Beehives and crew cuts

It's a funny thing about people and haircuts. People are willing to go to different doctors for even the same trivial disease such as an upset stomach or flu and have their financial assets managed by different institutions and banking services but with their hair (most markedly in guys) they are only willing to allow their one and only trusted barber/hairdresser/hairstylist to cut their hair. I think it boils down to appearance and 'giving face'. If you get a crummy haircut or hairstyle, it is noticeable and permanent (at least for a few months), which can cause aggravation and much ridicule from peers, friends and family. You want hair to be managed by someone who at least won't turn treat it like a hedge and create something extravagant and a bit too eye-catching for you taste.

That is why I am always a customer of my current hairdresser, which has earned me another type of ridicule from my parents. Why continue to be a patron of his business, now that he has moved out of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to Tai Wai? I know he is now more expensive (from HK$60 to HK$120) but he is more convenient - he's just next to the KCR station whilst in CUHK, I would have to catch a bus up to the barber shop. Actually the service is much better now, with better shampooing and personal service (I cannot believe, as a straight guy, I'm writing about this kind of stuff). Yet the main reason while I still continue to see my hairdresser for a haircut, apart from the fact that he does my hair the way I like it, is the conversation. Like me, he is an Arsenal supporter and not just one who trivially looks at the results & emerges whenever we lift a trophy. He knows some of the youth players, stays up at night to watch the games (which is better than me) and can discuss tactics with me. It is difficult to find that level of conversation in some people. He also asks me how I'm doing, which is nice. It is just nice to talk somebody who has a rounded personality and is not totally focussed on medicine.

I like my hairstyle nice and simple. I ask my hairdresser to cut my hair as short as possible without me looking like some punk. After about two months it becomes too long and I have to go back to my hairdresser again. It looks fine and I'm happy with that. Other people, and especially in Hong Kong, seem to have very different hairstyles which I don't find attractive. There are guys and girls who seem to have a hairstyle where it looks like they have just woken up but they have paid a stylist HK$500 to intentionally mess it up. I have seen women who have that intentional hump in the middle of the hair. I know it supposes to be fashion but from my own perspective, I don't like it. I don't know about other guys but I still prefer ladies to have hairstyles that are plain and simple. I prefer ladies with shoulder length hair (nothing too long), with a bob (like Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane in "The Adventures of Lois and Clark" or Julia Stiles in "The Bourne Ultimatum") or in a ponytail.

I think the worst hairstyle for a lady is to have it short like a guy and I would say the opposite for a guy, to have it long like a lady. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to hair for the sexes. Yet I have always wondered why gals have to have their hair long and guys short. I remember reading from somewhere that in prehistoric times women with long hair would be easier to catch by men, acting something like a handle.

I know I would prefer to keep my hair short. It is much easier to handle - it requires less shampoo and I don't have to comb or gel my hair in the morning.

Transfer review

One of the worse aspects of being in the health care profession is the chronic exposure to infections. So what happens when I come back from a two week break? I get the flu. Naturally my parents say I get the flu because I don't exercise enough and I have an imbalanced diet of not enough fruit and vegetables. I think they have a point but I also think that being a medical student you will naturally contract infections due to your frequent hospital visits.

********

August 31st was a great day for all football fans, being deadline days for transfers. Barring signing free agents or loaning out players to clubs in the lesser divisions, the roster will be set until next year with no further additions. I rather like the transfer windows as it bottles all the excitement into a small time frame. I know that managers hate the concept of certain periods where you can buy and sell players but it hasn't caused any problems.

So how did each Premier League club in their dealings? In this blog entry I will review each club's transfer activity. So if you're not interested in football (i.e. you're gay or a woman), you might want to turn away now.

Arsenal

I was rather disappointed with my club's transfers. Naturally losing two influential, experienced and high-scoring players in Theirry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg was devastating but Wenger didn't properly replace them, only bringing in Eduardo da Silva. Arsenal didn't need Diarra or Sagna. What I would have like bought in was a scoring midfielder, since that department seems deficient in Arsenal. If Hleb, Rosicky or Fabregas don't score from midfield, who will?

Aston Villa

O'Neill has silently built his squad up but I'm sure he had difficulty attracting players. He still hasn't found the right back he required, playing Craig Gardner and Olof Mellberg in that position, whilst Liam Rosenior and Glen Johnson were available. Seven first team players were swept out, notably Steven Davis but he has improved on the quality by bringing in Scott Carson, Curtis Davies, Zat Knight, Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood. O'Neill still doesn't have all the players he requires but he's getting there. Aston Villa fans have to be patient.

Birmingham City

Steve Bruce has opted for quantity and not quality. His squad was threadbare in the summer but with the introduction of four loan signings plus seven permanent deals he managed to bring up the numbers. Whether or not that will sustain his side in the top division remains to be seen. From the new players, only Oliver Kapo seems likely to make an impact, although Stuart Parnaby and Franck Queudrue will help bolster the back line.

Blackburn Rovers

A rather quiet transfer window for the Rovers but did add Roque Santa Cruz, which should be an excellent addition to the squad. Like Aston Villa, they did have difficulty finding a right back but seem to be happy with Brett Emerton fulfilling the role for the time being. Probably they were more glad to keep all the core players, with Bentley, Pedersen and McCarthy all rumoured to leave.

Bolton Wanderers

New manager and new players were the norm at the Reebook stadium, with thirteen players coming in. However it does not seem that they are gelling together plus the rumours of star players leaving the club has rocked the stability of the team. Anelka has stayed but Faye has left. What I figure to be Bolton's problem is they are playing too centralized in their 4-3-3 formation. They are not using their wide players quite literally, with Braaten and Wilhelmsson hardly featuring at all. Sammy Lee has to turn things around soon, otherwise he will be the next person through the door.

