On the way to Tokyo, we were served by a local stewardess and a Japanese Stewardess. Both stewardesses are attractive, both are polite and serve well. The Japanese stewardess speaks excellent English. I asked where she lived before and she told me in US. I complimented her excellent command of English. I felt she serves me with a little more attention and care and make eye contact before asking me if I needed anything. There is indeed an edge in terms of delivery of the service. She spend a couple more seconds and smile at my comments on the "rules". Rules that cabin crews have to enforce with the passengers e.g. my newspapers cannot be on the floor, my seat have to be upright before landing. I requested for two panadols after my nap. Napping cause headaches for me sometimes. I asked for coke to come with it. She brought a glass of ice cold coke and another glass of water. She advise me to drink more water to get rid of the headache(Sze Li, are you there?)
On disembarkation, she asked if my headache is ok. This is service. My Professor in NUS observes that cost is free. And the Customers feel good. Guess what, I agree.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
PROGRESS!!
Finally, I have a little progress. The scale tip at 87.6kgs. It is rewarding to see payoff in the exercising and cutting down food. To think I was going to give up in the morning. Hmm! I will keep at it. Will report on my weight upon my return on Saturday. Japan, here I come!
NO Time to Read!
This is sacrilege. What kind of excuse is this! Reading is the joy of my life. Reading gives me knowledge and bring new perspectives. Number of books published every day - 3,500. Information overload? No kidding! Knowledge management, training and teaching is why I wish to do the rest of my life. Business is good too. Best is to have "autopilot" i.e. money flowing in continously. Rich Dad Poor Dad recommendation is start a business. Do not look for a job. A job mean we sell our time, our soul, our dignity in return for "security". There is really no such thing as a job security.
We have to all start a business and learn to live with variable income, no medical coverage, no social interaction with colleagues (i.e. coffee breaks, lunch) and selling your product or service all the time. The hunt is always on if you are a free agent or running your own business.
Good luck and good selling.
We have to all start a business and learn to live with variable income, no medical coverage, no social interaction with colleagues (i.e. coffee breaks, lunch) and selling your product or service all the time. The hunt is always on if you are a free agent or running your own business.
Good luck and good selling.
Working to Reduce Weight is not so easy
I was disappointed that I weighs 88.1 kgs last night. All the exercise, cutting down on food and drinking water have no immediate impact. This morning the scale reads 87.5. Only 6oo grams of liquid pass out of my body! I have to force myself to go for the walk-a-jog. This time, my enthusiam has dropped. I look at car longingly. How nice to go to the market now for teh halia.
The rain in the morning gave me a good reason to cut short my walk. Tomorrow, will be up in the air for 7 hours. Good food with loads of desserts, drinks and stewardess who keep offering more snacks. I need to have a resolution of steel. The food in Japan is good for my weight reduction program. Plenty of seafood I do not like.
Documenting in this blog has help motivate me to keep going. I will slim down. When I reach my desired weight, should I celebrate with the sumptious meal?
The rain in the morning gave me a good reason to cut short my walk. Tomorrow, will be up in the air for 7 hours. Good food with loads of desserts, drinks and stewardess who keep offering more snacks. I need to have a resolution of steel. The food in Japan is good for my weight reduction program. Plenty of seafood I do not like.
Documenting in this blog has help motivate me to keep going. I will slim down. When I reach my desired weight, should I celebrate with the sumptious meal?
Monday, February 26, 2007
Bird by Bird
I like this book on writing. It paints a realistic picture of writing. Forget the romance or the excitement or the success. It is hard work. It is tough and will stay tough.
No More Teh Halia
At the urging and nagging (more nag than urge), I did not go for my regular teh halia. I did a walk-a-jog. More walk than jog:)
Fighting my creeping weight increase, I decided to burn calories rather than add. Today is the first day. Let's see if I do a lifestyle change. Tea is a habit I had since 18 years old. So I will be in for major war. I actually feel good to come home all sweaty, stinky and sticky. It is the sense of accomplishment. No endorphins yet. I made a promise in this blog just like the Americans who made a pact in the blog rather than their family members to get out of their debts. Most succeed eventually. Those who did not probably did not update their blogs anymore. My goal is 82kgs a 6 kgs drop from today, Feb 26, 2007.
