Friday, February 10, 2006
New Phone!
I got a new mobile phone today! Yay! And its FREE!!!! My dad's bank gave him a brand new silver Nokia 6060, and since he doesn't really use it, I swapped it with my old Nokia 3120. It isn't anything fancy, but it has no camera and has more functions than my older phone, which makes it just perfect for the office. Oh, and it's a clamshell, which I'm not really used to, but I guess I'll get the hang of it sooner or later ;).
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Topsy Turvy
Everything's been a little topsy turvy since the last post. From work to social life, to new sports pursuits etc. It's really been a huge break in my routine! Which is good excitement I guess? Though now its time to stop eating, get everything sorted out at work, get more exercise and sleep more.....
Well, for those who cared, thanks for caring. Things will probably ease up by the end of this week. We all need a little excitement once in a while, but these 2 weeks or so have been just a little too much haha. Chou doufu (smelly tofu) and Samuel Adams last night was really good though! There's still one more bottle left in the stash.... I guess my Chinese New Year resolution will be to get more exercise, work out those muscles and abs, get rid of all those fat put on in the last 2 weeks, and to eat more chou doufu!
Well, for those who cared, thanks for caring. Things will probably ease up by the end of this week. We all need a little excitement once in a while, but these 2 weeks or so have been just a little too much haha. Chou doufu (smelly tofu) and Samuel Adams last night was really good though! There's still one more bottle left in the stash.... I guess my Chinese New Year resolution will be to get more exercise, work out those muscles and abs, get rid of all those fat put on in the last 2 weeks, and to eat more chou doufu!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Ecumenism
The Ulster Unionists and the Irish Republican Army have pretty much stopped their long religious and political war. George W Bush, a staunch Protestant Southern Baptist, has appointed 2 Catholics, Samuel Alito and John Roberts, to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. These appointments effectively give Catholics a 5-4 majority in the US Supreme Court. Is this a sign that ecumenism is around the corner?
The US has always been the bedrock of the Protestant movement. There has only been one Catholic ever voted President of the United States, and that was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whose presidency was unfortunately short-lived. However, with the recent appointment by George W Bush, does it signify that Protestants and Catholics are ready to set aside their differences?
Christianity today is split up broadly into 3 main categories: Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. The Eastern Orthodox Church has already been making some headway in reconciling their differences with the Catholic Church. The Protestant movement, however, has had quite a bit of infighting lately, especially with the Anglican Church in Europe threatening to split away from its Episcopal brethren in the US. So is there hope for ecumenism, for a unified Christian Church evolving? Probably. But it's not likely to happen in our generation.
The US has always been the bedrock of the Protestant movement. There has only been one Catholic ever voted President of the United States, and that was John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whose presidency was unfortunately short-lived. However, with the recent appointment by George W Bush, does it signify that Protestants and Catholics are ready to set aside their differences?
Christianity today is split up broadly into 3 main categories: Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. The Eastern Orthodox Church has already been making some headway in reconciling their differences with the Catholic Church. The Protestant movement, however, has had quite a bit of infighting lately, especially with the Anglican Church in Europe threatening to split away from its Episcopal brethren in the US. So is there hope for ecumenism, for a unified Christian Church evolving? Probably. But it's not likely to happen in our generation.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Happy New Year!
Happy lunar new year everyone! I've had two sumptious reunion meals with family already, and one more to go! Boy, is it great to be back home for Chinese New Year or what? No matter how commercialized Chinese New Year gets, these fantastic meals with family remain just as great! And every dish has its significance too.... I'll attempt to recall what I've eaten so far and what these foods symbolize.
Dinner last night we had: cold dish comprising top shell and century egg and crabsticks and fishballs and shredded chicken/egg in gelatin, roast duck, steamed chicken, prawns (laughter), mushroom stew, vegetable stir fry, abalone (guaranteed luck) with spinach and clams, lotus root (yearly abundance) and lotus root soup, mandarin oranges for dessert (gold).
Lunch today: chinese sausage, fake chinese sausage, fatty roast pork, fish cake, fried toufu, luncheon meat, pigs tongue (wealth) with some tuber, century egg and ginger, fried bean sprouts, prawns, mushroom oyster (good news) stew with fa cai (prosperity), fried fish (luck), agar agar and fruit cake for dessert.