Chelsea

If one team has fulfilled their transfer criteria, it is most likely Mourinho's men and on the cheap as well. They reduced their central midfield quota with Diarra and Geremi going, whilst the incompetent Boulahrouz has gone out on loan and Johnson has been sold to Portsmouth. The one player they are going to miss is Robben but with Malouda coming in as a direct replacement, the grieving period will be brief. I still question Sidwell's move to Chelsea (probably for the money) but bringing in Pizarro, Alex, Ben Haim and Belletti has made sure that Chelsea are equipped in all departments. Now it is just a matter of getting the best out of Shevchenko...

Derby County

Billy Davies' men were always going to struggle, whoever they brought in. Thankfully they bolstered the one area they needed - the forwards - with Robbie Earnshaw and Kenny Miller coming in, to help out Howard. Other than that, bringing in Todd and Davis helps bring experience to the back line whilst Eddie Lewis will finally get the chance to prove himself at the top flight.

Everton

Moyes pulled off a big coop but getting Yakubu to sign for the Toffeemen and now has the perfect partner for Johnson. Other good additions include Jaglieka and Baines but he still could have done with Nugent in his line up. Unlike Bolton, Everton seem to do well without playing any really wingers, with Arteta and Osman filling out the wide roles. Moyes will hope this tactic will continue to bring in the points, otherwise the lack of wingers is noticeable within the squad.

Fulham

Probably the busiest team in the transfer market, even right up to the end, Sanchez has brought in bringing in about ten players but also letting quite a few go. Notably Rosenior, Knight, Queudrue and Bouba Diop has gone but Baird, Hughes, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Seol, Davis, Murphy, Cook, Bouazza and Kamara have come in. After spending all that money, the pressure will be on the former NI manager to start producing the goods.

Liverpool

Along with Manchester United, Liverpool have brought in the most exciting players during the transfer window. Torres, Babel and Benayoun will definitely make an impact. They didn't lose any key players so expect Liverpool to challenge and probably win the title this season.

Manchester City

With Shinawatra's (corrupt?) money, Eriksson has been making headways in the transfer market with buys nobody knows. A lot of dead wood in the likes of Corradi, Dickov, Trabelsi and Sinclair has been casted whilst wantaways Barton and Distin have found other Premier League clubs willing to pay them bucket loads. Bojinov and Bianchi have been added to a floudering forward line up whilst exciting players in the form of Geovanni and Elano flourishing in the midfield. Corluka and Garrido has added stability in the defence. So far Eriksson hasn't done so badly but remember this is a marathon and not a sprint.

Manchester United

You probably wouldn't have expect Manchester United to need another forward at this stage of the season, with Nani and Anderson being added to already an abundance of wealth. With Smith and Rossi leaving, Solskjaer retiring plus Rooney and Saha permanently injured, it leaves Tevez as the only capable forward leading the line. Ferguson will hope Rooney will recover soon. Richardson and Heinze leaving won't be too much of an impact but Hargreaves finally joining after a prolonged transfer saga will help bolster the midfield, which didn't require bolstering in the first place.

Middlesborough

Losing Yakubu and Viduka would have upset Gareth Southgate's plans but he did bring in good replacements in the form of Mido, Aliadere and Tuncay. Southgate finally filled up the right side of his team with Gary O'Neil and Luke Young, finally bringing some balance to his squad.

Newcastle United

Sam Allardyce wheeling and dealing has brought the type of players the Magpies needed. Beye, Rozenhal, Capaca, Faye and Jose Enrique will help stop the goals leaking in, whilst Barton will add some steel to the midfield. Viduka and Smith bring quality to an already good strikeforce. Now the hard part of Allardyce's job has begun - winning trophies.

Portsmouth

With Russian money, Redknapp has sufficiently added to his squad. Nugent and Utaka have been good additions but Redknapp wanted Yakubu or Anelka. Adding Johnson, Distin, Hreidarsson, Muntari, Mvuemba and Bouba Diop will add quality to the squad, so like several managers with new money, he will have to bring in good performances.

Reading

Like Blackburn, a rather quiet transfer window although they didn't have to add much to their squad. Losing Sidwell and Seol was a big blow but have sufficiently replaced him with Fae, Rosenior and Cisse. Rather worryingly they have an abundance of options at centre-back which Coppell hasn't gotten rid of.

Sunderland

Surprisingly Roy Keane hasn't been raiding his old club Manchester United with loan deals of youngster but has bought in old boys Richardson and Higginbotham. He has been making his own way in the transfer market by bringing in Gordon, McShane, Halford, Anderson, Harte, Chopra and Jones but whether or not they have the quality to stay up is different. Probably the most important players will be Gordon and Chopra.

Tottenham Hotspurs

Bringing in Darren Bent when they already had three good strikers seems an abundance of riches they did not need and by early results it seems so. Probably they would have better spent the money by reinforcing the left hand side of the team, which they did with Gareth Bale but still require a left winger. Some excess weight has been shedded, in the form of Murphy, Mido and Ziegler but they not going to cry over those losses.

West Ham United

Alan Curbishley has been acting like a kid with a blank cheque at a toy store, bringing in players left right and centre. Ljungberg, Solano, Faubert, Parker, Camara and Bellamy have been added but have been balanced by the loss of Tevez, Harewood, Konchesky, Benayoun and Reo-Coker. Again with buying players brings more pressure on the job.

Wigan Athletic

Bringing in Titus Bramble seemed a large gamble but Wigan are in the top half of the table, so far it is paying off. The most notable addition is Sibierski and Koumas who have been contributing to Wigan's climb up the table. However they are still my favourites to be relegated this season.

