oh yeah, here's Leon's camera. That blue thing on the top is a radio-transmitter - it sends a radio signal to the huge flashes he had around the set.

This button-thingee on the menu is pretty neat. A pretty smart idea.

I went to eat with my friend Vicky the other day - and below the menu is this button-thingee. Like Vicky, it's pretty cute.

Me, a model, Leon and a light-reflecting-thingee.

There was quite a bit of staff for the shoot. Leon, two assistants (me and someone else helping with lights and stuff), the two models, a make-up person, a hair person, two clothing people, (I'm really up on the terms, eh?) and a groupie were on scene. Here Leon is conferring with - I don't know.

Leon showing the models his camera. "Look at this - this is called an LCD screen. When I press the big button a nice picture shows up here. And if you're nice, after we can have some ice cream." I'm joking. Models don't have ice cream.

I made friends with a professional photographer who's staying in HK for a bit. He's American but now lives in France. He's such a humble guy, really sociable. It's always neat seeing his photoshoots in magazines here, and once he invited me to a photoshoot. It was pretty interesting.

Hey - I cooked for a friend of mine and cooked 4 dishes plus rice. I had just a few moments before she came over to snap a photo.

The night before Apple was testing out her "camping" spot. Yep. This is how the Hong Kongers camp and hike folks. Would you believe her unit of whimps camped out on a Tennis court encased by an 11-foot high fence? In the morning they took a freakin' bus to the start point. Suffice it to say Franco and I drove to our end point and took a taxi...sigh.

And on the other side is a free-range cow. Sorta looks like a bull-fight is going on.

In the distance from the hills you there was a basketball court in the bush. Sorry the picture can't be clearer

This is me, Franco (to my right) and the whimps, during one of many breaks for them to catch their breath during the hike.

These are the HK Sea Cadet whimps of Apple's Unit trying to figure where the heck they are.

These are some cows that were at the leave-off point. Don't bother the cows and they won't bother you.

Hiking

Hiking
Last weekend I went hiking in the hills of Sai Kung with some Sea Cadets of my friend's Apple's unit. It was their first time hiking and boy were those kids such whimps. One of them passed out twice and another was crying. They were so slow.

Now I'm no Hiking extraordinaire, but these kids are Sea Cadets and they should be used to the Hong Kong humidity.

I did enjoy the hike however. I'm going again this weekend, and I'm going to bring a stick. To get the whimps to go faster.

Update- recent past

Quit
I have quit my job as a Children's Art Teacher - I want to devote more time to learning Cantonese.
I really want to learn Cantonese, and working full-time makes that difficult.

I am considering some other opportunities, but for now I want to catch up on HK experience. More to say later when there's more concrete (firm, sure, solid) plans.

So far been spending a few days practicing Chinese writing for 3-4 hours and studying Cantonese. Also brushing up on local news, and hanging with locals.

Can-tonese or Can't-onese
I am taking 4 hours of classes of Cantonese a week.
I wish I could have more - but this'll have to do.
I am taking it at the YMCA - the course is excellent. Level 1 finishes tonight and Level 2 starts next week.
I had my exam last friday and afterwards a classmate and I went drinking at a local bar. From 9pm on the time and beers just flew by. After 6 hours of drinking and great conversation, Alison and I stumbled - wait, she's Irish - Alison and my stumbling self went out into the night.

More details?
Photos precede this.

links compiled

I have compiled my links to one post:

11/16 MSNBC Vote Fraud Video (Must See)

A must-see video.
My friend writes:

I haven't checked the background on the source, but the video's worth watching.
I don't have a TV, maybe all this is common knowledge to you telee owners.

http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm

11/12 Tanks deployed to anti-war demonstration

November 10, 2004: Tanks are deployed on the streets of los Angeles to
confront and intimidate a small group of anti-war protesters:
http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/11/10/134638/70

Watch the video clip:
http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/tanks-on-la-streets.mov

This is screwed up.
Did the tank people think they could just scare the protesters away? Would the tanks just...shoot them?

This is screwed up...

UPDATE:
This may be a non-story.
November 12 2004

Photos and a video posted on the Internet this week depicting tanks at an antiwar demonstration in front of the Federal Building in Westwood provoked hundreds of outraged postings.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tank12nov12,1,3910246.story

11/11 Video link: Pen Trick champions
These guys must've been really bored
Pen Trick Champions - a la skateboard video style
http://www.santoalt.com/pen_trick_champions.php

11/11 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Wonka 2005 remake) pictures
The 2005 remake of Willy Wonka, titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton is supposedly going to be a grim take of the book. However, judging by the cast pictures, I’m not so sure I agree. Judge for yourself by clicking the image directly below.
http://www.santoalt.com/wonka.php

11/11 link to vid clip - Ploy Story
Hilarious!
movies, Ploy Story 2 at Kontraband
http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=1682

11/11 Nickleback snip video
My friend sent me this link.
http://media.santoalt.com/101/102504/nickelbackstoned.wmv

She writes:
Gosh DARNIT, this is too funny. Love the brutal silence when Chad Kroeger asks if there are any Nicleback fans in Portugal. OUCH. The HUGE ROCK must have hurt too! Enjoy it cuz i sure as hell did! SEE YA!!

ps: sorry to any Nickelcrap fans out there (you know who you are)