How to Read a Book - Article Read at Starbucks

I read the CUP magazine when having my breakfast at Starbucks Landmark today. One article is about reading and I am so shameful that my reading skill is worse than a Primary Six pupil.

Excerpt from CUP Magazine:

為什麼要閱讀？作者說，目標是要讀得更好，提升閱讀的層次。他們將閱讀分為四個層次：基礎閱讀 (Elementary Reading)，檢視閱讀 (Inspectional Reading) ，分析閱讀 (Analytical Reading)，主題閱讀 (Syntopical Reading) ，第一種層次是所有識字的人都可以做的閱讀，第四種閱讀當然就是最高難度，就是讀一本書的時候，吸收作者傳達的知識，同時也在主動的把自己的想法與之交融碰撞。

如果不提升閱讀的層次，一個人即使考入了大學但其閱讀的程度，可以終身停留在小學六年級的程度。閱讀應如金字塔 ﹣ 基礎厚實，頂端尖銳，閱讀的藝術是：『憑藉頭腦運作，不假任何外助，以一己之力來提升自我的過程。包括敏銳的觀察，可靠的記憶，想像的空間，訓練有素的分析，以及反省思考，這一切學習技巧，最終是為了自我發現。』

Just an update on 30.10.2012, I finally finished the Chinese translated version of How to Read a Book...I think it is a great book although I am still staying at the level of Elementary Reading...

Flag Day Cutie Girl + Hayden & Cyrus

Saw a cutie flag selling cutie girl with a red flag bag before going to work. I do not know where they go, but I was sure there were going to a place not many people gathered and that will be more difficult for them to sell the flag. Maybe they were planning to go home.

In the afternoon, I took a half-day off and went to meet Hayden and Cyrus. I could not believe I finally got to love to play 爆旋陀螺 with them.

Accident on 22 August 2011

Beautiful blue sky, cuties white cloud for days, it is because of the Universiade Shenzhen, no chemical is allowed to be emitted from the factories. Thanks to Universiade Shenzhen, originally with no relation to me at all.

An accident happened yesterday. It reminds me to be always alert to incoming calls. Must turn the mobile on all the time; Must put it beside even sleeping; Must stand by for anyone calling anytime, even in the midnight. Just because I do not want to shift the responsibilities or burden to others.

Shenzhen 1 Day Trip

Spending a Saturday at Shenzhen with an ex-colleague there and a friend. We arrived SZ through Lokmachao border by train at 2pm. My SZ friend drove us directly to taste the Hangzhou cuisine until 4pm. We kept talking while eating, mostly about our works and the bad. Then we met a traffic jam on the highway and finally arrived DaFang Painting Village. We went directly to buy the leather making tools at a building, walking upstair to 9/F. We were all nearly out of breath when we reached the small rooms with a lot of leather making tools and accessories. We were all very tired after shopping and had a drink at a gallery+cafe.

DaFang Village is less interesting than I expected. Maybe I did not have enough time to pay a visit. Anyway, I finally bought some painting colors and pens and had our dinner at an Anhui restaurant called 醉翁亭.

http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=35354

Although the dishes we ate were not very special but there are a lot to explore next time, I wish.

I was completely exhausted when I got off at the border of HuangGang where was under renovated and needed to walk a very long way to arrive at the immigration counter. I was almost dead at 11:30pm at home but it was nice to meet the old friend and ate so much good food. A Wonderful day.

Upgrade Myself

Almost everything is settled about my job and maybe it's time to upgrade myself. Watched tutorial on net. And today finally finished reading 利志達 ＜大海盗談＞ comic book. His drawing is great and stories are difficult to understand but inspiring.

Last Saturday, I watched a movie called "Strings" in which all characters are puppets with all created sets and props. The story is a bit old fashion, about a revenge story of the son of a king. However, some tricks are interesting, such as once the head string of the puppet is cut, he will die.

And finished the reading of the book about time machine. No book on hand yet so grab the book of 張愛玲＜張看＞ at bookshelf to read. It is composed of several short stories and need to read in a quiet mode.

Seem the team is 20% formed. Hope everything is going well.