Am I getting fat or what? Home cooked food never tasted so great! It's a pity my mum says people are opting to go out for reunion dinners nowadays....
Dinner last night we had: cold dish comprising top shell and century egg and crabsticks and fishballs and shredded chicken/egg in gelatin, roast duck, steamed chicken, prawns (laughter), mushroom stew, vegetable stir fry, abalone (guaranteed luck) with spinach and clams, lotus root (yearly abundance) and lotus root soup, mandarin oranges for dessert (gold).
Lunch today: chinese sausage, fake chinese sausage, fatty roast pork, fish cake, fried toufu, luncheon meat, pigs tongue (wealth) with some tuber, century egg and ginger, fried bean sprouts, prawns, mushroom oyster (good news) stew with fa cai (prosperity), fried fish (luck), agar agar and fruit cake for dessert.
Am I getting fat or what? Home cooked food never tasted so great! It's a pity my mum says people are opting to go out for reunion dinners nowadays....
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Unexpected day
Quite a few unexpected things happened today. To start with, we got off work real early, so my colleagues and I went for karaoke, which was totally unplanned for. We really need to hang out more often. Most of the socialising that happens among colleagues is only during lunch break, which isn't nearly enough and largely centers around babies, marriage, shopping, COEs and petrol prices. Anyway, my singing was awfully terrible, but P2 and AK were absolutely fantastic! They should be signing up for Singapore Idol!!!
It just so happened that karaoke ended just about the right time for me to head to the Esplanade for dinner with the Cal dudes. And just as I walked out the Esplanade into the courtyard, I saw fireworks! What a pleasant surprise! I think it must have been for the River Hongbao festivities or something. Anyhow, it's cool to be so close to fireworks just when you least expect it :D. Just by the bay there was this local band playing 70s music. I was never a big fan of 70s music, but these guys were soooo good! The lead singer was a young lady, and she not only sang but played the flute once in a while too! This reminded me of a friend of mine who plays the flute. I always thought the flute had to go along with a whole orchestra or something, guess not. Maybe I shld request a solo performance someday ;).
Dinner with the Cal dudes back home is always an interesting occasion. Especially now that we have some juniors joining our ranks as the working class. It's funny how just about 2 years ago we were pretty much all the same, worrying bout the same issues and things in life, such as midterms, finals, moving house etc. Also funny how most of us never really talked bout the future when we were in school. I guess since most of us are bonded there wasn't really much future to talk about huh? But now everyone is doing a different thing, operating in a different environment with different aspirations, different experiences, different outlooks on life. And it is at this point that I start thinking bout all the what ifs. I mean signing on the dotted line (ok signing on 120 dotted lines, I counted!) on that one fateful day made me what I am today, what if......
What if, what if, what if? Well, the what ifs don't matter anymore. We live for a better tomorrow, not a better yesterday, so the best is yet to be!
It just so happened that karaoke ended just about the right time for me to head to the Esplanade for dinner with the Cal dudes. And just as I walked out the Esplanade into the courtyard, I saw fireworks! What a pleasant surprise! I think it must have been for the River Hongbao festivities or something. Anyhow, it's cool to be so close to fireworks just when you least expect it :D. Just by the bay there was this local band playing 70s music. I was never a big fan of 70s music, but these guys were soooo good! The lead singer was a young lady, and she not only sang but played the flute once in a while too! This reminded me of a friend of mine who plays the flute. I always thought the flute had to go along with a whole orchestra or something, guess not. Maybe I shld request a solo performance someday ;).
Dinner with the Cal dudes back home is always an interesting occasion. Especially now that we have some juniors joining our ranks as the working class. It's funny how just about 2 years ago we were pretty much all the same, worrying bout the same issues and things in life, such as midterms, finals, moving house etc. Also funny how most of us never really talked bout the future when we were in school. I guess since most of us are bonded there wasn't really much future to talk about huh? But now everyone is doing a different thing, operating in a different environment with different aspirations, different experiences, different outlooks on life. And it is at this point that I start thinking bout all the what ifs. I mean signing on the dotted line (ok signing on 120 dotted lines, I counted!) on that one fateful day made me what I am today, what if......
What if, what if, what if? Well, the what ifs don't matter anymore. We live for a better tomorrow, not a better yesterday, so the best is yet to be!