Advertising myself

A number of people have stated I have been quite brave about the openness of my depression. I like to thank those people for those kind words. Yet a part of me says I have ulterior motives when advertising my depression. That section of my mind wants pity and attention, and it seems the only way to obtain what I want is through saying, "I have depression." However the logic fails completely as not many of my friends or peers give me pity or attention. To be quite honest they have a much more difficult task handling someone they know with depression and rather ignore the problem. I don't really blame them for taking this approach. At least they are being honest with themselves by acknowledging they cannot handle the situation and rather step away from it - advice I have been given by my psychiatrist. There are more constructive and less damaging ways to obtain pity and attention.

The main reason why I "advertise" my depression is because I hate hiding it. I despise the fact whenever an old friend asks me how I'm doing. I don't want to lie and say I'm doing fine in a nice training post in a good hospital, which I would have been doing if I had not suffered from depression. Neither do I want to keep saying negative things about myself and ruins somebody's day. So I rather get it over with by putting it on my profile at Facebook and on this blog. Hopefully (and so far unsuccessfully) people will read this and then think about what they write to me before actually doing so.

I think the fact the stigma against psychiatric diseases, whether it is schizophrenia or depression, stops people who are suffering from these diseases from being open about them. I really want to say to people who look down on people with psychiatric conditions that we are not crazy or stupid - we are just suffering from psychosis/neurosis. Just as blood pressure and serum sodium can fluctuate and cause disease, so can psychological factors such as mood and cognition.

Thankfully the situation has improved over the years. Once homosexuality was considered a psychiatric disease but this has changed for the better. Better exposure and education about psychiatric diseases helps lay people from being ignorant. That is why I'm grateful for films such as "Philadelphia" and "A Beautiful Mind". It teaches people about situations which we don't understand.

Regretfully there is still no movie which enlightens us on depression. To my knowledge, there has only been one film that speaks openly about depression (Prozac Nation) but its lack of success stopped the message from filtering through.

Empathy and sympathy

After a two week break, I am back in class. This time I have eight weeks of psychiatry, which I have mixed feelings about. Psychiatry is one subject I have an attachment to, considering my depression, and I for one can genuinely say to a patient that I do know how it feels to have a psychiatric condition. For once I can feel sympathy rather than empathy. Also I take an genuine interest in the subject when others don't (which I will get on to later) and I am a little more devoted to the subject.

Yet this is the time when I cringe about the attitude of my fellow peers. For some reason psychiatry is the subject which is treated with the least respect by the Hong Kong population. The attitude towards psychiatry is bordering on contempt and dislike. People view symptoms such as depression and anxiety as 'normal'; they are part of normal life and should be able to be treated by yourself, without the need of medication and psychotherapy. Unfortunately my father has this attitude most of the time and I have tried explaining it to him, without much success. Psychotic patients are treated as crazy and insane, and not as people with a psychiatric condition which can be cured.

You would think doctors and medical students are better in their attitude towards psychiatry and psychiatric patients but in my view, going through eight weeks of psychiatry doesn't revert the status quo. Fellow peers keep saying that they have been through psychiatry and know what I am going through, which I find a little bit of a lie. It is the equivalent of saying that sitting in a car makes you able to drive a vehicle, which isn't true. Other doctors follow the same lines as the Hong Kong population, which is why Hong Kong is way behind other countries in terms of its attitude and treatment of people with psychiatric conditions.

The one thing that bugged me about my ex-friend Dora was the way she treated one female psychiatric patient - she "suggested" to this patient that one of her colleagues likes her, despite the fact the patient was suffering from delusions of love. That is no way to treat a psychiatric patient. It is the equivalent of introducing an infection to an AIDS patient. If Dora treated that patient like that, how was she going to treat me? To compound the situation, when I scolded her on the issue she had the look as to say, "Why are you scolding me? I did nothing wrong." She didn't feel any remorse or guilt and I don't think she would ever do so. At times I do get the feeling from friends, peers and doctors that they consider me crazy and don't believe or trust any word I say because I suffer from depression.

There is a group on Facebook called "Hong Kong is NOT a third world country". This maybe true in terms of infrastructure, economy and technology but in terms of knowlege and attitude towards minority groups such as homosexuals, dog owners, Filipinos and people with psychiatric conditions, it ranks at the bottom along with the rest of the crap such as Zimbabwe and pre-war Afghanistan.

No reply

Previously I mentioned I hate seeing people from my past because it means comparing our lives and I become disappointed since my life hasn't turned out the way I like it. One of the other things why I don't like meeting my old school friends is having to explain my depression and seeing how they react.

The situation is usually the same - it happens on Facebook most of the time. I ask them how they are doing and they are usually doing great for them. Then comes to the question I hate - "How are you doing?" I could lie and say things are going great but I hate lying. So I have to tell the truth. I try not to sound too depressing when I explain how my life hasn't turned out that well. Yet whenever I posted it on the wall, it always never comes with any nice reaction. Most people just ignore me after that and never fully address the issue. Some people are more sympathetic and I thank them for it.

I know it is difficult for people to react to people with psychiatric conditions. I don't expect them to become close friends but a better response would be nicer.

Distrust

My plans to revise some orthopaedics during my two week break are sinking faster than the Titanic. I haven't been doing much studying, even though I have been provided very good pointers by a very close friend. All I have been doing is sorting out my laptop files (I'm very obsessive-compulsive when it comes to tidiness) and watching episodes of "Have I Got News For You", "8 Out of 10 Cats" and "Mock the Week". I love these kind of comedy panel shows and I have started to give up on my other shows, including "Spooks", "Doctor Who" and "House".

