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Truth or Myth: A Study of Hong Kong Political Consciousness through Media and Education Hong Kong Field Research 2005 Kevin Joseph Williams ANTH350: Social Change in Asia The College of William and Mary January 31, 2005 Introduction and Thesis – As a historical and active center of trade in Asia, Hong Kong culture has always been associated with a strong emphasis on economic pursuit. This coupled with Hong Kong's governmental history and the relationship between governing bodies and residents has produced a widely accepted claim that the population of Hong Kong is largely politically apathetic. Over the course of the last decade, Hong Kong has undergone a number of major political changes including significant democratic reforms initiated by former British Governor Christopher Patton leading up to the 1997 handover where Britain formally relinquished control of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, a communist body. With these significant political events, a number of major demonstrations have occurred in Hong Kong. One such demonstration occurring on July 1, 2003 in protest to the Mainland Chinese imposition of a controversial security amendment to Hong Kong's Basic Law attracted over 500,000 marchers. Despite this heavy political climate, the claims and labels of political apathy have persisted. In my research and fieldwork, my group and I planned on investigating the validity of the label of the Hong Kong populous as politically apathetic through concentrated examination of Hong Kong media and education practices. Beyond constituting fields of interest for the group members, these areas hold major social influence on the population of any community and in turn are theoretically significant fields of examination. It was my opinion that the label of Hong Kong residents as politically apathetic stemmed from the community definition of apathy. I furthermore believed that Hong Kong residents were politically active and engaged at least from a traditionally western perspective. Archival Methods and Research – I began my individual research focusing predominantly on trends in Hong Kong cinema and political awareness. It was my intention to examine political apathy through the tighter venue of documentary movements among Hong Kong independent filmmakers. As I began to investigate the subject through articles, online postings, and other literature I found few solid publications addressing the subject. As a result, I turned my focus more toward general political consciousness. Throughout this early research stage, certain themes became heavily reiterated: the economic emphasis and Hong Kong society, learned passivity, and general political apathy. These themes are what drove the final development of our project and helped to formulate a number of pertinent theoretical questions. 1. What is the reasoning behind the heavy emphasis on economic prosperity in Hong Kong? From a historical standpoint, Hong Kong has been a trade crossroads in Asia for centuries. Furthermore, it had spent much of its modern history under the colonial rule of Britain. Although barring Hong Kong residents from actively participating in government, Britain allowed for an efficient free-market economic system to establish itself in Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents had little say, but they could achieve a more than reasonable level of economic comfort. In broad terms, a result of this system was a population who was happy enough with the manner the in which the government was running the country so long as the free-market system remained in tact and unhindered. 2. How is the education system structured? What qualities does it emphasize in its students? Who are the teachers? The Hong Kong education system consists of primary, secondary, and university education. The progression of your educational career, as well as the reputation of the schools you attend very much dependent on the scores you receive on two major standardized exams: the HKCEE (Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination) and the HKALE (Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination). Poor score can preclude you from further education, or restrict you to certain school such as technical institutions or art colleges. As the tests emphasize rote memorization of performance, so too does the Hong Kong educational system. University placement constitutes top achievement within the Hong Kong educational hierarchy. In part because the HKCEE and the HKALE are structured to emphasize rote memorization of a series of facts, the Hong Kong education system reinforces that ability. Postmodern analytical thought is not taught by and large. Memorization and recitation constitute the main portion of Hong Kong school work. There is always a correct answer; the teacher is always right. In many ways Hong Kong education reflects a throwback to the Confucian ideals historically championed in Chinese society. Primary and secondary school teachers are Chinese for the most part. Many are not degree holders. University students often hold jobs as part time teachers and tutors. At the university level, a large portion of the teachers are foreigners, predominantly white, and the courses are often taught in English. For many Hong Kong students, their first experiences with postmodern teaching processes occur in the University. It is the first circumstance under which they may challenge faculty, have to think critically about modern issues, or coherently conduct non-recitation oriented presentations. In all, the education system leading up to the university level did seem to champion passive study and behavior in students. 3. What is the definition of political apathy in the context of Hong Kong residents? Who is calling them politically apathetic and why? In the literature and articles I reviewed before conducting my research, a coherent definition of political apathy in the Hong Kong social context was absent. "Political apathy" seemingly took on the role of media buzz-word, conveying a vague meaning which could be interpreted in a myriad of ways. The only dialogue which would seem to hint at the reasoning behind this conclusion of apathy was the fact that one strong unified rational for activism was devoid from individuals who took part in political events. By and large, these reports came from Hong Kong media sources and editorials. 4. Why is the independent cinema movement in Hong Kong underemphasized considering the thriving major film industry present there? The article I reviewed did not go into detail about the independent film movements in Hong Kong. From what I understood after reading, it is very rare for a Hong Kong independent feature to become popular. Movie theaters in Hong Kong generally have no more than three screens and as a result the selection they offer is limited. American movies are the most popular films screened, followed by big-budget Hong Kong productions. One could conclude from this that independent cinema, regarded more as art than entertainment in Hong Kong, lacks specific distribution venues. One could further infer that funding programs are not in place for independent film which remains a relatively expensive medium. 5. Has there been any noticeable shift in political activity in all the previously mentioned areas since the 1997 handover? With the 1997 handover, a number of large-scale politically charged public demonstrations have occurred. Also, distinct political factions have emerged. There seems to be a level of open political dialogue occurring. It would seem that political activity has awakened in Hong Kong residents leading up to and after the handover, if it was not present before. Oral History (pre-trip) – Initially I had planned on submitting a number of standard surveys to education and media experts in Hong Kong. I chose to focus predominantly on the faculty of Hong Kong University who might have some expertise in the fields I meant to investigate. I sent out ten emails, however received to useable responses from any of the faculty. I then decided to focus my interviews on Hong Kong international students studying here at the College of William and Mary. Both interviews were conducted using the AOL Instant Messenger chat service on the internet. This service is convenient as it occurs in real time over the computer. Furthermore, it can be conducted in one's own room, removing the express need to meet with the interviewee in person. Lastly, using the chat service removes the need to write down a transcript as it automatically records the discussion. The interview transcripts can be found in Appendix A. For these interviews, I asked a number of major analytical questions central to the group's research plan. The fist of these major questions was: In terms of Hong Kong culture/society, what exactly is the meaning of political apathy? Political apathy is an issue widely discussed in regards to the Hong Kong citizenry, and we believed that as a point of departure for our research, it was important to establish a distinct definition to use as a point of departure. The second major question was concerning the types of media being broadcast to the public: As far as media content is concerned, how much politically themed programming is being broadcast in Hong Kong today? How would this compare to before 1997? We believe this question to be critical in establishing the relationship between media and political consciousness. Another major question we asked was as follow: What kind of movies to you tend to go and see? How does this compare from peer group to peer group? How aware are people of the independent film movement? This series of questions was intended to gauge the popularity of cinema forms and genres among the Hong Kong populous, as well as bring up the role independent cinema plays. Questions were also asked in regards to institutionalized education in Hong Kong and how that correlates with both media tastes and political consciousness. The last major question was in regards to the Hong Kong/Chinese relationship in regards to media: Is there any implicit/explicit censorship of the media? This brings up the somewhat touchy subject of mainland China in a less direct manner. The first individual interviewed was Andy Hui-Shing Lau. Andy is a twenty-one year old male. Andy was born in Hong Kong; however he received his elementary education in Vancouver, British Columbia. He then returned to Hong Kong for his secondary education. Upon completion, he returned to North America in order to attend university courses at the College of William and Mary, where he is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. Because of Andy's experience living at length in both Hong Kong and North America, coupled with his exposure and participation in the education systems of both countries, he has been a resourceful and insightful interviewee. Andy also has relatives and high school friends studying film and television at the Academy for Performing Arts in Wanchai, which gives him a firm grounding in the subjects our group means to explore. As a hobby, Andy gives historically based walking tours in Hong Kong lending to a strong analytic awareness of the area. In his response, Andy contextualized his responses through historical analysis. When responding to questions regarding political activity in Hong Kong, he brought up a peak in activism occurring in the period from 1960 – 1970, with an even more concentrated boom from 1969-1970, where a series of riots took place between members of the communist party and the British colonial rule. Andy also lent a lot of insight into the presence of the independent film