Resigned Finally

I was so nervous to submit the letter to my boss. He asked me what the reason was. I answered because I found working here very boring and did not know how to retrieve the passion to work. He said life cannot quit so many times that I would be regret doing so. 3 years is not a long time and quitting now would lose the chance to work in a stable company. And he said I was affected by Wing, negatively affected. I cried...again. Really, I was happy to work in here but I do not allow myself to move forward without any personal development. I was super nervous at the time but now I am relieved......really relieved.

Doing nothing again at Office

After meeting yesterday, further no mood at all to do anything at office but now waiting for the confirmation.

Chatting at Cafe Corridor yesterday was in nice atmosphere, hope it is also nice at working atmosphere, hope the good people come, and the job is challenging. Do I ask for too much? Or am I not aggressive enough?

Like a simple but interesting and organic animation.

http://vimeo.com/17448270

Leisure Sat & Sun in 1st week of August

Doing nothing is the best thing to do in weekend.

Eating, eating and eating and sleeping.

Very slow in drawing as well, a lazy but leisure week.

Risotto-Making Day. Hard rice...

Disappointed Friday

Planning to settle down something but thing goes not according to my wish. The text popped up when I was at the elevator, heading to the meeting. Very disappointed, a bit irritated and annoyed, finally I went for lunch.

June Calendar, but seemed the receiver does not like it that much. Kind of upset. I know it is not very fine work though.

El mapa del tiempo by Felix J. Palma

Finished reading "Room" at office at 5pm today.

After lunch, I visited Lok Man Bookstore and bought another book to kill my time.

This is found from the website about new books release yesterday.

Hope it is interesting as it is such a thick book.

Room by Emma Donoghue

I should be better read the English version. Since it is a book recommended and borrowed from a friend, no complaint should be made for reading a good book free of charge.

The story is intriguing which is about a girl who was kidnapped by a man and gave birth to a child. The mother and son were kept in an underground small room for 5 years until the mother thought of a plan to escape. I brought it out at Starbucks for lunch today and could not stop reading it.Planning to finish reading it today.

Good Link to find books to read:

http://bookaholic.pixnet.net/blog

Surfing Internet when doing nothing at office

Not working for the whole day but just reading the creative websites for fun. Good like this sometimes, better than taking phone calls and talking endlessly/aimlessly.

Using post-it memo into Animation. So cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znN4vKL8baA&feature=player_embedded

Video Ref: Absolute - Blank TVC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqC0dvN7U3U&feature=player_embedded

Photo Ref (www.feck.com)

I think I should draw something simple and colorful.

by Jez Burrows

Paper Art by Sara Burgess

http://www.whitepaperspress.com/?portfolio=art

Last weekend in July & Being Alone

This Saturday I had my oil painting class. On the way to studio, with no book to read recently, I could only surf a designer HK web to kill the time. And several good artists were dig out.

Illustrator: ZSO (Sara Blake)

http://www.hellozso.com/

Photographer: Michelangelo di Battista

http://www.managementartists.com/

Good Link to find fashion photo reference.

My pre-kindergarden painting skill made me crazy. Could not see the color difference is my main weakness. I am weak in using color. That is why I always stick ave beenon black & white style. Anyway, this time, really need patience and persistence, I do want myself to have my oil painting skill upgrade.

This is my recent B&W Sketch, inspired by the 1st July March in Hong Kong. People's power to free our mind.

1st Weekend Being Alone

Sometimes it is good to be alone. More private time, can read more,draw more, think more, and do nothing more.

Second last Saturday of July, drawing with brother's kids was fun, very very interesting to see kids who find drawing interesting and their drawings are amazing interesting as well.

I do like to play with kids, though I do not have the patience to make the love lasting too long.

Sunday, it is the time to be with my dearest partner, finally after days of endless shooting for him. Movie in 3D is not funny at all, wearing the 3D glass resulting in color lost. That is not fair for a colorful animation with colorful panda and animals.

Leisurely at DBay, grabbing the 2 inches thick book of contemporary art which is a collection of Wai when he studied in US. It is a preparation for our trip in September, looking forward to the visit to MoMA and Metropolitan.