********

I hate a lot of things in life but one thing I cannot stand is distrust. Human beings have evolved, or probably devolved depending how you view the status, to a level when every sincere act of kindness has to be questioned, as though the person receiving the gift might have to give something in return. Why can we just not accept someone being kind just for the sake of it?

Naturally there has been something happening in my life that has caused me to be outraged. I have been placing wall posts on Facebook regarding my female friends. Some have taken them graciously. Others have not - one has deleted my wall post and not contacted me since. I generally thought women like to be complemented on their appearance but that doesn't seem to be apparently so. I'm not trying to hit on them or get laid and neither is it me being sarcastic - I genuinely think they are beautiful/sexy/hot/attractive. So why are my motives being questioned? Have we gotten to the stage where we cannot take a compliment anymore without having to give something in returns?

This is why I hate politics - you have to give something to achieve something and that cannot always work.

The grass always looks greener on the other side

At times I do hate the existence of Facebook. I know the website gives me an opportunity to get in contact with people I have lost touch with over the years and I am grateful for that. I'm getting into contact with people I knew in my primary school days back in England (elementary school for those using the American system) right up to my current friends in university in Hong Kong. It's a very convenient way to keep in touch and to interact with your friends on the Internet.

Facebook recently allowed me to get in contact with somebody I haven't seen in quite a number of years - five years if I'm correct. We had gone to middle school but lost contact once I left for boarding school in England. This was only the second time we had met up in the past fourteen years since I left Shatin College. We had lunch in Soho and talked about how each other is getting on with his life. This is where I hate Facebook. By meeting friends I have lost contact with, I'm now inflicting pain (in the mental sense) by comparing how well my life has gone compared to him or her. In the end I always lose.

Everybody I know has a job, whilst I'm about to go into my ninth year at university. No matter what kind of occupation they have, it is still a step up from being at university. Even if they are still in university, they are doing their doctorate or masters whilst I'm stuck still doing a bachelor degree. Everybody I seem to know is in an occupation they seem to like. They may complain about the working hours, the lack of holidays, their fellow colleagues or the workload but they are reasonably happy with where they are. At least they are earning some money whilst I'm still scrounging off my parents.

Another area where I always compare to with friends is relationships. Whilst I haven't even gone to bat, everybody I know has gone the whole nine innings having scored a grand slam in each one. How many of my friends have gotten married? I've lost count but if I really try to count it is probably between five to ten, with more coming. How many have I been to? One but I don't really blame anybody for not inviting me since I'm not close to anybody. And why does everybody in my Facebook friend list look so attractive whilst every passing day I seem to resemble more like the Michelin tyre man? Life is unfair and I have to deal with it.

I know I shouldn't be comparing my life to my friends and if I do it really doesn't matter so long as I am happy but I'm not. I still feel the world is going by whilst I seem to be standing still. Now I found out that one of my best friends in boarding school is not only married but has a kid.

I've got to stop looking at Facebook too much.

Selling out the Olympics

For those who don't know, Hong Kong will be holding the equestrian sports for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Due to the logistics of bringing horses into China, they required somewhere else to hold the dressage, showjumping and cross country events. Since Hong Kong has better facilities in handling these affairs, it was chosen to hold the equestrian sports. A few of the Hong Kong sports facilities have been converted to host these events. The Beas River Country Club doesn't require conversion but Penfold Park and the Hong Kong Sports Institute required fixing up.

Last weekend a trial competition was held to try out the facilities. Naturally there were good and bad things. Thankfully the cooling facilities for the horses and the stables were good but the weather didn't help since we just had a typhoon pass by the day before. Also the event was not sold out with about 50-75% attendance but that could be just due to the weather and the status of the event itself. Hopefully when the Olympics come round it will be full.

One thing I found strange was the ban on umbrellas. For some reason these will spook the horses if they are opened...

********

What I find strange about the Olympics is the sponsorship. Some I find OK, like Visa, Rolex or Samsung. Others I find disturbing - mainly the food sponsors. How can you promote going faster, higher and stronger if you are feeding everybody burgers from McDonalds and soft drinks from Coca Cola? Couldn't they find better companies, such as Gatorade/Lucoz for soft drinks and something else for the food. Otherwise it is ironic sponsoring sports events with junk food.

*******

The Hong Kong media rights for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics have been given to Cable TV, a pay-cable TV company. This fact I find very disturbing, more disturbing than junk food makers sponsoring the Olympics. In the Olympic charter the Olympics is supposed to be broadcasted to as many people as possible. Giving the broadcast rights to a pay TV company is just the worst thing to do. The Olympics is probably the only event which brings people of the world together. Now most of Hong Kong won't be able to see it.

********

I'll probably harp on about this when the Olympics come around but I find the Olympics going away from its ideals. The Olympics are no longer about being the best you can and bring the world together. It is just about countries trying to bash each other to smithereens, now that we don't have wars anymore.

Bored, bored & bored

Right now I'm having two weeks off from studying until my next rotating starts but having two weeks off is not necessarily a good thing. Usually the time is not used productively, if you don't have anything planned which applies to me. Naturally I don't want to studying or work too much and your mind is not necessarily focussed - you're in 'holiday' mood. I'll probably reorganize my notes or something similar.

So what have I been doing since I finished my paediatrics rotation last Friday. I've seen three movies but funnily enough not the one I want. I've watched "The Simpsons Movie" (very funny but not that great), "The Bourne Ultimatum" (good but I preferred "The Bourne Supremacy") and "Ratatouille" (Brad Bird is a genius) but I still haven't seen the movie I wanted - "Transformers". Still get a tingle down my spine when Optimus Prime transforms in the movie trailer. Yet there is a certain amount of movie watching one can take before I start to think every rodent is Gordon Ramsay.