Thursday, January 26, 2006
"Signs" has a boo boo!
Have you watched the movie "Signs" by M. Night Shyamalan? Well, that was one show that I liked a lot, but unfortunately, I just discovered a boo boo....
I just read from my book that "In patients with asthma, the trouble isn't with getting air into the lungs; it's with getting air out". In the last scene of "Signs", the alien tries to poison the little boy by putting something up his nose. However, the little boy at that moment has an asthma attack, so he survives and doesn't get poisoned. Except that in reality if he did have an asthma attack, the poison would have GOT IN and not been able to GET OUT!! Oooops....
Well, if the boy didn't survive then the father wouldn't have put on his robes and become a pastor again and that really would have ruined the story huh? So lets just pretend we missed that boo boo, though I really hate it when people get scientifically incorrect....
By the way, somebody in today's papers wants to have huge parks in Singapore that emulate's New York's Central Park. Can somebody tell me what's so great about Central Park? Sure its a nice patch of green, but it's totally unsustainable, requiring vasts amount of watering and constant returfing. Has anyone gone to central park in the winter? Go see what maintenance needs to be done during the "off season". Nice green area? Yes. Ecologically sustainable? No. We already have a great park right here that I'm so proud of, and that's East Coast Park. Although its entirely artificial (sits on reclaimed land), it requires no watering, little maintenance (except clearing the leaves and branches from the tracks so skaters like myself don't trip over), and looks au naturel! That's the kind of park we need for a greener city! Save on water and taxpayer's money too! (Though with the new $160mil makeover we don't know if ECP will ever be the same again....)
I just read from my book that "In patients with asthma, the trouble isn't with getting air into the lungs; it's with getting air out". In the last scene of "Signs", the alien tries to poison the little boy by putting something up his nose. However, the little boy at that moment has an asthma attack, so he survives and doesn't get poisoned. Except that in reality if he did have an asthma attack, the poison would have GOT IN and not been able to GET OUT!! Oooops....
Well, if the boy didn't survive then the father wouldn't have put on his robes and become a pastor again and that really would have ruined the story huh? So lets just pretend we missed that boo boo, though I really hate it when people get scientifically incorrect....
By the way, somebody in today's papers wants to have huge parks in Singapore that emulate's New York's Central Park. Can somebody tell me what's so great about Central Park? Sure its a nice patch of green, but it's totally unsustainable, requiring vasts amount of watering and constant returfing. Has anyone gone to central park in the winter? Go see what maintenance needs to be done during the "off season". Nice green area? Yes. Ecologically sustainable? No. We already have a great park right here that I'm so proud of, and that's East Coast Park. Although its entirely artificial (sits on reclaimed land), it requires no watering, little maintenance (except clearing the leaves and branches from the tracks so skaters like myself don't trip over), and looks au naturel! That's the kind of park we need for a greener city! Save on water and taxpayer's money too! (Though with the new $160mil makeover we don't know if ECP will ever be the same again....)
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Eclectic cuisine
Had a real great dinner tonight! Foie Gras followed by tenderloin stuffed with mushroom and cheese washed down with Sangria and Limoncello, whoa! U all need to go check out Naxos "eclectic cuisine" down at China Square! It's basically Mediterranean and real good!
Btw, Limoncello was on the house! ;)
Btw, Limoncello was on the house! ;)
Matrix
...matrix structures "led to conflict and confusion; the proliferation of channels created informational logjams as a proliferation of committees and reports bogged down the organisation; and overlapping responsibilities produced turf battles and a loss of accountability." Nigel Nicholson, a professor of organisational behaviour at the London Business School, called the matrix structure "one of the most difficult and least successful organisational forms."
- The Economist
And one wonders why some local companies are so eager to adopt the now obsolete matrix organisation structure.....
- The Economist
And one wonders why some local companies are so eager to adopt the now obsolete matrix organisation structure.....
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Sunday's recessional hymn: Lead Me Lord
Blessed are the poor in spirit longing for their Lord,
for God's coming Kingdom shall be theirs.
Blessed are the sorrowing for they shall be consoled,
and the meek shall come to rule the world.
Chorus:
Lead me Lord, lead me Lord by the light of truth,
to seek and to find the narrow way
Be my way, be my truth, be my life, my Lord,
and lead me Lord today.