culture in Hong Kong. Essentially, there is a lot of independent cinema being produced in Hong Kong, and while many people are aware of it, very few become wildly popular. Andy approximated that maybe one film a year will make headlines. Independent cinema in Hong Kong usually expresses discontent over certain social issues. Andy also went on to mention that mainstream cinema in Hong Kong acts rather independently of mainland China, and therefore receives very little outside imposed censorship, if any. He did go on to mention however, that certain forms of media, predominantly television and radio, are undergoing underhand implicit censorship. In commenting on television and radio programming of a political nature in Hong Kong, Andy asserted that a large percentage of shows are satirical in nature. These shows poke fun at the government and government officials and have, until recently, been open to including mainland China as well. Andy said however, that as of late there have been rumors that television and radio personalities have been receiving threats from unnamed individuals in regards to their shows. A number have been mugged. This echo's an instance in 1960 where a radio personality was burned alive for speaking out against the communist movement. The rumors state that the threats are originating in Beijing. The reason Andy lent as to why radio and television were targeted is because, as of now, cinema is not a political media in the mainstream, while television and radio holds some influence over Hong Kong public opinion. As to discourse on the education system, Andy took an outside perspective in his responses. In his opinion, critical reasoning is not a value stressed in the Hong Kong educational system. The values are more squarely centered on fact memorization and mathematical performance. Politics and a political vocabulary is not something stressed in the system. Andy also mentioned that, due to the rigorous program of study present necessary to progress in education, there is a negative correlation between the education level and political consciousness. The second individual interviewed was Janice Chan, another international student hailing from Hong Kong studying at the College of William and Mary. Janice is an eighteen year old female. Janice attended all of her education in Hong Kong until the point of leaving to attend university in the United States. She attended the elite international school/middle class, which is regarded as one of the top schools in Hong Kong. As a result of her study at the international school, Janice speaks strong English, although not nearly as fluently as Andy for obvious reasons. As an interviewee, Janice is a good candidate because of her social and educational experience being raised exclusively in Hong Kong. Also, because of her attendance at the international school, she would be considered a member of the educational elite in Hong Kong, giving her some insight into the social differences brought on by the varying levels of education present in the Hong Kong hierarchy. Here at the college, Janice is also pursuing a degree in psychology, with a secondary concentration in interdisciplinary studies. Janice's interview revealed valuable insight into popular entertainment and the pop-culture pursuits of high school and university aged people in Hong Kong at its various levels. She went into the fact that, while most students are aware of the production of independent film in Hong Kong, it is not a popular form among the educational elite. She goes even so far as to assert that domestic cinema in general, even mainstream film, is not popular with the more educated Hong Kong student population. She attributes this discrepancy to the grandiose Hollywood cinema style and the consistent ability of higher education students to comprehend English. She also went on to mention that politically based media is not popular among her peer group. While watching the news is common, commentary shows and political expose is not popular unless a crisis is happening like the Article 23 or Right of Abode dispute or the SARS epidemic. She believes that political investment among the Hong Kong population has been on the rise over the last two years. She did however point out that the youth generation is decidedly less suspicious of Beijing than is the older population, generally because to the conditions under which the older generations came to Hong Kong to begin with. Hong Kong Field Research – The research conducted in Hong Kong was broken down into the two components of the project: education and media. A larger emphasis was to be placed on the media element of the project during my stay as a number of expert interviews had been conducted before my arrival in the field of education. My group and I decided to focus our research methods predominantly on expert interviews, key informants, and site visits. Only a small amount of time was invested in exploring archival venues while in Hong Kong. Education – Interviewees (pre-trip) Conducted by Sally Mok Siu Ngar and Stephen Wong Tse Hang • A. E. Sweeting, PhD. – Department of History: Visiting Professor HKU • Eric C. Y. Lai – History Master Student: HKU • Joanna Wong Wing Sze – Business Undergraduate Student: HKU • David Tsui Sung Pong – Geography Undergraduate Student: HKU A number of interesting points came out of these interviews in regards to Hong Kong political consciousness. All of the interviewees disagree that Hong Kong residents are politically apathetic. They reference the conception that it is common for individuals and families to devote time to reading the newspaper and watching news programming on television. While these routines and behavior patterns are relatively commonplace, not all individuals who partake in these routines choose to involve themselves greatly in political activities. The matter of definitions came up over the course of these interviews. When asked their opinions as to whether or not Hong Kong residents were politically apathetic, the interviewees generally had to clarify what was meant by the term. All responded that, in the context of awareness and general investment, the label of political apathy is nothing more than a myth. To them being conscious of the movements around them signaled a level of investment that countered the popular claim of apathy. They did however concede that much of the Hong Kong population was rather politically passive, particularly the youth. As previously mentioned, Hong Kong education is a graduated system centered around two major standardized examinations (HKCEE and HKALE), which emphasize memorization and recitation. The program of study leading up to these exams is a rigorous one which leaves little time for the in-depth study of current events. This fact, coupled with the relative youth of primary and secondary school students plays a major part in contributing to the relative passivity, bordering on apathy, of the youth population. So much time is spent in study; all pastimes the youth might engage in are usually geared toward the escapist end of popular culture. While the interviewees did concede to this point, they were careful to point out that the explanation for Hong Kong youth passivity and its residual effects on the adult community should not be completely affixed to region's educational practices. As mentioned in the Archival Methods and Research Section, Hong Kong has spent much of its modern history under the colonial rule of Britain. Britain actively restricted Hong Kong residents from actively participating in government for some time and, as a result, implemented policies which would deemphasize the merits of political consciousness. Although the level of Hong Kong residents participating in government has risen in recent decades, stifling political investment has remained a policy for the Hong Kong government, even following the 1997 handover. The interviewees were careful to point out the syllogistic relationship the colonial British and HKSAR governments hold over students through the education system. It is the government which sets the systems which are in place. It is the government which supports the emphasis on standardized testing. In many ways, it is the government which stalls the implementation of postmodern teaching and learning styles through their determination of the overall educational syllabus in Hong Kong. Interviewees (Field Research) • Francis Mok Him Man – Secondary School Student • Lee King Hung – Secondary School Student These two interviewees did a lot to confirm the overall mentality of secondary school students in Hong Kong. Francis Mok is the younger brother of Sally Mok, and Lee King Hung is a tutoring student of Stephen Wong's The students mentioned that political topics are rarely emphasized in their daily classroom discussions. History would be the closest thing to politically themed discourse the students engage in. They mentioned that their course of study was geared toward memorization/recitation and mathematical performance. As far as pastime was concerned, non-dramatic television and media programming was not high on the list. Movies are popular, especially Hollywood spectacle pieces and melodrama. Karaoke clubs also have a large draw among the youth. On an endearing side-note, in the interview with Francis Mok, which was conducted over telephone, the first thing he did was to ask his older sister for money for the weekend. The rigors of study comprise so much time from the secondary school students that in their limited free time, anything beyond escapist pursuit is undesirable. Site Visits • RTHK Hong Kong City Forum The RTHK City Forum is a weekly program held at Victoria Park were selected city politicians come to hold a public discussion with any members of the community present. The event is televised live from the location. Barriers are erected around the stage and the first one-hundred and fifty people seeking entry are allowed into a covered tent area and are allowed to take a seat. It is these people who are able to directly question the politicians. The remainder of the residents and bystanders are made to line up along the guard rail to observe the forum, which has an audio system adequate enough to be heard for some distance. The demographic of people present at the forum was noteworthy. Of the one- hundred and fifty people present within the forum, only four appeared to be in the thirty to forty age range, two of which were clearly journalists and another a school teacher. There was a large senior contingency, many of whom clearly hailed from a more working class economic level. The remainder of the crowd, with the exception of the group of people I came with, was comprised of secondary school students. These students had clearly been brought as part of an organized field trip, considering they were wearing their respective school uniforms. Participation in the event was fairly well represented. At least one member of each respective group, including our own, participated in the dialogue, which was conducted almost exclusively in Cantonese. One of the elderly men in the forum, along with a number of others along the guard rail loudly chastised one of the politicians, often out of turn, demanding his resignation. After the forum, I learned that these elderly men are exclusively Beijing sympathizers and had made the habit of attending the forum weekly in order to demand the resignation of any pro-democratic politicians which might be in attendance. Another interesting point about those men was that, after the forum, when we tried to conduct an interview with a group of them, they didn't seem to be able to articulate their political positions at all. While