Fighting my creeping weight increase, I decided to burn calories rather than add. Today is the first day. Let's see if I do a lifestyle change. Tea is a habit I had since 18 years old. So I will be in for major war. I actually feel good to come home all sweaty, stinky and sticky. It is the sense of accomplishment. No endorphins yet. I made a promise in this blog just like the Americans who made a pact in the blog rather than their family members to get out of their debts. Most succeed eventually. Those who did not probably did not update their blogs anymore. My goal is 82kgs a 6 kgs drop from today, Feb 26, 2007.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Blogger - simple and fast, Blogger2 - more features but...
Nowaday, my blog do not get updated right away unlike the old version. It usually takes overnight before showing up. I prefer the blogger original. Ya! blogger has less features but it is simple to use and fast. Now blogger2 has loads of features which I do not use since I am a technosaur. I have no pictures, no links, no music, no graphics, just words. Plain old words. The original allows me to read and correct any mistakes I made. Version two mean my bad grammar shows up for some time before corrections. Niece P will have a fit.
Weight Watching
Weight watching is what I do. In the morning when I first get up and at night before going to bed. It is easy to watch my weight. Bringing weight in control is the crux of my weighty issue. It crept up on me. From 84 kgs to 88 kgs today. From 34" to 38". Seems like it is a one-way ticket. Going on diet is not an option. My willpower is weaker than weak. I snacks when I am stressed, I snacks when I am bored, I drink high calorie teh halia to perk me up, I drink coke to quench thirst, and after all these, I have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Any wonder why weight is an issue.
Every time a male passes by heavier than me, I grin to myself(mentally of course). Up in my mind I console myself, I am not that fat. There are others who are worse than me. This is an escapist mindset. Expanding waistline and higher weight is going to be my perpetual fight. This is a marathon.
Every time a male passes by heavier than me, I grin to myself(mentally of course). Up in my mind I console myself, I am not that fat. There are others who are worse than me. This is an escapist mindset. Expanding waistline and higher weight is going to be my perpetual fight. This is a marathon.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Affluenza
I browse this title and there were 3 different books with the same title. Aha, I thought different printers or publishers. So I check the prices for the cheapest - always looking for a bargain. I flipped the pages and the content looks different. I check the author and all three have different authors. Hmmm! I thought. It is rare to see same title different authors.
I spent more time on the Australian version. I sat on the floor. It is a little embarassing as the books are in Sociology section which is in the main thoroughfare. Very busy and very visible, very "pai sei" to be seen sitting there. Anyway, the Australian version talk about busy and stressed trying to get more and more. Work hard to earn more. Get into more debts. Throw away more stuffs. Better schools for kids, etc, etc.
There are more and more Australian opting out of the affluence disease and saying NO to the advertisements that persuade buying more and more. It is a simple lifestyle that they are adopting to like walking to school and to work, eating out less, exercise more, work less, relax more, spending more time with their kids, and in general slowing down the pace of life.
I like the concept and idea. Right now, it is still a pipe dream. I like my material and creature comfort. It is nice to afford things that money can buy. However, I like to figure out how I can live a simple, low cost lifestyle and yet raise my boys to be independent and capable of fending for themselves when they grow up.
It is alternative lifestyle. Not the hippies of the sixties...
I spent more time on the Australian version. I sat on the floor. It is a little embarassing as the books are in Sociology section which is in the main thoroughfare. Very busy and very visible, very "pai sei" to be seen sitting there. Anyway, the Australian version talk about busy and stressed trying to get more and more. Work hard to earn more. Get into more debts. Throw away more stuffs. Better schools for kids, etc, etc.
There are more and more Australian opting out of the affluence disease and saying NO to the advertisements that persuade buying more and more. It is a simple lifestyle that they are adopting to like walking to school and to work, eating out less, exercise more, work less, relax more, spending more time with their kids, and in general slowing down the pace of life.