I've reformatted my hard drive for the third time in recent months but this should be the last time. I think everybody is a masochoist, since ninety percent buy computers with Windows, despite knowing that the system will, out computers will be eternally bugged and we need loads of antivirus software. I've kept the programs and documents at a minimal so if I have to back up my laptop, it won't take me two days to perform.

There is a list of chores I want to get done - fix my mp3 player, update my files and documents (I'm obsessive compulsive - organization is my life) - but I was considering going to Singapore for a few days... probably I should now.

Typhoons + the last of the Premier League club season previews

At 14:30 local time, the typhoon signal no. 8 was hoisted in Hong Kong for the first time in three years. For those who don't know, it means people are advised to go home with school and most office work being cancelled. In essence, it is treated like a holiday by most Hong Kong people. It is rare for an actual typhoon to hit Hong Kong (that would be a typhoon signal no. 10), so there is not threat of imminent danger. That is how most people in Hong Kong consider typhoons - a day off work and surfers can go to the beach for some killer waves. Us Hong Kong people probably don't treat this force of nature with the proper respect, unlike the tornados in USA, the hurricanes in the Caribbean or the monsoons in South Asia.

That said (or is it wrote?), I am rather glad I was going home before the rush happened. It was chaotic scene in the underground and the bus stops, with everybody in Hong Kong trying to get home. Think rush hour times ten. The arrangements were very poor by some transportation companies and in future, the government, the general public and the transportation companies may have better arrangements next time around. They need to have more frequent services just after the announcement has been made, especially for areas which are difficult to reach like the Outlying Islands of Hong Kong (Lantau Island, Lamma Island and Cheung Chau), while it may be better to leave later to avoid the rush. Just a thought.

********

Since the Barclays Premier League is starting tomorrow, I better finish off my club season previews with West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.

The Hammer were fortunate to remain in the Premier League, both on and off the pitch. Now that the Carlos Tevez saga has been put behind us, it remains to be seen what Alan Curbishley can really do with this team. Virtually handed a free checkbook by the owners (I really cannot spell his name) he has brought in the likes of Ljungberg, Parker and Bellamy. Whether or not they will achieve success is another matter. It will take time for the team to gel and for Curbishley to have his first eleven sorted out. There are still some issues, such as too many defenders at the club. That said, I don't believe they will be in the relegation dogfight like last season but I think it is too early for them to challenge for the top six.

********

Wigan Athletic on the other hand seem doomed for the drop. I just cannot see them staying in the league. They don't have the quality in terms of manager or players. Chris Hutchings previous job after taking over from Paul Jewell was at Bradford City (in similar circumstances), which lead to Bradford being relegated, later going into administration and suffering a further relegation. Could the same happen for the Latics?

They lost a great deal of good players. Baines, McCulloch and De Zeeuw have left and in have come the likes of Melchiot and Bramble - not really setting the pulses racing. The only players of good quality who could keep them up are Koumas (who has yet to be prove that he is capable of playing at this level) and Camara (who could be going anyway). Two players are not enough to keep the team in this league. The only way they are going to stay in this league is sheer hard work and some luck... even a miracle.

Movie bonanza plus the scummiest football team on the face of the planet

Adults who go to children's films which have been dubbed into the adult's native language are just advertising to the world they are just stupid and cannot comprehend subtitles or other peoples languages. I would never go to watch a film that has been dubbed into my own language. Part of film appreciation is that film is a universal language and to appreciate the film you have to appreciate the entirety. In other words, I think watch a dubbed film is equivalent to masturbation - it feels good but in the end you are just f*cking yourself.

********

Lauren Graham is delicious - period. I just saw her in the trailer of "Evan Almighty" and I still think she's hotter than most twentysomethings in Hollywood. She's wholesome and decent. I first noticed her in "The Pacifier" and I still think now she's sexy. I would have no problems going out with her.

********

When I saw the title for the film "Ratatouille", I could not believe my eyes that Disney put the pronounciation below the title. It just proves to me that Americans have no concept of other languages outside their border. I wouldn't be surprised to learn if any American knows what Ratatouille actually means (a French vegetable dish).

********

This has been the moment I have been dreading my whole Arsenal-supporting life. This season could be the season that the Scum (i.e. Tottenham Hotspurs) could overtake Arsenal. They have quietly investing in young talent over the years and with the strikeforce of Dmitri Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent, this could be the season. After two successive seasons finishing fifth place, it could be the time that us Arsenal fans have to face. Hopefully it won't happen but it could and I'm embracing myself for it.

Upcoming exams and storms plus Sunderland AFC

Sometimes study leave is not that great, as I am finding out. You have a lot of time on your hands but I am one of these people who cannot sit down to study. I have to get up every fifteen minutes, which means I really cannot study in the library without disturbing other people. I also have a small attention & concentration span thanks to my depression, meaning I will switch over to do something else such as surfing the Internet or watching the numerous videos I have on my laptop. I honestly think I do have ADD (attention deficit disorder) sometimes or is it me being paranoid after being in paediatrics for so long, listening to Prof. Virginia Wong going on about child neurology?

It may all be in vain though. Right now there is typhoon signal number one being hoisted in Hong Kong. For those who don't know, typhoons are like hurricanes that regularly hit Hong Kong during the summer. The local weather observatory issues typhoon signals based on proximity. For some reason the signals are one, three, eight and ten. Don't ask me why they are missing out on the other numbers. If a signal number eight is issued, it is like a holiday with people told to leave work and school being cancelled. At this moment the typhoon will strike Hong Kong tomorrow, when my exam is scheduled to take place. You might think I would want the exam to be cancelled but in all honesty I rather get it done with and have my two week vacation as soon as possible. I just hope the typhoon will rapidly veer off course and hit something else.