Blessed are the merciful for mercy shall be theirs,
and the pure in heart shall see their God.
Blest are they whose hunger only holiness can fill,
for I say they shall be satisfied.
Blest are they who through their lifetimes sow the seeds of peace,
all will call them children of the Lord.
Blest are you though persecuted in your holy life,
for in heaven great is your reward.
for God's coming Kingdom shall be theirs.
Blessed are the sorrowing for they shall be consoled,
and the meek shall come to rule the world.
Chorus:
Lead me Lord, lead me Lord by the light of truth,
to seek and to find the narrow way
Be my way, be my truth, be my life, my Lord,
and lead me Lord today.
Blessed are the merciful for mercy shall be theirs,
and the pure in heart shall see their God.
Blest are they whose hunger only holiness can fill,
for I say they shall be satisfied.
Blest are they who through their lifetimes sow the seeds of peace,
all will call them children of the Lord.
Blest are you though persecuted in your holy life,
for in heaven great is your reward.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Workout
I just read this interesting fact in "You: The Owner's Manual": For optimum health, you need to burn between 3,500 and 6,500 calories a week which is equivalent to 3 twenty minute vigorous workouts that elevate your heart rate to 80 percent or more of the age-adjusted maximum. "If you burn more than 6,500 calories a week (marathon runners beware), you actually DECREASE your longevity because of the wear and tear your body endures going through the rigors of additional exercise."
I'm not sure how accurate this book is, but it was one of the bestsellers of 2005 and endorsed by Discovery Channel Health. I had absolutely no idea that you could shorten your lifespan by vigorously exercising too much! I thought you'd just get aches and pains when you get old.... According to the book, marathoners are shortening their lifespan. Wow, you learn something new everyday huh?
Some more interesting facts:
1. Did you know that a blooming onion (Outback Steakhouse's specialty) has 90+ grams of saturated and trans fat, which is 4 days' worth?
2. Having a drink of alcohol every night increases your good cholesterol, but over 2.5 drinks a day for men (and 1.5 for women) can cause aging of the immune system.
3. Any significant inflammation in your body (sinus, gum disease etc) increases inflammation in the blood vessels, which increases your risk of heart disease.
4. Balance is a sign of brain strength. To develop better balance, use free weights rather than weight machines.
5. Taking St John's Wort (some tea that makes you happy) renders birth control pills useless for 25% of people.
I'm not sure how accurate this book is, but it was one of the bestsellers of 2005 and endorsed by Discovery Channel Health. I had absolutely no idea that you could shorten your lifespan by vigorously exercising too much! I thought you'd just get aches and pains when you get old.... According to the book, marathoners are shortening their lifespan. Wow, you learn something new everyday huh?
Some more interesting facts:
1. Did you know that a blooming onion (Outback Steakhouse's specialty) has 90+ grams of saturated and trans fat, which is 4 days' worth?
2. Having a drink of alcohol every night increases your good cholesterol, but over 2.5 drinks a day for men (and 1.5 for women) can cause aging of the immune system.
3. Any significant inflammation in your body (sinus, gum disease etc) increases inflammation in the blood vessels, which increases your risk of heart disease.
4. Balance is a sign of brain strength. To develop better balance, use free weights rather than weight machines.
5. Taking St John's Wort (some tea that makes you happy) renders birth control pills useless for 25% of people.
Sam Adams
Sam Adams is soooo gooood!!!! There's nothing like having a cold Samuel Adams on a rainy Wednesday night in Singapore!! And I'm on leave tomorrow too :P haha! YW deserves all the credit for bringing back the good stuff, he's DA MAN!
YW also lent me a real good book titled "How Israel Lost the Four Questions" which apparently cost only 3 bucks. I had no idea you could get anything more than a large Hokkien mee for 3 bucks!
YW also lent me a real good book titled "How Israel Lost the Four Questions" which apparently cost only 3 bucks. I had no idea you could get anything more than a large Hokkien mee for 3 bucks!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Red
I'm still red and it hurts! The first thing my boss said when he saw me this morning was: "How come you so red? Drink too much issit?"
Ouch!
Ouch!
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Did you know that....
Did you know that....
Berkeley offers approx 7000 courses annually in more than 350 degree programs?