it may be that they didn't feel inclined to speak with us, all they did say was, "This [the forum] is rubbish." Also following the completion of the forum, I asked Sally Mok why there was such a high presence of secondary school students present at the forum. She informed me that these students were from lower-tier schools that were attempting to improve their image. The more elite establishments in Hong Kong did not have the need to organize such trips as their reputations were already solid. As much as the schools present were attempting to appear engaged in political activism, they were there more so to get on television. The excursion would both appeal to some of the parents of the students in attendance and act as free advertisement to the general public. In all, it would seem that political activism is being now being seen as a positive thing, considering educational establishments view their open involvement to be good advertising. Analysis The Hong Kong education system works in many ways to promote passivity among its students and transfers that trait in varying degrees to the adult population who passed through the process. The curriculum is both rigid and detached, lacking any true form of civic education within its constructs. The curriculum furthermore is structured around a recitation and memorization oriented cocktail of important standardized tests which play an enormous role in determining the educational future of any student. Many of the secondary school teachers are non-degree holders who run an authoritarian classroom rather than engage in any postmodern teaching methods. The result in many ways is a group of strong academic performers who have little to no interest in their surroundings beyond the fulfillment of their personal economic and leisure goals. It is important to remember that this educational system is designed and controlled by the government, which has had an active investment in keeping the general population disinterested in politics since the early British colonial period. The HKSAR is much the same. A passive population makes for easier and unchallenged ruling for any governing body. It is also important to reiterate that passivity does not equate to apathy. Although many Hong Kong residents choose not to participate in political activism, they do often have a strong investment in what is occurring and take care to keep themselves updated as to current events. Television news and newspapers are popular and, despite the youth's apparent lack of interest, the adult population is engaged in the happenings around them. Media – Background As hinted at before, media plays an important part in the daily lives of Hong Kong residents. It acts as a source of information as well as a venue for escapist leisure. Despite all of the emphasis placed on media in Hong Kong, there is not a large variety of programming or venues open for different productions. Hong Kong has two public access television channels, ATV and TVB, as well as three available cable channels. Any remainder of programming is run-off from mainland China. In addition to this, Hong Kong is home to three major radio stations: RTHK, Metro Radio, and Commercial Radio. The HKSAR government holds a considerable amount of control over the public access channels and, although no specific censorship program is in effect, much of the available programming is comprised of service announcements. Hong Kong has a thriving narrative film system which has been active for approximately a century. Hong Kong has given rise to Kung Fu film, developing much of the cinematic style and techniques characteristic of the genre. A thriving star system has been in place for decades, and in many ways the Hong Kong film industry is similar to the Hollywood studio system in California. Domestically produced large-budget Hong Kong films are rather popular within the lower economic classes, as they are accessible due to the language spoken in the film. They are also less expensive to attend than foreign releases, costing about one third the admission prices. Among the higher educated, Hollywood cinema dominates in popularity. One interviewee asserted that as the proficiency in English rises, so too does the draw of foreign cinema. Interviewees (pre-trip) Interviews conducted by Cindy Ho Sze Man • Li Chen Wing – Former Journalist: TVB • Chan Chi Kin – HKU representative for the Hong Kong Federation of Students These interviewees lent a lot of insight into the treatment of sensitive political subjects within the media industry. For the past several years, much of the reporting of news in Hong Kong was conducted in a semi-satirical way so as to draw a wide viewer base. Since the years following the handover however, the satire has been aimed more at the local HKSAR government. Much like larger corporations in Hong Kong, media has adopted an officially neutral stance toward Beijing and high ranking Chinese officials. While there is an intangible tension present between Hong Kong and Beijing as a result of an uncertain future, another reason for the adoption of a neutral stance is to avoid offending Beijing sympathizers in Hong Kong and thus alienate a viewer base. In turn, television programming has shifted its focus on social and domestic issues rather than address sweeping political themes. Furthermore, much more criticism is placed on the HKSAR government, despite its relative influence on the programming aired. The interviewees asserted that this was a government means of pacifying the Hong Kong public in regards to the uncertainty of future relations with mainland China. The same is said to be true about the government regulated RTHK radio station. As far as ratings and trends are concerned, peak timeslots in Hong Kong are devoted toward entertainment programming. Soap Operas receive the most extensive audience. This is yet another throwback to the escapist culture present in Hong Kong society. As an affluent economic center, many Hong Kong residents work long and hard hours. In their off time they enjoy viewing non-realist programming which helps them forget their current situations, good or bad. Interviewees (Field Research) • Peter Yung Wai-Chuen – Head of Producing/Production Management; School of Film and Television: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts • Mark Erder – Managing Director: Asia Pacific Vision • Christopher Slaughter – Business Development and Programming: Asia Pacific Vision • Dima Khatib – Roving Correspondent: Al-Jazirah • John Elphinstone – Free lance cameraman/editor Peter Yung Wai-Chuen has work in production for over thirty years, the bulk of his experience taking place in the United States where he worked producing documentary film for PBS and later for British programming. He is currently the head of producing / production manager at the APA's School of Film and Television. The interview with him focused predominantly on the state of documentary on Hong Kong. Documentary is not terribly prevalent in Hong Kong for functional purposes. The distribution venues are not available for the medium. With television, a very low amount of annual air time is allotted for independent documentary (14-26hrs). Therefore, funding and consignment is not readily given to the filmmakers as the product will likely be screened once in an art cinema house and then shelved. This does not yield a high economic return. While some filmmakers may choose to independently finance their own pieces, these do not gain much notice. Hong Kong does not boast an extensive underground film community (maybe 2 individuals), although mainland China does on a small scale (because of the inherent danger involved). Another reason that documentary and other independent media are not terribly prevalent is that television has only begun to expand within the last 10-15 years. Previous to that there were only two stations in Hong Kong, most of which featuring public service programming. As broadcast venues have expanded, so has the independent film mediums, however it remains in a relatively nascent stage. Dramatic cinema is more prevalent on an independent level than is documentary. Hong Kong, until recently has lacked compelling social issues on which to produce documentary. This is in part because of the small and contained space of Hong Kong combined with the private social nature and passive political stance of residents. With the 1997 handover however, compelling issues have arisen. This has created an environment more in tune with documentary cinema and as a result, interest in the medium is rising, although it is still underdeveloped. Politics are making their way into film. There is no official censorship body for Hong Kong media. However, trends in investment tend to govern media content. A filmmaker is very likely to formulate his or her content in such a way as to please investors. This in turn creates an atmosphere of self-censorship in order to acquire the funds necessary to finance a production. The interview session with the remaining listed interviewees focused predominantly on media correspondence in Hong Kong, as that was the area of expertise for the subjects. This meeting leant interesting interpretations on the political consciousness of Hong Kong residents and their representation in the media. Their argument was that Hong Kong residents are very politically conscious as would be evident by the large scale demonstrations which have taken place over the last several years. Hong Kong is, as they see it, the most free-market economy in the world and although the classic western European conception of democracy is not in practice here, there is a form which can be interpreted. As for political involvement, the interviewees pointed to the large voter turnout seen in the past several LegCo elections which in general dwarfs US voter turnout per capita. They also drew attention to the grueling conditions which over 500,000 Hong Kong residents endured to participate in the July 1st Demonstrations. These demonstrations take place in the middle of the summer with its high heat and humidity. They also pointed that it is common to see lobbyists and protestors of all ages staging minor demonstrations outside the LegCo building on a daily basis. People participate in the large demonstrations for a myriad of reasons including discontent with the local political system, fear of Beijing, discontent with housing, celebration, exercise, dating, and so on. Many people do not even really know why they are marching. While this may seem to strengthen an argument for political apathy, the interviewees stressed that it is not necessarily broad-based endorsement of some philosophical ideal which makes HK residents politically active, it is the, "fact of participation." The interviewees were quick to establish the media's role in creating and perpetuating the conception of Hong Kong residents as being politically apathetic. In Hong Kong, reporting is not a solid or lucrative career. Reporting is a fairly bottom rung occupation and is not long term for the most part. As foreign correspondents, the interviewees mentioned that each time they go to cover an event the news crew will consist of the same people with the exception of the reporters. On the whole, Hong Kong reporters are regarded as too young, too inexperienced, and too immature. They are renowned for asking asinine questions, not understanding the response, and rephrasing the same asinine questions. The interviewees mentioned that it is common for Hong Kong reporters from different news agencies to meet up after an event and "compare notes" to create one standard take. They are interested in reducing stories and the motivation of events into one