********

I don't know much about the Sunderland team. Most of the team that went down the season before was quickly swept out by the new manager, Roy Keane. If you hated him as a player you had to admire him for his success and his determination, which has carried on into his managerial career. You have to have respect for him after he won the League Championship in his debut season as manager, after the Black Cats started the campaign with five consecutive defeats.

Now he has a much more difficult task - keeping Sunderland in the Premier League. He has invested wisely, sweeping out some dead wood and bringing in the likes of Greg Halford, Paul McShane, Russell Anderson, Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra. Probably the biggest eyebrow to be raised will be for Craig Gordon, who could become Britain's mosst expensive goalkeeper if his transfer of £9 million goes through. They still look a bit lightweight in the midfield department (probably Keane would consider a comeback?) but it is difficult to gauge how Sunderland will this time around. Will they flop or will the Roy Keane revolution continue? It is more likely that fans should expect to stay up and I concur. With that level of investment, Keane will know what pressure is really like now.

Reading FC

Since I've woken up early and I can't be bothered to go back to sleep or revise for my upcoming exam, I decided to try to get a load off my back by writing about Reading FC.

Last season they caused a ruckus by nearly qualifying for European competition. Thankfully for their sake it didn't happen, otherwise they would have too much on their plate for their second season. All the pundits are harking on about the second season syndrome and there is a lot of evidence it could happen this time around. Both Wigan and Ipswich performed phenomenonally in the first season in the top flight but their second season was catastrophic. Steve Coppell will know that other teams will know what they are capable of this time around.

Yet they haven't rectify anything with new players. They have lost one of their best players in the mould of Steven Sidwell. They have added a few players but essentially it is as you were. Is that such a bad thing? If things go well, it is not but if they start to slide it will mean Coppell has less variety to play with.

Although I don't think they will be relegated, they won't repeat what they achieved last season. Fans should be happy with a mid-table finish. After that the third season should be when they take off.

Pompey

I really don't like Harry Redknapp. Whenever I look at him I always think of a shady dirty second-hand car dealer. Most of the players he has bought into the club are usually a miss. Think of the likes of Hayden Foxe, Gianluca Festa, Vincent Pericard, Sebastien Schemmel, Ivica Mornar, John Curtis, Andy Griffin, Aliou Cisse and Ricardo Fuller. Christ, he let go Peter Crouch, who is pretty decent (you have to be to play for Liverpool and England). He buys players like throwing spaghetti against a wall - eventually some of it will stick. Plus he doesn't play any good young players. Only Gary O'Neil is a regular, with Richard Duffy and Richard Hughes consigned to the touchline. Even then O'Neil required a loan spell at Cardiff City to prove his worth.

Now that Redknapp has gotten the money he needs to buy the players he wants after years of wheeling and dealing, he almost qualified for Europe last season. This season the chairman and the supporters will require more from him. They will demand success, especially after buying the likes of Muntari and Nugent. Yet with other teams such as Newcastle, Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City buying up players like it was a discount sale, Redknapp might want to focus on the cup competitions for his avenue into Europe.

If Portsmouth fails disastrously this season, don't expect Redknapp to be in his job for long.

Being left out again plus Middlesborough and Newcastle United

I still feel like I'm left out by my group. Whenever they are discussing about the exams or how to do the counselling part, they generally leave me out. I would like to jump in and say something but at times I get the blank stare that I am imposing on their lives or the vague silence when nobody responds to what I have just said. I know they are not suppose to be my friends but it generally leaves me thinking that Hong Kong people are not usually the nicest people to make friends with.

********

Since the Premier League will start in one weeks time and I'm only over halfway through my previews and that my exams are coming up, I feel I should speed out my analysis. Since Middlesborough and Newcastle United are next to each other in terms of alphabetical status and geography, I felt it was right to write about them together.

Boro fans had to reasonably expect that Southgate and Middlesborough would struggle last season. It was a young side with an inexperienced manager but they managed to get by. This season should see a slight improvement but not much. Southgate is still learning the ropes and imposing his character on the team.

Thankfully he is starting to address some problems. Forwards were drafted in in the likes of Tuncay and Aliadere, with Viduka. He started to rebuild the right side of the team with Luke Young but still requires a right winger to bring balance. Probably his worst problem is not a problem - he has too many young centre backs. Don't be surprised to see some going before the transfer window closes.

If Boro can maintain a mid-table position and a good cup run, that would be a reasonable feat. Clubs are built slowly and fans should expect reality instead of fantasy.

********

Sam Allardyce has a massive job on his hands. He needs to bring instant success to Geordie fans who expect it after seeing the miracles he produced at Bolton. The state of the current team might not be able to produce that yet. He has bought wisely, bringing in the likes of Rozenhal, Barton, Viduka and Smith. Yet the main problem has still not been addressed - a leaky defence. He still needs to boost the numbers and if he doesn't soon, he might be struggling in the beginning.

Also he needs to change his tactics. He cannot use the same stifling tactics that he uses at the Reebok stadium - not with the depth of attacking talent at his disposal. The fans will expect exciting and winning football. I remember that one pundit said that Allardyce should consider sacrificing a good league position if it meant guaranteeing a cup win. I would concur, since it will bring time for Allardyce to gradually bring his team together.

Whether or not Big Sam can weave his magic wand at the Magpies remains to be seen. He might go in the way of Kevin Keegan or Sir Bobby Robson OR could go in the way of Ruud Gullit or Graeme Souness.

Update on hating kids...

I am halfway through my two week residency period in paediatrics and I'm finding it has its ups and downs. The medical officers and house officers are nice but the nurses seem permanently in PMS and menopausal status mode, with very labile mood and a high irritability status. Most of the time the kids are nice but when they are bad, they are bad. Crying is the thing I cannot stand. My nerves shatter quite easily and at times I just want to shout at the kid, "Stop crying! It is no use crying! Just learn to grow up!"