The National Research Council has ranked 35 of Berkeley's graduate departments in the top 10, more than any other institution?
One-third of incoming students to Berkeley are considered as poor by the federal government?
There are more "poor" students in Berkeley than the entire Ivy League combined, but Berkeley still remains in the top league?
Go Bears!
I am so burned and red...... OUCH!
Berkeley offers approx 7000 courses annually in more than 350 degree programs?
The National Research Council has ranked 35 of Berkeley's graduate departments in the top 10, more than any other institution?
One-third of incoming students to Berkeley are considered as poor by the federal government?
There are more "poor" students in Berkeley than the entire Ivy League combined, but Berkeley still remains in the top league?
Go Bears!
I am so burned and red...... OUCH!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Natsume burger
I had a Natsume Fish Burger for dinner. Why is it called a burger if there are no burger buns? That thing had like almost no carbs at all! Fish filet with lots of mayonaise and provalone cheese sandwiched between layers of lettuce..... can somebody tell me what kind of burger is that? Sounds like a salad to me. I was so so so hungry after that, and it wasn't cheap too! I think I need to pick up Japanese so I won't make a mistake the next time I order Japanese....
After dinner drinks was much better though. I just found out my friend D is a co-owner of the Loof Rooftop Bar at Odeon. I heard Fiona Xie hangs out there. We had Long Island Tea and scallops wrapped in bacon, at a discount (thanks to D!!). I put a whole scallop-in-bacon in my mouth and it was just so heavenly (well, Squaw Valley is better than Heavenly, but let's not digress)!! The little candle beside us kept blowing out because of the wind and rain (it really is rainy these days huh?), but the waiter/waitress was kind enough to light it back when we asked for it. By the way, I really need to either get a bigger brolly or work on my umbrella skills....
Thought for the day: Life is short. Go slow.
After dinner drinks was much better though. I just found out my friend D is a co-owner of the Loof Rooftop Bar at Odeon. I heard Fiona Xie hangs out there. We had Long Island Tea and scallops wrapped in bacon, at a discount (thanks to D!!). I put a whole scallop-in-bacon in my mouth and it was just so heavenly (well, Squaw Valley is better than Heavenly, but let's not digress)!! The little candle beside us kept blowing out because of the wind and rain (it really is rainy these days huh?), but the waiter/waitress was kind enough to light it back when we asked for it. By the way, I really need to either get a bigger brolly or work on my umbrella skills....
Thought for the day: Life is short. Go slow.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Catching up
It was a nice weekend at home. It rained so much that I probably would have stayed home even if I wasn't sick, though I'd like to have ice skated with YK and gang. Feeling much better now.
So what did I do at home? Read, read, read, icq and msn. I can't believe I chatted with so many people this weekend, and some of them I haven't seen in ages! There was YK1, YK2, CK, SH1, SH2, SY, HY, A, FL, KS, PJ, DK, SF, HP, YH (only briefly tho), M, HB, EL, GG, MY, HW, JL, KK, CC, CF, SC, S. Though I didn't exactly spend the longest time with everyone, it's great to know everyone's doing just fine in 2006! Maybe I should spend more time on wkends catching up with everyone huh?
Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a new book, which SH says is really good. I'm currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude (also by him), which YW lent me, and it's really good, so I guess SH is probably right! I still have 3 books on the shelf waiting for me to read tho, and one more that LT is bringing back from the US, so I think it will be a while before I check out the new novel. If anyone has read it, let me know how it is k?
So what did I do at home? Read, read, read, icq and msn. I can't believe I chatted with so many people this weekend, and some of them I haven't seen in ages! There was YK1, YK2, CK, SH1, SH2, SY, HY, A, FL, KS, PJ, DK, SF, HP, YH (only briefly tho), M, HB, EL, GG, MY, HW, JL, KK, CC, CF, SC, S. Though I didn't exactly spend the longest time with everyone, it's great to know everyone's doing just fine in 2006! Maybe I should spend more time on wkends catching up with everyone huh?
Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a new book, which SH says is really good. I'm currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude (also by him), which YW lent me, and it's really good, so I guess SH is probably right! I still have 3 books on the shelf waiting for me to read tho, and one more that LT is bringing back from the US, so I think it will be a while before I check out the new novel. If anyone has read it, let me know how it is k?
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