broad philosophical truth. As a result the myth of political apathy has emerged. Regarding documentary, the interviewees mentioned that there is a very small contingency of underground documentary filmmakers faithfully recording the unfolding of modern political events such as the July 1st Demonstration. By small, they mean probably fewer than five individuals. Much like Peter Yung Wai-Chuen asserted, the reason Hong Kong based documentary is not prevalent is for economic reasons. Hong Kong produced documentary film is pretty much guaranteed not to yield high economic return if any. While the interviewees asserted strongly that Hong Kong residents are politically active, the fact remains that economy is still highly emphasized in the region. Often stereotypes come from an element of truth. Sites Visited • Hong Kong University Library Visual Media Center • RTHK City Forum • The Hong Kong Film Archives The Hong Kong University Library had an interesting selection of videos available for screening. They included a number of international and domestic narrative films, the latest ones dating around 1998. Otherwise, the bulk of their collection consisted of educational or instructional corporate documentaries. Large multi-tape sets are available on subjects ranging from business tactics to maintenance for air conditioning units. The collection is categorized by subject matter. There are large sections on science, international history, military history, rape, health, subjective documentary, mechanics, economics, and more. Hong Kong specific videos appear largely absent. There is nothing of a controversial subject matter present in the collection. The RTHK City Forum, mentioned above in the Education section acted to convey the role of media in politics on another level. The forum consists of live coverage of an open discussion between LegCo members and individuals from the community. The broadcast airs weekly. This in and of itself is a politically geared program. While the show itself champions no particular political stance, it nonetheless delivers political content to the community. According to Sally Mok, it is a popularly watched program. The attendance demographic at the forum is indicative of the escapist/economic culture present in Hong Kong. As I stated before, there was a distinct lack of individuals aged thirty to forty in the audience. As I had it explained, those individuals generally worked hard during the week and, as the forum occurs on Sundays, those individuals would not be motivated to trek out to a forum on their day off when they could watch the proceedings on television. The Hong Kong Film Archives had a very nice facility. They carry a fairly large collection of literature on film in general and several pieces on Hong Kong film specifically. The facility also boasts a fairly eclectic array of periodicals and magazine publications on most film topics ranging from Entertainment Magazine to Asian film topics. The bottom level of the Archives had a nice museum-style display of the history of Hong Kong film production tricks, many of which have characterized the Kung Fu film genre. The display focused heavily on the earlier history of the genre including the first Hong Kong film. Some modern tricks like blue screens were showcased as well. Once in the resource center I cruised through the book collections and found most of the books published in English were standard American or British releases. They were relatively useless for the purposes of this research. There were a number of Cantonese books. There were publications of the yearly Hong Kong cinema releases which would be useful for more long-term research. The English magazine publications had some interesting articles, many of which about trend in mainland cinema. One magazine had a nice pithy article on Hong Kong independent films which I photocopied. We arranged to watch three documentary films and were lead into a large private viewing booth. Two of the films were turn of the century piece, one of which by T. A. Edison's company, depicting the street of Hong Kong. The third piece was a News on the March style Japanese propaganda film chronicling the invasion of Hong Kong during WWII. These films said quite a bit about the impressive collection of film the Archive has amassed, but did little to help our research. The people behind the desk who selected the films for us to watch appeared relatively unfamiliar with documentary as a genre and defaulted to these films. Afterwards, we submitted a list of recent documentaries to check the archive and they indeed had them. Films Screened • Kung Fu Hustle (Stephen Chow, 2004) • The Circle's Corner (Lam Kim Hung, 2001) • Y.M. Yeung Ming (Chow Wing Fung/Lee Man Nei, 2002) • Rice Distribution (Tammy Cheung, 2002) The film Kung Fu Hustle is supposedly very popular and Stephen Chow (writer/director/producer/star) is one of the most prominent contemporary Asian comedy stars around. According to his short biography (www.kungfuhustle.com), he has starred in more than 50 films and attained enormous fame with his production of Shaolin Soccer (Chow, 2001). The film was released on December 23, 2004. When we arrived, the theater was rather crowded especially considering the film had been out for several weeks and we visited on a Tuesday night. The film itself was a slapstick fantastical comedy which parodies the Kung Fu genre that Hong Kong was central in creating. Many archetypal devices were present, including many which we saw referenced at the Hong Kong Film Archives. Furthermore, many big production American films were parodied including The Shining (Kubrick, 1980) and Spiderman (Raimi, 2002). The film was 80 minutes long, which according to HKU student Tsang Chiu Long (Carol) is the standard length of most Hong Kong releases. The other films listed were independent productions which gained some acclaim at the Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards. I screened the films at the Hong Kong Arts Center, which conducts the awards. The Circle's Corner (Lam Kim Hung, 2001) won the grand prize at the annual Short Film and Video Awards. The piece is on the more artistic side of the documentary genre. It in a way chronicles the philosophy of three handicapped Hong Kong residents (blind, mute, and deaf) as it applies to society given their respective condition. Visually, the three interviewees are never shown and act only as disembodied voices. Their narration is juxtaposed over very lengthy shots of different places around the Hong Kong landscape in real-time. The voice of the mute is represented through subtitles. In all, there did not seem to be any blatant overarching message or position present in the piece. It was an interesting art cinema work. Y.M. – Yeung Ming (Chow Wing Fung/Lee Man Nei, 2002) received the Jury Special Award at the festival. This was a straight style documentary with a clear objective. It chronicles the story of a girl who was about to be repatriated to mainland China and separated from her family as a result of the reinterpretation of the Right of Abode by the Hong Kong government. The film follows her on the last few days of her stay in Hong Kong. Ultimately she does gain the appropriate documentation to remain in Hong Kong. The film makes the clear assertion that the reinterpretation of the Right of Abode should be reexamined because it is a harmful law which breaks families apart in cruel ways. I found this film to be the most interesting because of its clear political statement. The final film screened was Rice Distribution (Tammy Cheung, 2002) which claimed the grand prize at the festival. This film documented the annual Taoist Yu Lan Festival, which is a major religious event where the elderly are distributed sacks of rice. This practice holds major religious significance and the festival draws huge crowds. There is always a fair amount of confusion at the festival and many police are around maintaining order. The director opted to not interview anybody or follow any particular person, but rather to somewhat objectively capture the event and cut it to some semblance of continuity. It carried no overt message, but was a generally well crafted film. Analysis Media plays a large role in developing the opinions of Hong Kong citizens and the world's opinion of Hong Kong. It also acts as a specific window of focus into the economic society of Hong Kong. Hong Kong citizens, although often overextended and unmotivated to partake in regular political activism do keep current on the recent events affecting their lives. Television news and newspaper publications are popular and make up the foundations of many routine among residents. The stigma of journalism in Hong Kong as a controversial and unpleasant profession which breaks from broadly accepted Confucian ideals prolongs the poor and immature correspondence which has led to the creation of a number of myths about the Hong Kong public which have become widely accepted. Fortunately on this note, journalism is becoming a more widely accepted field of study within Hong Kong universities and perhaps in time the stigma and, in turn, the poor work will disappear. In terms of Hong Kong independent cinema movements and expressiveness in cinema, its lack of presence is a strong assertion of Hong Kong's economic propensity and escapist mentality. While cinema may be viewed as an art for, economic return following distribution is necessary to peak interest in investors. Furthermore, social angst and political expose cinema does little to remove hard-working Hong Kong residents from the drudgery of their daily lives. There has been a significant pick up in independent cinema since its Hong Kong induction in 1997 with Made in Hong Kong (Chan, 1997). Within the next several years, as a socially self-analytic mentality continues to grow in Hong Kong, perhaps independent films will come into the position it enjoys in western societies. It is an exiting time for cinema trends in Hong Kong. Conclusion – Media and education are perhaps two of the most influential things on the mass conscious of a society. They lay a large role in shaping a country's perception of itself and the perceptions outsiders have of the country. Due to a discernable mix of events stemming from both the previously mentioned systems as well as many other socio- cultural layers, a myth of political apathy has emerged in Hong Kong. It is just that: a myth. Hong Kong is a region undergoing large and fascinating changes both politically and socially. In many ways, Hong Kong and its residents have been socially and politically dormant as a byproduct of their own economic success. With the 1997 handover, distinct trends in culture, society, politics, and a number of other areas are starting to emerge making Hong Kong an important place to watch in the years to come. Bibliography – Sally Mok Siu Ngar, Interviews with HKU student and Hong Kong resident Stephen Wong Tse Hang, Interviews with HKU student and Hong Kong resident Cindy Ho Sze Man, Interviews with HKU student and Hong Kong resident Andy Hui-Shing Lau, William and Mary Student and Hong Kong resident Janice Chan, William and Mary student and Hong Kong resident Peter Yung Wai-Chuen – Head of Producing/Production Management; School of Film and Television: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (interview) Mark Erder – Managing Director: Asia Pacific Vision (interview) Christopher Slaughter – Business Development and Programming: Asia Pacific Vision (interview) Dima Khatib – Roving Correspondent: Al-Jazirah (interview) John Elphinstone – Free lance cameraman/editor (interview) 2004. Stephen Chow Biography. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.kungfuhustle.com Ho, Sam. "The Hong Kong Indie" Cinemaya 61-61, 2003-2004 2003. About Hong Kong. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.info.gov.hk/info/hkbrief/eng/ahk.htm 2004. Government Structure [Hong Kong]. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.info.gov.hk/ef3.htm Hong Kong Voice of Democracy, 1998. "Xinjiang Separatists Documentary Censored by CNT." World Wide Web Publication, http://www.democracy.org.hk/EN/index.html Brown, Amanda J., 2002. Hong Kong: Exit the Dragon. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.pwcglobal.com/Extweb/industry.nsf/docid/9C8D438A16B39E9385256C910 05D43A2 Ain-Ling, Wong, 2001. Monographs of Hong Kong Film Veterans 2 An Age of Idealism: Great Wall & Feng Huang Day. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.winstate.com.hk/hkfa/english/publication/pub14_preface.html Gaborro, Allen, 1997. Hong Kong and China, 1997. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.eclectica.org/v1n10/gaborro_hk.html 2003. Encyclopedia: Hong Kong Movie. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Hong-Kong-movie Sala, Ilaria, 2003. CEPA and Hong Kong Film: The Mixed Blessing of Market Access. World Wide Web Publication, http://iso.hrichina.org/download_repository/2/b8_sala4.2003.pdf Chung, Winnie, 2004. The Mainland China/Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement -- CEPA -- promises to be a major boost to the territory's struggling production sector. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/international/feature_display.jsp?vnu_conten t_id=1000512465 Roig, John, 1997. John Woo Interview. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.jonroig.com/johnwoo.html?POSTNUKESID=05592bb06e8b50172328eb8 918d8a7a1 Yuen, M.K., 2003. CEPA – Consideration for Non-Hong Kong Companies. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.chinabusinessstrategies.com/CEPA1.htm Schechter, Danny, 2002. At Trial in Honk Kong Puts China on Trial. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file =article&sid=133 Leung, Janny, 2002. Falun Gong Protestors Target Jiang. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.cesnur.org/2002/falun_005.htm Timeline Hong Kong. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.timelines.ws/countries/HONG_KONG.HTML University of California, Berkley, 1996. East Asian Cinema: China, Korea and Japan. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/Asianfilm.html Asian Human Rights Commission, 2003. Hong Kong: Article 23 Delay. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.rghr.net/mainfile.php/0528/571 Yates, Stephen J., 1998. Global Beat: Putting Democracy Back on Track in Hong Kong. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.nyu.edu/globalbeat/asia/yates051598.html Chinoy, Mike, 2000. Low Voter Turnout Characterizes Hong Kong Election. World Wide Web Publication, http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/east/09/11/hongkong.elex.02/ East, West, South, North, 2004. The Hong Kong Election Results. World Wide Web Publication, http://www.zonaeuropa.com/01909.htm Appendix Interview with Andy Lau Kevin (setanta900) – Andy (Phoenix Alhs) setanta900: In terms of Hong Kong culture/society, what exactly is the meaning of political apathy? Phoenix alhs: hmmm Phoenix alhs: in terms of Chinese culture, people don't usually get too involved with politics Phoenix alhs: as long as there is someone to take care of the things that are going on, then most people don't care too much about politics Phoenix alhs: before 1997, there has been a lack of interest in politics Phoenix alhs: the British rule don't really have anything that concerned the people Phoenix alhs: economy is good Phoenix alhs: and there was relatively low crime rates setanta900: so is politics more or less confined to government and law enforcement? Phoenix alhs: to began with Phoenix alhs: in recent years, especially with the Right of Abode Issue, SARS, Article 23 Phoenix alhs: people have become more involved in politics in recent years Phoenix alhs: there has been a general upset Phoenix alhs: resentment to how the government is handling issues setanta900: alright setanta900: next question i guess is do u think that passivity is a culturally reinforced trait Phoenix alhs: hmmm setanta900: someone in HK said that in an interview setanta900: i thought it stuck out Phoenix alhs: well, it is really hard to say Phoenix alhs: in General, Chinese people have been subjects Phoenix alhs: 2000 years of imperial rule Phoenix alhs: and even moving into the era of nationalist/ communist rule Phoenix alhs: the Chinese people have always been subjects Phoenix alhs: in their mentality, only a selected few, through hard work will go into the government Phoenix alhs: they will take of everything, every one has their part Phoenix alhs: so in that sense, no much is given into poltiics Phoenix alhs: because politices is a game played by a selected few Phoenix alhs: and that is a notion embeddedin our culture with years of confucism and imperial rule Phoenix alhs: Hogn kong sort of have the same mentality, but at the same time, the exposure has changed that too Phoenix alhs: Brisiths rule allows a certain amount of involvement, it allows for media to critisize issues Phoenix alhs: and in that sense, the public is notified, well informed Phoenix alhs: whether they response depends Phoenix alhs: there are several periods when Hong Kong was politically active Phoenix alhs: during 1969 Phoenix alhs: when there were great riots and conflicts between the commies in HK Phoenix alhs: and British rule setanta900: cool Phoenix alhs: there have been movment of nationalism around the same period about the Daiyou Island which Japan claimed belongs to them Phoenix alhs: so there were certain phases Phoenix alhs: the 1960-70 Phoenix alhs: was a period when Hong Kong suddenly became very politically active Phoenix alhs: then, with the economic boom, poltical involvement sort of die down Phoenix alhs: peopel don't become fully apathetic towards it setanta900: ok setanta900: As far as media content is concerned, how much politically themed programming is being broadcast in Hong Kong today? How would this compare to before 1997? Phoenix alhs: there are several incidents to look at Phoenix alhs: before 1997, you can say that there is more or less a lenient outlook, and there are a lot of programs which analyze government poltiics or make fun of things setanta900: thats interesting Phoenix alhs: that aspect of it started off in 1960 Phoenix alhs: when a radio personality was burned alive for his views against Commies setanta900: wow Phoenix alhs: and pretty soon, a lot of people demanded for protection and rights of expression Phoenix alhs: and so the government went through procedures to aensure that there is a freedom if expression on the media Phoenix alhs: and is protected Phoenix alhs: so with that Phoenix alhs: the Media boomed Phoenix alhs: critics is allowed freedom to express Phoenix alhs: and so forth Phoenix alhs: 1997... it was pretty nromal setanta900: so would u say that commentary kinda thing is dropping? Phoenix alhs: but there were several incidences, and I can't exactly remember in details setanta900: thats ok Phoenix alhs: but it began with the government switiching the boss of RTHK to Japan and appointed someone closer to the government to be head of Radio Television Hong Kong Phoenix alhs: and in recent years Phoenix alhs: there has been several incidents in which radio personality has either been assualted Phoenix alhs: received threats from higher up setanta900: In your opinion, does tv or radio do anything to influence popular opinion in Hong Kong as to political issues? Phoenix alhs: I bleieve so Phoenix alhs: there are multiple programs on radio and on TV which examines the weekly even daily events Phoenix alhs: and which often explains government procedures or new motions Phoenix alhs: either through drama or satire setanta900: kinda like the daily show, or is it different? Phoenix alhs: sort of Phoenix alhs: but mmroe serious setanta900: ok...are u aware of independent films being made in HK? Phoenix alhs: yes Phoenix alhs: there are quite a couple made each year Phoenix alhs: some even became famous setanta900: ok...my parteners thought i was crazy Phoenix alhs: lol Phoenix alhs: I am sorry Phoenix alhs: there are setanta900: how aware are people of those films Phoenix alhs: hmm, it really depends setanta900: are my partners just in a shell? Phoenix alhs: like i said earlier, a lot of people pay attention to films that have "actors" in it, celebrities they know, or western films setanta900: ok,so i guess its kinda like here setanta900: they aren't really famous but u dont have to look hard to find them Phoenix alhs: no Phoenix alhs: they are usually low budget Phoenix alhs: and i guess the theme is not what most people look for Phoenix alhs: there is a bout one every year which makes the headlines setanta900: ok setanta900: are they ever political in nature? setanta900: as best u know Phoenix alhs: hmm, not really Phoenix alhs: they do reflect on certain social issues.discontents Phoenix alhs: the themes ussualyl focuses on adolescent Phoenix alhs: growth in lesser community Phoenix alhs: at least, that is the best to my knowledge Phoenix alhs: I can not say I am very well informed setanta900: sounds like here a lot Phoenix alhs: but there are a lot fo independent film makers setanta900: is there a lot of documentary on tv? Phoenix alhs: quite a few Phoenix alhs: RTHK does a lot Phoenix alhs: over a wide spectrum of topics setanta900: cool setanta900: does HK media have any explicit or implicit censorship from china setanta900: mainland setanta900: are they afraid to do things or is it just the same as before? Phoenix alhs: well, in radio Phoenix alhs: just this pass summer, three major radio personality simultanesoulsy quite from the air Phoenix alhs: they have expressed that they have receved threats Phoenix alhs: one has been physicall assualted about two years ago, suffering knife wounds and ended up in the hospital Phoenix alhs: although no real evidence can be concluded on who is behind Phoenix alhs: general populus suspects that Mainland has a hand in it setanta900: intruiging Phoenix alhs: also, there is certain pressure from tycoons who have interests in China, and owns certain chain stores and media in Hong Kong Phoenix alhs: one tycoon who owns a chain store have banned Apple daily, one of the newspaper in Hong Kong known for being somewhat upfront, fron being sold there setanta900: wow Phoenix alhs: there is a silent war going on right now in the media field in that aspect Phoenix alhs: the government has not been able to truly protect the people who are in the frontlines setanta900: ok, didn't u say something about mainstream HK movies being used by beiing as national pieces...like "hero" setanta900: *beijing Phoenix alhs: well, Hero is made in China Phoenix alhs: lol Phoenix alhs: sorry setanta900: thats right setanta900: i aught to know that too, being a film major Phoenix alhs: no no Phoenix alhs: In china, there is a certain jaded media setanta900: one more thing i guess Phoenix alhs: uh huh Phoenix alhs: In Hong Kong, film is sort of independent setanta900: do u think there is a difference in awareness between different levels of educated people...like u mentioned university students tend to be in their own world Phoenix alhs: although we do ask the government to help the film industry in its comeptition agains the mainland setanta900: cool Phoenix alhs: it is the news medis which is under attack setanta900: ok setanta900: u mentioned that university students are usually in their own little worlds setanta900: is that just b/c of the rigors of the education system? Phoenix alhs: yes... Phoenix alhs: I think more or less it has to do with pop culture... Phoenix alhs: much of the youth in the HK system are in a greenhouse Phoenix alhs: they are nto ask to think for themselves Phoenix alhs: but taught to memerize facts for exams and such setanta900: ok Phoenix alhs: so in that aspect Phoenix alhs: they lack a certain capacity to think Phoenix alhs: in political terms Phoenix alhs: because they were never taught to be interested in it Phoenix alhs: but there are enough who are interested and becoimes active during college years Phoenix alhs: in fact a lot of the movements started in thhe 60s and even to this day are headed by "hot headed" university students Interview with Janice Chan Kevin Williams (setanta900) – Janice Chan (totoro jan) setanta900: i'll just drop a few questions, and if you dont know or dont care to answer them, dont worry about it setanta900: 1. In terms of Hong Kong culture/society, what exactly is the meaning of political apathy? Phoenix alhs has left the room. totoro jan: haha it would only be i dont know if i dun answer setanta900: ok setanta900: lol totoro jan: hey my english is not too good=P totoro jan: whats political apathy setanta900: ok...sorry about that setanta900: a lot of people say that hong kong residents dont care about politics. Do you think that is true? totoro jan: OH OH totoro jan: hmm i think true until these two years totoro jan: ppl become really sensitive setanta900: why do you think that is? totoro jan: i guess ppl start to care when they think it will hurt their freedom or privileges that they have setanta900: ok setanta900: when you are in hong kong, do u watch a lot of television? totoro jan: kinda haha setanta900: what kind of shows? totoro jan: i do watch news everyday with ma family totoro jan: and i watch drama totoro jan: hmmm i never really watched political shows cos its very unpopular among peers in my age totoro jan: and mom dun like me watching any kind of shows anyway lol setanta900: do they just think it is boring? totoro jan: i think not necessarily totoro jan: but they might think a lot of other things are more interesting and fun to do setanta900: i see totoro jan: i found myself wanting to do other stuff rather tahn watching political stuff setanta900: i understand totoro jan: but when they become a huge deal like articale 23 setanta900: politics here makes me angry totoro jan: then we do watch setanta900: cool totoro jan: why? setanta900: i dont like bush totoro jan: u mean in states? totoro jan: awww haha=/ setanta900: yeah setanta900: i dont like politicians totoro jan: actually i found the ppl are much more enthusiastic about politics in here totoro jan: than in hk totoro jan: at least teenagers dun even care about whos going to be the next executive head totoro jan: but they think even if they care, not much difference setanta900: we are involved over here totoro jan: cos the head is not elected by citizens setanta900: are a lot of teenagers pro-democracy? totoro jan: i think so... totoro jan: but ttenagers dun talk about politics totoro jan: thats why we are shallow kids=P setanta900: lol totoro jan: actually, i think teenagers might be more accepting towards china then the older ppl setanta900: do you ever go to the movies when you are home? totoro jan: yes totoro jan: top 1 entertainment in hk haha setanta900: didn't a lot of the older people move to HK to get away from china? totoro jan: well back before 1997 lots of ppl move away from hk for that reason totoro jan: but now i guess China has proven that its not as scary as ppl thought totoro jan: so ppl r coming back setanta900: not bad setanta900: what kind of movies do you go and see? totoro jan: hmm i watch all sorts of movies except horror movies and ironically hk made local movies totoro jan: cos they dun really worth the money when compared to big ones like shrek or harry potter n stuff setanta900: ok setanta900: no jackie chan for u? setanta900: lol totoro jan: i mostly watch popular ones, cos thats where u can get most friends to watch with u!=P setanta900: i like to go with people when i go totoro jan: oh i watch his movies, but not really on theaters cos i was kinda young to go out n watch movies when hes still in hk filmls setanta900: do you ever hear about the really cheap, independent local movies in HK? totoro jan: i watched his hollywood ones setanta900: i like him a lot totoro jan: hes great totoro jan: representative of hk LOL setanta900: his son went here setanta900: W&M totoro jan: hmm what do u mean by cheap independent local movies^^: totoro jan: yeah i heard totoro jan: hes now back to hk and start his film career setanta900: yeah, he never finished totoro jan: he was one of the leading roles in our summer hits totoro jan: yeah i heard setanta900: i mean movies made with really small budgets setanta900: not in big studios totoro jan: hmm i think we have a lot setanta900: are they popular with teens, or do they prefer harry potter and those kinds? totoro jan: well as VCDS are even cheaper than goin into the theatres, we watch VCDS mainly for hk movies setanta900: what are VCDS? totoro jan: its very interesting i want to say harry potter setanta900: ok totoro jan: but then i went to international school/ middle class <--as they call top one school in hk so i think my peers somehow r different from the "local" kids totoro jan: i know the "local" students like hk local films more totoro jan: cos their english r generally really bad setanta900: so your pretty smart then totoro jan: VCDS are like DVD, but wayyyy cheaper setanta900: nice totoro jan: and the quality not as good setanta900: i think one of the kids in my class was telling me about them totoro jan: but still nice cos some of them only cost like $3 US setanta900: do you know Jake Lau? totoro jan: u should get lots of them in hk totoro jan: kinda setanta900: i probably will totoro jan: haha thanks=) totoro jan: i guess ppl who come here should be pretty smart anyways=) setanta900: we try setanta900: i think i fooled them totoro jan: and pirated VCDS are even cheaper setanta900: i'm just a good writer totoro jan: hahahhaha setanta900: although my grades were pretty high and i went to one of the most competative school districts in the country totoro jan: but yeah when u get to hk totoro jan: hmm hmm i understand setanta900: yeah., i'll get a bunch of VCDS totoro jan: i guess u can tell between local kids and "middle/high/international class kids totoro jan: i mean the latter grp dresses like americans totoro jan: or asian americans totoro jan: and the local ppl dress like japanese/korean/chinese setanta900: ok totoro jan: LOL totoro jan: nvm totoro jan: anyways setanta900: that is interesting setanta900: do university students watch hong kong movies or do they like the harry potter and the western movies? setanta900: you make it sound like maybe the more english people speak the less they watch local movies totoro jan: well but thats the difference between my friends totoro jan: at least ppl who r bad in english wont enjoy watching eng movies totoro jan: ahh but now we have chinese voiceovers totoro jan: so its all good setanta900: lol setanta900: i hate voice overs totoro jan: but it depends on the trend setanta900: i would rather watch subtitles totoro jan: if everyone is talking about a movie everyone go watch it totoro jan: no matter hk movies or western ones totoro jan: hahah yeah me too totoro jan: it felt kinda weird setanta900: what was your favorite movie this year? totoro jan: cos all the movies i watch with my highschool friends, my church friends never want to watch it totoro jan: gmm shrek 2 totoro jan: harry potter 3 setanta900: i saw both of those setanta900: shrek was great totoro jan: i like shrek 2 more=D totoro jan: great music totoro jan: and puss!woo setanta900: i thought harry potter 3 wasn't as good as the first too totoro jan: yeah too gloomy and mature setanta900: do u like antonio banderes? totoro jan: but last few years there were always critics about how hk film industry is getting worse totoro jan: i mean not as attractive totoro jan: haha hes ok totoro jan: he mastered puss' voice pretty well tho setanta900: why do they think it is getting worse? setanta900: that is the only movie of his i have seen where he didn't mumble totoro jan: LOL totoro jan: hahahah totoro jan: well firstly cos hk films didnt make as much money as the hollywood ones totoro jan: like the top 5 bestsellers would be hollywood ones totoro jan: then there were also some critics saying how movies lack "sincerity" totoro jan: like they make movies just becos they want to put some pop stars in n stuff but dun really put any thoughts into the screen play and stuff setanta900: that happens here all the time totoro jan: thats true totoro jan: but there r so many different kinds in here totoro jan: like once in a while there will be good ones totoro jan: but in hong kong at least the critics think that predominantly the movies are all just commercials setanta900: ouch setanta900: are they still doing kung fu movies setanta900: ? totoro jan: hmmm...... totoro jan: very few but this xmas i heard totoro jan: the newest kung fu movie by our great comedian stephen chow is coming out totoro jan: which is called "kung fu" haha setanta900: maybe i should see it when i am there setanta900: lol totoro jan: haha hopefully it will come out just right ! totoro jan: it should be great totoro jan: ppl r talking about it even when it starts filming setanta900: did u ever see kung pow...it is a really bad american movie setanta900: a guy took clips from old kung fu movies and painted himself into the action setanta900: it was awful, but kind of funny setanta900: well, thats about all the questions i have totoro jan: kungpow? totoro jan: hmm never heard abt it totoro jan: but the name soudns funny setanta900: yeah totoro jan: hahha totoro jan: well i hope that helps=_= setanta900: the full title is Kung pow: enter the fist totoro jan: hahahahhahahaha setanta900: you helped out a lot. i really owe you one totoro jan: haha its ok i am glad it helped!! setanta900: thanks a lot totoro jan: ooh so u will be one of the newest grp coming to hk! totoro jan: haha i am excited setanta900: yeah setanta900: you should come out with us all when we hit the town totoro jan: hey is that long no. the no. of chats that andy had?^^" totoro jan: yeah i know setanta900: i think it is long enough totoro jan: haha totoro jan: well thanks setanta900: well, i'll talk to you later...but dont worry, i wont ask you any questions totoro jan: good luck in ur research setanta900: thanks a lot totoro jan: haha no its fun totoro jan: bye! setanta900: cya
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The 2015 Golden Globe Awards
I probably should've checked if there are any more awards show this month because here's the rest of The 2015 Golden Globes that we may or may not have blown 75% of our photo budget on already. In our defense, it has boobs in it, and a Ruth Wilso…
The Superficial
January 12, 2015
The 2014 American Music Awards
Now that we've seen Nakedsaurus, Rise of The Sasquatch Nip Guardians, Cry For Me, Justintina, and BUTTFORCE 9000, here's the rest of The 2014 American Music Awards which you'll probably notice contains a disproportionate amount of Kate Beckinsale pics even though she's not…
The Superficial
November 24, 2014
Kate Beckinsale's Legs Will Unite Us
Okay, I know I already joked this morning that the 50 Cent first pitch post would bring us all together after a contentious 18 hours arguing over gun control, but this time, I really mean it. Because if there's one thing I take very seriously, it's how fucking hot…
The Superficial
May 28, 2014
Yellow Grimace & The 71st Annual Golden Globes
Because I wasn't fucking around when I said we're getting in and out of the Golden Globes, here's the rest of the shit you might possibly, but not really, need to know. Starting with these red carpet photos, this Ronan Farrow tweet which is so awesome, he has to…
The Superficial
January 13, 2014
Kate Beckinsale's Still In A Bikini
So remember earlier when I was like, "Here's this space dude that'll go next to the Rocket Raccoon thing which is going to be way better than Ben Affleck trying to be a 1986 comic book?" What I meant was Kate Beckinale's ass in a bikini. I think the keys got…
The Superficial
August 23, 2013
Kate Beckinsale In A Bikini Was Going To Be The Most Amazing Thing I Posted Today
Dear Kate Beckinsale Bikini Photos, I know last night when I found you and emailed Photo Boy to have these ready for the morning, it seemed like I totally was into you and you were going to be the hot shit for the day. But that was before Peter Dinklage hula hooped i…
The Superficial
August 22, 2013
Kate Beckinsale Bikini Pics Aren't Politics
Was I talking about something that isn't how insane Kate Beckinsale's ass is in a bikini again? Excuse me while I call my doctor and tell him the tumor's back. Photos: Fame/Flynet, Splash New…
The Superficial
April 1, 2013
Kate Beckinsale Presents Her Cleavage To Ze Germans and Other News
Posted by Photo Boy - Here's a Latina(o)? midget's Amy Winehouse tribute. You're welcome. [BuzzFeed] - Snoop Dogg gives Kris Humphries the greatest advice of his life. [Bossip] - Redheaded cleavage that is in no way hotter than Kate Beckinsale. [theCHIVE] - Tracy Morgan has more good…
Photo Boy
January 26, 2012
What's Up, Kate Beckinsale? And Other News
Posted by Photo Boy - Having never watched Toddlers & Tiaras, I now know what it's like to get addicted to heroin after shooting up for the first time. [theCHIVE] - Coco is going to be on Law & Order: SVU again. Probably as a doctor or something. [Huffington Post] -…
Photo Boy
January 11, 2012
Kate Beckinsale Is A Goddess
And, lo, did I stare into the butt of such beauty that it felt as if the weeping, love-filled eyes of the Lord Christ Jesus himself were staring back at me and whispering, "Dude, why are you thinking about a naked guy on a cross while staring at Kate Beckinsale's ass? You have mental…
The Superficial
October 12, 2011
Kate Beckinsale in a Bikini, Also Blonde
I felt like we needed a break from all the awards coverage, so here's a now-blonde Kate Beckinsale vacationing in Mexico over the weekend. I honestly don't know how to react to anything not involving a red carpet right now, so I'm mostly just sitting here mumbling, "pretty lady," while smacking my…
The Superficial
January 17, 2011
Kate Beckinsale in a Bikini is Not a 'Jersey Shore' Swamp Cow
After receiving several complaints/suicide notes about leaving Deena Cortese, the latest Jersey Shore manbearpig, on the top of the page for the long weekend, I realized I should probably make things right as soon as possible. Granted, that thought occurred to me Saturday morning, the important thing is I got around to it…
The Superficial
September 7, 2010
Kate Beckinsale is the Sexiest Woman Alive
Kate Beckinsale has been named this year's The Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire's which is a random, but not unwarranted selection. After close inspection, I'll allow it, but Kate's going to owe me one. I'm really putting my neck out here saying stuff anonymously on the Internet, so the least she…
The Superficial
October 2, 2009
Kate Beckinsale kind of working out
For no reason except that she's hot, here are some shots of Kate Beckinsale working out. Or, uh, walking around a Brentwood neighborhood and talking on her cell phone. Which is sort of like working out because, well, you're moving. Kind of. Plus you get to wear working out clothes. Doctors agree, this level of…
November 13, 2008
Kate Beckinsale in a bikini
Kate Beckinsale did some scuba-diving while vacationing in Cabo yesterday with her family. I don't want to say these photos of Kate in a bikini are the most important news of the day, but let's be frank, they are. I mean, Jesus, I wrote a post about Chris Kattan. How does that even happen?
The Superficial
August 19, 2008
Kate Beckinsale thinks mastery in the bedroom gets her out of the kitchen – HILARIOUS!
Kate Beckinsale is full of gems. First, she said she'd rather eat pussy than sushi. Now, she's telling Glamour magazine that her awesome skills in the sack give her a free pass from sandwich making. Ha! But, no, seriously, who let her speak in public?: "I'm the worst wife in the cooking department. I…
The Superficial
June 5, 2008
Kate Beckinsale has a great alternative for sushi
Kate Beckinsale gives the greatest interviews in the history of interviewography. Recently she commented that she'd rather eat a certain female part than eat sushi. Moviefone quizzed Kate about her comment during an interview for her new movie Snow Angels: 6. You told an interviewer you'd rather eat a vagina than sushi. When stuff…
The Superficial
March 21, 2008
Kate Beckinsale is the bride of Satan
Kate Beckinsale and her husband director Len Wiseman, dressed as Satan, took their daughter Lily trick or treating last night. So what exactly is their kid supposed to be? The southern Belle love child of Satan? I don't get it. What I do get is that Kate Beckinsale should wear tight leather outfit…
The Superficial
November 1, 2007
Kate Beckinsale is kind of pretty…I
Kate Beckinsale showed up to the UK premiere of Die Hard 4.0 looking like her usual ridiculous self. Ridiculously ugly that is! That face, that body. I mean c'mon, it's like she's not even trying. She looks like she's completely covered in hair! And what is that, a banana? Hmm, wait, I think I wa…
June 21, 2007
Kate Beckinsale hits the beach
September 27, 2006
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The Crap We Missed - Monday 3.30.15
The Crap We Missed - Friday 3.27.15
Good Morning, Charlotte McKinney, And Other News
The Kardashians Have Breasts (And Some Stupid Joke Jamie Foxx Told)
Chrissy Teigen Is Topless
The Most Important People On The Internet: Volume 5.7
Jessica Alba In A Bikini
Mariah Carey & Brett Ratner? How In The Fu-
BEST OF 2014: Kate Upton Topless
BEST OF 2014: Miley Cyrus Topless
BEST OF 2014: Jennifer Lopez & Iggy Azalea's Butts
BEST OF 2014: Rihanna's Naked Under There
BEST OF 2014: Jennette McCurdy Leaked Photos
BEST OF 2014: Jessie Nizewitz's Gaping Vagina
BEST OF 2014: Courtney Stodden Plays The Field
BEST OF 2014: Heidi Klum Topless
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Bill Cosby: Jesus Gives You A Little 'Wiggle Room'
Bertney Learns Maths:
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Properties in Fetcham, Leatherhead, Surrey between £900,000 and £1,000,000
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£915,000 3 Bedrooms Badingham Drive, Fetcham, Leatherhead KT22
An attractive detached bungalow situated within a highly regarded location and having been extended to provide light and deceptively spacious accommodation. 3 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room,
Huggins, Edwards & Sharp - Leatherhead
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In contrast to Eastern Europe, the 1989 protests in China did not lead to the overthrow of the Communist Party. But if China's leaders chose the right course on the night of June 4th, 1989, why are they still frightened to come to terms with it?
Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti says Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a thinly veiled metaphor for the War on Terror
Law professor Dan Subotnik says rape victims owe it to other potential victims to report the crime. However, he admits that, given that sex tends to take place without witnesses, there are many grey areas and often


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Trash to Treasure: 28 Recycled Crafts
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Upcycled Reusable Shopping Bags
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Give new life to your reusable shopping bags with this Upcycled Reusable Shopping Bag tutorial. This is a fun and clever way to add your own personality to those totes that you use again and again. Embellished with felt, buttons, and fabric, this is an inexpensive way to make those reusable bags fun and pretty to show off.
- Reusable shopping bags
- Scraps of felt and fabric
- A variety of Laura Kelly Buttons
Decorate your bags to your heart's content, based on the scraps available.
If you are not much for sewing, get out your ad-tech glue gun and create with it. All you need are scissors, felt and a few bright buttons! I used the high temp gun for this project. If you are working with kids, I recommend a low temp.
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Fatal Electra wreck
Two high school girls and one man killed
Two Electra High School girls and a 40-year-old Electra man were killed in a head-on accident about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday on FM 1739 near Electra.
The dead were identified as Courtney Mengwasser, 16; Adreanna Norrid, 18; and Michael Nason, driver of one of the vehicles, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Alyssa Willeford, 18, of Electra and also a student at Electra High School, the driver of the other vehicle, was critically injured and taken to United Regional Health Care Center, the DPS spokesperson said. Mengwasser and Norrid were passengers in the car being driven by Willeford.
Monte Grounds, 41, of Bowlegs, Okla., a passenger in the pickup being driven by Nason, was taken to the Wichita Falls hospital where he was reported in good condition with cuts and bruises.
The DPS report said that Nason was traveling southbound in the northbound lane when the vehicles hit head-on.
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Storm Chasers
Ohio State looking into picture of Miller on social media
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State's compliance office is investigating whether quarterback Braxton Miller broke any NCAA rules when he posed for a picture on social media with health-care and nutritional products.
Miller was pictured on Instagram on Tuesday night with products from AdvoCare.
Miller is a graduate student who started three seasons for the Buckeyes but missed all of the Buckeyes' championship season last year after shoulder surgery. He is expected to play this fall after rehabbing through spring workouts.
© 2014, Omaha.com. All rights reserved.


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Marvin Seteren, 67
Marvin Seteren, age 67, of Terry, MT passed away at the Prairie Community Health Center in Terry, MT.
Hadley Louise Braunschweig, Infant
Hadley Louise Braunschweig, beloved daughter of Kayla Parker and Heath Braunschweig, was welcomed into the arms of angels on April 24, 2010.
Santiago Jimmy Garza, 74
Santiago Jimmy Garza, 74, of Sutherland Springs, Texas, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2010.
Keith Elliott Gumm, 72
Keith Elliott Gumm age 72, of Terry passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2010 of a massive heart attack at the Billings Clinic in Billings.
Anna Marie Fischer, 97
Anna Marie Fischer, age 97, of Terry, Montana passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Prairie Community Hospital.
Karin Ann Kountz, 53
Karin Ann Kountz, age 53, of Miles City formerly of Jordan passed away on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City.
Gerry Larae Trafton, 67
Gerry Larae Trafton, 67, of Missoula, died at home, of cancer on Friday, March,19, 2010, with her sons at her side.