I am also not a great fan of bodily fluids. I can handle blood - that's not a problem for me - but anything with a distinct smell is where I draw the line. Two instances come to mind. The first was when I entered the ward in the morning a few days ago and I was hit by the stench of crap that was filling the ward. Turns out that one of the kids who was mentally retarded had shat himself. If I thought it was bad, think about the other kids who had to live in the ward. The second instance was today in Neurology OPD. We had a kid who kept drooling and it smelled big time. I was constantly having to wipe the kid's mouth but it had a really bad smell, which is difficult to describe.

Anyway I should be revising but I'm just too tired. For the past week I have been finishing off my case report and discharge summary which has kept me up until 2 am at times. Also I have been on duty, clerking cases and following ward rounds, which leaves me little time to revise.

I really need to get back to looking at my notes and practising for my counselling test...

Asking for assistance plus Manchester United

I am currently in the hospital library writing this blog since I am currently in the residency period of my paediatric clerkship, leaving me little time anywhere else. So don't be surprised to see that I don't blog that often or I don't post items such as pictures or links in my entries. I really question whether or not anybody reads my blog. I can just say something ridiculous like I really like Mary Ngan and I would love to date her but I know that won't happen sine every girl in the world just like handsome guys with great bodies, just like every guy in the world likes a beautiful girl with great breasts and a nice butt. I don't think anybody would notice.

********

I don't like asking for help. In the past few weeks, my brother and my friend have remarked on this characteristic of mine. I think it stems from my boarding school days. I found schoolwork easy to work out, so asking for help was very uncommon. When I entered medical school, work started to become more complicated. A combination of factors contributed my reluctance to ask for help. Firstly I don't have many friends that I could ask for help. Secondly when asking for help, I feel I am imposing on or disturbing their life. This seems weird considering I have no problems when people ask me for help - I am readily available to assist anybody, anytime and anywhere. I can hardly say no to someone and I hardly lie - which makes me a sap. Thirdly I am scared of taking rejection personally and becoming depressed, although this is less severe than the rejection I suffer from a potential girlfriend.

Usually when I eventually do ask for help, I am in mid-combustion and it is difficult to comment whether or not I need help at that point.

So how do I overcome this? Difficult to say... and it would be ironic if I asked anybody what they would think :)

********

For once, of one my previews of a Premier League team will be short. Firstly there is very little to talk about Manchester United and secondly I hate them, as with other football supporters around the United Kingdom.

Manchester United played brilliantly last season and rightly deserved to win the Premiership. They know it is going to be difficult to retain the trophy and they invested wisely. The only area that needs bolstering in the short term is the forward line-up, with Carlos Tevez being touted as coming into the Old Trafford dressing room in the next few days.

Will they win the Premier League this season? To me they are the favourites and I would rather have them as champions than Chelski. But I don't think that will satisfy the Glazer family, who will be gunning for European glory. Don't be surprised if they achieve both this season.

Old doesn't mean bad and Manchester City FC

There are some TV shows that I would watch over and over again. When people say they don't listen to old music, read old books or watch old movies or TV shows just because they are old, I certainly raise my eyebrows. Old doesn't necessarily mean bad. I can give you a few examples. Growing up in the 80s, I adored "The A-Team", "Knight Rider", "MacGyver" and "Quantum Leap". In the 90s, it was "The Simpsons" and "Have I Got News For You" (and still are) plus "Frasier" and "They Think It's All Over". This millenium I wish I could still see "The West Wing" on the TV.

One show that I do watch over and over again is "Top Gear". I know a lot of people think they are over-the-top and are no longer ratings cars. I tend to disagree, as they need to bring the programme to a broader audience and filling the show with segments like "A Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" is just another mixture of entertainment and automotive journalism. Another criticism is their lack of regard for speeding and the environment. The show is about cars - they need to test cars out to see how good they are and that means having to go at high speeds to rate the performance. Plus if you want to see a show about the environment, watch a nature documentary and stop tuning into show that you hate just so you can complain about them.

I am rather glad the local English TV channel ATV World are showing past episodes. I am even more glad Top Gear has show the Polar Special. It was a great show and the first time I considered Arctic exploration very difficult. There may have been documentaries and shows regarding people going to the North Pole but at least Top Gear showed it is very difficult for ordinary people.

********

The state of Manchester City has left me wondering whether or not it can be rescued. It had large debts and just recently sacked Stuart Pearce, even though he did a reasonable job under the circumstances. Even the recent purchase by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (yes, I had to look that name up) and the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as manager may not be able to turn the club around. They still need a large investment into players, Eriksson has to prove himself with results on the pitch, Shinawatra should hope his past does not affect the club and the supporters need to be won over.

At least they have got the ball rolling with buying in some new players, some of which I have never heard. Another area that needs attending is the forward line-up. Last season they contrived to score nine goals at home - the worst record. It surely means most if not all will not start the season as the City of Manchester stadium.

City fans should be happy if they survive this season but in the long term, with this type of investment and manager, they should be expecting success sooner rather than later.

Human or animal? Plus Fulham & Liverpool FC

I have lost faith with the human race. Let me explain what I mean about my last sentence. I believe human beings, with their vast intelligence, should act more differently than other animals. I hate to use the word 'better' but there is no other phrase I can use. The basic animal will protect its own kind and pass on its own genes. You will read this in any biology textbook. Animals don't have the intelligence to ponde whether or not there is more to responding to its genetic code.

