Nevermind the whole grass is always greener / always want what you don't have thing. Pointless.

I'd like to move to HK because it sounds exciting there and Vancouver is so effing slow........ but after a few years I can guarantee I'd be complaining about how I want to move back because I just want to chill... humans are so fickle :)

There are positives and negatives to anywhere you choose to live... For me the positives outweigh the negatives, and most of the negatives to do with working life/crowdedness/etc don't affect me anyway.

And FWIW the air where I live is cleaner than anywhere in the lower mainland anyway

That isn't Hong Kong btw

They are actually hosting their "first ever" edm festival tonight. But I guess it just got started early :troll:

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/1d...0_0.00_jpg_srz

awww fuk nvm

I find that really hard to believe.

Live: Hong Kong Air Quality Levels | Greenpeace East Asia

entral/Western Air Quality Health Index: 8
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.11 times)
Eastern Air Quality Health Index: 8
No pollutants found exceeding WHO standard
Kwun Tong Air Quality Health Index: 8
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.34 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.33 times)
Sham Shui Po Air Quality Health Index: 7
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.24 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.34 times)
Kwai Chung Air Quality Health Index: 8
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.03 times)
Nitrogen Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.08 times)
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 1.05 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.44 times)
Tsuen Wan Air Quality Health Index: 8
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.03 times)
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.14 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.39 times)
Yuen Long Air Quality Health Index: null
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.26 times)
Tuen Mun Air Quality Health Index: 9
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.05 times)
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.16 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.29 times)
Tung Chung Air Quality Health Index: 10
Ozone (exceeding WHO standard by 0.03 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.14 times)
Tai Po Air Quality Health Index: 9
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.03 times)
Ozone (exceeding WHO standard by 0.10 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.40 times)
Sha Tin Air Quality Health Index: 8
Ozone (exceeding WHO standard by 0.14 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.23 times)
Tap Mun Air Quality Health Index: null
Ozone (exceeding WHO standard by 0.56 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.15 times)
Causeway Bay Air Quality Health Index: 6
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.11 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.43 times)
Central Air Quality Health Index: 6
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.14 times)
Mong Kok Air Quality Health Index: 8
PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.16 times)
Sulphur Dioxide (exceeding WHO standard by 0.14 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.17 times)
Roadsides (Average) PM10 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.01 times)
PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.25 times)
Generals (Average) PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.25 times)
Average PM2.5 (exceeding WHO standard by 0.25 times)

Also
HongKong Air Pollution: Real-time PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI)

Yes it's really bad today, in the city. I'm at a relatively high altitude though, so it's not too bad even today. Usually it's considered low.

If you are expecting to the minute stuff, that would be really difficult to find. I've managed to see some CCN, BBC, and Time coverage, but none of them report in the non-stop, on-going basis that various social media feeds are supplying. SCMP requires subscriptions, and even them don't offer to-the-minute coverage.

For 'the minute stuff' in English, follow this post, updated live

[live] Occupy Central Civil Disobedience Movement

I really wonder how many ppl really think this protest is gonna change anything.

It likely won't change anything in the immediate term. But the moment riot police fired tear gas canisters on the entirely pacifist crowd, the future of Hong Kong has forever been changed.

At the time (of the tear gas firing), the majority of protesters are still likely highschool and university students. When they experience that kind of treatment at such a young age, the incident will forever be etched into their minds. The level of distrust can probably never be undone.

That's the question people ask during literally every single democracy movement that has ever occurred in history, successful and otherwise.

I have a 18 year old homestay student from China and he was upset about the whole situation. I generally do not talk politics nor religion with any of my students as it can be quite sensitive but today, the student actually brought up what has been happening in HK with me.

He was angry that people in Hong Kong would rise up against China because HK belongs to China and he doesn't think they have a valid reason for the protest. According to my student, HK does still have the ability to vote and he also questioned why didn't the people of HK protest against the British while under their rule.

I just told him that generally people protest because they are not happy with the current situation. Maybe there was a reason people in HK didn't protest against the British to the same degree because they were content with the situation. People in HK are still allowed to vote if China pushes through the change for 2017 but the candidates are chosen ahead of time. Voting becomes irrelevant if you are restricted on who you can vote for.

I only provided logic to the debate and I believe my student understood that there are both sides to every argument. Hopefully he understands to think critically and to try to see things from other perspectives.

The Governor back then actually cared for (at least for the most part) Hong Kong and its future. Sure, decisions were made that were in the interest of the UK, but the end result was never too detrimental for Hong Kong. They also actually took in public opinions and acted on those.

These Chief Exec. Puppets put in by the mainland however, don't give a shit.
0 fucks are given by the puppet government.
A blank paper has more fucks on it than the amount of fucks those guys give
hell, France had more self-governance when Germany occupied it in WW2

They haven't even tried to take in any public opinion. All these "consultations" were answered with "sorry, cannot - China government won't allow". About the "autonomy" they promised Hong Kong for the next 50 years. Bull fucking shit. it's like telling a kid they can do whatever they want in a candy store BUT buy any candy.

:facepalm: white people in the protest, is that you skinny? lol

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...masdifonzo.jpg

No, but why would you facepalm "white people" supporting protesters by keeping them fed? These people, who presumably come from democratic countries themselves, have donated their time and money to support the movement.

You can tell him that they did protest against Britain, about many things. The thing is, Britain's rule over Hong Kong allowed for open opinions, freedom of speech, etc. HK was only ever a temporary colony, and it was run as such. There was no reason to set up a full democracy when it was only going to be handed over to ccp anyway. HK fought against the handover, but that was never going to happen. What britain did was set it up so they could have a universal suffrage under a "1 country 2 systems" program. Unfortunately that promise is what they're fighting over now.

Also relevant to rs (from the reddit live link skinny posted)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...ac9ce1a58&dl=1

For those unaware, 689 refers to the amount of "votes" the current chief executive got to win his position.

The Public Relations Department of the Police Force has confirmed a suicide case of a policeman in North Point Police Station at 2am with an unknown reason. It was reported that a sound of single shot was heard.

Conveniently (and perhaps more importantly), it is also a colloquial slang that literally mocks him as being "fxxking useless".

I did a quick search on this news item, and the only reference I can find are the Reddit feed and a Twitter account of what is likely a Caucasian reporter describing this news. Until further details and elaborations are given from official channels (ie. the HK Police force in a press conference / on their website), I urge all parties to consider this as an unofficial, unverified, and unconfirmed report that may or may not be related tothe Occupy Central / Umbrella Revolution. Police officers are traditionally among the highest risk group to commit suicide.

Apple daily interviewed Joshua Wong (i think?) after he was released from jail. He was standing with 2 older white guys. After he finished taking questions the white guy started taking questions. So it looks like there are some white people high up in the protests.

I am almost certain one of the Caucasian fellow is his lawyer.

On a less serious note, the other is probably the rumoured US marine that taught Joshua all the self defence and combat training stuff. :troll: