12.23.09
Copenhagen failure 2
Interesting article in The Guardian yesterday:
‘How do I know China wrecked the Copenhagen deal? I was in the room’
Shanghai World Finance Center
Here a few views from the observation deck of the SWFC. It’s at 430 meters. The total height of the building is 492 meters. Since it’s completion earlier this year, I had never been up there. Now with the children visiting, it was a good opportunity to go. Pity that in winter the visibilty is not that good. But that did not make it less impressive.
12.22.09
Quote of the day 4
‘We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.’
- George Washington
Youngest round
Young solo sailor Jessica Watson is making good progress, and is only about 3 weeks away from Cape Horn. Read more on her blog.
12.21.09
Copenhagen failure
Asked by the Observer who was to blame for blocking the introduction of controlled emissions, the director general of the Swedish environment protection agency, Lars-Erik Liljelund, replied: “China. China doesn’t like numbers.”
Quote of the day 3
‘All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.’
- Albert Einstein
12.20.09
Brandaris lighthouse
The Brandaris is a lighthouse on the Dutch Wadden Sea island Terschelling, in Friesland. The first Brandaris was built in 1323, but it was destroyed in 1570. The current tower was built in 1594.
It was my daily sight when I lived on Terschelling, where I graduated in 1984 from maritime college.
Quote of the day 2
‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’
- Arthur C. Clarke
12.19.09
Quote of the day 1
‘To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books.’
- The Secret Teachings of All Ages
Zetland Hall, Hong Kong
The history of Zetland Hall.
The first Masonic Hall in Hong Kong was built in 1846 by The Zetland Lodge No. 525, English Constitution and was named Zetland Hall in honour of the Lodge that built it. The Zetland Lodge itself was named as a compliment to the then Grand Master, Thomas, Second Earl of Zetland, who was The Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England from 1844 to 1870.
In 1865 this hall was replaced by a second larger and more impressive building in Zetland Street in the Central business district. This second Zetland Hall lasted until 1944 when it was destroyed by American bombing, Hong Kong then being under Japanese occupation.
Between 1945 to 1950 the Freemasons of Hong Kong met in temporary premises while a site for a new hall was found. Work on the third and present Zetland Hall at No. 1 Kennedy Road began in 1949 and was finished in January 1950. The Hall was dedicated to Masonic use in an impressive ceremony on 30 January 1950.
On Sunday, 30 January 2000, a Service of Thanksgiving conducted by W. Bro. The Reverend John Chinchen, assisted by W. Bro. The Hon Mr Justice Godfrey VP, PJGD, was held to mark the 50th Anniversary of the re-dedication of Zetland Hall. After the service a new War Memorial in honour of those Freemasons in Hong Kong who fell in the two World Wars was unveiled and dedicated by R. W. Bro. A. E. Gomes, MBE, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Far East, Irish Constitution, W. Bro. R.W.C. Mok , MBE, PJGD, Past Deputy District Grand Master , English Constitution, and Bro. David Lam BEM, W. District Grand Bible Bearer, Scottish Constitution, all of whom were interned as Prisoners of War in Hong Kong between 1941-1945.
The first picture shows the original Zetland Hall, the other three the current Zetland Hall.
