excited, he
would speak in pidgin English, which is a weird mishmash of English and the
native languages. As an aside, perhaps the Hong Kong government could introduce
this language to the schools to replace English. Another lecturer had world-wide
fame for his mathematical theories and had a beautiful daughter, but could not
speak comprehensibly in any social situation, nor could tie up his own
shoelaces.
Appalled at this, I resolved never to enter the world of IT or
academia, and took up mountain climbing instead. IT beckoned later when I
realised that most intelligent people could not even turn on their computers and
that it would be fun taking money off them in order to show them how.
All
this aside, I need to have my little rant about IT in Hong Kong. IT is all about
solving problems. This requires a certain mind-set, such as an ability to think
laterally and logically. This ability is in short supply in Hong Kong, where
children are not encouraged to think at school, but make their constant high
grades from feats of memorisation. No matter how hard the government tries, it
cannot turn Hong Kong into an IT centre of excellence until it changes the
education system to teach students how to think and how to communicate in that
international language, English. As that won't happen, we are better off hiring
people who are - such as the mainland Chinese - and concentrate on what Hong
Kong is best for: selling the created products to the rest of the
world.
Watch out:
Abracadabra...
On Vocation again
with PP M.V.(Ram)* Ramadasan
Classification - Banking -
Commercial
Unlike in Hong Kong, many countries have a huge
unemployment problem. Especially in the 70’s and 80’s this used to be acute. The
result is that what you learn is not what you practice! (The only other person
who told us about this is our Thomas Ma, but it was for some other unknown
reason!). That is how, after doing my Masters in Science, I ended up in Banking.
Having not known the difference between debit and credit then (as if I know it
now!), I had gone through the mill for two years to learn the same, as a
probationary officer. Nobody could complain about the tough work for fear of
getting one’s probation extended.
While working in various cities in India I
picked up some languages, which stand me in good stead nowadays. I was
considered for an “Overseas “ posting in Hong Kong. There starts my Hong Kong
story. I did not leave this place, as so many of you did not, either. History of
Hong Kong has changed quite a lot since we all came here. I did have some stints
in the USA and UK as part of my
training at various times. On the way I picked up some extra qualifications like
C.A.I.I.B and A.C.I.B ( London ), and affiliations like, A.H.K.I.B. and M.I.Mgt.
(You may ask why I do not use these after my name. The simplest answer is that
some of us are still finding it difficult to live with simple terms like PP and
IPP. As the present Rotary Information Director of our club, I will get back to
all those who are still reluctant to learn these terms).
I work for a French Bank in Hong Kong. I am
supposed to help International Trade, in the wide world of Corporate Banking.
One thing I can assure you is that I am realizing at least part of the Rotary
ideal of World Understanding through my exposure to various markets and
countries.( By the way, if my employers hear this, they will shout to reduce the exposure ! ). We do
business with hundreds of countries. It is like the
U.N.
I enjoy Rotary tremendously. I have done it
with my 100% attendance so far, and through my participation and contribution.
All you club members rewarded me for this by electing me as the President 2000.
What other better memory to cherish!
Rotary is about GIVING; giving your time, energy and spirit. I believe
this much. Once you have become a member in order to make it worth while, keep
on doing something for Rotary. In your Club, in your community and in the world
- because there is so much fun in GIVING!
* Random Access Memory! - Christopher
Abracadabra please note.
From the
Webmaster (aka The
Phantom)
Dear KGM Members,
After spending many hours in my underwear, slaving over a hot keyboard, I
am absolutely thrilled to announce that I have finally solved our email
distribution problems, hopefully once and for all.
If you need to send out a "broadcast" email message, there are just three
email addresses you need to store in your email address book:
When you send a message to any of the above, your message will access the
relevant addresses from our database, and then it will instantly broadcast it to
the correct people.
With this new system, you won't need to worry about keeping your own KGM
distribution lists up-to-date. As and when members inform me of their new or
modified email addresses, I will make the necessary changes in our database and,
bingo-bango, everybody will be able to send messages to the correct people at
their most current email address. Pretty cool, huh ?
These new broadcast email addresses are also available from the KGM web
site under the "Member's Only" roster area.
Finally, please remember that these lists are to be
used exclusively for KGM business, NOT for commercial purposes. Members
who abuse this system will be denied further access.
If you would like to make a presentation on your company's products,
contact the KGM Program Director who will be happy to give you an opportunity to
address the club at a regular club meeting.
That's all for now folks. I gotta go change my underwear :-)
Slight pause for a few days of underwear adjustment!!
Further to my message last week and my message earlier this week, your
Phantom Webmaster has even more wonderful news for you !!
Are you ready for it ? Can you stand the excitement ?? Are your
knees trembling ??? If so, what the hell are you doing right now ?
Anyway, here goes. Being such a thoughtful, talented, yet
modest chap, I have now created 3 additional email distribution lists for
KGM. In addition to the original distribution lists mentioned above
They are:
When you send a message to any of the above, your message will access the
relevant addresses from our database, and it will instantly broadcast it to the
correct people. These new broadcast email addresses are also available from the
KGM web site under the "Member's Only" roster area.
I bet you guys are already celebrating this exciting news ........... I can
hear the screams of joy from here !
Finally, please remember that these lists are to be
used exclusively for KGM business, NOT for commercial purposes. Members
who abuse this system will be taken outside and shot. Twice.
Also, please do not use the new lists to start insurrections, ethnic wars
or civil disobedience, OK ? The lists were created simply to assist
organisers of our "ethnic" nights to contact the respective parties.
(-: That's all for now folks. I gotta go get a
life jacket to fit over my new underwear:-)
We sometimes take English for granted. But if we
examine its paradoxes we find that quicksand takes you down
slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from
Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers don't
fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of phone
booth be phone beeth? If the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher
praught. If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what the heck does a
humanitarian eat!? Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital? Park
on driveways and drive on parkways?
Q.E.D.