I like the concept and idea. Right now, it is still a pipe dream. I like my material and creature comfort. It is nice to afford things that money can buy. However, I like to figure out how I can live a simple, low cost lifestyle and yet raise my boys to be independent and capable of fending for themselves when they grow up.
It is alternative lifestyle. Not the hippies of the sixties...
A Powerful Anecdote
The Pursuit of Happyness is a movie and a book on the true story of life of an African American. This guy is a medic in the US Army and after his miltary stint is working in a hospital in San Francisco.
The turning point for him is going to the car park in a bright afternoon he saw a bright and shiny Ferrari with the purr of 380 horses circling around the car park slowly like a crouched lion looking for an empty car park space. The driver dressed in a custom tailored suit made from expensive cloth. (In US, custom suit is outrageously expensive relative to Asia.) He signalled to the driver to let him know he will be leaving and that the driver can take his car park lot. However, there is a catch. He told the driver you can have my car park lot if you answer a couple of questions. Ah! there is a catch! The first question what do you do? Simple. The driver is a stockbroker. How do you become one? The driver replied and took the lot...
Read the book or watch the movie to get the answers.
The turning point for him is going to the car park in a bright afternoon he saw a bright and shiny Ferrari with the purr of 380 horses circling around the car park slowly like a crouched lion looking for an empty car park space. The driver dressed in a custom tailored suit made from expensive cloth. (In US, custom suit is outrageously expensive relative to Asia.) He signalled to the driver to let him know he will be leaving and that the driver can take his car park lot. However, there is a catch. He told the driver you can have my car park lot if you answer a couple of questions. Ah! there is a catch! The first question what do you do? Simple. The driver is a stockbroker. How do you become one? The driver replied and took the lot...
Read the book or watch the movie to get the answers.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tasty Fishes
The tide is receding. The water is about 1 foot deep. Three foreign workers were fishing at the canal. One can speak English well. "Mayanmar?" I asked. "Yes" he replied cheerfully. Friendly guy. "Are you a contruction worker?" I probe a little. "No, I am a painter" he says and turn his back towards me to show me the name of the company on the t-shirt. "Nippon Paint" in bold, bright red letters. He was carrying a white pail that contains about 20 fishes. The sizes of the fish is quite small about 4 to 5 inches long. There is one reasonable size fish. Reasonable size is like those we can buy in the wet market. I will venture to guess the fish is about the size of a large promfret.
He seems to like the fish. "Taste good, very good" when I asked if they are really going to eat the fishes they caught. Cast net is the way they fish. The guy who cast is an expert. The net will spread out in a circle, land on the water and sink trapping any fish caught within the circumference. There are lot of fishes, the problem is it is too rocky and the fish escapes.
I may try fishing with a rod next time during high tide:)
He seems to like the fish. "Taste good, very good" when I asked if they are really going to eat the fishes they caught. Cast net is the way they fish. The guy who cast is an expert. The net will spread out in a circle, land on the water and sink trapping any fish caught within the circumference. There are lot of fishes, the problem is it is too rocky and the fish escapes.
I may try fishing with a rod next time during high tide:)
Inconvenient Truth
Written by Al Gore, the democrat candidate who lost the presidential election to George Bush. I flipped through the pages of this book. It is a movie now. I hope it will be in DVD as I prefer to own rather than watch once. The book is full of colour photographs. It is very interesting. I read a lot of books about the earth shift and how life as we know it will change. One or two of the books will give drawing of how the face of the earth will change. Al Gore's book has colour pictures of before and after of how Florida will look like if the sea level rises. It has satellite photos of the earth that show the different spot where the different type of energy are used.
There is a picture of the nuclear submarine that break the ice from underneath. Nuclear submarine routinely patrol under the ice cap in the Arctic. He can even persuade the Navy to release confidential information of the ice thickness throughout the years.