I wish humans were not like that. I wish that vastly improving the race and kindness towards others were other options to the human race. I have to remind people that kindness is not a natural instinct. Greed is - you want to protect yourself more than anybody else. You look at animals and you won't see a lion, who has just eaten, spare a gazelle's life. That is why I expect people who sitting down in the MTR trains to give their seat up to the needy, for example a pregnant mother, the elderly or somebody with a disability which would help if they sat. It is still natural to be kind to your family and close friends but to be kind to casual acquaintances and complete strangers should be a human trait.

You see all the destruction in the world - religions fighting each other, the threat of nuclear war still hanging over us like a cloud, poverty in most countries when there is enough wealth to go around and global warming coming to the brink that it could end all life on earth - and wonder if human beings should be responsible for the planet we live on. Evidently not.

********

Since both Fulham and Liverpool are in Hong Kong to contest the Barclays Premier League Asia Cup (or whatever it is called), it would be right to preview their season ahead.

It was surprising (but not a total shock) to see Lawrie Sanchez get the managerial position at Fulham. He really should thank Rafa Benitez for the job. If Benitez didn't use a 'B' side during their match with Fulham last season after an exhaustive Champions' League semi-final with Chelsea, Fulham wouldn't have won. Those three points ensured Sanchez would remain in the job permanently.

Has he don't anything to justify his position. Apparently not. Claus Jensen left as he didn't want to play the long ball technique Sanchez favours whilst Queudrue will seem to follow suit. Sanchez brought in two right backs (Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird) when he already has two players more than capable to play in that position (Liam Rosenior and Moritz Volz). He mainly brought in players he knows from his days as Northern Ireland manager (Hughes, Baird, Steven Davis and David Healy). Yet at least he has signed some left sided options (Lee Cook, Paul Konchesky and Kamara).

I still don't think Fulham will do well this season. Fulham fans should be content for a relegation battle where they survive. It will take miracle for Sanchez to remain in his job.

The same cannot be said about Rafa Benitez. He is more secure in his job than he has ever been. He didn't win anything last season but there has been steady improvement. Now that he has new finances and brought in players that are world class, the pressure is even higher to win a league trophy for the first time in nearly eighteen years.

Bringing the likes of Babel, Benayoun and Torres should make Liverpool a potent attacking force. Benitez has got to force himself not to change players and use the rotation system, at least not until the back end of the season. The only weak area for Liverpool right now is the left back position. Fabio Aurelio looks out of his depth whilst Riise is more attacking in nature. Letting Warnock go could be a bad mistake.

You have to expect Liverpool to challenge for the title from the word 'Go!' If he doesn't finish in hte top two or doesn't reach the latter stages of the Champions' League, don't expect the Spaniard to be there much longer. With expectation should breed success.

Harry Potter, being left out & Everton FC

I am finally glad that the last Harry Potter book is on sale. This phenomenon with this book series should finally end but there still remains the filming of the last two books. I have never really liked this phenomenon, partially due to the media attention devoted to it. For this reason and this reason only I have not read any of the Harry Potter books. Do not get me wrong - the Harry Potter books may have an excellent story - but sometimes I think most people read the books to be part of the Harry Potter phenomenon, so they won't be left out of the conversation with their friends or fellow peers. I remember watch the behind-the-scenes documentary for "Lord of the Rings" and the same thing happening. Even though the "Lord of the Rings" book trilogy was excellent, some people have taken the tales of Frodo and Aragon a bit too far with elaborate weddings and dressing up. It is just a book, as J.R.R. Tolkien said.

The media has played its part, oversaturating television, radio, newspapers, magazines and other types of media with Harry Potter, with the masses thinking if this book series has received this much attention it surely must be good. I thought so with "The Da Vinci Code" but to honest I thought that Dan Brown novel was very poor. I feel vindicated of my opinion when Stephen Fry (probably one of the cleverest men in the whole world) called "The Da Vinci Code", "loose stool water and arse gravy of the worst kind".

Maybe in a few years time, when the last movie has finally been shown on television and the media coverage has died down, I will to a bookstore and purchase the series to read. Maybe then I will do that for my children (if I have any) just to protect from the crap that is in this world.

********

At times I feel that the group I am attached to for Paediatrics is leaving me out of activities and conversation on purpose. Maybe it is my fault. I think I have come across as a blunt and sarcastic person which may not be to everybody's liking, especially to the American gal in my group. They don't engage me for conversation and just talk about stuff that I have no clue about. I know I should try to engage in conversation myself but I am very very shy plus I don't want to portrayed as intruding into what they are talking about. I just wished they tried to know me a bit more and engage me into activities more. I am not saying we should be good friends, just treat me with a bit more respect and regard me as invisible.

********

My view on Everton's manager, David Moyes, is very ambivalent. On one side he has picked players from obscurity like Joleon Lescott and Tim Cahill, brough the best out of them and helped Everton reach fourth and sixth, qualifying for European competition. On the other side Moyes has made Everton play very negatively with a 4-5-1 formation isolated very good players from the team, including Richard Wright, Andy Van der Meyde, James Beattie and James McFadden, with the rseult that Everton finish in the bottom half of the table.

Right now I am taking the later view on David Moyes. He has let good players such as Richard Wright and Gary Naysmith go and totally reinforced his central midfield with Phil Jaglieka and Steven Pienaar despite the fact that he already has a wealth of talent in this area. What he really needs is to reinforce his wide areas. He has not back up in either the wings or full back-positions. Like Bolton it seems that Everton will be packing their midfield and try to play negative football. All these tactics do win you points, they do not necessarily win you fans (although that is not a problem for Everton).

With the current squad Everton are incapable of maintaining a good Premier League campaign plus doing well in the UEFA Cup. They are more likely to finish in the top ten whilst doing reasonably well in Europe but there is still three to four weeks to go before the season starts.