Claydeen "Clay" E. Berger, 82
Claydeen "Clay" E. Berger, 82, of Williston, ND, formerly of Circle, MT, passed away Sunday evening, April 11, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center in Williston.
Winifred Marie Schott Wilson Haug, 86
Wini Marie Schott Wilson Haug passed away March 29, 2010 in Tacoma, Wash.
Gayle Delmar Carlson, 70
Memorial services for Gayle D. Carlson, 70, of Williston, North Dakota who died, Friday, April 9, 2010 at his residence of apparent natural causes, will be held at 2 pm Friday, April 16, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Williston. Pastor Al Beyer will officiate and cremation has taken place. Friends may share memories and condolences with the family at www.fulkersons.com


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Why wait for other passengers on a shuttle transfer to come off their flights before leaving the airport?
Why endure stopping at everyone else's hotel in resort before even reaching your destination?
Book a transfer with us to ensure you have a comfortable start and end to your holiday in Turkey.
Tour operator coaches and Shuttle transfer buses often wait at Dalaman airport for all passengers to come out of the airport terminal, or wait for the buses to become full before they commence your transfer to your holiday resort. This can be an approximate 1 hour wait if you are one of the first to exit from your flight. It has also been known for companies to combine guests from numerous flights onto one coach / bus, this can cause you even further delays if the flights land at different times.
Half-way into the transfer they will then stop for a "comfort break" for 20-30 minutes before continuing the journey to your holiday resort. It is then very common for the coaches / buses to have up to 10 hotel drop-offs once in resort. By the time you get to your accommodation you may have been travelling on the coach for nearly 3 hours.
Book a private non-stop transfer with 'DM Transfers' and start your holiday before everyone else!
If you require a transfer within the next 24 hours and do not have internet access please feel free to call us to make your booking or you may also send a SMS with your details to +90.5069050264.
An example of the information we require over SMS is:
Mr A Smith. Dalaman TCX1234 14:30. Marmaris. 4 people.
We will then reply to your SMS as soon as possible to confirm your transfer.If you require a return transfer we can arrange this with you over the phone via the driver on your arrival.
Please be aware that Turkish Travel agency staff and unlicensed private taxi drivers have been approaching guests as they leave the arrivals terminal to ask what transfer company they are using. They may tell you that the company you are using does not exist, or they may try to convince you that you are booked with them instead.
They will charge you extra or even charge you for a return transfer and then not show up for the departure. Our drivers ALWAYS wait under the 'Individual Meeters Area' with a sign board displaying your name.
If you are ever in doubt and cannot find your driver from DM transfers then please call us on the numbers provided on your booking confirmation.
D Brunskill / 1617
I was with a party of 6 going to the HPB villas at Physkos. We arrived on different days but left as a group of 6 for the Escape at Gocek and then had a pick up and drop back at the airport next day. So we used them 4 times during our holiday. On all occasions the pick up and drop from DM Transfers was absolutely excellent. The cars and/or minibus were fine and the drivers good. We were met at the airport by the driver who identified himself with a board with our names on. We paid cash in sterling after arriving at our destination. We got good advice about day trips and in all cases pricing was reasonable. The English used by the booking team was excellent and clear. The transfer agreement was set out in a \"booking form\" - all clear and understandable. Strongly recommended.
B Kirk / 1616
Driver was waiting at Dalaman airport. Very nice young man. He was very helpful finding our destination, we had not been to Turunc before. Return driver arrived on time and delivered us to the airport in plenty of time. Excellent service, will use again and happy to recommend. You were recommended to us by friends. Nice clean cars too.
A Wilson / 1615
Very reliable, have never let us down. My regular transfer company now. Thank you.
L Poole / 1614
Great service. Great price. Prompt and reliable.
S Walker / 1613
Efficient, pleasant service. Prompt arrival and comfortable journey.


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The stockman is a really good place to have lunch or dinner. The service is speedy and we have never had a meal that we could complain about! Their burgers, soup, and steaks are the best!
Great service an even better food. The portions were gigantic. It had a real comfortable local feeling.
We were sent here at the suggestion of
the motel where we were staying. This is a great place to eat. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The food was great. The atmosphere is also great. Locals and tourist were enjoying the night.
We went here on a recommendations form the chamber of commerce and she told us don't be put off when you go in and it looks like a bar. The front part is a bar and the dining room is in the back with maybe a dozen small tables. We waited about 30 minutes but did not know they took...
It is still 1950 at this classic bar and steakhouse. Don't go unless you want a great steak and baked potato loaded. Dinner salad is very fresh and cold with all the 1000 dressing you want. What else would a meat eater like me want. My wife (not so much of a meat eater) even appreciated the meal. It is...
I've eaten here on several occasions. I haven't had a bad meal. My Favorite item would be the Prime Rib!! I highly recommend it, if your a prime rib lover. Grilled Cheese is also the bomb!!
If you want a no nonsense, authentic place for a great burger, then try the Stockman. Beef or bison? They have both and they do it so well.
We have been going to Stockman Bar since we moved to Montana 17 years ago. The wait staff are friendly, and call us by name. We used to be able to just walk in, but if you want to go on a Friday or Saturday night, reservations are recommended. The food is just good old-fashioned fare, and tastes like you...
I took my wife to the Stockman Bar and Grill for her 50th birthday present. We drove over 100 miles to Livingston, stayed overnight at the Murray Hotel (highly recommended) and we went down to the Murray Bar (highly suggested to avoid) for an adult beverage and food. When Mike (bartender at Murray Bar) never even spoke to us at...
Best blue cheese salad dressing ever. Fab. French dip sandwich. Great steak & shrimp combo. Frys are home made and great for gravy dipping.
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Steelers Versus Packers – First Half Notes And Observations
By Matthew Marczi
- The opening kickoff set the tone for what would be another rough day for the kickoff coverage unit—the second week in a row. The unit nearly lost the Steelers the game at the end.
- That was surprisingly only Lawrence Timmons's second sack of the season. He normally has around a half-dozen by year's end.
- By the way, that was yet another sack on third down. While the Steelers may not have had the sack total in the mid-40s that they got used to from years past, they have typically made them count. While I don't have exact figures, it seems a disproportionately high number of their sacks have come on third down.
- Rookie Le'Veon Bell got off to a good start on what was one of the better games of his pro career, despite his first career fumble and a couple of passes that he could have had. The Steelers handed it off to him on two of the first three plays of the game, and both times he beat Sam Shields for the first down around the left edge.
- When it comes to Matt Spaeth, I don't care what Pro Football Focus has to say about his run blocking. For the second straight game, they've given him a very poor grade as a run blocker, which I simply do not see when I watch the tape. He's been nothing but an asset since returning, and not just relative to the quality of run blocking of the other backup tight ends.
- The Steelers had Cortez Allen playing off quite a bit during the game, perhaps respecting the Packers' ability to hit the deep play even without Aaron Rodgers.
- Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. On the same drive that playing deep allowed him to get a high tip on a ball in the end zone, he earlier helped allow a long reception by getting picked off on a running back screen.
- This was my first time watching Eddie Lacy this season, and I came away impressed. He finds small holes and hits them hard. It works for his skill set.
- Of course, Bell is no slouch either, as he helped the Steelers storm back after the Packers' first score, ripping off a long run to get the drive started.
- On the next play, Ben Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown running down the seam for 36 yards down to the 13-yard line. The deep ball had been off a bit lately, so it was good to see that.
- Bell's running near the goal line was impressive yet again, but the drive ended through the air this time.
- Smart move by Emmanuel Sanders to use the elements against the Packers in tight quarters, making a sharp cut in the end zone, knowing that with the slick surface, the defensive back wouldn't be able to mimic the redirection without losing his balance. The corner went down and Sanders was left open for an easy touchdown.
- That touchdown—Sanders' sixth on the year—was the 24th caught by a wide receiver this year. No other group of wide receivers in team history had ever caught that many in a season, though a few caught 23.
- Remember, Jerricho Cotchery has nine himself, while Brown has eight. With Derek Moye and Sanders' six, that's 24 of Roethlisberger's 27 touchdown passes, or almost 90 percent of them.
- Rookie Vince Williams is better working downhill than up. On consecutive plays he let a receiver get by him dropping into coverage and then made a nice stop of Lacy for a short gain.
- Pretty much a free sack for Jason Worilds. You could see that he was battling himself most of the game.
- Another long return for Brown on punt returns. As I wrote earlier this week, he's been among the best in the league in that area this year.
- Shamarko Thomas needs to have better awareness than that on special teams, running into Brown.
- Poor Kelvin Beachum got caught peeking inside and let Clay Matthews right by him for a sack. It made his day look worse than it was.
- Bad angle by Allen on a James Jones reception, reminiscent of the Greg Jennings touchdown earlier this year. Allen needs to work on his angles when it comes to open-field tackling, apparently.
- Chris Carter lost contain on his side, allowing Lacy to cut back for a 14-yard touchdown. He only had Ike Taylor at the goal line to worry about, whom he corkscrewed over.
- Emmanuel Sanders, however, let the Steelers try to tie the game up before the half with a great return past the 50.
- Some people want to question the utility of every millisecond of the play clock on late-half situations. Others seem to want to sweep the whole issue under the rug. Can we have some middle ground, please? Settling for a field goal on third down with a timeout in your pocket doesn't make you a complete moron with no sense of game management, but it's also not something that can't be openly discussed.
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