I like what I have seen. I will wait for 20% or 30% discount before I buy this book. Yes, I am a cheapo.
There is a picture of the nuclear submarine that break the ice from underneath. Nuclear submarine routinely patrol under the ice cap in the Arctic. He can even persuade the Navy to release confidential information of the ice thickness throughout the years.
I like what I have seen. I will wait for 20% or 30% discount before I buy this book. Yes, I am a cheapo.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Shortcut to literature
I always find literature a chore. The novels are long and stories uninteresting. I wonder why they become classics and why all students have to read them. I confess I fail my literature in my GCE "O" level.
Last week at Borders, there was a "3 for 2" promotion i.e. buy 3 books and pay the price of 2 for Cliffs Notes. Slim volumes priced at S$8 per copy. Cliff Notes summarize the novel or poetry. It also gives the background of the author to give context to the story. Man, I wish I discover this 30 years ago. The story are all summarized with background, the gist of the story, the different characters, who they are and what they represent, the whole works! The book will take days if not weeks of full time reading can be completed in a couple of hours. Awesome! One can intelligently discuss the story and sound very competent in a few hours instead of toiling for days.
Frankly, I was aware of such notes when I was in school. The problem I had was ego. I view these notes to be shortcut and books should be read for pleasure. How naive and stupid I was! If I have invested in the notes, I would have at least pass my Literature exams. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have keep an open mind. No point crying over split milk now.
You can find out more about Cliff Notes at http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/
Last week at Borders, there was a "3 for 2" promotion i.e. buy 3 books and pay the price of 2 for Cliffs Notes. Slim volumes priced at S$8 per copy. Cliff Notes summarize the novel or poetry. It also gives the background of the author to give context to the story. Man, I wish I discover this 30 years ago. The story are all summarized with background, the gist of the story, the different characters, who they are and what they represent, the whole works! The book will take days if not weeks of full time reading can be completed in a couple of hours. Awesome! One can intelligently discuss the story and sound very competent in a few hours instead of toiling for days.
Frankly, I was aware of such notes when I was in school. The problem I had was ego. I view these notes to be shortcut and books should be read for pleasure. How naive and stupid I was! If I have invested in the notes, I would have at least pass my Literature exams. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have keep an open mind. No point crying over split milk now.
You can find out more about Cliff Notes at http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/
God of Fortune aka Chinese Obsession with Wealth
It is reported on the papers the super long queue for Toto and 4D in Yishun Blk 102 with a picture. I decided to go for breakfast there to see for myself. Hup Lee has very good fried beehoon and chicken and is just directly opposite. I was there about 10 am. And no kidding the queue was long and stayed long the whole time I was having my breakfast. No wonder it is a lucky store. With the volume of business, the wealth is going to Singapore Pool and the 7-eleven. Lottery is a numbers game. The more purchases, the higher the chance. I also believe the God of Fortune must be smiling at the store.
Living in Canada, the Toto there is called 649 i.e. 6 numbers out of 49. There many outlets there as well but I do not see the queue like in Singapore. It is like this is a Chinese trait. As MM Lee Kuan Yew said in an interview why he strongly objected to Casinos when he was the Prime Minister - Chinese are congenital gamblers. Given a chance to gamble, they will gamble their lives away.
Chinese are obsessed with wealth. Our greetings are "Good Luck", "Prosperity", "Great Wealth", etc. In Canada, the discussions are on what you do doing the weekend, sports and other leisure activities.
Chinese also have a saying, "Coming into this world empty handed, Taking nothing when you leave". Yet when we are in this world we seek wealth and material comfort.
It is easy to be philosophical about money. Unfortunately, to live in this world we need money. Maybe we are obsessed with money in Singapore because our social safety net is not as good as in Canada. In Canada, if you are jobless, there is UI(Unemployment Insurance), if you are sick, healthcare is free, if you are retired, you get a pension. In Singapore, you have to be a destitute and have no relatives before you can get some help from our government.
You know something... it is vastly better to be wealthy than to be poor.
