Have you ever been asked about this question, ‘’How do you go to school?’’ I guess some of you will say that you go to school by minibus, while some may say by taxi. For me, although I am not born in a rich family, I still feel blessed and I would say, ‘’I go to school by an expensive German-made vehicle with a powerful Euro 2 engine and genuine leather seats.’ They will probably interpret it as an expensive private car. But actually it’s just a 69-seater single-decker bus with a lifespan of 17 years, 1 year until retirement. So why does 12A have to use single-decker buses which make the bus compartment overcrowded during rush hours? Why doesn’t the bus company provide double-decker buses for the route? To get a persuasive answer, I suggest you approaching the bus company. But according to my understanding, the culprit is the tramway path located right above Kennedy Road. The height of the tramway path was too close to the main road, so that it is not enough for a double-decker bus to pass through. Moreover, the use of single-decker bus actually reduces the chances of turning-over, which can ensure the safety of us, the future pillars of our society. And then you may say, our concerns are not these. We just care about whether the bus departs from the terminal on time or not. That’s very true for non-bus enthusiasts, but you should also learn to analyse what a bus enthusiast says. When you hear them saying this, ‘’the whereabout Man NL262 overruns to turn private.’’ They are actually referring to the fact that the bus is not in service. So if you are waiting for 12A in Admiralty at 8 o’clock and you hear a bus enthusiast saying this, you should really calm down and relax yourself, because there won’t be any chances for you to arrive at school on time that day. You will be considered as late. (...)
Calligraphy on the traditional signboards is one of the significant cultural heritages of Hong Kong. From a small fish pond to an inner city, from trams to the West Island line, these calligraphies have witnessed the transformation of Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun. Unfortunately, owing to its precariousness and obsoleteness, they are now vanishing and outshone by the fluorescent ones, which are made by different colours of LED lights. It is because they are dazzling enough to attract the attention of pedestrians in contrast to the traditional signboards. Calligraphy is an art unique from China. It is the technique and rules for writing. These rules are not established by a certain person but are commonly agreed upon, being a consensus on aesthetic human. Apart from appreciating the importance of calligraphy through its cultural content, it has a high value in terms of psychology of art, which can fulfill humans’ psychological appeal for images. Signet also owns a long history. Contemporary times still see the purpose of signet as a sign of power or authority. For instance, certain countries grant special signet to members of their monarchies or those in power. It embodies an individual's unique character and identity that cannot be reproduced mechanically. If you want to know more about calligraphy and signet, please join the activity held by language and culture core group and art club on 13/3 after school at the cover playground. We have invited Mr 林賀超 to share his knowledge and experience. Don’t hesitate to join and see you there!