The day ended with a delicious self-made hamburger. That was unexpectedly very tasty. And thanks again for the good food and good partner.

4 years later in 2011

It has been 4 years ago since I created this blog. Years passed, I am still drawing for my own. Better now is drawing for my loved one.

Back to basic and simple blogger blog, hope to re-start to note down every little detail each day.

1st Day in Munich

終於這一天來臨了。在辦公室忽悠得久，還去了老遠買晚飯，因此在家趕忙作最後收拾 ，在上愉景灣巴士到機場時發現忘記帶耳筒，令iphone失去了一重要功能。昨晚的機場很冷清，到任何地方也不用排隊，迷迷糊糊的上了機，馬上入睡。頸項痛得很，幸好飛機餐的海鮮粥蠻好吃的，令人為之感動。到了多哈的上空，進入眼簾的是一大片淺啡色沙地？泥地？我不得而知。下機到轉機大樓一來一往用了半個小時。不遠處是一楝棟高聳的玻璃外牆商業大樓。多哈的轉機大樓面積不大，我們在Costa Coffee吃了一個Blueberry muffin,喝了一杯熱咖啡又回到機上，隨即又吃了第二個早餐，sausage＋egg＋fruit＋yogurt＋bread，好吃得停不下來。看了Natalia Portman's "Love & Other Pursuits"，演一位誤殺了自己初生女兒的繼母與她繼子及家人的關係。這五小時機程特別長，既睡不著，看Jostein Gaarder的＂庇里牛斯山的城堡＂又入不了神，請順利快到Munich吧！

等行李輸送出來只用了十五分鐘，便趕忙乘車出市區。到了車站的地底，站在售票機前我倆都感困惑，五至六項選擇，哪一才是出市區最化算方法？按了又按，還以為機器故障連我的銀紙也被吃掉。錯失了兩班車，正想決定買票時竟然有一對美國男女問我們買票程序，而右側又有一對日本女子問相同的問題。我們最後和美國的一對一同乘車，攤分了車票。男的原來在香港中文大學讀了十個月的哲學及英文課程。女的則來自Virginia，約好在Munich會合然後去Prague。我們寒喧了一會兒便各自計劃自已的行程。

我們研究了地圖不久，約四十分鐘便到達中央車站了。沿途的黃色菜花田開得正盛，陽光普照而萬里無雲，天氣跟心情一樣好得很。到達中央車站，跟萍水相逢的美國人告別後，便找尋下塌的酒店Pension Locarno。雖然在車站地底迷惘了一會兒，但一上地面，酒店便在正前方。Check-in後，急不及待去洗澡。三樓房間很近地面，雖然人聲車聲有點嘈雜，但房間清潔及光猛，也算舒適。

三時半的天氣，在陽光下很和暖，陰暗的地方則涼風陣陣。我們走路到了市中心的Marienplatz。那是一條服裝站林立的Boulevard。因為時差的關係，走了不久已覺得很疲倦。雖然經過了很多名勝地標，如聳立在Marienplatz正中央的金色雕像Frauenkirche，特色的服裝站等等，也沒餘力觀賞。走到Hofgarten那一大片草地的公園，有人在晒日光浴，有人在放狗散步，有人在玩如草地滾球的運動，悠然自得地找尋假日樂。這些活動，都是不花一毛錢但郤是洗滌心神時的好選擇。令我妒忌的是香港巿中心沒有一片這樣的地方，人們也沒有這樣的心情，有的也只會聚集滿外傭了吧？走在公園中，又餓又累，出來後隨便挑了間在大樓中間的餐廳，點了菜，抬頭欣賞四週大樓上的歌德色建築，有魔鬼有孔雀有各種動物，感覺詭異但手工細緻而洋溢著無窮的想像力。我們點了羊腿和一客Nuremberg香腸，還剛是五時多而已。

走出餐廳，才發現它位於著名的Neues Rathus內。而Neues Rathus外牆的雕刻簡直令人歎為觀止。回酒店後八時四十分便入睡了，天還亮得很呢！