Living in Canada, the Toto there is called 649 i.e. 6 numbers out of 49. There many outlets there as well but I do not see the queue like in Singapore. It is like this is a Chinese trait. As MM Lee Kuan Yew said in an interview why he strongly objected to Casinos when he was the Prime Minister - Chinese are congenital gamblers. Given a chance to gamble, they will gamble their lives away.
Chinese are obsessed with wealth. Our greetings are "Good Luck", "Prosperity", "Great Wealth", etc. In Canada, the discussions are on what you do doing the weekend, sports and other leisure activities.
Chinese also have a saying, "Coming into this world empty handed, Taking nothing when you leave". Yet when we are in this world we seek wealth and material comfort.
It is easy to be philosophical about money. Unfortunately, to live in this world we need money. Maybe we are obsessed with money in Singapore because our social safety net is not as good as in Canada. In Canada, if you are jobless, there is UI(Unemployment Insurance), if you are sick, healthcare is free, if you are retired, you get a pension. In Singapore, you have to be a destitute and have no relatives before you can get some help from our government.
You know something... it is vastly better to be wealthy than to be poor.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Itchy Feet?...here is the Remedy
The tide was high and I decided to see if it is good time to fish. So I took a stroll with my gear of course. I met an old gentleman who cycle there. I caught some fishes. This gentleman sat on the slope and dip his legs into the water. He notices my searching look and answer the question I have in my head (what the hell was he doing? the water is not the most pristine water with all the garbage...).
He says this is good for getting right of itch in his legs. Salt water is good. I know this remedy must have worked for him. However, I am wondering about the parasites or pollution and the possibility of getting other problems from soaking in seawater.
For my readers out there, this is good advice. However, I will suggest you go to a place where the water is cleaner e.g. Tioman, Redang Island, Kuala Trengannu, etc.
He says this is good for getting right of itch in his legs. Salt water is good. I know this remedy must have worked for him. However, I am wondering about the parasites or pollution and the possibility of getting other problems from soaking in seawater.
For my readers out there, this is good advice. However, I will suggest you go to a place where the water is cleaner e.g. Tioman, Redang Island, Kuala Trengannu, etc.
Bad Karma? Maybe Good!!
I was feeling guilty to wish ill to my neighbour. It seems like bad karma. However, on reflection, it may be good karma. I am wishing well for the other neighbours. So if my wish come true, one may be bad, the rest gain peace and serenity. The rest is 19. So I am actually gaining good karma because I am wishing for the benefits of 19 others.
I guess the issue is I wish ill to someone. This cause bad karma even though a bigger number of people benefited. I should wish for the whole group to have peace and quiet. Then it is good karma.
Will an inconsiderate person acquire bad karma? To this person, he or she did nothing wrong and therefore should not attract bad karma.
What do you think GOD's position will be for this issue?
I guess the issue is I wish ill to someone. This cause bad karma even though a bigger number of people benefited. I should wish for the whole group to have peace and quiet. Then it is good karma.
Will an inconsiderate person acquire bad karma? To this person, he or she did nothing wrong and therefore should not attract bad karma.
What do you think GOD's position will be for this issue?
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Inconsiderate, Self centred Clods
It is unpleasant and tough to have a neighbour who disturb peace and party loudly till wee hours of the morning when the whole neighbourhood is quiet and need to go to school or work the next day. This neighbour who use the visitor carpark lot as if it is her own to park her second car all the time such that genuine visitors are robbed of their rightful car park space.
It is close to half past 11 now and they are still screaming "HUAT AH!!" in unison. While they talking out loudly and laughing loudly and enjoying themselves, they making a huge nuisance of themselves. The best part is they think they are making the neighbourhood very "lau lat"(busy in Hokkien). It just take one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel. My beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful castle has been marred by one lousy neighbour.
It was a peaceful period during bird flu and I wish to have peace and quiet in our neighbourhood again. I pray peace and quiet again. It may be bad karma, let's hope bird flu will strike again at the right spot.
It is close to half past 11 now and they are still screaming "HUAT AH!!" in unison. While they talking out loudly and laughing loudly and enjoying themselves, they making a huge nuisance of themselves. The best part is they think they are making the neighbourhood very "lau lat"(busy in Hokkien). It just take one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel. My beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful castle has been marred by one lousy neighbour.
It was a peaceful period during bird flu and I wish to have peace and quiet in our neighbourhood again. I pray peace and quiet again. It may be bad karma, let's hope bird flu will strike again at the right spot.
To listen to CNY music, tune to....
FM100.30. Malaysian Radio channels play the new year songs. I have no idea why all the Chinese language radio channels in Singapore do not play them. Does Singaporean do not like the music or just our DJs refusing to celebrate Chinese New Year? The malls have the music and this add to the festive moods. It will be nice to get the festive songs in the car or at home through radio.
Is it because if the radio plays the CNY songs, the malls can broadcast them for free? If this is true, I feel sorry for the licence authority who spoil our moods. They should get a life instead of trying to squeeze more money from the public.
Is it because if the radio plays the CNY songs, the malls can broadcast them for free? If this is true, I feel sorry for the licence authority who spoil our moods. They should get a life instead of trying to squeeze more money from the public.
How to Get Love...
Reader's Digest has an article on love. How to find love and stay in love. It is a 12 steps way. First of find someone who look like you. I do not know if you notices this before. A lot of husbands and wives have similar looks. Research on looks finds that husband and wife with similar look are together much longer.
Beside similar look, look for similar interests. If you have similar interest, there will be plenty of opportunity to time spend together to do interesting stuff.
Another truism is women when advertising for dates if they admit they are older will get less replies. It is important to mention their looks(pleasant looking, attractive). Men on the other hand get more replies if they are older. They are very attractive if they use words like successful or wealthy. For the unattractive women or penniless men, do not lose heart, use the word warm. It is a universal attraction factor for both men or women.
To read complete article, get a copy of Reader's Digest February issue in Singapore.
Beside similar look, look for similar interests. If you have similar interest, there will be plenty of opportunity to time spend together to do interesting stuff.
Another truism is women when advertising for dates if they admit they are older will get less replies. It is important to mention their looks(pleasant looking, attractive). Men on the other hand get more replies if they are older. They are very attractive if they use words like successful or wealthy. For the unattractive women or penniless men, do not lose heart, use the word warm. It is a universal attraction factor for both men or women.
To read complete article, get a copy of Reader's Digest February issue in Singapore.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Debts Blogs
New York Times has an article on people writing blogs on their debts. This seems to help them to get out of debts. It is easier to hold no bar in cyberspace than to tell your Mum or Dad. Most are in debt spending more than they earn. Many have student loans and started working with debts.
Asians do not get into debts usually as we live with parents and will work to pay off loans asap. In US/Canada, parents can expect their kids to pay rent once they reach sixteen. Still in school? Well, they have to take part time jobs. Usually, kids leave home for University with some parental support. They have to figure way to pay for their tuition, board and food. There are part time jobs, scholarships, student aids and student loans. The good thing about student loan is the interest does not kick in until you graduate.
We are luckier in this respect compared to Westerners. Our family values are slightly different and usually kids leave home when they get married unless they go oversea for study.
To read the article on debt blogging, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/us/18debt.html?em&ex=1172034000&en=7e163815dffef62f&ei=5087%0A
Asians do not get into debts usually as we live with parents and will work to pay off loans asap. In US/Canada, parents can expect their kids to pay rent once they reach sixteen. Still in school? Well, they have to take part time jobs. Usually, kids leave home for University with some parental support. They have to figure way to pay for their tuition, board and food. There are part time jobs, scholarships, student aids and student loans. The good thing about student loan is the interest does not kick in until you graduate.
We are luckier in this respect compared to Westerners. Our family values are slightly different and usually kids leave home when they get married unless they go oversea for study.
To read the article on debt blogging, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/us/18debt.html?em&ex=1172034000&en=7e163815dffef62f&ei=5087%0A
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